This is Michelle, or it was Michelle as she appeared to us in a dream April. She doesn’t look quite like that today, her hair is much lighter and she’s added a lip ring. She’s also not quite as pale, which pleases me. I prefer photos of Michelle sitting down, standing she’s too darn tall.
* Michelle doesn’t drive, but she’s saving her money for a car.
* Michelle does work, two or three days at a local and much loved burrito restaurant across from campus.
* Michelle plays the guitar. A lot.
* Michelle would like to have a saxophone but I’m dragging my feet on that.
* Michelle is dragging her feet on reading Sense & Sensiblity and I’m going to have to remedy that situation (But how to inspire her? How do you inspire someone into reading Austen in general and Sense & Sensiblity in particular? It’s a problem.)
* Michelle is still “doing school” even though it is summer and she has her portfolio review saying she passed 10th grade.
* Michelle would prefer to sleep, to watch Buffy reruns, to watch Beauty & the Beast, to shoot pool, to play her guitar, to ponder life with a tattoo.
* Michelle is growing up, it makes us both nervous.
Technorati Tags: michelle, teenager, homeschool
2 responses so far ↓
samantha // July 4, 2006 at 10:05 am
Hi – I may be too late on this, but reading Sense and Sensibility IS difficult, so would it be kosher to rent the movie? And then make her read it? Or let her watch HALF the movie and read the book to find out what happens?
I love Jane Austen, but have a hard time reading her the ‘first’ time. The movies always help!
Denise // July 5, 2006 at 11:07 am
You aren’t too late Samantha – movies are helpful tools but I have to be careful about this.
Here’s what can happen when we use movies with Michelle.
If the book is excellent and compelling, watching the movie before or during the reading can increase her enthusiasm for the book.
If a book is a little slow or difficult, watching the movie before or during the reading can mean she blows off the book entirely or she doesn’t really apply herself to the reading.
I’m iffy on whether showing her the movie now will help or hinder the reading efforts. And since this is a book assigned for a virtual class ehs is taking, I’m being extra careful about the movie.
Right now, she’s reading a chapter every 3 days and breaking it up with a few chapters from the Michelle Tea book.
I think when she hits the last couple of chapters, we’ll watch the video and see if that helps push her along.
I love Jane Austen too, but she’s not easy in the beginning.