This morning Bobby and I continued practicing the problems on page 314 #s 1-15. Bobby's visual spatial recognition skills need reinforcement and this particular chapter has present challenges. I am not assigning homework for the weekend.

Bobby and the instructor edited the paragraph he wrote on his sneaker collection. He rewrote his opening and closing sentences, and revised some of the vocabulary.

Mr. Andrew left a substitute lesson plan for me to follow relating to his current book, "Rot and Ruin." He had several chapters to read (beginning with 25) as well as vocabulary words to look up and self study questions. Bobby arrived prepared and on time and had completed his reading homework from the previous session and read ahead by several chapters. He read through the lesson plan and looked up and defined approximately half of the vocabulary words using a print dictionary. We then switched to a digital dictionary to define the other half of the vocabulary words. We reviewed his vocabulary words and definitions together. He was then asked to complete the few chapters of assigned reading and respond to the self study questions. We concluded class as he was finishing the assignment and was asked to finish it for the next writing class.

During our first 30 minute session Bobby filled out an introductory "survey" answering questions about personal interests and his experiences/preferences at school, and we discussed our answers. He also did a free-write journal entry, choosing from a set of cards with different topics. Bobby wrote about what qualities make a good friend.

In the next hour we did a reading exercise in which Bobby chose a topic from the New York Times "Room for Debate," and read two perspectives on the issue. He chose the topic of whether technology corporations have a responsibility to enforce safety features to prevent distracted driving. He found several vocabulary terms in the articles to add to his new vocabulary list. During the last few minutes of class we also played a vocabulary game.

This afternoon Bobby and I designed and constructed the first of several mantis habitats for our growing population of praying mantis. We used one of my favorite bottle biology lessons to construct a suitable habitat. This will extend into tomorrow's class as well.

This afternoon Bobby and I practiced our note taking skills in preparation for the arrival of our tarantulas. One of our goals in starting this research program is to learn more about the habitat and morphology of the tarantula. This will require considerable research, note taking and outlining.

This morning Bobby and I continued our review of congruent angles. We practiced some of the problems found on page 310.

This morning Bobby and I explored ancient Persia while examining some of the many ways that Persia influenced those cultures that made up the ancient Mediterranean. We reviewed the work from pages 286-291 before moving forward.

This morning we finished the edits on Bobby's first powerpoint presentation. With some time remaining, we assembled an inventory checklist for his backpack.

Bobby worked with the instructor to edit one of the paragraphs that he wrote at yesterday's session. He also edited and typed another paragraph that he composed.