Today was a teacher duty day and the school kids were home, and will be home for two days. In case you were wondering, my children were in school at home. Think about it. We don't need mid-term exams to determine how our children are progressing.

I know their strengths and their weaknesses from working with them each day. I realize the more time we spend together the better I know not only their interests but also the topics they'd rather avoid. The other day I listed every subject on the board and asked the kids to rank them. There were two categories...one labeled favorite and the other most important. They ranked religion/faith as the most important and favorites ranged from math, history and art! (At least lunch or recess was not an option.)

Having a handle on our children's progress is important but obtaining that informaiton via artificial means really doesn't help anyone. I wonder how many parents are really surprised by the results of their children's test scores. I can tell you that learning the information by cramming and then proceeding to forget really does not help a student in the long run. That is why shows such as "Are you as Smart as a Fifth Grader" are so popular. The answer is, "Yes, I am." I should be. I have completed 5th grade many times...as a student, an educator and a home educator...I'm finishing my 7th season!

Look at progress as stepping stones. Take one at a time, don't look down, stay your course, and remember the big picture. The rainbow IS at the end of the path. It reaches upward, where our treasures are being stored.

Note: for those of you following my posts of Ten Ways to Jazz Your Science ... the rest are coming soon. Thanks for your kind emails and patience as you wait for me to prioritize this blog!