Can be traumatic, especially when you are having this experience at an advanced age.
Today my 11-yr-old is going to the community college for a 16-week class called “Middleschool Biology for Homeschoolers”. This is his first “classroom situation” (unless you count martial arts classes). It sounds like a great class-- it will have a lecture and lab component.
I will have to drop him off at the door and let him go into… the… unknown….
Will he be quiet and focus and take notes? or will he be trading puns with the guy sitting next to him? (he has a genetic predisposition for that)
Will he be able to adapt to a universe that no longer revolves around him?
Will mom survive?
Hats off to all you parents who have passed through this milestone in one form or another.
Sounds like a great experience, really. I think the homeschooling thing is wonderful, in almost any regard (although I didn’t do it,) but I think having this classroom time is going to be enriching on many levels. Or not. But I hope it will.
They looked at a few things pickled in ethanol but for the most part it was live materials
The whole adventure went very well, although when we got in the car (slightly late) I realized I had left my good map by the computer. When we arrived on campus I discovered that the info sheet didn’t have the classroom number on it.
But got through that, and actually were there a bit early. I can’t tell you how unusual it is for me to be early. The joke in our family is that there’s only been one project I’ve ever finished ahead of schedule and that’s Kevin (born at 2 lbs).
So this was the second one!
I got a chance to check in with the teacher. As far as I’m concerned, the class is going to be too easy. No lecture, all hands on. Half a dozen kids. They can call out answers (don’t have to raise hands). Can wear crummy clothes (since she’s going to have them outside as much as possible). Worst of all, the teacher studied entomology / botany (my major as well). I really didn’t want him to have a mom-clone.
I was hoping more for a clone of Professor McGonagle!
But he came out of class saying “Wow, that was actually fun”…so I guess that’s a very good first classroom experience.
Maybe the next semester at the community college will have a little more teeth to it.
Well, “Deep Hurting” can be a learning experience in itself, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with doing it the fun way. Be glad this is his first experience. If next semester has “teeth” in it, but he’s already got some fun classroom stuff under his belt, he’ll be a lot less likely to despair.
I’m glad that all went well. I’m hoping to put a couple of mine into the college that Mr Izz is attending for a couple of classes either next semester or next year. It’s good to know that all should go as planned
Thank you Tom-- very good advice!
And I’m glad to have gotten the advice now, before you finish the MS and your fees go way up.
Actually he gets it from both sides. There’s something in genetics where if you get two doses of a particular dominant gene it can be lethal. We’re watching with caution, poor kid-- medical intervention may be required
Merle is a colour combination in dogs’ coats
Merle is actually a heterozygote of an incomplete dominance gene. …on the average one quarter of the puppies will be double merles and some percentage of these double merle puppies could have [very serious health problems]…
I’m glad that all went well. I’m hoping to put a couple of mine into the college that Mr Izz is attending for a couple of classes either next semester or next year. It’s good to know that all should go as planned >
It’s a great idea isn’t it?
There’s a lot more resources for us homeschooler-types than there used to be. I think “they” are figuring out that we’re a niche market.
Also I think all the educational software available now is a great thing. We’re eagerly awaiting our Rosetta Stone course (local educational store had them on sale-- woo hoo!)
PS. Izzy, I hope that you and yours will be all better soon!
A cuddy cold! How awful!
When we arrived on campus I discovered that the info sheet didn’t have the classroom number on it. 
There’s something in genetics where if you get two doses of a particular dominant gene it can be lethal. We’re watching with caution, poor kid-- medical intervention may be required 
