Welcome to 2012 -2013 at Flint Academy

Welcome back! What an excellent year we have before us. Already the first month  has proven to be very productive. It is exciting to watch as students become engaged in their education in memorable and meaningful ways. You can expect many updates here throughout the year starting next week when I will post a description of what we are doing in class along with photos. Please read this syllabus, which includes details of how class time is being put to even better use through the integration of vocabulary workbook levels and the future inclusion of grammar work within the vocabulary program.

Language Arts Syllabus

2012-2013

Text:                The Winston Grammar Program - grammar workbook

Wordly Wise - vocabulary workbook

Barton - reading remediation

Supplemental Text:                 

The Bible

A History of the English Speaking People by Winston Churchill

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons.

The Official SAT study Guide

Course Description:              

After some review and throughout the year students will build on their understanding of how the parts of speech work together in articulate speech and writing. This will also involve labeling words in a sentences. In both grammar and vocabulary, students will have time for classroom discussion. Students will be encouraged daily to use vocabulary words, in context, in everyday conversation. It is important to know that 90 % mastery in student workbooks is required before students move forward in their work.

This year I am implementing an integration of the different levels of vocabulary within any particular class. Wordly Wise workbooks are numbered according to grade level; but not all students in, for example, tenth grade are in book ten. Each class may include students that are in 2 or 3 different grade levels. However the grade levels within each class will be near in number to each other. No students that are in book 5 will be in a class with students in book 12.  To enhance each students capacity to learn all vocabulary words from each level within a class will be reviewed together with the whole class. This benefits the students in many way.

Students who have finished workbooks that their classmates are working in will get a review of past work and in oral discussions their knowledge will enhance the understanding of those who are being introduced to new words.  Students who are working in the lower level workbooks will be getting a preview of words they will be having in the future. They are able to ask questions and participate in discussions about those words without the pressure of having to know them yet. More exposure to vocabulary words is better for all students. The students love this  interactive learning. It is fun and helps them be more engaged in their work and therefore teaches them more effectively.

During the second semester my students will begin working again in their Winston Grammar workbooks but rather than do either grammar or vocabulary work, students will use their knowledge of grammar as they identify the parts of speech of their vocabulary words and use them in sentences together as a class. The goal is to make it meaningful and in so doing, make it memorable.

Students will also be learning more about the history of the English language and will learn and use Old and Middle English words in the classroom as a fun way of connecting with their English speaking roots.

Classroom Expectations:

This year  students will be  focused on who they are in Christ. Hand in hand with practicing the habits of  Attention, Self Control, Sweet Temper and Perfect Execution; to name a few; my goal is to bring them to an awareness of who God says they are and show them the possibility of positive change that comes from within.

In the classroom students will be expected to be respectful of others and to pay particular attention to not wasting classroom time. A student who consistently speaks out of turn or because of behavior issues takes time away from the class may have to leave the room and will be counted as absent. This type of absence counts as a ½ day absences. Students should be aware of the seriousness of accumulated absence and make it a top priority to curb their behavior in the classroom.

Devotions Syllabus

2012-2013

This year students will be involved daily with self-evaluation concerning their own conduct and their practical implementation of a Charlotte Mason “habit” of their choosing. They will be given the opportunity to reflect on the use (or not) of their chosen habit during devotions and at the end of the day.

This year Mrs. Hallford and I will have devotions with the upper school girls. We will alternate days of guiding devotions. For the first semester in devotions I will have the girls look at Psalms 23. Their focus will be on learning to hear the Lord's words, not only with their minds, but with their spirits.