We discussed ratios and proportions in depths and used white board example problems to illustrate the properties of proportions.

We examined the scales of two maps hanging on the walls--one of the USA and one of the world and compared their scales, explaining that they are ratios.

We completed taking the Chapter 6 Test in the textbook as our review.

I gave Will a list of 9 vocabulary words to help strengthen his SAT/ACT skills and build his advanced writing skills. Will was asked to supply sentences for each word, and he did so very accurately. I informed him of his vocabulary quiz next Friday, and told him that I would provide multiple chances for us to review the list of words. Next, we reviewed our use of subjective pronouns lessons from yesterday. Will didn't seem to remember much, but with guidance, he was able to iterate some of the rules. We ended with a short reading of Scott Mccloud's excerpt from "Understanding Comics," which Will seemed to enjoy.

Today I gave Will an introduction to the parts of speech, starting with nouns and pronouns. Will was able to identify the most basic part of speech (nouns) as well as their intricately connected cousins, pronouns. We went through the subjective pronouns (I, you, we he/she, we, they) and three of their most popular uses. Will didn't seem to have any problems understanding the lesson, but I will test him on his retention tomorrow. The goal is to prepare Will for SAT/ACT grammar and to strengthen his writing. Next, Will wrote a small prompt addressing Alan Moore's idea that man believes that he is able to control nature. After a few moments of this, I could see Will was struggling, so I had him read what he wrote. Will was a bit embarrassed, but I told him that informal writing assignments like this are designed to build critical thinking skills. This seemed to relax him a bit, and we discussed his response, which didn't exactly address the prompt, but which was still insightful and creative.

Heart Blown Open

Today was our last session and I gave Will a book I think he should read. It's about a Buddhist priest with a troubled past, and I think he will get a lot out of it. We talked about the book, Buddhism, and general end of our session topics. I really liked working with Will and expect him to continue to improve.

Today we began by discussing the status of Will's research. He stated that he had not obtained a library card last night because his father did not return home unitl 6 pm, and Will figured that was too late. I took Will to the computer lab. There we found online the hours of operation of the Palm Beach County Library. The Jupiter branch is open until 8 pm Monday-Thursday. Will said he would try to get a library card again tonight. I also supervised Will's online search for relevant books availabe from amazon.com. He found two. I gave him a pen and piece of paper to write them down. Additionally, we finished discussion of Chapter 9. Topics included Andrew Jackson's hostility toward, and campaign against, the Bank of the United States, the origins of the Whigs and the Anti-Masons, Henry Clay's "American System," the election of Martin Van Buren and the subsequent Panic of 1837, and the Log Cabin campaign of 1840. Finally, I stressed the importance of the penny press in the 1820s, 1830s, and 1840s. One of Will's breaks was rather extended, which he explained to me as involving a discussion with Judie.

writing grammar review

Today we went over all the rules of grammar and writing we've covered in the last couple of weeks. Will has made some great progress.

Continue working on sixteenth note drum set rhythms.

Continue working on sixteenth note rhythms on drum kit.