This Year's Schooling Approach

So far there seem to be mixed reviews about schooling and not officially home schooling. That's okay. I think we've decided that the bulk of it is from so many changes in our lives all at once.

I must admit that I'm happier with the school that I ever was with any back where we were. That being said, it's still too early to know for sure if it's of great benefit yet. Certainly there are pros, not matter that else might happen.

Just the other day one of Beth's teachers (she has two teachers and an ed tech in the in the classroom) approached me and told me the highlight of her day was that Beth read an entire book to her! She had noticed that Beth always chose to read during free choice, so she asked Beth to read to her. She was very impressed with what she can do. Those of you who know Beth aren't surprised... she's been reading since she was three and loves to read just about anything. Chapter books are what challenge her - and then, it's probably close to 2nd or 3rd grade level anyway. So Mrs. D said that they had the yearly assessments coming up the end of the month and she was eager to see what to put Beth. At the teacher meeting (which happens every Monday afternoon) they discuss specific needs of specific kids. Beth was one to be discussed that day. They are considering pulling her out and putting her with the grouped reading / phonics / comprehension groups. Math has not been discovered yet... so we'll see what happens then.

Unlike when Gabi was in kindergarten, this school has what they call a math and a reading rotation. That is when the entire school is on that subject. This is done specifically so they can move the kids to the appropriate group without skipping grades! A huge plus for me!

Attitude is still an issue though... especially for Gabi. Bob and I are going to try something new. Instead of me taking an interest in what has happened at school (I'll get that information from Bob) I'll focus on spending time together doing fun things. Bob really thinks the problem is more that Gabi misses the time she had with me because she's always bubbly about school until about half way home. I'll still be involved in homework, which allows me to know what is going on and be a part of it.

Some of the things we'll do are baking, science, games, reading and crafty projects. I'm not convinced that I need to leave the academics entirely to the teachers at school. I suspect we'll be tying in different things. As well as during vacation doing some home schooling. The girls have been missing it, and I think it will do us all some good.

Grandma Nielsen will start the girls on piano lessons after soccer season ends. Bob and I tried to do it ourselves back in Maine, but it was always too hard with the schedules. Now, we feel it would be a great blessing for them to have the time with Grandma one on one with something they have both been wanting to do. Gabi doesn't know it, but she's going to need to get her attitude turned around before Grandma will take her on as a student. She doesn't want Gabi to decide she hates piano when she's always loved it. I agree.

The boys and I typically walk the girls to school then go the long way home . We also often walk the long way down and pick the girls up too. It's good to be out of the house, but also to have the fresh air and exercise. We also try to have a story / cuddle time right after lunch on the couch.

Other than that we're not terribly organized yet. We're getting there, but I'm still unpacking and organizing the house. We get out the math stuff more for fun right now and color and practice writing. We do go to the library every Wednesday morning for Story Hour and Craft which they seem to be enjoying themselves! They love to play with the toys that are there and picking out books as well.

We're working on attitudes, being polite, being patient, taking turns, being gentle and whatever else does not seem to come naturally to most little boys! =) It's not easy for anyone, but it's necessary and we're making slow progress. I hope to get charts printed up by the end of the week for chores and for progress!

Boston Museum of Science

Okay... so back tracking...

On our traveling adventure, we stopped off in Boston at the Science Museum. I remember it from when I was young - did an over night adventure with my school class. It wasn't as big then, although still bigger than we could do in one day.

Buying tickets for just the day was going to be more than buying a season pass (which is not just for there but for lots of other museums around the USA) so we spent $6 less and got the season pass.

We went to a 3-D movie and to the Butterfly exhibit. We also explored certain of the many areas of the museum, like the physics playground and the fossil dig area. We made it a point to stop by the dinosaur exhibit - the kids really were impressed with the large models, as well as the real bones and large foot print.

There is even a discovery center - it's a classic Children's Discovery Museum so the kids knew exactly what to do there! They had a lot fun and the girls made paper helicopters. Peter wanted to try too - they gave him some really cool scissors (I'd never seen before) and so I just had to ask where to get a pair... probably for Christmas or something. They are perfect for little hands as they pop back open themselves and have lots of safety features. I just don't know why stores don't carry them locally - they really are the best first time scissors I've ever seen. Peter was cutting like a pro!

There is so much we would love to do there - some day, when the kids are bigger, we have more time, and they aren't so tired from the packing and moving drama! Still they had fun!

Back To School

Well, first day of school was yesterday. Gabi had a hard time all Sunday. She was clingy and whiny... when she wasn't around, I made mentioned that my guess was it had something to do with her "not getting as much of mom's attention as everyone else" because school was starting the next day - which was one of her biggest complaints with public schooling when she was in kindergarten. Sure enough, later on when it hadn't ended, she told Bob that exact same thing.

Beth was certainly nervous, but seemed to do okay once she was lined up to go inside. The Mini Kindergarten day helped with that, I'm sure. But she was certainly done at the end of the day and very happy to be picked up.

Their day wasn't over though, since it was back to school night - apparently that's a parent thing here, not a kid and parent thing. Not that I knew that going down. Thank goodness for grandma driving up the road (though nearly hitting Jeremy - not really, she was paying attention - since he thought he was so smart and so big and had wandered into the middle of the lane while looking behind him instead of in front) because she picked up the boys right there and headed up to her house with them.

Through whatever miscommunication (whether school or husband or whatever) and my own stress (due to needing to race through Back to School Night as the only parent of two (Bob was working in his own classroom) and needing to get a key from Bob, race back home to drive the girls to soccer practice so that the lady covering for Bob would have soccer balls... )well, my experience was not very good. I really felt it was a waste of my time and that it was poorly set up... later reading the handbook I learned parents were suppose to be handed basically a syllabus of sorts at this Back to School Night. I got nothing from Gabi's teacher and a whole packet from Beth's - though nothing close to a syllabus. Oh well... it's elementary school, right?

Something about being new in a community, not understanding the vast differentness of West Coast mentality (I don't think I'll ever figure that out), and apparently not having all the information needed to be ready and prepared.... you know, moving really sucks! No matter what, when, why or where you're moving, that initial "I'm new and apparently stupid because of it" feeling along with everyone making weird faces at you because they are "trying to be nice but think you've got a few loose screws" doesn't make it any easier!

On the other side... discipline as reared its ugly head once again in our house. Okay, so it never fully left, but now that we're not rushing to meet some deadline it's back in force. That was the hardest part of little boys. Peter spent a good hour crying and screaming as he sat on his bed because of behavior issues. Then was so tired he slept a good two hours and I had to wake him up so as not to be late to pick up Beth and Gabi.

We unpacked the paints, so the boys spent some time painting. Jeremy began working with starfall.com again - this time with me watching and coaching. When I get the boxes of books organized we'll start sitting and reading together for about 10 minutes a day to help him with his confedence.

Peter is potty training in "undy pants" again as well. That is his first major schooling focus. We'll probably jump in with some nutrition stuff too, since they will be here helping me with lunches anyway.

Anyway, right or wrong... school has started up. I hope to be volunteering once a week in Beth's class, sent in the form for it today, so we'll see what happens. I'm unaware of any volunteer opportunities (as of yet) for Gabi's class. I guess we'll just have to keep our eyes open for anything that might come up.

(I'll add pictures to this post when I get them downloaded... need to clean up iPhoto first)