Monday, October 26th, 2009.

Sorry that it’s been a bit since I was able to update, but today (Monday) officially begins our 3rd week of Ohio Virtual Academy. Our son was having some trouble in school, and we  thought that a lot of it was because his needs as a gifted student weren’t being met.  We also knew that the school was being taken over by the state, so things were not likely to get better anytime soon.  We knew we needed to make some sort of change, and we figured (since he’s in an earlier grade now and the school year wasn’t too advanced yet) this was the best time to try.

Since I’m used to completing my work around the house while the little guy was in school during the day, I’ve had to learn to manage my time a lot differently.  That, plus the fact that he’s starting after the beginning of the school year, has made the transition a little bit crazy.  It really hasn’t been too bad, except that for the first few days I didn’t have all of our supplies (or a teacher) yet!  So from Monday through Wednesday of our first week, we did mostly online things.  That Wednesday I talked to our teacher, our computer got set up, and we received our school books and materials.  Over the next few days, Christopher had to do some testing to show what level he should be taught and I got more organized.  I started talking to another local OHVA mom, and she gave me some pointers.

Week 2: We really started our first “regular” full work week.  Christopher had an online virtual (math) class with his new teacher.  He told me during the lesson “This is SO COOL!”  So…he approved.  We started trying to get our schedule down better. Most days we’re “in school” from about 9 – 2 (or 3)pm depending on how fast we complete the lessons.  Some days are shorter and others longer.  We also can go to “Family Fun Days” and anything else education-related (trips to museums, etc) and count that as attendance.  If he goes bowling or takes Karate lessons, that counts as P.E.   Last week (week 2) we went to a Family Fun Day event.  Christopher got to meet other kids in the program and go bowling. It was pretty cool.

Since he’s doing Nanowrimo’s Young Writer’s Program again this year, I asked his teacher about that.  She said that if he works on that or goes to a YWP writer’s group, it can count as attendance for Composition.  The other mom I’ve been talking and emailing has a little girl that’s interested in YWP too.  We’re thinking of maybe getting them together to work on it.  That way they get some social interaction as well as school attendance.

Saturday, October 10th, Christopher went to The Enchanted Forest at The Wilderness Center.  It was his first Halloween event for this year.  He picked out a werewolf mask he loved, plus he brought a sword.  So he called himself a Werewolf Jedi.  We walked through the forest and met people dressed as the forest animals.  They all told us about themselves and how they lived.  One of the “animals” really liked Christopher because she asked if he would do something (eat animals like her maybe? I don’t quite remember), but Christopher told her that he wouldn’t because “I’m vegan and I don’t use any animal products!”  She hugged him and made much of him in front of the other kids, which of course he loved.

Saturday, October 17th I was able to attend the Pre-Nanowrimo Meetup for our area! (click on link for the photos)

It was fun to meet other writers that were going to do Nanowrimo this year, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to attend any other Meetups.  I did get info to possibly connect to other writing groups though!

I’ve been participating in Friday Flash at Twitter for a couple months now.  It’s a writing excercise to help me improve, and so far most of the comments have been pretty encouraging.  I want to keep posting flash fiction on Fridays through November without interupting my novelling for Nanowrimo.  I’ve prewritten several stories to hopefully carry me through.  If you’re interested, look for them on my ganymeder blog every Friday.

So…other than starting a new school, completely rearranging our household (did I mention that I’m moving the furniture around to organize for the new school?),  and getting ready for Halloween and Nanowrimo, there’s not too much going on (Ha ha).  I think we’re both finally really getting the hang of the new schoolling system, and it’s getting better and better.  I think this is going to work out really well.

Bye for now, and Happy Halloween!