The Hired Help

Occasionally we as homeschoolers "hire out some help" in the form of advanced classes (like math or science), art classes, sports, foreign language and so forth.  Either things we don't want to teach, can't teach or have no desire to teach.  Lots of reason why but it really doesn't matter- sometimes we have to seek out others to help us fill in some gaps in our homeschool.

Totally normal.

This is where the kiddo's homeschool program, Edmonds Heights K-12, comes into play.  I rely on them to teach things like Spanish por que habla un poquito y es no muy bueno (well hopefully I said that correctly but probably not), higher level math, ceramics and pottery because we don't have a kiln and science class because I freakin' hate science.

Unfortunately as William has gotten older, I have been less and less impressed with the QUALITY of teaching here and equally disappointed with the Principal.  Case in point- the kiddo's Life Science class this year.

Ugh.

Here we go....

So the teacher is new.  Meh- ok.  I love teachers.  Y'all know I'm constantly praising them and the hard work they do.  I have been nothing but graceful and understanding of this teacher's adjustment to the classroom.

But LEGIT- not everyone is cut out to teach.

This man has NO business inside a classroom.  None at all and sadly, our kids are suffering as a result.

I have reached out numerous times to both this new teacher and the Principal to express my concerns and frustrations.  It all began when the teacher allowed William to be bullied during class time.  Yeah no- FUCK THAT SHIT.  When it became clear that the teacher was not up to the task of keeping this from occurring, I removed the kiddo from that particular class time and asked that he put in a later class time.

Great.

Things were going well until suddenly the teacher REJECTED his monthly progress.  When I asked how this could happen, I was told William had missed 3 out of 10 classes.  Dude- no.  It is not my fault you cannot accurately take attendance, William has missed exactly ZERO classes.  And then he lost all the kiddo's homework.  And then he decided he didn't need to actually grade the fucking homework.  Then the tests- of which he's declared ALL THE KIDS ARE FAILING and yet, he won't allow the students to take home the tests so that their parents can help them.  Combine this with the heavy reliance on YouTube videos, the lack of actual hands on projects and packets of work that do not line up to the actual textbook (OF WHICH HE DOESN'T USE IN CLASS) and I'm just all.....

LORD JESUS- I NEED YOU NOW.

Throughout these trying four months, I have kept in contact with both teacher and Principal.  You guys- the Principal's response was to tell me that it was OK that homework wasn't graded, that homework would be hard, that I was misunderstanding and that I needed to read the syllabus.  He then responded with "I'm not sure what action you want me to take."

Because clearly- my delicate, simple female brain just couldn't compute mmkay...

There has been NO acknowledgement that this teacher is floundering.  Like- LEGIT, Dory could find her way easier than this man. And that's IF the Principal decides to even address my email and respond.  Oh yes- let's just ignore this Mom and hope it will all go away.  How is this acceptable?!?

It is not.

And I've stated as such.  But it seems to fall on deaf ears.  So here's the thing I do believe this poor teacher and Principal have yet to grasp.

I am not your normal Mom.  I do not accept an answer simply because you say so.  I do not tolerate bullshit and excuses and I WILL be heard and respected.  And when that doesn't work- I send in THE MUSCLE aka THE HUSBAND.

The educating of our child is our MOST IMPORTANT JOB and when the hired help is not pulling his weight- he needs to go.  I would no more allow the gardener to piss all over my flowers and call it "watering" than I will an incompetent adult calling himself a "teacher" who has no real business in the classroom.

As of right now- we are at an impasse.  I'm cooling down over our Christmas break but not too worry- I'll be on top of this situation and will update y'all accordingly.

No one puts Baby in a corner.  No one.

The WSLP

The bane of my existence mmkay....

WSLP stands for Written Student Learning Plan and I hate it.  Seriously- HATE.  IT.  Each month I have to update this plan with what we've done in our homeschool, the progress the kiddo has made, the activities, the curriculum, approximate time spent on each item as well as test scores and grades.  But here's the kicker- you have to do this all a MONTH BEHIND.

So let's just stop right here.

We are Eclectic Homeschoolers who follow Unschooling whenever possible.  I triple dog dare you to figure out a way to measure this business in a WSLP.  Go ahead- I'll wait.....

Exactly.

Can't be done.  We don't test.  We don't follow a set curriculum.  I never know from one month to the next what we will be doing, let alone try to remember an entire month back.  Ugh.

The second part to the dreaded WSLP is the twice yearly update.  This one is more exhausting and seems to be at the whim of state legislators as it's requirements change each time.  It's here that we have to plan out an entire six months worth of homeschooling.  SIX MONTHS.  Yeah- no.  We do this at the very beginning of Fall before 1st semester begins and again after Christmas before 2nd semester begins.

I have learned to type in the words and phrases that the state wants (at this moment) and then simply copy and paste from the first plan to the second.  I also NEVER do any of this work ahead of time because as I've said- the requirements change each time.  I clearly am not about to waste my time.

And y'all, this isn't even discussing the fact that the program that contains the WSLP seems to NEVER be working correctly.  No joke.  This thing has not run smoothly in the six years we've been attending.  How is this possible?  I just can't even....

I GIVE UP

So why am I telling you all of this?

Well- if you're going to be attending Edmonds Heights K-12 or any public school funded homeschool program, be prepared to deal with this nonsense.  While we have enjoyed our time here at EH, putting up with this ridiculousness has put a big damper on my desire to continue with this program.  Add in the fact that they got rid of many of the free classes taught by certified teachers and instead replaced them with expensive "workshop" classes and that they've had several recent threats to the campus and this Mama is seriously about to pull the plug.

While there are some benefits and I'm hesitant to leave a community that we've been a part of for over six years, it's come to a point where independently homeschooling is easier than being a part of this program.

I'm jumping through hoops and for what exactly?


So here's what the husband and I have decided-

• For now, the kiddo will still attend this public school funded homeschool program.
• We will be reducing the amount of hours/days he's at this program.
• No longer will we use this program for core classes.
• This will be an extension of our homeschool rather than the focus.
• As a result, we will be changing how we do school at home.

The kiddo greatly enjoys the socialization found here.  He loves his Spanish class and I'm sorry to say it- but this Mama is simply NOT going to be busting out the Rosetta Stone anytime soon.  Pottery is fun and while he won't admit to it, he's really enjoyed his Myth, Fable & Fairytale playacting class this year.

These are all good things.

For now, the good is still outweighing the bad.  However I will say, that in recent years- it's a close race and the scales are more evenly divided.  If our state (Washington) keeps making changes to the requirements for public school funded programs such as ours, it will no longer be worth it to attend.  And that's probably their end goal.  I would not be surprised if "they" sit in their offices in the capital and dream up obstacles for programs such as ours to "encourage" families to drop out and then enroll in a more traditional public school.

But jokes on them- 

We will just drop out completely and become 100% independent.  Adios WSLP!  Peace out....

The Public School Funded Homeschool Program

Say what?!?

I know....I know...this is really a confusing concept.  So here it is, an update on the program William attends.  To see my previous post on this program, click here.

Ok, so what exactly is a public school funded homeschool program?  Well, it's exactly like it sounds.  It's an "alternative" school in our local public school district.  They are funded just as every other public school is funded- with our hard earned tax dollars mmkay....Although, dare I say it...I feel that programs such as these are held to stricter standards then say, those for the high school dropouts.  But really, that's just my own opinion.

Many, many, many public school districts are now offering a program for homeschoolers.  If yours currently isn't- just you wait!  I bet you'll see one in the years to come as homeschooling gains in popularity.  Now, each program will vary depending on your school district.  We are fortunate to live near four different districts and so we've chosen the best homeschool program of the four local districts- Edmonds Heights K-12.

The other programs didn't offer actual classrooms but rather take home work, or they didn't have a campus but held classes all over the city and one was SO small it was stuck in a tiny room inside the school district's main office.  So when looking at homeschool programs- do your research!  Not all are created equal.


Now let's talk about Edmond's Heights K-12.


It's a large program, the largest I've come across.  The school campus uses an old high school in the town of Edmonds.  Y'all- Edmonds is seriously a beautiful city!  In the mornings when we pull up to "school" I can hear the nearby ferry boats and smell the salty ocean water- yeah, we are very blessed.

Edmonds, Wa

The school has a Principal, fully credited teachers, expert workshop instructors and families.  Lots and lots of beautiful homeschooling families of all races, cultures, sizes, social backgrounds and they travel from all over the area for the ability to attend this wonderful program.  There's a brand new playground that we raised money for just a few years ago.  There's an great arts program with full on musical productions and artist showcases.  We have a library, computer labs, co-ops, debate teams and more.  Folks- this place is simply awesome.  We're in love.


Sounds great, right?  Now- how does this all work?


Well, it's almost exactly like community college.  There's a building, staff, teachers etc- we've already covered all that.  But as far as the classes go, it mirrors the way college works.  You pick the classes you want to take each semester and we have 2 semesters per year.  The classes run on either a T/Th schedule or a M/W and there are no classes on Fridays.  It's like they knew that no one would want to be there on Fridays...genius!  The classes are broken up into grade levels and usually its 2 grades combined or 3 grades, for example, William has a Multiplication & Division class this Fall and it's for grades 4, 5 and 6.  This works well for kids that are both ahead of their grade level and behind their grade level.  The class size is also restricted depending on what the subject is- so usually 10 or 15 kids max.  Wow what a difference from a traditional public school classroom with 30 or 35 kids!

A typical class at EH

For us- since it's a 35-40 minute drive just to get there, I really try to limit our days that we are there.  So typically I try to arrange for all of William's classes to either fall on a T/Th or M/W.  Last year I got them all on a T/Th but so far, this Fall we will be attending on M/W.  It just depends on what the class schedules are and what's being offered.

**To see William's complete Fall schedule, click here.


So that's just a little bit about how our public school funded homeschool program works.  This program has been a huge benefit to us in our homeschooling journey.  William enjoys attending the classes and playing with his friends and I love meeting fellow homeschooling families.  It's been a good place for us and I would highly suggest you look into your local public school homeschool programs.  Don't be scerd mmkay...they really can be a wonderful thing!

The Great Fall Schedule

Tomorrow begins the official start to our Fall homeschooling season.  And what a busy season it is!  Inquiring minds have asked what exactly my son's schedule looks like- so here it is!

Mondays

9-9:55am Lego Challenge class at Edmonds Heights K-12 (EH)

10-10:55am Multiplication & Division class at EH

11-11:55am Reading & Writing class at EH

12pm All campus lunch break

1-1:55pm Physical Science Exploring through STEM class at EH

*One hour of quiet reading 

*One hour of work book/online learning

Tuesdays

12:30-1:30pm Homeschool Recess at YMCA

1:30-2:30pm Homeschool Art class at YMCA

6-7pm Soccer practice

*One hour of quiet reading 

*One hour of work book/online learning

Wednesdays

10-10:55am Multiplication & Division class at EH

11-11:55am Reading & Writing class at EH

12pm All campus lunch break

1-1:55pm Physical Science Exploring through STEM class at EH

5:50-6:45pm Karate class  

*One hour of quiet reading 

*One hour of work book/online learning

Thursdays

12:30-2:30pm Homeschool Swim & Gym at YMCA

6-7pm Soccer practice

*One hour of quiet reading 

*One hour of work book/online learning

Fridays

Magic School Bus science experiment kits (at home)

Crafts/games/free play (at home)

4:30-5:30pm Youth Conditioning class at YMCA, followed by open swim for a couple hours

*One hour of quiet reading

*One hour of work book/online learning

Saturdays/Sundays

1 hour soccer game

Open swim at YMCA

Family activities/field trips

As you can see, core classes are covered- math, reading, writing, science....yep, it's pretty much all here.  We supplement with some home learning and then have PLENTY of outside sports and activities.  There's time to rest and be at home, lots of social interaction and fun play time.  A good mix of everything.

The key to planning your homeschool schedule is to remember to be flexible.  Don't try to over plan- give yourself the freedom to enjoy your children.  If they really aren't feeling the two hours of workbook learning that day, who says you can't switch it up and take a field trip instead?  Don't lock yourself down to a set schedule but remember that it's there simply as a goal and guideline for the day.

My approach is very relaxed.  While I am an OCD type over planner- I learned early on that this simply doesn't work with my son's learning style.  I wanted to schedule every 15 minutes of our day and he was having NO part of that!  A good teacher will follow the lead of their students in order to effectively reach them, so that's just what I did.

I build our schedule by simply filling in the classes that are a priority, for us- this is the classes at the kiddo's homeschool program, Edmonds Heights K-12.  Once I have this down, then I add in other classes in the area.  Since we live literally right down the street from the local YMCA, we take advantage of all there great class offerings.  You can also add in homeschool co-ops, outside sports, Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts, homeschool programs offered through local museums- just start building your schedule around what's most important and then simply fill in as you go.  Easy peasy!

I also leave room for plenty of seasonal activities.  Fall in the Pacific Northwest is a beautiful time of year.  We spend time studying leaves and taking nature walks, picking apples, visiting pumpkin patches, doing corn mazes and more.  This year the kiddo will even be doing an underwater pumpkin bobbing event- should be interesting!  These are the things that build great memories and there's no way I'm missing out on that!

Good luck- you got this!

All Things William

The true star of this show is the kiddo, aka, William.  So today, I'm writing about all things William and I'm giving you just a peek at this funny, smart and amazing little person that my husband and I are privileged to raise.

William was born in 2005 and he turned 9 this year.  Click here to read about his birth story and learn all about the momentous day that he came into our lives.

William is officially entering the 4rd grade this Fall.  He attends Edmond's Heights K-12, it's a homeschooling program through our public school system.  He has been going here since he was 5 years old and yes, we plan for him to attend all the way through his senior year of high school.  In addition to this program, we also do school at home.

The kiddo is currently obsessed with Legos.  He loves ALL things Lego and on our last big vacay, we knew we had to take him to Legoland.  William spends a lot of time constructing Lego sets, attending events at the local Lego store, researching characters online, playing Lego games and watching Lego movies and TV shows.  Yep- it's official, he LOVES Legos.

The VIP (Very Important Puppy) in William's life is his trusty sidekick, Buddy Boy.  Buddy is a 2 year old Rat Terrier that we welcomed to our family when he was just 6 weeks old.  Buddy Boy loves his William- they share a bed, he follows him everywhere, William is Buddy Boy's "person" and he cries when William goes out front to play and he can't follow.  Every boy needs a dog and William is very lucky to have two- Buddy Boy and Lucky Dog.

William with Buddy Boy & Lucky Dog

William is fearless.  Seriously, he has NO fear.  He enjoys climbing trees, doing one-legged jumps on his scooter and riding roller coasters.  His favorite ride at Disneyland is Big Thunder Mountain followed closely by Space Mountain.  When he was three he tried to ride his little kiddie play car down the stairs and parachute off the top of the fridge.  Yeah- he's a bit of a daredevil.

Playing "Knights & Swords" with
Buddy Boy.

William is outspoken.  Much to the chagrin of his grandparents and other's who are used to a more "reserved" child, William speaks his mind.  It's no holds barred and there are seriously NO secrets in our house.  William has always had an amazing vocabulary, he was doing baby sign language at 9 months and speaking in clear sentences by the time he was 18 months old.  As a result, he has always had a way with words and will simply tell it like it is.

William is funny.  He likes to crack jokes and when he starts laughing- I can't help but laugh too.  He likes to dance around the house in his underwear and he is seriously not afraid of how other's view him.  He is simply being himself and it's a pretty wonderful thing to see.

William is strong willed.  He fights for what he thinks is right- even when it means he's arguing with Mom and Dad.  He challenges authority and questions rules.  Yes, he still knows right from wrong- but he is no "sheeple" but rather, a child who thinks for himself.  He's a wonderful mix of stubborn and kind hearted all put into one boy sized package.


Finally- let's end this post with some random, fun facts about William.

• His favorite color is orange.
• Favorite books are the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
• He has his Daddy's gorgeous blue eyes.
  
• He's a great swimmer.
• He broke his arm when he was 3 years old.
• He hates tomatoes but puts ketchup on everything.
• William loves soccer and is improving his skills all the time.
• He loves animals.
• William's favorite place is Disneyland & he's been 4 times.
• His favorite foods are meatballs & rice, pizza, mashed potatoes and fruit.
• He is an only child.
• He loves flip flops & usually goes through about 3 pairs each summer.
• He learned to ride a bike without training wheels by the age of 3.
• He didn't eat his first cheeseburger until he was 5.
• He loves to dance.
• William learned to read later in life but now he's ahead of the game.
• He has a very short attention span, seriously- very short.
• He's super smart but does not enjoy a formal/forced learning environment.

So there you have it.  Now you know just a little bit more about the special little man in my life.  And just in case you're wondering why I call him "the kiddo" it's really very simple.  This is what my Dad called me growing up and to this day, he still does.

My Kiddo

It's NOT a Charter School!

Whenever I tell people about the homeschool program my son participates in, I always get a confused look in response.  So here it is- an entire blog post dedicated to this wonderful and sometimes frustrating program.


Heading Off to Class

William attends Edmonds Heights K-12 .  It's a public school funded program for homeschoolers.  It is NOT a Charter School, it is NOT traditional public school and it is NOT a private school.  It's something all its own.

The easiest way for me to describe the way William's program works is to say that it's very much like Community College.  There's a nice campus (school) with kids and people of all ages.  There are classes taught by certified teachers like math, science, foreign languages, social studies.  There's also some great workshop classes taught by experts in the field- pottery, musical theater, martial arts, Lego engineering etc.  The classes are offered on specific days & times- there is NOT a Monday through Friday 9-3pm traditional schedule.  You sign up for the classes each semester that you want to participate in, just like you would for Community College.

Last year William's schedule looked like this:

Tuesday

10-10:55am Martial Arts

11-11:30 Musical Theater (Spring Semester was Jewelry Making) 

12pm Lunch and he participated in a Pokemon Club during lunch hour

1-2pm 1st & 2nd Grade Math

Thursday

10-10:55am Martial Arts

11-12 Lego Engineering & Lab

12pm Lunch w/participation in Pokemon Club

1-2pm 2nd & 3rd Grade Science

William is also signed up for an online only program called Compass Odyssey which is available as a class that you register for through the school program.  The discounted cost to us is just $15 per year.  For those of you who are familiar with Time4Learning- it's very similar.

There are classes offered Monday through Thursday.  So if I wanted- William could participate 4 days per week.  However, because we also do homeschool at home, I don't feel it's necessary to be here everyday.  Plus it's a 40 minute drive to and from school- so 2 days per week is enough driving for me!

Because this program is run through our local school district, it's a publicly funded program.  As a result, each child gets an annual budget.  Last year it was $500- to be used for workshop classes, curriculum and school supplies.  Before you get all excited- WOW $500!!! You should know- we blew through that by the end of Fall Semester.  Bummer...

Now, there are some of you who are totally opposed to anything with the public school districts.  I understand you, really I do.  But I think you're missing out on a great opportunity here.  

The Good:

• William has access to a school environment- there's a cafeteria, a library, a principal, computer lab, playground and more.  Oh and something totally awesome called the SNUG Room!  Watch the video- it's pretty cool!
• It helps me keep track of state requirements through a yearly Written Student Learning Plan (WSLP) and a monthly review.  The WSLP is seriously the bane of my existence but hey- at least I won't have the law showing up on my door!  
•  The classes are totally integrated.  Technically William will be entering 3rd grade in the Fall.  His classes will include 1st graders, 2nd graders, 3rd graders and 4th graders.  There's a few workshop classes that are K-6th or K-12th.  There is also no real separation for those with special needs.  Everyone participates together and helps each other learn when needed.
• The ability to use some of that public school money for things like martial arts, pottery, musical theater and other workshop classes.  A few years ago he took swimming lessons at the YMCA- the school budget paid for it!  Now that's awesome!
• Parents are required to be on campus for the younger grades.  So most times, not only do I personally know my son's friends- I know their Mom's, sometimes Grandparents, Aunts and even their siblings.  I know exactly the quality & values of the people my son is socializing with.  Can you say the same about your public schooler?  
• There's lots of great co-ops to participate in- all parent led.  Sweet!
• Parents are simply more invested in their child's education.  It is truly a family affair and the support and sense of community is amazing.

The Bad:

• It's a 40 minute drive to school.  On a cold, wet Seattle morning this can certainly be a major pain in the butt. 
• I'm also not fond of the WSLP and frankly feel that my son's school advisor is a joke.  But now that I know she's more about chatting & offering cookies to the kids- I can maneuver around it.  She's really a very nice lady but not "advisor" material.  
• There are also some silly rules and hoops to jump through and many times the school staff doesn't even know about them.  This can be frustrating. 
• It's missing some organized sports teams.  While the program is very heavy on the arts (which I love) it is severely lacking in the sports arena.  Keeping my fingers crossed that they add this in the future!

As with any educational decision, I encourage you to do your research.  This program works well for us and after a rough first year- we are enjoying all it's benefits and like being a part of this community.  Here's to year 4 and counting! It's just one of many learning tools we personally use in our homeschooling.

So- I hope that answers some of your questions.  Best of luck to you all in making the right educational choice for your family!

*For some fun additional reading on William's program, click the links below.

Not your normal Graduation Ceremony

5th Ave Seattle Benaroya Hall Nomiation- Best Musical