Franchessca worked with me in class, and has studied independently, the portion of the SAT prep book that explains the
types of things found in the grammar/writing section of the SAT. These include differences and when to use lay/lie, or than/then, as well as punctuation rules. Franchessca is continuing through the Barron prep book practice tests in the grammar/writing sections with marked improvement. She began with an average of 2 and sometimes 3 wrong per section. This week it is an average of only one. She is continuing with a new list of vocabulary to learn by tomorrow's class, as well as review of earlier lists.
Franchessca took a vocabulary test on lists 1 - 5 -- random words are selected, plus a review of those missed on earlier attempts. She is writing any ones missed and I continue to ask these. In this way, her SAT vocabulary will become much stronger. This will help a great deal in the reading as well as grammar/writing portions. We then worked through a couple of more prep tests in the grammar/writing category.
Franchessca had another vocabulary test reviewing lists 1 to 4. We then reviewed some of the prep tests in the Barron's book in the grammar/writing area of SAT. Full explanations and discussion followed any of the ones she had missed. Following this we began another practice test together where I could help and guide through some of the questions when needed.
In this session, we practiced everything we had studied in the previous class -- focus on grammar/writing portion for SAT. Franchessca has a good amount of homework to prepare for our next session and is now learning list 4 of vocabulary. I have tests prepared to do with her next time.
By request, after consultation with her school advisor, we have switched from SAT essay training to the Grammar/writing section for preparation. This is the weakest area so it needs the most focus right now. We read and discussed the grammar explanations with examples from the Barron test prep book. We are also continuing to vigorously study the SAT academic vocabulary and I am holding her accountable with a test (including surprise review words) each session.
In this lesson, we reviewed criteria for the SAT essay in the prep textbook. We read and discussed the strategies used in a sample full point essay. Franchessca took a vocabulary test on list one SAT academic words. She is assigned list two.
Franchessca had a wonderful first session to prepare for the SAT essay portion that she is scheduled to take Nov. 7. We reviewed expectations and scoring thoroughly -- 5 paragraphs, high-level vocabulary, 3-4 page length, and structure. We are using Barron's prep book for 20-21. I sent vocabulary list one to her email to get a quick start. She will get Barron's tomorrow and read the first example essay and response that is scored with full points. Franchessca will practice writing essays after her second session tomorrow. She understands that these always must be evaluations of the author's building of argument. I will give her feedback on each category of scoring for her essays.
Assignment
Learn vocab list one - read sample one in Barron's for essay
