June I totally agree with and validate your feelings. I struggled with the feeling that we were not providing a $5000 education at our school, especially when the public schools, in the city my school was in, were really excellent. I saw so many families struggling to make ends meet and keep their kids in our school, while constantly being asked to donate more, give more, spend more. Most of them really wanted to have their kids in a Christian environment, and so it was worth it for them.

The fact that you care so much about Zane individually and how he’s doing and achieving shows me how involved you are in his life already. You, June, individually do not have to be the one and only super mom who attends and works at all the events. Many of my parents weren’t able to participate during the day, or attend field trips etc. because of work obligations (you know, to PAY for all those great school experiences), yet, their involvement at home was apparent in that their kids were completing tasks, practicing their reading (1st grade for me), and coming to school ready for the new day. There are different levels of “involvement”, and it all counts. Hang in there. Kindergarten through second (at least) are heavy involvement years. As Zane becomes more independent in his learning, your job will become different- and although your involvement will still be needed, you’ll enjoy watching him discover things on his own. It will come just in time for Nate to start needing all your energy and time in HIS school. :)

I was a little surprised when Zane’s teacher announced at teacher-parent night in September that she was “partnering with us” this year. I now understand what she means, but I didn’t foresee the level of parental involvement that is required to enable a “good education” for my children. I’m willing and able (enough)…just didn’t see it coming. And being that Zane attends a private school and we pay dearly (funny isn’t it: we pay dearly and yet I know the teachers aren’t paid much and the school has next to no “extras” such as you described, Gretchen. Sigh.) I sometimes tire of the endless requests on my time and pocketbook in addition to regular tuition. But, I do understand. It’s just getting to the point that if I’m going to spend a good portion of each day driving to the school, being at the school, teaching at the school, teaching the schoolwork to Zane at home and paying for tuition, school supplies, milk cards, field trips, fundraisers, (oh yes, and helping with those too) and on and on and on…then I might as well go the independent home study route. (Do ya’ll know what this is? It’s amazing. Or, so it seems.) This is what I find myself thinking and then I always think: “June, you suck!….who cares what it means for YOU? What’s the best FOR ZANE?!” So yeah, still figuring that out.

I’d be interested in hearing Gretchen and Sharolyn’s thoughts on No Child Left Behind. As I understand it (which isn’t well), I’m not impressed with the premise at all. But, I don’t know much. I just hear crazy expecations being described…the kinds of things that seem impossible to achieve to the point of ludicrousness. Is that a word? Perhaps I was left behind. Did anyone read those books? I’m a little ADD tonight. Candy canes and coffee candy canes and coffee candy canes…

(See, Zane comes by his energetic ways naturally!)

I was teaching one day a week last year, 2nd grade in a public school of an “at risk” district. I was floored with how boring “they” have made school.

My teaching experience of 6+ years had been at a private school, where, though we were limited in many areas-special needs, lack of money (no state funding), we also had a lot of freedoms. We had curriculum, but were very encouraged to make lessons our own. We also had an art teacher, music teacher, computer teacher, pe teacher and Spanish teacher to help us.

In public school I felt all the fun and creativity had been leached out of school, focusing only on math and reading, and even those were quite boring, as the test score became the ultimate goal. Such “standards” not only make a teacher’s job difficult, being a creative teacher, an inspiring teacher, a teacher who meets different learning styles and levels became almost impossible. I was grateful to only work one day a week, because I then had the rest of the week to work on making every ounce that I could “get away with” of amplifying the curriculum count. I know that not every school district and school in CA is this way. As I said it was a listed district that had not met the standards of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements, and not for lack of great teachers.

Parent participation makes an incredible difference. I could not have done half of the units or special activities in my full time classroom had I not had parents with time and willing spirits. It made me more aware of the kind of parent I want to be for Sophia and Josiah.

We do know our children the best. I enjoyed parents who were willing to partner with me, not just come and say “this is who my child is, how are you, individually, going to meet his/her every educational and creative need?” Yes, I had both types of parents.

I have met many homeschooling parents now, who have created unbelievable experiences for their children. I am inspired by them. I have not yet decided what I want to do in 3 years time (whoa). But I do believe the classroom can be a wonderful learning environment as well. The teacher makes a huge difference. The support of the administration makes a huge difference. The parents make the biggest difference of all.

So, blend away! There are so many possibilities.

Leoskeo,
I’m sure I’ll adopt some of your phrases when dealing with my dear talker. Isn’t is amazing how just hearing someone talk can exhaust you? I find that amazing. Also, how do you know where I live?! That freaked me out a little. Heh.

Linda,
I just really like the phrase “the need for running in his day.” It’s motto-worthy!

I’m not sure why I feel compelled to respond to everyone individually. That’s probably not blognorm.

Of course it’s valid to pray and think through what will be best (per se) for Zane, but when I step back, it’s just insane to think of all he has going for him relative to the zillion other children in the world. Go buy a goat everyone!

You can run a few laps first if you need to.[/quote]

Yup. Because something you’re doing is different. Computers are dumb machines, and they only do exactly what you tell them to do. Just like children.

You can run a few laps first if you need to.

My son really needed to get outside and run when he would get too antsy in early elementary school. He had a very understanding and experienced teacher that would let him run a lap around the playground if he couldn’t sit still in class. He would come back more focused. I would definitely talk to the teacher about the need for running in his day. My son is now running for cross country in high school.

In retrospect, I think we all knew a lot about ourselves when we were 6 years old.

For those moments when all strength is not gone yet… “I am listening son.” Here I stop whatever I am doing, turn off the TV, radio if we are driving, computer if we are at home.

“If you wait X amount of time to tell me this I will be able to stop and listen.”

I cannot listen right now because… but I really want to hear what you are saying. Can you remember this for later?

Hey, it is time to quit talking. I love to listen to you but for you to take all the moments an fill them with words… Can’t happen and since I don’t want to hurt your feelings by telling you to shut-up you will have to be quiet now for the next few minutes.

He now will say… Dad is this a good time to tell you…? To which 90% of the time I say yes.

This has been difficult to establish but in reality it has made him a better communicator by helping him choose words rather than choose to fill silence with words. It makes him a better listener. He will often say back to me without even knowing..I am listening.

By the way. If he is not talking he is singing.

We home schooled both till the girl hit jr. high school and went charter. No she is in public High and she has a zillion friends, gets straight A’s and is bringing her friends to church.

He is charter/home where he takes classes then does his work at home. He is getting a’s and b’s and loves the drama class.

June the great charter school is just in Roseville… not far from where you are.