Friday, September 9, 2011

First Day of School

I ordered Mark's 7th grade course last spring, when Calvert School was having a big sale on their curriculum. I love their curriculum, which includes detailed teaching manuals (so I feel competent)! In any event, we don't open the box until the start of the school year. I want the books to be as fresh and exciting as possible. So, here's the student, inspecting his books.

He arranged his books on the table for me to take pictures. The Science course has 5 individual books, three of which concentrate on Biology. The first book deals with plants and animals, and they go on from there. Geography this year covers the Western world, which dovetails with the History course, covering the time frame from 150 AD to 1789, including the fall of the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, the rise of Christianity and Islam, and China and India. Grammar, Composition and Spelling are what they are, but I love the fact that the Reading course uses great novels instead of the stereotypical Reading books.
I'm not quite sure why Mark took up residence in the box, but he was hollering for me to UPS him to some place more "interesting" than home.

And we can't forget Ryan's first day of school. He hollered at me for taking a picture of him in front of the growth chart: "I'm too tall for this!" So it only goes to 72". So what?
Mark still fits on the chart at 5'4".


One funny note from Ryan's first day of school. The school handbook was modified this year to ban another dangerous thing from being brought to school. No, not guns. Not knives. They were already banned. (Barbecues are banned, too, after my oldest son's best friend brought a small grill to hold a cookout before school on the first day in 2000.) Nope. They have banned Hacky Sacks. Yes, the small beanbags that kids toss around. Can't have those pesky kids having fun between classes, now, can we?

13 comments:

pam said...

Hacky sacks? How funny. Being a teacher, I love the look of all those books lined up on the table!

Lapdog Creations said...

Look at all those books!

STELLA and RORY from Down Under said...

Looks like you are in for a good year of learning. Funny how kids grow over the holidays isn't it? Our oldest son and all his friends had hacky sack competitions all through year 11 and 12 while they were chatting. Got up to some amazing number of times without it hitting the ground. He still has the old battered thing even now years later. Have a relaxing weekend. No worries, and love, Stella

Ann Made Studio said...

That is a great idea to not open the box until the first day of school.

SissySees said...

Oooh, all those books!! The boys are getting so tall. Even your youngest is now taller than I am. Hrmph. ;)

Sue said...

We used to have a growth chart on the kitchen door when I was little. Are you and Mark the only ones who still fit?

gMarie said...

Seriously?!! Hacky sacks? Cell phones would seem a more likely thing to ban. I love that BBQ is on the list. Too funny.

Hope you are doing well - you are always in my thoughts these days. :) g

Diane said...

Things have changed since I was at school, I don't remember anything being banned!! But I also do not remember having so many books either!! Diane

Pam said...

Hacky sacks? How silly is that?

I bet it's fun playing teacher for your son! It looks like he's got a lot of interesting things to learn about from all those books.

Big Dude said...

I really admire you for the investment you've made in home schooling your kids and the results are obvious. I don't know what's wrong with the folks here, but they started school about a month before you.

monica said...

some place interesting ? he wasn't more specific ?

illegal toys ? sounds dangerous... :o)

grace said...

no more hacky sacks?!!? say it ain't so! i made a lot of good friends messing around with those things after school (and during study hall...). :)

Christina S. said...

Thanks for sharing your photos with us. Opening the box is so much fun, isn't it!?!?

Did your son ever specify what place would be "more interesting than home?"

-Christina S.
Calvert Educational Services Community Manager