Reconsidering a Class
Last week I heard of an opportunity for Hunter to learn with a group of kids. They are studying botany, history and presidents (1877 to 1990) and geography this year. He visited this class twice. When I asked him if he likes it he says, “yes and no.” Sometimes I think he loves it, and he will tell me some things he learned and is excited to do with other kids. Then other times he says he puts his head down on the table and isn’t listening.
The class has some lecture/question/answer and the teacher is trained for public school, but open to homeschooling methods/timelines too (as a 2nd year homeschooler). There are some hands-on activities and some time outdoors if it is not raining. The class is on a farm with plenty of nature in the backyard. The teacher is really nice and let Hunter show the other kids how to make the paper airplanes he loves.
The class might be too far away from our home. I was in the car for 3 hours yesterday. The class is long enough that Chandler and I cannot find enough to do in the small town for 6 hours, so we came home. Two trips out there at 35 to 45 minutes one way feels like too much. If Hunter is buzzing about the class, I will make the sacrifice to get him out there.
I do love how they have it set up with three mixed-age classes 1st through 12th grade. Except for wishing for more Charlotte Mason (i.e. short lessons, which she might adjust according to her students attention) and a closer location, I really couldn’t ask for more. This is something we could continue for years. The group does extra field trips and play dates together too.
It is only one day a week.
Both boys slept in today. Hunter just woke up and I asked him if he is looking forward to class next week. He said yes. This simple yes is saying a lot considering his reaction after other classes he tried. I need to remember this.
We’ll see if we can work it out.
We also walked over to the orchard and picked up hazelnuts. The boys like to crack them.
And we found a Wooly Bear caterpillar.
You wooly worm (as we call them here in WI) is telling you that the winter will be long and cold… the more black the shorter the winter and milder. When we lived down south they called them Rolly Pollies… Ours are half and half here lately. I wonder what that means?
I would not be surprised if it is long and cold. It’s been such a strange year weather-wise. Our summer was delayed a month and continued a month off. September was strange, warm and sunny with not much rain. Now it might plunge right into winter. The Wooly Bear or Woolly Worm was one of my first posts on this blog.
I notice some errors, oh well. lol
http://wonderinthewoods.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/woolly-bears/
It might be a good opportunity for him! We love taking part in various classes here in Jacksonville. It keeps things interesting.
Good luck!
Listen to those mom instincts and you will know what to do. That’s what I’ve learned.
I agree with Gina! It could be a great experience for him, but let him be the gauge of that and you will do just fine.
Your boys, pictures, and nature are all gorgeous! JEALOUS! Someone save me from the desert!