Chase completed 20 pages in her workbook to review foundational elements of Spanish.

Chase continues to wrestle with the future tense and direct object pronouns. We stepped back today to review the basics.

We read and discussed pp. 3-6 of Anne Lamott's BIRD BY BIRD, stopping to discuss contextual vocabulary. Chase selected and began a short, focused writing assignment to convey a highly specific childhood image.

The future tense is proving to be quite a challenge for Chase. We shall continue to work with it in coming days. She is also finding direct object pronouns to be rather confusing. Chase usually thrives with a challenge, but slowing this down a bit seems indicated.

Monday, October 30, 2017
02:30 - 04:15; 105 min. -
AP Environmental Science:
Water aquifer filter Lab part 2 -
Chase was tasked with explaining the water issues that are related to the Klamath River, as presented in the chapter on water. We reviewed the Klamath River together, using a National Geographic issue from December 2008, to describe how farmers, Native Americans, and fishermen have joined forces to let the river run wild. We discussed what a watershed is and examined the one associated with the Klamath River. Chase then returned her attention to the aquifer filter lab she started last week. She recorded her observations of the ‘polluted’ water, describing the sedimentation of the heavier pollutants. Together we reviewed the filter she built, and discussed how the coagulant she added worked to pull the heavier particulate together. She then carefully poured the top, clearer, layer of the water into her filter. We discussed the benefits and drawbacks of the permeability and porosity of the filter. I explained that if this were a water treatment system, disinfectants (such as bleach) would have been added before the water was processed into the filter. We compared and contrasted water treatment vs. natural water filter systems. Chase then conducted a water well activity, where she was tasked with illustrating the types of substrate found in a well in a pre-defined watershed. She then compared her illustration to ones for wells located in other areas of this watershed, as we discussed the ramifications of these differences. Homework: complete the questions at the end of module 18 and 19 in chapter 6 of the text.

We briefly discussed Chase's "The Corn Field" story, as well as her overall writing process and whether she's a "plotter" or a "pantser," along with the benefits of each style. We also discussed Anne Lamott's "bird by bird" and "1-inch" picture frame advice for writers, as well as Stephen King's "The road to hell is paved with adverbs" admonition. We examined some sample sentences/descriptions and discussed why some were more effective than others. I also introduced four new vocabulary words that might be useful in describing characters, while also exploring how alternate methods of character development might supersede using strings of adjectives.

Today we completed the critique and revision of Chase's horror story. I highly recommended that Chase submit this short story to a high school writing contest. The story was so well done. I have truly seen Chase's creative writing skills expand and flourish in the last couple of weeks that we have worked together.

Thursday, October 26, 2017
02:00 - 04:00; 120 min. -
AP Environmental Science:
Water aquifer filter Lab.-
After reviewing the vocabulary associated with the water unit. Chase was tasked with creating a simulation of an aquifer filtration system that mimics natural forces. We started with ‘polluted water’, consisting of dirty dishwater mixed with other household substances we use everyday, including yard clippings, soap, make-up, toothpaste, vinegar, etc. We added alum to bind the particulate in the water, and Chase shook the bottle of polluted water. She was then tasked with describing its turbidity every five minutes. Between observations, she created her filter system. She cut a soda bottle, fixed a coffee filter over the mouth, and added rocks, charcoal, coarse sand, and fine sand, to create a sedimentation trap filter. She flushed her system with tap water and set it aside. She will attempt to filter the ‘polluted’ water during our next class.
Homework: finish the assignment from Monday

We did a quick review and moved on to some topics in Geometry starting with the Pythagorean Theorem.

Chase reviewed direct object pronouns and the future tense. It is still a bit confusing to her but with practice she will get the hang of it. She now has a workbook to use when she cannot come to school.