Quiet Time
As the year comes to a close, we get a little time to reflect on the school year. Jocelyn standing on top of the world over Bonifacio seems to be a good metaphor for her school year. She has matured into a wonderful young teenager and retained her keen academic skills. At the same time she has been a leader onboard Dragonsinger in exploring new places and things.
Quiet Time
With the crowded conditions and the intensity of home schooling we all need some private time and space to ourselves. It has been a challenge to keep Jocelyn supplied with enough books and she estimates that since leaving Vancouver on June 29, 2001, she had read at least 140 books (many of them more than once). Living together onboard Dragonsinger in such tight quarters and in such different lands means that we all have to adjust in order to get along. It has been nice to share Jocelyn's reading experience and both Karalee and I have read several books that Jocelyn has recommended to us. Discussing the books at the dinner table gives us another opportunity to broaden the thinking of everyone on Dragonsinger. To us, it is a great example of how the learning experience doesn't end just because the formal school day is over.
Reading Time
Jocelyn has been very helpful in working with her younger brother Allen. Especially in the last month when we have been traveling so much and having to shop and supply the boat in so many new places. Jocelyn has taken the lead on her own initiative and if Karalee and I are busy, she steps in and gets Allen to complete a lot of work. In fact, Allen has been more productive for Jocelyn than for either Karalee or I at times in the last month. While this has put Jocelyn slightly behind at times in her formal GVDES school work, we feel strongly that this experience is yet another important learning opportunity that Jocelyn has shown leadership in taking on. Like much of the teaching and learning that takes place this year, this experience is not something that earns marks, but is something that we hope will provide Jocelyn with a broader and more interesting life.
Looking for Dolphins
All three children have had times when they do not get along, but more often, especially when it comes to critical items about running or supplying the boat, they work together as a team. Each is keen to show off to the other, they have all demonstrated many examples of sharing and learning together. Jocelyn often shows leadership in this area, but she also can listen to her brothers in the few times when she doesn't think that she knows it all.
Coffee Morning in Sartène, Corsica, France
We view the school program as having two parts. There is the formal program provided by GVDES, but there is the much richer classroom called life. We are fortunate in that we have this opportunity to share with our children and to create a learning environment which we hope is available any time that one of our children wants to learn more.
We have really appreciated having you as a teacher this year. We know that at times it was a struggle to get going in the fall and you get full marks for your outstanding email messages and thoughtful consideration on how to make Jocelyn's experience an enriching one. We believe that Jocelyn has enjoyed having you as a teacher. We look forward to hearing more about the changes to GVDES in the upcoming school year. From what you have told us so far, we feel that from our point of view the changes are positive. Who knows, we may even be able to have you as Jocelyn's teacher next year too. We would all enjoy that.
David Greer
Dragonsinger
Propriano, Corsica, France
May 31, 2002
