About homeschooling and in the mood to scrap.

School started last week and for the first time in (almost) ever, all three my girls are in school. When Tia started school in 2003, we decided to put her in the ACE program. ACE is basically a Christian based curriculum and works with paces. So typically, a child will finish 12 paces in each subject in the course of a year. The basics of ACE (what I love about it and what made me continue on with it) is Wordbuilding. Every single week they learn spelling and write spell tests. When we came to Canada, we found a ACE school in our town and all 3 girls attended school there. Jana and Kirstin learned to read and write and about 5 years ago, we decided to take them out of school and homeschool. One of the incentives was that they can dance more. Another reason was that the Christian school was private and it cost an arm and a leg to have 3 kids attend. But I knew that time was running out on their childhood and homeschooling was an awesome decision for us as a family.  Then a few years back, I realized that I want the girls to graduate with a provincial Grade 12 certificate just because I was not up (or equipped) to fight the battle of a homeschool certificate (and admission to universities etc). We also felt that at some stage they must wade into the social structure called life (and yes, boys too). We felt that Tia was as grounded as she could be and with confidence on her part (and serious angst on mine) we send her to St Mary's High School last year for Grade 10. It would be her first year in the traditional school system as all she knew was ACE from grade 1-9. She passed with flying colors and glowing recommendations from her teachers. We could not be more proud of how she integrated into the school while still being her grounded self. She worked hard. She did awesome. So awesome indeed, that we decided to take the plunge and send the other two to school as well. And after a week in school, even they will not even consider coming back to homeschooling again. Lucky for me, I have been so busy that I have not noticed the quiet house. I only noticed it stays clean longer. :)

I told them that I expect them to do good. They are clever enough (i know this first hand) and I want this learning experience to be as positive as possible. I am happy to see them making new friends. By sending them to school, I am not turning my back on homeschooling at all. I am so FOR it. We worked very hard in our homeschool. I just found that right now, they were ready for this change and so was I. I have new things I want to do... and one thing that I have always know about me is that I love uninterrupted work. Right now it's win-win for us. Tia is in grade 11, Kirstin grade 9 and Jana grade 7.

Coming up for me is two workshops I am teaching in Barcelona and Frankfurt this October. I am so excited and are wrapping up the projects I will be teaching.

ALSO...

there's a new In the mood to scrap video up on Two Peas!

Well, how's that for a little update? :) Have a great week and I will chat to you soon!

Love and kisses...

Wilna Furstenberg
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