The Challenge I program offers so many exciting milestones--I'm looking forward to the journey ahead centered on our theme: Discipline Brings Freedom! Your students will join me weekly to practice their persuasive speaking skills as they are introduced to team policy debate and individual speech events, discuss how man is made free through topics that range from the formation of governments, to the laws of the universe, and the validity of sound logic, will continue to hone their persuasive essay skills applied to American Literature selections, will explore the physical world and the elementary properties of Physics with hands-on labs and discussions, and find out how basic economics work with hands-on practice budgeting and investing in the stock market. Wow! I'm praying that the fellowship we form will build supportive friendships which last through to graduation and beyond!

• 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 (see Application pdf above) and application fee. 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 I Guide: I will make every effort to get the Challenge I 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 I Guide per CC Policy).
• Parent Orientation will be held in mid-August 1 week before our start date (TBD). At that time, we will together walk through the scope and sequence of Challenge I, 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 I 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.

You will need the following required resources which appear in the Classical Conversations Catalog pages (see above) or at https://classicalconversationsbooks.com/collections/challenge-i.

• Exposition: Lost Tools of Writing Level 1 Teacher Set (includes Teacher and Student Workbooks) as well as all the literature books if you have not already purchased for previous Challenge levels; Words Aptly Spoken American Literature; and the American literature selections for Challenge I. We will be reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond and not The Sign of the Beaver; and we will be reading Tom Sawyer and not An Old Fashioned Girl.
• Reasoning: The Taming of the Shrew and Traditional Logic I 2nd Edition text, student workbook, and answer key. The Traditional Logic I DVD is not required.
  
• Logic (Math): Saxon Algebra 1, 3rd Edition Homeschool Kit (includes Teacher and Student materials) and the Saxon Algebra 1 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 1st Year Latin Text (purple) and Henle Grammar (blue) if not already purchased for a previous Challenge level. My preference for the Henle 1st Year Latin Answer Key can be found and purchased for $5 here: http://www.setonbooks.com/viewone.php?ToView=S-L1HS-12 Also suggested for success are the Trivium Tables Latin and Cassell's Latin Dictionary. It is very helpful to have the Henle 1st Year Latin Text and the Henle Grammar (blue) spiral bound! The UPS Store will cut the left bindings, even laminate the front and back covers, and spiral bind these books for a fair price. These books will be used for several years so it is worth doing at the beginning!
  
• Research: Exploring Creation with Physical Science 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 Physical Science, 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: Words Aptly Spoken American Documents, Tour Guide: Introduction to Debate, Trivium Tables Debate, Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? 7th Edition, The Money Mystery, and The Bluestocking Guide to Economics 5th Edition are all required resources.
  

Here are some ideas for summer preparation for Challenge I:

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 B, a notebook which will follow you for all 4 years of Challenge. See the appendix in your Challenge I 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.
• Check out Memrise Henle 1 Vocabulary here: https://www.memrise.com/course/198250/henle-first-year-latin/
• Review Noun and Verb endings--ask your Director for "The Mother Ship" Verb chart and use it to drill verb forms.

Exposition:

• Read A Witch of Blackbird Pond and Billy Budd during the summer.

ADMINISTRATIVE PREP:

We will revisit College Transcripts, Testing and Transitions at our Virtuous Adventure College event in January 2021, however you have transcript, testing, and graduation planning documents (attachment) from the 2020 event. 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. See Virtuous Adventure document below for samples and resources.
• 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 I: 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/.

Registration for Parent Practicum in Central Indiana is currently on hold. We are hoping to be able to gather in mid-July for the CC Noblesville Practicum! The Parent Practicum theme is Cultivating the Conversation: The Art of Exposition! When we reopen registration, look for more information at https://www.parentpracticum.com/ for this free 3-day workshop where you can be encouraged and equipped!This is also your opportunity to peruse the books your student will need for homeschooling classically this upcoming year!

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)
• Art Start (ages 3-5)
• Creative Cartography (ages 6-8)
• Story Craft (ages 9-15)