This First Week of School

School began this week here in Central TX. 

I think the neighborhood kids are actually glad to be in school, where the air is cooled.  It is too hot to do much outside; there are some kids I haven't even seen this summer.  What do they do all day?

Tom started 6th grade.  They were not ready for our hearing impaired, English challenged, slow learning child.  The school let us down.  They were surprised when I walked in the door three weeks ago to see what their plan was for him.  "Oh, we didn't know if he was even coming this year"!  That was a big clue that I was in for a headache.   The woman who assured me last Spring that all would be set up,  changed positions, her replacement had never heard of our son, did not even have his file.

Oh well.  We adjust.  We are flexible.  We show GRACE because we live under GRACE. 

I have now met with the correct people at the school.  They are making changes, and learning about him, and will have their stuff together soon. 

Tom is loving school.  His first day he came home and announced that he had made 9 friends this, the very first day!  Last year he only made one friend on the first day of school.  

My only "oh my gosh, you can't be serious!" comment at this point is that they have him in a Spanish class.  I told them I'll leave him there if he likes it, and as long as it does not appear to screw up his English any more than it already is....

Bis loves school.  His teacher is the "best ever!", so cute after just two days to be able to make that conclusion. 

At home we are off and running with school.  I love schooling at home.  My three at home (Yo, Number One, and EQ) are so great at getting themselves started on their daily tasks. 

They each have a folder, with tabs to be completed each week.  You can see that on an older post. 

Our week has looked like this:

Reading out loud "Nim's Island":
We will rent the movie next week and write up a comparison. 
Creative writing using Nim's Island.  EQ made a favorite words list from the book, then wrote a poem.  #1 wrote about what he thinks will be happening next in the story.  Yo is working on understanding the vocabulary. 
Watching netflix shows on the ocean. 


Math games on the computer and lessons on fractions.

Spelling on spellingcity.com

Current News from How to Feed Your Brain.  Connecting what we read with our Atlas of the world.  Tracking Irene the hurricane.

Each son has cooking every week.  This week was desserts! Yum.
#1 made a pumpkin pie.  EQ made a strawberry Cool Whip pie.  Yo is going to make a gingerbread cake in the shape of a yule log (from a Christmas cookbook). 

#1 made a card house car wash:

 

It's been a good week.  We might even get rain tonight.  I think today is going to be the 71st day with temps over 100 degrees.