Challenge II

The Challenge II program offers so many exciting milestones--I'm looking forward to the journey ahead centered on our theme: Discipline Brings Freedom! Flowing from the examination of freedom in Challenge I, the theme of Challenge II leads students to weigh the value and impact of choices executed by literary figures and heroes, historical leaders, artistic greats, and other persons of influence. Students study the flow and development of ideas that shaped Western thought and culture and how they have led to twentieth-century thinking. British literature, Latin 2, traditional logic, algebra and geometry, Western cultural history, and biology with labs provide the academic core. Advances in language skills, research, writing, dialogue, and debate continue as Challenge II moves into a more rhetorical format than earlier Challenges. Elocution or “style” in written and oral presentations gains importance as students learn and practice new types of rhetorical skills, including persuasive, impromptu, and debate presentations. Wow! I'm praying that the fellowship we have formed over these past few years will continue to deepen and strengthen through to graduation and beyond!

Have you registered for Parent Practicum? Consider joining us in Lebanon May 29-31 or in Noblesville June 18-20! It's easy to find out more and to register at https://www.parentpracticum.com/ for this free 3-day workshop where you can be encouraged and equipped while your Challenge student attends a student writing camp! This is also your opportunity to peruse the books your student will need for Challenge II!

The Parent Practicum theme is Returning to Roots & Reason: The Art of Arithmetic. Are you ready to examine the “roots and reasons” for the classical Christian model of education? Are you determined to improve your grasp on the tools of learning? Are you eager to share some fellowship with like-minded parents? Join us this summer and find out how to study math in a whole new way.

Student Options: Consider also enrolling your students in an academic camp while you are at Practicum! We’ve got an exciting three days planned for all our students, full of learning activities, projects, games, and fun:

• Nursery (2 and under)
• Play Camp (ages 3-5)
• GeoDraw Camp (ages 6-8)
• Math Mania (ages 9-14) (Noblesville only)
• Institute for Excellence in Writing (ages 9-14) https://iew.com/ (Lebanon only)
• Lost Tools of Writing (ages 12-14) https://www.circeinstitute.org/lost-tools-writing

You will need the following required resources which appear in the Classical Conversations Catalog pages 88-89 or at https://classicalconversationsbooks.com/collections/challenge-ii.

• Exposition: Words Aptly Spoken British Literature; and the British literature selections for Challenge II. Helpful but not required is Wakeful Words. While I always find the Classical Conversations bookstore prices to be competitive, I know many of you may already own some of the literature books your student will need for next year. Please note that exact version of the following literature selections offered through the CC Bookstore should be purchased: Gorgias, Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales
• Reasoning: Traditional Logic II 2nd Edition text, student workbook, and answer key. The Traditional Logic II DVD is helpful but not required. The Elements of Style is also required. Trivium Tables Logic is helpful but not required.
  
• Logic (Math): Saxon Algebra 2, 3rd Edition Homeschool Kit (includes Teacher and Student materials) and the Saxon Algebra 2 Solutions Manual which details the steps to arrive at the correct answers. DVDs which accompany this curriculum are available for purchase but not required.
  
• Grammar: Henle 2nd Year Latin Text (green) and Henle Grammar (blue) if not already purchased for a previous Challenge level. My preference for the Henle 2nd Year Latin Answer Key can be found and purchased for $12 here: https://www.olvs.org/store/bookstore/school/latin-2nd-year-iii-answer-key/2 Also suggested for success are the Trivium Tables Latin and Cassell's Latin Dictionary.
  
• Research: Exploring Creation with Biology 2nd Edition textbook and Tests and Solutions set; The Student Lab Report Handbook, 2nd Edition, and a lab journal (bound graph paper) are all required. I suggest purchasing Exploring Creation with Biology, Student Notebook by Vicki Dincher from Amazon.com as it has a graphic organizer for defining vocabulary, taking notes, doing the Module exercises, and writing the lab reports. This would be used instead of a bound graph paper lab journal if you opt to purchase this for your student.
• Debate: Marvelous to Behold, State of the Arts, The Gift of Music, Classical Music for Dummies, 2nd Edition, and Tour Guide: Introduction to Debate are all required resources. Trivium Tables Rhetoric is a helpful but not required resource.
  

• Application & Application Fee: If you have not already completed your Challenge application form and paid your Challenge application fee of $125, please do so ASAP! Checks can be made payable to and can be mailed to me with the completed application fee (attached). This signals to me to keep you in the loop for all upcoming communications!
• First Semester Tuition: Please plan to pay first semester tuition ($687.50) payable to me by July 20. I will send you an invoice in late June as a reminder.
  
• Challenge II Guide: I will make every effort to get the Challenge II Guide to you as it is available! (I must have your application fee and first semester tuition payments in hand to be able to give you your Challenge II Guide per CC Policy).
• Parent Orientation will be held in early August 1 week before our start date (TBD). At that time, we will together walk through the scope and sequence of Challenge II, set up student notebooks, discuss parent, tutor and student roles so that we have a well-defined partnership, as well as make sure everyone has the materials needed to start.
• Start Date for Classes: We will start Challenge II mid-August (TBD)!
  
• 2019-2020 Proposed Calendar: Please see the attached calendar for a quick glance at orientation and start dates as well as breaks for our academic year.

Here are some ideas for summer preparation for Challenge II:

ACADEMIC PREP:

I'm a firm believer in rest, relaxation, exploration and inspiration during the summer! Some people like to have ideas for preparation during the summer, and so if you want suggestions, here are a few:

Logic:

• Work on any weaknesses from previous math level.
  
• Set up a free Khan Academy account for your student at https://www.khanacademy.org/ and link your PSAT from your College Board account at https://www.collegeboard.org/ to set up a customized practice schedule to work on areas in which your student needs improvement for the SAT.

Debate:

• Fill in items in your Timeline Notebook from Challenge I, a notebook which will follow you for all 4 years of Challenge. See the appendix in your Challenge II Guide for ideas!
  
• Visit the Art Institute of Chicago and Newfields art museums and attend an Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performance.

Grammar/Latin:

• Review Henle 1 Vocabulary. Drill flashcards periodically.
• Review Noun and Verb endings--ask your Director for "The Mother Ship" Verb chart and use it to drill verb forms.

Literature:

• Read A Tale of Two Cities and A Passage to India during the summer.

ADMINISTRATIVE PREP:

We will revisit College Transcripts, Testing and Transitions at our On Track for College event in January 2020. In the mean time, I have a few suggestions for your planning this summer!

Transcripts & Assessment:

• This might be a good summer to explore setting up your student's transcripts using www.academicrecords.net or another resource.
• Review Indiana Graduation Standards: While homeschool students do not receive a Core 40 diploma, many colleges are looking that our students meet these standards. Remember to double credits Classical Conversations lists on the Scope & Sequence to match Indiana's credit system. https://www.doe.in.gov/standards
• Want to track your student's grades this upcoming year? Check out this free downloadable resource which you could customize for Challenge II: https://fivejs.com/homeschool-gradebook-free-download/

Upcoming Testing Options:

• PSAT Test: You will want to contact your local school district or an accredited private school ASAP to see if your student can take the PSAT in October. Tests are ordered now for the fall, and students interested in taking the PSAT must do so at a public or accredited school. The official PSAT is taken in October of the student's Junior year and is how National Merit Scholars are identified.
  
• SAT Test: Enroll your student for upcoming SAT testing this fall: https://www.collegeboard.org/. There are great SAT practice opportunities at https://www.khanacademy.org/. Link to your student's PSAT from the College Board website and set up a custom practice schedule to practice areas where your student needs improvement.
• ACT Test: Register for upcoming ACT tests for this fall: https://www.act.org/ The ACT is a faster-paced test but in some ways is more formulaic and so once students have familiarity with its format, they can more easily improve their scores after taking practice tests.
  
• CLT Exam: For students who may pursue enrollment at a Christian or faith-affiliated college, the CLT Exam offers opportunities for scholarships! This is a Classical Learning Test and can be offered locally if we have enough students in the central IN area who have an interest in taking this test. Find out more at http://www.cltexam.com/.