Week 10: Diagramming is doable!

Great class yesterday!

We introduced S-Vl-PA sentences, which prompted a discussion of adjectives, using our Modifiers: Adjectives and Adverbs chart. You'll find a lengthy discussion of adjectives in this week's EEL lesson to review at home with your student.

S-Vl-PA sentences incorporate the complete list of linking verbs named on your Helping and Linking Verbs chart. In class, the kids seemed to grasp this sentence pattern easily. The EEL Guide explains the S-Vl-PA structure well incase you need help understanding, identifying and explaining it. For practice at home over the next few days, dictate simple and compound declarative S-Vl-PN and S-Vl-PA sentences and, using the Simple Steps chart, let the kids label and diagram. Encourage them (and help them if needed) to dress up the sentences with adjectives, adverbs and prepositional phrases.

As we will not introduce anymore sentence patterns until January, I expect you to spend most of your time this week on IEW. Students are again assigned creative writing, this time retelling the story of the fall of Babylon found in chapter 5 of Daniel in the Bible. Whereas last week, students could construct an entire story sequence out of the first section, this week, they'll need to rewrite all three sections to successfully move all the way from setting to theme. But remember: Short and sweet can be just as effective as long and loquacious!

We completed the outline of the first two sections in class. Before beginning a rough draft, they'll need to complete the outline for Section III and brainstorm adjectives, verbs and adverbs for all three sections.

The new decoration is dialogue, and students should include dialogue in their papers. We discussed proper punctuation and capitalization in class. Follow up on this at home. Those quotes, commas and end marks can be confusing til you get the hang of it!

As this post is late, and Maggie is due at piano in 10 minutes, I'm rushing! Please contact me if the post is unclear.