Every Room's a Classroom

Basements and Blow-ups

This past Friday during one of our walks around the campground, Collier asked me if I would teach his kids the way Nana and Pop teach him. I smiled and told him of course I would. But as we continued around the campground I let my mind wander to the place that always terrifies specialContinue reading “Basements and Blow-ups”

Blue Drops and Karate Chops

The past week has been a long one, with some highs and lows. My uncle passed away as well as a former colleague from my first career, who happened to be very near to my own age, so the week had the potential to be miserable, but there were also a couple of bright spotsContinue reading “Blue Drops and Karate Chops”

Happy Fall Y’all….

…….okay, okay, I know it was 97 degrees yesterday and that most of the season we call “fall” in the south is really just summer with pumpkins and apple cider. But…..dang it is after September 1st so to me it’s still fall, and one of our family’s absolute favorite times of the year. Why isContinue reading “Happy Fall Y’all….”

The Homeschool Look

A couple weeks ago, just as my fall semester at Jefferson State was about to get started, I attended a writing workshop specifically geared for freshmen composition courses, which is about half to two-thirds of my course load each semester. The workshop offers a chance for English teachers from high school, community college, and four-yearContinue reading “The Homeschool Look”

Scores and Percentiles

I’m not sure any word strikes dread in my heart now quite like the word “testing.” It wasn’t always this way. When I was younger, I didn’t mind them at all, probably because I was kind of (ok…ok…completely and totally) a nerd. If there was a test, I was pretty much sure to pass it….andContinue reading “Scores and Percentiles”

Triumphs, Tragedies, and Tooth Fairies

What genius decided it was a good idea to tell children to put a tooth under their pillow, so that a parent could creep in late at night and try to ease the tooth out, and ease a $5 bill in its place? The other night, with the precision of Indiana Jones swapping a goldenContinue reading “Triumphs, Tragedies, and Tooth Fairies”

Vacationing with Autism

This week we brought Collier to Pigeon Forge, TN for an early birthday trip. He had made a list of all the fun activities he wanted to do while we were on vacation. He had lots of fun things on his list: visit a haunted house, play putt-putt, go indoor snow tubing, watch the waterContinue reading “Vacationing with Autism”

Dad as Teacher

Over the summer, my wife and I went to a home school fair and expo, to recharge the old batteries and get some new ideas, and there were several break-out sessions aimed at dads. Excited to see offerings just for me, I signed up. To my chagrin, most were aimed not at dad as teacher,Continue reading “Dad as Teacher”

The Beginning of the Journey

Homeschool. I’m not going to lie, prior to having a special needs child, I had never even considered homeschool. I was married to a teacher after all, and the natural order was to send your child to the local public school. In my case, it would be the same school I had graduated from. IContinue reading “The Beginning of the Journey”