I was happy to see Glen today after several weeks! We began with a phonological awareness exercise, Alpha Chip sequencing, word fluency list, and timed oral reading fluency passage. I reviewed the Latin and Greek roots and taught a lesson on the root "tract," which means to drag or pull. We listened to a one-minute Membean podcast, brainstormed words such as tractor, attract, subtract, and Glen illustrated a page for his notebook. Finally, Glen read an article about space volcanoes and black holes from Readworks.

We began with a phonological awareness exercise, level G1#5. Glen sequenced Alpha Chips in 57 seconds and then read a timed oral reading fluency passage with excellent prosody and comprehension. After reviewing the Latin and Greek roots learned, I taught the Latin root "cor/cour," which means heart. We brainstormed words, including courage and core. Glen read an article from National Geographic kids about the history of Valentine's Day to link the root to some background knowledge (although the subject matter wasn't new to Glen!). Finally, Glen illustrated a page for his vocabulary notebook.

Glen and I had a fantastic session today. First, Glen sequenced Alpha Chips and completed a phonological awareness exercise. Glen read two oral reading fluency passages with good prosody and comprehension. I reviewed the word roots taught so far and introduced the root "fort," which means strong. We brainstormed words that include the root, such as fortitude, fortify, and reinforce. Glen illustrated a page for his vocabulary notebook, choosing the word "reinforce" as his example. He read aloud an article about Fort Sumpter and the beginning of the Civil War. We concluded the session researching Braille; one of the oral reading passages was about Braille, and Glen was curious to learn more. Great work today, Glen!

We began the session with a phonological awareness exercise, Level I1. This exercise was easy for Glen: we will move up a level in the next meeting. He sequenced Alpha Chips in 51 seconds. I reviewed the sound deck, emphasizing vowel teams, R controlled, ou, ow, and the three sounds of ea and y. We took a quick sight word Jenga break. Glen then syllabicated a list of three-syllable words. I concluded teaching the Latin root "dec," which means "ten." Then we talked about the words decade, decimal, etc. but were curious about "December." We watched a video that explained the names of the months. December was the tenth month before Julius Caesar codified the calendar. Interesting! Glen illustrated a page for his notebook, showing a calendar changing from the old decade (2019) to the new (2020). As always, Glen is a delight to teach!

I adore teaching Glen. We began with a phonological awareness exercise while he drew on the dry erase board; he has mastered level H, and we will move onto level I. He sequenced Alpha Chips in just over a minute. I reviewed the sound deck, except for "Y" and "ea" as vowels, he has the sounds and blends mastered. I reviewed spelling rules with sentence dictation. Glen is solid with c&k and FFLLSSZZ but is uncertain with -ck, -tch, and -dge endings. I will re-teach that rule next week. After quickly reviewing previously taught word roots, I explained the Latin root "script". We brainstormed words such as prescription, scribble, description, and manuscript. We watched a brief video on medieval illuminated manuscripts, and Glen read aloud an article about the topic. We concluded the session with Glen illustrating a page for his vocabulary notebook. He chose the word "prescription." Terrific work, Glen!

Glen and I began with a phonological awareness exercise while he drew on the dry erase board. We reviewed previously taught Latin roots (ject, rupt, and sect) and I introduced the Greek root "photo" which means light. We brainstormed words with the root (photograph, photosynthesis). Glen illustrated "photosynthesis" for the vocabulary section of his notebook. We watched a short video on Greek mythology, and Glen read the myth of Minos and the Minotaur. We concluded the session playing several rounds of "Phonics Dice" to review closed, open, and silent E syllable types. As always, Glen was diligent and a joy to teach.

I began with a phonological awareness exercise while Glen drew. Level G is mastered; we will move to Level H next session. He illustrated the Latin roots already learned (ject and rupt). He will have a Latin roots section in his notebook. We played a game of syllable snake which reinforces closed, open, and silent e syllable types. He syllabicated Thanksgiving words with ease. I introduced the Latin root "sect" which means to cut. We researched the word on Membean (a etymology site for vocabulary building) and read an article from Encyclopedia Brittanica online about insects. Finally, Glen illustrated "sect" for his notebook. As always, great work!

I did a phonological awareness exercise while he drew on the dry erase board. I wanted to continue morphology and I introduced the Latin root "rupt" which means to break or burst. I put this root in the context of Pompeii and the eruption of Mt. Vesuvias. We watched a short video and then he read aloud an article. We played Crazy Moose (all syllables). Great work!

Glenn is so much fun. I did a phonological awareness exercise while he drew a group of complicated dragons. I wanted to introduce morphology to him in a rational way because he is so curious. I had a YouTube video on the Roman Empire that I thought would be an excellent introduction to the Latin influences on the English language. He was mesmerized, and we watched the 15-minute video. I then introduced the prefixes re- and inter-, the suffixes -ing and -ed, and the root word -ject. I explained that by knowing the meanings of all of the above, he could grow his vocabulary exponentially. We brainstormed words and then watched the School House Rocks video on "interjections," which was a fun way to understand the root word "ject".

I began the session reviewing diphthongs and r-controlled vowels with the sound deck. I briefly taught consonant -le and reinforced the concept with a game of Slap! I have decided that Glen is ready to learn morphology (Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Greek roots), which is a great way to learn a vast amount of vocabulary. I discussed the topic, showing him a simple graph that explained that most of our words are Anglo-Saxon (common, everyday objects), followed by Latin (more scholarly words), and then Greek (often scientific and mathematical). I gave a brief prefix assessment. We will begin morphology next week. We concluded the session team-reading an article from the New York Times on leeches, which Glen enjoyed. Great work!