Things To Do - Check for materials

One of the first things I did as a new K12 mom, was to watch the tutorials offered on the home page.

I watched ALL of them. My biggest concern was that we had received all this equipment, I checked it against the packaging slip- but wasn't sure if I had all the materials I need for the classes. I only had books for Math, Art, Language. What about Spanish, Health, etc. Were they back ordered? What would be helpful is a checklist. I didn't even know all the classes. I mean I figured all the "normal" classes, but was surprised to find out there were 12! I wanted a checklist that said the class name and the materials I should have. But where do I find that? After a call to customer service, I did find it. On the homepage. The same "help" tab. select "My Info". Here you will find your students overview.
If you select your student, you will be able to select the tab for "orders". Here I found the order information for those 3 big boxes I received.

Start with the first and select the "order number". (you may have to check all order numbers, mine happened to be the first)
Each order has a section for "Courses (delivered Digitally)" and "Course Materials"
Find the order that contains your standard curriculum. I found mine had 12 courses listed!

Scroll down to "Course Materials" and here you will find the list of items needed for each course. You can use this to checkoff your supplies.

You will notice some of your courses require "no materials" which explains why we didn't get anything!

Hope this helps you in getting prepared for the start of school. Checking materials is something you can do together before classes open, if you are like us, and were just aching to get started!

A New Journey

After a few years of deliberation, we finally made the decision to pull the kiddos out of private school. Megy is doing fabulous things in her Multiple Disability classroom at a public school, we let Rese choose where she wanted to go. She chose to go to school with Megy. Why, because she could ride the bus. Another cool side is that they offer Instrumental Music and Rese really wants to play the violin. So yesterday the short yellow bus pulled up and off went my two middle kids. Phew-the house got quiet. Sidenote: it ceases to amaze me how a kid that is non verbal is the cause of so much noise.

That leaves Lukie, who will start back up at preschool next week, and Sami. My 6th grader....my tween.....my oi.....do I dare suggest homeschool? I do,and she LOVES the idea. Here is my reason for selecting homeschool (mind you as a PK-3 certified educator I swore I would and could NEVER homeschool my own children)

Megan is a piece of work. She is a lovable, cuddly little squirt, but she can bring stress level in our house to an ultimate high. To top it off, the big girls have dance most nights and between getting homework, dinner, cleaning, etc our house is chaotic between the hours of 430-830. (which really is understated). As days went on last year, I could see that stress level coming out in Sami. A shorter temper, talking mean to her siblings. An unhealthy combination of hormones and myself being a bad role model in the handling stress category. So I made the suggestion of homeschool because I thought it would be a time that, with all the kids in school, that Sami and I could work together, bond and she can see that there is a healthier way to handle life.

With that decision came the choice of how to homeschool. Do I go all primitive and put together my own curriculum? Do I go with an online program? I talked to several parents who also home school and felt the best choice for us fell somewhere in the middle. We chose the K12 Curriculum.
http://www.k12.com/
This is an online public school. Coursework is done online, she has an online teacher, and I am a learning coach. I thought this was good because I am the one teaching her at home, but there is still someone else monitoring her progress, mentoring me through the process, etc. As I read over the program It sounded like the perfect fit to our busy lives. And the best part...It's FREE!

That's right, free. Everything. The curriculum, the computer, the books, the science materials, the art materials. It's structured if you need it to be and flexible when you want it to be! So the first step, get registered.

Easy as pie. Fill out the online request for information. Print the registration form and fax in along with birth certificate and grade card. The process was received and complete in about 2 hours. I didn't have to gather info from her current school, or anything tedious. Once we completed registration (which we did about June 1st) we were able to participate in fun online camps K12 offered. Camps were on things like photography, movie making and fingerprinting. Again FREE.

Mid July came the most exciting part..The arrival of the "equipment" 3 large boxes containing a brand new computer, printer, headset, books, maps, art/science kits. It was like Christmas Morning. Lets get it all set up (unlike Christmas morning, nothing required batteries or had those annoying little plastic straps that make opening toys impossible)

We had bought a used desk off craigslist. So it was there, lonely, awaiting the day the shipment would arrive with it's new electric friends. We got everything all set up and organized. Now what? We have to wait?!?!!? A whole month before school "starts" Oh no!

I think Sami spent a little time each day sitting at her desk. Sometimes reading, sometimes creating a new desktop wallpaper using MS Paint. Then came the "day" August 15...The "day" K12 released the new coursework. Now, school doesn't "officially" start until the 29th, but Sami has been busy busy doing Math, Language, Art.

Look up the course list. 12 classes in all. Including a study group, foreign language. Wow.

Teacher called today to welcome us. We talked for an hour. She wanted to know our story and learn about Sami. She told me she wasn't Sami's "stalker" but there to assist us in this new journey. She sounded wonderful. We have the power to learn anywhere we want, in the kitchen, in a book, in New York. We are both really excited. I'll check back in and let you know our progress.

Sami on her unofficial "first day" of homeschool.

Captains Log....061911

Day 14..15...um, I lost count!

Happy Fathers Day!
Heading home!
After a delightful breakfast with Poppy (consisting of make the toast yourself when you wake up) We finished packing and hit the road. Off to Brunswick to visit some more family and drop a couple kids off for an extended visit.

Awesome visit. Lots of laughs, gave them the run down on taking care of Megan and Rese, then the rest of us packed it back up and headed North (before Sandy changed her minds and gave the kids back!)

Truckin' on down 95.....temperature 97...98...101...103....water mist hand fans going...."squeal,squeal" a burning smell......Is that us? No-it can't be. Black smoke coming out of the back.........Yup, that's us! Crap. Warning lights start flashing like crazy!!! Really? Thanks for the WARNING! Coast to a stop in the berm...Oh crap, now what? Call the husband...Call my mother....call the Highway Patrol....the first hour passes, we have managed to accomplish that we need to renew our Onstar. Takes 45 minutes for the SC Highway patrol to stop for us. Finally gets there and he helps pop the hood and we determine it's a broken belt. Crap.....
Renew the Onstar..It'll be a hour before the tow truck gets there. Temp is down a little about 99.....Oi....Onstar lady is getting all our information...
Onstar: "How many passengers do you have?"
Me:" Me and 3 kids"
Maria: "I'm not a kid"
Onstar: "Um, I'll let you have the conversation later!" (jokingly of course)
Wait...wait..wait....
Tow truck comes, hooks us up. Does he have room for 4 passengers? No....
So we cram in, Sami sitting on the floor...This driver is REALLY talkative! Razing the kids the whole way. Borderline creepy. Check into the Hampton. Super Nice people! The desk clerk knocked on the door with a complimentary bucket of water bottles. :o)
Now we need to eat, what's in walking distance? Nothing. Guess it's a pizza kinda night. 895-1111....(you're singing it now aren't you?)
Man: "wha wha wha wha wha wha"
Me: "Delivery"
Man: "wha wha delivery driver not in"
Me: "um, like at all? or just right now?"
SERIOUSLY
Woman: "Pizza Hut"
Geez! Finally got the pizza ordered (my favorite dinner as you all know.)
Pizza and Pop in the hotel lobby. A little late night dip in the pool. Now it's time to TRY and get some sleep and pray it's a quick fix on the van in the AM.

Date Night!!!
With my Mom....

After a late night, we slept in....again....
The we took our sweet time getting to the pool. Finally a morning that's not scorching or ashen. We swam for hours. It was delightful.

Back home for lunch and naps. Getting ready for my big night out with my Mom.
Pizza for the kids, I get into my super hot van and truck it back into town for a 6 O'clock pedi.

My pedi is delightful. Mom's not so much-never are for her. :o)
Eyebrows waxed, as Tracey calls it...Vietnamese torture! She's a hoot.

Onto dinner...Mom takes me to a place called "Whiskey River". Mom goes on and on about how her company came here, sat outside, it was nice....We get in and it's loud, Hooters like...a menu of burgers and fried stuff....Not what we were looking for. We had ordered drinks...Then she remembers..."Oh it was Blackfinn"....Should we get up and leave? Do we tell them or steal away while they are getting our drinks? CRAP their back already- so she gives them a 5 minute explanation on why we are at the wrong place. Oi....

Off to Blackfinn, which is just across the parking lot. Hoitie Toitie...That's more like it! We are seated right away, it took FOREVER to get our drinks, never did get a bread basket, food came, my broccoli was cold. Yuck. Refills? Yeah right....Should have stayed at the Whisky place.

Capped the night at Joann's to purchase fabric for a new Irish Dance dress. I mean who doesn't end Date Night at Joann's?

Captains Log....061111

Day 6...A little further south.....

Today was finally a lazy kinda day. No beach, no plans....finishing visiting with my Dad in North Port and meeting my Mom and some other extended family in Fort Myers later this afternoon.

The whole reason for this trip was for the Marriage Renewal Ceremony for my Aunt Lynn and Uncle David, who have been married 23 years. So we meet up with My Mom, her sister Barb (with granddaughter Destiny), brother George (with granddaughters Carissa and Danielle), at a hotel in Ft. Myers. Time to hit the pool!

What could possibly go wrong with 8 kids and 4 adults at the pool?
Our first near death experience of the trip...that's what!
(I am more impressed it took almost a whole week for this to occur!)

Let me set the scene. Beautiful pool at a Hampton Inn. Brick pool surroundings, serene fountain in the middle of the pool. The gate opens, in runs 8 children ages 2-15. Unleashing of the hounds! Parent/grandparent stroll in behind them.....Mad jump into the once relaxing setting. Splash large enough to cause a small tsunami. Kids jumping, parents saying "don't jump" instigating uncle teaching children how to do back flips off the side of the pool....Can you see where this is going?
Yes, it is going to my daughter, attempting a back flip off the side of the pool, landing neck first on the brick ground. In the milli-second it take me to get to her side, I am panicking...broken neck....blood....brains....she sits very woozy-ly.
"Mom, my leg is tingling."
Me, while trying to hold her head still until we access the situation. "Can you move you legs?"
One leg moves, but not the other...Oh crap...no visible signs of trauma to the head, no blood, no bumps. She starts to get feeling back in her leg, so we move her to a chair and have her sit. She sits for a while. Gets a snack and is ready to hit the pool again. No Ma'am....pool restriction until tomorrow at least!

Time to get ready for our 7 pm reservation at Perkins... yum... Do they have a bar?

Captains Log....061011

Day 5...North Port....

Well, we were all still a little sun worn from yesterday's beach-capaides, Today we slept in a little then strolled out around noon, to check out some of the sights. First we went in search of the South Jetties. Found the North Jetties easy enough...From there we could SEE the south Jetties, but you have to drive out and around onto Venice island to get to them (about a 20 minute drive- would be quicker to swim it), so on the way out, we stopped off at a cute little spot called Casey Key Beach. Sami found LOTS of sharks teeth there.
Then we went in search of the south Jetties, got super lost, but ended up driving through Venice Island, which was beautiful. Once we crossed the bridge, it was like we were in another world. The air was so rich, and I mean rich with $$.
Finally found our destination, and it was amazing! As soon as we parked, and unloaded, the first thing outta Luke's mouth, "Where's Jesus?" Um...heaven? I think he was confused. :o)
Hopped up onto the rocks and were greeted by about a dozen Manatees.

We watched them for a while, then headed down the Jetty where we were surrounded by pelicans and cranes. We sat out on the rocks for a while watching for dolphins. Never saw any, but we did see a cute little crab and Sami had a pelican swoop right over her head!

After an ice cream, we headed back to Papa's house for a quick dip in the pool and a cookout with a bunch of people we didn't know.
Pretty slow day for blogging.

Captains Log....060911

Day 4…North Port….It’s a hot one! 9 am and its 92 degrees! Oi, Think we will hit the beach today!

Called up our new friends to see if they wanted to meet us at Siesta Key, (Named the Nation’s Top Beach by Dr. Beach himself!) Beautiful soft white sand dubbed the “World’s Finest White Sand” winning the International Sand Contest! Although we didn’t see any of the famed parrots that frequent the area, we did have quite the run in with some seagulls! We were sitting in the surf just minding our own business, when some idiot behind us fed the seagulls some bread. They took their bread and went to fly away when one of them dropped their bread right on us. Incoming… ALL the seagulls trying to collected the fallen piece of bread. It was like an Alfred Hitchcock episode. Kids run off screaming, Megan is standing there with a WTF look on her face. I’m trying to get to her. It was, for a moment, scary, but kinda funny now that no one actually got hurt. Damn tourists….DON”T FEED THE BIRDS.

Wrapped up the Beach, loaded my sand filled kids into the van and drove back to Dads. Decided to just line them up outside and hose them down. Actually had to take a scrubbing to Megan, since she decided to tattoo herself with black marker on the short trip. Inside for some pizza to settle the kids while momma got ready for some BINGO at the VFW.

Us Old Timers got to the VFW in time for the early bird. These people take their bingo VERY seriously. You can’t just buy a card, you gotta buy a stack, plus extras for the “specials” or the speed rounds, or the 50-50’s. They you find your seat and are surrounded by creepy little trolls and their good luck charms. You gotta have a list that shows you what a “regular” bingo is, because unlike when I was a kid-it’s not just a straight or diagonal line. Oh no, there’s the horizontal line, vertical line, postage stamp, four corners, large diamond, inside diamond, inside square, Vee (which can go any way!) My head is spinning thinking about it!
Initial investment, $24…..(paid for by my Dad as a belated Birthday Present). Game 2, double bingo. Nail it! Diagonal and inside square, “BINGO!” split $25 with one other person. Yeah me, $13 bucks richer.

Get up at intermission to hit the concessions, their closed. WHAT! Who closes concessions before intermission? These people don’t know how to make money. Second half, nail it again! On the check – mark game “BINGO!” $40 bucks all to myself. I am a Bingo machine!

I think Dad hit a $40 bucker too, so not too shabby for out night at the VFW. Now I have to wonder, how is it these old people can’t drive over 30, but they can play speed Bingo? Holy crap- I couldn’t keep up and I only had 2 cards! Most these people had like 12 or 15. So I'm taking my winnings of $53 and heading to the gas station to deposit it in my tank. :o)

Capped the night with a short Shiatsu Massage by Miss Dottie, my Dad’s lady friend, who is quite the crack up. Made in China she says. (really…made in China)….