Classical Education Co-Op Calendar and Details 2012-13

We are utilizing the following curriculum:

Foundations — Classical Conversations, Cycle 1, 2012-13

Calendar 2012–13


24 Weeks of classes divided into 4 quarters.  Each Quarter has 6 weeks.  The last day of each Quarter we will have all the Co-ops meet together to do class together in a park or another location.

We will meet on Thursday mornings from 9 to 12.

Sign up:

This is a Co-Op, so technically, you could sign up the week we get started.
However, I think you will be committed much better if you let me know at the beginning of the summer.  I am located in Palm Beach County if you would like to be part of our Quarter End Reviews and Parent Nights.  Please email me early to find out who else is joining us.  candidesign1@gmail.com   

It is best to find 2 friends who want to join you at your home or at a park.  You can meet with the rest of us quarterly.  If you only find 1 friend, the chances are greater that it will not continue for the year- as unforeseeable events always arise.  If this does happen, it is possible to link up with another group if they have room in their home.  

You will need to pick one person as the lead person of your group, and pick your location to meet.  I will be the Co-Op Director- which decides on dates and locations of our Quarterly Reviews, and Parent Night Activities, as well as the calendaring of these dates.  Field-trips invitations are welcome from everyone.

**This is not a drop off program.  It works best if a parent is present for all of the classes. 


Parents Meeting:
Aug 8, 2013.(Wed.)  1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.   Make sure you have all the materials you need to get started.  Review of our plan for the upcoming year.  Ready, Set, Go!

Challenge A Starts:
Aug:  16  10:30 - 12:00  IEW Class


Qtr 1:
Aug:  23, 30
Sept: 6, 13, 20, 27
Quarter End Get Together Sept. 27, 2012.  Curriculum review games. 
Break: Oct 4 (Possible Field trip)


Qtr 2:
Oct: 11, 18, 25
Nov: 1, 8, 15

Quarter End Get Together Nov 15, 2012.  Curriculum review games. 
Semester End Parent Night.  (Thurs., Dec. 6), 7 p.m.

Break:  Class resumes in January
(Challenge A still meets on:  Thurs. Nov. 29, Thurs. Dec. 6.  1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.)

Fieldtrip:  Young At Art- Thurs. Nov. 30, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Break:
Park Days

Park Days: Fridays, 10:30 – 12:00
1. Field trip:  Young At Art
2. Dec 7 Sugar Sand Park, (Military Trail, South of Palmetto & North of Camino Real)
3. Dec 14 Village of Hillsboro Park, (4111 NW 6^th St., Deerfield Beach)
4. Dec 21 No Park Day
5. Dec 28 South County Regional Park, (West of Boca Raton, 12551 Glades Rd.)
6. Jan 4 Patch Reef Park, (Yamato, West of Military Trail)

Qtr 3:
Jan: 10, 16 (Wednesday Class), 24, 31
Feb: 7, (CHAA Saints Track Meet)
Feb. 14, 21

Feb. 14 Valentine's Party also
Feb 21 (TBD) Quarter End Get Together.  Curriculum review games. 
Break:  Feb. 28 (Possible Field trip)



Qtr 4:
Mar: 7, 14, 21, 28
Apr: 4, 11, 18  (one week will be a field trip)

Apr 18 Quarter End Get Together.  Curriculum review games.  Break one week after.

Year End Parent Night.   (Apr 19 or 20)

Class Day Schedule

We are overlapping our Foundations (K–6) and Challenge A (7–9) groups.  This is the simplified schedule listed below.  To see in more detail, visit the Challenge A page.

8:50 Arrive

9:00 – 9:30 Science

9:30 – 10:15 Student Presentations and Impromptu Oral Reports

10:15 – 10:45 Grammar Review

10:45 – 11:10 Fine Art

11:10 – 11:15 Snack and Restroom break

11:15 – 11:30  Devotional and Scripture Mastery

11:30 – 12:00 New Grammar

12:00 – 12:20 Lunch and Light Clean up

12:20– 12:55 Free Play

1:00 – 2:00 Optional Enrichment Class:  Apologia Zoology- 
                       Fall: Swimming Creatures and Spring: Land Animals

2:00 – 2:15 Optional Enrichment Class:  Grammar- Sentence Diagramming

2:15 – 3:15 Optional Enrichment Class:  Story of the World– Ancients

3:15 – 3:20       Clean up


The Student Presentations, Grammar Review and New Grammar will be led by the homeowner, as well as the flow through the Class Day Schedule.  They will announce what is next to the group.



Program Tuition and Fees
Art and Science and Misc. Supply Fee:  $50 per student  (Non-refundable)
No other fees.  (We are doing this program Co-op Style).

FYI:  The regular Classical Conversations program charges a fee per year per student, as well as a Registration fee and a Yearly Facility Fee.




Morning Devotional
We will start every class day by honoring the Lord through prayer.  We will also cover important announcements.
• Welcome by Home owner.
• Announcements by Director.
• Family Led:
• Prayer
(Stand a Little Taller, or similar daily thought book)
• Pledge to the American Flag
• Dismiss to Class by Director.

We will be having Devotional time during our morning, which will focus on the following also:

• Scripture Mastery  (Exodus Ch. 20) and Qtr. focus

• Scripture Devotional

We will rotate the assignment of Prayer, Scripture Mastery, Devotional and Pledge to a different family each week. 

**Scripture Mastery:  These can be downloaded as mp3 files at http://seminary.lds.org/mastery/  — Download— Study material — New Testament or Old Testament.

All Year:  Exodus Ch. 20
Qtr 1:  Exodus Ch 20: 3–17   Ten Commandments abbreviated.
Qtr 2:  Joshua 1:8                 This book of the law
Qtr 3:  Luke 24:36–39           Jesus himself stood in the midst of them
Qtr 4:  2 Timothy 3:16–17      All scripture is given by inspiration

For the Qtr Scripture Mastery scriptures, the goal is to become familiar with them.  One family member will read the scripture aloud, and then invite everyone to read it with them.  By repeating it every week during the quarter, recognition will be achieved.  Our main goal is to memorize Exodus Chapter 20.  Depending on your family, you can decide if memorization is required for Quarter scriptures.  We are learning the King James Version of the Bible in class.  

Why King James Version?  Learning the language of the scriptures is giving our children the gift of language.  This version is similar to learning a foreign language.  Once you become familiar with it, it unlocks so many doors throughout life.

Student Presentations

Every week (or every other week if your individual Co-Op decides), each student will have the opportunity to develop the important skills of speaking and listening by giving a 2–3 minute presentation during class time.  The younger students can use this as show-and-tell time and may even need their mother's assistance in a question/answer format.  Eventually, every child will be eager to speak so teachers will begin working with them to improve their presentation skills including eye contact, posture, pace, and volume.

The teachers have a rotating list of suggested topics for the older students to help them narrow their focus for each of the six weeks in every quarter.  Another idea is to use this time to present  papers the students have written for their grammar / writing classes or other homeschooling classes.

•  Week 1:  My favorite...
•  Week 2:  History (biography, event in time) or Geography
•  Week 3:  Art or music (biography, instrument, style, epoch)
•  Week 4:  Science or Collections
•  Week 5:  Book Report or Poetry Selection
•  Week 6:  Impromptu topics (three given by the tutor six minutes before the student is to speak; students choose one)

Impromptu Oral Reports are given each week.  We call these "Table Topics".  We get the group warmed up by having each person stand and speak clearly for 3 to 5 sentences on an easy topic.  IE:  My favorite food, or What I had for dinner last night.  We watch for um or filler words, and we give friendly advice.  Adults also participate and model good speaking skills for students.  Depending on the size of the group, this may or may not include everyone.


Semester End Family NightFriday, Date near middle of November, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location:  TBD

•  Prepare a memorized oral report on (To be discussed) that is 3 to 5 minutes.  Come dressed as the person you are talking about, or have something fun to share.  Start thinking now on what you'd like to share.
•  Artwork will be displayed
•  Any artwork you have done at home on the same subjects covered in class may be displayed.
•  Tin Whistle Song
•  Appetizers and Desserts
•  Great photo opportunity, and a night for Dad's and grandparents to see what's going on.


Year End Family Night
Friday, Date near end of April, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location:  TBD

•  Prepare a memorized oral report on Ancient History that is 3 to 5 minutes.  Come dressed as the person you are talking about, or have something fun to share.  Start thinking now on what you'd like to share.
•  Artwork will be displayed
•  Any artwork you have done at home on the same subjects covered in class may be displayed.
•  Orchestra Song
•  If you play an instrument, we'd love to hear it.  Piano, flute, guitar... pick your favorite song to share with us.
•  Great photo opportunity, and a night for Dad's and grandparents to see what's going on.


Field Trips
It would be nice to go on two field trips as a group during the year.  Possibly during the week that we have a break, or over the Christmas holiday.  Some ideas are attending a Symphony, or art museum that have to do with topics we are covering in class.


Last year we went to the Joe Dimaggio's Children's Hospital, and the Flaggler Museum in West Palm Beach together.






This curriculum is great for grades K – 8.  If you have older children who would like to participate with your group and family (Grades 7 and 8), assign them teaching roles as well as being a student.  This curriculum is wonderful for all ages.  For Parents Night, all ages are welcome to participate in Oral Reports, as well as in your own individual Co-Ops.  The curriculum states K-6, but that is for your discretion.