Ah, school. This is the second week of being back. Emi loves the routine and structure, Charlie isn't so sure about the whole thing. Emi has a teacher who transferred from another school and she could tell within the first day that she was a great teacher. Charlie has a teacher that I really respect, but he's a bit in awe of her still and says she's very strict about little things- good teacher! I think she does a great job taking first graders and preparing them for the rest of elementary. I don't start up my teaching until the 22nd, when UH Hilo starts its term. This means I have a couple of weeks to finish up the last bit of my painting job, do my annual garden weeding and trimming, and prepare a couple of lesson plans. I have some apprehension about my starting school up again, because I know for 14 weeks I'm going to be overloaded. I'm going to be working still, to keep my benefits at work I won't be cutting many hours. So between school, teaching, and work I figure I'll just have to put my head down and try not to drive anyone else crazy.
But for the time being, I'm getting down to the beach a couple of times a week and enjoying the end of MY summer! I'll head down to the beach with my Dad in a a few minutes, putting off that weeding and lesson planning a few hours.
This coming weekend promises to be a busy one. Emi has her roller derby bout on Saturday evening, which she is really excited about. She seems to have a certain talent for roller skating. Not only does she love it, she's actually really good at it. The derby is run in a very professional and focused way, and I'd have to say that their primary focus is on building confidence and a sense of self and pride. Funny, because it's not what I was expecting but Emi has really enjoyed it all. Charlie has an event Sunday with his jiu jitsu gym, first a beach clean up for an hour and then a huge family day picnic at the beach park after they finish cleaning it up. I like the fact that the picnic is proceeded with the clean-up. The coach tries to install the concept of respect in the kids, respect for family, coaches, and teachers. The clean-up is an added layer- respect for the community and the beach! We could use more of that around here.
Oh, big news for Charlie. The Cub Scout recruiters came by his classroom and Charlie was sold. He was so enthusiastic and eager. We signed him up, which means we also sort of agreed to be den leaders since there aren't many other first graders that showed up for the meeting. We met one other boy who is doing it, and we think we could get another couple boys involved, but for now we're going to sort of flail our way through the process. Charlie bugs me on a daily basis about buying the shirt and he's so excited to start earning badges. He asked when we could start camping, and he's talking about tying special knots, shooting bb guns, and he's got his pinewood derby in an unopened box, ready to start when we say the word. I'm a bit at a loss about all of this, because he's so incredibly enthusiastic. Charlie doesn't get excited like this very often. When he does it's an excitement that shows up as a very singular focus and determination.
But for the time being, I'm getting down to the beach a couple of times a week and enjoying the end of MY summer! I'll head down to the beach with my Dad in a a few minutes, putting off that weeding and lesson planning a few hours.
This coming weekend promises to be a busy one. Emi has her roller derby bout on Saturday evening, which she is really excited about. She seems to have a certain talent for roller skating. Not only does she love it, she's actually really good at it. The derby is run in a very professional and focused way, and I'd have to say that their primary focus is on building confidence and a sense of self and pride. Funny, because it's not what I was expecting but Emi has really enjoyed it all. Charlie has an event Sunday with his jiu jitsu gym, first a beach clean up for an hour and then a huge family day picnic at the beach park after they finish cleaning it up. I like the fact that the picnic is proceeded with the clean-up. The coach tries to install the concept of respect in the kids, respect for family, coaches, and teachers. The clean-up is an added layer- respect for the community and the beach! We could use more of that around here.
Oh, big news for Charlie. The Cub Scout recruiters came by his classroom and Charlie was sold. He was so enthusiastic and eager. We signed him up, which means we also sort of agreed to be den leaders since there aren't many other first graders that showed up for the meeting. We met one other boy who is doing it, and we think we could get another couple boys involved, but for now we're going to sort of flail our way through the process. Charlie bugs me on a daily basis about buying the shirt and he's so excited to start earning badges. He asked when we could start camping, and he's talking about tying special knots, shooting bb guns, and he's got his pinewood derby in an unopened box, ready to start when we say the word. I'm a bit at a loss about all of this, because he's so incredibly enthusiastic. Charlie doesn't get excited like this very often. When he does it's an excitement that shows up as a very singular focus and determination.
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