summer school

I haven't blogged lately because I've been so busy with all the kids. The four kids are staying with us this summer, apparently. For summer school, I coordinated a graduate student to tutor Connor an hour a day in Chinese and Math. That will eliminate the need to drive 45 each way on Tuesdays. I have been taking him to the college library (10 min. away)for his lesson. While we are there, I read to all the other kids and help them find books to take home. I'm an alumni, so we can use all the college facilities. After Chinese/Math, starting next week, all the kids will go to swimming lessons. All, that is, except for the little guy who is only two. Swimming lessons end at 11:15, and I signed up two of the kids for the Geneseo Reading Clinic. It runs from 1:30-3:30 four days a week. Connor has Tae Kwon Do 1-2p three days a week. So between Chinese, Math, guitar, swimming and Tae Kwon Do, I'm wondering when Connor will find time to take his online course in computer programming. He's supposed to begin that July 8th. I might have to call to see if we can postpone it.

Funny you tube vidoes

Two funny links to homeschool Spoofs
Will Survive- Homeschool Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIOogqa-5GA&feature=email


Tim Hawkins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6uqj0_jQc&feature=email

Wed. June 17 Civil War Reenactment

I dropped both boys off at the YMCA homeschooling Civil War Reenactment event this morning, and I'm sitting in the Subaru dealership waiting for my car to be maintained. When I left the Y, Austin did not look happy. Most of the kids at the event were girls,and they were all Connor's age. Oh well.

Tuesday June 16

Tuesday was NOT a good day. We left early for Chinese because we had some errands to do, and I ended up losing my temper with Austin. I won't elaborate, but I find that I am beginning to resent the fact that we pay $10K a year for his education (and drive almost two hours a day to transport him there and back) and he doesn't seem to appreciate the sacrifices. We ALL give up things to pay for and transport him (Connor spends a chunk of his school day in the car) and Austin has turned into a big jerk. Now I'm threatening to homeschool Austin too. Funny, huh? At the beginning of homeschooling, Austin begged me to homeschool him too; now, I use it as a threat. Austin sees that Connor does twice as much work in a school day, and he no longer wants to homeschool. He may not have a choice.

Ignatian Prayer for Parents

This sums up my goals for our sons to a tee!!!

Ignatian Prayer for Parents

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Build us sons, O Lord who will be strong enough to know when they are weak, and brave enough to face themselves when they are afraid; sons who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build us sons whose wishbones will not be where their backbones should be; sons who will know Thee—and that to know themselves is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead them, we pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and sour of difficulties and challenge. Here, let them learn compassion for those who fail.

Build us sons whose hears will be clear, whose goals will be high; sons who will master themselves before they seek to master others; sons who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; sons who will reach into the future yet never forget the past.

And, after all these things are theirs, add, we pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that they may always be serious, yet never take themselves too seriously. Give them humility, so that they may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. Amen

From St. Xavier High School Cincinnati OH

Monday June 15

I didn't blog on Friday because we didn't do too much. Connor went to Chess club, and then he left to go to Pennsylvania with his aunt and uncle for the weekend. Today we went to church, played Risk, studied Chinese, practiced guitar and went to Tae Kwon Do class. At Tae Kwon Do, one of the students (an adult) asked me quite a few questions about homeschooling. She wasn't being critical, she was just curious. She wanted to know if we take the summer off, just like "real" school. (The answer is no). I explained that although Connor is done with his Math, Geography and a few other subjects, he also takes guitar and Chinese, which he needs to continue all summer in order to progress. Reading is another activity we do every day, all summer long, and I hired a math tutor to work with Connor over the summer. In Tae Kwon Do class, Connor is extremely focused, attentive and driven; I think the woman was asking about homeschooling because she sees Connor at his best. What I find annoying is that I feel we are constantly being measured and evaluated because we are homeschoolers. Kind of a pain, but I guess it goes with the territory. I just need to memorize a standard answer to say when I get questions. I know that after Ken died, I just started saying, "I'd rather not talk about that." I simply got tired of giving out a long explanation to virtual strangers. People are curious and determined to offer their opinion, but I refuse to be put on the defense all the time. My family, and those who know Connor well, know that homeschooling is right for us at this time. It might not be right later, or for another child, but for us at this minute, it works.

Thurs. June 11th

Xiao is done with school, and so is Austin. Connor, however, is not quite finished. I gave Connor a blank map of the world today, and he was supposed to place the 292 countries/states/provinces/territories on the map. He found that he could remember about 3/4 of the map, but he needed to refresh his memory on the rest. Therefore, Connor spent a few hours today playing geography games online using Sheppard software. I am also threatening a cumulative vocabulary test (300 words) so he brought out his flash cards for a bit to review. After that, Connor studied Chinese with Xiao, played Risk, read Thief, and went to horse-back riding lessons. At 7pm we attended the show Walking with Dinosaurs at the Blue Cross Arena. The show fit in nicely with Monday's study of fossils and rocks etc. Lucky timing, really.