The Kids in Our Neighborhood Start School Tomorrow
That is just so strange to contemplate. They have really short summer breaks here, it seems to me. School didn’t let out until late June. How can summer vacation be less than two months?
Meanwhile, we’ve had such a busy summer that I’m looking forward to some post-Labor Day mellow time. It’s been a happy busy, though. Showing our Virginia pals around town last week, we felt like seasoned San Diegans. Except I can’t be that seasoned when I’m not sure of the correct term for a resident of San Diego. San Diegans? Sandy Eggs? Hmm.
I have a fun (more fun!) plan in mind for this coming year, but it was inspired by Alice and I don’t want to write about it until she has posted on the topic first. It’s going to be delightful, though, and the kids are excited…It will happen on Tuesdays, and if you know San Diego at all that gives you a hint.
And in another totally-lifted-from-Alice plan, Jane and I are starting a Shakespeare Club. We’ve assembled a small group of ten-to-twelve-year-olds and will meet weekly, or every-other-weekly, to read a play together and perhaps perform some scenes. I am really looking forward to this. It hit me with a huge shock about a year ago that my Juliet days have passed me by. In my college Shakespeare class, I wrote three papers on Romeo & Juliet, and I think I did two Juliet scenes in drama classes that same year. I always knew my Capulet day would come…but I guess I got busy. It’s okay, though, because now when I read plays with my kids I get to do all kinds of characters. I have passed the ingenue torch to my daughters. Lady MacBeth, here I come.
(Actually, I haven’t decided what play we’ll read first, but it isn’t likely to being MacBeth. Jane and I have done Julius Caesar, Midsummer Nights’ Dream, and As You Like It together. We might revisit Midsummer Night’s with the club because it worked so well for Alice’s group, and because it’s such a fun play for kids, but I need to talk to the other families first. Maybe Twelfth Night? The Tempest? Winter’s Tale? I’ll have to think about it. Scott, who thinks outside the box, is plugging Two Gentlemen of Verona.)
Jennifer says:
Oh don’t tease us like that. I simply must know your plans right now – how else can I implement them in my own home? I hope you enjoy your Shakespeare study!
On August 14, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Melissa H says:
I grew up in Escondido my whole life and still don’t know if I was a Escondidoen or an Escondidian or something else entirely 🙂 Can’t wait to hear about your Tuesdays.
On August 14, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Jennifer says:
That Shakespeare thing sounds really neat! School here doesn’t start til day after labour day. That is a short vacation! We always take a 3 month summer vacation and a week every 3 months all year around. I love home educating, it gives us so much free time to really learn!
On August 15, 2007 at 6:43 am
Jennifer says:
Tough decisions! I’m trying to decide on a Shakespeare play too and got so overwhelmed the other day (trying to make that *perfect* decision) that I’m seriously tempted to go the Sonnet route, thus avoiding having to actually choose a play.
On August 15, 2007 at 7:06 am
Bethiclaus says:
Two Gents is my FAVORITE! So…I guess I’m with Scott!
On August 15, 2007 at 8:31 am
Beth says:
My vote is The Tempest as it’s my personal favorite. I’m looking forward to doing something along these lines with my kids when they are a little older.
On August 15, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Becky says:
Enjoy your terrific Tuesdays! So wonderful that you’re all making the most of your new home 🙂
The local school system here has short summer vacations, too, a scant two months. This year, they didn’t let out until June 28, which I think is horrid, especially because summer is so short in this part of the world anyway. The days are already getting shorter by then! Another reason to love hs’ing — we’re able to make sure we’re thorougly summer saturated and satiated when we finally return to our studies after Labor Day!
On August 16, 2007 at 11:29 am
Jennifer says:
Can I ask, where you get the scripts for the Shakespeare plays? That sounds like something my kids would love. Thanks
On August 18, 2007 at 6:48 pm