Will was absent. We were to continue with grammar lessons.

Will continues to amaze me. Today he scored quite well on a diagnostic grammar test. He wanted to know the difference between passive and active voice, so we spent some time with that. He told me that going forward, he wants to practice punctuation, pronouns, demonstrative adjectives (this, that, etc.) and SURPRISE! how to make poetry. Ok then. Onward!

Will finished "Where IS Here?" today and contemplated the analysis suggesting that all of the characters are, in fact, ghosts. Will has asked for a grammar unit, so he worked on a pre-assessment today to determine areas of greatest need.

Will discovered the truth of the strange visitor in Joyce Carol Oates's story today. He identified the strange aspects that contribute to tone and drive the plot and drew the appropriate inference regarding the father's real personality.

Will began reading the Modern Gothic short story "Where Is Here?" and really seems to be enjoying its delightful creepiness. As we proceed, he is noting the words and phrases that contribute to the tone. What is going to happen now that this curious stranger who claims to have once lived in this home is inside?

Will chose to continue to work on his essay on Thoreau's Walden instead of beginning a new text --and what great work he did! He was able to edit his sentences. On his own, Will decided to excise all of the first person references in the draft, like "I think that" and "My opinion is," and even decided that Thoreau's emphasis on needs over wants needed to be qualified. After all, Thoreau's want was to find out how to live more meaningfully and some wants are good, like the quest for knowledge or a cure for disease. Great job, Will!

Will finished reading the chapters from Walden today and began his essay that should address the questions: Why did Thoreau go to the woods? What did he learn? Describe three of his big ideas about life and why you agree or disagree with them.

Walden really seems to resonate with Will. He enjoys Thoreau's insistence on living in one's own way.

Will progressed in Chapter 1 of Walden. Today we discussed the folly or wisdom of working one's entire life to buy more "stuff," a bigger home, and luxury items, when one can live simply. Thoreau urges Will to consider the way he wants to live.

We are reading excerpts from Walden. As we proceed line by line, Will's face lights up with understanding. "Men work in order to make money and buy things which moths and rust will corrupt and thieves break through and steal. It is a fool's life, as they will find when they get to the end of it, if not before. Most men lead lives of quiet desperation." Will was able to interpret and summarize this line admirably, AND relate it to Economics AND reflect on its meaning for him personally. This is so exciting! GREAT JOB, Will! No homework; we are working line by line together.