Alaskan's Journal

[Alaskan]

No flood,but yes mud.

 

[Alaskan]

Youngest doing a math game... dry erase marker in mouth.... and the parrot on his leg.

I love homeschooling. Can't imagine getting rid of kids while they are still this young.

 

[Alaskan]

Snow/ hailing today... so yes, sure sign of spring.



Also... I had to drive into town, and the road was almost completely snow free!!!!!

Driving back up the hill someone was following me... it was funny...

I was driving all over the road, first in our lane, then completely in the oncoming traffic lane... then in the middle of the road... swinging first this way and then that....

Little 2 lane road.

I couldn't understand why the person behind me didn't follow my lead.

They would wiggle back and forth a bit, but never more than two feet out of our lane.

Couldn't understand if they are one of those people that "must follow the rules no matter what" or they just don't care if their car runs directly through the middle of six inch deep potholes.

 

[CLSranch]

I love homeschooling. Can't imagine getting rid of kids while they are still this young.

My wife asked if we were going to send our kids to pre-k. I said it's for people to lazy to be with their own kids or for 2 working parents as a free (at least you already paid) baby sitter/daycare.
The other day the principal said it is state law that they have to go to pre-k after the teacher asked the wife and she said no. Wife was talking to him because our oldest (3) is at the school for speech therapy. I'm still not sure if it's true or he just said that because he believes kids should and/or they get paid more for having more kids.
We were talking about sending them to school until 3rd grade for socialazation then home school for actual learning. With 2 hermit parents they don't get to play with or see any other kids very often.

Also I remember when the dry erase or chalk was used "to do" the math not the tablet. Doing a lot of math for work I still use soap stone and the wall or pen/pencil and paper when EVERYONE near me pulls out their phone for basic stuff. They tell me they have pipe fitter/construction apps for your phone. Then I pull out my flip phone.

 

[Alaskan]

Also I remember when the dry erase or chalk was used "to do" the math not the tablet.

Yep! The kids all have dry erase boards and dry erase markers... use them oodles for math and for penmanship.

Then I pull out my flip phone.

We were talking about sending them to school until 3rd grade for socialazation then home school for actual learning.

I hear that argument all of the time... and it never resonated with me. "Regular" school is ... odd.

My eldest has issues -sigh- some aspergers or autism or some such... plus some learning hurdles...as well as severe ADHD.

So I was very careful to properly socialize. So..... We had "play with kids you know" at church coffee hour; where most of the time I had to watch him like a hawk, since he needed to be taught how exactly all normal social interactions are supposed to work.

Then we had "socialize with familiar strangers" so, the weekly grocery store and post office (small town, so often the same checker).

Then we had "interact with complete strangers" which was harder... but once a week we would go to the park, or ice skating at the town pond... or the beach... and learn how to talk to complete strangers.

At the end... even with all of his many issues, he is better with socialization than most schooled kids (he is now 22). (Except of course for a few aspergers type things I just couldn't get him past)

As to speech... eldest also needed speech

I first took him to the free speech services at the school... waste of time. They worked hard at teaching him to stand in line and raise his hand. Not what he or I needed.... I finally found a private speech therapist, my insurance actually covered most of the cost.. and she was a gift from God. Not saying your kid isn't getting the help he needs at the school... I am just saying to make sure he is getting what he needs... and if he isn't, keep looking.

I looked up homeschool laws in Oklahoma. Law says they must be in school starting at age 5. And, if you do not want the kid in school at age 5, then yes, you have to tell them that you are homeschooling the kid.

Here is a Link

Homeschool isn't for everyone. There is a crazy amount of work involved. I had a mile long list of what I wanted to teach my kids. But from the start, I wrote down what was most important to me to teach my kids, and numbered them in order of importance. I definitely got those items on the top 5 firmly in my kids. But I did not get to everything on that list!

It turns out that academics weren't in my top 5. Maybe if they had been, eldest could have made it through college... but maybe not... he has a bunch of issues.

2nd is 19, finishing up his 2nd year of college and still all straight As. He did have to start with the lower level (below college level but taken in college) math in college, and it was hard for him... but he made it through. He is now taking his last college math class, college level statistics, still not good at math, still doesn't like it, but is making an A.

Kid 3 is 17, has one more year of high-school. (Late birthday) His mind isn't quite normal either... and really struggles with math and English. But... I have finally gotten him to write a good 5 paragraph paper... and he is finally, slowly, understanding Algebra. He totally understands practical "normal" math. Anyway, not sure he could make it through college... but he has been working at a dirtwork shop for over 2 years now, and is brilliant with his hands. He forges knives, welds trailers from scratch, repairs all mechanical things.

Anyway, he will do great job wise..just probably not college.

Kid 4 is almost "normal" and kid 5 is "normal" ... so both of those could probably go through college if they want... but they are grade 7 and 9 now... so still a ways to go.

I wrote that book to make clear that:
1. even with the same parents / homeschool setup, results vary WILDLY depending on each kid.
2. Each brain works differently, and learns differently. If you homeschool you can keep researching, learning and adapting your teaching methods to best meet the needs of the kid

 

[CLSranch]

I first took him to the free speech services at the school... waste of time. They worked hard at teaching him to stand in line and raise his hand. Not what he or I needed.... I finally found a private speech therapist, my insurance actually covered most of the cost.. and she was a gift from God. Not saying your kid isn't getting the help he needs at the school... I am just saying to make sure he is getting what he needs... and if he isn't, keep looking.

Fortunately since he's not in school yet it's a 1 on 1 once a week with one of the teachers. I'd like it to be more than one 30min a week. But that's enough for him right now.

 

[Alaskan]

Fortunately since he's not in school yet it's a 1 on 1 once a week with one of the teachers. I'd like it to be more than one 30min a week. But that's enough for him right now.

Oddly... when my eldest was doing speech in the public school... he wasn't yet attending school either...

But the speech class was him with 2 to 3 other kids. It was never 1 on 1.

I know, crazy.

 

[CLSranch]

That IS odd. Also another reason I've been thinking more about homeschooling. The lack of teaching. I guess that's why you need a college education today to work at McDonald's or Wal-Mart. My only big thing going for school is interaction with other people outside of the house. I leave for up to 10 (not often but possible) weeks at a time and they're here with mom.
He was a daddy's boy until I went to San Antonio then Odessa. We were cutting wood before he could walk or crawl. I'd set the frozen milk on the dash in the sun with the defroster on so he'd have some milk after his nap.

 

[Alaskan]

In my household the homeschooling has been 100% my thing...

In your case since your wife would be it for chunks of time, she would have to be willing to do all of the work.

There are bunches of socialization opportunities out there...

The tiny town next to us has lots of things for kids. Tumble classes, art classes, music day camp.... but you have to drive there.

Also, some areas have active homeschool groups that set up great activities.

 

[Bruce]

The other day the principal said it is state law that they have to go to pre-k

I think Al checked it out for you but I'm pretty sure that at least here the schools have to PROVIDE pre-K but no one HAS to attend

Al, how old is your cockatoo?