Katya has a project on Puppy Mills. Her research essay is due Tuesday. Today she wrote an expository email to the main advocate for puppy mills from an article found in the Sun Sentinel -- graded -- 100%. Due next Friday, Katya will be working on an illustrated allegory on this subject Puppy Mills similar to the one in The Book Thief for next Friday. Study 12 vocabulary words for the test on Tuesday.
Further research on Puppy Mills, discussion, and a well-known contact advocate was discovered. We may practice writing by contacting this advocate for animal rights, particularly puppy mills. Essay structure and differentiation of persuasive essay was reviewed. Vocabulary was added each session into Katya's vocabulary notebook. We are revising and proofreading her essay draft.
Katya was on Skype today. Reading The Book Thief critically works well on these days. I model analysis through critical thinking for her, and ask her Socratic questions as she reads. She is thus learning how to write a solid analysis essay which we will be doing later on. We also added a few new vocabulary words from the text that Katya added to her vocabulary notebook.
Katya is continuing to read ahead in The Book Thief. We are watching portions of the movie, and she is continuing to discuss similarities and differences with the book and movie, preparing for an essay at the conclusion. She is evaluating each and forming opinions as to which merits more value for what reasons. She is taking copious notes, and making astute observations.
Alexa has notes on patterns of organization from the Patterns textbook, followed by work online with corresponding program to explain these further and test her on these organizational writing strategies. Alexa will choose one of the patterns and write a short essay about the beginning of The Book Thief (book compared to movie rendition). Next, CPalms antihero. We will keep alert to antiheroes in The Book Thief, as well as when we begin our upcoming Shakespearean and Agatha Christi plays. Alexa will continue to read The Book Thief at home, and study vocabulary. Test next Tuesday.
Alexa is required to read a Shakespeare and a modern play to complete 10th grade requirements for Florida. We perused a list of Shakespearean plays of which she has read/studied two. This was a great opportunity for her to see his works and read some summaries while deciding which we would select. The "winner" is The Tempest. I loved this play in undergrad work. We then researched and chose a modern play by Agatha Christi because Alexa loves mysteries. Various literary tidbits emerged through this research, think, deciding time! Alexa is to read more of The Book Thief before next Tuesday, and to study vocabulary words.
Katya took the "Pretest for Topics and Main Ideas" online in the Macmillan program that matches the "Patterns" composition textbook. This shows Katya's strong points, as well as what weak points need to be addressed. Later, she will take the post-test for a grade. Reviewing missed items gives opportunity to discuss strategies and concepts in both test-taking and reading/writing to ascertain or to create a main point (develop it and demonstrate focus).
Katya worked through the rest of her Puppy Mill essay. Some more research was involved to clarify and expand on the ideas and to utilize the writing strategies she has been learning from the Patterns textbook. The concluding paragraph is an example of community action closing a hurtful puppy mill, and a call to action for our state. We will submit this for publication after revision.
Alexa is gaining an understanding of the background for The Book Thief, Hitler's Germany, as she is reading the book and taking notes on similarities and differences to the film. We are reading and then watching the movie, analyzing, note-taking, and preparing for a comparison/contrast essay. Alexa gained new vocabulary from The Book Thief as we read, adding words to her notebook. She is working on writing a story as an alternative type of test on vocabulary. We are also working on reading skills online with the program that complements the Patterns composition textbook.
