Welcome Back!

Welcome back to Flint everybody. Several of you don't know me but have probably seen me around Flint for a few years. This year I am the Language Arts teacher for the entire upper school and am very excited to be a part of the lives and educations of the wonderful students that come to Flint. This year we are offering four electives for eighth period; Art, Music, Rhetoric and Journalism.  I will be teaching Journalism. Here is what I have lined up.

Language Arts Syllabus

2011-2012

Text:     The Winston Grammar Program – grammar workbook

            Wordly Wise – vocabulary workbook

            Ridgewood Analogies – analogies workbook

            High Noon – reading remediation

            Explode the Code – phonics workbook

Supplemental Text:      David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – vocabulary/spelling word source

                      Julius Caesar by Shakespeare – vocabulary/spelling word source

                      A History of the English Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill

                      A History of the English Speaking Peoples since 1900 by Andrew Robert                               Kelley Wingate Publication, Grammar – worksheets

                      The Official SAT study Guide

Course Description

Use of the above workbooks is subject to change. Assessment of each student’s ability during the first few weeks will decide which books will be used by each student. As the year progresses students will acquire a greater understanding of how the parts of speech work together in articulate speech and writing. Students will learn sentence diagramming in order to gain a better grasp of correct sentence structure.

            

Because student work is individualized there is no way to show what aspects of each subject will be taught within a given month, however it is important to know that 90% mastery is required before students move forward in their work.

By hearing the history of how the English language has changed and developed through invasions, inventions and other historical events, students will learn the answer to the age old question, “WHY is this word spelled THAT way?”

Classroom Expectations

In line with Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of building strong character by practicing good habits, students will be expected to focus daily on classroom habits. These habits include; The Habit of Attention, The Habit of Self Control, The Habit of Sweet Temper and The Habit of Perfect Execution. I strive to provide a classroom environment that is peaceful and enjoyable for every student.

For any students that require more one on one instruction I will be available before the school day begins, during breaks and after school.

            

Devotions Syllabus

2011-2012

 

 

For home room devotions we will be reading The Silas Diary by christian  historian, Gene Edwards. This book tells the story of Acts and includes the customs, politics, economics; and financial status and situation of the people in that part of the world over the span of years in which Acts was written. After completing the Silas Diary we will read the book of Acts with the insight gained from learning the history of the time.

Journalism Syllabus

2011-2012

We will be studying journalism for a two and a half month block before rotating class electives. The journalism elective involves students working on the first ever Flint school newspaper and Yearbook.

 Course Description

Students will conduct interviews and polls; write articles, learn photography and be responsible for putting together both the monthly newspaper and the yearbook. Journalism will hone student's writing skills and help them develop their own writing styles. It will also give them practice using the habits of  attention and perfect execution, through editing. Other benefits are the experience and fun of functioning as a member of a team.

I look joyfully forward to seeing the students again tomorrow and look forward to meeting all of you that I have not met.