Home schooling

Home schooling

As many of you know, I am home schooling Mia. She is very excited about this and enjoys working with me. When I asked her what the best thing about home schooling is, she said, “I get to be with my mom!”  How sweet.  This has given me an opportunity to see how very well she is doing with the 3^rd grade curriculum and how quickly she learns.  Her 3^rd grade teacher at Ascension was generous enough to give me the math textbook, spelling workbook, and grammar workbook, so that we could continue where her class left off before we arrived in Doha. We spend most of the time in math, and I have of course added a few activities that are of special interest to her.  I have been doing the geography of the Middle East and hope to find an Arabic class for us. There are also some art activities at the Museum of Islamic Art in “city centre” where I intend to take her for enrichment this week.

There is only one American school in Doha and it is absolutely full to capacity with a waiting list. Children of school sponsors (companies that support the school) are given priority, as are siblings of those in the school and various other groups, none of which Mia is in! Although Paul was very busy getting all of the paper work in order for Mia to begin school there, and was told there was an opening, once we actually arrived, apparently the space had been filled. Mia and I did tour the school last week and were very impressed with the state of the art facility and the credentials of the staff. The assistant principal who gave us a tour was very encouraging and seemed to want Mia to start school immediately, but later, during the tour, we met another administrator, who apparently had more information on the admissions process, and said that they did not have a space!!  I felt so slighted and betrayed by my country (O.K. it is a private American school, but nonetheless, my father fought in WWII, and my ancestors came over on the Mayflower!!  I guess I do have an “entitlement issue”.)There are other options, British and International schools, which I will tour this and next week with Mia.

Interestingly enough, in our compound, which is composed of a variety of nationalities, there are several teachers from the American School of Doha (ASD). One of the 6 third grade teachers lives above us, and her husband is a computer teacher at the ASD. All of the teachers agree that we should just be persistent. Well, we do have our pride and don’t want to “beg” but, at the same time, I do want what is best for Mia.  We’ll see how the other schools compare.

School would also give Mia an opportunity to meet more friends her age and for me to meet some moms!  At the same type, there is a large circuit of communication among expats here, so we do have opportunities to meet people.