9/26/2012

Good morning C-cubed families,
I'm very sorry about the lateness of this post but, thank God I was able to get everything taken care of for my son Joshua's passport.  Now he is prepared for his first missions trip next week.

We had another blessed day of co-op yesterday.  I think it was probably one of our best with Shirley's idea and execution of the new hospitality room coming to full fruition.  Shirley you did an absolutely beautiful job and we are grateful and blessed because of it.  Good thing we didn't have complimentary massages in the room or we may have never left that room.  We were also blessed thanks to Julie Nacars' willingness to roll up her sleeves and get so much cleaning done almost alone.  She did have help from Julia who is always a willing worker, and Sandra who regularly gets the sanctuary taken care of early in the day so that it is not a concern at the end.  Also, thanks to Shawn for willingly stepping up to teach another class, middle school science, and doing a beautiful job at it.  This is certainly not to take away from the rest of you wonderful ladies who have continuously volunteered and jumped in where and when needed in addition to teaching whatever class you have volunteered for.  Thanks to all of you for your willing hearts.  It is a continuous blessing.

The students seem to be really beginning to thrive in this environment.  I had the pleasure of  helping to teach the middle school science, teaching the American literature and of course teaching my regular two classes of world history and world literature.  I saw enthusiastic participation from almost every student in class. Although the students can always strive to do more, for the 3rd week of classes, I think they are coming along beautifully.  Many of them are lovers of learning and they don't even know it yet.  Look beyond their diligence of completing assignments to the heart of what they are gaining in the reading and studying they are doing and you can see what I see.  I cant imagine how dangerously successful they will all be once they take ownership of their education.  That is ultimately what we want our students to strive for and then we will have lifelong learners committed to pursuing excellence in everything Christ puts in front of them.  Lets continue to bless God for the milestones in their life no matter how small they seem as we continue to lovingly and sometimes forcefully push them towards excellence.

Just a side note, we all felt the absence of the Simpsons. Their presence, students and mom, definitely adds to our co-op and they were missed.

The homework for this week is as follows:

High School:
Spanish: Read ch. 2 pp. 22-26 and review exercises 2.4, 2.5, 2.6
World History: Unit 4 lessons 16-20 review questions and know answers for discussion, review timeline daily (documents emailed)
World Literature:" Cat of Bubastes" read chapters 7-14 review questions each day and know answers for class discussion, complete vocabulary definitions and review each day (documents emailed)
Biology: read pages 58-62, complete study guide for module 2, prep for and take module 2 exam
Anatomy: 2: HISTOLOGY: THE STUDY OF TISSUES   read  Pg 33 - 44  Questions: pg 58-59 # 1a-e,  2-7

 On Your Own: p 37, 40, 44, check answers p 57 Coloring Book: Pg 8-10, review what you learned, color if you like.  For the artists in our class, please draw a cell on pg 8 or pg 10 one of the epithelium (after all your other school work is completed) please bring to class to share.

  Arm Yourself!!! Be ready to answer Questions in class.  

Leadership: Read ch. 2 of text. Read and answer questions on page 49-69 of the workbook

 

 Middle School:

Science: We will have fun studying the human body for the remainder of the semester, and I will send out a new science syllabus shortly.  We are currently on the circulatory system.  Have your students read through Module 14 in Exploring Creation with General Science. Today we listened to our heartbeats and completed Experiment 14.1, Your Own Cardiac Cycle. Next week we will do Experiments 14.2 and 14.3. Your students were given a sheet with vocabulary terms. They should try to memorize the starred definitions.  If your student has a science notebook for labs or experiments, please have them bring it.

Latin: lesson 4: review the lesson pp. 12-13 study for quiz, review pp. 73-75 in book make 3x5 cards for vocabulary and first declension, memorize pg. 16

American History: We will copy a timeline each week in class.  You can choose to print out the blank timeline sheet previously sent (and attached again) or just have your student copy it into his/her notebook.  This week, students should read Chapters 7 and 8 in Story of the Great Republic.  Here are some questions to consider.  You can either just discuss them with your student or print and have them answer the questions for history work, as you see fit.  (Consider also that our IEW writing this week also constitutes a history assignment.) 

Questions:
Chapter 7
1.  List a few of the "interesting events" that happened while Washington was President.
2.  How did the invention of the cotton gin come about?
3.  What else did Eli Whitney invent?
4. What was the disadvantage of his cotton gin?
Chapter 8
5. What two political parties arose in America?
6.  What was happening between France and Great Britain?
7. What were the Alien and Sedition acts?
8. Why were people angry about the Sedition Act?
9. What did Washington say was the best way to preserve peace?
10.  What did Chief Justice Marshall say of Washington when he died? How was he honored by Britain and France?

IEW: Students completed an outline and two drafts of a paragraph on George Washington in class.  For homework, just have them rewrite (or type) their final draft, double-spaced, labelled with a title and their name.  If we have time Tuesday, I will have a few students share their work. 

AMERICAN LITERATURE: Complete "Carry on Mr. Bowditch", add vocabulary terms to spiral bound flash cards and study during the week, review questions for the book. (documents emailed)

I hope I remembered everything.  Have a wonderful week and look for those documents to be emailed. 

In Christ, 

LaChrisha Randle

Oops, anatomy homework is as follows:
Anatomy Homework for 9-19 thru 9-25 Learning God's Awesome Design!!!

Read pgs 14-31 Answers Questions: pg 30-31 # 1 i-k, 12 - 23

On Your Own: pg 16, 18, 20, 24, 27.Check answers p 28-29

Coloring Book: Pg 8-10, review what you learned, color if you like.

For the artists in our class, please draw a cell on pg 8 or pg 10 one of the epithelium (after all your other school work is completed) please bring to class to share.

Arm Yourself!!! Be ready to answer Questions in class.

Hello C3 families,
Halleluia we survived with awesome success week 2.  I am encouraged with each new week at how well the co-op seems to be going.  Both the students as a whole and the moms seem to have an attitude of success in every area, for the victory of this co-op.  You should all be encouraged at how the Lords hand is in this vision for the success of our students. 

Thanks again to Pastor John and his wife for opening their facilities to us.  Lets keep them, their church and their ministry in our prayers.  The Lord says to give and it shall be given and they have certainly demonstrated that in opening their facilities to us, people who aren't even their parishioners and it is apparent that they also have hearts that want to see the success of each student in the co-op, both in gaining educational knowledge and knowing and making known our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Props to each family that pitched in to clean yesterday and make the end of the day cleanup quick, thorough and successful.  I think we finished before 4pm yesterday.  Wow! Thats definitely record time.  It was good to have the Bethea family back with us after their absence last week, they certainly added to the group and were missed the first week for sure.  Please continue to pray for the Nacar family as they are in Pensyllvania right now wrapping up family business after attending the memorial services of Julies father.  Im sure we have all been where they are right now in spirit and can empathize with what they may be feeling which should make our praying that much more effective. 

Im very encouraged at the ownership each student is taking for their education, however slow it is coming along.  You moms should be very pleased with the level of commitment your student is showing.  Even if your student isn't doing all that you'd hoped, it is only the 2nd week of school and with continued encouragement from you, the instructors and the other students things will only get better for them.  At least in my class, I see committment to learning and participating, as well as discovery about themselves and their fellow students.  I see each student in my class operating with grace towards each other and it is encouraging to me having worked in the public school system for some years.  It's definitely a different animal at C-cubed. 

Lastly, Debbie had the great idea for the lunch schedule that I think would work much better.  She suggested that whoever is on the schedule for something, that the same person would provide that for the entire month.  In light of that, I will be sending out a new lunch schedule via email.  Also, you may have already heard but Shirley had the genius idea to designate a moms lounge where coffee, tea and snacks would be provided for the moms.  I know, I for one, often run out of the house on Tuesday forgetting to have breakfast myself, so I think its a great idea.  Feel free to bring to share different snacks each week as you can.  No pressure of course.  Things like muffins, veggies, fruit, etc. would be great.  If you cant swing pitching in for that right now please dont feel pressured or bust your budget trying to participate.  The room is supposed to be a blessing, not a burden.  Eventually, once we build up the C-cubed funds, we can possibly provide maybe the coffee and tea. 

Next weeks homework is as follows:
Middle School
Latin- Read lesson 3 , Review pages 12-13. Study for a short quiz on Tuesday 9/25.
General Science- Module 2 pages 35-48 Study guide questions 1-11 on pages 57-58
American History- Read Chapters 5-6 any questions for class discussion will be emailed by Mrs. McCowan       
American Literature- Read Chapters 1-14 questions to keep in mind during reading and vocabulary will be emailed by Mrs. Randle
IEW-no homework

High School
Spanish - Estar, Ser, and Subject pronouns, do excercises 2.1, 2.2, 2.3
World History- Read lessons 11-15 in World History text, review discussion questions for class that will be emailed to you or your parents by Mrs. Randle, review timeline daily
World Literature- Begin reading Cat of Bubastes.  Complete 1/3 of the book by Tuesdays class; look up vocabulary that will be emailed to you by Mrs. Randle; Review discussion questions for class; attend IEW class with Mrs. McCowan this week to begin writing on Early Civilization.  If you are not attending the class, please begin report on one of the Early Civilizations discussed in lessons 11-15, report will be due Nov. 5th to read aloud in class. 
Biology- Module 2 pages67-87; complete study guide questions 1-7
Anatomy- see syllabus, any changes will be emailed
Leadership- In addition to the regular homework listed on the syllabus for next week (reading Chapter 3 in both textbook and workbook), I assigned the students to make a "to do" list for at least one day this week using the "Pareto Principle" form on page 34 of the workbook. I would recommend copying the form on page 34 and have them use the copy. I had hoped to scan the page and attach it to this email but am not able to do it right now.

Please feel free to email me directly or any of the specific instructors with any questions about the homework.  Have an awesome week everyone and do comment on the blog so everyone will know its being read. 
In Christ,
LaChrisha Randle

Here are just a few of the photos Vonetta snapped yesterday.  I dont want to send them all and spoil the yearbook but there are many more.


Old friends



                                         
General Science                   You sweep boy                    IEW                         Biology

                  
Precious Children                  Anatomy

Hello C3 families,
well we are out of the gate and running hard towards the finish!  What an awesome day yesterday was.  There were a very few hiccups, as expected, but what a great attitude of giving and helping everyone had in meeting with challenges yesterday.  I am so excited about the bunch of students we have.  Everyone seems very engaged and willing to participate in discussion and seemed to show a genuine desire to get to know one another.  I was very impressed.
 
In addition, lunch was awesome and everyone seemed to think so, so great job there everyone! 

Shirley and Shawn have the right idea in rewarding the kids with candy, it definitely motivates them to participate.  I loved Terri's mad scientist costume and Im sure the kids got a kick out of it.  Maryann definitely has her hands full with the 7 she has but does a great job of leading them, keeping their interest and providing for orderliness.  Thanks to Debbie and Shirley for stepping up to teach the leadership class in Tracies absence.  Please continue to pray for her and Julie Nacar this week.   Debbie did an awesome job of collecting monies, writing out receipts and tracking down Pastor John to make sure he was paid for this month.  Thanks to Sandra for completing lunch prep, awesome job there.  Thanks to Hosanna for pitching in where needed.  Shawn and Vonettas willingness to run to the store and spend money to purchase what we lacked was a true blessing.  Thanks to Vonetta also for capturing our first day on camera throughout the day.  We've all been where she is physically and know how tough it can be so it was especially appreciated.  Julia, the dynamo, seemed to try to take up the slack wherever she saw a need.  I saw her helping in the kitchen, cleaning bathrooms, cleaning the floor in the sanctuary, cleaning the kitchen floor, helping with lunch cleanup and she taught two language classes to boot.  Im tired just writing it.  And thanks to all the moms and students for helping to get the place in tip top cleanliness before locking up for the day.  I'd say we had a very successful day!

Here is the homework for this week:
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Latin-review lesson 2 pp 10-11. Make and review 3x5 cards with vocabulary endings from page 10 and read lesson 3 in preparation for next week.  Also review pgs. 73, 74 and 75 for memory work. 
General Science- read pages 19-31, complete study guide and test
American History- Read Story of the Great Republic chapters 3&4
American Literature- complete "Amos Fortune" and questions/vocabulary (documents emailed)
IEW- no homework

HIGH SCHOOL
Spanish- Complete excercises 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 after reading chapter 1.
World History- Read all of Unit 2 (lessons 6-10) and go over chapter questions (emailed doc) for class discussion; read Genesis 6:1 through 11:9, go over bible questions (emailed doc) for class
discussion. Complete first 5 entries on timeline worksheet daily as memory work. 
World Literature- finish reading "Mere Christianity" and go over literature questions (emailed doc) for class discussion.  Look up all vocabulary words (emailed doc) and enter into your composition book. Review daily as memory work. 
Biology- complete pp. 7-24, and questions 1-14 of the study guide unless you are having your student do the entire study guide next friday along with his/her test. 
Anatomy- see anatomy syllabus
Leadership- Read Chapter 2 of text.  Read and answer questions on pages 23-47 of the workbook

Grammar school homework is according to your schedule/syllabus.  If you are unsure of what to do, please email Maryann directly. 

Lastly, I have to address the cleaning that was done yesterday more specifically.  The cleaning itself was great for the most part and I did see all the moms including myself working very hard.  Unfortunately, although some of the students worked alongside their parents, most of them were hardly working, including my own ,(though I must admit the students did do all of the set up and tear down).  I think it was good and necessary, possibly, that the moms did the bulk of the work the first time because now we surely know what it will take for success in getting the cleaning done in a timely manner and can, with more clarity, direct our students.  But we do have to get the energy and muscle of our students, (boys to be more specific) more involved with the cleaning.  Believe me I understand the possible philosophy as I come from the "its easier to just do it myself to ensure its done and done right" generation.  But we dont want our students to miss the awesome opportunity of learning good work ethic as well as the wonderful opportunity to serve by cleaning in the house of the Lord.  We want them to have the same attitude as David when he said, "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.  I'd rather be a door keeper in the house my God than dwell in ease in the tents of wickedness".  Psalm 84:10 I think, according to that scripture, meant that David would rather even clean toilets in the house of the Lord than dwell in the palace with wickedness.  That scripture played over and over in my mind as I vacuumed the sanctuary yesterday.  I felt honored to be a part of cleaning the church although I realize its just a building and not necessarily where the Lord dwells.   (I do understand that our hearts are the place where He dwells.  But it was still an honor to serve in the capacity that we did.)  And although our students may complain some at having to pitch in to do chores, hopefully there will come a time in their lives when they will look back on this task with pleasure and feel honor at the opportunity to serve. 

I will be posting some of the photos taken yesterday so check those out and I look forward to seeing you all for another awesome Tuesday next week, Lord willing. 
In Christ,
LaChrisha

Hello C3 families.
Well tomorrow, God willing, is the first day of classes and I expect complete success in our day.  Of course there may be some hiccups as it is our first day but whatever happens I expect to meet it with patience and gratefulness to God for even making this day happen.  Please remember to bring lunch responsibilities, any supplies you can donate from the supplies list, a snack and drink/drinks, especially water, for your student and yourself, whatever you need to teach your class if you are teaching and a readied heart to face this new endeavor.  I fully expect all of the parents to do great because you all have an awesome attitude and a willingness to pitch in with help where it is needed.  We have a new volunteer in Hosanna Alvarado who will be volunteering in the elementary school room and wherever else she is needed.  Im especially grateful for her volunteering because although we are all volunteering, she is the only person without an enrolled student or vested interest in the success of the co-op, so thank you Hosanna.  Please be prayerful for Tracie Bethea as she wont be able to make it to the first class day due to health reasons.  Shirley will be taking the leadership class for tomorrow but Im sure Shirley will be needing as much help as she can get.  Remember to use the first 10 minutes of your class for memory work in keeping with the classical method of learning.   I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow and to the great things God has in store for us for the year.  Stay tuned for posted homework and other fun or vital information. 

First Post/Homework

Welcome C3 families!
This is the first post of many in this blog for our home school co-op.  You can expect to find updates, homework,  and photos on this blog.  Im so excited and can already see that we are going to have an awesome year!  You are all great ladies obviously committed to providing an awesome home school experience to your students.  Hopefully the love of homeschooling that we all have will trickle down to our children and we will create generations committed to home schooling.  I love the way Pastor Hilton's wife put it yesterday, home schooling is not the answer.  Christ is.  But home schooling  is an awesome tool that Christ has provided for us to build men and women of character who love the Lord and are committed to knowing Him and making Him known.

As you know, we will be starting classes on this coming Tuesday the 11th of September.  It has been discussed and decided that we will need to come under CFS for the insurance.  On Tuesday we will need to  bring whatever you were assigned for lunch, fees ($15 co-op fee monthly/$20 CFS fees annual), of course what you will need to teach your class if you have been assigned one, and a snack and water/drinks for each of your students.  If you need to, you may make payments next Tuesday the 18th, but as much as possible no later.

If you have friends interested in joining us they will need to be at the first classes which is the cutoff date.  The fee is $5 per month for one class per family and $15 per month for more than 1 class.  They will also need to join CFS if they are not already a member so they will need to pay the $20 annual fee.

If you have news you would like to submit to the blog just get it to me via email.  Also, please send homework via email no later than Tuesday evening after classes so that I can get it on the blog by Wednesday morning every week.  If you have pictures to submit, send them via email and I will try to get them posted on the blog.

Lastly, Vonetta, our resident photographer, has offered to do a picture day this year in preparation for the yearbook which we will create at the end of the year.  Also, she will be taking pix for the first class day.  What a blessing.  God has certainly provided all that we need for the year, what an awesome God we serve!
In Christ,
LaChrisha