Right Brained Girl Starts School

Right Brained Girl started "real school" the day after Labor Day.   The school has originally supposed to begin in August on the same day as traditional calendar public schools.  However, by early August, the school had so many new students that the administrators knew they needed to find a larger facility.  So during the three weeks before the school's scheduled start date, the directors found a new building, raised a team of volunteers, received donations of services and materials, and completed an extensive construction project to turn a warehouse into a school with multiple classrooms, an office, restrooms, lunchroom, science labs, etc. This school is located in one of the state's strictest counties regarding building inspections, and despite inspections being delayed due to one inspector's vacation schedule, the school only started five school days later than initially planned.  The directors give all glory to God for miraculously working out all the details and for providing the resources required. Considering that I was blind in one eye and could not drive during the week school was initially scheduled to start, I consider the delay to be a wonderful blessing.

Our daughter is in a multi-age classroom comprised of students in third through sixth grades.  She seemed nervous at first on that first day, but within five minutes of my departure, she had made lots of new friends.  When I returned to take her home that afternoon, she was huddled together with all her new friends and told me to go back home because she wanted to stay there forever.

We loved her teacher and really liked the way she decorated the classroom to look like a jungle. Our daughter become very attached to her during those first three days.  On day four, however, her beloved teacher had to resign due to unforeseen circumstances.  Our daughter sobbed when her teacher left and continues to hope that she will return eventually.  Since then she has had two wonderful substitute teachers who have both homeschooled their children and taught in public schools.

The first three days of school were spent implementing systems to organize the classroom.  The students learned how to organize their notebooks and how to take responsibility for their assignments.  They learned some interesting systems to encourage good behavior and practiced cycling through the various "centers". The students spent time getting to know one another while the teacher observed the students closely to assess learning styles and individual needs.

I initially thought those first few days were a waste of time and money, but I am realizing now how important those systems will be for managing the classroom and for making the best use of school time for the remainder of the school year.  I am also learning new ways of motivating my own children.

The school's curriculum, which was initially created for homeschooling families, was finally introduced (by the substitute teachers) this week, and I do believe it will challenge our daughter.  It has been hard for me to abandon my lesson plans, my curriculum, and my expectations for this school year.  As a homeschooling mother, I was accustomed to having control and feeling like I know better than anyone else what my child needs, so the process of learning to let go has not been easy.  However, God knows our daughter so much more perfectly than I do, so I am learning to let go and trust Him to give her what He knows she needs through this school.

The Lord placed a new thought in my heart this past week that is giving me more peace about this school decision.  Perhaps this school choice isn't just about what she needs, but also about what the other students need.  God has gifted our right brained child with an outgoing personality and a heart of compassion.   Her class has already grown from 9 to 16 students.  She strives to reach out to each new student. She wants to make them feel welcome and to ensure that no one is without a friend.   I sense that God will use her in some way for His glory at her school.  That is my prayer.

I am also realizing that there are some non-academic lessons, skills, and behaviors that a more conventional school setting may be more effective in teaching her such as:

• The discipline to sit still while being instructed (as opposed to doing ballet or gymnastics while I'm trying to teach her at home)
• How to take responsibility for her own work without being reminded and nagged by her mother (If she gets a zero for her grade, so be it. It's only 3rd grade.  She seems to feel the consequences more strongly in a group setting.)
• How to follow a strict schedule and be punctual
• How to tune out distractions and focus on the work at hand
• How to plan ahead and wait for others (Example: Bathroom, water, and snack breaks are taken according to a class schedule, not whenever each student feels the need.)
• To respect others by raising her hand and waiting to be called upon before blurting out an answer
• To consider the interests of others before her own by choosing to walk quietly through hallways so as not to disturb other classes
• To be reminded daily that life is not all about her (In school, the teacher is not readily available to help every student at once.  She must learn to work through the problem herself, be resourceful, and wait patiently until the teacher can address her concern.)
• How to sit in a chair correctly (Okay, that is something I could easily teach her at home, but I needed an excuse to share these cute photos.)

Incorrect use of a chair (photo by BeasKnees)

 Seated incorrectly again at our homeschool co-op (she still attends once a week)

Homeschooling has so many wonderful benefits, and I am thankful to have had the freedom to homeschool her these past few years. I am still really enjoying teaching my son at home. I often wish that our daughter was home with me instead of off at school (even more so when that early morning alarm forces me out of bed to take her to school on time each day), but I am also seeing the many advantages of giving her this new school experience.  No matter where or how God directs us to educate each child, we must learn to trust Him to protect, equip, and work through our children for His perfect glory.