Spring Semester

Spring semester is well underway. Hannah took her ACT last week and got a 23. The really great part of that is that she got at least a 21 on each subject and therefore won't have to take any basic classes at TCC. She is getting very excited about finishing High School and embarking on a new chapter in her life. She has wanted and worked towards being a chef since she was 11. She started taking cooking classes about that age and has taken them every since. In fact, now she works for the place where she takes classes. I think she has settled on transferring to the Culinary Arts School at Johnson and Wales in Denver, Colorado after she takes a few classes at TCC. She is 16 right now and her father and I would like to keep her at home until she is closer to 18. She worked all year to buy a car and did so right after her 16th birthday. She takes after her father in that she sets a goal and then works diligently towards achieving it.

As for the rest of my students we are still plugging away with our unit study. We are up to World War II and I am so excited. This era of history is one of my favorites to study. Each student is moving along in math which always my main concern as that is a subject I do not excel in. Julian is taking typing and liking it. He is such a joy to teach. He is constantly finding new things he likes to do: typing, crocheting, sewing, and cooking just to name a few. Everyday he gets more confident in his learning abilities and I see less of the frustrated, angry kid I saw when he first came to me from public school. His English and Math skills have greatly improved. Virginia is always patient with him and helps me teach him new things. Stormie is his best school friend.

Virginia and I have been working on Algebra I together. She is nearing the end of the book and it is really tough. I am doing it with her thinking two heads are better than one. Sometimes she gets the right answer before I do. She is working her way through some classics. Today she read "The Law" by Frederic Bastiat. I am hoping she understood the significance of his words for people today. Last week she read "Night" by Elie Wiezel. I am hoping to get her to do more creative writing as that is where she excels.

Joel has learned all his letters and the sounds they make. As soon as he proves it to his dad dad will take him to Toy's R Us to pick out a toy. He can also count to 20 and write his name. This is a big accomplishment as just getting him to sit still for longer than a minute is a minor miracle.

Elizabeth's girls are settling into the school routine. They come over here 3 days a week. This has proven to be a great set up. We can do fun stuff together and Elizabeth and I don't feel quite so isolated.