You know I didn't like middle school when I had to do it, like 40 years ago. And now here I am again in the middle of Ancient Greece and the ruins haven't changed that much. Just a different obnoxious teacher asking kids to do the same obnoxious homework.
Can't tell Nathan any of that because I'm teaching him to be responsible, neat, optimistic and driven. He's really trying, the poor guy. Last night was a drag, though, we were swamped with mounds of English homework, where they have to COPY the question out of the book and then answer the question. It's all busy work. Although at least his answers were well thought out and interesting. Usually it's just what do I have to write that gets me out on my bike?
I did teach him how to make a story dynamic instead of just functional. I hope he sees that writing can be made loopy and exciting, even writing that's required writing. And I hope he'll see that reading is a way to travel when you can't get off the ground yourself. So these are my goals.
Both the kids are hard workers and good thinkers. Nathan's more a dreamer, Emma's more a wade into the middle of it and shout until all the waves smooth out around her. Then do a dance. While Nathan rides around her towing Lilly behind his bike on the wagon. At this point, I have a truck driver, a dancer (pretty sure Vegas Showgirl type, ahhhk), and Lilly who will probably invent a time machine. She spends alot of time waiting for me to be done with the other two, and so she has a vast imagination.
Last night after school she said "there's a kid at my school named Bodie. I think the mother said I like boats. Boatie." (She thinks his name's Boatie.) Now when I see that kid I see sails flying.
She also said there's a kid named Landon. "Is he nice?" I say. "I smiled at him, and he smiled back," she says. "Oh, good," I say. Then she says: "But he gets in time out. Cause he throws things at other kids." I love preschool.
