First Day of Homeschool 2013-14

It was a drizzly, rainy day. I realized today
that I am operating without an essential garment~
RAIN JACKET. Luckily Sean does have one.

Hydroponics. 

There were microscopes set up, but I never got
the 411 on what was on the petri dish.

Sean had been so happy at the pubic Montessori school. But last school year was really rough. The transition to Upper El was not smooth. It was rough for both of us. And honestly, although it did get somewhat better for Sean after I requested that he be moved to a different classroom, it really didn't get a lot better.
For me, it didn't really get any better.

I won't go into all of it here, I'll just say that Chuck and I decided it would be a better idea to try homeschooling, and Sean's dad agreed it could be a good idea. I have another blog that I began back when Sean was in first grade and we were doing homeschool. So, I've got more information about our homeschool journey there, at montessorielementaryathome.blogspot.com in case you are interested in Montessori, or homeschooling, or following us. I have a list of other blogs on that site that are other homeschooling Montessorians.

Our first official day of homeschool was today, Sept. 6. We've got a Montessori Upper El curriculum we are going to follow, but we are also doing extra activities and field trips. Chuck and I enrolled him in a homeschool program at a YMCA camp. He is signed up for the fall sessions, and today the kids were learning about the water system that recycles waste water on the YMCA site. It was really cool.

I was thinking I would just drop him off, but there was a bit of confusion about whether I could do that, and by the time I knew that I could, Sean was already used to the idea that I was going to be there with him. So I stayed. I'm glad I did for this first session. It was cool to see. It lets me know what he was learning, so now I can spark his interest in going deeper with the study of nitrogen, and water systems, etc.

We hiked a lot today, just getting from one area to the next. I was wet most of the day, but it wasn't cold, so that was a big plus for me.

After the formal instruction on the basics of how the water system is set up, and how it uses nitrogen, we got up close with their compost pile, and then ventured out into the garden to see more of the water system and how it is used. We then went into the garden and were allowed to sample some raspberries, and to look at the pumpkin patch.

Lunch was next, and then some instruction on canoeing and rowing. Sean and a few of the older kids chose to kayak, and it was his first time. He did great, and quickly figured out how to turn and stop and get where he wanted to go. But he was more interested in being along the shore to investigate the sea life.

The instructor today was awesome. He was great at giving information at varying levels for the different ages in our group, and was funny and engaging. It felt like we had ample time to explore and engage with each activity. I was impressed with the program.

Once everyone had a good amount of time in the boats, we put all of the equipment away and headed over to the heated pool for swim time. It was a cloudy, rainy day, but the air was surprisingly warm and kind of humid.

I met a few moms there today, and we've already got another educational outing planned for next week. I think it's going to be a great year for us!