Mercer began exercises from the 6th grade math Envision textbook, Adding and Subtracting Fractions With Like Denominators.

Today's lesson focused on Henry Hudson's explorations. Mercer reviewed material about Hudson's ships that sailed up a great river (which would later bear his name) but turned back when they determined it was not the channel they sought. Mercer discussed how Hudson spent months drifting through the vast Hudson Bay and eventually fell victim to a mutiny by his crew because they wanted to return home, and Hudson refused.

Introduced him to his spelling list with standard homework assignments for every week. Finished reading chapter 3 of, "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler." He completed a wordly wise activity re-enforcing the usage and meaning of the words.

During today's science class, we worked together to identify different types of energy and how this is transferred from some objects to others. We copied the questions in his notebook and he answered them.

Mercer and I discussed events in the news. He selected articles in which he was interested and we read and discussed them together. Several ethical issues arose in our conversation, as did the punitive consequences of actions and whether or not we agreed if the punishment fit the crime. Mercer was reflective and did not hesitate to ask questions in order to clarify his understanding. He expressed his opinions freely and was able to effectively defend his point of view and explain his rationale. Of most interest was an article about a heart transplant patient who was the recipient of a pig's heart, the first of its kind. However when it became known that the patient had committed an egregious crime in the past, medical and legal issues came to light and controversy over whether he deserved to be the recipient while others of more moral character were overlooked. Mercer demonstrated keen critical thinking skills and an astute ability to synthesize, integrate, and analyze information to enable him to form valid arguments in defense of his opinion.

We completed a Wordly Wise activity. We worked on questions covering chapter one of his literature book. We began reading chapter two of, "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler."

Work on Mercer's Artigras piece. Continue to add shadows and highlights to the main figure. Use this class period to focus on blending using colored pencils. Focus on creating a mid-tone and then adding layers of shadow and highlight. Paint the background towards the end of class.

We reviewed chapter 1 and 2 of, "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler." He then completed a reading comprehension activity relating to the chapters. He began lesson one of his Wordly Wise workbook studying the meanings and derivations of the words.

Today's lesson focused on the site of Abu Simbel and building the Aswan High Dam. Mercer read material detailing the Aswan Damn as one of Egypt's most recognizable ancient sites. He learned about the details of how it sat on the west bank of the Nile River, between the first and second cataracts of Nile, the original site was later dismantled and rebuilt on a higher hill to make way for the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s. Mercer spent the remainder of the class reviewing fun facts about rivers and bodies of water near Mesopotamia.

We started talking about the weather. What is your favorite weather? We added new words to his vocabulary notebook.