This time last year was the start of a new life for James.  It was labor day weekend 2013 that James had his first real “open communication” with Soma and it was that same week that we began our first year of home school. The primary goal of home school was to allow James to use the letter board to show us what he knew and what he was learning. He was still a novice on the letter board and so were we!  It was hard to know where to start with our curriculum because James had only been formally given about a second grade education.  Soma suggested starting with 4th grade language arts books, math and science.  So we did and it quickly became apparent that we needed to go higher.  By mid fall we were doing 6th grade work and ended the year as the equivalent of a middle school graduate.

Throughout the year James kept asking us to raise the bar and he often talked of his dream to go to college and be an honors History student.  So with that in mind we applied to be part of a home school high school group for the coming academic year. This is a big step for James but it seems like the right one if he wants to graduate from high school and go to college.  This group has a lead teacher who is very rigorous and the students do high level work.  The advantage for James is that they meet just one day a week so it won’t be as demanding for him as a full week of lectures and discussions.

So off to school tomorrow for his first day of being with other student’s in a demanding academic setting.  He is beyond excited!  We will keep you posted on what happens.  In the meantime, a few short thoughts he had about education when discussed with his SLP.  Next blog post I will share his essay about America’s veterans, which is due tomorrow!

What do you think of when you hear the word education? LEARNING
Tell me one thing you expect to see at schools? THE STUDENTS ENGAGED IN LEARNING
What do you think the following quotes mean?

“You are always a student, never a master. You have to keep moving forward.” ~Conrad Hall (American cinematographer)

THE JOB OF EDUCATION IS NEVER DONE. THE LEARNING MUST CONTINUE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ~ Nelson Mandela

KNOWLEDGE IS POWERFUL AND INFORMATION IS VALUABLE. IF YOU HAVE THOSE THINGS, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING