Second Grade....In the Bag

Well, almost. We are approximately one week away from finishing second grade. And I am my typical reflective self. I have a whole year to look back on as our first year of non traditional, homeschooling, non classroom, family experiment.

Here is where JM's sit:
Spanish 88% (still several assignments left)
Language Arts 88% (a few assignments left)
Art 100% (final grade)
Science 94% (final grade)
Social Studies 95% (final grade)
Math 90% (final grade)
Online Tech 100%
PE 100%

Okay, so to clarify, PE, Art and Online Technology were graded only on participation. If he had completely biffed all of it, he would get the same score for participation.

Several things I have loved about online learning:

* I can see the grade book anytime. JM can literally submit a test, and we can immediately see the effect on his overall grade. How many parents have said this in their lifetime about their kid's grades? "We never knew he was flunking math until we got the report card at the end of the year. I wish we would have known sooner so we could have helped."

Interesting thing you'll start seeing in regular public schools, and I have seen a little of here--schools are now posting, through a secure login, kids grades online specifically so parents can see them right away. For those of us with small kids, I am sure by the time our kids are in high school, this will be the norm. That system is to specifically get rid of that parental exclamation.

* I have loved the curriculum. I mean it. If and when my back ackwards state decides to shut down online learning, and it's about to be decided, I will use this curriculum to do traditional homeschooling. Yes, it will cost. But we have really enjoyed it and it fits JM's learning style, especially the math.

* I know we have all split the fine hair of what online charter schools are. Here is my impression: to people who put their kids in regular public schools, I answer them with "homeschooling". Why? Because if you were to peek in my home on any given day, it looks and feels like traditional homeschooling. To traditional homeschoolers, I say "online charter schooling". Why? Because it really isn't the same as homeschooling and only traditional homeschoolers know that distinction.

* Non traditional schooling is absolutely not for everyone! This is a huge commitment not just on the primary instructor's part, but the whole family. However, I do believe more people can do this than give themselves credit for.

Please remember it's only been in recent times that public schooling has been the norm. Either it was homeschooling (think Laura Ingalls Wilder during the long winter), or community cooperatives (think Laura Ingalls Wilder when in a classroom) or private institutions (think European traditions of strict, religious based boarding schools that cost families money). So while a "free" (40% of my taxes doesn't feel free but oh well) education seems good on the surface, it comes at a huge cost. The value and quality of education is much less. When we abdicate our school choices away, it sometimes causes us to look back (myself included) and say "Why do these people think they can educate my child better than me?" We have given up much educational freedom in recent decades and we need to grab some of it back before it's too late.

And so we are set to have a good summer. I am looking forward to "school's out" just as much as my kids are.

T minus five days and counting.