Week 4 and Week1

We've added VSS as a virtual student this week...good thing VSS is a indpendant worker - a skill that will take her far! Debating on whether to change my naming referance (VS1 &2 or VS2 and K) -any feedback - so as not to confuse but still maintain anonymity. Fall has arrived with 45 degree wakeups and cold dreary rain - thankful to be home in comfy clothes not at a bus stop or drop off!

Supplies and book should arrive later this week- VSS is so excited - afraid of reading though - no worries from LC though!
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For VS this week was mostly spent with.....Language arts {suprise}.... somethinglike 15 pages of reading plus introduction of main idea/predicate, several pages of workbook (did 3 of 10?), a NEW spelling concept (adding endings -ed,-ing,-s)  really threw VS for a loop. Wed spent working on the main idea/predicate idea - 25 minutes on one page......WHY?

Because for VS it sets the foundation for subsequent lessons. If VS doesn't get concept the first time/presentation - he'll struggle the rest of the year. So time spent is a GOOD long term investment.

Main idea and predicate was easy once it clicked on second or third practice sentance- but locating and "defending" why a sentance from a paragraph/story was the main idea....well that added the ASPIE factor - inferring emotions and knowing what body language meant. So back to square 1 on words and their meaning (boy shrugged at suggestion of extra water for a hike in desert)....back to story to see how implied emotion (shurgged) conveyed the boys' action and expectation and how this sentance was leading to main idea: the boy in story had different inital expectation for the day.

That's why LA takes so much longer - not just teaching LA lesson but "details" to support the lesson for long term gain. The next workbook was much easier because VS knew what idea to look for but didn't have a implied emotion - a straightforward qs based on fact. Sucess: main idea and predicate are now "easy"  per VS - especially when reinforced by Mr. Morton and Pearl on Schoolhouse Rocks!

Today for Social Study VS had to answer qs about a person "highlighted" in Unit - Rosalynn Carter or Be.
Who did you study? Benjamin Banneker
 How did this person contribute to American History? planned the capital city

So I cued VS about teacher's expectation of sentances -blank stare: "Oh, like main idea and predicate? I said YES! "where's your main idea"...so we rewrote with sentences with his words. First qs was a big struggle to gain self prespective - but it clicked - that ASPIE factor again.
Now we have to write about our neighborhood....graphic organizers are the ticket! Then use that main idea and predicate again.....easy as pie, right? OK aslong as he isn't mentioning the police incident from 2 days ago!