Chapter 5 Homeschooled

Howard's point of view

We held a meeting, Peggy, Maria, Obie, Mr Jarvis, Professor Bhaer, Professor Brooke, Professor Lawrence, Professor Lupin, Professor Riddle, Professor McGonagall and me. While we were in the meeting, the children were having an extended recess.

"We have three children who have been identified as learners with challenges. I will be teaching them myself, along with my youngest daughter. If there are any other children who are identified as struggling, Professor Lupin will teach them. There are 7 learners who have been identified as gifted."
"I have received a letter from a mother who lives not far from us. She asks if we can add her children to our cooperative"

"I think that's a good idea"

"Her son is Dyslexic and has ADD and ADHD and her daughter is gifted. There are two other children who live within that household. A girl the same age as Tony and a boy a little older. The boy has Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia and the girl is very smart but extremely shy."

"Write back to her and say that her children can join our cooperative but that we're still figuring out teachers and levels. We will let her know once we have those things figured out where the four children that she has responsibility for will be."

"She mentions there is a boy who lives not far from them who has severe physical challenges but a very keen mind."

"OK… so we now have 3 dyslexic children, one child who has autism, one child with Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia, one child with physical impairment and one deaf child."
"OK… that's a lot for one teacher to handle"
"You're right."

"Our children range in age from 10 months to 16 years."

"Right… I will teach the 10-month-old, the 4-year-old and the deaf child since I can sign." said Maria

"I will teach the three with Dyslexia and the child who has Dysgraphia/Dyscalculia" said Remus.

"I can teach the gifted learners." said Howard "If Obie will help me that is"
"Of course I will"

"The gifted learners are Virginia Potts, Stephanie McMahon, Aldrich Killian, Bruce, Tony, Jay and Nat"

"OK. What are they gifted in?"
"Stephanie and Nat are both gifted in English and languages, Virginia is gifted in English, Arithmetic and Math, Aldrich, Bruce, and Jay are gifted in Science and Math and Tony is gifted across the board including in music."

"OK"

We decided to split up the gifted learners by their abilities. The other children learned in one group.

Aldrich Killian dropped out of the cooperative because he hated being sidelined due to his physical limitations.

Mr and Mrs McMahon pulled their four children after 10 months because Mrs McMahon decided she could home-educate them herself three and a half days a week and work in the office the other three and a half days.

Eventually, we were left with just our own children. And then… something tragic and terrifying happened which irrevocably changed the path we were on.