Homeschooling For Her Future

February Wrap-up

2010-02-23T12:42:00.000-08:00

Things are still moving along here. I could keep apologizing for not posting more often, but I won't. I've been busy with home-school and life in general.

The picture today is a tongue-in-cheek of a Georges Seurat painting titled Sunday Afternoon. I couldn't resist using the Simpsons. There is something about Marge that I can relate to.

For a few weeks Diva had art classes at a professional gallery in town. Originally she was going to be doing comic book illustration (her Big Dad's choice) but she ended up painting (her choice). She is a natural and her work is amazing. I knew she could draw, but I never imagined she would have so much ability. We are looking in to signing up for the town art show coming up soon. I contacted a home-school liaison tonight and hope to hear from her soon.

Diva and I went to a local diner and had a breakfast meeting Monday. We talked about how she was doing, what she needed to try harder on and what she would like to learn about. It was different. The man sitting at the table near us kept looking at me and I could see a look of bewilderment on his face. I was having a 'grown-up meeting' with a 9 year old.

After breakfast we went to the library to replace our cards so she could check out books for some projects she has coming up. While we were there, we used one of the study rooms. It was a change of environment and pace for both of us. On the way out I noticed a flyer for a local home-school group. Exactly what I was looking for because the other groups were somewhat close, but still a fair distance to the gatherings.

Diva attended a mini-art class today with some of the kids from the new group. It was wonderful! The class was taught by the sister of the group leader. It was a small turn-out but it was perfect for Diva's first 'home-school kid' event.

The topic of the class was Georges Seurat and his 'dot' technique. Diva was the oldest and I know she didn't give it her full attention but for me today was about the being, not so much the doing.

I met with 2 mothers. Now I feel real. I'm one of many. There are other events planned. We missed the sign-up deadlines to some of them where I just joined the website yesterday. The next one we will be attending is ice skating.

I started writing a 3-month evaluation of her progress. I hope to have it complete by 2 March. I look back and see how far she's come in such a short amount of time, and I am proud of her.

Sorry About the Delay

2010-01-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

Things have been moving at different paces as of late, but they ARE moving.

We've finished about a month of home-schooling together.

Math is still somewhat of a crawl, but she is understanding the problems. Occasionally I have to repeat the instructions or explain the concept again in different ways. We've touched points in the green and blue books and now on the yellow book. We've been trying to follow an entire concept a day.

Her reading is improving and she is reading spontaneously and for fun now. She even smuggles her dictionary to her room and copies pages of words she wants to know more about. We're working on reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone together. We each have a book and take turns reading aloud. She picks up on differences from the book and the movie and then wonders what else is different, and wants to read more.

Grammar is grammar and as boring as I remember it to be, but we get through it with a smile. We're currently on the different types of nouns.

Her cursive is impressive. She is so delicate, so careful, and so neat. She says it's her second favorite class, next to art.

Spelling really hasn't been that much of a challenge for her, so we are stepping it up a bit. New words on Monday and Wednesday. Spelling tests on Wednesday and Friday.

Science is an adventure. We finished the Bubble and Squeak and covered the first lab of Water Cycles last week, the second part will be tomorrow.

History is fun. PBS has a cartoon called Liberty Kids and it almost goes in hand and hand with the American Revolutionary lessons.

Her art, music and gym has been self-directed. For music, she plays with her guitar and gets lessons from her Dad. Gym is outside, weather permitting. Art is her favorite and not limited to paper. Last week she pulled out a crochet hook and colorful yarn and made the car a collar.

I am SO proud of her!

Day 2

2009-12-03T15:28:00.000-08:00

Everything has been a happy blur the last few days. I submitted my papers to the school department on Monday, and was approved Tuesday!

I know it's early, but I already see a change in her. She is HAPPY.

Diva's last day of 'old school' was Tuesday. I know people have said to take a few weeks off before starting to home-school, but we decided to start the ball rolling. We're covering the basics right now, adjusting to the 'at home'.

On the first day we read "Don't Give Up Kids", a story about a boy and his new friends who have learning differences. While we were reading it, I knew it was her story. When we finished, she said "That sounds like me Momma, I'm smart, I just need to learn different." I wanted to cry - I was so proud!

Wednesday we did a math review to see where about she is. She has some ups and downs but was smiling ear to ear today when she 'got' that 2x3= 2 groups of 3. The rods have definitely come in handy.

She's GETTING it!

Paperwork and Curriculum

2009-11-25T17:15:00.000-08:00

We celebrate a small victory today.

We went to the School Department office today for the paperwork to start homeschooling. The secretary was very friendly and told me to call if I needed help filling it out. It looked simple enough, what took time was listing all the curriculum and textbooks. As of right now, this is the list

Math - Miquon Math Lab Materials: Green, Blue, Yellow and Purple Books

English - Trophies: Changing Patterns Textbook, Trophies: Intervention Practice, Trophies: English Language Learners Teacher's Guide

Spelling - Trophies: Spelling Practice Work Pages and Teacher Edition

Cursive - Handwriting Opens the Door to Communication

Reading - Reading Practice at Home

Child selected independent reading - lap book reports

Social Studies/History - America's Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty (Elementary - National Edition) www.AmericanHeritage.Org
Possible Related Field Trips - USS Constitution Ship and Museum, Plimouth Plantation, Old Sturbridge Village, Valley Forge, Brandywine

Science -Bubble and Squeak (third -fifth grade) - www.atozteacherstuff.com Life Cycle: Diversity in a Balance (third grade) Water Cycle: The Earth's Gift (third grade), Applied Science: Our Technological World (third grade) - MSnucleus.org
Possible Field Trips - Stone Zoo, Museum of Science, Children's Museum of Science, Hampton Beach

Music - Exposure to instruments, musical genres, and private lessons

Art - Child directed artistic expression, field trip to art gallery and private lessons

Physical Education - Child directed outdoor activities (weather permitting) and private lessons

Home-School Bound !!!

2009-11-20T16:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I thought I would have to fight tooth and nail to do what I thought was the best course of action.

Today, everything changed - for the better.

I ran in to the SpEd teacher while I was at the school for something unrelated. We had a coffee-talk meeting in her office. Things were even more out of control than I was aware of. In addition to the educational issues Diva was facing, behavior played it's part too.

The SpEd teacher had said that Diva does better in the small group environment and excels in her work. I carefully worded my next question because I knew it would be the make or break argument I knew was in my future.

Me: She does better in a small group?
Her: Yes, she gets distracted in the larger classroom.
Me: She can not spend her day in a small group here?
Her: No
Me: If that is the case, she can not be in the environment you said was best for her if she stays here.

After some civil back and forth, I stated that I did not want the information to leave her office yet, but Diva will not be returning to school after the holiday break. I also told her that I think it is a wonderful school, and I will be recommending it to anyone who is looking for private school, but it is not the school Diva needs to be in right now.

I then went to speak Diva's father and his parents. I fully expected a battle to the death. I stated that I did it their way for 5 years. I will be pulling her out of school. I will be home-schooling and I will do what I need to do.

Finally, they agreed that this may be what Diva needs. Take her away from the distractions, the negative emotional environment, and failing grade. Give her a chance to learn in a positive way.

At home.

Home-School Bound -- I think...

2009-11-19T22:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, for 4 years I fought and caved in. I wanted to home-school, the ex (and his family) are against it.

It's long... but, I have to get it out before I explode!

Kindergarten---
Me: - I am going to home-school
Them: It's only half a day, send her to public, she needs to socialize with other kids since she is an only, it will do her good.

First Grade (the FIRST time)---
Me: I don't think she got very much out of public school, she was sick a lot of the year, I am going to home-school.
Them: She needs an IEP, she needs the services the school can give her, it will do her good.

First Grade (the SECOND time)---
Me: She didn't get promoted, since she has to repeat the grade, I want to be be able to catch her up and get her ready so she can get in to third grade next year. I am going to home-school.
Them: She needs a private school that has smaller classes, she still needs her IEP, send her to private school, it will do her good.

Second Grade---
Me: I still want to home-school.
Them: She is doing wonderful in the new school, keep her there, it is going her good.

Third Grade---
Me: I know she is doing good, but I still wish I can home-school.
Them: Stop being selfish, she's doing wonderful.

TEACHER: She is having difficulty with concepts that have been taught in the precious grades. This presents her with a problem as she approaches new material.

... and that's where we are right now.

I called the ex, to talk to him about what we should do. His response was "I was never any good at school, it's no big deal". When I told him that this obviously isn't working because she can't be expected to understand value placement, multiply, divide, etc... if she cant ADD or SUBTRACT and simple math concepts escape her!!!

He said his parents won't like it if I pull her out of school and I reminded him WE are her parents, not them and it matters what WE want to do. He is their 43 year old puppet. I want better for her than a 'floating through' education. I told him I needed his support on this, I will do EVERYTHING, I just need him to say OK... he started in on what his parents will say. I told him he needs to get a backbone because his daughter needs him. He hung up. So, the call didn't go as well as I had hoped. *sigh*

I called my Mom. I expected her to tell me that I am a moron and making yet another bad choice (I have yet to make ONE right one in her eyes) and I was floored... she told me "You do what you have to do to do right by your child, pull her out".

I called the school, since today was parent/teacher meeting and DD was home sick today, I was unable to make it in. Still waiting for a call back. I am going to talk to the SpEd teacher and the classroom teacher and unless they can tell me how we can keep her there and give her the help she needs... I am pulling her out. Why am I giving them the chance? Because I know it can't be done at that school... they have LIMITED SpEd because it's one teacher for the whole school and there is NO way they can do what DD needs there. It's more to finally end the battle with the ex and his family.

Her reading is late 2nd grade, her math is MAYBE first grade... yet she is getting a C+ in math and a D- in English... and bringing 60's home on an almost daily basis now.

I had a long snuggle talk with DD last night. She doesn't understand the teacher. She sometimes asks questions, but won't ask a second one if she still doesn't understand because the kids torment her. She wants to learn. She wants to stay in school because she is afraid she won't have friends if she is home schooled.

I will have to have another snuggle-time talk with her and re-assure her that she will have friends. Real friends who will accept her the way she is, and not make fun of her because she has to learn differently.

I took her to Plimoth Plantation for 2 days... she learned more in those 2 days than the entire theme in the classroom. She could see, touch, taste, feel everything... and she could ASK QUESTIONS and get answers and not be told to stop asking so many because other people have them too...

So --------- here I sit. with about 3 weeks to gather my thoughts, lessons, get the home in order, and file whatever the heck it is I have to do to be able to teach her at home.

I know she wants to learn about fish. Fish I can do, we have the Aquarium in Boston. There are books on fish for reading, and why does Mary have to have 3 apples, let them be goldfish!

WHERE TO I START?????????