I know I don’t speak for all homeschooling parents, but for the past couple of years, when I hit May, things start to unravel just as I need to button everything up for the reports. Our schedule becomes incredibly complicated, the warmer afternoons are ideal for just running around outside, and I’m tired, oh so tired.
But, even though I want to just take a nap, in my head, I mentally go through all the items on my school district’s required reports for Belly, my 2nd grader:
Did we do art this year? Well, yeah, I can easily recall paintings, and drawings, and toothpick-and-gum drop creations, beaded jewelry, clay people, tribal paper-bag masks. But art history? Well, no, not really. But boy, I’m glad I didn’t waste time teaching her the whole “crazy Van Gogh chopped off his ear” story.
Now what about music? We have a piano! I review CD’s of kids’ music, and she has to listen to them too. She even used to sing in the church choir until that interest sort of waned (funny, right at the same time as my interest in church).
Science? Meh. . .we did ok.
Social Studies? I still don’t even know what that is.
Foreign Language? Ummmmmmmmmmmm. . .I say “Je ne sais pas” and “Mon Dieu!” a lot around the house; does that count?
We’ve done awesome in the “Go Outside and Play” subject area (oh, wait, that’s called “PE” in report-language). We’ve made real progress in Math (after a very rocky start). We kick ass in History, if I do say so myself. Reading & Grammar? Not bad, not bad. Oh, crap, Spelling. . .she’s up to Lesson 9! Out of 30. Whoops.
Call me cocky, but I think it’ll be ok. I know she’s learned things this year, even if they don’t all neatly fit into “subject areas”.
And, really, I need to relish this reporting season. Next year, I’ll have two kids to report.
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It’s good to know I’m not the only one that struggles once May comes round.
It’s good to know I’m not the only one that struggles once May comes round.
It’s good to know I’m not the only one that struggles once May comes round.
I can’t imagine how you must feel because I’m always exhausted with school stuff when May rolls around too, and I don’t home school!
You rock!
I can’t imagine how you must feel because I’m always exhausted with school stuff when May rolls around too, and I don’t home school!
You rock!
I can’t imagine how you must feel because I’m always exhausted with school stuff when May rolls around too, and I don’t home school!
You rock!
I’m glad our reporting consists of presenting a plan, not a checklist of what we actually did. It is hard to translate a year of what we do into educationese that sounds to the trained professional like we did something.
We did lots of somethings, and my children are all much further along than at the start of the year. It just involved a lot of talking about stuff and reading books from the library and field trips and acting things out.
I’m glad our reporting consists of presenting a plan, not a checklist of what we actually did. It is hard to translate a year of what we do into educationese that sounds to the trained professional like we did something.
We did lots of somethings, and my children are all much further along than at the start of the year. It just involved a lot of talking about stuff and reading books from the library and field trips and acting things out.
I’m glad our reporting consists of presenting a plan, not a checklist of what we actually did. It is hard to translate a year of what we do into educationese that sounds to the trained professional like we did something.
We did lots of somethings, and my children are all much further along than at the start of the year. It just involved a lot of talking about stuff and reading books from the library and field trips and acting things out.
I’m on board with the ‘May struggle’. And I’ll have 2 kids to report next year also – how the heck did that happen.
But, yes I think we’re doing ok and they will be ok!
I’m on board with the ‘May struggle’. And I’ll have 2 kids to report next year also – how the heck did that happen.
But, yes I think we’re doing ok and they will be ok!
I’m on board with the ‘May struggle’. And I’ll have 2 kids to report next year also – how the heck did that happen.
But, yes I think we’re doing ok and they will be ok!
Thank goodness, I’m not alone. I’m struggling right now. Today we did a lesson in music appreciation and a study of kinetic motion. For the non-homeschoolers: DANCE PARTY IN THE LIVING ROOM!
I agree with Dana — my kids are more learned now that in September. But quantifying this knowledge is a real bitch.
I’m already looking forward to September! I *heart* new curriculum.
Thank goodness, I’m not alone. I’m struggling right now. Today we did a lesson in music appreciation and a study of kinetic motion. For the non-homeschoolers: DANCE PARTY IN THE LIVING ROOM!
I agree with Dana — my kids are more learned now that in September. But quantifying this knowledge is a real bitch.
I’m already looking forward to September! I *heart* new curriculum.
Thank goodness, I’m not alone. I’m struggling right now. Today we did a lesson in music appreciation and a study of kinetic motion. For the non-homeschoolers: DANCE PARTY IN THE LIVING ROOM!
I agree with Dana — my kids are more learned now that in September. But quantifying this knowledge is a real bitch.
I’m already looking forward to September! I *heart* new curriculum.
We don’t have any reports in Illinois. It’s so free and relaxed, it’s SCARY.
We don’t have any reports in Illinois. It’s so free and relaxed, it’s SCARY.
We don’t have any reports in Illinois. It’s so free and relaxed, it’s SCARY.
You are my hero. And if you need a witness, I can attest to the fact that you ROCK the outdoor playing, er, PE thing.
You are my hero. And if you need a witness, I can attest to the fact that you ROCK the outdoor playing, er, PE thing.
You are my hero. And if you need a witness, I can attest to the fact that you ROCK the outdoor playing, er, PE thing.
I envy you…I don’t think I have the intelligence, patience or fortitude to homeschool. Therefore, you rock!
Oh and btw, HAPPY HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
I envy you…I don’t think I have the intelligence, patience or fortitude to homeschool. Therefore, you rock!
Oh and btw, HAPPY HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
I envy you…I don’t think I have the intelligence, patience or fortitude to homeschool. Therefore, you rock!
Oh and btw, HAPPY HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Is there a CD of kid’s songs in other languages?
That’s one of the ways I learned French. I went to a school run by French-Canadian nuns and I can still remember some of the songs I learned 40 years ago.
They would teach us the English and French versions of the same songs.
Is there a CD of kid’s songs in other languages?
That’s one of the ways I learned French. I went to a school run by French-Canadian nuns and I can still remember some of the songs I learned 40 years ago.
They would teach us the English and French versions of the same songs.
Is there a CD of kid’s songs in other languages?
That’s one of the ways I learned French. I went to a school run by French-Canadian nuns and I can still remember some of the songs I learned 40 years ago.
They would teach us the English and French versions of the same songs.
Hi. New here! I truly admire a home schooler. Have thought about it many times myself but feel like my kids are too deep into the school system now.
Your curriculum sounds perfect to me!
Hi. New here! I truly admire a home schooler. Have thought about it many times myself but feel like my kids are too deep into the school system now.
Your curriculum sounds perfect to me!
Hi. New here! I truly admire a home schooler. Have thought about it many times myself but feel like my kids are too deep into the school system now.
Your curriculum sounds perfect to me!
I was just thinking about how it’s just about that time to report… When I started homeschooling, the report was ready by the beginning of May, then mid-May, end of May and last year the end of June. Who knows about this year? Haven’t even started it yet, but we did finish some subjects and like you I’m going over the list of what we did/didn’t do. 🙂 Very much looking forward to having the summer off!!!
I was just thinking about how it’s just about that time to report… When I started homeschooling, the report was ready by the beginning of May, then mid-May, end of May and last year the end of June. Who knows about this year? Haven’t even started it yet, but we did finish some subjects and like you I’m going over the list of what we did/didn’t do. 🙂 Very much looking forward to having the summer off!!!
I was just thinking about how it’s just about that time to report… When I started homeschooling, the report was ready by the beginning of May, then mid-May, end of May and last year the end of June. Who knows about this year? Haven’t even started it yet, but we did finish some subjects and like you I’m going over the list of what we did/didn’t do. 🙂 Very much looking forward to having the summer off!!!