A Progress Report | Kate

Of my three virtual school students it has been Kate who has surprised me the most. I knew Faith would do well and I knew Cole would have challenges, but I really wasn't sure what to expect with Kate. Just coming out of her Kindergarten year I wasn't well versed on her learning style or any educational strengths and weaknesses she may have had. She did her Kindergarten homework independently and went above and beyond what was required of her but yet virtual school still seemed like a shot in the dark. In the beginning of this school year I could tell she wasn't really digging it. She spoke of traditional school often, and I knew she was missing the social aspect of school and all the attention that the setting of an elementary school brought her. She is a little girl who can't step foot outside the house without people falling all over her thanks to her red hair and vivacious demeanor. Last year even her siblings' classmates knew and loved her. Virtual school really doesn't lend itself to that kind of attention and the big blue eyes, red hair, and sparkling personality lost it's effect on me yesterday some time ago. Her fall gymnastics schedule has relieved the need for social stimulation while field trips and events with other virtual school families will start soon. Curriculum wise she is breezing through the work, and since she has a lighter load than the other two, she usually finishes first. Any normal kid would be just fine with that and find something else to do but Kate begs me for more. I spoke to Dr. W. about the situation on Tuesday and she told me that I should allow her to work ahead in the curriculum. The problem with that is that she can not do so independently and I have been using the time after Kate is finished to work one on one with Cole. Dr. W. told me she would try to send some enrichment work Kate's way. It's funny how having a child excel and feeling like your not doing enough for them produces the same amount of guilt as if she was failing in this environment. My conclusion is that parenting just comes with a heap of guilt. Period.

P.S. Dr. W. also told me Tuesday that she is using me as an example when people ask her if it's possible to virtual school two children. She said, "I tell them that we have a family doing awesome with three." That made me feel pretty good. :)

Schoolbucks.

The girls and I did yesterday's lessons at a Starbucks while Cole was in his Terrific Tuesday class. Just taking advantage of our educational freedom.

A Progress Report | Faith

When I started to consider virtual school as a real option I worried most about Faith's ability to respect me as her educator. She is extremely intelligent and she tends to question everyones intelligence while being overly confident in her own. Oh, and she's never wrong and I'm only sometimes right. She's really a ten year old teenager. Awesome for me, right?  So far respect hasn't been an issue. Actually there are no issues with Faith and virtual school. This approach was made for students like her, students with a thirst to learn and an independent streak. It took her about a week to familiarize herself with the system and curriculum, and after that she just took off. She does the majority of her work without any assistance from me. In fact when I mention a lesson she needs to do I often hear from her, "I already did that." To which I reply, "Carry on then."

A Progress Report | Cole

I wanted to write separate posts about how virtual school is going for each unique Mora at this point in the journey. This point being our fourth week. I'll write about Cole first.  I knew going in to this experience that if I were to have any frustrations and obstacles with the virtual/home school model it would likely be related to Cole. Honestly, it's the same worries I have every year he goes into a typical classroom. This kid has a million and one quirks. I never share his 'quirks' with his teachers at the beginning of the year. I think it's better to just let the year unfold and address any issues as they pop up. There has never been such an occasion in public school. Four weeks into virtual school I'm kind of wondering how that is possible.  I am encountering issues, many issues. I'm starting to wonder if this model and environment is right for him. This has NOTHING to do with intelligence, the boy is scary smart. Last year he was one B away from straight A's. However, I am having one heck of a time getting him through this demanding curriculum. I need to change something, and I'm just not sure what that something is. As of now, we start the day with Math (his favorite subject.) He breezes through the lesson, but from there it goes downhill. Literature and Language Skills (Grammar Usage and Mechanics, and Composition) is a huge chunk of our curriculum and he LOATHES every bit of it. He hates to write, not as in writing a story but as in putting pencil to paper. He won't use complete sentences because it's too much writing. He is constantly asking me how many more questions there are. Then he starts asking exactly how many subjects are left for the day. How many/how much more becomes his obsession. Seriously? We've only gotten through ONE lesson, how many do you think there are? Cue the tears. Another of his issues is perfection. Perfection rules his life, so heaven forbid he get something incorrect. I don't tolerate these school related issues. I make him push through them. We manage, but I would be less than honest if I didn't say that it's mentally wearing on me on WEEK FOUR. I know he wouldn't dare reveal this behavior at school, he would stuff the anxiety and frustration within a schools social setting. So I start to think maybe that would be better for him, maybe that would be better for me? I'm not in any way ready to give up, I knew there would be issues. I was certain I'd have to make changes and concessions for him. I just need to figure out what those concessions are. I'm not really sure how to change up the day to make it better for him. I'm considering many different options. I'm just going to have to experiment. I've started by letting him outline the order of his daily lessons. I'm open to constructive suggestions from those brave and educated enough to give them.

C-O-H-E-N.

 

He put up a tough fight, he refused to even try, he told me he would NEVER write his name because "he was never going to college." With a little push, and the deadline of Kindergarten just a couple of weeks away, he caved. C-O-H-E-N. College awaits.