Getting Back to our Curriculum

I had stopped following the Brightly Beaming curriculum for a few weeks. I guess I got bored. But we're going to start again with Preparatory Lesson 17. The theme is Sheep. The shape of the week is a heart. The letter of the week is Qq. The number is 17. We will focus a lot on practicing writing hears, the letter Q and the number 17. I feel like now that he is further along in terms of knowing the shapes, letters, and numbers, we can do a lot more. In other words, I can use this curriculum to build.

Here's some Sheep resources:

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/economy/sheep.htm

http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Farm/Sheep/

We'll definitely be doing a sheep craft with cotton balls.

Z1 expressed an interest in lightning the other day. The thing he is still most interested in, though, are computer games.

Learning to Deal

So I'm learning to deal. I know that homeschooling is not an easy task. It's a lot of responsibility. Sometimes I end up putting a lot of pressure on myself and then on Z1. I think he ought to be able to do certain things so I push. I have to realize that maybe he's not ready just yet. And be okay with that.

Case in point? Handwriting. He does a good job of writing his own name in that it's recognizable. Recently, he started writing the "Z" like a "Z" instead of an "S". That's great!! However, writing numbers has proven to be a challenge for him. Last Saturday, we went to a program that teaches kids how to use the Soroban (Japanese abacus) and the requirements to begin the program was that the child be 5 years of age and know how to write his numbers up to 100. I kept thinking in my mind, "Fat chance . . . he won't even write the number 3." So the days following, I was all about writing numbers. He got frustrated. The tears started. So I closed the books. And I just had to re-evaluate the whole situation and my motivation. See, there's no rush to get him into the program at 5. He can start at 8 or 9. But me, being who I am, I felt like he should be ready to go by 5. Ready now. That's just not fair to Z1.

I'm at this point where I am easing up --just let him color and do other things to sharpen his fine motor skills like using the mouse and playing his beloved games because I see he's struggling with the handwriting and getting frustrated. I do not want him to be frustrated at all. I found this article and from it I can derive that he is doing okay because he is strong in some aspects like doing puzzles and he does hold the pencil correctly and maintain it.

So I'm really going to back off. If he picks up a handwriting book, that's cool. I'll work with him on it and really support him with it. If not, so be it.

I'm also going to get serious about doing science consistently with him. We read a book called Ducks Don't Get Wet and there was an experiment in there with feathers and oil to show exactly how ducks stay dry. We'll do that tomorrow hopefully. That's the last I think we'll do about birds. I actually learned a lot about birds myself. Like the largest bird in the world is an ostrich and the smallest is a hummingbird.

I asked what he wants to study next and he said airplanes. This Friday we're going to a library in a different town. We'll start our search for books and other supporting media then. I'd really like to take him to a local airplane hangar. I think that would be so cool.

More than anything, I am learning to just stop comparing Z1 to anyone else. He's got his own life situation (which involves having a toddler baby brother) and his own personality (including strengths and weaknesses). My goal is to completely appreciate who he is as a person and as a learner. So that this journey will be fun and fulfilling. A joy.

What Makes a Shadow?

Today Z1 was eager to show me his shadow in the foyer. He has expressed interest in shadows before. I went on the net to find some resources and found two things: the My Shadow website, which looks great and a the book What Makes a Shadow? which I put on hold at the library.

In trying to figure out Z1's other interests, I am having to accept that playing video games ranks high on the list of things he likes to do. Very high. So I'm going to relax a little bit on limiting video games and let him have at it. Right now, he loves his father's plug and play games. But I'm thinking of also getting him the Leapfrog handheld gaming system. Actually, I'm thinking of hitting up the grandparents for it . . . LoL. I can't forget to mention Funschool too. Z1 really likes that site.

Photo Credit: Free Daddy and His Little Shadow Girls at The Sakte Park by Pink Sherbet Photography

Getting it together learning wise . . .

I know I have a tendency to be regimented/rigid. Homeschooling presents me with a great opportunity to learn flexibility. Still, I know for my own sanity, it will be important to have some kind of learning schedule. Something predictable that I can look forward to.

A week or two ago, I started to feel as if I was not doing enough academically with Z1. A lot of that has to do with the fact that Z2 is so mobile that most of my energy is spent running around after him. To get anything done with Z1, either Chris has to be home to take him or he has to be put in his play pen, which he hates.

Anyway, I was starting to feel pressure and inadequacy and decided that I would just write out a little something to do academically daily. After all, at this age (preschool) the main focus, in my opinion, should be on play as that is the way preschoolers actually learn. I don't think it harmful, though, to practice some skills. I don't pressure Z1 to do any of these activities. I just kind of throw it out there that we'll be doing the activity and some point during the day.

Our Theme for May has been Birds.
Some books we've been using:
Birds by Kevin Henkes
Riki's Birdhouse
What Makes a Bird a Bird?

THE SCHEDULE
Monday
1. Discuss the day of the week and the weather
2. Work on handwriting in handwriting workbook
3. Bird nursery rhymes/songs

Tuesday
1. Discuss the day of the week and the weather
2. Science
-view bird videos
-look through bird books
-discuss what birds eat, where they live, what makes a bird a bird

Wednesday
1. Discuss the day of the week and the weather
2 Picture drawing while listening to book (this month, the book is a book about birds)
3. Bird nursery rhymes

Thursday
1. Discuss the day of the week and the weather
2. Math
-counting and number recognition
-patterns

Friday
1. Discuss the day of the week and the weather
2. Art activity/lacing beads
3. Sight words

I use this Kindergarten Curriculum Guide to guide my instruction. According to this, Z1 is on the kindergarten level (even though he's preschool age). That's comforting and lets me know that I'm doing okay.

I'm sure we could add more to the schedule but right now, along with all the other activities we do during the week, I think this is adequate. At least, that's all I can handle. :)

Our Weekly Schedule

So for some years now, I've been consistently doing things with Zion and now with Zion and Zephy weekly. On Tuesdays, we go to our local library for the Parent Child Program which is from 10:15 till about 11:15 or so. For the first 30 minutes, the children play and interact with each other. Then they clean up and it's time for some stories, puppet play, etc. I love the program because it is well run and it is close to home. At one point, I stopped going because it was overrun with daycare kids (as in the daycare would haul all their kids to the program). But recently, they have been more stringent and while some caregivers still bring thier 6 or 7 kids, it still feels small and homey. It's still enjoyable.

On Thursdays we usually go to Parent's Place in White Plains. The program runs from 10:00-12:00. I really have to focus to get there on time but it's always well worth it. From 10:00 till 11, the children are free to play in either of the two rooms. One room is full of toys: a kitchen set, train table, blocks, push toys, rocking boats, etc. The other room has a water table, puzzles, finger painting/arts and crafts as well as easel painting. There's a rug where smaller babies can play and a bookcase with children's books that are displayed and changed regularly. At 11, everyone cleans up, we sing and play instruments then it's time for a snack. Once snack is over, the children are free to play again (sand table and play dough are brought out) and the parents, if they'd like, can have a group where they can talk about any issues they may be having in raising their babies. I enjoy this program tremendously although these days Zion seems to be outgrowing it. It is still very appropriate for Zephy who is so cute when the songs are being sung. Recently I learned that the program may not continue because of a serious lack of funds (hundreds of thousands of dollars). I'm hoping that some benefactor will contribute the money to keep it running but in this economy, it may not happen.

A mom at Parent's Place hipped me to an inexpensive Kindermusik program in New Rochelle. Zion is the only one taking the class right now. It is on Friday's from 3:30-4:15. He enjoys it and I think we'll sign Zephy up next. The program runs just like the public schools do so we won't be doing it this summer. I'm looking forward, in a way, to having Fridays freed up.

A few weeks ago, we signed Zion up for swimming at the New Rochelle YMCA. It's on Saturdays at 11:15. The first class went surprisingly well. Zion got in the pool and participated. The last two classes . . . not so much. The teacher is kind of cold and doesn't really give off a vibe of protection--in other words, Zion doesn't trust or like her. But I received some wonderful advice from another homeschooling Mama on what to do and so while I'm anxious to make sure our money is not wasted, I think I can figure out ways to maximize the experience even if Zion never gets in the pool.

So these are our weekly activities. Sprinkled in there are playdates and other interesting things we might find to do. Now that summer is upon us, we'll be doing a lot more fun things (especially **free** or low cost fun things like the pool and the beach.

Look, I love summer and just the prospect of summer fun gets me excited. I can't wait!

Monthly Themes

So I have been loosely following this curriculum for Z1. He has advanced past the preparatory curriculum and so I'm looking into kindergarten material for him. I like the idea of themes presented in the curriculum I was following so instead of weekly themes, I thought we'd do monthly themes and see how that goes. (This homeschooling is a series of attempts and trials.)

So this month's themes is BIRDS. Later, I will list the books and other materials we've collected so far. My plan is to make a birdhouse to put out back so we can attract birds.

Z1 has finally gotten the concept of "Today is Wednesday because yesterday was Tuesday and tomorrow will be Thursday".

He is also able to count to 30 although not 100% comfortably. He is getting there.

At some point

After you decide to homeschool, I suppose you can expect to be discouraged and/or doubt if you're doing the right things in your homeschooling or even the right thing by homeschooling at all. I think it's healthy, in some ways, to constantly be reevaluating what you're doing to make sure that it's making an impact, that your child is learning and that everyone is happy and satisfied with the progress.

What I miss as a novice homeschooler is the input of seasoned homeschoolers. I knit and crochet and reading some of the issues novice knitters and crocheters face, I kind of chuckle sometimes. The simplicity of the answer to a seemingly complex problem (to the newbie) is something astounding. And I'm sure the same applies to homeschooling. I'm always looking to connect with folks who have been there and done that with this homeschooling thing. Especially folks of color.

Some questions I ask:
How much should I push when he says he doesn't want to do something?
How rigid should I be in my scheduling? Should I schedule in "chill-out" days?
How do I keep little brother from interfering with our learning?
How do I plug in the holes when I'm teaching something I'm not quite 100% confident about or just not comfortable with (like learning about snakes)?

It takes a little faith to believe that I'm doing the right thing. Most important for me to remember is that I can find opportunities to teach him in every situation. I just have to keep my mind about me.