Smrt Lernins

Unsocialized homeschoolers? If anything, the kids in the homeschool co-op are a little too socialized for my comfort level.

Some of the older children have discovered the notion of “crushes.” Little romantic dramas unfold and play out to their end, all within the half-hour the kids spend on the playground during lunch. There’s hand holding, pushing each other on the swing, and even some surreptitious attempts to slip into the bushes and kiss. While this is relatively age appropriate for the 9+ crowd, the mixed-age makeup of the homeschooling groups (where age “segregation” is never, ever, ever ok!) seems to be resulting in the much younger kids mimicking this kissy-face behavior without any understanding of the context or why it’s not ok to wallow all over each other during class time.

It’s getting disruptive, with the playground volunteers and the teachers having to pry the children off of each other. Because some of the children come from low or no boundary households, they aren’t taking “no” for an answer and it’s turning into something of a tussle, with the recipient of the child’s affection (whether willing or unwilling) in the middle as we try to scrape the affectionate child off him/her. These kids, some of whom have very little by way of experience in a structured environment, don’t understand why they can’t smooch, hug, or lay all over each other in the middle of class.

I actually sat the whole lot of them down during the 2pm session and we had a little talk about personal space and how co-op isn’t the place for kissing and draping yourself across each other. I have no idea if they got it. The little girl who’d spent the day clinging to an alternately willing and unwilling Captain Science said to me, quite forcefully, that she would NOT stay off of him, until I informed her that I don’t let children talk to me in that manner and she most certainly would keep her hands to herself. Captain Science and Officer Daddyman are going to have a nice little chat about age-appropriate behavior, too, because he does not need to be kissing girls just because some 11- and 12-year-olds might be doing it.

Whatever else they may be, these homeschoolers are not awkward around other kids. They’re a tetch too comfortable with each other. And here I thought I had at least another year or two before I had to worry about this stuff!

I’m sure I’ve mentioned that I teach a creative writing class for a local secular homeschool co-op. I had nine students and am now, sadly, down to seven. We have an interesting age mix, 7-12, despite my specific instructions in the class description that all students be ages 8+. Rules do not apply to homeschoolers, whose children are all so gifted that it practically grants them an extra year.

We just finished our non-fiction unit. The final non-fiction assignment was writing an article for a newpaper or magazine. One quirky child of about nine submitted this little beauty, which I will now shared in his exact words, spelling and grammar included (just a hint, this is best if you read it out loud):

Monday went pretty darn well for our first day of trying to homeschool with a broken arm. Captain Science read one short book on Greek history and one short book on Greek gods. He did three chapters of grammar and was able to take a short review quiz online. We did a chapter of Life of Fred about Roman numerals. I wasn’t actually that familiar with them myself, so together we made a chart of units, tens, and hundreds. He did a little writing with his left had and dictated some answer to me. We had a nice time!

Homeschool co-op was ok, especially because martial arts was canceled due to Officer Daddyman having mandatory firearms training (hey, you want your cops to have regular refresher courses in that!), but by the end of the day, Captain Science was tired and very sensitive. He cried during his film making class, because his classmates wouldn’t listen to him and because he was given a small role due to group concerns about his broken arm getting in the way.

We’ve had a lot of success with naps this past week, but today was a bust, as we weren’t home until 3:30. No nap = extra sensitivity from both boys. Joy! Even Babypie is a little cranky from lack of a proper nap, and I’m cranky from lack of them having a nap.

We’re struggling to get a follow-up appointment for the Captain’s arm. It’s all “leave a message” and pass the buck and “no, this isn’t who you call!” I’ll be glad when this mess is all over.