What’s next?
Last night the students of Excelsior performed beautifully for their friends and family. I truly enjoyed watching them showcase some of the things that they’d learned over the past school year. Some works included the Gettysburg Address, poetry by Robert Frost and Christina Rosetti, ASL of song, geography songs, scripture, and the recitation of history timeline cards just to name a few. Kids’ minds are comparable to sponges absorbing all of these mental pegs, so it’s quite impressive what they can remember. Their “showing off” is always welcomed by me.
I got the question several times last night asking what my family and I will be doing now as we leave the co-op environment. I have many ideas running around in my head, but I don’t have any firm answers yet. One thought that is pressing on my mind repeatedly is to make my kids “global”. The increasingly smaller world that we live in is driving my red flag on that, so I’ll be looking for ways to expose them to other cultures, foreign experiences and languages, worldly problems, and environments that will teach them how to solve the problems and make a societal difference. Getting out of the 4-wall schoolroom is high on my wish list. This goal of becoming global will not only benefit them in the job market but will hopefully help our society. So, what will we be doing now as we open up our calendar and explore? I don’t know, but I will still be staying up late trying to figure it out.
I will share with you that I had some encouraging words and feedback spoken to me by my girlfriends last night. They were so appreciative of my efforts and commitment to Excelsior families, and my asking more from them in this educational journey. Those words were so special, and I will never forget them. Here’s the thing as I shared with one friend. I just know that our Western culture must and should, for the benefit of our children and future generations, commit to demanding excellence. Our culture has become lazy and sloppy and self-centered, and we will not be able to sustain ourselves if we don’t make radical changes. The best way I know to make those changes is to instill this higher learning environment in our children’s minds and hearts. They can do so much more than they are being asked to do. These ways have not helped America or any other Westernized nation, so far.
My soap box today (Eagle Mother:)
Coffee time…spring break approaches-yah!
The home stretch
I’ve talked before about seasons and how changes can be bitter sweet. In two weeks our time at Excelsior (our local homeschool cooperative) will come to an end. I’ve decided to take a break from outside responsibilities for next year so that I can give myself the opportunity to regroup and refresh what we will be doing at home. I’m excited to see where that path may lead us. Maybe we’ll have more time to travel or experience some of the community classes offered that we normally couldn’t attend. Maybe the schedule or lack-thereof will take a bit of stress off of me and give me the needed time to work on my own interests such as the “Dr. Joy” medical series. It is fun to think about, but I know I will miss so many aspects of Excelsior, the community, the academic rigor, the friends, the sense of belonging to a special group. I’ll be spending quite a bit of time over the next two weeks prepping for our upcoming Friends and Family night. I love this night because the event provides the environment for the students to showcase some of the things that they’ve learned over the past school year. I really get giddy about the whole thing. I love a good party, but you know what I really love is the party food! Good times..
“What most schools don’t teach”…You-tube video
Link sent to me by a girlfriend. It’s about 10 minutes in length. I”m a bit obsessed at the moment with learning more about coding and how to do it, so this was an interesting video to watch.I’ve had several people tell me that it’s useless to learn a particular language because of the fleeting nature and evolving field of computer science. Not so sure I agree on this one. Seems like if you can keep teaching all of your core academic subjects well, and are still able to squeeze these kinds of activities into your child’s world, then such experiences would only be beneficial.
I may see if I can move my family and me into the office that has the free food. That way, I wouldn’t have to cook anymore!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU1xS07N-FA&feature=player_embedded
Ivy League Homeschooling 