Mega Memory Month: January Edition!!

Last October, the children and I participated in Ann Kroeker's first "Mega Memory Month" challenge.   We learned Psalm 1 and Robert Louis Stevenson's "My Shadow".  It was a great experience for us, and just the motivation we needed to tackle some longer pieces by memory.  (More on our Mega Memory Month experiences can be found here.) 

I was so excited when Ann announced that she would be hosting a new challenge this month.  December has been a crazy month, and the motivation and accountability of this challenge should be a great help in getting back on track with the new year.  

We started working on the Beatitudes before Christmas, but then got sidetracked with another "Mega" memory project...Peter and Bayley learning their rather *long* parts for the children's choir Christmas musical.  

So..we are going to get back to the Beatitudes...Matthew 5:3-12.  It's been so long, and we had learned so little to begin with, it will be like starting from scratch, I'm afraid. 

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, 
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
 4Blessed are those who mourn, 
      for they will be comforted. 
 5Blessed are the meek, 
      for they will inherit the earth. 
 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 
      for they will be filled. 
 7Blessed are the merciful, 
      for they will be shown mercy. 
 8Blessed are the pure in heart, 
      for they will see God. 
 9Blessed are the peacemakers, 
      for they will be called sons of God. 
 10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

~Matthew 5:3-12

We are also going to try another poem.  Even though we didn't *officially* finish "My Shadow" in October, we enjoyed working on it, and I was amazed that they learned quite a bit of it independently...Emlyn actually ended up learning the entire poem!   So...our January poem will be "Grammar in a Nutshell".   I found it in a poetry book my aunt gave me for Christmas when I was about 7, The Home Book of Verse for Young Folks, by B.E. Stevenson.  It has been much used and well-loved. :)

Grammar in a Nutshell

Three little words you often see  
Are articles - an, a, and the.

A noun is the name of anything  
As school, or garden, hoop, or swing.

Adjectives tell the kind of noun,  As great, small, pretty, white, or brown.

Instead of nouns the pronouns stand -  
Her head, his face, your arm, my hand.

Verbs tell of something being done -  
To read, count, laugh, sing, jump, or run.

How things are done the adverbs tell,  As slowly, quickly, ill, or well.

Conjunctions join the words together  
As men and women, wind or weather.

The prepositions stand before  
A noun, as in or through the door.

The interjections show surprise  As Oh! How pretty!  Ah! How wise!

The whole are called the nine parts of speech,  
Which reading, writing, speaking teach.

~Anonymous

We are excited about starting our MMM work on Monday!  Many thanks to Ann for hosting again!!