Reading Day

Our Scholastic book order arrived today. Those who know me, know my weakness is books. Aidan's book order was so big that the mother who coordinates the Scholastic orders for the class, took pity on Aidan and decided to save him from having to carry his big order all the way home after school. So, she dropped it off at our house this morning! Thanks, Susan!!

Several Big Nate books and the latest Rick Riordan arrived in this order. Austin has already finished reading the three Big Nate books he hadn't already read, and is now digging into "The Son of Neptune," the second book in the Lost Hero series. It may take some convincing to get Austin to put the book down so he can get some sleep tonight. He's been known to read for hours, uninterrupted, when he gets hooked on a good piece of fiction.

Closing the Feedback Loops

Austin has expressed some concern, this week, about his future. He said that he's afraid he may have wasted too much time, just sitting around playing Lego, when he should have been "in school." He's worried that he is now too far behind his age-peers in what they have been learning all these years. He described one of his fears as himself, "slobbering" around high schools in his 20s and 30s. 


He said that he's happy to be doing some advanced math, but worries that he doesn't understand fractions unless he has something he can touch, and he can't subtract decimals. He knows those are math topics that were taught in grades 4 & 5. He says that he isn't "really" studying chemistry - he's not actually "doing" chemistry - he's just been watching videos on the Khan Academy website.

He's worried about his health, as well. He's self-conscious of his teeth, which are not very white. He's worried about his weight (particularly around his middle) and fat on his legs.

Austin is highly competitive. He likes to do things early, and he likes to do things well - he's most comfortable being "the best." However, he's become acutely aware, recently, of the aspect of his personality that steers him away from things that are difficult. He's worried that he has steered away, now, from too many things. He seems to have hit a bit of a plateau on the Khan website, with the math exercises. Perhaps, if Skye and/or I sit with him through some of those exercises to reinforce the learning, it will become easier? He needs to be ready for that, though, because I tried to sit with him on a couple questions using radians and degrees, and since I had to work through the answers, myself (I didn't just "know" the answer), he was impatient and decided just to skip it.

Austin expressed concern, even, about the possibility of going to university. While he would be interested in becoming a paleontologist, he wants to hang out with people who would rather discuss the subjects they are studying, than party. He's nervous about interacting socially. He doesn't have the same interests as many people his own age, and he doesn't want to just go out and party. I think he may feel differently if he met more people who shared his interests. I was wondering if he would qualify for joining the gifted program in the North Van school district, or if he would have to be registered in a public school in the district? Self Design operates by BC Ministry of Education guidelines, so maybe he could be considered, even though he is in a DL program of studies? He does have a G/LD (Gifted/Learning Disability) designation, with the disability being diagnosed as "dysgraphia."

I think Austin wants to know where he stands, as compared with his age-peers. While he's hoping that he might be ahead in some areas, he is well aware that he is "behind" in many. I told him that the BC Grade 7 curriculum is available on the internet, so I could show him that whenever he wants to see it. He seemed interested. Also, I guess he can choose to write the FSA for grade 7 this year. For his sake, if he does want to write it, I'd like to be able to help him prepare, somehow, if there's any preparation suitable.

He told me that he's worried that he won't be able to get a good enough job, that pays well enough for him to be able to live in an area he loves, and buy the things he wants to buy.

Teaching Aaron to Swim

Aaron is registered in Tiny Tot 2 on Monday mornings at 11:00. Last week, I took Aaron to the pool by myself and I noticed that his teacher (Ty) was surprised that Aaron couldn't keep his face in the water while propelling forward. I told Ty that I would try to come for family swim sometime, so Austin and Aidan (Ty has taught each of them in the past) could play with Aaron a bit in the water during his class. Ty agreed that would be an excellent strategy to make Aaron more comfortable.

This week, I brought Austin with me to Aaron's class. Aaron had a substitute teacher (Hessam, who recently taught Austin 1:1 in I Can Swim Stage 4) today. For everything Hessam asked the class (only 2 students - the other 4yo boy is a good swimmer) to do, Austin would show Aaron. He did a starfish backfloat, kicked off from the edge of the pool, swam forward with his face in the water, lifted up his belly and kicked his legs while floating on his back. Aaron tried to copy Austin and Hessam helped Aaron a bit, then took every opportunity to let Aaron go on his own. Whenever Aaron was swimming successfully on his own, Hessam would congratulate him and make him aware that he had done it himself.

One time, Aaron swallowed some water and started to cough. As everyone does, Aaron hates to swallow water or get it up his nose. Hessam playfully plucked the air by Aaron's face and said, "Did you swallow a fish? I'm going to catch that fish!" then casually gestured a tossing aside of the fish, saying, "There, it's gone."

At the end of the class, Austin and Aaron stayed in the water for a few minutes. Austin asked Aaron if he would say, "Hi!" to him underwater. Then, Austin ducked under and Aaron copied him, staying down for a few seconds to pause and wave to his big brother. Until this point, Aaron had always done split-second dunks to avoid being underwater for long.

Austin knew that Aaron's next hurdle is to keep his face underwater while moving/swimming. Austin first asked Aaron to take a walk underwater while saying, "Hi," but Aaron kept saying he couldn't. Then, Austin invited Aaron to climb onto his tummy and they swam along, tummy to tummy until Austin dropped down. The first few attempts, Aaron resisted putting his face in the water, but by about the fourth try, Aaron's face went underwater as Austin swam them both along, looking into each other's eyes.

At one point, Aaron swallowed water while he was with Austin and Austin tried the "fish distraction" that Hessam had used. I noticed that Austin employed several good teaching techniques that he's seen all the instructors use with small children, over the years.

I was really impressed with Austin's teaching methods. When they left the pool, another instructor (Andrea) asked me if Austin wants to be a swimming instructor someday. I told her he really does, and is taking the lifesaving courses now, even though he's only 12. She said that's when she started too. Then, she went on to tell me that having a job like this has been the only way she can earn enough to put herself through university. Her sisters both work in restaurants, earn less than her and work very hard, often having to put up with some mistreatment. Andrea spent a month working as a waitress and she said that experience renewed her appreciation of her job as a lifeguard and swimming instructor. Andrea told me to let Austin know that if he ever wants some tips or just wants to ask questions about the job, he should feel free to ask any of the guards at the pool, anytime.

Junior Masters and Bronze Medallion

Austin is registered in three swim classes every week. On Mondays, he is in Junior Masters 2, which is a fast lane-swimming course in which swimmers try to keep beating their personal best times and improve their strokes.

Last week, Austin described the class as "humiliating," because he was constantly being passed by other swimmers and getting in their way. I think this was frustrating and a bit upsetting for him. He's worried about this class - he feels pressured and knows he's the slowest swimmer. He far prefers competing only against himself, but we can't create that without private lessons.

I suggested that he ask his teacher to let him know if he is getting faster with his personal times, instead of worrying about what the other swimmers are doing. I also told him that it's the passing swimmer's responsibility to get out of his way, not his responsibility to avoid kicking swimmers who are coming up behind him.

He's also registered in Bronze Medallion, which is the course that follows Bronze Star. He likes the other students in the class, and has been partnered with a boy named Charlie. Austin thinks Charlie is in grade 8.

The beauty of chores

Austin has a renewed motivation to earn money. His good friend showed him a new Hero Factory (Lego) toy online, and ever since, he's been driven to buy it.

This week was definitely focussed on money-making activities. As a side benefit, our house is cleaner than it would have been, and Austin has improved some living skills.

Austin knew that he would need to save enough to cover taxes. I've been chuckling to myself as he applies the 12-times-tables to each potential purchase. He's worked out that he can multiply the price by 12 then convert from cents to dollars (ie. divide by 100). So, since he wanted to buy the Hero Factory Witch Doctor, which costs $39.99 before tax, he worked out that 40 x 12 = 480 and 480 cents = $4.80. Rounding up, he determined that he would need to earn $45 to cover his purchase. And here is how he did it:

Money left in his wallet: $9
Vacuum house (hallway, living room, Mom & Dad's bedroom) $3
Sweep floors (entry hall, kitchen, dining room, bathrooms) $3
Mop floors (entry hall, dining room, kitchen, bathrooms) $3
Wash car with Aidan $5
Mow front and back lawns: $15
Babysitting: $9

Total earned and saved: $47

He was thrilled to tie in the purchase event with a sleepover with very special friends.

And it all culminated in Austin disassembling Witch Doctor, sorting all 331 pieces by colour, and coaching Mom to build this evil dude, following the step-by-step instructions.

Quote of the day

This morning, around 7:50, I entered Austin's room and turned on the light so he could gradually wake up. He awoke with a cheery "Good morning!"

I responded with, "It's the big day." (sleepover at his friends' place)

Then, he said, "The sun is shining, the tank is clean and we are getting out of here!" (the image of "Gill" from Finding Nemo emerges)

It was so appropriate, as we both admired his clean, vacuumed floor. Even Austin, who absolutely hates to clean up, loves a clean space.