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Here are a couple of Bronx Zoo pics:

Three little birds in a nest.

It was over 4 hours of learning magic, fun and physical movement to keep it short.

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The numbers of homeschoolers in NYC who actually came did not cease to amaze me.

There are the kiddos.

Taking a break on the ride home…we were pooped! This was an all day affair (we left our apt at 11am and didn’t get back ’til just about 5pm).

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“Homeschooling” can mean a whole number of things depending on who you talk to and how it works for each child and family. Here is a general description of different methods. I have selected a classical approach and am going with a book titled The Well Trained Mind by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer as a framework. It is academically rigorous and comprehensive through high school and I think provides an excellent roadmap on how to get going. I’m sold. I’ll let you know how it goes as I proceed in implementing its methods.

Today I focused on introducing materials and the general routine and expectations. We really had a full day starting with Spelling books then a short grammar lesson, math and then a snack. Anika and Dante fully participated in planning out our days of learning, social activities, fun and all. They both really like to have a plan and know the plan which certainly works for me. After snack I introduced our history books. We’ll be focusing on Ancient History this whole year and spent a good amount of time learning what an Atlas is and how to use it. We then had lunch and then on to science where we will be focusing on Biology for the year beginning with Animals, then the Human Body and finally Plants. I’m hoping to keep the Animal section brief since both kids have had quite a bit of exposure to this area and move right into the Human Body within a few weeks where we’re all looking forward to getting more in depth. Other subjects we’ll be covering include art, music, US Gov, and Physical Fitness/Health/Nutrition. We’re also planning on a once weekly library reading group for Dante, Choir at NYU for Anika, Playground Wednesdays with homeschooling friends, a family lifegroup (through Origins, our church) AND lots of field trips. I’m very aware of the fact that this is all fluid and subject to the realities of life and the kids but for now we’re all excited about the plan and this general roadmap for the life ahead.

That pretty much took us to 3pm (we got started at 9:30am) where we then prepared for a playdate with a friend of Dante’s and a nice time at the playground and then scootering around town as I ran a couple of errands. We got home and I immediately set to dinner which has been streamlined in recent weeks and is generally kept very simple following these general guidelines. We started that whole thing because I like to keep things as easy and healthy as possible when it comes to meals and Melvin got started on this as he took on the initiative to get healthier. Tonight I grilled (stovetop two burner iron grill) 3 whole trout, asparagus and then served that with whole grain bread & olive oil for me and the kids. (Mel skipped the bread.) Anika did her piano practice while I was preparing dinner and when Melvin got home he helped Dante with his piano practice. After dinner I mopped and swept the floor and got going on laundry while Mel put the kids to bed where they spent about an hour reading for pleasure before lights out.

At this point the kids are out and we’re finishing folding the last of the laundry while watching our last recorded episode of the Daily Show. It’s been a good and productive day. Tomorrows the big Not Back To School PicNic organized by the local homeschooling network NYCHEA which we’re looking forward to especially since the weather is still just fabulous.

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Dante, being quite the bike rider now had no problem with the 7 mile (each way) ride down to batter park city.

We were originally hoping to ride Governor’s Island (only open on weekends) but we could find anywhere on their website that said the ferry would be working today. We’re saving that for another day.

We did take plenty of breaks.

Anika, cooling off.

Melvin, taking every opportunity to get his iPhone “fix”.

The bikes.

The newest (most modern) landscape designed areas and playgrounds have got to be along the Hudson River Park.






My cutie pattutti.

And finally, a roadside break for dinner. It was a looong ride.


I LOVE summer in the city!!!

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It simply reads:

Thank you for your interest in the New York City Department of Education Gifted and Talented programs.

Based upon the eligibility criteria for entrance to Gifted and Talented programs, we are unable to offer your child a placement in the programs for the 2008-2009 school year. We wish your child every success in the upcoming school year.

Sincerely,

(unsigned)

Office of Student Enrollment

These are the stated requirements:

WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS?

Eligibility for upper elementary grades placement is established by combining the 2008 English Language Arts (ELA) and
Math scores for a total score. Baseline scores of Level 4 on both standardized tests are required for placement
consideration, as follows:
• For students currently in grade 3 requesting a placement to a grade 4 Gifted & Talented (G&T) program in a district
school for 2008, the score range on each test is:
o Grade 3 ELA 730 – 780
o Grade 3 Math 703 – 770

– Information for Families –
Request for Placement in Upper Elementary Gifted & Talented Programs
Grade 4 in K-5 District Schools
Grade 5 in District K-6 Schools
For the 2008-2009 School Year

Anika’s March 2008 Mathmatics Scaled Scored and Performance Levels for Grade 3 were:
Performance Level: 4 Scaled Score: 770 (Highest possible)

Anika’s January 2008 English Language Arts Scaled Scores and Performance Levels for Grade 3 were:
Performance Level: 4 Scaled Score: 720

I double and triple checked with her elementary school (PS9) Assistant Principal Kate Witzke about the apparent discrepancy with the ELA scaled score of 720 and performance level of 4. She assured me that was correct and that Anika qualified to apply for the G&T programs. So when the applications finally became available end of May we applied. Apparently she was misinformed. All the placements are done by the local district, at least that is the “official” stance.

This was Anika’s last report card (before I pulled her out last Spring for this reason).

And just in case she did not get a G&T placement we applied to PS87. We live just a few blocks north of this school. Here was that response:

From: DKilcullen at schools dot nyc dot gov
Subject: RE: Acceptance Letters to PS 87
Date: August 24, 2008 7:40:34 PM EDT
To: me at liliflower dot com

Hello Lilia,

Thank you for your interest in PS 87. Unfortunately, we do not have placements available for families living outside the catchment zone.

Good Luck!

Danielle K. Kilcullen
Parent Coordinator
PS 87
160 West 78th Street
New York, NY 10024
Office: 212 - 678 - 2826 Dial - 3 or ext. 444
Cell: 347 - 563 - 4499
Email: DKilcullen at schools dot nyc dot gov

I actually doubt she ever gave the district our applications because we never got a “letter” from the district about this and the “official” word is only the district does these kinds of placements as well.

This process took TWO long years. I have no interest in fighting this system and thus I let it be when all was said and done. There are no options for Anika in the NYC public schools other than the ONE general education/collaborative team teaching (special ed) class at our local PS9 public school. Like I said spending one year there was more than enough given the kind of peer environment she had to endure. I must say, she was an ideal student…

and lucky me, she still is.

We have decided to HOME SCHOOL long term.

Basically the only other options that I would consider worthwhile were private schools that in this city have an average tuition of $25-30K per child. There is just no way that I’m going to walk back into the job world after 8 years of being home with these kids and make the $75K/year to make it worth it. At this point if somehow we came to have unlimited income we would still homeschool AND travel the world while we were at it :-D. To be sincere, I am somewhat devastated at the reality of our experience with “public school”. On the other hand I think this whole new world that has opened up to us (HOMESCHOOLING) is just an absolutely AMAZING opportunity and I WILL rise to the challenge. I’ve been around it long enough (even long before this March) to recognize the unique and phenomenal opportunities it presents.

We have a high value for our family and sibling experience so we also decided to home school Dante out as well. He had the chance to take the “G&T” placement “test” this last school year.

I don’t doubt for one minute that “Comparisons Subset” was a fluke and that he would more accurately be in the 99%. Dante’s academic performance was undoubtedly top of his “gen ed” class. Here is his last report card:

We have no doubt we have two incredible kids, whom I enjoy thoroughly and genuinely look forward to fully investing myself into.

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Here is “The Cat” by Giacometti we saw at the Met:

Here’s my version of a dog:

This is another one of his works: “The Square”

…and this is our version of a Giacometti sculpture project from the Usborne Art Treasury by Rosie Dickins.

Dante made the “thin” figure, I made the “dog” and Anika made the “fuller” figure. This was a fun and simple one.

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Sent from my iPhone

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Sent from my iPhone

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