It has truly been something of a Villa Villakula week as I have been working towards deadline (today) while also making sure Beasley is getting something done. Yesterday was a day filled with math. He gets it and it is something that he is able to work independently at, for the most part. Although while I had sequestered myself here in the office all day yesterday, I did hear dad-as-teacher hard at work. Good for him.

As far as the reading (and writing) is concerned I’m going to have to take a new tack. Oh, he’ll have to do it, that’s for sure, but rather than sticking to our curriculum daily plan I do think we will stray some. The child is wild for planting/growing/gardening. Of course, selling what he plants and grows is part of his picture… and believe me we will run with that, too. If it helps and motivates this boy to read, we’ll do it all.

I guess what I’m getting at is… if we are focused on what he wants to do. What he wants to know. He’ll more readily do it, despite the difficulty. I will turn the exercises prescribed by our district on their heads. No more Dick and Jane, or Dudley and Margot, as the case may be. We are gonna focus on the garden. Everything about the garden. Our language arts work: reading; comprehension; writing; will all now revolve around planting, growing, gardening. And probably some business related stuff thrown in, too.
Anyone have some green paint handy? When it comes to growing anything, other than this freakish bamboo in my kitchen, my thumb tends to be more of a gray hue.

Well, I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later in these early weeks of mum-cum-teacher.  The tears.  They came today.

The ‘rithmetic.  No problem.  The readin’ and writin’? Whole other can o’ worms! Now I know we made this decision to best educate this child in a way he would best learn and, most importantly, enjoy learning.  For the record:  there ain’t a whole lot of enjoyin’ goin’ on!! OK.  So, now the 64 million dollar question… what is the best way this child will learn?!?  I’m his mother for chrissake, so aren’t I supposed to be so attuned to this little person that I easily know this?  Well, so I’m not. And this sad pathetic fact leaves me at quite a loss. 

The state of this matter is, that reading and writing will continue to be an issue as long as it is profoundly difficult for him.  It seems so effing difficult.  Or…. is it not that difficult, but he knows he gets let off the hook (I read everything, I am constantly coaching writing, a long line of etc.) if it appe-eeeears difficult…  is he just lazy?  OMG! Am I a wretched mother for even thinking there might be something a little more sinister going on?

Or… am I merely frustrated and allowing my paranoid imagination to get away from me?

But, I have to ask… Why, oh why, is this so damn hard.  Why can’t he read, dammit?!?!  Aaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!  We read all the friggin’ time.  Why.  Can’t.  My.  Child.  Read?

help

I tested my body today. First I tested my finger, my hand, my arm, my eyes.The things I used were a book, a knife, paper clips, clothes peg, elastic band.

OK. Perhaps that’s overstating it. But to sit with a child who hates to read and who I am requiring to read, is very difficult. The hmmming. The hawwwwing. The awwwwwing. The nnnggggggging. What other sounds can possibly be uttered from his lovely little lips?

How can I procrastinate? Let me count the ways…. In fact, for you, dear mum, let me actually perform each and every one of them.

Procrastinate little man. We’ll be here ’till supper. Try me….

After a week away Beasley and I are back at ‘er.  Not a whole lot was accomplished academically last week while I was away, but at least they had a lot of fun without mum!

Anyways, yesterday we took our curriculum materials by the horns.  It is very structured, very much a school at home approach… but good.  It certainly laid out our morning for us.  As we get some momentum and I spend more time planning our mornings I will try to fit in more game type learning activities, geared around the subject matter.

While away, I spent a lot of money at visited a great shop, Schoolhouse Teaching Supplies in Victoria, BC.  The great thing is that I can spend a lot of money visit them online, too.

Well, all in all, a really good first week.  I read recently the importance of de-schooling a child who is transitioning from the conventional school system to being schooled at home.  Well, de-schooling would certainly characterize this week.

While I don’t know that a whole helluvalot got accomplished, we spent some good, concentrated one on one time together, exploring a variety of subject areas.  Very free-flowing, all over the freaking place, if you will.  At the very least this time right now, as we get our bearings, is serving as an opportunity to reconnect.

While I will readily admit I am currently flying blind, what I do know is that I can feel the relief on both our parts.  It’s as if a huge burden has been lifted from his little shoulders and with that alone, I know this is the right decision.  I have been waiting a long time to take this bull by the horns and it feels damn good having done so.  We are truly taking control of our children’s education and, while I am really tired, it has been nothing short of exhilarating!

We meet with our local homeschool support/liason/go-to gal this afternoon and I expect some good advice from her as we start along this new path. 

Interesting timing:  I will be away all next week, so daddy-o will be holding down the fort.  Interesting.  I’m hoping for some good Beasley posts…  “Ack!  I’m hanging from the ceiling. Toenails… toenails… Ack! Magic Treehouse. Times tables. Jacques Cartier! Ack!  Toenails… toenails… coming… loose!” 

I jest.

Yesterday was a great day of more things bodily. We learned new words, abandoned a word search and saw all kinds of gross stuff perfect for 9 and almost 6 year old boys. They were all over the live appendectomy- thanks YouTube!

Well, as we made our way through the various organs that make up the insides of all things mammal, we came across this bit of fun. We were able to perform a virtual surgery, of the open heart variety, no less. The beauty of the internet. All of you out there suffering with heart disease should be very thankful right now that I am not a heart surgeon. I was directed to “see my lawyer!”, oh, probably a dozen times!!!

Today: a little readin’, a little ‘rithmetic, and skiing!!! Skiing is in the BC curriculum, I’m so very mostly sure of it!

Well, lucky for me I am a suckkkkah for anything educational.  We have a glut of it that has been dominating a corner of the pantry with the expectation/intention that I would sit down with my children everyday and lovingly, attentively, good mothering-ly participate in each of these activities.  Well, …. what can I say?

Anyways, here we are with a good selection of resources, certainly in these early weeks, to choose from.  Some, in fact, actually conform to the fourth grade curriculum.

The Human Body, for example.  Last year, through our regular Scholastic book order, I bought this fun activity book, Amazing Body.  There is a “bank” of body parts that click together and to the images within the book, so as to better illustrate the various workings of the human body.  Circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems as well as the various senses.  This was great fun for not only Beasley Bean, but Guga-roo, too!

Then it was all about Scrabble, baby!

Well, first day down…

It was a great first day.  We started with Cartier… Oh God!  There’s a reason I forgot this stuff.  I’m sure it was in my subconscious as he did it:  Fling pencil at screen.

Anyways, a half hour of Cartier and we were on to other far more interesting things.  History of BC for one.  Who knew the Spaniards had such an interest in our coast 300 years ago.  OK, most people probably.  Isn’t the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juans and how many other Spanish names a dead giveaway?!?

I think it’s pretty clear Beasley’s not the only one gonna be learnin’ stuff!

I looked for information on the computer. I found maps and some stuff about Jacques Cartier.  The maps were cool.