Jaydn completed a creative writing assignment utilizing the SAT vocabulary being studied. She then read, analyzed, and discussed the next two chapters of The Glass Castle. She discussed the behavior of the grandmother and its effect on the children's father and the family as a whole.
Cabo read, analyzed, and discussed chapter 19 of The Catcher in the Rye. He analyzed the characters in the chapter and discussed their motives using textbase to support his predictions and opinions. He then reviewed the SAT vocabulary being studied and created a shoirt story using the words appropriately.
Matthew took an exam on chapters 1-7 during most of the session. In the remaining minutes , we reviewed suggested final edits and revisions to his homework essay on London and Thoreau. I demonstrated ways to improve transitions, to particularize the conclusion ,and to eliminate superfluous words or sentences. HW- Due Monday-read chapter 9/ans.study guide questions.
As we are having a test on chapters 1- 7 tomorrow, today we used the study guide questions for chapter 8 as a test practice exercise. We specifically worked on the need to elaborate and to tie question responses to a larger theme ,idea, or conflict. I worked with Matthew in creating a model response to why Ivan feels close only to his son and to his servant by demonstrating how to elaborate that response by contrasting Ivan's feeling toward his son with Ivan's antagonism toward his wife and his daughter. We further discussed the relationship between structure and meaning in the novel noting the juxtaposition of scenes as well as the function of the novel's first pages announcing the death of Ivan Ilych. HW-study for test.
Bella continued the study and application of punctuation rules. She wrote a paragraph utilizing the rules studied. She then read, analyzed, and discussed the next two chapters of Escape from Camp 14.
Jaydn wrote an abbreviated memoir of a segment of her life imitating the style of Jeannette Wall's. She then edited it for diction, punctuation, and grammar. She then read, discussed, and analyzed the next two chapters of Jeanette Wall's The Glass Castle.
Cabo continued his study of SAT vocabulary creating a story utilizing all the words appropriately. He then read, discussed, and analyzed the next chapter of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye making predictions for the protagonist using text for support.
Using the chapter 7 study guide as a foundation for discussion and writing practice we examined Ivan's impatience with the lies and empty concerns of his immediate family and of his doctors. I discussed the parallel between the falsehoods heaped upon Ivan- that he will recover from his illness-with the false and empty values that hitherto guided his existence. By contrast, his servant exhibits true compassion. Matthew drafted study guide answers discussing the distinct values of the "servant" class and those of the upper class who value pretension over truth and compassion. As we are studying this novella as a prequel to "Into the Wild" ,the non-fiction book about the either noble or tragic death of Chris McCandles, Matthew raised good questions about how and why the novels of Tolstoy and Jack London could lead Chris McCandles to renounce civilization and family. HW-read next chapter.Test -Wednesday.
I began an advanced study of the correct use of punctuation today. I introduced Bella to the first 5 rules and she applied the rules to various types of sentences and a paragraph. She then reviewed 10 of the SAT vocabulary words being studied. She practiced them in various writing situations. She then read, discussed, and analyzed the next three chapters of Escape from Camp 14.
