Though the private Christian school that B16 and BC18 attended has been out for two weeks, B12, Chicklet8 and I have been pushing hard to complete their end-of-year projects and assignments for the virtual schools they attended this year...and we are DONE!
Ahhhh, it feels so good.
Overall, I really liked the virtual charter school option that we have here in Wisconsin. It's been great for B12, especially, to report to someone else besides Mom and receive "for real" grades. With Mom, it's an A every time because she works with you until you understand the concept (not a bad thing, but the burden is on Mom). With a teacher, if you miss a lot of problems, you get a bad grade or even fail...then it's up to you to get the help you need, or fall further behind--a needed "reality motivator" for B12. He did a great job of tackling the assignments on his own and completing his work with hardly any help--I was so proud of him! He often needed help with time management, since his deadlines were rarely hard and fast, but it was a great opportunity for him to begin to develop those skills that many of us adults struggle with. (Like what happens when you procrastinate, and how it's better to tackle the unknown assignment early in the week.)
For Chicklet8, I appreciated the accountability more for myself than for her. I just don't enjoy teaching these early skills, like math facts and handwriting and sounding out words. When I feel stretched thin by time pressures, as I have these last couple years, it's just so hard for me to find the patience for these kinds of lessons! So it was good for us both to be pushed along by the school's assignments, and she ended up learning so much this year. I was very pleased.
For inquiring minds, B12 was enrolled in iQ Academy, through the Waukesha public school district, and I really recommend this program. In addition to interactive material to absorb, he had a wide variety of assignments that require higher-level thinking than just memorizing for the test, and his teachers were accessible and accommodating. Chicklet was using the Little Lincoln Interactive curriculum through Wisconsin Virtual Learning, a charter school of the Northern Ozaukee School District. (I think Little Lincoln is available to anyone, though--maybe not for free, as it was to us.) Every day there were online lessons in entertaining video form from Mrs. Walden, the writing teacher, Mr. Reed Moore, the reading teacher, Ms. Triggle, the math teacher, and Chicklet's favorite, Dr. Algae, the science teacher. There were also optional games online, at the end of each five-minute video lesson, and workbook pages, as well as art and science activities. You didn't have to turn in everything, just certain assignments, so often we didn't complete every single activity, but I thought that overall, it was a fantastic program.
B6 was my one purely homeschooled student, in kindergarten, and he was done about 3 months ago, I hate to say. We're still doing a lesson here and a lesson there in Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, but that's been about it for formal education lately. Lots of unschooling going on for him, though, as he spent hours drawing, then began writing strings of letters and numbers, and eventually began phonetically spelling out words and teaching himself simple math facts. Not every day, mind you, but I was thrilled to see him being his own teacher!
As I've been thinking and praying about next year, I feel great peace about the decision at which we've arrived. We are going to put B6 and Chicklet8 in public school for a year or so--we'll see how it goes. I'm calling it a sabbatical, after 14 straight years of homeschooling! Chicklet went there for half a year last year, you may recall, and we both really liked it. It was just a long day for a sweet little girl who missed her family, and I didn't make her go back after Christmas break. But she's so excited about going back as a third grader, and B6 will hopefully get the same Christian teacher that Chicklet had for first grade. He's ready for more structure and mental challenge, and I think he'll get it better there than from me. As I said, I just don't enjoy these early lessons, creating motivational challenges for me.
I also long to give Chicklet the lessons she is begging for--cooking, sewing, and art. I hope if someone else is in charge of the essentials, I'll have more energy for the extras! But I am realistic. They will be gone from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an earlier bedtime than we are used to, plus they will have homework and piano practice, and AWANA and theater will start back up again...and I'm afraid I won't get much time in the evenings with my little ones, unless I am creative and intentional, which is something I can't wait to think more about. I just know that the rest of my family needs me too, Mom has been stretched too thin these last couple years, and the younger ones' education is something I can delegate next year, at least. This plan just feels right, and I feel peace from the Lord about it.
Only B12 will be at home, and he'll do iQ Academy again, since he's able to work so independently and it was such a good experience. We don't feel that the public middle school would be a good option for him, and the Christian school is a big expense. So it'll be just him and me next year, unless B16 decides to do iQ Academy instead of the Christian high school--unlikely, but a possibility he's praying about. It would give him more time to focus on guitar, voice, song-writing, and brushing off his piano knowledge--all things he's really desiring to do--but he wouldn't be able to play sports or see his friends as often, so it's his call. He's got the summer to decide.
Blondechick will be at Trinity International University, we are nearly certain. Still financial details to work out, and in two weeks she has an audition to see if they will give her a music scholarship for voice. We've been told that there is still money there, if they need her in one of their vocal groups, and she doesn't have to major in music, so she might as well see what happens, eh?
B20, Lord willing, will be working. The job search has been progressing at a snail's pace so far. Prayers appreciated!
For now, it's just great to have the school year behind us and the summer looming. Ahhhhhh..... Bring it on!
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Schmeducation
Our oldest both got their grades last week, from their first semester of high school here, and both did very well. We were especially thrilled with Bantam18's A in Algebra!! Math is his toughest subject.
For Blondechick16, it was essentially her first report card ever, and we were all delighted with it! She pointed out to us, "I got better grades than most of my friends who've been in school their whole lives!" She says it's not that she's so much smarter; she can't understand why they just don't bother to turn in assignments.
And I have to say, we have been a bit disappointed that she's not being challenged more. That is the one comment I've heard consistently from other homeschoolers who have put their kids in public high school, both locally and back in Illinois. But she does love her teachers and she's enjoying her classes and the learning process, so we're glad about that.
This week is the final week of a new-to-me Wisconsin thing called "open enrollment." It's a period when you can apply to go to other schools besides your local one, whether it's the cross-town high school, a charter school, or an online school. Since I may be working part-time as the area coordinator of the theater group we are helping to start, I am trying, this week, to think through the options I'd like to have for the three who are currently homeschooled. (We then have until June to finalize our decisions.)
I am certain that B13 will be home another year. He will be an 8th grader, and I am glad he has one more year before he starts high school. He thinks he wants to go to the same charter school that BC16 attends. However, he tells me that he really likes his homeschooled friends, and he notices that an advantage to being homeschooled is that he avoids the social drama that he sees BC16 getting caught up in. (I can't very well put those stories on my blog, but it's true!)
In order to prepare him for high school--and to try out an option that part of me hopes we might consider for high school as well--I've been looking at virtual schools. Here in Wisconsin there are quite a few. All are public online schools and therefore all are free, all have certified teachers that grade your child's work and answer his questions, and all provide a free laptop and all curriculum that is needed. Such a deal, eh?
I've spent a good bit of time looking at sample lessons for 8th grade, 5th grade and 1st grade, and I've quickly concluded that I don't think I want to try this with all three kids next year. In the younger grades it requires more parental involvement than in the older grades, and with adding a part-time job to my schedule, I think I'd better rely on my tried-and-true methods and resources rather than experimenting.
But for Bantam13, I am most intrigued by iQ Academy, an option for middle school and high school which is designed for students to work relatively independently. The curriculum looks the most engaging; it's less textbook-centered and more computer-centered, with multi-media to reinforce learning. I think it will push B13 while still giving him control over his schedule: for example, he can choose whether he wants to do all his history for the week in one day, or spread it out. I think he'll like reporting to an online teacher rather than Mom and getting more grades and feedback.
For B10 and Chicklet6, I haven't completely ruled out the idea of putting one of them in school--more likely B10, the slippery fish. (Who gets away every time...Mom makes an assignment!) But recently, an incident with him reminded us of why we like to avoid the public school environment...so it's a question of spiritual training as well as academics. He really wants to start a band instrument, so I may be talking to the local elementary school about getting him into that program, at least.
This afternoon, I'm hosting 4 moms of 7th grade homeschooled boys (and their kids) so that we can talk about getting those boys together more often, perhaps for some schmeducational pursuits...
So it's time to CLEAN!
For Blondechick16, it was essentially her first report card ever, and we were all delighted with it! She pointed out to us, "I got better grades than most of my friends who've been in school their whole lives!" She says it's not that she's so much smarter; she can't understand why they just don't bother to turn in assignments.
And I have to say, we have been a bit disappointed that she's not being challenged more. That is the one comment I've heard consistently from other homeschoolers who have put their kids in public high school, both locally and back in Illinois. But she does love her teachers and she's enjoying her classes and the learning process, so we're glad about that.
This week is the final week of a new-to-me Wisconsin thing called "open enrollment." It's a period when you can apply to go to other schools besides your local one, whether it's the cross-town high school, a charter school, or an online school. Since I may be working part-time as the area coordinator of the theater group we are helping to start, I am trying, this week, to think through the options I'd like to have for the three who are currently homeschooled. (We then have until June to finalize our decisions.)
I am certain that B13 will be home another year. He will be an 8th grader, and I am glad he has one more year before he starts high school. He thinks he wants to go to the same charter school that BC16 attends. However, he tells me that he really likes his homeschooled friends, and he notices that an advantage to being homeschooled is that he avoids the social drama that he sees BC16 getting caught up in. (I can't very well put those stories on my blog, but it's true!)
In order to prepare him for high school--and to try out an option that part of me hopes we might consider for high school as well--I've been looking at virtual schools. Here in Wisconsin there are quite a few. All are public online schools and therefore all are free, all have certified teachers that grade your child's work and answer his questions, and all provide a free laptop and all curriculum that is needed. Such a deal, eh?
I've spent a good bit of time looking at sample lessons for 8th grade, 5th grade and 1st grade, and I've quickly concluded that I don't think I want to try this with all three kids next year. In the younger grades it requires more parental involvement than in the older grades, and with adding a part-time job to my schedule, I think I'd better rely on my tried-and-true methods and resources rather than experimenting.
But for Bantam13, I am most intrigued by iQ Academy, an option for middle school and high school which is designed for students to work relatively independently. The curriculum looks the most engaging; it's less textbook-centered and more computer-centered, with multi-media to reinforce learning. I think it will push B13 while still giving him control over his schedule: for example, he can choose whether he wants to do all his history for the week in one day, or spread it out. I think he'll like reporting to an online teacher rather than Mom and getting more grades and feedback.
For B10 and Chicklet6, I haven't completely ruled out the idea of putting one of them in school--more likely B10, the slippery fish. (Who gets away every time...Mom makes an assignment!) But recently, an incident with him reminded us of why we like to avoid the public school environment...so it's a question of spiritual training as well as academics. He really wants to start a band instrument, so I may be talking to the local elementary school about getting him into that program, at least.
This afternoon, I'm hosting 4 moms of 7th grade homeschooled boys (and their kids) so that we can talk about getting those boys together more often, perhaps for some schmeducational pursuits...
So it's time to CLEAN!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Sure Is a Good Thing...
Blondechick15 has had a rude awakening.
At school the other day, she discovered that she was the only one in her history class whose parents weren't planning to vote for Obama.
She also learned that "BC" on a timeline means not "Before Christ" but "Before Common Era." Everyone else in the class already knew that.
On a poster, as an example of "a firmly-held belief," her English teacher listed "karma."
On a persuasive essay assignment, she found herself the sole opponent of legalized abortion.
To her great surprise, she was the only one, in a small group that was brainstorming controversial topics, who thought that same-sex marriage was not okay.
I guess we're not in DuPage County anymore!
How did she respond to these situations? By standing her ground, in each case.
"It's a good thing I have a strong personality," she remarked.
(If our conversation hadn't been so serious, I'd have choked on my Dr. Pepper at that understatement!)
After she told me more details, I pointed out to her that God had prepared her with not only a strong temperament, but He had also planted the seeds of her convictions by her life experiences. For example, how many girls her age have been present at a birth, as she has witnessed, twice? She remembers my pregnancies and feeling the babies move and kick; she knows how much one can love a baby even before one can sense its presence physically. And she knows men and women who have been healed of their neuroses, who have married and had children and know the joy of a healthy family.
"Have you had any doubts?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Has it crossed your mind that maybe all those other kids are right and your parents are wrong?"
"No way!" she snorted, without hesitation.
"Really?" I queried.
"Mom, I just know that abortion is killing a human being, and same-sex marriage is not right. It's so obvious."
After a moment, she added, "And they know it too, deep down. They're just not willing to say it."
Thank you, Lord, for the hard-headed, "strong personality" you have given our daughter. May her faith, her convictions, and her perseverance be strengthened by adversity. May You be glorified by her witness. Preserve and protect her, in your love and by your great mercy, O Lord.
At school the other day, she discovered that she was the only one in her history class whose parents weren't planning to vote for Obama.
She also learned that "BC" on a timeline means not "Before Christ" but "Before Common Era." Everyone else in the class already knew that.
On a poster, as an example of "a firmly-held belief," her English teacher listed "karma."
On a persuasive essay assignment, she found herself the sole opponent of legalized abortion.
To her great surprise, she was the only one, in a small group that was brainstorming controversial topics, who thought that same-sex marriage was not okay.
I guess we're not in DuPage County anymore!
How did she respond to these situations? By standing her ground, in each case.
"It's a good thing I have a strong personality," she remarked.
(If our conversation hadn't been so serious, I'd have choked on my Dr. Pepper at that understatement!)
After she told me more details, I pointed out to her that God had prepared her with not only a strong temperament, but He had also planted the seeds of her convictions by her life experiences. For example, how many girls her age have been present at a birth, as she has witnessed, twice? She remembers my pregnancies and feeling the babies move and kick; she knows how much one can love a baby even before one can sense its presence physically. And she knows men and women who have been healed of their neuroses, who have married and had children and know the joy of a healthy family.
"Have you had any doubts?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Has it crossed your mind that maybe all those other kids are right and your parents are wrong?"
"No way!" she snorted, without hesitation.
"Really?" I queried.
"Mom, I just know that abortion is killing a human being, and same-sex marriage is not right. It's so obvious."
After a moment, she added, "And they know it too, deep down. They're just not willing to say it."
Thank you, Lord, for the hard-headed, "strong personality" you have given our daughter. May her faith, her convictions, and her perseverance be strengthened by adversity. May You be glorified by her witness. Preserve and protect her, in your love and by your great mercy, O Lord.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Blondechick15 Adjusts to the Idea
So we visited her new school yesterday.
I was glad that I had clued in the principal to the fact that she wasn't exactly rejoicing over her acceptance. He spent nearly two hours with us, selling Blondechick on the school the whole time. And by the time we left, she was reluctantly willing to admit that it sounded pretty good.
One of her first questions was whether she'd get her own locker. (She was going to have to share one at the big school.) Yes, she would. And it got better from there!
He described various kinds of hands-on, project-centered learning rather than test- and textbook-centered learning, including getting out of the school and into nature, museums, camps and other field trips. We saw a "digital documentary" that a teacher put together to introduce a unit study on labor struggles in the early 20th century. The topic was a mystery to the students, and this video was one of several "puzzle pieces" they were given. We saw another that a student had created as a final project to illustrate her knowledge of the civil rights movement, with her own selection of images, music and poetry and a narration written and voiced over by the student.
We met teachers--all personable and interesting--who we knew, from the principal, were supremely well-qualified; five of the ten on staff are former Teachers of the Year. We met students who were volunteering their time setting up a classroom. They were friendly and immediately engaging. ("I wanted to stay and help them," BC told me later.) We met a humorous black boy who will be in choir with BC, which got her more excited about the mixed sophomore choir than she's been about the Women's Chorale she would have been in at the big school.
We saw brand-new chemistry desks and stools and brand-new risers for the choir. Blondechick was thrilled to see a cartful of Mac iBooks that were for student use, and we were impressed by the ratio of one laptop for every two students.
The principal described the school as a family, small enough that everyone knows each other and even gets to know each other's families. This really appealed to Blondechick, she told me later; it reminded us both of our theater group. He also described a perk for students who had no makeup work due--early release on Wednesdays--which captured BC's imagination quickly: Wait till my friends hear this! The principal encouraged her to take both Honors English and Honors History, since they teach them in such an interrelated fashion--and she agreed readily, to my surprise.
So maybe--just maybe--this is not going to be SO bad, Blondechick is thinking.
And Mom and Dad are rejoicing (quietly, to ourselves, or course) because, darn it, this is even better than we thought!
Either we lucked out, or once again God knew what He was doing....
I only wish that Bantam17 could go there too! But I am sure God knows what He is doing in B17's life too.
I was glad that I had clued in the principal to the fact that she wasn't exactly rejoicing over her acceptance. He spent nearly two hours with us, selling Blondechick on the school the whole time. And by the time we left, she was reluctantly willing to admit that it sounded pretty good.
One of her first questions was whether she'd get her own locker. (She was going to have to share one at the big school.) Yes, she would. And it got better from there!
He described various kinds of hands-on, project-centered learning rather than test- and textbook-centered learning, including getting out of the school and into nature, museums, camps and other field trips. We saw a "digital documentary" that a teacher put together to introduce a unit study on labor struggles in the early 20th century. The topic was a mystery to the students, and this video was one of several "puzzle pieces" they were given. We saw another that a student had created as a final project to illustrate her knowledge of the civil rights movement, with her own selection of images, music and poetry and a narration written and voiced over by the student.
We met teachers--all personable and interesting--who we knew, from the principal, were supremely well-qualified; five of the ten on staff are former Teachers of the Year. We met students who were volunteering their time setting up a classroom. They were friendly and immediately engaging. ("I wanted to stay and help them," BC told me later.) We met a humorous black boy who will be in choir with BC, which got her more excited about the mixed sophomore choir than she's been about the Women's Chorale she would have been in at the big school.
We saw brand-new chemistry desks and stools and brand-new risers for the choir. Blondechick was thrilled to see a cartful of Mac iBooks that were for student use, and we were impressed by the ratio of one laptop for every two students.
The principal described the school as a family, small enough that everyone knows each other and even gets to know each other's families. This really appealed to Blondechick, she told me later; it reminded us both of our theater group. He also described a perk for students who had no makeup work due--early release on Wednesdays--which captured BC's imagination quickly: Wait till my friends hear this! The principal encouraged her to take both Honors English and Honors History, since they teach them in such an interrelated fashion--and she agreed readily, to my surprise.
So maybe--just maybe--this is not going to be SO bad, Blondechick is thinking.
And Mom and Dad are rejoicing (quietly, to ourselves, or course) because, darn it, this is even better than we thought!
Either we lucked out, or once again God knew what He was doing....
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20-21)
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20-21)
I only wish that Bantam17 could go there too! But I am sure God knows what He is doing in B17's life too.
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