Interesting observations!
I am in my third week of homeschooling using the Ambleside prescribed curriculum. This week both of my boys were sick. I thought for sure we would bag school. That was what I had planned to do because I was cleaning up vomit all day. (That was fun!) Anyway, I digress. I realized between the cleaning and the rocking and the laying on the couch (they did watch a video that day) and the not getting out of their pj’s until noon, and the no real prescribed “school time”, they finished ALL of their lessons in 15 min segments throughout the day.
It was incredible to me that 1) they asked for certain lessons by name 2) they did them in short increments and then went back to throwing up 3) they had fun and it kept their minds off of the sickness thing. Can you believe it? I still can’t. They ask for lessons every day. What do I say…. no? I don’t think so but what do I know, I am knew to this. They don’t know a weekday Monday from a weekend Saturday, so they just keep going. At this rate we will be done with the math book by Christmas. Jackson is half way through his phonics and it is only the end of August. I only read the chapters/selections that are slated for the week so they have to learn to think on that one piece for a week before we move on, despite their begging. (Can you tell they love the books?)
Really People….is this normal? I am thrilled they are enjoying it but I am kind of shocked. The other day, Chloe said I go to “Turtle River Montessori” (her old school) and I said, “No honey you go to home school. ” She said “I do? Where is that?” I said at home with me and your brothers. She said “I never have to leave you again?” I said “Nope” she squealed, I smiled. It hadn’t even occurred to them that all of these months we had been schooling.
So what do you think of that? I guess I just go with it….right?! OK this is where all the older wiser homeschooling moms jump in and tell me whats up.
Hooray, Amber! and I mean about the homeschool experience not the vomit. Yes, we’ve had magical days too. It speaks to the child’s love and need for order in routine. School brings something of a lovely rhythm to the day.
As I bump up the bar of expectation and academics in the older years, we’ve lost a bit of that enthusiasm. However, at times, it lingers. Pooh Bear giggled throughout our homeschool day today.
I let my children choose whether to stay in bed or on the couch if they don’t feel well, but if they get up, books come first before play.
Comment by trueyvne — August 20, 2007 @ 10:49 pm
It does change a little in the older years, as truevyne said, but the love of learning will still be there, as you lead them using the “gentle approach,” and as you continue to feed them with living books.
Hope the kids are better today.
Comment by Flo @ Yielded Heart — August 22, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Thanks Flo. We really want that love of learning to stay in tact all their life. That is our prayer anyway. They are well again and enjoying the outside.
Comment by admin — August 22, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
I think that’s wonderful!
Warmly,
lindafay
Comment by lindafay — September 8, 2007 @ 9:20 am