Basketball

Well, Taliesin had his second basketball class tonight. He joined in all of the activities, but he kept asking me if it was time to leave yet. Afterward, he told me it's boring and he doesn't want to go back. So if he changes his mind before the next class, that's fine; if not, that's fine, too. He tried it. He doesn't care for it. Now he knows. Last week Kelsey took him. This week, I did. I agree with Kelsey - I think it's too much public-school like, instructions given, students follow. There is not much room for creativity and imagination, even though the coach is very friendly. That, and I think an hour is too long for kids this young. They would learn a lot more with half-hour classes, IMHO.

But this week I did run into my former supervisor's supervisor at the class. For those who do not know, I left this company for several reasons - one, I did not agree with their ethics and two, they would not work the schedule I was needing for homeschooling. (Yes, I do understand that homeschooling - particularly unschooling - can be done at any time. Learning does not just take place on certain days during certain hours. But at this time, Taliesin was in speech therapy through the public school system. They were asking a lot of questions and implying a lot about homeschooling. So I wanted to be safe and be home during regular "school hours"). Anyway, my former supervisor's supervisor asked if we were still homeschooling. I told her we definitely are - going on three years now. She gave me the typical non-homeschooler reply, "I don't know how you do it!" If I hadn't been so busy with Taliesin and basketball, I would have explained; but I didn't. Oh, well, that's that.

So Taliesin wants to visit a karate studio again that has a special class for six-year olds called "Little Dragons." It sounds like a really neat program. And it's within our budget. So I'm sure we'll start going there on Mondays instead of to basketball.

Kandy

Today's Activities

Last night, we were invited to my manager's house today to help make the Amish friendship bread. Taliesin and Nathanael had so much fun! I thought they were rather ornery while they were there, by my manager assured me they were just active but were very good. :^) That's always nice to here. After making the bread (or, actually, they were the muffin version), we made a trip to the library to pick up whatever Dr. Seuss books that we do not have for the unit studies and some books on the Amish. While there, we ran into some fellow homeschoolers that we know; so Taliesin and Nathanael played with them in the library's imagination station and then built some cool towers and castles with Legos. After our library visit, Kelsey took Taliesin to basketball while Nathanael and I went home and read two of the Dr. Seuss books - Horton Hears a Who and My Many Colored Days. He loves them both. After reading the latter, he decided to make a colorful picture to describe his moods. (I will post a picture of it when I post other pictures from their Dr. Seuss studies. Taliesin is in such a hurry to start them, but we just did not have time today with everything else). Now, Taliesin and Nathanael are downstairs watching a video of The Little Mermaid (they are still in a fish mood) while I gather some final information for my Messenger conversation with Jeanice from Women of Passions tomorrow morning. :^) Oh, btw, I think Taliesin was a little disappointed in his basketball class. It's through our parks and rec. department of the city offices here, but it is held at a local grade school. I think it's a little too much like regular school for him - a little too structured. He told me he likes it, but he just doesn't seem as excited about it as he does his dance lessons or karate classes. Oh, well. At least he's tried. And he still wants to continue going to them (there are five sessons left), though, so he's determined! That's always good. :^)

Kandy