I have finished what I started! I participated in Home Education Week. I did not get out and comment or read as many blogs as I would have liked. I have been unusually busy this week.
Okay, I know that what I am about to tell you doesn’t represent anywhere near normal behavior. Remember I was an administrator and instructor in my life pre-homeschooling. The April before we started homeschooling my husband and I attended our first homeschooling conference. We were busy during the day, but we spent our breaks, evenings and mealtime discussing our goals for our family. That spring we also participated in an adult Sunday school class about parenting. The summer before we started our school, I wrote a Mission, Vision, Values Statement and Strategic Plan for our family based upon what we did in Sunday school and our discussions at the conference. I also created a vision for our school. I was going to write a whole manual for standard operating procedures, but I somehow became sane again and realized that home needn’t be run like a business. I mean standard operating procedures define how everyone is to do a job. When there are just two people sharing the task of parenting, manuals are just overkill. Besides, talking to each other improves my husband’s and my relationship. I am much better now! In fact, I didn’t even write measurable learning objectives or lesson plans for Marissa this year. We are just doing the next thing.
As far as long term goals for Marissa, I define success for her as preventing or limiting the secondary disabilities associated with FASD. Marissa hopes to finish all her high school requirements by the end of her 11th-grade year. She wants to participate in our state’s The Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program during 12th-grade. This program will allow her to take classes at the local technical college while she is a senior in high school. She want to pursue Fashion Design and Store Management. Her goal, “To get a job so you don’t have to take care of me all my life.” Great goal! She has promised to live at home until she has had a job that she doesn’t get fired from for at least 6-months.
As for myself? Well, in addition to increasing my student population by 200% very soon (I hope!) I am a recoverying FASAHOLIC:
It was nice meeting so many new bloggers! I appreciate the opportunity to tell others about home schooling a child with FASD.
Looking Forward is a part of Home Education Week!
Check Dana’s blog for links to other homeschooler’s stories!
9 responses so far ↓
Dana // 5 April 2008 at 12:41 am
Well, I appreciated all of your entries! And boy can I relate to those measurable objectives. They still crop up in my planning.
Heather Young // 5 April 2008 at 7:42 am
I gave up measurable objectives and lesson plans years ago–praise the Lord.
Great video.
brumbemom // 5 April 2008 at 8:44 am
For some reason, when your video ended, I was in tears. I’m not really sure why. It was very touching. Thanks for sharing.
Ellen // 5 April 2008 at 12:18 pm
I love your daughter’s goal of starting college early. It’s very ambitious. My son is finishing his 1st year of high school at home. I’m hoping that he will look into that, too. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog this week. It sounds like home education has been very beneficial for your daughter.
Katie // 5 April 2008 at 1:32 pm
“One Day At A Time”
I guess I am a Fasaholic Type II? The parental type. Will I find a 12 step program at the Fasaholics Anonymous site? Off to google!!
Loved that video.
Mrs. C // 5 April 2008 at 1:39 pm
Wouldn’t call it an addiction LOL! With what’s going on with FASD, it sounds more like “good parenting.” Marissa is blessed to have such a family, and so are your l’il Haitian blessings.
Can’t wait to see them in to HOME, too. I can only imagine what having children you can’t have at home is like.
Morning Rose // 5 April 2008 at 5:55 pm
We don’t do lesson plans either, simply the next thing.
Sombra // 5 April 2008 at 7:36 pm
I wonder if CLEP would help Marissa achieve her college goals? There’s a young gal here who has been doing CLEP all this year and has about 2 years worth of University credits done. Trent is in the middle of Algebra2, so I’m going to have him prepare to write a CLEP exam for Algebra.
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html
Heidi // 6 April 2008 at 6:46 pm
I actually would like to do some of those goals, mission statement, etc. - - I was thinking it might keep me focused.
It was nice getting to know you this week.
Thanks for sharing!
Leave a Comment