Bella reviewed SAT vocabulary being studied. She then played a digital game matching the words with their definitions. I then had her write on a topic related to the theme of the novel being read. I am integrating the elements of high-level writing as she does a writing assignment each session. She then continued reading, analyzing, and discussing Escape from Camp 14.

We began by analyzing the known quote in Chapter 2 that Ivan's life was" simple ,ordinary and miserable." We discussed Tolstoy's meaning in classifying the "ordinary" as miserable and based on the text noted how Ivan's life is ordinary because he craves acceptance by conforming to upper class society's habits and fashions and hence had an empty or "miserable" life. In this regard, we examined that Ivan "married" only because those in high positions 'considered it the proper thing to do" . Ivan's emotional detachment from his wife and those he must sentence foretell the treatment he will receive upon sickness. Last, I explained the subtle bibilcal allusion to the Fall of Man as described in Genesis , enacted when Ivan injures himself falling off a ladder while decorating his "bourgeois " home. Matthew was impressed by Tolstoy's skill in embedding the allusion in the plot without a specific mention of the biblical event. HW- read next chapter/hand in essay revision.

Jaydn reviewed the SAT vocabulary that was introduced last week. She applied the words to the given sentences. She created sentences as well using the words. She then read the next chapter of Jeanette Wall's The Glass Castle. We discussed the effect of the mother's thinking and choices on the protagonist. Jaydn did a quick write on the word Mother. We compared and contrasted what she wrote with Jeanette Wall's mother's traits.

I met Bella today and we discussed her English syllabus for the year. I also discussed her prior English experience in New York and assessed her writing, vocabulary, and reading skills. She stated that she has never studied vocabulary in the past. I introduced to her the 2015 nonfiction novel Escape from Camp 14 which centers on the country of North Korea, its government, and the treatment of the people in its camps. Bella read the first chapter and we discussed the introduction of the government and the young man the story centers on.

Matthew began the class with a critical comment on the reading i.e. Tolstoy begins the novel with the announcement of the death of the protagonist , Ivan Ilych . The chronology of his life is ignored. We then discussed the structural and literary purpose of beginning the novel this way by placing on the board all of the characters chapter 1 introduces. We see their reactions to the death, , and I explained how Tolstoy wants the reader to focus on the society that Ilych "swam " with. The upper classes are cold, selfish, and can't accept that death is something that can happen to them. We see, by contrast, that Ivan's young son and Ivan's peasant servant have pity, feel pain ,and accept death as the fate shared by everyone.. Referencing the text, we analyzed the difference between the values of the upper class with its emphasis on propriety with the values of the lower class. During the second half of the session, we ,in detail, discussed proposed revisions to Matthew's essay on Thoreau and Jack London. I addressed run-ons, capitalization, parallel structure, and most importantly reordering the sentences within paragraphs to create a more cohesive essay. For homework read chapter. 3 for Tues./rewrite essay for Weds.

To introduce our next literary study , Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych", today I provided biographical information about Tolstoy's life, his major works, his religious conversion. From there, I discussed the similarities between Tolstoy's religious convictions and Thoreau's rejection of conformity and materialism. I noted how Tolstoy, while Russian, was a contemporary of Thoreau , and while Thoreau encouraged individuality and a rejection of societal expectations, Tolstoy urged a rejection of propriety as evidenced by upper class values, manners, and beliefs. We discussed how Tolstoy renounced his wealth and property in order to achieve a higher plane of morality , again similar to Thoreau's view that obsession with material wealth and values obfuscated life's purpose and meaning. Last, to assist in comprehension , I provided some definitions of the French idioms and Russian terms contained in the opening chapters. We briefly discussed essay writing which we will continue next week. For homework ,due Monday read chapters 1 and 2.

We reviewed and discussed Matthew's draft essay contrasting London as a Naturalist author and Thoreau as a Transcendentalist advocate and writer. Overall, he wrote a very good draft. He composed a very good introduction and aptly integrated quotes from London's short story into his essay. We worked on eliminating sentence run-ons and extraneous sentences as well as adding critical portions of the London short story to the essay. Matthew needed some assistance working with Thoreau's "Walden". However , he very quickly was able to refocus his essay and per our discussions and my verb choice suggestions he completed his paragraph identifying Thoreau's view of Nature and located and included supporting examples in his essay. We then worked on how to incorporate content contrasting the two authors' perspectives. For homework, complete and continue to rewrite essay.

After reviewing Matthew's homework answers and essay outline, I provided instruction for writing the essay contrasting Thoreau's Transcendentalist view of Nature , with London's Naturalist philosophy as exemplified by the two works we have read to date. We discussed defining the two genres in the introduction paragraph ,and I placed on the board the salient characteristics of the Transcendentalists. We then analyzed the text of both works and annotated portions that would illustrate the distinct philosophies of each author. I further provided additional verbs and transitions words that would be useful in distinguishing the two outlooks.. Matthew then began composing the introduction including a topic sentence and definitions of "Naturalism" and "Transcendentalism" . For homework, complete introduction and two supporting paragraphs.

For homework, Matthew read excerpts from Thoreau's "Walden". Today, I outlined the salient propositions advanced by Thoreau: Nature as an avenue to spiritual enlightenment and societal conformity as a hindrance to self development. We studied the text to find support for these propositions which I then placed on the board noting Thoreau's constant use of metaphors and allusions to argue his ideas. I emphasized some of Walden's most popular maxims such as "Simplify ,Simplify" and "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer". We discussed the type of "details" that Thoreau argues cause a man to "fritter away" his life as well as Thoreau's view on the "wealth" of poverty. I then distributed a compare and contrast essay addressing the view of Nature espoused by Jack London and Thoreau . We worked on forming a topic sentence, and I discussed how to prepare an essay outline. For homework,finish questions on the reading and prepare essay outline.

Having outlined the philosophy of Emerson and Thoreau yesterday, today we studied an excerpt from Thoreau's famous book, "Walden". Before reading ,I placed on the whiteboard a brief summary of the main points of the reading- Nature as a portal to spirituality, society's wasteful fixation on material wealth as a distraction, and the positive aspects of "poverty". Matthew placed these ideas in his notebook . As we read the opening portions of the lyrical and philosophical text, I explained and elaborated on Thoreau's belief that owning property and a house was no different than being in a prison. Matthew questioned this proposition, and we discussed how sometimes time and financial burdens accompanying the ownership of property and of too many things in general can take away focus from what Thoreau would consider more meaningful pursuits. In this regard, we examined Thoreau's motto "Simplify ,Simplify ,Simplify". We last discussed Thoreau as an early conservationist and noted the contrast between Thoreau's and Jack London's view of Nature. For HW complete reading excerpt for Monday; answer 3 questions.