One more try...

Yep, we are trying the Brazilian school again. I know...I said I would NEVER do that again. I really had no intention of putting them in a Brazilian school, but I was not finding a tutor for them in Portuguese grammer so I started looking for other options again. My friend, Michawn, encouraged me to try Couto again. I had gone to talk to them in June of last year about the kids participating in only certain subjects, but the coordenator was not there and she never got back to me. Then I got busy with the Project, Candidacy week, and furlough so it just got dropped. I figured they weren't too interested in it anyway. I know the overall director of Couto (it is an elementary, middle, and high school) from various Asas events and so I emailed her and told her what I was looking for: Portuguese grammer, art, and some kind of physical activity. She had me come in to see her and then she took me over to talk to the elementary school coordenator. We talked over the options and we picked out two days that had most of the subjects that I wanted and also put him in a class with his bestest bud from church and another girl from church that he has known since birth. Maira has been bugging me about going to school too, and since her reading in English is pretty solid, I decided we could send her on the same days that I send Michael. Of course she was absolutely THRILLED! So they are going to school on Wed. and Thurs. mornings...7:15 - 12:10. On Thursdays Michael actually stays the whole day (until 5:30!)because his grade level does art, computer, and English on Thursday afternoons. He was pretty nervous the first day (Wed.), but it turned out pretty well. He complained about being bored because they did some subjects that were not on the schedule for that day so I had not purchased those books. I figure they are still getting the kinks worked out since it is still the first few weeks of school. Thursday he was really nervous about staying the entire day, but he really liked the afternoon and I don't think next week will be as hard for him. Maira talks NON-STOP when I pick her up from school...she just gets so energized from the whole experience! She is really loving it. We continue with homeschool and I'll have some heavier days for Michael to make up for Thursdays when there will be no time for homeschool. I had a really hard time leaving them there on Wed morning, but I feel very strongly about them getting the most out of living in Brazil at this time of their lives. Part of that includes understanding Portuguese grammar. Turns out Michael will also get in on some Math, Geography, essay writing, and volleyball. Maira's class is working on cursive already! My goal is to have the best of both worlds for the kids...homeschool with some enrichment in the Brazilian Christian school.