More Review

Delta seems to have gotten his interest back in puzzles - he has done several (over and over) the last couple of days.    Echo isn't wrecking them as much on him either.... although she sometimes does. 

 

Did the blocks game - for Delta just gave him the letters  A, T, and C to do.  (he didn't want to play - didn't want to yesterday either because he "doesn't know it") - he was more interested when it was just the letters - I think it was a good review.

 

We then did the ledge game......  and I'd ask Delta for one of his words, and most of the time Echo would point to it!   But when I'd ask Echo for one of her words, she'd say "where is it?" before picking it out.  LOL.     They both definitely find that game easier.

 

The author of the book I got this all from does mention that children this age will sometimes go from seeming to know something really well, and then suddenly won't seem to know it at all - that it is normal because they learn differently than adults do - but it still seems wierd.

 

Anyway, we all had a good time with the short games again - so hopefully we will be getting back on track.   The whole concept of "blending" definitely takes a while for them to get!

Frustrated

Hm - didn't get to playing the games until near bedtime - and Delta just wouldn't sit still.   He also was doing worse at blending to make the word - and seems to have forgotten the sound "T" makes, even with repetition.    Then Echo was getting upset because she couldn't sit where she wanted (in the way) - although she was doing good with her words....   So I ended up stopping it early as I was getting frustrated.

 

I've notice that the blocks game seems to make them have to figure out the word a bit more  (ie, they have the card, and have to read it and say what it says...) where-as the ledges game has them more pick out the word from the various words after I say it....   We haven't played blocks for a while, and that might have been more the problem.

 

Will have to play blocks with them seperately, and backtrack a bit for Delta to get the T sound in really good.

Review

Another really busy day - but did do violin practice with the kids - and I also played the ledge game with them before bedtime.  Reviewed all the words so far with Delta - we have run out of cards that I've printed so far!!!  I need to print some more to continue with him!    He still sometimes has problems figuring out the blending - but is doing great.  His interest in what writing says is really high too (he was drinking a box of chocolate milk today, and was asking what each of the letter says....)  And is finding the words he knows around a lot more....

 

Tomorrow should be a lot quieter, so will be able to spend more time.

 

Echo seems to have U, P, and UP down - so to finish off, I showed her PUP.  I'll review that tomorrow with her, and see if she gets confused by it or not.

 

CUP

Today Delta noticed the word CUP in a book too - as well as UP.

 

Tonight we played the ledge game...  Echo did mostly ok with U, P, and UP.  Delta did well with his words, including CUP and CAP, and A....    He was eager to get to the next letter - which is "T" - so I showed him the T, and taught him the "tuh" sound.  (no uh exactly after it - you know......)  and pointed out that Charlie (his sister's name) starts with the t sound....

 

It was getting a bit late - I had meant to count the pennies, and show him how to figure out tithing - will have to do that in the morning....

What is our Program?

[Asked if we have a program picked out for when our children are school aged....]

Actually, what we are planning on doing was the main topic of discussion Mike and I had last night during date night. (we did talk about other stuff too of course...)

We haven't really got that figured out yet - but we have a year or two to get it straightened out.... we want to be pretty sure by the time Delta is 6 - although you don't have to send your kids to school here legally until they are 7. I am planning on registering him as homeschooling Kindergarten, as we get discounts at some stores for schooling type stuff if we are registered.

The curriculum our province has that you can buy and use, from my understanding from a few sources is expensive, and in a word - sucks. I'd consider using Alberta's correspondance school - but it is expensive, and even more-so as we are out-of-that-province.... And really, we aren't that convinced we want to use a "school-at-home" type of system where we have no control again.

Mike and I seem to have similar thoughts. Although he is all for homeschooling - he is worried about "experimental" approaches. His brother (and me, as it happens) both experienced the "open school" experiment of the 70's - with schools that had no walls between the rooms. Although I had thought about "unschooling" - we both agree that it doesn't sound like us - it is too unfocused.

So - Mike and I agree on stuff like....

a) - we want our children to be able to think for themselves.... Mike has lots of examples where he has come up with a simple improvement, and co-workers have a problem because "that isn't how you do it"..... even if they agree it is better.

b) - we want our children to be able to work at their own pace - we don't want them bored because they got the concept 10 minutes ago - but have to do an hour's more work on it.

c) - although repetition can be helpful for some specific types of things to learn - that it isn't a good method for a lot of stuff. For example - why do 100 problems of the same type in math? If you can't figure out how to do the first 1 or 2, doing 98 more incorrectly isn't going to help. If you CAN figure it out - why should you do more 98 more? 4 or 5 should be plenty.

d) - a part of c above - understanding how something works, or why it is the way it is is far more important than just memorizing the fact. Not to say there isn't stuff that shouldn't be memorized - but the understanding is necessary for it to be useful

e) - we need a plan - not just be all over the place

f) - there is a lot of learning that can take place in life. (ie, baking a cake.... lots of math stuff, and lots of science. what if you put just flour in the oven? what if you put in just flour and water? What if you put all the ingredients in seperate containers in the oven? why does mixing the ingredients work to make a cake?)

g) - we want our kids to be able to persue post-secondary education if they choose - or a trade, or whatever they decide....

What we haven't figured out for sure - is how to determine exactly what to teach, and exactly how to go about it. I've been researching common methods, and right now, I'm leaning towards the "Charlotte Mason" method. It encourages learning through "living books" (books that grab the attention of the child, and has good stuff in it), nature study, narration and copy-work, music and art appreciation, meaningful crafts (not throw-away stuff), and time to follow good hobbies and interests. Oh, and scripture study (it is a christian based idea).

The problem, is it is pretty much impossible to find un-biased info!

Another Puzzle

Well, Delta did another puzzle this evening - it was one I'd forgotten about (no box anymore) - it has to be more than 24 pieces....   He did it all by himself with no problems, although it was a bigger challenge then his other ones....

 

Delta did the blocks game tonight, and we introduced A and CAP.    Echo wanted to play blocks, and we were going to do U, P and UP - but then she didn't play.  Delta has earned 48 cents so far....

Puzzles

Didn't do much so far today - I had a dr. apt. that took all afternoon.   But in the morning, Echo washed the table (her idea) - and Delta, with some help from me, did a 100 piece puzzle that is pretty hard.  (I wasn't thinking when I bought it - it is a fire truck, but there is a reflection of it - so it makes it even harder!)

 

Delta has been able to do 24 piece puzzles for a year - but there is nothing really that I have seen between the 24 piece and the 100 piece.  There is a real gap there.

 

Anyway, I showed him how to find the edge pieces, and start with the edges.  That was a new concept to him.   Then we completed the sky (there wasn't much sky - so all the sky pieces would attach to the edge sky pieces....)  - and then we slowly worked through it.

 

So anyway - I think that counts for something anyway!