classes

This week began our homeschooling classes, art class on Monday for J. and writing class for F today.
The art class went great, J has taken art at this place on and off for a year and she loves it. They learned about English calligraphy and then made their own art work using cut outs of various calligraphy letters, The teacher said that J's concentration was really great (the class was for 90 minutes) and she is a pleasure to have in the class. :) I love that she is so artistic and creative!  After the class we walked over to the Museum of Natural History and hung around the Hall of biodiversity for about 2 hours, the kids love the museum and since they have suggested admission it's affordable for us :).  I plan on going a few more times this year.

Tuesday was park day with the homeschool group, we planned to go for a few hours but as always stayed from 11 till 3 then walked over to the library with some friends, where F borrowed some more books and J read an entire Babymouse book while we waited for DH to pick us up. The kids and I really enjoy park days where they get to run around, climb trees, play club house and a bunch of other games with their friends. It's a really great social thing for all of us :).

Today began F's writing class in Bklyn, so after morning lessons (math, reading and history) we took the train then the bus, it was so hot...to a small book store by the piers, It was a 90 minute class with only 3 students...while F was at class me and the girls went to the playground at pier 6 to meet up with the girls' friend A. It was so hot we played in the water area for over an hour! It was really a great day, the girls had a blast with their friend and F loved his class!  I had tears in my eyes when he said he really liked it and that it was too short! My son, who does not want to write, loves his writing class! He began a short story that they will make into several chapters over the 5 week long class. My friend R, whose son is also in the class and happens to be one of F's best friends, brought him to the park after class so the boys could play for a little while. So everyone had some playtime today :). 
J has been reading at least a book a day and loves it, A is reading more fluently the last few weeks, she is working hard at it and has said multiple times how much she loves to read :).  I always think about how school would probably have killed that love in her since she is not at grade level (according to the school system) which has nothing to do with a child's inner readiness to read. All 3 of the kids like to read, F sleeps with a few books on his bed and has come out of his room on many occasions at 11 pm to say he has finished a book or another.. his bed time is at 9:30!  :)  But I am secretly thrilled that my son loves to read so much he stay up past his bed time repeatedly :).