Daily Log 4/25/2008

Activities:

• Alley Bike/Trike/car riding with Grampa Fred-PE
• Calendar, Weather-CE
• Books BV Color Shape Book, Calling All Toddlers, Raining/Duck, 5 Little Ducks-Lit
• Flower Puzzle-Log, AM
• Color Game (BV) with Color die-Soc, Math
• Dinosaur Game (didn’t play game, just played with dinos)-Soc
• Foot print Chick Art project-Art, FM

Notes:

Keep forgetting to do music/game activities. By the time I remember, they’ve gone off to do their own thing. I need to keep a list up somewhere so I can remember things throughout the day when they go “What do I do now?”

I helped a lot with Art thing, but they had fun. They really got into anthropomorphizing the foot print once I suggested that it was a chick. They were motivated to stick the corn on by actually “feeding” the chick. It was cute. Naim is such a caregiver and they both have become more empathetic and into caring for dolls and such.

Aaron and I have hit a brick wall on the PTing deal. I decided to give it a break for about a week.

Naim continues to do wonderfully in that regard.

I recieved the Sonlight Curriculum. There is some more religion embedded than I realized, but nothing that I would consider damaging enough to chuck the whole thing. Easy things to revise or skip. EXCEPT! My god, I flipped through the book of bible stories and I can’t believe anyone reads that crap to their kids. Some of the New Testament/Jesus stuff is ok (parables and lessons) some of the Moses stuff is okay. But Cain/Abel, The twins (esua and Joshua or something) everybody getting cheated and killed and stoned. It is a bunch of violent, lying cheating crap with God acting the role of a petulant spoilt brat. No way I’m reading those stories to a 3 or 4 year old. (And those religious types talk about how hard Clinton having a sex scandal or homosexuality is to explain to kids. Jewish Jesus on a Stick! How on earth do they explain this Bible shit?)

Daily Update 4/23/08

Activities:

• Calendar/Weather-CE
• Intro Uu, 16-R, M
• BQ 2-3 5 pg. Read “Activities for Toddlers” 4 or 5 poems-Lit
• BV Big and Small Sticker Worksheet, Cutting and Sorting Worksheet-MS, AM
• FE Rainbow and Cloud Number Math Game-M
• Fred Meyer Playroom-S
• Cotton ball painting (Naim)-Art

Notes:

Finally back to school! We are starting April FE on April 23rd. But Oh well, we can extend in to the summer.

Aaron said he “lost his temper in the rain forest” in reference to a poem about losing one’s temper. Ha!

Aaron’s scissor use is getting significantly better. It actually looks like a person using scissors. (But! He cut off the tail of his triceratops, so we had to throw it away because it was filled with little rubber beads.)

Naim did the math game a day or so ago when I was cutting it out. He did okay with help. We had to count the dots. He started losing interest after about 5 numbers but did finish. Did not want to do it again today. Aaron whizzed through it with no help from me at all.

And…..

….drum roll…..

I am going to declare Naim officially daytime potty-trained. That kid rocks! He has gone 5 days without accidents. Something just clicked and he gets it. He has gone out without diapers, taken naps with no accidents, even (except once) gone all night without accidents (still pull-ups at night) So far, so good!

Aaron and I have taken a step back from PTing. We are still working on it but both getting burned out. We’ve been doing diapers over underpants. I will probably really start again once my dad leaves in two weeks.

Finishing 2/3 Preschool Year; Thoughts on 3/4 Preschool Year

So, It has been a while since I updated. We have had school since February, but to tell the truth, not too much. We finished February Funshine Express, but are only about 3/4 the way through March and it is mid-April. I have April and May curriculum already, but I haven’t even come close to starting yet. In April, we are still doing EASTER stuff. But I might just chuck March and go to April soon. I have my April library books.

Part of the problem has been illness. My minor illnesses and to some extent, D’s pump fiasco is affecting me. Potty Training!!! (more on that another day.) But a bigger problem is housework. (Which is also related to illness–and potty training.) I can’t keep up. I feel like I can’t get school done unless the house is at least somewhat organized. It seems stupid that it screws with my mind so much. But if I’m going to homeschool, I can’t let it affect me like this. We need to do stuff even if the place is a mess. And I need to commit to doing at least an hour of housework a day. Ugh.

Their room is the worst. You can’t even walk in there half the time. This is our main homeschooling work space, so it is just irritating to try to work in there when you can’t even move. We can keep it up okay when I never, ever let them stay in there while I’m sleeping. That is when they go berzerk and trash the place. I don’t blame them, but there are days when I just need extra sleep so much that the fact that they are going to trash the place pales in comparison. And then it does take a good couple of hours to clean up, so if I don’t have time everyday–which I don’t–it goes for days and days. Then we usually don’t get a lot of “school” done.

I was looking forward to purchasing another 9 mo. worth of Funshine Express (it stops in May), but I’m starting to change my tune. I liked many, many things about it. Naim liked it a lot. I think he liked the orderliness and predictability of it, but Aaron was not so enthused. Aaron usually liked our reading and table activities–sometimes–but did not like our calendar activities at all. And the calendar stuff (and all of it) was so much work to put together that it isn’t worth it unless they both love it and get something out of it. Frankly, the thought of prepping a whole ‘nother year of shapes/colors/letters/numbers leaves me less than enthused. The planning was ridiculous. I often sat in my office planning, cutting, and gathering stuff while they watched TV. That seemed kind of stupid to me.

I’m looking for something that takes almost no planning–like no more than 15 minutes a day. I also want to find something that is more flexible as far as the calendar year goes, so if we do have something that leaves us not “doing school” for a couple of weeks, we can just pick up where we left off, and not have to hustle to not be celebrating Easter a month late. I also want to look into something that plays into both Aaron and Naim’s interests and strengths. Naim needs a modicum of routine, but is usually up for almost anything that will give him my attention. Aaron likes books, motor activities, sensory activities, open-ended art projects, and no strict demands as for what he has to do.

Also, I read John Taylor Gatto’s book The Underground History of American Schools, or whatever it is called. That is a whole ‘nother post in itself. The book really made me think about some things. And one thing is how my expectations are for what the boys can do and are ready for. I think Funshine brings out the public teacher in me, which is not so much a good thing. I want them to have a lot more of an ‘unschoolish’ type of day, even with a bit of curriculum thrown in. Also, I need to get it through my head that these kids are not going to go the same speed in the same skill area. Just because they are twins doesn’t mean they are going to be best taught together all the time. It is kind of a twin trap. It might be almost easier to have kids at different ages because then the different skill levels are understood and expected. So I need something that is flexible enough for both, and maybe some split of time for each to work in different areas.

For core curriculum, believe it or not, I’m looking at Sonlight Pre3/4. As in Son. And Light. And Jesus. Actually, that curriculum really has some nice components to it, if it wasn’t so Jesus happy in the upper grades I’d almost go for it. I may get the catalogs each year and pick and choose my way through it, avoiding the overly Jesus stuff. But the Pre3/4 curriculum is very light on the Jesus. It does have a book of Bible stories, but that is easy to kick out altogether, or read them but as parables and stories and then add some other religious education in as well to round it out. It is very open-ended and pretty classical children’s literature based. It has some great “living books.” But it is pretty much ONLY literature. It is a curl up on the couch and read to your kid curriculum. That’s okay. But I also want some math and some art activities and some nature walks and some reading/phonics.

So, I’m also looking at Oak Meadow to supplement. I’d be using the Kindergarten level because the preschool looks stupid easy and my guys would be bored. Kindergarten level (Oak Meadow standards, not common standards) is where they are at right now. It is also a very gentle Waldorf curriculum. But does have art projects, nature walks, and some math and reading.

A while back, I got Hooked on Phonics-Preschool really cheap at Costco. It is basically letter names and sounds. Aaron LOVES the CD-rom games. Naim likes the games because he likes the computer, but is not near as successful with them. But it is self-paced and self-correcting, so it really doesn’t matter. Anyway, I think HOP is going to be a good fit for Aaron. I think I could get him through the preschool kit in just a few months. Then he would be ready for the next package(s), which are getting down to business phonics. It is too early to tell whether HOP is a good fit for Naim. There is a cheap Hooked on Colors thing that I might get to try for Naim. It would really give me more of a clue as far is whether he is color-blind or not. And I could see if he likes the HOP approach.

I also have the ENTIRE Handwriting w/o Tears curriculum. (Teacher connections!) I will probably start that this year as well, but maybe not right away. I think they both will like the PreK level. It is very much gross and fine motor games and fun activities, very OT. It is not down to business handwriting, yet. I’d like them to get through a few more art projects and things before we start that. It does not correspond with the alphabet, (i.e. a week of Aa, a week of Bb, etc.), so there is no reason to pair it up with reading right now. Besides, I think Aaron will read long before he writes, and Naim is not ready for reading yet.

Calvert PreK or K is another option, but I’ve heard so many people complain that this is just boring worksheets that I’ve lost most of my enthusiasm for it. We might supplement with some Calvert stuff at times, but I can’t see myself ever going with a full Calvert curriculum now. Its so dadgum white male anglo-saxon as well. So meh.

Also in the hopper:

• Math U See primer ( or possibly Calvert Math) is something that I will probably NOT do this year. They aren’t ready. I can always change my mind anytime if they seem bored. In the meantime, Oak Meadow and Brighter Visions has some basic math readiness stuff.
• Critical Thinking Skills is something I also won’t start this year. I think it might be a nice complement to MUS, because MUS is pretty straightforward arithmetic.
• Writing Strands has some great composition activities. Their program really doesn’t start till age 7 or so, but they do have an interesting precomp book for age 3-6. I might get it and incorporate it, but nothing on a regular basis.
• I haven’t really narrowed down science at all, yet. Funshine had a lot of simple science activities and we did some but I skipped a lot because they were hard to prep for. Oak Meadow has some, I think. D likes to do science with them so I think about maybe getting one of those preschool science books like “magnets and mudpies” off of Amazon and see if D will do some of that with them. Further on down the line (like 2 years from now) I’m looking at Real Science for Kids or Noeo, or Pandia Science.
• Muzzy Spanish is also something we continue to do just for Fun. Along with Signing Time. Signing Time has a whole new season out, but expensive so maybe I can get it from Netflix, soon. Muzzy has a CD-rom program. Also expensive, so meh on that one for now. Both of these are just better TV than Dora for now.
• I’ve been exploring options for religious education. The kids will start in UU preschool next fall and do Chalice Children. But I’d like to have a character/spirtitual component to our program if I can come up with something. We could go secular and do the Virtues Project, but that might be a bit hard for them right now. I’m thinking just reading stories and poems and prayers from different religions for now. UUA Bookstore has some possibilities. And Amazon has Muslim/Bhuddist/Hindu/Christian whatever storybooks if you dig a bit.
• As far as classes go…Village home is still a big IF until August to see if we will get in. Our tumbling class is moving to where it is hard for me to get to, so I think we may quit that for now. Aaron hated it anyway. Melanie Moler has suggested “Music Together” which takes place at the UU church. Maybe we will do that next fall, but the instructor has not answered my email. I really would like to get them in another gross motor thing like tumbling. Maybe Hawthorne Farms or swimming this summer or something.

So, I think after I finish Funshine in the next couple of months, I will start right into the next curriculum. I think in terms of school year, September to May, but with our unpredictable health and schedule, I think we need to go year-round. Flexibly, but year-round. Besides, I’d like to do some of the Oak Meadow Nature stuff in the summer while the weather is nice.

So, man, crazy. As usual, the actual getting together of the schedule eludes me. I will have to shake it out a bit.

Let’s see:

1. Sonlight Pre3/4 literature reading daily. (45 min. can be broken up)
2. Oak Meadow activities 3 or 4 days a week. (I-2 hrs. also broken up)
3. Hooked on Phonics (for Aaron, maybe Naim) 2-3 days a week. (15-20 min.)
4. Religious Education Stories 2 or so days a week. (5-10 min.)
5. As they fit in: Brighter Visions, Muzzy, Signing Time, Between the Lions (Also Phonics on PBS. Might be good intro for Naim to get him interested.) (30 min.)
6. Daily outdoor time and daily music (Oak Meadow covers some of this.) (30 min.)
7. (All total above, Approx. 3-4 hours throughout day, varying to less some days. Some can be done at D’s house or with D doing it.)
8. Down the line possibilities (or maybe wait for next year): HWT, more HOP, MUS, CT
9. “Off-site” activities:

Sunday: Religious Education-Chalice Children Preschool at UU

Thursday: Little Villagers at Village Home (hopefully)

Two other days: HFAC Childcare, possibly with a PE type class included

One other day: Music Together OR a Music class at VH and if the schedule goes right, another (math? art? science?) class at village home.

Also: Zoo, Children’s Museum, OMSI, etc. one or two times a month.

For a total of 5 days of “off-site:” activities a week. But chances are, the schedule won’t allow for that, so Children’s Museum, etc. can supplement on buggy days at home.

Aaron-2/29/08

Aaron 2/29/08 from Lisa Ferris on Vimeo.

Daily Log-Tuesday

Activities:

• Lots of “Ring Around the Rosey”-PE, MUS
• Built Lego Houses-CT, FM
• Calendar/Weather-CE
• Introduced Square, Reviewed 1-15, Ss-R, M
• BV Square-R, M
• Book Lets Plant a Rainbow-Lit, Sci
• BV Square and Triangle Sticker pages-M
• Painting-Art

Notes:

Lego’s are getting more elaborate.

Naim correctly identified several real life square shapes. Also Blue paint. Naim “loves to paint!”

Aaron painted flowers, his hand.

Daily Log-Friday

Activities:

• Calendar/Weather-CE
• Intro #15/quince-M, FL
• BE Spring, Poems-Sci, Lit
• “Did You Ever See the (Wind Blow)-PE, Comp
• Books: Can You Hear the Rain?, Spring is Here
• BV Color Sticker pages-Art, M
• Ss practice sheets-R, HW
• Finished Crayon Painting project from yesterday-Art

Notes:

Naim can match colors but still does not identify them. He often identifies yellow as orange.

Aaron is very interested in the Alphabet. Often singing the song and asking me to write letters.

Crayon project did not really work well. I think the crayons were supposed to resist the black paint. I think that you have to color a LOT and very SOLIDLY to get it to work.

D came over tonight and they played Lego’s and read library books.

We need to plant our annuals soon!

Tools of the Mind/Imaginary Play

Interesting article about imaginary play and “executive function” or self-regulation.

Here is another along those same lines.

Related curriculum: Tools of the Mind

Summary:

Articles discuss how imaginary play, self play and with others without really any complicated props has taught self-regulation in the past. Now with so many adult oriented structured activities, TV and video games, and prescriptive toys, kids are loosing the ability to develop self-regulation. Tools of the Mind is one curriculum that has been used to address this.

Also, articles and text books on Tools of the Mind approach (a la Vygotsky).

Daily Log-Thursday

Activities:

• Sporties for Shorties-PE
• HFAC Child Care-Soc
• McDonald’s w/Grampa Fred-PE, Soc
• Calendar/Weather-CE
• Introduce Ss-R
• Lion/Lamb Acting-Comp
• BE Feelings, and The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau-Soc, Art
• Books-New Babybug, Cloud Boy/Niño Nube, Snow Spring Sun Stars-R, FL
• BV Sticker pages Colors/Shapes-M
• Crayon Project (Part 1), color and black paint-Art
• Crepe Paper Weather (acted out wind, rain, etc.)-Comp, PE

Notes:

Aaron got into the Cloud Boy book.

Naim again could match colors on BV worksheets but not identify them as a color. (matched red).

Both like anything with “acting.”

Daily Log-Wednesday

Activities:

• Computer (Calliou) with D. Sequencing, Attributes, Number Order-M, Tech
• Playground-PE
• Cleaned up room-M, PL
• Aaron and I made a deal about Lego’s-Soc, MS, Com

Notes:

Naim took his opposites book to D’s and read it.

Aaron is climbing across the playground bar thingies by himself. He fell once but recovered quickly. Naim still needs a bit of help but not as much.

I told Aaron he could play with Lego’s after he cleaned his room. With some bit of prodding, he did help with room cleaning. He remembered the deal and I let him play with Legos while Naim watched bedtime TV. He also came through in putting them away afterwards with no prodding from me. If you treat him fairly, he understands and will play by the rules.

Daily Log–Tuesday

Activities:

• Julie visit-Soc
• Julie’s worksheets-HW, CS
• calender/Weather-CE, Sci
• Pp, Qq, Rr Review-R
• BE Book-CS, Art, R
• Books: Big and Little, Dr. Suess Weather-R, Sci
• BV Sorting Bugs, Size and Variety-M, Sci
• Opposites Book (Naim)-R, Comm, Art
• Rr worksheet/Big Small Coloring Sheet-HW, R, Art

Notes:

Both did well with sorting. Aaron has it. Naim needed prompts but then could do it.

Aaron was not interested in the Opposites book until the end (and then I didn’t have any more stuff). Naim got the opposite matches really well and glued them in the book I made. He was happy with it and was able to “read” it to me.