Day Three

Typically Thursday's will be a chance for Frazer to take riding lessons.  But today, he worked on making a map of where he is in relationship to his house and how his house is laid out.  We are using this to allow him to draw and plan through pictures which he still enjoys greatly.  He did this work while Porter had a playdate with a friend.  Frazer worked so well and was willing to go back and consider revisions or digging deeper.  He can be so engaged when he works in a project style.

In the afternoon two families came over who we hope to form a project learning group.  We discussed what we hope -- as adults-- for the group to provide the kids.  Self-directed learning, support but not taking over.  A group that each child could work independently or as one unit.  A place in which kids could learn the dynamics of the group and how to talk to each other about their ideas.  And, an opportunity to do something, have in not work they way intended and a space to figure out how to improve that.

I love that the Jeffery kids were there.  There is a certain irony in heather and I are both in this place.  She clearly was coming from a place where she wanted to make sure child-directed didn't mean "without support and anything goes."  I kept saying, "Don't throw out the baby with the bath water."  The new family will bring a great dynamic.  So Thursday will be brown bag lunches here in which the kids can socialize over their meals, work until 2:30 and then rock and roll as Porter has piano by 2:45. 

We rushed away to piano -- late already feeling good about the possibility.  And, Porter and Frazer we excited having had the chance to hold baby chicks that Heather was taking.  The blackest chick I have ever seen.