School: Week One

Knowing that we will be facing a fall break of unspecified length, I thought it best to try to get in a groove as early as possible. The students were eager especially when you begin the session with a sweet treat. Forget indelible pencils; try an edible one instead.

We are trying a set of books called Five in a Row that base geography, art, math, social studies and other subjects around a children's literary classic. This week we read The Story About Ping. For some reason (I think because the duck receives a swat to his backside) Stephen would run out of the room when we would start the book, and on Friday finally declared, "I don't want you to read about Ping because we have read it for many years."

One day we acted out the story complete with props like the "wise-eyed boat"

and a rubber-Ping and penguin-turned-"dark fishing bird."

Thankfully there are no photos of the fishing boy with the barrel on his back. I couldn't talk either of the boys into that role and was forced to tie a basket on my back with a scarf that barely reached around my bulging middle.

Continuing in our China theme, we practiced with chopsticks (courtesy of my dear husband who sacrificially got take-out one day for lunch) and had a homecooked Chinese meal: stirfry with beef, snow peas, bamboo shoots; egg rolls (not bad for my first attempt though our mustard sauce was HOT); and fortune cookies.

We're using Saxon Math 1, and the boys loved counting when it involved building (and destroying) towers.

The third "R" may prove to be our most difficult subject. Andrew agrees with Pooh: "This writing business, pencils and what-not, overrated if you ask me." The boy can describe in great detail the ins and outs of vehicles and vermin, NASCAR and a chambered nautilus, but please don't ask him to write his name! Apparently, that just might kill him.

Thankfully the weather was warm and Matthew was able to roam the fenced yard while I sat by the doorway with eyes and ears alert. Although he likes to participate, neither the boys nor I always appreciate his contributions to our work.

So it seems we will all be learning this year: reading, writing, and 'rithmatic for the boys; patience, juggling, and self-sacrifice for me. This should be an adventure.