My blog has not been updated very much lately for the same reason I imagine that there have not been many updates to read on my bloglines reader: either finishing up paper work for the school transition (in my case) or vacations (I hope in someone’s case).
I’ve printed out the Letter of Intent to Homeschool (we have to file annually for approval here in Massachusetts). DH has proofread it, a very vital step in my case, but I can’t run out to the post office to mail it registered mail right now as it turns out that M’s eye is bacterial conjunctivitis, and I don’t want to further infect Attleboro. I also got B’s standardized test scores from last May sent into the principal’s office where he would have been a student, so they can let the superintendent’s office know that we filed our end of the year report as agreed.
Yesterday I stayed home from the Sunday School Picnic with a swollen foot, I played too much on my anniversary, but I used the time I was alone to list out all the things I want to do in the various books we bought for the boys. I dropped some of the requirements for B, because it’s just too much, and now I have to figure out some sort of weekly/daily plan that takes into account his dream of being "done," in mid July, and folding M into the plans as an official student I report
(and figure out where busy K fits in, as she might be about to switch to one nap, YIKES!)
I think we are going to sit down with a calandar this year and mark out the weeks we know we will take off, include at least two floating weeks for sickness, and count the days we do have to work with, and schedule those in for the work we have to do. If we designate certain times as quarters and halfs, then we’ll know if we are "ahead" or "behind." B has been begging for more structure. I find him a hard task master; last week he had me read three chapters at once of The Story of the World plus the mapwork all on one day.
He has a point, it’s August and he and his Dad have not yet had their celebration for finishing 5th grade yet (10 chapters of history to go.) I think this year’s fun is putting together another computer for head to head wargames. They also have to get to the Boston Science Museum before September 7th when the Black Hole Exhibit closes. He finished Animal Farm last week, and has been asking everyone questions about the Russian Revolution.
I can see why he wants his summer "free," he has so many interesting educational plans, he hasn’t got time for lessons. I want some of that freedom too: so I’m writing into that checkoff chart things like "6 nature walks," and "I may assign you more novels to read."
Maybe I’d better write in "Mom may change her mind!" Then it will be official.