Adventures of Seamus' Hat: February 2012

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Totem makes an apperance.

We have had a problem with our computers so we have not been able to post much recently; most of the recent pictures are stuck on that computer so these are all from cell phones. There has been lots going on. We visited the National Western Stock Show to view her painting and ribbon and to cheer on her 4-H friends as they competed with their llamas. Izabel attended an event at the library all about science. (Seamus attended one where he played with a parachute but those pictures will have to wait). Izabel attended a choir workshop and preformed the songs she learned thier with her choir friends. We have been exploring down in Pueblo trying to find a place to live closer to my work so the commute isn't so bad. Everyone has been sick with colds multiple times. We have also started up the bowling league again for Izabel and her friends and been able to take out my new ball a few times. The other big change is that with my new job Matt is the primary learning coach and stay-at-home-dad.

Izabel's school added some flourish to the description of Sir Walter Raliegh's career.

At the Stock Show - we had VIP parking tickets from IQH's win. It was still mud but closer to the venue.

Working on some lessons.

Science thing at the library.

One of Izabel's hisotry lesson's activities...the Globe.

Choir performance.

Seamus hangs in there with his cold while Izabel does mid-year testing for her school.

Checking out the main library in Pueblo.

The canal walk in Pueblo.

Library in Colorado Springs - they have a touch-screen video that reads parts of books to the kids.

Virtual Academy???

Izabel is 8 now and attends Colorado Virtual Academy (COVA). It is her 4th year there. She is in 3rd grade but will be in 4th sometime this winter.
What is a virtual academy? It is a charter school (part of the Adams 12 district) that is part of the public school system. We receive all her materials, some of them physically and others on the online school (OLS). As her parents we are her learning coaches and she has a teachers she works with online. She must attend 180 days of school and 968 hours in the year just like all public school children in Colorado, but she can do that at her pace and timing. That means we may cut a day short if it just is not working or we have an activity and make it up later even on the weekends. Because of Izabel's unique situation - ADHD and her abilities in science, math, and art but need for support in language arts and the support with pacing and staying on task (that is as her learning coaches we can be sure she is getting at least what other kids in Colorado are) this form of school is the best option for her right now. Click here to link to COVA.

My Hat

Seamus is on his third hat now. this one is stolen from his mother; it was her hiking hat. Everywhere he goes we now hear, "Where did you get that hat? He looks like an adventurer. No really, where did you get that hat?" The answer is that we have had it so long we cannot remember.

Seamus outgrew his zoo hat but he had 2 of them. My first hat went on hikes - was lost and found by another hiker, then lost and found hanging on a tree on the way back to the trail-head, went to museums, and all over the high plains of Colorado.

Every time I wear my zoo hat someone asks, "Have you been to the zoo today? Your hat says that." No matter what time of day, what I am doing , someone ALWAYS says that exact statement.

Why does the hat go everywhere? Seamus is sensitive to light - part of his Sensory Processing Disorder and cannot stand having the sunlight in his eyes. Reason 2 - Seamus has short hair and doesn't want a sunburn especially at altitude we get a lot of UV - check out the EPA UV index to see if you need a hat (link below). Reason 3 - it is a cool hat that is comfortable.

Adventures of Seamus' Hat

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Seamus's Reading List

Izabel's Reading List