This morning the builder who does jobs around the apartment block came in to inspect our window sills. They’ve been water damaged over the years, being made of wood, and we discovered they can be replaced at the expense of the collective building maintenance fund, rather than us individually, so we’re going to have them replaced. The guy came in to confirm the damage and measure up the windows for new ones. We want the work completed before we get the place repainted at the end of October.
I had two individual classes today, one for the student doing basic science. We did a precipitation experiment, using epsom salts and washing soda, and went over states of matter and how they relate to molecular structure. The second one was essay writing, where the student and I went through a sample essay he wrote on zoo animals.
Then this evening I had three classes on the new critical thinking topic: Stranded on a Desert Island. One question I ask is the classic “What one book would you want with you?” Most of the kids opted for a survival manual, very practically. But I had one class where the answers were as follows:
- A survival manual
- Little Women
- A big book, to use as a raft
- Robinson Crusoe
I asked the last kid if he didn’t think Robinson Crusoe would be a bit depressing to read if stranded yourself, and he said no, it would be inspiring. Well, maybe, I guess.
I think I would like to have a book like “How to get home from a Desert island”. I’m not sure a book like that exists, though.
_How to get revenge on the person who stranded me on an island_.