These maps have proven endlessly entertaining for all of us. If we are sitting at the table, it is not long before we are gazing at the map behind us and looking at the countries and oceans. We have also drawn and colored symbols for the books we are reading and taped them in the appropriate locations so the kids can relate to where these settings are in the world. A sweet duck is now waddling across China right around the Yangzte river per The Story About Ping, and a snow plow named Katy sits in the middle of Alaska.
Whenever a location comes up in the course of our conversations, it is, of course, very easy to demonstrate where it is. I'm rather surprised the opportunity happens as frequently as it does. The kids love reading the names of the countries and studying the flags. Another map-related project is our Statehood Quarters collection, which is steadily growing (especially thanks to a recent unexpected quarter windfall :) ) and are displayed around a map of the U.S.A.
Posting a schedule has been a very helpful development. As you can see below, Wolf's Transformers just ache to intermingle with our schoolwork, so posting a schedule on our white board shows him that there is a time for school and a time for playing and exactly when those are. One of my favorite moments this last week occurred when he was doing his math work. I gave him three worksheets and told him that when the timer went off, he was done with school for the morning and could play. When the timer went off, he called out to me, "Mom! I only have three problems left!" and proceeded to do them before stopping. I made sure to let him catch me talking that moment up with his dad later on in the day.
There are probably homeschooling parents who feel "school" and "play" are one and the same and that this type of separation isn't holistic. I don't embrace that idea. "School" is still fun but, especially in the morning, does call for discipline. Once we get started, he has a 3 hour chunk of time which involves reading, writing, and reciting a verse of Scripture, and then reading and math. Reading involves both of us reading aloud, as well as discussing the vocabulary, spelling, and subject at hand. Math thus far is mostly practice of addition and subtraction facts; he is adding columns of three numbers, and also working on counting money. The worksheets are not incredibly exciting but they're holding his interest because he enjoys the subject. In the afternoon, our schedule is far more "organic" and creative...each day has a specific focus and our time together entails reading, discussion, art, and projects.
This was a funny moment. We have a light mounted near the ceiling and it cast a shadow onto our white board of Psalm. I did my best to trace his silhouette, which was quite challenging due to his wiggly nature. Zoya then proceeded to draw his brain and hair. This all worked out well because we were having a conversation at the time about the sun and shadows and what a "long shadow" is in The Story About Ping.
Topics/materials we covered last week included the Presidential Inauguration, "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "O Captain! My Captain!," leadership, elections, the digestive system, Ping, reflections and motion in water and how they are represented in art, a creepy and detailed account of Ants, scientific method, science experiments (variables, methodology, creating a chart, and documenting results accurately and adequately), 2 Timothy 2:24 and associated chapter, several books pertaining to body systems and processes, shadows, earth's movement, differences between rivers and lakes, discernment, compassion, and writing details in a story.
One of my hopes is that Friday will be dedicated to writing, a Writing Workshop day. We started this Friday, although I think it should have happened in the afternoon. Our day got a little too crammed in the first part with some plans we had made, as well as the baby waking up early. We sat with our notebooks and discussed story-writing and how to explore and describe details of our story. Here is what Wolf came up with, along with a picture:
Once I went in a gassy and cold cave. I needed a light, air, a warm suit, and gas mask. I felt sleepy because of the cold but I got out by my light.
Yep, three sentences. :) Time pressures made this process more strained than it should have been. We enjoyed it but should have scheduled more space around it in which to relax and get comfy. Psalm, on the other hand, was content to make stationery:
One thing that I've noticed over the course of this transition is how easy it is to get wrapped up in methods. I, as a parent/teacher, have a lot of excitement about methods, curricula, scheduling, and all the ways to "make it work." Now that we are in the midst of it all, it has become clear that homeschooling works better for us when I let go of MY ideas, take a breath, and relax.
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