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.

Chase was absent today.

Today we continued to revise Chase's horror story. I also helped her edit another essay for AP Lit.

Today we began reading Chase's horror story to continue editing and critiquing it. Next, Chase revised the rhyme and meter of her nature poem. Lastly, we continued to read the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow".

Today we discussed integrating foreshadow, irony, and mood into Chase's horror story. Chase spent some time revising and then we started to read the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Today we began by reading Edgar Allan Poe's "Cask of Amontillado." We discussed aspects of the story that increased tension and created a sense of horror in the plot including: the narrator's perspective and the development of his character, the use of foreshadowing, irony, dialogue, description, and sentence syntax. Lastly, I asked Chase to revise her "Corn Field" horror story by developing those same elements.

Today, I asked Chase to reflect upon her progress and goals as a writer. We then listened to Amy Tan's TED talk entitled "Where Creativity Comes From." Chase took notes and we discussed Tan's writing process.

Today, Chase considered revising or adding to her nature-inspired poem. Next, we read an excerpt from "Believing in Horses." We discussed the descriptive imagery and theme, then Chase brainstormed for her next Halloween themed assignment.

Today, Chase revised her dialogue & description short story exercise. Next, we spent some time in the yoga garden. There we read a poem called "This World" by Mary Oliver, and I asked Chase to write a poem inspired by her 5 senses and nature.

Today we continued to read "The Destructors." We discussed how tension is built using dialogue and description, as well as some of the underlying themes in the work; for instance, coming of age, post-war culture, power and loss of innocence. We then read Chase's dialogue and description short story and related the themes between the two stories. I asked Chase to revise her story by trying to build more tension before the climax using dialogue and description.