I did finally put some thought into next year.   We’ve kind of swung back again to the more relaxed version of our eclectic homeschooling, though Aubrey does have some pretty “schooly” stuff going on.

For 10th grade, Aubrey is taking 3 courses (Chemistry, Marine Science and Web Design) through our state virtual school program.   In addition, we’re going to talk to the local community college in a week or so and hopefully she will take a course with them, probably on computerized graphic design.  The class she is looking at meets all day Friday.  Other than that, I’ll continue morphing the things she does in her free time into things that look “creditable” on a hs transcript.

Jordan and Alex are continuing in their respective math programs.  I’m going to continue doing the Evan-Moor daily grammar because it is a nice, short review of grammar and we are going to continue with Sequential Spelling.  Confused on what I mean by relaxed?   Actually, I am too as our schedule is going to seem anything but relaxed.   Other than math and language arts, we’re going to be fairly unschooly.  Alex is interested in Chemistry (actually, he said he wants to blow stuff up, but I can work with that) and so we’re going to do some hands on chemistry as we have time and interest.  We’re going to continue with Story of the World on audio, and I’ll get extra books on topics of interest.

Our schedule is going to be pretty hectic, which I don’t like but the kids love.

Mondays we’ll hopefully get a bit of school work done in the morning and then in the afternoon they’ll have homeschool gymnastics where Alex is planning to start on the homeschool team, Aubrey the homeschool trampoline team and Jordan will continue with intermediate gymnastics class.

Tuesday we should be able to hang out and get a bit of work done (unless I’m forgetting something, which I probably am).

Wednesday we’ll go to co-op all morning and then back to homeschool gymastics for a repeat of Monday.  Our co-op is kind of a hang out and play with friends and sign up for some classes that you are interested in, so if we go all morning, my kids may be in an organized activity for 1-3 hours, depending on what is offered and what they are interested in.

Thursday I’ll probably hang out with them in the morning and then work in the afternoon (well, I work in the morning/evening from home the other days, but this will be my official in the office day).

Friday, if Aubrey’s com. college schedule works out I’ll drop her off in the morning and then I’ll take Jordan and Alex to the new co-op type group that is forming around our normal friday homeschool recess.  And we’ll head home in time to pick up Aubrey.

With so many co-op/recess opportunities this year, we are going to be running a lot, and spending lots of gas money, but they really love seeing their friends.  I may even turn our chemistry unit into a co-op class of my own.  Ok, I’m still wondering what I thought I meant with relaxed.

I’m glad to say Summer school is over!   Aubrey passed driver’s ed and Jordan and Alex finished up their “Burst of Learning” at the local elementary school.    As far as public school goes, Summer school is the way to do it.  Jordan and Alex’s classes went as a group to a store that sells carnival type prizes and bought a bunch of junk, set up a store in the library and took turns doing different jobs and running the store for a week.  Then they figured their profit, donated most of it to charity and went to Sonic for lunch on the last day with the rest.    Sounds almost like homeschooling!   But, we’re ready to be done being tied to someone else’s schedule.  Although the school was quite accepitng of me pulling them out for a day at the amusement park, for their homeschool gymnastics class, for Jordan’s birthday…. I’m sure they would feel differently during “real” school.  Jordan had no further problems in class and I think her teacher was the perfect fit for her.  

By this week I was really starting to feel like the school was keeping me and the kids from getting to do all the fun Summer stuff we want to do.  So, of course to make up for it we have a jam packed schedule next week.  So far I have planned blueberry picking, cheap summer movie, swimming, skating, homeschool recess, a playdate with their new friends (finding friends around the block was worth the entire month of Summer school!),  and I need to fit an orthodontist appointment and their gymnastics class in there somewhere.   Should be a busy week. 

 Aubrey always has stories to tell me about the highschool kids.    She always finds a crowd–usually the artistic free spirited kids.   She made the comment that the kids curse almost non-stop on the busride home.  I said, well, they’ve spent their lives not being allowed to go to the bathroom whenever they want, not being able to eat when they’re hungry, being told where to go and be every minute of the day and that if the only way you have to rebel against that is your language, then it is going to be colorful language.  She really seemed to ponder that for a while.   Although I would be quite embarrased if my kids started cussing like sailors in public, bad language to me is more of a sign of an uncreative mind than anything to make a fuss about.   I don’t have the cleanest mouth in the world, but I don’t pepper everything I say with foul words either.   

Another interesting thing the kids learned was the concept of “suing” someone.  Apparrently this was a common threat in the elementary school–I’m gonna sue you if you do that!!! 

Ah…back to our life.

Ah, the dreaded teacher call.  Oh wait, many here probably don’t know that feeling.   The teacher called and said she thought something might be amiss with Jordan–she was having difficulties both behaviorally and academically.  At first she seemed to be leaning towards either blaming homeschooling for not providing her with social skills and the academic lessons and/or that homeschooling had enabled me to coast along thinking my child was completely neurotypical.  

So, we talked briefly about her various vague diagnosis’ (what exactly is the plural of diagnosis?) and her academic struggles.  She actually seems like a very sweet and well intentioned teacher.    She has put in place a “success plan” with the goal being to get time helping the teacher in class (quite intuitive to know that a great treat for Jordan will be to help in the classroom–much better than the plastic crap or candy generally offered!).     

 Now I remember why we homeschool!   I do think this particular teacher is going to do everything in her power to make Jordan feel successful in her classroom.   I did tell her I was prepared to pull her if it wasn’t going to work, but at the moment we both agree that helping her feel successful in this program is the best path.  I don’t think she’ll go next year though. 

Jordan has really struggled learning to count money.  She’s known coin value for a long time, but being able to switch back and forth counting by 25s, 5s, 10s, 1s, just made no sense at all to her.  We’ve played with real money, had real life experiences, done workbooks, read mathy story books, played games…. Nothing worked and I admit to spending a fair amount of time worrying about it.    It is one of those things that has made me envision her as an adult still unable to make simple financial transactions (I’m not the only one who catastrophizes this way am I?).   

Last week I was playing presto-chango with her.  A popular game in our house, though it seemed to be doing nothing to help her learn the skill of counting change.  I attempted again to explain and helped her count out all of her change, etc.   Still, it was like I was speaking Greek.   It got frustrating for both of us.

Last night she asked if we could play again.   So we set it up and get to the first time she needs to count change—She has a $1 bill and needs to pay $.60.  I helped her put the dollar in and counted out dimes 70, 80, 90 100 equals a dollar just like I always do.  Except this time she says “Oh! I get it!”   Then she proceeded to play the rest of the game counting out the change herself–a bit hesitantly and with some mistakes, but she definately “got” it. 

 Now I wonder, did some magical spark ignite in her brain or was the repitition building pathways, or….or…. 

As I’ve mentioned before, all three of my kids are currently attending a four week public school summer program.   Off they go on a school bus in the morning and quiet descends upon the house for 7 hours.   Yes, they enjoy going.  Yes, I do it because I use the time to get some much needed extra hours in at work.   But….. That’s not the heart of it.

The truth is that I NEED this time.    I’m shocked at the level of my neglect.   I don’t even make their lunches (there’s a pile of prepackaged organic psuedo healthy snack food–have at it kids!).  I feel guilty for all of a second that they are on a school bus for 1 1/2 a day to get to a school 10 minutes away (the bus ride is part of the experience!).  Things that would have drived me bonkers if they attended all year (what do you mean you are passing out candy to students who give correct answers?????), merely cause a shrug.    This is my summer break.

 For 7 hours a day, I don’t have to referee squabbles, drive to outings, plan, execute or check school work, plan execute or clean up lunch….    

And please don’t think I’m doing anything productive (well, I’m working for about 3-4 hours or more) like cleaning out the school room, organizing the art cabinet, or making cookies from scratch (well, I was really hunkering for chocolate chip cookies today and I almost did bake).   This morning after the school bus pulled away I sat on the front porch enjoying my flower garden, sipping coffee and reading for over an hour.   

I’m reading The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World and it has made me ponder happiness.   One of my best friends has affectionately referred to me as a “get on the bus or get out of the way” type of person.  So, why then am I happy–no downright giddy–to sit on my porch doing nothing?    I find myself wondering what life would be like if the kids did this all year.  Surely I’d get bored.  My dh would insist that I would very quickly fill up the extra hours with committments, because that is what I do.   So, does that mean I’m more happy when I’m busy running from activity to activity or making myself “essential” either at home or at work?   Probably, I’m sure my giddiness at solitude would quickly turn to boredom.  Or, at the very least all the stupid public school beurocracies, rules, rewards and punishments would become more of a hassle than a few uninterrupted moments of reading are worth.   But, maybe I need to slow down a bit and make sure I’m filling my life with the moments I want to fill it with.

A few weeks ago my teenaged daughter asked me a rather telling question.  What do adults do for fun?   I suppose that means she doesn’t see me having fun all that often, or that I don’t appear to be having fun at what I do.  Well, I certainly couldn’t tell her I teach teenagers how to drive for fun, but what do I do?   I mumbled out a few things and she asked why I don’t do them more often.    I think it is easy as a mom and even easier as a homeschooling mom to be too busy to do the things you enjoy.  I happen to be easy to amuse—a good book, a glass of wine, cuddling up with dh to watch a movie, baking something yummy, a nice walk….. but I do need to be seen doing these things.  So, one of my goals for next year is to make sure my kids see me having fun.  And to appear like I’m having fun doing what I do, so that maybe next year I won’t be so burnt out. 

 For now, I sure am glad that all three kids are enjoying summer school, because I’m enjoying my book.

First, this isn’t my first attempt.  I’ve been rather scarce because, well, life has gotten in the way. Add to that the fact that my computer died and the last two attempts at write a post my internet connection (and my post) crashed. 

 This is the time of year where I’m usually knee deep in planning for next year, my Rainbow Resources catalog nearby with postits everywhere and my internet connections linked to anywhere I can find a bargain.  This year, I’m just not there.  Either I’m such an old-hat at all this that I KNOW what will work and I don’t need to waste my time, or I’m burnt out and can’t bear to think about next year yet. 

So, I thought I should at least ponder what my biggest wastes of money and biggest treasures from last year were—my hits and my misses. 

 Language Arts - I knew almost as soon as it arrived that the Language Arts Through Literature was not going to do it for me.  I must have had a crisis of faith last year because I purchased language arts curriculum AND 3rd grade readers.  Readers?  What was I thinking?  We did give those a good try and the kids flipped through them and found a few stories they were interested in.  They’ve been gathering dust since last October.  What has worked, surprisingly, is my Evan-Moor Language Review.  We go through them together, and sometimes they aren’t review, but they are short, easy to manage grammar lessons.  Something about fixing an incorrect sentence brings out the detective side of my kids.   Sequential Spelling is also working, somewhat.  I can’t say the kids are eager to do it, but we make it through it and they are spelling better.  Not that Alex’s spelling isn’t still dismal. 

I don’t plan on making any changes for math.  Alex is still doing Singapore and Jordan Math-U-See.  Not sure what Aubrey will do,  I’m thinking that she will sign on to Aleks for Algebra 2 because I think she already knows a lot of it and I can’t see spending a lot of money. 

Science - Cyber Ed was a bit of a bust for us.  I hated that I couldn’t get some sort of scoring report for my records—what is the deal with that???  Aubrey found the lectures/activities tolerable, but the entire class did nothing to stimulate her interest in a subject she should have really enjoyed.  And, since it didn’t have labs, we are still mungling through trying to get stuff that counts as labs.  We did some unit studies and Noeo science for third grade.   Alex wants to do chemistry next year so he can do experiments that blow things up .  Aubrey is taking some online state public school classes next year — Chemistry, Web Design and Marine Science.  

One thing that “worked” here was a family wide focus on eating more nutritiously.   As a continuing attempt to get Alex’s stomach problems under control, we’ve been trying to incorporate more and more fresh, unprocessed foods into our diet.  Aubrey is already vegetarian, and Alex and Jordan can’t do dairy, so we’re basing more and more of our meals on a health concious vegan diet.  Not that we don’t occasional fall victim to burgers at fast food restaurants, but we’ve made big strides.   Although I haven’t succeeded in getting Aubrey interested in anything more creative than PB&J in the kitchen, Alex and Jordan have been doing lots of cooking.  And always we talk about the nutrition in what we’re making.  Even when I make cookies I try to do things to make them healthier than the average snack.  Jordan loves making smoothies and has mastered putting things like raw spinach and kale and flax seed in them without giving up yumminess. 

We’ve started having a daily reading time.  Alex has finally found a few books that he will not totally grudgingly sit down and read for a while.  “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” is his favorite book.   Jordan is on  a Geronimo Stilton kick but has also started reading some of the American Girl books.

 Fostering puppies has really been a big thing for us this year (we’ve fostered a couple batches since I last posted, I think).   They are learning the responsiblity of having pets and enjoying playing with puppies.  We generally foster the timid/shy dogs and so they are getting to experience how love and nurturing and gentleness and play can bring a dog from being afraid of people to getting attached to us.   

My one goal for this year was to really focus on social opportunities for the kids.  In this area, I can give myself a gold star.   We have a tendency to always be on the go, but end up committing ourselves to activities and field trips that don’t give a lot of spare time for play.  I’ve cut back and tried to make sure we make it to recess and park days.  Aubrey is now asking regularly to be taken to teen events.  And I would never divulge top secret information but there may or may not be a boy that she doesn’t hate spending time with.    She has become much more of a “typical teen” and has just gotten her learner’s permit and is starting the long road of learning how to drive.   Her cell phone is umbilically attached to her and it is a good thing we have unlimited texting.  She hangs out on facebook (but is careful) and is also spending a lot of free time working on computer graphic/digital photo editing stuff.   She may take some animation classes next year at the community college.    Alex has found a best bud and has regular play dates.    Jordan is having a more difficult time with the social stuff.  Her intensity/anxiety and impulsivity get in the way and the group of girls seem to already have a fairly firmly established group.  They play with her (most of the time), but don’t invite her to things.    She is still “young for her age” and can get clingy and doesn’t always pick up on social cues readily.  We’re continuing to work on social skills and I know she’ll meet someone eventually that she really clicks with. 

I’m considering deviating from SOTW next year and focusing on American History/Geography.   Not that I’ve really spent any time looking for suitable ideas/books/curriculums. 

For the next month, the kids are at summer school.   Off they went this morning onto a school bus with their lunches.  They all seemed to have a fun day.   Aubrey is taking driver’s ed.    I don’t know whether to call it a taste of how the other 1/2 live or glorified day care, but I have to admit I enjoyed the solitude and silence today.  I am working extra, but I am hoping to find some time to do things that I want to do in between racking up the hours for work. 

Maybe by the end of summer school I’ll have a plan for next year…..