Semiserious Chefs

I am very happy to report that things are going just as I had expected! Perhaps even better! We’re working on Unit 2 of Singapore Math Level 1, so we’re into addition now. It’s not a particularly fast pace, but we don’t do math every day. As I talked about in my Questioning Homeschool post I’m working within Nathan’s boundaries and, in this case, attention span. For math days he practices writing numbers. This is mostly tracing, but then he writes a few numbers of his own, and he traces his name everyday. I know for sure that handwriting will be his slowest area in school. For one, he is only 4, but he’s a boy, and a busy one at that!

For reading days he practices writing the letters that are common to the group of words he’s reading. For a long time it was ‘a’ with ‘at’ or ‘ag’ – something like that, and, of-course, his name. It was really good for him to practice ‘a’ so often because that little tear-drop shape is used in so many letters. (I’m teaching him d’nealian because it’s what I know, and I like it better than the classic ‘circle and stick’ print. Plus I do intend on teaching him cursive and d’nealian sets you up nicely for that.)

Nathan LOVES learning to read! For a while his favorite way of introducing himself had been to either hold up 4 fingers, or simply say, “I’m four.” Who needs a name, right? Now he begins his encounters with, “I can read!” He’s learned to read 3 letter words with a the short ‘a’ sound, and now is moving into ‘i’ words. He has a special folder with all the little Hooked on Phonics books he’s read. He periodically brings it out to read them again. One of his favorite things to do is to hold our daycare baby on his lap and read to her. We also have a lot of fun pointing out words in other books, around town, or in the closed captioning that Nathan can read. He’s still sounding out words he says and picking out letters and sounds. I’m not really surprised that he’s picking it up so quick, but I am very pleased with how much he really enjoys and takes pride in learning to read!

The third major part of homeschool this year is literature/history. For this part there is a lot of practice listening. I read through several books during each two week theme about a particular time in history. Nathan and his other 4 year old friend can play quiet with something like playdough, blocks, or coloring, or, if it’s a picture book, we sit on the couch together. What is really nice about this is that I don’t necessarily have to read every word of a book, or even have a book that is at their level of learning. What I often do is pick-out the descriptive paragraphs or photo captions in a book and have a little more discussion-like learning time about the subject. And if a book is long I simply plan to read it over a several day span. Using about 4 books for each subject also means we get introduced to non-fiction, historical fiction, poetry, and resource book genres, among others. As I read I ‘test’ the kids to see if they are really listening by asking simple questions about the information on each page. We also go over new vocabulary words we come across. Lots of discussion the subject and speculating what it would have been like to live during that time.

When I said I waded through piles of books this summer I wasn’t kidding. There are so many wonder books out there. Of-course the DK Eyewitness type books and historical picture books, but also ‘choose your own adventure’ books that are based on history. Having already made a list of the books for each historic period that I think would be good for his learning level, I simply go to the library [two blocks away] once every other week to pick-up or put on hold the books I’ll need for the next subject. I even tried to keep the books I listed to those that are available at that particular branch so I don’t have to worry about them coming in late in the lesson. Since I limit it to about 4 or 5 books they all slide into a little slot on the homeschool shelf along with his math and reading books.

Along with the history lessons we do a few activities related to what we’re learning. For instance we built a pyramid out of sugar cubes and had a ‘pyramid party’ with the daycare kids one week! That was a great activity because, although he can count to 100 and beyond, Nathan didn’t count down from 10 to 5 very well. As we built the pyramid from the bottom, a 10×10 square then a 9×9, 8×8, and so on, we practiced it over and over. In fact, that’s one of my favorite things about homeschooling; I know exactly what the kids are learning. Whenever there is an opportunity to build on it more, whether at the grocery store, something in the news, a show, or just conversation in the car I feel like I am able to make the subject come alive a little more than just history lessons while sitting in a desk. We’ve been adding dates to the bedroom timeline as well. Next week we’ll move forward and add Ancient Rome and the life of Jesus.

Man, little kids are just such sponges! It has been so great to hear Nathan use what he’s learning in a different contexts. For instance, the other day we talked about how in China now days (and many other countries) their government tells you how (if at all) you can worship Jesus. Then when I asked him if he’d rather live in Ancient Egypt or Ancient China he decided Egypt, “Because then I could love Jesus however I wanted.”

Lastly our family is learning languages together. I’ve been attending a community signing class again where the kids and I can get involved with deaf and hearing, kids and adults, and the deaf community. Then Andrew has started 15 minute lessons with Nathan and a daycare friend learning French. Everyone is very excited. Perhaps we can someday use it in Paris?

You know, it’s busy around here! Although the homeschool stuff takes less than 2 hours we have sooooo many other obligations in a single day. Nathan’s treatments take 30-45 minutes twice every day, and I take the kids to the library, do story times, outside play, crafts, and naps, along with meals each day….bath night, sign language night, church, bible study, doctor appointments… it gets so full. I’m totally one of those people who want to do it all and do it perfect, and I have really had to slow down and revamp the expectations I put on myself both as a wife, a foster mom, a CF mom, a daycare provider, and a landlord (well that job drives itself). One thing is for sure, I am quite glad that winter is here, as it means less community family events, however, I know that the holidays are right around the corner, so for now I’m just absorbing the quiet. (If you can call it quiet with 6 kids in your life.)

Below are videos from our field trip to the Alaska Native Heritage Center. We had been learning about hunter gatherer life.