Okay so everyone is talking about starting homeschooling for this year, when they will start or that they did. I am being asked this question. I will answer here, why not?
Our school year technically runs July 1 to June 30. Prior to this year we didn't homeschool through the summer.
This year we never stopped. We went all through June and kept going. So July 1 was our first day of homeschooling, albeit a lighter schedule than the norm. As I had blogged previously, the plan for this summer was as follows:
7th grade son:
60 minutes fiction reading (on grade level books)
60 minutes science reading (living books)
60 minutes of math (usually 2 lessons, sometimes 3)
4th grade son:
45 minutes fiction reading (on grade level books)
60 minutes science reading (living books, but a number are easier picture books hence the 60 minutes not a shorter time)
45 minutes of math (usually 2 lessons, sometimes 3)
Also, homeschool astronomy class began August 11th, classes are about 90 minutes lecture and about 90 minutes of observation outdoors with a telescope.
The lessons happened on every weekday that we were home not traveling or not in Scout camps, or on days when my kid's friends were here all day long.
As for the rest of it, well we were away last weekend for a four day long weekend. We had planned to be away Labor Day weekend but now that is cancelled.
Yesterday I added in writing composition to the mix. I think we'll gradually ease in to the other subjects, maybe one new subject a day.
This coming week their full day experiential nature/science class begins and their first docent-taught class, this time about a contemporary art exhibit begins at an art museum. Later this month the film making class begins.
So things are rolling.
What Others Say
My kids have officially had it with questions from strangers. One day we had a medical appointment and needed to go to the store for a prescription medication. At 2pm a father in the store questioned my boys asking when their school started as his kids have been in school for two days already. I heard and saw this but the sales clerk was speaking to me so I couldn't answer. I watched both kids ignore him. When the clerk was done with me (this all happened very quickly) I was told to move forward so she could help that man behind me, so we got out of the way and just left.
No, that's not the best social thing to do, for my kids to ignore the man's question. It is the first time they've ignored an adult's question, to my knowledge. They are just sick of being asked that is all. I can't blame them. At their ages of 12 and 9 they now fully realize they are living an alternative lifestyle and that they are different than most other kids. They are aware that some adults don't know much about homeschooling or are totally clueless. They have heard the stupid questions they and I have been asked and heard the sometimes stupid responses the strangers make to my polite answers.
In the car I asked if they heard the question and they said yes but they chose to ignore him. I let it go. I didn't preach to them that to be polite to adults they should have answered. I can't blame them for being sick of the questions as I'm sick of being asked that question by non-homeschoolers too.
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2 comments:
I don't know. Where does Miss Manners say that just because you are a child you have to answer intrusive questions from a stranger?
A better response might have been "Do I know you?" or "Mom, this strange man is asking us personal questions." But really, should children be telling details of their personal lives to any stranger who thinks that he has a right to ask nosy questions?
I'm presuming here that you are not in the build fear of strangers into the kids camp, but rather give them enough experience and guidance to learn to make judgements. The latter strikes me as more your style.
I have to laugh about your kids ignoring the question. Mine would probably do the same thing. I've told them if they get intrusive questions when I am not immediately available (for example occupied at that moment) to say "you should talk to my mom about that." So far it has never happened.
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