Join Jen and the other Quicktakers over at the Conversion Diary
1. These are going to be some pretty quick Quick Takes – busy busy weekend up ahead!
Yesterday I had the kids’ portfolios reviewed by Dr. Karen Holinga. Karen has been evaluating my kids for over 10 years and they always look forward to meeting with her. Dr. Holinga also was the reading specialist that helped Calvin “get” reading when he was 12 years old and was a big part of his success in high school. Without her assistance, there is no way he could have done the reading he had to do in paramedic school!
So yesterday she looked over all of the kids stuff and told me, “You guys really did a lot last year!” and she told the kids, “You are really getting a good education.”
You know, I like to think so, but like probably every other homeschooling mom, I have my doubts. It was so nice to hear Dr. Holinga thinks we’re on the right track.
2. A couple of things happened at our review. Gabe told Dr. Holinga that he was thinking of majoring in history and getting a minor in music.
I. was. shocked.
He’s been so adamant about NOT going to college that to hear that he was even considering it was quite something. I want to encourage him in this. Gabe has a real knack for remembering names and dates, but also understanding the dynamics of history and how events play upon each other. I think he would make a good historian and a great teacher if that’s the way he wants to go.
3. Rosie was reading for Dr. Holinga when she got stuck on the word “thought.” She took a running start at it a couple of times but just couldn’t get it. So I said, “It’s the past tense of ‘think.'”
Rosie quickly replied, “Thinked!”
Dr. Holinga and I smile and then start cracking up.
“That’s a good try Rosie, and that totally makes sense!” said Dr. H. “But this is a funny verb; one of those funny verbs that doesn’t have ‘ed’ on the end.”
Rosie considered that a minute and then shouted out, “THUNK!”
She was so cute and so sincere, and we were trying so hard not to laugh that tears were coming of our eyes as we tried to suppress our laughter – English grammar really doesn’t make sense sometimes!
4. The boys did make it back safe and sound from Bonnaroo. They left at 4 p.m. Sunday evening and we waited for them until 1 a.m. Since we didn’t hear from them and couldn’t contact them by phone (their batteries were dead) we just went to bead. At that point they were either just fine, or they were dead in a ditch – either way there was nothing we could do about it just then. I took some Nyquil to make myself stop worrying and get some sleep. They finally showed up at 7 a.m. tired, but fine.
They did have a good time -and even saw Paul McCartney and Weird Al Yankovic!
5. Our home education conference started yesterday. I got a chance to visit Diane Craft’s booth and told one of her helpers there (actually the same one I spoke to two years ago) about Izzy’s progress. We started in the Merrill Readers book A and Izzy is now in book G. They told me that that is four years of reading growth! I couldn’t be more thrilled with it! Mrs. Craft is going to e-mail me with directions on what to do after we finish the final book. I am just so grateful that I found this program and that it worked for Izzy.
6. Tomorrow is a special graduation party for Calvin and his girlfriend Sarah. After I get back from the conference, my life will consist of making potato salad, fruit salad and 7-up salad for tomorrow’s festivities!
7. And next week my mornings look like this –
Take Noah to running club.
Take Gabe to school (he’s taking his government class at a summer school program)
Take Rosie to art class
Pick up Noah
Pick up Gabe
Pick up Rosie
Lunch!
Looking forward to those lazy days of summer!
Psalm 18:3
