This School Year Has Been Interesting
Last year, around this time, Bug made a passing comment that he wished he could homeschool.
Being that it had never even occurred to me to try it, I wrote it off as an option. But I asked him what he thought homeschool meant. With a deep sigh, he gave me his answer.
"You."
It hit me that there was something about school that led him to need to feel the safety of my presence. And I started to notice little things. Like how he was getting in fights on the bus coming home because the noise was just too much for him. Like how certain kids had figured out it was super easy to frustrate him and if they poked the bear, he would get in trouble and they would get away with whatever bad behavior they were doing. Like how his GT class would meet once a week for an hour, IF the teacher was pulled off to do something else. Like how he cleared out his desk and came home with a two inch stack of coloring pages he had done while he waited for everyone else to finish with their schoolwork. Like how we was up at 6:15 every morning to stand at a bus stop braving all the elements. (5-degrees is COLD when you have a north wind.)
When I started putting it all together, the idea of homeschool wouldn't let go. So I researched, interviewed homeschool moms, went to conferences—all just to see if this could possibly be something that was beneficial to Bug and something that I could pull off while holding down two jobs.
I was terrified of screwing it up, but we went for it anyway. And as our school year is wrapping up, I've started crunching some numbers of how it went. Here's what I discovered we accomplished:
Approximately 412 hours of school time (as opposed to roughly 1260 in public school), which included:
Art, Music, Music Appreciation, and Art Appreciation
Over 40 science experiments conducted
All of 3rd grade Grammar completed (resulting in an A)
All of 3rd grade Math completed (resulting in an A)
8 fiction books read (Percy Jackson series, Fablehaven series)
5 audiobooks completed
14 field trips
18 structured play days (including a voting lesson, a nutrition lesson, a cooking lesson, etc)
Chess Club
Lego Robotics Club
Swim Lessons
A Book Club meeting
A road trip with Mimi and Papa to see the eclipse in totality
A Christmas musical
Additionally, I am able to hold him back a year. He's smart enough, but he's a late August birthday and his emotional maturity doesn't match his intellectual maturity. The school wouldn't give him that extra year because he's too darn smart. Good for him, but I'd rather him breeze through class than struggle because his emotions aren't as mature as everyone else's.
I'm sure there are things we accomplished that I'm missing, including the benefit of spending three days a week with his grandparents while I worked, but just writing it out blew me away. I had no idea we'd done so many fun, educational things in a third of the time it would have taken in a traditional setting. (That's not to say public school is bad. My high schooler would never stay home! She's too much of a social butterfly and does well in that setting. My SPED baby also needed extra things I would never have been able to accommodate because of my level of educational expertise.)
I guess I'm just sharing because it was kind of mind boggling. I'm proud of us. We balanced all our responsibilities and kept Bug on track, or even better than he would have done in a different setting.
We're going to try homeschool again next year. He'll be in what we are calling "3rd Grade Plus." In fact, I've told him we won't have a discussion about public school education again until middle school when they can test his skill level and place him in the right classes. But for now, I think we're good.
Who knew a little passing comment would change the course of his education, and our lives? And who knew we'd enjoy the changes? Kids are smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.
~
Spring Means A SUPER Sale!!!
There are some amazing author events coming up so why not jump into the world of authors, narrators, bloggers, and all the sexy muses early? You may even recognize some characters from signings you've attended before!
The Charitable Endeavors series is a set of "closed-door" romantic comedies that are perfect for your vacation, too. So snatch them up while they're on super sale!
https://www.authormecarter.com/charit...
~
WE HAVE A NEW WINNER!
Je*****.41@hotmail.com
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Please email me so you can claim your prize!
Remember, we have a new winner every month so don't forget to check if you're it!
Contact me here --> https://www.authormecarter.com/contact alt=
~
What I'm currently reading...
I freely admit, I kind of cheated on this one. I was part of the editing team as it was being written, which is how I got it before a cover was even designed. (Yes, I know what a lucky girl I am.)
This is why I can tell you with all confidence, that you need Forever Starts Tonight. It was just fantastic. But really, when does Karla Sorensen not put out a great book? (The correct answer is never.)
Do yourself a favor and just preorder it now so you don't forget. It is one of my Top Reads this year!
Preorder Here --> https://amzn.to/3R4rRiV
~
My Nerdy Little Book Friend Has a New Release!
When the one who got away moves in next door…
Clara Hill wants to be left alone...
Or at least that’s what she thought.
Now that her secret high school sweetheart is her next door neighbor, she’s not so sure anymore...
Get it here --> https://smartypantsromance.com/books/...
~
Schooooool's Out. For. Summer! Sing with me!!
💜M.E. Carter
Being that it had never even occurred to me to try it, I wrote it off as an option. But I asked him what he thought homeschool meant. With a deep sigh, he gave me his answer.
"You."
It hit me that there was something about school that led him to need to feel the safety of my presence. And I started to notice little things. Like how he was getting in fights on the bus coming home because the noise was just too much for him. Like how certain kids had figured out it was super easy to frustrate him and if they poked the bear, he would get in trouble and they would get away with whatever bad behavior they were doing. Like how his GT class would meet once a week for an hour, IF the teacher was pulled off to do something else. Like how he cleared out his desk and came home with a two inch stack of coloring pages he had done while he waited for everyone else to finish with their schoolwork. Like how we was up at 6:15 every morning to stand at a bus stop braving all the elements. (5-degrees is COLD when you have a north wind.)
When I started putting it all together, the idea of homeschool wouldn't let go. So I researched, interviewed homeschool moms, went to conferences—all just to see if this could possibly be something that was beneficial to Bug and something that I could pull off while holding down two jobs.
I was terrified of screwing it up, but we went for it anyway. And as our school year is wrapping up, I've started crunching some numbers of how it went. Here's what I discovered we accomplished:
Approximately 412 hours of school time (as opposed to roughly 1260 in public school), which included:
Art, Music, Music Appreciation, and Art Appreciation
Over 40 science experiments conducted
All of 3rd grade Grammar completed (resulting in an A)
All of 3rd grade Math completed (resulting in an A)
8 fiction books read (Percy Jackson series, Fablehaven series)
5 audiobooks completed
14 field trips
18 structured play days (including a voting lesson, a nutrition lesson, a cooking lesson, etc)
Chess Club
Lego Robotics Club
Swim Lessons
A Book Club meeting
A road trip with Mimi and Papa to see the eclipse in totality
A Christmas musical
Additionally, I am able to hold him back a year. He's smart enough, but he's a late August birthday and his emotional maturity doesn't match his intellectual maturity. The school wouldn't give him that extra year because he's too darn smart. Good for him, but I'd rather him breeze through class than struggle because his emotions aren't as mature as everyone else's.
I'm sure there are things we accomplished that I'm missing, including the benefit of spending three days a week with his grandparents while I worked, but just writing it out blew me away. I had no idea we'd done so many fun, educational things in a third of the time it would have taken in a traditional setting. (That's not to say public school is bad. My high schooler would never stay home! She's too much of a social butterfly and does well in that setting. My SPED baby also needed extra things I would never have been able to accommodate because of my level of educational expertise.)
I guess I'm just sharing because it was kind of mind boggling. I'm proud of us. We balanced all our responsibilities and kept Bug on track, or even better than he would have done in a different setting.
We're going to try homeschool again next year. He'll be in what we are calling "3rd Grade Plus." In fact, I've told him we won't have a discussion about public school education again until middle school when they can test his skill level and place him in the right classes. But for now, I think we're good.
Who knew a little passing comment would change the course of his education, and our lives? And who knew we'd enjoy the changes? Kids are smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.
~
Spring Means A SUPER Sale!!!
There are some amazing author events coming up so why not jump into the world of authors, narrators, bloggers, and all the sexy muses early? You may even recognize some characters from signings you've attended before!
The Charitable Endeavors series is a set of "closed-door" romantic comedies that are perfect for your vacation, too. So snatch them up while they're on super sale!
https://www.authormecarter.com/charit...
~
WE HAVE A NEW WINNER!
Je*****.41@hotmail.com
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Please email me so you can claim your prize!
Remember, we have a new winner every month so don't forget to check if you're it!
Contact me here --> https://www.authormecarter.com/contact alt=
~
What I'm currently reading...
I freely admit, I kind of cheated on this one. I was part of the editing team as it was being written, which is how I got it before a cover was even designed. (Yes, I know what a lucky girl I am.)
This is why I can tell you with all confidence, that you need Forever Starts Tonight. It was just fantastic. But really, when does Karla Sorensen not put out a great book? (The correct answer is never.)
Do yourself a favor and just preorder it now so you don't forget. It is one of my Top Reads this year!
Preorder Here --> https://amzn.to/3R4rRiV
~
My Nerdy Little Book Friend Has a New Release!
When the one who got away moves in next door…
Clara Hill wants to be left alone...
Or at least that’s what she thought.
Now that her secret high school sweetheart is her next door neighbor, she’s not so sure anymore...
Get it here --> https://smartypantsromance.com/books/...
~
Schooooool's Out. For. Summer! Sing with me!!
💜M.E. Carter
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