Katya is continuing to work on her puppy mill essay. The introduction uses the strategy of background information, one of eight we are studying and will be using. The body paragraphs are developed in a pattern that fits the topic and intended audience -- we are preparing to submit this to the newspaper opinion page to elicit support in behalf of mistreated dogs in mills. Katya should bring the first rough draft on Tuesday, and we will look at newspaper guidelines. We added to her vocabulary and she is preparing for a test. Katya took notes on antihero from a great resource on CPalms. We watched a video, and she scored 100 on an antihero quiz. We then went deeper into antihero literature and film.

Alexa attempted the diagnostics, but the multiple choice format was daunting. Instead, we continued further into the online resources that accompany the textbook, Patterns, that we are using. Here she worked very well on Reading Skills, and picked up several excellent vocabulary words. She is writing a story with the list of vocabulary words to show her understanding of the term and how it is used. We ended our session by reading a few pages in The Book Thief. Creative writing ideas come easily, and we are capturing many on paper for later use.

Katya continued to the second diagnostic test today on the mechanics of writing. This is providing great material for teaching and supporting her composition work. We then went to CPalms, the official Florida site for Standards, where I found a great five-minute video under "resources" that clearly explained antihero with all its nuances. It also gave great examples. We began to watch it a second time so that Katya could take notes. She will finish this for homework. Additionally, I checked her first paragraph of the essay on puppy mills. She added MLA format to the page, made a couple of corrections, and will work on it further this weekend. I should get a first draft on Tuesday.

Alexa and I worked through some very close reading of The Book Thief, considering it from the viewpoint of a writer, noticing the rhetorical devices and their effects on the reader. Additionally, we brainstormed some more creative writing ideas that occurred as we read. Alexa began a dedicated vocabulary notebook with higher-level academic words and definitions. She is creating a vignette with the first ten words to demonstrate understanding and application. One or two rounded characters should emerge that are well-developed in a setting with sensory details. This creation of an exposition utilizing these academic words will count as quiz one. It is due on Thursday or Friday.

Katya took her vocabulary test today by Skype for an 80. We then finished taking notes from the Patterns textbook on the structure of essay, and narratives in particular. Additionally, we close read more of The Book Thief.

Today we did critical reading together in The Book Thief. We chose five new vocabulary words from the text. One of the words with its context in the book led us to watch a youtube for a few minutes that was excellent for realizing the setting and tone underlying this historical fiction novel. Katya may read ahead more if she so desires. She has homework from the previous session.

Katya took a pretest on vocabulary and literary terms. The graded test will be on Tuesday. We worked on the online computer portion of the Patterns textbook for sentence structure as a base for further teaching and explanation. We will continue this on Tuesday. Katya took notes as I taught her by writing questions from informational text in the Patterns textbook, and writing the answers under the questions. This is a good test prep strategy, and helps understand and memorize important materials. We added the portion on body paragraphs to the earlier work on introductory paragraphs.HOMEWORK: Katya is working on an essay on Puppy Mills. The introductory paragraph and a few body paragraphs should be completed by Tuesday. She also needs to study vocabulary and literary terms for Tuesday's test.

Alexa told me about the novel she wrote last year. I asked if it was in November, and it was. I then showed her the Ted Talk with Matt Cutts where he talks about writing a novel in 30 days each November. It was a pleasant surprise. After introducing Alexa to the textbook and online component, and affirming that we will read The Book Thief, we worked on a bit of grammar/punctuation (coordinating conjunctions), and then brainstormed ideas for short stories or future novels. We have a growing list. Homework -- write two paragraphs on TedTalk -- summary, and what you would do for 30 days and why.

Katya reviewed vocabulary and literary terms, writing them on the board and taking a picture of these. The test is tomorrow, Friday, 1/19. She showed me her two paragraphs in response to the TED talk on the 30-day-challenge. This provided opportunity to discuss quoting, paraphrasing, word choice, and setting up a paper in MLA format. Katya will study vocabulary and literary terms tonight.

We reviewed and marked Katya's fable for revision. We critiqued her illustrations and analyzed them in preparation for her Auditions. To augment understanding of Thesis statements, we viewed and discussed practical application of professionally written Thesis statements for crafting our own.