But, we've ended the school week on a high note!!
This week, we're straying a bit from the lesson plans as far as handwriting goes. We've been many lessons behind the rest of the curriculum because cursive is new to Drew and, knowing what a perfectionist he is, we're taking our time. We got to the point where there is a test to do, and I've put the brakes on. We're going back and just practicing everything we've learned so far for a few more days. I love the flexibility of homeschooling!!
The boys are getting lessons on stink bugs. They spot them before I do now, and help me get them odor-free out of the house. I'm looking forward to a frost that will send them into permanent hiding so I can walk out my door without first having to flick 20 or so off the screen.
I'm still trying to find a groove with Ben. He desperately wants to do school, but nothing I have for him works. I'm open to suggestions!! I'm not making a big deal out of school this year for him though. He's still a young 4, and I know he's very smart. He knows all his letters & their sounds, numbers, can read me price tags in the grocery store, tell time correctly from a digital clock (unlike Drew at this age who use to say 1-1-4-7 or 7-4-1-1 for 11:47), and does well with his shapes. He's never done much for drawing/coloring though, so we're working instead on those skills. I can't expect him to write letters if he isn't even very good at controlling a pencil in general. He loves puzzles, mazes, and flashcards, so we do a lot of those.
This ends 4 weeks of homeschooling. It's been alot of fun! There have been many challenges, like a teething baby, and a perfectionist 1st grader...but the rewards of having my boys all home with me far outweigh them. I wonder why I ever sent Drew to school at all. I'm seeing amazing things come from him. His heart makes mine happy. The great things he and Ben come up with to do each day. The content feeling Sam has that Drew is here each and every day. It's all worth it.
And hey, NOT getting up and out the door for a bus at 8am? TOTALLY worth it!!
Hey Jen,
ReplyDeleteDoes Ben like to cut? Cutting helps strengthen the fine motor skills without him having to color. When I taught preschool kids who didn't enjoy coloring seemed to love to cut. You can just give him lots of paper or magazines and let him go nuts.
-Amity