My Little Misfit Con't

So I've spent the past few days researching and sorting out what to do about my little misfit when I'm worried that school isn't going quite the way that I had planned. I started first by panicking and calling everyone I knew for advice.

The first was a homeschooling friend, who told me that she had never sent a kid to school who didn't want to go. Then I researched the web to find out all about the types of programs that they were using in my school...handily available in the Three Year Plan they had given me as well as the website. Anne Davies and Carol Ann Tomlinson were two of the authors that I was able to research somewhat online. (I would have needed to spend a few dollars to get my hands on anything in depth.) So then I called my friend, the expert in all things education. After talking with her we agreed that the school was on the right track from a theoretical stand point but the practical applications needed to be explored.

Then I called my mother. She worried about whether I was being firm enough with my little misfit, although she did agree that under no circumstances should the creative, inquisitive light that yearns to learn be compromised. I explored the educational options available and then went to see the teacher.

We had a wonderful meeting and I learned that the teacher really is interested in my little misfit's education. After an hour conversation I realized that we still had a lot of possibilities for engaging my little misfit and her teacher was very open to exploring them. The next day she was back in school and we are sorting it all out...not without a few bumps along the way.

The one thing that I learned through all of this is that what happens here in the home is the most important aspect of my little misfit's education. And while part of me wanted to rip her out of a place that was making her unhappy, another part of me realizes that she needs to grow comfortable with being a misfit. She knows now that I listen and that when things aren't going great I will do whatever I can to make them better. She also learned that even though things aren't as exciting as she'd like all the time, she has been learning a lot. She's also given me some extra responsibilities in her education. The feedback loop has been established and will be utilized over the next few months...years!