January 2016 - Innova Academy

January 2016
Adele first encountered
classical education
through reading Susan
Wise Bauer’s book The
Well-Trained Mind.
While home educating
her children, she quickly
adopted the classical
method and her
enthusiasm increased
as she saw the fruit of
the methodology in her
children’s progress.
Twelve years later,
Adele is thrilled to see
the vision of a classical,
Christian school
become a reality, and is
currently teaching
Grades 5 and 6 at
Innova Academy.
Besides home
educating, Adele has
taught Grades 5 and 6,
Kindergarten to Grade 8
music, and worked as a
special education
resource and
enrichment teacher in
both public and private
schools.
Adele McLaughlin
Teacher
Grade 5 and
Grade 6
Grade 5
Mrs. Adele McLaughlin
Teachers and students at Innova Academy begin each
day with Morning Meeting, a time of song, scripture
reading, prayer, and shared learning. This month,
students will sing and memorize the hymn, When We All
Get to Heaven, name and locate the countries of South
America, as well as learn some aspects of the provincial
government.
In Literature this month, Grade 5 students will study a
number of poems based on the theme seasonal change.
Students will distinguish figurative from literal language
and learn to recognize imagery, simile, personification,
and metaphor. They will also explore the tone of each
selection, and compare and contrast poems. In
Grammar study, students will review punctuation
conventions learned to date, and learn the proper use
commas, semi-colons, and colons. In Writing
Composition students will write a book review, which
includes information about the author, an opinion of the
book, and a recommendation. In Spelling, students will
review and practice all rules learned to date. They will
continue to analyze weekly spelling words, and use
these words in well-developed sentences. Vocabulary
skills are applied across the curriculum by learning and
applying definitions of words in various contexts, and
identifying synonyms and antonyms.
In Mathematics, Grade 5 students will be introduced to
a unit on algebra and recognize that algebraic
expressions can be used to describe situations and solve
real-world problems. Students will recognize, express,
evaluate and simplify algebraic expressions. They will
evaluate inequalities and solve simple equations.
Afterwards, students will move on to a unit on finding the
area of a triangle. They will begin by finding the area of a
rectangle, and then are introduced to using the base and
height in order to find the area of a triangle.
In Bible class, Grade 5 students will conclude their study
of the book of Acts. They will learn how God used
persecution to advance the gospel during the first
century and continues to do so today. Through the story
of Philip and the Ethiopian man, students will observe
the way in which Philip witnessed to him and how this
can be a model for their own opportunities to share the
gospel. They will also study the conversion of Saul, and
note that God can use anyone to advance his kingdom.
Through studying the story of Peter, students will discuss
that people are not a part of God’s family through birth or
ritual, but through a personal relationship with Christ.
In Science this month, Grade 5 students will continue to
study living things in God’s wonderful creation. They will
begin the month studying mammals and birds, and then
explore the world of invertebrates. Students will observe
the distinctive characteristics of birds that separate them
from other vertebrates, and learn about the three basic
groups of mammals: monotremes, marsupials, and
placental mammals. They will also learn the major phyla of
invertebrates and identify the main types of animals in
each.
Art this month will involve a study of self-portraits. Grade
5 students will sketch a self-portrait with the use of a
mirror. They will learn the elements involved in drawing a
human face, paying particular attention to the positioning
and proportions of each feature. Once the sketches are
completed, students will experiment with different
materials to create the finished portrait.
In History this month, Grade 5 students will continue to
study the role of the Christian Church. They will learn that
the church and state were frequently in conflict as they
study the struggle between Frederick II and Pope
Innocent III, the investiture controversy, and the
Petrobrusians and Waldensians. Students will then study
the Crusades. They will identify the attitudes, beliefs, and
events that led to the Crusades, learn about the roles of
Saladin and Richard the Lion-Heart, and explore the direct
and indirect results of the Crusades. Throughout the unit,
students will add key events to the classroom timeline and
learn the Timeline Song.
In Latin class this month, students will learn second
declension neuter noun endings and conjugate donum
(gift). Students will translate and label simple sentences,
expand their vocabulary and study English derivatives.
Dans Français Niveau 1, les étudiants vont continuer
«l'apprentissage à l’aide de gestes» qui est une méthode
d'apprentissage de la langue basé sur les actions. Les
étudiants vont continuer à développer et augmenter leurs
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Grade 5 – The
Grammar Stage
The grammar stage
builds a solid academic
foundation. Children
have a natural ability to
readily absorb large
quantities of information.
They find memorization
enjoyable, and happily
sing and chant phonics
and grammar rules,
math facts, Latin
vocabulary, the names
of the continents and
oceans, and the
important events and
dates of history.
Grammar school
education focuses on the
absorption of facts and
rules, and lays the
foundation for the logic
stage.
vocabulaire et phrases clef, ce qui leur permettra de
commencer à communiquer entre eux en français. En
outre, ils vont commencer à travailler sur une pièce de
théâtre intitulée «La Poule Maboule» qui facilitera
l'acquisition du vocabulaire essentiel. Les étudiants vont
commencer à apprendre différents temps de verbes et
la conjugaison.
In French 1, students will continue ‘gesture learning’
which is an action based language learning method.
Students will continue to learn new vocabulary and
phrases, which will enable them to begin to
communicate amongst themselves in French.
Furthermore, they will continue working on a play called
‘La Poule Maboule’ which will facilitate the acquisition of
essential vocabulary. The students will begin learning
different verb tenses and conjugation.
Dans Français Niveau 2, les étudiants vont continuer
«l'apprentissage à l’aide de gestes» qui est une
méthode d'apprentissage de la langue basé sur les
d'action. Les étudiants vont continuer à développer et
augmenter leurs vocabulaire et phrases clef, ce qui leur
permettra de commencer à communiquer entre eux en
français. Les étudiants apprendront également la
structure des phrases et étudieront de nouveaux
verbes. En outre, ils vont commencer à travailler les
pronoms possessifs. Les étudiants vont commencer à
apprendre différents temps de verbes et la conjugaison.
In French 2, students will continue ‘gesture learning’
which is an action based language learning method.
Students will continue to learn new vocabulary and
phrases, which will enable them to begin to
communicate amongst themselves in French. Students
will also learn the structure of sentences and will study
new verbs. Furthermore, they will begin working on
possessive pronouns. The students will begin learning
different verb tenses and conjugation.
demonstrating good sportsmanship.
January is a busy month in Music for Grade 5 students.
They will learn what it means to have questions and
answers in music, and be able to define and perform
anacrusis, or pick-up notes. They will learn
countermelodies, slurs, and major and minor moving
borduns. They will also continue their note learning on
recorders as they expand their knowledge of the musical
staff and the contour of melodies.
In Drama, Grade 5 students will work on a number of
non-verbal skills such as facial expressions and acting
with the body or using body language. A number of vocal
warm up exercises will be introduced to strengthen the
voice. The focus this month will be on the delivery of lines
as well as on-going character development.
Innova Academy has modified some of our curricular
sequencing to facilitate split grade classes. This allows for
enhanced classroom discussion and student interaction.
Please note that although students in different grades
study the same topic in some subject areas, curricular
expectations are tailored to individual grade levels.
We are looking forward to a great January, full of learning
and fun!
In Physical Education, Grade 5 students will continue
with the sport of basketball utilizing a skills circuit to
demonstrate their abilities. They will learn offense and
defense, practice the proper form of a lay-up, and apply
these skills to a friendly game of basketball while
Upcoming Events
Innova Academy aspires
January 4th – First day back to school in 2016
January 12th – Oral hygiene presentation – during school hours
January 25th – Casa Loma field trip
and women who will
to graduate young men
possess the virtues,
wisdom, knowledge, and
skills necessary for
further academic study.
Our goal is to equip
Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
students to discern truth
renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
from folly, to
what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)
communicate clearly and
persuasively, and to
Innova Academ y
1 0 0 0 G o rh a m S t re e t
N e w ma r ke t O N L 3 Y 1 L 8
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i n f o @ i n n o va a ca d e m y. ca
actively and influentially
serve Christ in their
communities.