Homeschool Co-op

We made it to the first day of homeschool co-op classes on Friday, and it was a very surreal experience for me, let me tell you. After a ten-year career as an instructor/administrator in an almost identical environment, I was finally on the mommy side. Very, very weird in a "is this really happening?" sort of way. Combine that with the fact that it was my baby girl's first day in an academic classroom outside the home, and I was definitely thinking, "No way! How did I get here already?!" 

For her part, Katherine had her game face on, which means she was focusing and taking it all in, in a rather serious and definitely conscientious way. 

She's taking one class: science. This month: animal behavior. First up: snails! 

"I don't think I really want to touch my snail," she politely but assertively informed the teacher's assistant. Good thing the teacher provided un-sharpened pencils with eraser ends for prods.

Here's the school girl in her class of 16(!) K through 3rd-graders:

And here she is watching her snail's radula lapping up its "dessert" of cornstarch and water: (Note the game face.) 

I love her.