School Daze– Part Two

Wednesday, 5:00 pm: Carter comes home with handwriting homework. We spend the afternoon playing with Maddie, and then proceed to homework a bit before dinner. It ‘s tough to gage exactly how long the handwriting homework takes, since Carter and Maddie both get up to do anti-homework dances, chase their younger brothers, and raid the fridge while “working.” On our way home, Carter tells me more about the new teacher:

Carter: She really, really doesn’t like talking at all. We talk less this year than we did last year.

Me: Well, but don’t you have classroom discussions? Like talking about what you’ve been reading?

Carter: No, Mom. Reading is done in silence only.

Wednesday 10:00 pm: Kevin faithfully completes the author, title and page numbers of Carter’s completed reading homework.

Thursday 5:00 am: Archie starts asking if it was morning time yet.

Thursday 6:15 am: I get Archie back to sleep.

Thursday 6:20 am: Carter materializes at the foot of the bed, dissolving into tears, and waking Archie.

You guys didn’t sign my homework the right way.

Thursday 3:20 pm: I pick up Carter and friends at school and hear about the new classroom “procedure.” Everyone’s names are on the board and if they are talking, they get a “T” next to their name, if they are quiet, they get a checkmark. If they get 10 checkmarks they get a prize. If they get “too many” “T’s” they get a call home to parents.

Thursday 5:30 pm: Kevin tells Carter they need to do some homework before heading to an informatics cookout. Carter expresses doubt that he can finish it in time to attend said cookout. Meltdown ensues.

Thursday 6:30 pm: After an hour of screaming, Carter emerges for some food, and suddenly remembers art homework. More screaming regarding Norman Rockwell and the Golden Rule. While Carter and Kevin return to the bedroom to attempt to calm down, I research Rockwell’s 1961 painting.

Thursday 6:45 pm: Carter checks my Rockwell homework and declares it unfinished as it does not say “where it comes from,” which in Carter’s mind means exactly where Rockwell was when he painted it. My explanation that it came from grief over the death of his wife and concerns about world peace and harmony are met with. . . disharmony.

Thursday 7:15 pm: Carter, Archie and Kevin head back to bed, exhausted. More tears about unfinished homework.

Friday 7:00 am: Archie awakens to find morningtime has arrived. Promptly attempts to wake up Carter:

Archie: Wake up, Carter! It’s morningtime! Let’s play!

Carter: I can’t get up, Archie. Then I’d have to do more homework.

Me: (string of curse words, hopefully only in my head) Carter, you don’t have to do homework. You can play with Archie.

Carter: I can’t go to school unless I’ve done my homework. She’ll be angry at me.

Me: You’re not going to school today. It’s a mental health day. We’re going to putz around and go to a park- whatever you want to do to de-stress.

Carter: You mean like homeschooling for a day?

We spend Friday putzing, discussing civil rights and the movie Hairspray, going to the pool and picnicking.

Coming soon: In which Carter shares his ideas regarding math, recess, buddies and sharing challenges with his classmates.