Yesterday we embarked on our homeschooling journey. I got the girls off to school (Mikaylie will start Thursday), had my devotion and Bible time while the boys got dressed and had breakfast and then we began at 8:45am. I started with a short orientation of how things would work, some house rules and Graham prayed for our day. We had Bible time, history, science and tea (15 minute break for snack and toilet) then they began their folder work. Each boy has his own accordion folder with each subject having it's own pocket. This general plan came from a fantastic homeschooling website called http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/ where she uses boxes. With limited space and a desire to work out the kinks before I spend too much money, I opted for the folders instead, at least for now. (Plastic is ridiculously expensive here!!) Much of this work they can do independently and they are to work through the folders in order. I ordered each boys' subjects so that (ideally) they won't both need help from me at the same time. I also ordered them so that their most difficult or tiresome subject is first (i.e. Will has math first and Graham has handwriting). The boys do their folder work at the kitchen table, each on a large, lamented poster board that they decorated before lamination. This keeps them in their "own space" and also protects my table. At noon we had lunch and then the boys played outside until 1pm before returning to finish up their folder work. Both boys were finished by 2. The day went smooth as silk! I know! I know!! Everyday will NOT be so easy. But the boys' attitudes are great! And they LOVE it!! I was exhausted but we had a great day!
Some things that I observed and have set out to adjust for:
  First observation: Both boys, but especially Will, has ridiculously weak core body strength! They would constantly prop themselves up on their left arm while working and often lay their heads on the table while doing their written work. After school, I promptly ran out for yoga balls and small work tables (a folding table for Will and a wooden tv table for Graham to accommodate for their different heights). As I type, Will is sitting on his yoga ball while he watches a movie to build some core strength. They will use these balls and tables during history while they are coloring worksheets as I read the lesson to them. Eventually they will do more written work on the balls as they build strength. (I'm curiously watching to see how long Will will last as he watches this movie. He can't even sit in the pew at church for the duration of the service without slouching and eventually laying against me!)
   Second observation: I knew Graham had handwriting issues but, wow!, did I not realize how bad!?! His pencil grip is very poor and his control is like that of a 3-year-old... maybe. How could he have possibly gone on in school without being able to even legibly write his name?? Oh, and rest assured, I have guilt! Heaps of guilt!! We should have started homeschooling the day we got him. (Ok, not the DAY we got him, but you know what I mean.)

And while we're on the subject of guilt...
Today (just our second day) was an abnormal school day in that Graham had his first of fortnightly speech therapy sessions, both boys had swimming lessons and Will had some testing done by a wonderful (and American, oddly enough) child psychologist. Billy brought him while I stayed with Graham to do some light schoolwork and speech. When they returned, Billy had some sobering news regarding the test results. Will has an IQ of 62. Intellectual Disability (formerly referred to as mental retardation) is any score below 70. I was flooded with a myriad of emotion. Sorrow, anger, guilt, fear... I thought of the years and years at school that Will was expected to act like, learn like, be like a "normal kid"! I thought of the hundreds of times he was reprimanded, punished, even spanked for something he had no clue was inappropriate or wrong. I thought of damage to his self esteem at the hands (or mouths) of so many, myself included and at the top of the list!!! I thought of the testing he had gone through in his early school years that revealed delays in various areas, but averaged out. I thought of the ridiculous ADHD diagnosis and the meds we gave him for 3 years that clearly did NOTHING but the "experts" said that was the problem. I thought of the time he was accused of cheating on a spelling test and didn't have the verbal skills to explain that his "cheat sheet" was actually written AFTER he had completed the test just for practice!!! Will is actually pretty good at spelling and if he was going to cheat it would've been in, say... math. What have we done to this poor boy and why, oh WHY would God not reveal this to us 11 years ago? That we had to travel halfway around the world to get a diagnosis is unbelievable. What's funny is, someone actually asked me before we moved to New Zealand, if they have running water here! Uhhh, yep, and some really fine medical staff and therapists too!
Billy and I wonder what would have happened with Will if we had stayed in the states. I KNOW that this is a huge reason why God brought us here. The whole atmosphere is so much more laid back and easygoing for a kid like Will. And I don't think I could have home schooled in the States with all the running the other kids around. We're where God wants us.
soooo much of what he hears. Sometimes things we wish he wouldn't. Like the exact speed Billy was going when he got a speeding ticket last year while we were vacationing on the South Island. 117, by the way! (kilometers per hour, not miles.) Will loves food and really want to learn to cook which makes homeschooling perfect for him! He is fascinated by the Korean cookbook I brought back when I brought him home from Korea but have yet to cook from! His swimming lesson today went terrifically and he loves the water! As he becomes more competent in swimming, it will do wonders for his muscle tone and strength. He's playing squash with Billy about once a week. And he is, hands down, the MOST helpful, but more importantly, most EAGER-to-help kid in our house. He loves to help by taking out the garbage, vacuuming the house and feeding, watering and collecting eggs from the chickens. And he is LOVING the computer math program! He's starting with 3rd grade math but because he's having such success, he asks to do it more than once a day. It will likely get to the point where he can't go much further but we're hoping that with the help of the psychologist, we can know when that is before we ask too much of him.
Most importantly is Will's compassion and love for people that is so pure and genuine, even if it is due to his naiveté.  Will is such a blessing to us and his dimples bless all those he meet!

More on our homeschooling activities to come. AND photos of my new horse Joe expected to arrive in the next week or so!!!!! Attached the one from when I test-rode him in November.

PS- Will lasted about 20 minutes on the ball.