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Challenge Tutors' Discussion Page

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Issue #1 ISSUE #1 IS SETTLED---WE BEGIN AUGUST 26 AND FINISH DECEMBER 9-- After I typed this, Ann Soukup let me know that their son will be in camp that week in Vermont. What do you all think--change the date for that family or leave it??????

Is he in camp on Aug 26 or Dec 9? Anne

I would say to keep it the way it is and just have Peter work ahead on week one, or if the challenge tutor is willing (I would be) to catch him up on anything he missed. Michelle

Which of the choices below works best for you? Place your name beside your choice. Michelle Add other choices:
 * 1) Begin August 26 and finish December 9, with one break during Thanksgiving. (CARA) (Joann) Max
 * 1) Begin August 26 and finish December 16, with a break in October and during Thanksgiving.

DISCUSSION: I'd just rather have the extra time at the holidays and finish sooner. Sounds good to me!

Issue #2 JoAnn--if it is ok with you, I'll move on over to option #2 so that we can go ahead and settle on this. (sounds fine to me too)

> List other options below:
 * 1) Begin 8:00 am--end 3:00 (one hour lunch) (CARA) (joann)
 * 1) Begin 8:30 am--end 3:30 (one hour lunch with class before lunch split to half hour before and after lunch) Max, Michelle
 * 2) Begin 8:30 am--end 3:00 (half-hour lunch with class before lunch split to half hour before and after lunch)

DISCUSSION: Remember---families have to take turns providing recess activities so it becomes difficult/impossible to do that for us Challenge tutors if the lunch break is cut to 30 mins. Plus, Ch. tutors with younger children have to supervise them during lunch. I picked #1 so that I can have a full hr. of teaching before the assembly and possibly cut out 10-15 of rhetoric so that students MIGHT be able to go to assembly. 8 am is an early start time for some. If we use it, we'll have to STRESS that people get there on time and are ready to begin at 8, especially if we begin with math!! It's only one day per week, right? Another learning experience dressed for class at 8am! I think we should allow more time for the Grows and the Whites to get there in the am. The Grows have an hour drive. ​

Last year we had assembly at 9:15. This gave me a 45 minute class before assembly, I'd rather have 50 minutes to an hour, especially if I were teaching math. We could start at 8:15 or 8:25, and have a full class. This would also help the long distance travellers.

I have to say I don't like a split class. But I don't see a workable alternative.

I think that is a good idea to begin at 8:15. That seems like a happy medium. You're right--we will need that full class if we do math first. Does this mean that the challenge start time is 8:15 and ending time is 3:15? Anne

Issue #3 Are we willing to allow students to exchange math levels? In other words, may a Challenge A student join Challenge B for math? Add your comments below: If so, we'll have to work out the finances and scheduling. I think this will mostly apply to Challenges A,B, and 1. We'll need to offer math at the same time and keep in mind that some families are not doing math with us at all. CC is strongly urging us to encourage families to go ahead and let their child sit in the math class even if he/she is doing something besides Saxon. Do we want to make it easy for families to opt out and offer it first or last thing in the day, or do we put in the somewhere else in the schedule and require a study hall?

Here are my thoughts: I prefer to offer math first thing so that the Grows and Whites have a little extra travel time in the mornings. I am willing to let students exchange levels as needed. (CARA)

I think the opportunity to do a higher or lower math seems something to be encouraged. Maybe there are reasons but my impression from training was the main objection was disruption of class and getting kids settled back down. some of these groups have 12 students per class. That could be a problem but if Math is first thing and we really stress being prompt to class it seems like a good idea.(joann)

I'm fine with having students go up or down for math. What about Latin? We could have it right after Math, that way we could get all the switching out of the way in the morning and have less interruptions during the rest of the day. I have encouraged my students (including Gregory) to go ahead and sit in on the math strand because it can't hurt them to get a different perspective, review, or even a sneak peek for the future. I think it would be beneficial for them no matter what the circumstance.

Anne can't teach math first thing, but I don't think she has any transfers, so I think we're unanimous.

Issue #4 would anyone like to do the auction again this year. Kids seemed to enjoy it.

That was fun, I'd like to know more about how kids earned points to bid with.

I gave points for homework completion and game prizes. (Cara)

I like the idea. I think it would be a great motivator for them. I'm interested, if my students are. Cara, can you give us some guidelines so that we're all playing the same game?

Yes, could we be thinking about what we'd like to give the pts. for and settle the matter at orientation before class begins?

LIST OTHER DISCUSSION ISSUES BELOW--

ISSUE #5 SPRING SCHEDULES!!! Some parents want to know this as soon as possible in order to plan trips.

OPTION 1- Begin January 14 and end May 5--allowing one week off for spring break and one off for standardized testing.

OPTION 2--Begin January 6 ﻿ and end April 28--allowing one week off for spring break and one off for standardized testing. (joann- in case snow like last year leads to having to add extra days but either option is ok ) This one would work best for us, also. I am preparing the CC Directory and would like to include a calendar for the year. I am going to contact Jan Layfield about the week of CHEWV testing. I have a question regarding spring break. When were you planning to schedule that? Easter is April 24th according to my calendar. If the Challenge classes started on Jan. 6, took one week off in March for Chewv testing and then continued on through April 21st they would end the week before Easter Sunday. I guess that would be an Option #3 for spring semester. The other question is do you want to schedule any possible missed days for April 28th or do you want to skip that week and schedule them in May? Anne Do we need a spring break if we take off week of testing and finish class by end of April? Perhaps we could survey our family's at orientation to see how they feel (those family's with more than one chick may say "oh yes"). I like idea of 28th for makeup day but May is fine too. Joann ​ Max This works for us--Cara (its actually jan 6) Add other options!

Ann Soukup had wanted us to get together again for another informational meeting for parents still trying to decide which level to place their students. Again, I think that this would only involve Challenges A, B, and I. What do you think? I'm free the 21st, 22, 23 next week (and maybe before if neeeded) in evening if anyone wants to meet. or available by phone about anytime before. Joann ​

Issue #6 IMPORTANT Are you willing to allow families to make monthly payments if they pay a minimum of 30% before class begins?? I allowed families to do this last year. I'm not advertising it this year, but if a family approaches me and asks for another payment option besides half before each semester, I will allow this. Families who have more than one child in the program, especially the challenge levels, could probably use this help. (its ok with me too)

OK, Max

Issue #7 orientation

I was wondering if you would like to have a family picnic/dinner/orientation like we did last year? Do you want to do Challenge and Foundations together? If it is an orientation for Challenge it would need to be before Aug. 26. One idea I had was to have time slots for the different classes so that families with students in several classes would not have an overlap. I could try to organize some family games so that there would be something to do in between sessions. How much time is needed for your orientation?

options1- Each Director sets up their own orientation

option 2 - The Challenge classes have an orientation together but not with Foundations

option 3- The whole CC (Challenge and Foundations) have their orientation together with no meal and no games - there would just be time slots set up for the various classes

option 4-The whole CC (Challenge and Foundations) have their orientation together with a meal but no organized games

options 5- The whole CC (Challenge and Foundations) have their orientation together with a meal and games This option sounds good to me, we could maybe have different times for Foundations and Challenge orientations while the other age groups have games (during Foundations orientation, the Challenge levels have games and then visa versa) (Michelle)

I like this option, but agree with Michelle that it is best to have different times for the Foundations & Challenge orientations. Is it true that Ch. A & 4 and Ch. B & 1 have no families overlapping, allowing the paired levels to meet at the same time? Could we consolidate those four levels into two, one-hour time slots and begin at 5 pm, with Foundations beginning at 7 pm? If we just did finger foods then maybe parents could just meet and greet one another at various times rather than try to do a sit-down meal to save time? It seems like our start date needs finalized (Soukup family) before we can set a date.(Cara)

OK, MAX Sounds good. If we start at the later date (Sept. 2?) then that gives us more time to have the orientation. -Michelle

6- The whole CC (Challenge and Foundations) have their orientation together with no meal but games or some type of organized activity