I thought I would post this to help give a clearer view of what goes on around here. This is part of a parent orientation packet. I have posted parts of the packet already (the independent reading list and the what to do with an independent novel). We seem to  catch two basic types of students, those who have homeschooled all along and now want more group work as they prepare for college. And those who have been in traditional schools and have fallen through the cracks or have not been challenged. It is a very diverse community that crosses many age, religious, racial, and social-economic backgrounds. I love these kids with all my heart and opening my home to them 4 days a week has been a huge blessing!

We have been on break from the Summer Quarter for less than a full week and the house seems so empty and very quiet. The puppy is going nuts without her 20-25 kids to play with! We start the Fall Quarter on September 6th. Before then I have to get the books and materials out and sorted and the house deep cleaned!

Personal Best in All Subjects: Assignments must be in cursive or typed. Papers are to be neat and well organized. Folders and binders are to be organized and culled each quarter. All work is to be done on loose leaf paper and kept in the student's binder unless otherwise instructed. When work is turned in , it is also to be picked up promptly!

Math: Each student will have math assignments at their level from a math book on Mon. Wed. and Fri. Each lesson contains 20 to 30 problems. If the problems are not finished here, they need to be finished at home. On Tuesday and Thursday they will be expected to do math projects or work on life skills that use math (ex: cooking or balancing a checkbook).

Grammar: Each student will be expected to learn the parts of speech, their jobs and how to find them in a sentence, meanings of Greek and Latin roots, how to write a solid paragraph, common grammar rules, and spelling rules. There will be Grammar Quizzes at least three times per quarter. Thoughts for the day will be discussed during grammar time. There will also be essays and reports from History and Literature to edit on a weekly basis.

Foreign Language: We will have Mr. Aaron to help in the afternoons with formal Hebrew and Greek. Ms. Sandie will be teaching Latin I and II and Mr Dirk will be available on Wednesdays to help anyone who wants German. Students who plan on going to college are strongly recommended to choose a language and study it seriously.

Literature: For independent reading please see the very specific requirements outlined in What To Do With An Independent Novel. For group literature, students will be expected to listen to a book being read aloud, participate in group discussions and write individual reaction papers.

Geography/ History: We will be building notebooks based on the assignments in the book Around The World In 180 Days. We will be writing reports and essays based on the questions and suggested research topics. There will also be independent projects, group projects, cooking, music, art, movies, and current events based on each continent.

Independent Studies: I am expecting each 9^th to 12^th grader to 'fill-in' their schedule with one or two serious passions of their own. This could be novel writing, music, role playing games, movie making, photography, year book, painting, poetry, needle work, game design, a science, a sport, a job, etc.... If Mr. Dirk, Ms. Barb or I have no working knowledge in the field we will work to find a mentor who does.

What I expect from the parents: Your support is very important to me. We are a team working together to help your child be the best they can be. If you have questions or concerns I would like you to bring them to me right away. I am usually easiest to get a hold of by email or by phone after 3:00pm. I need you to ask the students about due dates, assignment sheets, projects and especially independent novels. If you don't see work by your child in the newsletter it means they aren't turning any in, ask them about it. Ask to see the continent folders and projects that will be evaluated and returned within one week of me receiving them. Please work hard to get your children here by 8:50am. We start small group work at 9:00am sharp. When students come in between 9:00 and 9:30 it causes major problems for us as tutors. Students leaving before 3:15 can also cause frustration when the tutor is in the middle of a class or project.

Basic Small Group Schedule for Mon, Wed, Fri.(often subject to vary):

9:00am to 10:30am Math

10:30am to 11:30am Literature

11:30am to 12:30pm Lunch/ Outside playtime

12:30pm to 1:15pm Grammar

1:15pm to 3:15pm History/ Geography/ Foreign Language

3:15pm to 4:00pm Independent Studies/ Projects