We began co-op this week. I managed to get photos beforehand, run errands, and only pulled into the parking lot a minute after I planned to be there. We’re off to a good start. I had each child write their own name on the blackboard. I want to be able to compare handwriting improvements next year!
Liberty Skye is 16, and a junior. There’s talk of having her graduate this year since she has sufficient credits, but we haven’t decided. She works 20+ hours a week at a local grocery store/ice cream parlor, is taking Chemistry, Logic 2, and Writing 3 at co-op. She’s dual enrolled at the local tech school taking Nutrition and College Algebra this semester as well.
Eden Rayne is 14, and repeating 9th grade to appease her mother so that she’s in the correct grade for her age. I’d never start them ahead if I had my way again. She’s taking Algebra 2, Cake Decorating, Government and Economics, and Writing 2 at co-op. She works 20+ hours a week at the same grocery store/ice cream parlor, but that will slow down next week when she’s required to cut back to three hour workdays during the school year as a 14 year old employee.
Sterling Blaine is 12 and just began 7th grade. He’s just begun middle school but seems to be taking it all in stride. He’s been looking forward to this for a long time. He’s taking Creative Writing, Algebra 1, History, and Geology and Archaeology this year at co-op. He continue to mow lawns to earn a bit of cash as well.
Ruby Alexandra is 10 until next Tuesday, and taking 7th grade. My plan is to also slow her down a year, likely next year. Since co-op allows you to sign up for classes beginning in 7th grade, I wanted her to do that so her repeat year isn’t a literal repeat of learning. She’s taking General Science, Pre Algebra, Writing 1, and Crocheting and Knitting at co-op.
Charlotte Serenity is 8 for a few more weeks and in the 4th grade. The elementary grades always offer science, history or geography, PE, art, and music. She gets to study Missouri history year, and Astronomy in science. She studies math, reading, handwriting, spelling, and English at home.
Pierce Allan is 7 for a few more weeks and in 3rd grade. He’s doing the same elementary subjects this year, and science is studying animals and United States capitals this year. He studies math, reading, handwriting, spelling, and English at home.
Elliot Adelaide is 5 and in Kindergarten this year. I’ve added a student to my “classroom”! She’s so excited to start. She studies music, manners, art, and a bit of science in Kindergarten, and she’s started math and reading at home. She’s pretty thrilled about all of it.
Stellan Wyatt is 3, along for the ride, and he did not write his own name on the chalkboard. He does know many letters, how to spell all three of his names, when his birthday is, and how to make a big mess out of just about everything. He loves the outdoors and mourns when no one is available to play with him outside. He’s taken to hanging out with the cat, which he has tame enough to purr through anything he does to it.
We’re four weeks into our school year, trying to get a jump on it so we can break when we wish and finish early spring. This year is looking very different from our last many, with college and not so many littles and many core classes happening at co-op. I continue to serve on the security team there, for my third year doing that. The co-op moved to a new church building this year and that’s been a fun adventure. There’s 410 people attending the co-op and it provides a plethora of opportunities we wouldn’t have otherwise. This is our tenth year to attend this co-op.
Why would you not start them early if you could do over?
So sorry, wordpress was being weird and not letting me reply to comments. I have found that younger kids tend to be followers and intimidated because they are the younger in the class. I can’t decide if graduating early does them any favors, having done it myself. That said, we’ve decided that Liberty will graduate in the spring, a year early. We had reasons for doing that, but time will tell if it proves to be a wise decision or if it’s more than her maturity can handle. Parenting is rough!