As in our usual fashion, we started with our review of our reading of The Lemonade War from yesterday. Piero correctly answered 11 of 14 questions in follow up of our reading of the beginning of chapter 6. He was stumped on a few of the questions and we worked through them together. We then continued reading the end of chapter 6. We made predictions as we read and we are working to figure out why Evan is so unhappy with Jessie! For a fun phonics and vocabulary activity, we completed two, ten-step word ladders. With a word ladder, we start with a short word (such as: base) and then with descriptive clues and directives to change, add, and/or replace one or two letters, we work our way up by creating new words to fit the descriptions. One of our word ladders started with “base” and moved through different words such as bass, mist, and mast to then end up at ball! This is a fun way to analyze phonics and how letters are used together as well as increase vocabulary. For example, today, Piero learned bass, mist, mast, seam, and that sweat means perspiration. Oral language directed activities: We enjoyed talking about the Marvel character Black Panther, as Piero gave me information to put on our slide. Next, we laughed at funny pictures of penguins watching t.v. as well as a koala sleeping in an awkward position on the tree. Piero gave me captions, which we worked to expand together. We then worked on strong articulation of the English “j” sound in the initial and medial position of words (such as joke, journey, and project). Piero read the word and then used it in a sentence working on articulation as well as stretching his sentence with proper form. Finally, we enjoyed our game of Would you Rather. I learned that Piero would rather sail a boat than go hang gliding because he likes to go fishing and be out on the ocean. Piero has also been tasked with just “telling me something new or something about his day” when we start our class. For now, he is needing a lot of modeling and prompting. We will be working to expand his open dialogue skills.