Multi-tasking is not for me! But it will be

I have pictures posted here to show how the kids like to do work in their own space. Elizabeth likes to do her school work on the sofa or her bed, Elani likes to work at the desk in her room. Emma likes to work at the desk in the kitchen or the kitchen table. I am glad they have a work space that they feel comfortable in, these places are great for independent work. However, there are times when all of the kids need my expertise at the same time. I haven't quite figured out a way to divide myself so that we can all be as efficient as possible. The first couple weeks of this school year I was running from room to room, student to student trying to make them happy and do some teaching. The kids all seemed to be happy with this arrangement, but I wasn't. It felt too hectic, and with my back pain at an almost intolerable level something had to change. I need to move less and still teach the kids all they need to know. So any suggestions will be gratefully considered.

What I have done is illustrated in this picture how I have started setting up my own work station at the kitchen table, the chairs are not all that comfortable on my back, but it beats running around the house all day. In this picture I was actually tracking my bank statement, giving a spelling test to Emma and reviewing Elani's Catechism lesson all at the same time. It was true multi-tasking. The date stamp on the picture says 6/24 but the actual date was 9/24. I guess that this is one more task to do, teach someone camera maintenance and set up. Since my injury I have pretty much lost my multi-tasking abilities. I was taught in rehabilitation techniques to still get tasks done more efficiently. The technique that I am using here is to have everything I want to accomplish in front of me. I may not be doing true multi-tasking, i.e. more than 1 thing at the same time, but I am able to get several things done in a short time period without being distracted when I go to get the next thing.

This arrangement, used when the kids all have a lot of oral instruction that is needed, has worked better for me. The kids don't always like it. They want to have more privacy, But hey, in a public school there is no privacy. They do still get to do some things at school that they can be comfortable doing, however sometimes they need to be where I am most comfortable.

The weekend is over, already.

Yep, It's Sunday night at 8:34pm and I am thinking about school tomorrow. I really should be going over lesson plans right now, that way I have a game plan for the week. The only, well, not only problem is that I also have other things to do. The main thing being Reading for this years first RSI classes at the diocese. Religious Studies Institute is an adult catechism, college level program, that is used in Baton Rouge as a prerequisite for the deaconite program. I am in my 2nd year, and hopefully will be eligible to start taking, be in the deaconate starting next fall, that is if the diocese starts a new class next fall. I know there is a discernment process before you actually start, but right now I feel totally lead to this vocation in everything I do. I must admit that during Mass I watch our Deacon intently and want to do what I see him doing on the altar and to be of greater service to God and my community.

I have about 9 chapters to read before Saturday for Church History, and a few Chapters that I really should re-read for Catholic Morality. A tall order when I spend most of the day teaching home school lessons and running my kids to their extra curricular activities including coaching Elani's soccer team. My prime reading/study time is late night when the kids are in bed. That is also the best time for me to prepare lesson plans for home school. There are not enough hours in the night! My days have enough hours to do what I need with the children, it is the night time that I need to lay the ground work for everything I do, and believe it or not, I do get tired. I try not to show it but I do.

Anyway, most of the lesson plans are done for tomorrow, my thing is that I was thinking today that maybe I should plan for the week and have a one on one session with each child/student on Monday mornings to kind of map out the week. I will try this and then keep up with the kids to make sure they get the weekly work done every week. I am thinking that this may allow me to spend more time focusing on what the girls need me to focus on and less time reviewing stuff that they are pretty good at. I'll try this for a week or two and then reevaluate. I'll keep the progress of this technique posted.

One last thing that is on my mind. I enjoy teaching 9th grade catechism at Church. This is my 5th year of teaching 9th grade. We had our first class of the year and the kids listened to nearly every word I said. I Was glad the students paid attention. I pray for each of them to find and know God every day. I truly believe that they know that I want that for each of them.

May God bless each person that reads my blog. My screen saver is a quote from Psalm 27 "the Lord is my light and my salvation". I pray that everyone that I come into contact can say these words with conviction. A.M.D.G (for the greater glory of God)

It's like Christmas, but no garland!

The remainder of Elani's 2nd grade curriculum came in today. Elani now has math, science, social studies and a home catechism course available at her disposal. She was excited, she tore into the Catholic Heritage Curriculum box like it was a Christmas gift on Christmas morning. We got started with the first math lesson right away. The math was easy to jump right into, the others will require me to at least have some sort of plan of action, which I must do tonight. The first 2 pictures here of Elani are of her working on her math.

I also took a few pictures of Elizabeth doing her Social Studies which is a survey course on World History, with an emphasis on the Catholic viewpoint on history. She did an American History last year from a Catholic perspective, that was very good.

















Emma scored an "A" on her 1st big science test today. I was very excited for her. Science has been a struggle for her in the past, probably because there was a kind of incongruence between what she learned at public school and what she learns at home, her parents different twists on some topics. She was left with a "who do I believe ?" feeling. Now that she is learning science from a true Catholic Christian perspective and is free to learn in this way, she is much more comfortable in Science. Also, she told me today that the one on one aspect of studying her lessons with me actively during the lesson enables her to be interested and to follow along with the materials. That was cool for me to hear. I know that I am having a positive effect on my children and their education!!!!

Finally Elie has to be involved in some way. So, today during Elie's math lesson we let her draw on the dry erase board after we were done using it for learning her lesson. So, during her Elani's independent math work, the dry erase board was free for Elie to use.













I was able to get alot of teaching done in what seemed like a short time today, which has me wondering if I actually taught as much as I think I did. Of course, the girls all tell me I did, they love to finish "early" and would not presume to tell me that I didn't teach as well as they needed. That would set them up for another round of Mr. Wallace's teaching.

I pray that I taught them as well as they needed today. In fact, my prayer every school day is to be a great Father for them, like St. Joseph was for Jesus, and to be a great teacher for them like countless saints have been through the ages. It is times I get an inkling that this prayer is working when one of the kids thanks me like Emma did today and tells me "thanks for spending one on one time with me". What parent would not want to hear that from one of their kids? no matter what the subject or reason.

I also gotta say that I love my wife. I try to love her with an Ephesians kind of love. She has been working hard, and I have not been as patient with her as I should be. I promise to try harder to be the support that she needs.

back for more

Well, the home school, The Wallace Academy, or as the girls call it, The International House of Wallace, is back in full swing. I, the teacher, am having a difficult time getting my head back in the game after all of the hurricane hoopla. But I am feeling better about it as the days go on. Here is a picture of me grading one of Emma's Science tests. I have also been grading spelling tests, teaching multiple lessons on verbs, nouns, addition, subtraction, and exponents. It really is as exhausting as it sounds.

The kids are all happy to be getting back to a routine. Emma and Liz have decided that doing their school work in their room is a quieter atmosphere than the kitchen where they hear Elie whining the whole time they school. I, the teacher, am keeping a close eye on this situation, for I know that what looks like the best of intentions to be in a quiet learning environment can also turn into a little talking hideaway. And yes, there is a TV in that room that is supposed to be off during the day...

Elani is doing well too. she is enjoying doing her school work under my watchful eye. She is still a little bit defiant, but is getting better at following directions. we'll see how she does when the 2nd half of her curriculum comes in at the end of the week. Both Elani an I are looking forward to her new Math and Science books to come in as soon as possible.

We have not only restarted the schoolwork but have also begun swim team at the YMCA, soccer league, dance lessons and Catechism. So, we are now in full swing. Please pray that I can do all of the home school stuff as well as the extra curricular's and keep my sanity all at the same time.
I have also started my own personal reading for my Religious Studies Institute classes. So, late nights have been and will continue to be my routine.

Lights, Camera, Action!!!!

Alleluia! We have electricity!!!! Maybe it's how Dr Frankenstein felt when his experiment came to life. I don't know about all of that, but I do know that this home school is "fully operational" much like the Death Star in Return of the Jedi. W actually got started back to our program yesterday without electricity, well, we did have a generator that gave us the ability to have a couple of fans a lamp and a small window unit A/c in our kitchen, that tried its best to cool us off, but didn't quite achieve it's destiny...  That being said we are now a little over a week behind me and Mary's lesson plans. The girls have agreed to do a little bit more each day and are gonna push to be back on par by sometime in October. That shouldn't be too hard to do. I don't think.

The girls are magnificent troopers through all of this adversity. Thank you God, for giving the girls the ability to cope with difficulties! Their lives have been filled with adversity, and they pulled trough this tough spot that Hurricane Gustav gave us with flying colors. In the last 2 days they have completed a days work. So, starting tomorrow is our re-start of our newer faster paced schooling.

Evacuated

We are at Granny's house in Slidell. Because our home/school is without power. I forgot our school books at home, so for now, schools out.... Unless I can find some work for them to do online!

No electricity means no school

Hurricane Gustav has messed up our home school. We have no electricity at our house. A few shingles have blown off the roof, so our roof is probably leaking now. But we are not home tonight. We are sleeping in momma Mary's office tonight, she has a/c and electricity and all of the wonderful things that go along with that. As I learn more about getting back to our house, I will post it. But for now we have no power and actually very little food at the house, this storms really gave us a "black eye"...


Steve