Josie and School

Crazy Hat Day. She was so excited when I mentioned this hat! This is Tim's hat as Maurice in "Beauty and the Beast" that I made.



She didn't want to read this book to read on her reading log....I insisted :)! She LOVED it! I have had this book since I was 8 years old!


A couple of other books she read!
Oops put them in wrong order when I took the picture!:)


Sorry if I type all over the place...I sometimes have so much info going on in my head it is hard to get it all out in an orderly fashion/correct grammar and sentences!
I have started homeschooling Josie. Tim and I both felt that this was right for her and our family at this time for many factors. Everything just seems to fit for it at this time. It was a difficult decision and had nothing to do with her teacher. I loved her teacher. Her teacher was great with her. The office manager and Health Aid were too, especially how much she was in there. Josie has been asking about it for over a year now. I didn't really think she would like it and had some reservations about myself too. She loves to hang out with kids her age, she gets upset sometimes that there are 7 years between her and Addison. She sees the differences, like all they get to do that she doesn't. I was also scared of coming up with a curriculum suited for her and having the ability and discipline to teach her academically. She has missed a lot of school because of medical problems (another one has come up besides her knees, plus her allergies make it really hard to get going in the mornings.) I didn't need the stress of threatening letters from the district about how much school she has missed. She still gets good grades!!! So, I talked to the principal about it and he referred me to Children and Home Education Program (CHEP). It is a home school/independent study program for Orange County Department of Education and said she has a spot waiting if she would like to return. I said thank you and said it might be a possibility. We have been doing it for a week now. Josie says she misses her friends but loves it! We are doing a bunch of reviewing to see if she is where she should be and getting her up to where she should as a third grader. She will complain about not wanting to do something and I mention school and she gets right too it. She does best when we do some, take a break, then get back to work. We are being flexible, because I still watch Dina. Josie is helpful and plays with Dina while I prepare her lessons.
She has been assigned a Teacher we see once a month to turn in all her work and it is counted as her attendance. I'm anxious to have our first meeting to show all the work. They supplied all the materials and lesson plans, which we can make flexible to her needs and we can go fast or slow depending on the day. There are a lot of activities to attend with other home-schooled kids. There is a 2nd/3rd grade club once a week. One week would be Art, next week Science, or Writing and Literature. She attended her first one and loved it. Then we attended a Valentine's Day Party! It was great too! They have field trips, park days, special events too. Everything except some of the bigger field trips are FREE because it is through Orange County Department of Education.
If you want to learn more about what CHEP is the website is http://chep.ocde.us

Her last day of school with Mrs. Cornell.

Josie,
I'm so sad to see you go! You are a friendly, insightful, and creative girl! I will miss you!
Love, Mrs. Cornell

Her class all wrote letters of good-bye and they were are all so sweet!!

Here are a few.....some drew pictures of sad faces and hearts!

Dear Josie,
I like how you always make me laugh. I always will remember you for how you are nice. You always make me happy.
Love, Daniel

Dear Josie,
You've been so nice to me all the time. Can you set up a play date with me?
Love, Nicho

Dear Josie,
I will miss you at school, but I will not forget the hugs that you gave me.I hope you'll never forget your friends and classmate and I'll never forget you and I was wondering if your coming back?
Love, Gabby

Dear Josie,
I'll miss you when you leave. I wish you would stay and never leave but you are so I would like to say goodbye.
Your Friend, Joseph

Dear Josie,
Our class will miss you. And I will miss you too and I hope that you will not miss us. I will always remember you from the first day I saw you. You and I don't play together but I will stillbe in school I think that you will miss ST math at school but you can still do ST math at home and I hope that you come back.
Best Wishes, Ezra

Dear Josie,
I will miss you and I will never forget when you tried to defend me, play with me and worked with me on math. I want you to know you were a good friend.
Love, Samantha

Dear Josie,
I will miss you. I hope the class will see you again. you are very, kind and helpful. You are one of the smartest and most creative girls. I know I think you could pass you times tables all the way up to your 20's. Thanks for everything.
Sincerely, Hunter

Dear Josie,
I will miss you a lot when you are home schooled. I remember the time when you cheer me up and made me laugh. How is Peaches?* Is she fine? You are kind, loving, smart, and funny. You will always be my friend wherever you go. I will always remember you!
Sincerely, Leyna

*my dad's dog who she shared last year

Dear Josie,
I will miss you so much. You are always in my heart. You always felt like a sister to me and you always look out for me and I will cry all day because I miss you.
Love, Emma

Dear Josie,
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Why do you have to be home schooled? Please don't go. I was going to give you a little box of chocolate! But come and visit OK?
Bye! Ilia