March 5, 2008
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Two more months
I'm starting to count down the months until my Wednesdays become less frantic. I love Awana, but I'm also glad its over the first week of May. And that that's really not that far away.
I hate remembering and helping my kids remember everything we need for our marathon Wednesdays. Shoes for the gym floors that can't have street shoes. Uniforms, books, batons. Its just rather exhausting. LOL And then there's the continuing saga of the costumes. There's a light at the end of that tunnel...but the exit hasn't been met yet. I forgot to tell Kaylin to give the mermaid costume to the mom 2 weeks ago. And last week we just plain forgot the costume. So that detail has to be worked out. And Kaylin's squad is still fussing with a costume...though I believe I have the fix sitting at my left elbow. In the process of that I taught myself how to tie a sarong. You tube is the best. And I was highly amused that though the baton teacher was *convinced* the way she wanted it tied was "the" way sarongs are tied....there are actually about 50 ways to tie a sarong, and hers is about number twenty-five. Its amazing how preconceived ideas keep us going...even when our preconceptions are WRONG.
Anyhow there's Kaylin's costume. (probably) And she did h er whole routine in it and it didn't slip so that's good news.
In regards to my homeschool blog and logic. I'm not a fan of logic. I'm a fan of common sense. I happen to believe they are two different things.
I suppose I should do this in a seperate blog, but as you know my blogs aren't organized things, there rather a spew of my thoughs. *giggles* Anyhow I think that logic can be abused, twisted, and misused so you can allow yourself to believe almost anything. Do I like logic questions. Definitely. Do my kids like them, yup. We've done several critical thinking books and I'm sure we'll mess with them again.But in regards to life and functioning. I think teaching common sense would be much better. You know. I have four dollars. The toy at Walmart costs $6. Do I have enough money? No. What is the solution to this. Beg money from parents? Work for it? Wait until allowance kicks in. (if you get an allowance my kids don't.) Or buy something else. Common sense. Something we will use for the rest of our life.
We bought a bag of candy from Costco. They are small candies. Each kid needs two for snack at baton. Mom wants two too.
How many candies should you pack in our lunch. Common sense practical math.The thing about the wasl is there wasn't any two plus two = four questions. Not anywhere that I could see in all the prep questions. The kids are gonna come out being able to answer questions about freckles, but NOT how to balance their checkbook. Which is what the teachers were saying to me. I'm thinking balancing the checkbook would be a better life skill.
This isn't a vendetta against the public school. This is a vendetta against the wasl program in *my* state, and the teachers who are desperately trying to do a hard job for no pay being forced to work even harder because of government and beaucratic stupidity. If I could place my kids in the competent teaching of my two friends at church and know that they could do their job the way they should I would in a heart-beat. But they can't. So I'll keep learning from them on the side, and teaching here.
Comments (6)
i hope you have a blessed wednesday and that you see God meeting you where you are.
I think the wasl is dumb too, I remember seeing one of the math questions and there were two possible answers! Kira is in a wasl prep class, all they do is teach how to take the test. I really think the teachers hate it too, I hope they find a new alternative. If I didn't have to work, I would homeschool. One thing the Oly district does that I do like is the kids can do schoolwork online when they are home sick (like mine are a lot)
* you just had to say something about Awana, my twitty daughter was flying around in circles looking for shoes and then in the process set down the bag she was holding... we got a couple drive ways down the road and tony called to say jonathon had forgotten his book, and sarah pipes up "where's my bag". (do i really have to go to awana - whine, whine says mommy.) We have until may 14th though because they are a brand new program and got a late start.
Remember the new math of the 60s, that sure fouled kids up. Yes, it is to bad that "common sense" isn't taught. The WASL is going to do the same screw up job too. Do the schools even teach general math in Jr/Sr hight school. It is amazing that some graduated can't do simple math. Sounds like your kids will do alright in math. I took algebra and geometry in high school and found no need for it as I needed business math..........that's what I used at work plus shorthand.
I like your science class....look at what we find at the ocean, lake, river in the woods, etc. That's biology 101 ! I don't know how you manage to teach 6 kids plus activities...........and do other fun things. Some public schools leave a lot to be desired.
I would hate to be a teacher there. I do what I know is best for the kids I teach and that's the end of the story. I never teach to any test and I actually don't put a lot of emphasis on those tests at all. Thankfully here we're in the position to be able to do that.
The wasl is a very misguided way to teach children!! I have wanted those who are requiring it in the school systems, to have to take it (and pass) themselves...a while back someone had suggested this to them and the WOULDN'T!! It really is STUPID! In fact, I believe, they had an independent group come in and evaluate the WASL and they were told they needed to get back to teaching 2+2, then more children would pass it!! (You might want to check with your teachers, but I believe this is what has just recently took place -- I was talking to our MS math teacher.)
Have a great day!
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