Cycle 2 Memory Work Flip Chart

Oh, my . . . this baby was a labor of love, y'all!

It certainly took a long time, but I think this flip chart is much better than the one I did for Cycle 1. You may think it's a little early to start thinking about Cycle 2, but I like to be an early bird when I can. And have you checked out Pinterest lately?! Mamas are already pinning tons of ideas for the next cycle! Awesome!

If you'd like to make your own flip chart like this, the pdf can be found on C3:

username: melodystroud

file name: Cycle 2 Memory Work Flip Chart

After printing, you'll have to go to the Latin page and add the macrons yourself (those small lines above some of the letters); I didn't know how to do that on the computer. Everything is in the chart except the Bible passage, Ephesians 6:1-24. I know that some communities use different versions, so you can just type that up yourself if you're so inclined. All the pages fit nicely into a 4 x 6 photo album. I stopped by Dollar General yesterday to pick one up (True Living Brag Book to be exact), and it was only $1. I'm telling you, these little flip charts are SO much handier than flipping through that big Foundations Guide (and I'm not knockin' the FG, but you know that thing is HUGE!). And they're great to keep in your purse, too, especially if you're headed to the library. So, whew! I'm just so glad it's done now! 

We returned to our CC community yesterday after an 8 or 9 week break. It wasn't supposed to be that long, but then weather and sickness pushed us back a few extra weeks. It was SO GREAT to be back! I love that Mary sees other kids learning the same things she is, and all of the children are really excited about being together. Rumor is, our class is the rowdiest; I wouldn't doubt that. ;)

Our fabulous tutor had an exciting game for the kids to play for review:

They got to go FISHING (the chairs are their boat)! On the back of each fish was a review question.

Mary's reeling one in! 

The fishing game was fun for the kids, but honestly, it was stressful for me. They all had a hard time getting the magnet to land on the paper clip; it felt like it was taking for-e-ver (insert Sandlot movie clip here - remember that part? Too funny!) Anyway, the kids absolutely loved it, of course, but I was thinking, Let's speed this up! Here, let me catch one for ya! Can't we get some more questions in?! During lunch, I was talking to a sweet friend whose son is in the class with Mary. I complained (yes, I know, I know, complaining is terrible) about how long the fish game took, and then BOOM! It's like God spoke right through her to me. She said, "Yeah, but we want the kids to have fun, too, and be excited about learning."

Ouch! I was pretty embarrassed.

I can tell I'm going to have to work on the fun part of learning for a long time, probably for-e-ver. ;)

Yes, yes, I'd already fallen back into my review-machine mode. So, thank you, friend, for gently reminding me that reviewing does not always equal drilling. And thank you, Mary's awesome tutor, for creating a review game that the kids LOVED to play.

Okay, enough humble pie for me. ;) Let's end on a happy note:

Isn't this a cute picture?! In Art this week, we're studying Ghiberti. He was the Italian artist who created the bronze doors for the Baptistry of Florence in the early Renaissance. So, all the kids used clay and made three-dimensional doors with pictures that were supposed to tell something from the Bible. How cool! Mary said this door told the story of when God sent the snakes to the Israelite camp. Yikes! Ha!

Have to run, more later, friends!

This post is being submitted to Brandy's January CC Blog Carnival at Half-a-Hundred Acre Wood.