Turtles and race cars

Week two seems to be going slower than week one. In actuality, nothing has changed except his level of motivation. I feel like he's traded himself in for a turtle. I miss the race car that was making its rounds last week. I like breezing through things, it gives us more time to do special projects.

Monday was fine. Language Arts has always been his best subject when it comes to getting the work done in a timely manner. I wanted to blame it on being Monday, eager to get back to the daily grind, but that didnt make much sense. I am pleased that he was able to complete an entire workbook.

Monday evening after dinner we picked up his new glasses. I had to laugh because he hadnt realized how poorly he saw until he got them. I knew that he was having confusion regarding some letters but I suppose that he thought it was normal. It was pretty funny when he said, "Wow! I can see this teeny tiny word! It says...." all the way home. Small things to be thankful for, right?

Everybody seems to think that his glasses look cute. I like them but they remind me of the Army issued "BCGs." Like father, like son? I have a pretty funny picture of Josh wearing the Army issued spectacles. He'd probably beat me if I posted the picture. Hehe :)

Yesterday (Tuesday) seemed to begin with bad news. I had a hard time getting Aidan to focus but he finished half of a book by lunchtime. We ran a bunch of errands, came home, and had plans to finish the rest. Dinnertime came and went, he left to go somewhere with Josh, and by the time he'd gotten back the interest was gone. I think he did all but three or four pages before I sent his cranky behind to bed.

This morning, I wanted him to complete the book and begin his normal assignments. Arguments and whining ensued. Why is it that he has to fight me on this? We had a little talk, I had asked what was wrong and why was he acting the way that he was? No headway was made. :(

My problem with this is that I was very excited, prematurely it would seem, for this school year. I thought that his momentum was fantastic. I had hoped we'd keep it up. I feel let down. I shouldnt be upset by this, he is on target. I dont know what else to do right now. When his drive is down, how do I boost him? We've done lots of little projects and supplemental activities.

I should mention that the lessons he is working on right now seem to be reviews of last year. It bores him to death. I dont want to skip it, he could use a refresher. I 've just got a stubborn boy on my hands. I knew this before I started. Unfortunately, knowledge doesnt smooth over the rough edges.

Today is definitely one of those Tomorrow, youre going back to public school! days.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Tea for two, a week for three

Firstly, Republic of Tea trade certified wild blueberry tea is divine. You must try some asap. Aidan and I have been enjoying our tea time in the morning before school. It's nice. :)

This week I've been letting Aidan work ahead if he so chooses.

On Monday he decided that he was on a roll and wanted to complete the workbook. According to the lesson plan that I had made, one book was three weeks worth of work. I explained that if he wanted to work ahead, that's great but he had to finish the worksheets that go along with the pages in the book. So far, so good.

Tuesday came and, again, he wanted to work ahead. Great. Math workbooks are two weeks each because they do not have accompanying worksheets. After he'd finished his math books, he asked if he could start on his science books that I schedule for Wednesdays.

We have Language Arts on Monday, Math on Tuesday, Science Wednesday, and History/Civics/Geography on Thursday. We cap off the week with a quiz or test depending on where he's at in his lessons. End of book gets a cummulative test, otherwise just a quiz for what he's learned up to that point. I'm so happy to announce that he has completed.

As you can see, he's quite proud. We've finished 3/5 of our first week and he's completed at least a week ahead, if not two. I plan to let him go until he hits a snag. If he finishes two grades this year, more power to him!

I just thought that I'd check in with everyone. I hope to take a picture each week. Tomorrow he'll get an orange block for his chart. Actually, he'll get three, he'll be tested on everything that he did this week.

Sorry that this sucks. I've been really distracted while writing this. Everyone seems to need me at the same time tonight.

I'm off to get caught up on my end of this. I've got 134 workbook pages to grade and 33 worksheets that need graded and recorded, a week of journal entries to read through, and journalling of my own to finish. Hopefully I'll get that done this evening. If not, I'll have plenty of time tomorrow while waiting during his optometry and podiatry appointments.

Monday: The Big Day

I've recently found myself in a position where everybody (seemingly) wants to know what I "do."

I never know exactly what to say to this question. Any time I've tested the honesty method, it has backfired with a series of craned necks, faces frozen into a shape only a mother could love, and a resounding, "Why would you want to do that?"

I have since changed my answer to, "I'm a domestic engineer with emphasis on individualized education." This new answer gives me another five seconds or so before I'm wounded by the previously mentioned ammunition.

Clearly it is outside of the norm (whatever that is) to be a stay-at-home mother that homeschools.

I admit, I used to think that homeschooled children were sheltered. Each one that I'd ever met had little to no social skills, were lacking in personality and confidence, and were painfully attached to Mommy's side. My mother didnt have much of a relationship with us growing up. In fact, it wasnt until I had given birth to my first child that she realized that her ways may need some adjusting. I enjoyed raising Aidan and when his first day of public school arrived, I was more than eager to send him into the world and let him figure out who he wanted to be. Of course, watching him get on that bus with the rest of the kids who seemed to tower over him sent a pang of sadness through my heart. I missed my baby!

I was angry, but happy, when public school didnt work out for him. I credit my friend Karen for giving me the knowlege that I needed to make that transition into homeschooling. I will be forever grateful. I love to see that lightbulb flash, I love to watch him grow and learn new things. I was mesmerized with the idea of having control again. Admittedly so, I am the person who needs to have a handle on everything or I feel overwhelmed. I feel overwhelmed regardless, but when I can feel connected to the cause it is less severe. Controlling what he learned and how he learned had great appeal.

The first week of home education was glorious, very honeymoon-like. Aidan breezed through his currirulum, we werent being held back by schedule, and I could supplement any way my little heart desired. The year went off without a hiccup, we only had a few days where I thought, "That's it! Youre going back to public school tomorrow!" Of course, when tomorrow came, things were smoothe again. I learned that he had learned to press my buttons... sometimes three and four at a time.

I have plans to begin school in three days. Monday. The Big Day. All hands on deck.

Anybody who says that homeschool is the easy way out is clearly, and easily, out of their mind. Aside from giving birth, its one of the most difficult things to do! The lesson planning alone takes nearly 2hrs per subject. The prepwork for each subject each week take another block of time, xeroxing worksheets, putting together project kits, etc. is a challenge. Throw in the making of quizzes and tests that coordinate with the work the kids are doing, add on the grading and you've got at least the equivalent of a part-time job on your hands. As time consuming as it is, the reward outweighs it all. Unfortunately hugs, smiles, lightbulbs and laughter dont pay the bills.

It must be a common misconception that moms who teach their kids are extremely attached and have abandonment issues. I must not be one of those moms. I homeschool because it's what's best for my kids. The public school system will never be able to give them as much as I can, it will never meet every distinct need (especially of a child who has major sensory issues), it will never be able to provide them with the one-on-one time that young children need to thrive. So far, the only thing that I have noticed that the public school system gives that I cant is 8hrs of social activity. Sure, I could take them to a group where they could sit beside or behind another kid all day long, but that doesnt solve my problem. Homeschooling isnt a social outlet for me. I dont belong to a group and I have no intention of belonging to a group. I simply dont feel comfortable letting someone else teach my kid right now. As far as I can tell, that's what happens during those times. Parents get together, one person takes one subject, the other another and the rest of them socialize amongst themselves. No thanks.

I've been asked "so what do you do all day long?" "Pretty much the same thing that you do," I reply. Scoffing, they might say "you cant possibly understand the magnitude of managing a career and a family."

Considering the town I live in, I had to take a poetic liberty with the last reply. If I were staying true to form, I'd hear "Wail, howdja figger dat? You haint werkin at de wal-mart so you'ins caint have no creer at home rearin yungins."

Anyway.

I'll tell you what I do all day long.

I wake up... just like you.
I feed my kids their breakfast... just like you.
I load the dishwasher... (hopefully) just like you.
I dress my kids (sometimes they wear PJs)... just like you.

Here's the kicker, instead of shuffling them onto a bus that had been hit twice during our breif stint with public school, I guide mine to the kitchen table. I talk to them about the previous day. We recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I make reference to the progress chart on the wall and explain that in order to get another colored square, they must complete the assignment for the day.

If your child goes to public school, I'm sure that its a similar routine. They arrive at school, take a seat in their designated area, recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and somebody outlines their day and assigns a task.

Now, back to being just like you.

I go about my day once my kids are in school. I complete the tasks that my "job" require. I imagine my daily duties dont stray far from anybody else's. I only WISH that I could sit behind a desk all day long, shuffling people in and out of appointments and answering a phone all the while not being asked for another drink or a cookie or could I please come and wipe their heinie.

At the end of the day, we've all got an errand to run, laundry to wash, dishes to wash, meals to cook, things to mail, phonecalls to make, and stress to deal with. Why is it such a big dang deal that I do what is best for my child.... from home?

I've kind of strayed from my point so I'll end with asking you this: when you meet someone new, what is it that you say when asked what you do? How do you deal with the Mommy Wars between working and stay-at-home moms? How do you deal with the prejudices against homeschooling?

Ahhh, that first entry

Homeschool news to come soon!
Stay Tuned!