Meet the Students...

...of Mt. Hope Academy!

Leif, Mr. Exuberant, is the youngest student at barely 3 years old. He is a pre-schooler this year, but don't let that fool you. He is determined, competitive, and eager. He is also rambunctious, loud, and often disruptive. But he is so cute, he is always forgiven.

He knows his letters and letter sounds, his numbers, colors, continents, and oceans. In the coming months, he will be working on shapes, blending letter sounds, and listening to and looking at many picture books. He will listen in on Latin, Bible memory, poetry, geography songs, and more since he doesn't play well independently and is often stuck in a car seat while fascinating CDs (songs, stories, poetry) are being played. His teacher is hopeful that he will work on his ability to be quiet while the teacher is reading and talking.

Luke, Mr. Earnest, turned 5 just a few months ago and is now starting Kindergarten. Luckily that is a loose description at this school, since he is a whiz at math and reads at a 2nd grade level. He loves projects, games, and one-on-one attention.

This year he will work on perfecting his handwriting (focusing on lowercase letters), breeze through math, and spend time reading aloud as well as independently. He will begin piano lessons. He will participate in Bible, Latin, grammar, memory work, geography, art, music, and science (in varying degrees). He will join in history and literature, increasing and applying (hist teacher hopes) what little attention span he has for those subjects.

Levi, Mr. Effervescent, is 7 1/2 going on either 2 or 20 (depends on what minute you ask his teacher). He is officially a second grader, though he reads on an 8th+ grade level and math (sigh)... Well, maybe we won't talk about math. He is sure he knows everything, and sometimes one almost believes it. Almost. He is constantly talking or humming, which must help his head stay clear, but doesn't have the same effect on those around him. He excells in any subject with words, such as debate.

This year he will continue with math, grammar, Latin, Bible, memory work, science (earth and space), geography, history (Medieval/Early Renaissance), literature (tied in with history), piano lessons, music history, and art. He will begin cursive handwriting and a new spelling program. He will read hundreds of books in his free time. His teacher hopes that he will develop an ability to work independently on occasion without getting distracted in the first three seconds, as well as develop a pleasant attitude toward work, instruction, and those in authority.

Boy, oh boy (pun intended),
am I glad there is only a 3:1 student-teacher ratio
here at Mt. Hope Academy.