Co-op

It's co-op day.   I have been in a few co-ops during my homeschooling career and this is by far the most organized.  Everyone and I mean everyone plays a role.  My job duties this quarter are hall monitor, teacher assistant, and room tear down.  Last quarter they had me supervise the study hall for an hour.  Best study hall I ever sat in.  The students were quiet and studying, not one peep from anyone.  I got a lot of reading done in there.  Hall monitor is even more uneventful.  Everyone here is on their best behavior, knows where they are to be, what they are to do, and no one tries to "buck" the system.  I wish I had joined up earlier, but unlike my other co-ops where there wasn't a charge this one does require a participation fee and a teacher fee, which is manageable for one but not affordable for three.  In reality, Bonnie and Brian have done fine without being in an organized classroom, but of my three Bryce (and I) need this the most.  I anxious to hear how today goes for Bryce.  

Happy Schooling Everyone!

Challenges

 

We have finally reached the end of our school day.  Bryce is ending the day with his Pre-Algebra lesson.  Fortunately, he has a good grasp of what he is doing and doesn't need much help.  I wish I could say that about his other subjects earlier today.  The past two days actually have been very challenging.  While it seems most homeschool moms talk about the challenges and tears over teaching math, for us, the challenges and tears center around writing.  Bryce had two papers to write for co-op.  For literature, he needed to write a biography on C.S. Lewis.  We spent Friday and Monday, reading sources on Lewis, taking notes, and then writing his rough draft.  Today wasn't too hard as he went back over his rough draft and added "dress ups" as his teacher calls them to make his paper more enjoyable to read.  For Civics, Bryce had to write an essay on how our American Presidents embody American ideals and how they have failed them.  A good portion today was focused on how to respond to an essay question...ANY essay question.   It was not an easy lesson.  I am afraid I lost my cool a couple of times.  ....sigh...... Yet,  this is EXACTLY  why we joined this class.....why we are continuing with this co-op.  I am thrilled with the challenges, no matter how hard they are, and I have faith that by the end of this year we will see tremendous growth in Bryce as a student and me as a teacher.  

Another Week Done

Our first school week after break has come to an end!  It wasn't that bad.  In fact, it was a great week for everyone.  Bonnie returned to the college for her second quarter.  She is taking Physics II, Personal Wellness (i.e. Health), American Sign Language, and CAD (Computer Animated Drawing) which is an Engineering course.  Her CAD course is probably the one that she is most intimidated by and yet, excited about.  Architecture is what she wants to major in so this will let her know if she has what it takes.  

Brian is finishing up his first semester at the high school.  Exams should be next week or the week after.  We looked up his grades the other night and he has A's and B's.


What I really want to tell you about is Bryce's new classes:  Civics and Wilderness.  For Civics his class is working their way through Ray Notgrass' Exploring Government and We Hold These Truths.

This week we have read about the 22nd and 27th Amendments and how they detail who steps in as President if our elected President dies, is incapacitated, or becomes unfit (insane).  We also learned about his salary, and the oath the office.  We also studied the factors behind declaring war, or deploying our military, etc.  I am pretty excited.  Every week Bryce has to write an essay based on the topic of study as well as answer his daily questions.  We are going to learn a lot.

The Wilderness class doesn't have a text or homework, which is nice.  It is a course taught by the Red Cross about survival in the Wilderness.  On Wednesday, the students learned what to do if they encountered someone who was injured in the woods...basic first responder protocol.  Next week, the teacher is bringing in mannequins for the students to practice CPR on.  I am really excited about this class.   

All in all, a good week, but I am ready for the weekend.

Oh...one last thought.  Like most people, at the first of the year, Todd and I decided to take control of our eating habits and we are eating according to Prism Phase One plan i.e. no breads, no pasta, no potatoes, no sugar, no "snacks".  Before Christmas I was 5 lbs.  above where I want to be on the scale.  During Christmas week I gained an additional 5 lbs.  As of today, Todd and I have stuck with the eating plan and I have lost 5 1/2 lbs.  Just 4 1/2 more to go!   I am pretty excited and feel empowered again when it comes to food.  

Back to Normalcy

We are finally back to a "normal" schedule around here.  Today, Bryce and I headed off to co-op.  He is resuming his English Literature class and starting two new classes, Civics and Wilderness.  I am anxious to hear how his new classes go.  I feel like Bryce and I are testing the waters.  Slowly, we are seeing how he performs in classes and judging what the future holds for him academically.  Bryce is my "challenge" child.  Bonnie was my ambitious go getter, Brian was my multi-talented, "I-can-do-whatever-you-give-me" kid, but Bryce, well, Bryce is still a mystery.  He does things differently.  He is not as detailed.  Although I was comfortable for the other two to go to the public high school, I don't have peace about that for Bryce. I do have peace about him going to the Christian school in town if we choose not to home-school.  It is smaller, and he will have more one on one interactions with the teachers.  Also, the students will not be so rude or mean as they are at the high school.  However, there is a cost.  A cost we can't afford unless I get a second job.  Oh....another positive for the Christian school is that Bryce's best friend attends there.  So here we are back to our normal schedules, but always looking towards the future praying for God's direction in our lives.

Back to school

Everyone is back to school today. Bryce and I worked hard at church at completing his school assignments. The newest addition to our studies is the Rosetta Stone Spanish course. I'm excited for us to learn a new language this year. Later this week Bryce will head off to his co-op where he will continue his English literature course and begin two new classes, one in civics the other will be a wilderness class. They should be a lot of fun.

Sledding

The kids and I went out to the property today after church to help clear the land of all the fallen trees that Todd cut down yesterday.  After our work was done we had to try out our own sledding hill.

Happy New Year

While you were watching the Big Ball drop, or setting off fireworks, or smooching your spouse, my daughter and I rang in the new year huddled around the computer figuring out our 2014 taxes, and filling out her federal student aid form.  Why?  Well, here in Washington you can begin the process of applying for student aid the first of the year, in other words, midnight.  So that's what we did, crossing our fingers and praying that our early filing will increase her chances on receiving grant money to help pay for college.   

Other than that, today we said goodbye to our friends the Harpers.  It was great spending another New Year with them...sledding....cards....movies....great conversations....sweet memories.  

I am excited to see what this new year holds.  Possibly our own home, maybe a new addition or two to the family (dog &/or cat), college, trip back east,  and more .....

Happy New Year!