Weekly Report~ September 25, 2009

We made the decision to send D to public school this year, but not for academic reasons. He desperately needed to be a part of a structured setting where there were (non-Mom) rules to follow and (non-Mom) directions to be listened to. He needed socialization that I was unable to provide him, on a consistent and daily basis. During his K year, I joined a homeschool support group and he made a few friends, but we only got together once a month or so. I signed him up for hockey, homeschool gym class, and a homeschool art class. The only one he really liked was art, but there was only one other boy in class with him who was not only older but very quiet. So no solid, regular connections were being made. Now that he's in school, he's thriving socially and his behavior at school AND at home has already improved quite a bit. He's making friends and looks forward to seeing them every day.

However, last night he had a meltdown over something small that led to him admitting to me that he was feeling really bored with what he's learning at school, saying that they are doing stuff he did in preschool. I explained that it'll get more challenging as the year goes on, but asked him what it was he wanted to learn. He told me, "SCIENCE! And math. And how to draw. And about Egypt." Although I've been 'afterschooling' him in order to supplement his academics, I've been doing it casually. After last night's tear-fest, we spent the next hour or so doing addition drill sheets, learning the definition of a noun and memorizing the poem The Caterpillar from FLL lessons 1-4; reading a chapter in SOTW (Story of the World) about mummies and pyramids, and doing a science experiement, complete with discussion sheet. To wrap it all up, we mummified an Egyptian god.... thanks to this online BBC game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/launch_gms_mummy_maker.shtml

We did more last night in an impromptu afterschooling session than we did on any one day of homeschooling last year (or at least without the complaining and procrastination that used to go along with it). D's attitude towards learning and his ability to focus has improved drastically in just a few months time.

I'll be posting my weekly report regardless of whether we do much afterschooling or not. It gives me that extra push to get online and keep an informal record of what we're doing, so that I can review it as the year goes on. I also hope to share my experience with other families who have also chosen to afterschool their children, as well as with homeschooling families who have been--and continue to be--an inspiration and support in my life. I'm looking forward to reading your blogs as well!!