When I encounter an idea in education, it seems that I will eventually approach it from each of three angles below. Here's a sample idea that weighs on my thoughts:
"Teaching kids to ask questions and think about problems before
receiving the solution encourages more non-linear, divergent and
creative thinking, to produce better innovators, problem-solvers, and
problem-finders."
The educational value of creative disobedience
1. They are failing to do this in schools, and I find this lack so offensive that I would be unhappy sending my child to school.
2. How will I succeed on this point when arranging for my daughter's education?
3. How could we change our institutions so that this great idea is implemented for more children?
Friday, December 28, 2012
Being the Change I Want to See
My toddler and husband are out of town for the weekend, and I am beached on the couch with a cold. Thus the numerous blog posts. Good to know that when separated from my child, I immediately go to work studying how to best educate said child.
When I started blogging I set up two blogs: one for homeschooling Ladybug, and one for me to use to reflect on education policy. I spend much more time on this homeschooling blog and haven't posted on the policy one since the summer. I'm obviously more comfortable posting here, taking on that easy, conversational style while I reflect. What I am noticing today with all my free time is that if I let some of the theory and policy questions make their way to this blog, it is a better reflection of my thought process. And probably a much more interesting blog.
For a long time I have felt split down the middle, like I am two selves. There's homeschooling Rachel, who unschooled herself as a teen and hopes to let her own children do most of their learning outside of a school. Then there's social justice Rachel, who is outraged by so much in the public schools, from disparities for rich and poor to outright discouragement of creativity. Social justice Rachel knows that homeschooling isn't the answer for everyone, and she has hopes for a better public system. Feeling so split, of course I would create two blogs for the two selves.
To be honest, I am somewhat afraid of a career in education policy. It's a hot topic right now; I'm not the only person wringing her hands about what to do with our public schools. Maybe the cause doesn't need me too. There are a lot of interests involved and not much agreement on the right course. I think a person could easily throw their life's work into the problem and come up empty, with a sense that none of the work had made meaningful change.
Contrast that picture with the idea of homeschooling my own family. Here's great opportunity for success! I am reasonably confident that I could provide my children with an education that encourages creative inquiry and protects a love of learning. I could provide my children with the education I would want for all children. As I type that I see how self-centered it is. As a child, freedom was explained to me as being allowed to have a white picket fence on your property while accepting that you can't make the neighbors all build white picket fences. There's a reason that it's harder to change society: many people don't want your change and have the right to reject it. For me, homeschooling is in part about being the change I want to see.
When I started blogging I set up two blogs: one for homeschooling Ladybug, and one for me to use to reflect on education policy. I spend much more time on this homeschooling blog and haven't posted on the policy one since the summer. I'm obviously more comfortable posting here, taking on that easy, conversational style while I reflect. What I am noticing today with all my free time is that if I let some of the theory and policy questions make their way to this blog, it is a better reflection of my thought process. And probably a much more interesting blog.
For a long time I have felt split down the middle, like I am two selves. There's homeschooling Rachel, who unschooled herself as a teen and hopes to let her own children do most of their learning outside of a school. Then there's social justice Rachel, who is outraged by so much in the public schools, from disparities for rich and poor to outright discouragement of creativity. Social justice Rachel knows that homeschooling isn't the answer for everyone, and she has hopes for a better public system. Feeling so split, of course I would create two blogs for the two selves.
To be honest, I am somewhat afraid of a career in education policy. It's a hot topic right now; I'm not the only person wringing her hands about what to do with our public schools. Maybe the cause doesn't need me too. There are a lot of interests involved and not much agreement on the right course. I think a person could easily throw their life's work into the problem and come up empty, with a sense that none of the work had made meaningful change.
Contrast that picture with the idea of homeschooling my own family. Here's great opportunity for success! I am reasonably confident that I could provide my children with an education that encourages creative inquiry and protects a love of learning. I could provide my children with the education I would want for all children. As I type that I see how self-centered it is. As a child, freedom was explained to me as being allowed to have a white picket fence on your property while accepting that you can't make the neighbors all build white picket fences. There's a reason that it's harder to change society: many people don't want your change and have the right to reject it. For me, homeschooling is in part about being the change I want to see.
TED Talk - Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?
I wanted to post this video that a friend shared with me. It is laugh out loud funny, poignant and well-stated. My favorite quotes from this talk:
"[Education is] one of those things that goes deep with people...like religion and money..."
"We have a huge vested interest in education. Partly because it's education that's meant to take us into this future that we can't grasp."
"Creativity now is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status."
"If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original."
"The whole [public education] system was invented...to meet the needs of industrialism."
Sir Ken Robinson makes an extremely compelling case for educating the whole child and nurturing the needs of all different learning styles. I am saving this to watch again and again when I think my children aren't learning in the ways they "should." I hope it will remind me to look for who they are instead of who I want them to be.
How to Talk about What I Don't Like
I've been thinking to myself that I want to start blogging about all the ideas I have to educate my family differently from a standard public school. If I'm going to take on the task, I should at least write out my ideas so I can better reflect on them. I want to be clear with myself (and anyone interested in reading along) what my goals are, and why I would make such an unorthodox choice as to homeschool my kids.
My hesitation here is that this involves some criticism of school. Not everyone homeschools because of a dissatisfaction with public or private schools. For many families it's simply a way of life that works well, without reference to a school. I do believe our family will grow into that way of life, but I also have some negative things to say about what goes on in many schools. This is a very political topic and always has been. Socrates was found guilty of corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens. We get testy when it comes to teaching our children.
I cannot speak about every school in the country, first because I don't have the experience, but second because they are so varied that it's useless to try to talk about them as if they were one institution. Additionally, the last time I attended a public school was in 1998. A few things have changed. The changes I know about, such as increased standardized testing, do not impress me. My point is that there are many things I just don't know. But I still need a way to talk about my philosophy and my concerns.
I have friends and relatives who work hard in public schools. I know so many good teachers, and I respect their experience and the work that they do. I had good teachers in school, people who left such a strong impression on me that I think back to them decades later. But I also know teachers who I privately think aren't that bright and I wouldn't want teaching my kids. I sat in a restaurant next to two student teachers whining about how much math they had to learn (10th grade level) to teach elementary kids. It was all I could do to restrain myself. What kind of model of learning are those people providing? What kid deserves the sentence of learning math from a teacher who sees little value in the subject?
If my only concern were the occasional lame teacher, I would probably send my children to school. I think most teachers are probably great; I certainly learned from many great people. But I firmly believe that they are good people working in a bad system. My biggest concern for my kids' education is the preservation of a love of learning for its own sake. Grades, busywork, teaching to the middle, teaching to the test, cutting P.E. then punishing kids for wiggling...what else can we come up with to make learning a more godawful experience?
Then there's "good schools." These are the ones in the nice neighborhoods with the good funding from hefty real estate taxes. People buy homes in these neighborhoods so their kids can attend the "good schools." This must be a happy experience for enough families because the schools gain that "good" reputation. However, I still object to the emphasis placed on letter grades, overscheduling of extracurriculars, standardized testing, and general sense that you must get into Harvard to have a meaningful life.
There probably are schools that would not offend my idea of an education that is exciting and respectful to the student. However, I believe they cost a lot of money that, at this point, I would rather save for my daughter's college tuition.
We may all find that she does well in a school setting when she is a little older. Some very religious homeschoolers are comfortable sending their children to high school, because by then the students' value systems are in place. My thoughts are very similar, but the values I want to protect are a joy in learning and inquiry. I want to promote doing your best work regardless of a letter assigned to it. I believe young children shouldn't have to swim upstream for a healthy education. So I'm starting at home.
My hesitation here is that this involves some criticism of school. Not everyone homeschools because of a dissatisfaction with public or private schools. For many families it's simply a way of life that works well, without reference to a school. I do believe our family will grow into that way of life, but I also have some negative things to say about what goes on in many schools. This is a very political topic and always has been. Socrates was found guilty of corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens. We get testy when it comes to teaching our children.
I cannot speak about every school in the country, first because I don't have the experience, but second because they are so varied that it's useless to try to talk about them as if they were one institution. Additionally, the last time I attended a public school was in 1998. A few things have changed. The changes I know about, such as increased standardized testing, do not impress me. My point is that there are many things I just don't know. But I still need a way to talk about my philosophy and my concerns.
I have friends and relatives who work hard in public schools. I know so many good teachers, and I respect their experience and the work that they do. I had good teachers in school, people who left such a strong impression on me that I think back to them decades later. But I also know teachers who I privately think aren't that bright and I wouldn't want teaching my kids. I sat in a restaurant next to two student teachers whining about how much math they had to learn (10th grade level) to teach elementary kids. It was all I could do to restrain myself. What kind of model of learning are those people providing? What kid deserves the sentence of learning math from a teacher who sees little value in the subject?
If my only concern were the occasional lame teacher, I would probably send my children to school. I think most teachers are probably great; I certainly learned from many great people. But I firmly believe that they are good people working in a bad system. My biggest concern for my kids' education is the preservation of a love of learning for its own sake. Grades, busywork, teaching to the middle, teaching to the test, cutting P.E. then punishing kids for wiggling...what else can we come up with to make learning a more godawful experience?
Then there's "good schools." These are the ones in the nice neighborhoods with the good funding from hefty real estate taxes. People buy homes in these neighborhoods so their kids can attend the "good schools." This must be a happy experience for enough families because the schools gain that "good" reputation. However, I still object to the emphasis placed on letter grades, overscheduling of extracurriculars, standardized testing, and general sense that you must get into Harvard to have a meaningful life.
There probably are schools that would not offend my idea of an education that is exciting and respectful to the student. However, I believe they cost a lot of money that, at this point, I would rather save for my daughter's college tuition.
We may all find that she does well in a school setting when she is a little older. Some very religious homeschoolers are comfortable sending their children to high school, because by then the students' value systems are in place. My thoughts are very similar, but the values I want to protect are a joy in learning and inquiry. I want to promote doing your best work regardless of a letter assigned to it. I believe young children shouldn't have to swim upstream for a healthy education. So I'm starting at home.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
2 Year Checkup: Thoughts on Preschool
I've been meaning to write about this for a few weeks now. We had Bug's two year checkup with the new pediatrician this month, and I think it went pretty well. The whole practice seems really gentle and kid-friendly. For example, when Ladybug began to freak out about having her head measured, the nurse patiently blew soap bubbles until she calmed down.
The doctor and I talked about good nutrition, made sure Ladybug was up to date on her vaccinations, and had a brief chat about toddlers watching TV. Doc was very non-judgmental. Then she asked if I had plans for preschool when Bug turns 3. Is this a standard pediatric interview question now? When did preschool for 3 year olds become quasi-mandatory? So I answered, "Well, yes and no." I first mentioned that there's a farm-based preschool that looks delightful, and I am considering it. Doc smiled warmly. I went on to explain that I was homeschooled and that our family is planning to homeschool. Doc took that in stride and replied that if we didn't do preschool we should make sure to get her around other children her age. Emphasis is Doc's, not mine. Doc looked appeased when I mentioned weekly Homeschool Playgroup.
So here we are, at the socialization issue already. I suppose if homeschoolers never let their children out of the house or did any group activities, there could be a problem. In our city, there is an overabundance of social activities for homeschooled kids. But what really struck me was the emphasis that these children Ladybug is to play with should be her age. Is there actually any research or evidence to support that recommendation? I realize that our public schools divide children by age. Does that mean same age groups are automatically a necessary requirement for a three year old's healthy development?
My quick google search turns up this article about the importance of friendship for children: http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/do_kids_need_friends
I didn't catch anything there about the friends needing to be the same age. Generally I hear homeschooling parents who are pleased with the wide age range of children who play together. I watch my daughter learning from older children at playgroup and church. I'm sure older children benefit from having younger ones around as it gives them the chance to be role models and teachers.
I'm lacking a neat way to tie up this post. Some of this is moot since Ladybug has close friends her age. I'm just resisting any suggestion, even a mild one, that I need to recreate a preschool setting in the ordinary course of our lives.
The doctor and I talked about good nutrition, made sure Ladybug was up to date on her vaccinations, and had a brief chat about toddlers watching TV. Doc was very non-judgmental. Then she asked if I had plans for preschool when Bug turns 3. Is this a standard pediatric interview question now? When did preschool for 3 year olds become quasi-mandatory? So I answered, "Well, yes and no." I first mentioned that there's a farm-based preschool that looks delightful, and I am considering it. Doc smiled warmly. I went on to explain that I was homeschooled and that our family is planning to homeschool. Doc took that in stride and replied that if we didn't do preschool we should make sure to get her around other children her age. Emphasis is Doc's, not mine. Doc looked appeased when I mentioned weekly Homeschool Playgroup.
So here we are, at the socialization issue already. I suppose if homeschoolers never let their children out of the house or did any group activities, there could be a problem. In our city, there is an overabundance of social activities for homeschooled kids. But what really struck me was the emphasis that these children Ladybug is to play with should be her age. Is there actually any research or evidence to support that recommendation? I realize that our public schools divide children by age. Does that mean same age groups are automatically a necessary requirement for a three year old's healthy development?
My quick google search turns up this article about the importance of friendship for children: http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/do_kids_need_friends
I didn't catch anything there about the friends needing to be the same age. Generally I hear homeschooling parents who are pleased with the wide age range of children who play together. I watch my daughter learning from older children at playgroup and church. I'm sure older children benefit from having younger ones around as it gives them the chance to be role models and teachers.
I'm lacking a neat way to tie up this post. Some of this is moot since Ladybug has close friends her age. I'm just resisting any suggestion, even a mild one, that I need to recreate a preschool setting in the ordinary course of our lives.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
The Gingerbread Pictures
It was a busy day, with me going to church twice (in the morning for the Christmas pageant and in the evening for the Solstice service). I didn't prebake any gingerbread as planned, but I did manage to roll and cut out cookie shapes together with Bug. She liked pressing the cookie cutter and patting out the dough.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Gingerbread
Phew! I had a full day of last-minute shopping followed by baking. The gingerbread dough is rolled and chilling in the fridge. My idea was to have Ladybug help with mixing ingredients ("Would really like to dumpit!") like we did with a pumpkin bread a couple weeks ago. But cookie making has the potential to be whole intricate, multi-day process. There's dough making, chilling, cutting, baking, cooling, decorating, drying....And I want to bring the completed cookies to church on Christmas Eve without a last minute crunch. So I wound up making and rolling the dough tonight after Bug had gone to bed. I really enjoy baking, so it was a little treat to work calmly and without interruption.
I used this recipe, because I love soft cookies: Thick and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
One of my birthday presents to myself was a copy of Cookie Craft, which is all about decorating rolled cookies. I tried tonight to use what I've learned, and I'm already loving rolling the cookies between sheets of parchment paper. Makes me wonder why I ever floured a counter top or rolling pin! Never again.
So my modified "gingerbread cookies with toddler" plan goes like this. I'll cut and bake most of the cookies tomorrow while she is napping*, leaving about one batch of dough raw. I'll also prep royal icing (which I've never done before) during naptime. Then when she wakes we can roll and cut the last bit of dough together and then begin decorating the already baked cookies. It will be like "the magic of TV" where the already cooked food is ready and waiting, ha ha.
All the library books I wanted for the holidays did arrive earlier this week. I am really pleased with Gingerbread Baby. It's energetic, full of animals, and has a really cute ending. You might even call it sweet. And of course, it's well illustrated. Our winter reading this year is so full of Jan Brett it's ridiculous.
Anyhow, Ladybug is all about making connections these days. She starts at least half of her sentences with the phrase "just like." After any loud noise, or even when she puts on her shirt and her head pops through, she says, "Just like Corduroy and the button goes POP!" So I am certain she will connect her book and her cookie decorating. I will try to remember to take pictures.
*When I say napping I mean that I will be praying she naps while she plays in her room, wide awake. At two, Miss Bug has already given up her nap and moved on to quiet time. Mom is still in denial on the subject.
I used this recipe, because I love soft cookies: Thick and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
One of my birthday presents to myself was a copy of Cookie Craft, which is all about decorating rolled cookies. I tried tonight to use what I've learned, and I'm already loving rolling the cookies between sheets of parchment paper. Makes me wonder why I ever floured a counter top or rolling pin! Never again. So my modified "gingerbread cookies with toddler" plan goes like this. I'll cut and bake most of the cookies tomorrow while she is napping*, leaving about one batch of dough raw. I'll also prep royal icing (which I've never done before) during naptime. Then when she wakes we can roll and cut the last bit of dough together and then begin decorating the already baked cookies. It will be like "the magic of TV" where the already cooked food is ready and waiting, ha ha.
All the library books I wanted for the holidays did arrive earlier this week. I am really pleased with Gingerbread Baby. It's energetic, full of animals, and has a really cute ending. You might even call it sweet. And of course, it's well illustrated. Our winter reading this year is so full of Jan Brett it's ridiculous.Anyhow, Ladybug is all about making connections these days. She starts at least half of her sentences with the phrase "just like." After any loud noise, or even when she puts on her shirt and her head pops through, she says, "Just like Corduroy and the button goes POP!" So I am certain she will connect her book and her cookie decorating. I will try to remember to take pictures.
*When I say napping I mean that I will be praying she naps while she plays in her room, wide awake. At two, Miss Bug has already given up her nap and moved on to quiet time. Mom is still in denial on the subject.
Monday, December 17, 2012
More Imperfect for Winter
I have a ton of planning and activities going on that I realize are not getting recorded in this blog. I think it's time for me to get a little less "edity." I want to begin thinking of this blog as less a place for perfectly formed essays and more of a place for journaling my thoughts about what we're learning in this house.
Today it's nasty weather outside and we're inside doing a variety of games. God help me, I taught my two year old how to use a pair of scissors. I did this the day I was cutting snowflakes to decorate for her birthday party. Of course she's closely supervised, but they're just the big kitchen scissors, not safety scissors or anything. Now she begs for scissors, saying, "Would really like to cut!" So I sat with her for a bit while she chopped up some construction paper. I'm actually impressed with how quickly she's caught on. I'm filing this in the "fine motor skills" category instead of "irresponsible mother." ;)
Also for fine motor skills, I've set up a playdough space. That means I taped wax paper to the floor. Works great. This morning I ran across two cookie cutters, so Bug has been cutting dogs and horses out of the playdough. Later this week I hope to make gingerbread cookies together that we can bring to church on Christmas Eve. Last week she had a blast doing all the dumping and pouring for a loaf of pumpkin bread. I've requested Gingerbread Baby from the library; we'll see if it gets here before Christmas. I'm deciding to not be a perfectionist and make the cookies together whether the book arrives or not.
Two books have arrived from the library and we're enjoying them. The first is The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett. It's gorgeous illustrations and wintery fun. The storyline is Goldilocks and the Three Bears, polar bear style. Makes me glad I introduced the classic three bears story a while back. Also makes me wonder what other basic fairy tales Ladybug would like/needs to hear. It seems that there are so many variations and fun retellings of the standard fairy tales that the point of the originals is almost just to appreciate the new spin when you encounter it.
The second book we got from the library is Winnie the Pooh. I wanted to try out a longer read-aloud. Pooh has a lot of text for a two year old, but it's essentially a set of short stories. And with such gentle, whimsical content, I figured it was a good one to try out. Ladybug really likes it and clutches the book to her chest. I've noticed that for the first several stories there were plenty of pictures which kept her focus during the longer passages. We hit a wall this morning when I finally reached a page with no pictures. So we stopped mid-story and will try later. I figure this book is probably a big stretch for her, the way I might feel reading Crime and Punishment, so we'll go slow. But I never lovingly clutched Crime and Punishment, so I don't think I'm pushing too hard.
Also for fine motor skills, I've set up a playdough space. That means I taped wax paper to the floor. Works great. This morning I ran across two cookie cutters, so Bug has been cutting dogs and horses out of the playdough. Later this week I hope to make gingerbread cookies together that we can bring to church on Christmas Eve. Last week she had a blast doing all the dumping and pouring for a loaf of pumpkin bread. I've requested Gingerbread Baby from the library; we'll see if it gets here before Christmas. I'm deciding to not be a perfectionist and make the cookies together whether the book arrives or not.
Two books have arrived from the library and we're enjoying them. The first is The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett. It's gorgeous illustrations and wintery fun. The storyline is Goldilocks and the Three Bears, polar bear style. Makes me glad I introduced the classic three bears story a while back. Also makes me wonder what other basic fairy tales Ladybug would like/needs to hear. It seems that there are so many variations and fun retellings of the standard fairy tales that the point of the originals is almost just to appreciate the new spin when you encounter it.The second book we got from the library is Winnie the Pooh. I wanted to try out a longer read-aloud. Pooh has a lot of text for a two year old, but it's essentially a set of short stories. And with such gentle, whimsical content, I figured it was a good one to try out. Ladybug really likes it and clutches the book to her chest. I've noticed that for the first several stories there were plenty of pictures which kept her focus during the longer passages. We hit a wall this morning when I finally reached a page with no pictures. So we stopped mid-story and will try later. I figure this book is probably a big stretch for her, the way I might feel reading Crime and Punishment, so we'll go slow. But I never lovingly clutched Crime and Punishment, so I don't think I'm pushing too hard.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Leaf Collecting
Monday, November 12, 2012
Seasonal Books: Halloween & Thanksgiving
I haven't wanted to let this much time go by between blog posts, but here we are. Halloween was an absolute blast, with a party of three toddlers that was actually enjoyed by parents too, followed by an evening of first time trick-or-treating. I wanted to orient Ladybug to all the festivities, and for us that means a ton of books. She continues to enjoy them now that it's mid-November. So in the spirit of recording what we've been up to this (last) month, here are our favorite Halloween books this year:
Ghosts in the House - What a sweet twist and adorable art.Moonlight: The Halloween Cat - Much requested. Ladybug says, "Sometimes there's a owl!"
Where Is Baby's Pumpkin? - She just never tired of this one. Memorized it and was "reading" it to me.
Room On The Broom - A fun rhyme, and more text which is nice for potty time. We were reading it still this afternoon.
And here's what we have coming up for Thanksgiving:
Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning MessageThanksgiving Is...
Thanks for Thanksgiving I love the art in this one.
Little Bear's Thanksgiving
Bonus: I wanted some kind of introduction to Hinduism in honor of Diwali. This isn't a Diwali story, but it is so adorable and age appropriate: Ganesha's Sweet Tooth
Phew, now I can rest knowing I won't totally forget the memory of the year I tried to read every toddler Halloween book I could get my hands on. And then planned to do the same for Thanksgiving. ...and Advent...and Christmas....
Monday, September 17, 2012
Religious Education
Homeschooling frequently brings up questions of religion, because a large subgroup of homeschoolers hold conservative religious beliefs. Many of them homeschool precisely because they want their religion to be central to their child's education. However, this does not describe our family. My husband is becoming pretty comfortable referring to himself as an atheist. I have just begun attending our local Unitarian Universalist church and feel very at home there.
This Sunday was the second time Ladybug and I attended our new church, and it was Ladybug's first day of Religious Education Class. She eagerly stuck a felt flame on a felt chalice and even more eagerly devoured goldfish crackers. Mom got to listen to a sermon without a toddler's joyful noise. A resounding success for everyone.
For Bug, I imagine that the striking part of this day was the new room to play in, being without mommy for 45 minutes, and the new toddler friends to play with. I am struck by the idea of dropping her off to (eventually) be taught about a subject as personal as religion by someone else. I'm reflecting on why I am mostly comfortable with the decision. Most parents seem to feel that tug when sending their child to school. But for a homeschooler, this is an especially sensitive spot. Am I indoctrinating her? Why am I rejecting one institution and accepting another?
That day's sermon provided part of the answer to my questions. In honor of the beginning of Religious Education classes, the topic was Education. The minister spoke about the value of letting children explore their consciences, rather than imparting absolute truth. He went on to say, "The Unitarian Universalist faith is a faith for explorers, and we need to encourage our educational systems...to explore in greater depth." This philosophy is in line with my own, in large part because of the trust and respect offered to children. I am willing to trust a small part of my child's education to people with this philosophy of exploration.
This Sunday was the second time Ladybug and I attended our new church, and it was Ladybug's first day of Religious Education Class. She eagerly stuck a felt flame on a felt chalice and even more eagerly devoured goldfish crackers. Mom got to listen to a sermon without a toddler's joyful noise. A resounding success for everyone.
For Bug, I imagine that the striking part of this day was the new room to play in, being without mommy for 45 minutes, and the new toddler friends to play with. I am struck by the idea of dropping her off to (eventually) be taught about a subject as personal as religion by someone else. I'm reflecting on why I am mostly comfortable with the decision. Most parents seem to feel that tug when sending their child to school. But for a homeschooler, this is an especially sensitive spot. Am I indoctrinating her? Why am I rejecting one institution and accepting another?
That day's sermon provided part of the answer to my questions. In honor of the beginning of Religious Education classes, the topic was Education. The minister spoke about the value of letting children explore their consciences, rather than imparting absolute truth. He went on to say, "The Unitarian Universalist faith is a faith for explorers, and we need to encourage our educational systems...to explore in greater depth." This philosophy is in line with my own, in large part because of the trust and respect offered to children. I am willing to trust a small part of my child's education to people with this philosophy of exploration.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
No Bonus Points, Part Two: Community
Part One of this post can be found here.
My husband and I have realized that we are way overdue for some support in this parenting job. Him writing and defending his dissertation, followed immediately by a move with toddler and brand new job, these were just last straws. Very. Heavy. Straws.
So where to find a sitter in a town full of strangers? Start by acknowledging that this isn't a town full of strangers. We've lived around here for six years now, and made good friends. Since moving here, and especially since Ladybug's birth, I have learned a lot about participating in a community. A good first step is to be willing to talk to people, which will make friends out of strangers.
I met my some of my closest mom friends through La Leche League meetings. It didn't happen immediately. In fact, after my first meeting I was a little put off by how easily the other moms were chatting with each other and not me. But I kept attending and learned how easy it is to talk to others you've gotten to know. When another mom started talking about a childcare swap, I said, "Let's do it!" and we formed a three-mom weekly support group. Earlier this summer we took turns watching each other's kids, and I actually did get to several chiropractic appointments that way. I admit to not mentioning this great arrangement in my rant post. Goes to show how jealousy and exhaustion skew our perspective.
I have been working on becoming a regular at our local homeschool playgroup, in hopes that over time our family can form even more friendships. So last week I went to the archives of that group's discussion list and found a homeschooled teen looking for babysitting jobs. She was available on a particular night we needed and came with references. I was excited but still nervous about leaving our toddler with a perfect stranger, even one with CPR training.
It turns out community was on my side. When I asked our sitter for her references, one of them was my La Leche League leader. I was so relieved and said to my husband, "She's not a stranger anymore!" Turns out the LLL leader has known the sitter for years, since she was young enough to need a sitter herself. She watched Bug for us and things went smoothly. I don't know if her schedule or interests will allow for her to be the regular sitter or not, but I was so encouraged by the whole chain of events. We're not alone here, in homeschooling or parenting.
My husband and I have realized that we are way overdue for some support in this parenting job. Him writing and defending his dissertation, followed immediately by a move with toddler and brand new job, these were just last straws. Very. Heavy. Straws.
So where to find a sitter in a town full of strangers? Start by acknowledging that this isn't a town full of strangers. We've lived around here for six years now, and made good friends. Since moving here, and especially since Ladybug's birth, I have learned a lot about participating in a community. A good first step is to be willing to talk to people, which will make friends out of strangers.
I met my some of my closest mom friends through La Leche League meetings. It didn't happen immediately. In fact, after my first meeting I was a little put off by how easily the other moms were chatting with each other and not me. But I kept attending and learned how easy it is to talk to others you've gotten to know. When another mom started talking about a childcare swap, I said, "Let's do it!" and we formed a three-mom weekly support group. Earlier this summer we took turns watching each other's kids, and I actually did get to several chiropractic appointments that way. I admit to not mentioning this great arrangement in my rant post. Goes to show how jealousy and exhaustion skew our perspective.
I have been working on becoming a regular at our local homeschool playgroup, in hopes that over time our family can form even more friendships. So last week I went to the archives of that group's discussion list and found a homeschooled teen looking for babysitting jobs. She was available on a particular night we needed and came with references. I was excited but still nervous about leaving our toddler with a perfect stranger, even one with CPR training.
It turns out community was on my side. When I asked our sitter for her references, one of them was my La Leche League leader. I was so relieved and said to my husband, "She's not a stranger anymore!" Turns out the LLL leader has known the sitter for years, since she was young enough to need a sitter herself. She watched Bug for us and things went smoothly. I don't know if her schedule or interests will allow for her to be the regular sitter or not, but I was so encouraged by the whole chain of events. We're not alone here, in homeschooling or parenting.
No Bonus Points, Part One: The Rant
I am sometimes a mass of negative feelings about motherhood. It's much easier to blog about the happy, fun times. I don't have to worry about Ladybug reading the posts later and feeling bad, or about making my own mother feel guilty. I also don't write up the negative times because I am naturally trying to focus on the positive to improve my mood. Then there's the old standard, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
So this post has been burning on the back burner while I came up with a way to say something useful and not just rant and complain. The whiny part is: I live hundreds of miles from almost all of my family. I have one sister in town, who is young and busy trying to make her life work. (Like us, she does not own a car, which means we see her about twice a month when things are good.) Lately I cannot read or hear people talking about the family support they receive without drowning in jealousy. When people ask me how I like motherhood, I answer honestly, "It's good, but unrelenting." Unrelenting to be on call 24/7, and to never get a break unless it's at your spouse's expense. For all of Bug's life, it has been my husband or me caring for her. There have been a handful of evenings in almost two years where friends put her to bed, or came over after she was asleep so we could go out. My sister watched her for us on our wedding anniversary.
Every other moment has been my husband and me, learning to parent this daughter with a big, sparkling, demanding personality. We never worry that this girl won't speak her mind. Throughout her infancy I avoided the phrase "high needs baby" because I didn't want to sound whiny. Isn't that something mothers just claim to get extra sympathy? We all have a hard job as parents. Very hard. But, as Bug approaches two years, I am finding that I resonate with the descriptions in Raising Your Spirited Child. The intro made me tear up, because I am exhausted.
I hear other people talking about how their mother comes over every week. Or how they "prefer not to use babysitters," when I know they have family regularly watching their children. I want to scream. I love my baby so much, and I have noticed that a few hours away is all I need to refresh myself, see her as the darling child she is, and parent her the way she deserves.
Time for the personal responsibility: why haven't I been arranging those few hours for myself? Why have I let myself get to the point where I don't know when I could schedule a doctor's appointment, let alone a pedicure? I had a great conversation with a set of newish parents who have been friends of ours for several years now. I admit they are among those who bring out my jealousy, because they are so much more relaxed, and consequently happier than I am. Anyway, they mentioned how getting a sitter happened early in their son's life because Dad's birthday fell soon after baby's birth, and they wanted to celebrate. Being able to have a sitter became a regular thing, and they say getting one early is one of the best things they did. I agreed wholeheartedly that it's a good plan. There are no bonus parenting points to be won for doing everything yourself.
I look back at Bug's early days and wonder if I really could have done anything differently. I left her with her dad at 6 weeks so I could go to my postpartum appointment. She screamed the entire two hours I was gone. Every subsequent time I left her, she did the same thing. Around three months, my husband held her and tried to comfort her for four hours while I dared to go shopping with a friend. I reflect on those days and think that I must have developed a habit of doing everything myself, of writing off time to myself, because my newborn would freak out otherwise.
But things have changed. Bug can now self-soothe. She actually screams much less at other people than she does at me! Time to contemplate a solution. This has proven to be a long post, so I think I will continue in "Part Two."
So this post has been burning on the back burner while I came up with a way to say something useful and not just rant and complain. The whiny part is: I live hundreds of miles from almost all of my family. I have one sister in town, who is young and busy trying to make her life work. (Like us, she does not own a car, which means we see her about twice a month when things are good.) Lately I cannot read or hear people talking about the family support they receive without drowning in jealousy. When people ask me how I like motherhood, I answer honestly, "It's good, but unrelenting." Unrelenting to be on call 24/7, and to never get a break unless it's at your spouse's expense. For all of Bug's life, it has been my husband or me caring for her. There have been a handful of evenings in almost two years where friends put her to bed, or came over after she was asleep so we could go out. My sister watched her for us on our wedding anniversary.
Every other moment has been my husband and me, learning to parent this daughter with a big, sparkling, demanding personality. We never worry that this girl won't speak her mind. Throughout her infancy I avoided the phrase "high needs baby" because I didn't want to sound whiny. Isn't that something mothers just claim to get extra sympathy? We all have a hard job as parents. Very hard. But, as Bug approaches two years, I am finding that I resonate with the descriptions in Raising Your Spirited Child. The intro made me tear up, because I am exhausted.
I hear other people talking about how their mother comes over every week. Or how they "prefer not to use babysitters," when I know they have family regularly watching their children. I want to scream. I love my baby so much, and I have noticed that a few hours away is all I need to refresh myself, see her as the darling child she is, and parent her the way she deserves.
Time for the personal responsibility: why haven't I been arranging those few hours for myself? Why have I let myself get to the point where I don't know when I could schedule a doctor's appointment, let alone a pedicure? I had a great conversation with a set of newish parents who have been friends of ours for several years now. I admit they are among those who bring out my jealousy, because they are so much more relaxed, and consequently happier than I am. Anyway, they mentioned how getting a sitter happened early in their son's life because Dad's birthday fell soon after baby's birth, and they wanted to celebrate. Being able to have a sitter became a regular thing, and they say getting one early is one of the best things they did. I agreed wholeheartedly that it's a good plan. There are no bonus parenting points to be won for doing everything yourself.
I look back at Bug's early days and wonder if I really could have done anything differently. I left her with her dad at 6 weeks so I could go to my postpartum appointment. She screamed the entire two hours I was gone. Every subsequent time I left her, she did the same thing. Around three months, my husband held her and tried to comfort her for four hours while I dared to go shopping with a friend. I reflect on those days and think that I must have developed a habit of doing everything myself, of writing off time to myself, because my newborn would freak out otherwise.
But things have changed. Bug can now self-soothe. She actually screams much less at other people than she does at me! Time to contemplate a solution. This has proven to be a long post, so I think I will continue in "Part Two."
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
It's Still Summer!
We just had a really fun morning with friends at our local park's wading pool. Today was the first time any of us had visited this pool, even though it's already late summer. Back to school sales are everywhere, Pinterest is full of fall recipes, and I caught myself planning Ladybug's Halloween costume. For a planner like me, it's easy to get ahead of myself and forget where we are now.
I'm writing this post to remind myself that we just moved to a great new neighborhood, and I have found at least three new playgrounds. We have a little less than one month before the wading pool closes for the season, so I'd like to squeeze every drop of fun out of the rest of the summer. The library can wait for the (many, many) cold days ahead.
Today is August 14. I bet I could make it to the wading pool or sprinkler park at least ten more times before August is over. I will break out the sunscreen.
I'm writing this post to remind myself that we just moved to a great new neighborhood, and I have found at least three new playgrounds. We have a little less than one month before the wading pool closes for the season, so I'd like to squeeze every drop of fun out of the rest of the summer. The library can wait for the (many, many) cold days ahead.
Today is August 14. I bet I could make it to the wading pool or sprinkler park at least ten more times before August is over. I will break out the sunscreen.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Me, Content to Follow
Ugh, potty training. I put all of life on hold last week because I thought it was time to pursue intensive potty training. It seems wrong to spill all the gory details publicly, so let's just say I was wrong, that it was not time to go diaper-free, and Miss Bug let me know that. I stayed vigilant (bullheaded) for exactly five days. Today I was in a funk over my failure, and tonight I'm ready to take all of life back off hold so I can return to enjoying motherhood. That's how bad failed potty training was. I do normally enjoy motherhood.
When I started this blog I wrote a description for it that refers to my best-laid plans and my toddler's idea of a good time. Weeks like last week are why. We have this cycle, maybe all parents and children do, where I plot a course and she either rolls with it or runs in the other direction. If she's not rolling I get intensely frustrated for a period of time. When I'm wise, it's a couple hours. Sometimes it's a week. With The Great Nap War, it was almost a year.
Then I lighten up and change course. I have to look to her strengths and her cues. I have to give her the attention she needs and also cut myself a little slack. Inject fun.
Although the potty thing isn't happening right now, Ladybug is all about dressing and undressing lately. I think I will focus on that all-important life skill. We can do lots of practicing with shoes and getting in and out of clothes. She'll have a blast, and I'll be paying attention to what she wants to practice, and doing less imposing of my agenda. Also, there's a book for that: Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?.
Now my frustration is beginning to evaporate. That always happens when I roll with her plan.
When I started this blog I wrote a description for it that refers to my best-laid plans and my toddler's idea of a good time. Weeks like last week are why. We have this cycle, maybe all parents and children do, where I plot a course and she either rolls with it or runs in the other direction. If she's not rolling I get intensely frustrated for a period of time. When I'm wise, it's a couple hours. Sometimes it's a week. With The Great Nap War, it was almost a year.
Then I lighten up and change course. I have to look to her strengths and her cues. I have to give her the attention she needs and also cut myself a little slack. Inject fun.
Although the potty thing isn't happening right now, Ladybug is all about dressing and undressing lately. I think I will focus on that all-important life skill. We can do lots of practicing with shoes and getting in and out of clothes. She'll have a blast, and I'll be paying attention to what she wants to practice, and doing less imposing of my agenda. Also, there's a book for that: Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?.
Now my frustration is beginning to evaporate. That always happens when I roll with her plan.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
"New Home!"
We're moving. Not a big cross-country move, but to another town in our same metro-area. I am extremely stressed by moves and therefore hoping to help Ladybug through the move as gently as possible. We have been reading a couple books to introduce her to the idea of a move. My favorite is The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day.
What I love about The Berenstain Bears book is how well the authors capture why a young family moves. The book is set "when Brother Bear was an only cub," which nicely mirrors our family of three. Things aren't bad in the current home, but they could be better. Mama and Papa Bear will have better work opportunities in the form of forests for furniture making and rich soil for gardening. As a current city-dweller in a ninth floor apartment, I really appreciated the description of the bears' old cave high on a mountain with a magnificent view! The bears' new tree house is even a fixer-upper with a little peeling bark. So many of the details are likely to apply to a young family.
This book covers all the basics. A kiddo gets to see what packing looks like, contemplate saying goodbye to friends, watch moving bears pack up the truck, and take the journey to the new home. I have been referring to the way the bears packed up as we have been packing our things into boxes. I tell Ladybug they are all going to the new home. She can say, "New home!" and calls the book "Bears' Home." I'm hopeful that moving day will be a little less stressful with this dialogue in place for us.
What I love about The Berenstain Bears book is how well the authors capture why a young family moves. The book is set "when Brother Bear was an only cub," which nicely mirrors our family of three. Things aren't bad in the current home, but they could be better. Mama and Papa Bear will have better work opportunities in the form of forests for furniture making and rich soil for gardening. As a current city-dweller in a ninth floor apartment, I really appreciated the description of the bears' old cave high on a mountain with a magnificent view! The bears' new tree house is even a fixer-upper with a little peeling bark. So many of the details are likely to apply to a young family.This book covers all the basics. A kiddo gets to see what packing looks like, contemplate saying goodbye to friends, watch moving bears pack up the truck, and take the journey to the new home. I have been referring to the way the bears packed up as we have been packing our things into boxes. I tell Ladybug they are all going to the new home. She can say, "New home!" and calls the book "Bears' Home." I'm hopeful that moving day will be a little less stressful with this dialogue in place for us.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Penguins
I have been fond of penguins ever since. About ten years ago, when we were dating, my husband gave me a stuffed penguin. Years later, on the Mother's Day when I was pregnant with Ladybug, he gave me a stuffed mama and baby penguin to go with the original gift. Now I had a penguin family in celebration of our growing family -- adorable, right? Ladybug found the penguin family today, and she's smitten. We got to talk about mama and papa and baby penguins. I love that this discussion isn't a total retreat from reality, since penguin fathers are involved in caring for chicks.
Tonight before bed, Ladybug picked a penguin book for me to read. We haven't done much storytime snuggling over non-fiction books, but I gave it a go. This is a book with way too much text for a young toddler, so I got to exercise my summarizing skills. We talked a lot about the mama and baby penguins. She was also thrilled with the knowledge that penguins "swim in wa-wa!" There was a drawing of a penguin skeleton, so I explained that many animals have hard bones in their bodies. I told her she has a long bone in her arm and her leg and that penguins have bones too. She said, "Penguin bones!"How fun that we had a totally unplanned pre-preschool penguin study! Maybe I will schedule an aquarium trip soon.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Before Five in a Row on Goodnight Moon
I suppose my homeschooling style is not turning out to be "unschooler," since I keep buying curricula and my daughter is only eighteen months old. I just adore books, and anything that gives me more ideas for how to introduce and discuss good books is too hard for me to pass up.
My latest curriculum purchase is Before Five in a Row, which suggests activities to accompany twenty-four different children's books. It is geared towards ages two through four, or "two thru four" as the cover reads. I will shrug off the insipid cover art and street sign spelling and move on to the content. The book-related activities comprise the first half of Before Five in a Row. The second half of the book is devoted to more general ideas for educational play.Goodnight Moon is not the first book listed, but I'm planning to begin there since it is the one we are probably most familiar with. I really am surprised by the ideas I am taking from Before Five in a Row. Why didn't I think of that? Because I am reading this story for the thousandth time from memory while planning a blog post and praying today will be the day Ladybug takes a nap? Yeah, that's why. So a book to help me out a little is welcome.
Ideas from Before Five in A Row that I will be using for Goodnight Moon:
- Point out the colors red, blue, yellow, and green in the illustrations. Ladybug is excited by all things color these days. I don't think I could offer her a piece of candy without a discussion of its color.
- Point out that a painting from The Runaway Bunny can be seen in Goodnight Moon. We have both books; it will be fun if she can see the connection. We can talk about how the same person drew the pictures for both books. Correction, I can talk about that. Maybe she'll understand it.
- Point out all the different animals in the book: Rabbits, kittens, bears, etc.
- Talk about the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle" and the illustration of the cow jumping over the moon. Bug has heard this rhyme. Here's a good chance for me to recite it a few times and connect it to a different book.
- Point out that the three bears sitting on chairs are the same three bears she knows from the Goldilocks story.
- Talk about all the different shapes in the illustrations. See if she will point out circles, squares, or triangles.
- The Bible activities. We are not practicing Christians, and while I want Ladybug to learn biblical stories for cultural literacy, I don't need to connect them to every storybook.
- The discussion of the room appearing darker relative to the sky outside. We can talk about light and dark, but this is a little subtle for her age. Not a fault of the book, we're just not there yet.
- A memory game where you try to remember the items in the great green room. Again, good activity; Bug is too young.
- Have the child tell a story using the pattern of Goodnight Moon. For example, say "Hello" to everything in her room.
- Vocabulary lesson explaining the use of the word "great" to mean big. At eighteen months, every spoken word is a vocabulary lesson. Does she need me to explain a specific word? Maybe I need more education on this point.
Blogging a Rainy Morning
The weather for yesterday morning was predicted to be nasty thunderstorms. When I woke in the morning things were sunny enough, but by 9:00 am the sky was looking ominously dark. Darn. Our play date to go swimming is cancelled, and the best decision I can see is to spend our day inside. We are sans car around here, and getting caught outside in lightning and thunder is not my idea of a good time.
Rainy days in a small apartment with a small toddler have a way of dragging on and on. So I thought I would blog all the little ways we passed the time. Or at least as many of them as I could remember and document. I should mention that watching the rain became a continual source of delight, and she returned to the window many times throughout the morning.
After breakfast, we sat with crayons and colored. Ladybug is beginning to get the idea. And yes, that is a ladybug magnet on our fridge. Thanks to a sweet aunt for that gift!
Then I thought I would try pointing out colors in Goodnight Moon. I got this idea from Before Five in a Row, which I will do a post on soon. We looked at a few green walls and yellow lamps before Bug requested "plo."
Then it was potty time. She requested the potty by bringing me a baby instruction manual and saying "Ah-pah-pah." The instructions for her own operation got boring quickly, but the Fruitominoes were at hit. Lots of stacking, talking about bananas, and general crazy swiping. Plus, she used the potty. Yay!
Then this cute Christmas ornament kept her busy for quite a while. It's a good thing I'm not organized enough to get all the ornaments back into storage, huh?
Right around now, I start asking myself if it's lunchtime yet. It's not.
I decided yesterday I might like to have Bug's bookcase outside of her room and in our living room, near her toys. This is about as close as you will see me get to a DIY project. So I shuffled some books around and slid the bookcase into its new home.
While moving the bookcase around, I notice that there is some board book repair I've been putting off. By the time toddlerhood is over, I think I should have attained some kind of certificate in board book repair.
Before, in pieces:
And after, all fixed:
At various points while I've been shuffling and taping books, Ladybug has been playing with her fish colors puzzle. I just love this thing, and she's into colors lately. She will take pieces and announce, "Blue fish! Black fish!" For some reason though, green is always blue. Oh well, this is imperfect homeschool.
Rainy days in a small apartment with a small toddler have a way of dragging on and on. So I thought I would blog all the little ways we passed the time. Or at least as many of them as I could remember and document. I should mention that watching the rain became a continual source of delight, and she returned to the window many times throughout the morning.
After breakfast, we sat with crayons and colored. Ladybug is beginning to get the idea. And yes, that is a ladybug magnet on our fridge. Thanks to a sweet aunt for that gift!
Then I thought I would try pointing out colors in Goodnight Moon. I got this idea from Before Five in a Row, which I will do a post on soon. We looked at a few green walls and yellow lamps before Bug requested "plo."
Then it was potty time. She requested the potty by bringing me a baby instruction manual and saying "Ah-pah-pah." The instructions for her own operation got boring quickly, but the Fruitominoes were at hit. Lots of stacking, talking about bananas, and general crazy swiping. Plus, she used the potty. Yay!
Then this cute Christmas ornament kept her busy for quite a while. It's a good thing I'm not organized enough to get all the ornaments back into storage, huh?
Right around now, I start asking myself if it's lunchtime yet. It's not.
I decided yesterday I might like to have Bug's bookcase outside of her room and in our living room, near her toys. This is about as close as you will see me get to a DIY project. So I shuffled some books around and slid the bookcase into its new home.
While moving the bookcase around, I notice that there is some board book repair I've been putting off. By the time toddlerhood is over, I think I should have attained some kind of certificate in board book repair.
Before, in pieces:
And after, all fixed:
At various points while I've been shuffling and taping books, Ladybug has been playing with her fish colors puzzle. I just love this thing, and she's into colors lately. She will take pieces and announce, "Blue fish! Black fish!" For some reason though, green is always blue. Oh well, this is imperfect homeschool.
Clock check. It's after 12:00! Lunch, anyone?
Monday, June 25, 2012
Seasonal Planning - Summer
Ladybug is only 18 months old, but I already do some homeschool planning. While most of it is spent on Amazon wish-listing books and curriculum ideas that will certainly change before Ladybug grows into them, some of it is beneficial to me now. Earlier this year I was inspired by a post on City Kids Homeschooling about homeschooling rhythms. I immediately started working out a similar schedule for my days with Ladybug. I have been updating them at the beginning of a new season, roughly corresponding with our music class. It helps me to take a step back and more deliberately choose how our days will flow. And it really helps me to have something to lean on during my 3:00 pm slump!
This is our summer routine. One of the best things I was able to do was recognize my 3:00 slump and plan to get outside around that time. The weather is usually wonderful, and I can't think of a better season than summer for frequent playground time.
Of course, like anything with a toddler, this routine is flexible. I adapt it to meet our needs. This is the basic outline that serves us well.
This is our summer routine. One of the best things I was able to do was recognize my 3:00 slump and plan to get outside around that time. The weather is usually wonderful, and I can't think of a better season than summer for frequent playground time.
Of course, like anything with a toddler, this routine is flexible. I adapt it to meet our needs. This is the basic outline that serves us well.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
A Few Moments for Nesting Bowls
In my mind, Ladybug and I have been working on stacking nested bowls. That is our weekly activity from Slow and Steady: Get Me Ready. What that really means is when she is trying to slide her entire body through the back of a kitchen chair or turn drawers into stairs, I realize I should come up with an activity. "What is our Slow and Steady thing? Oh yeah, the nested bowls," I think to myself. That will buy me five minutes!
I grab the measuring cups and line them up smallest to largest, left to right, as the book instructed me. Then I begin nesting smaller cups in larger cups. I think Ladybug stacked (not nested) a couple of them before realizing that the metal cups make an awesome sound when banged together or on the tile floor. And she was off making music!
This is often how our activities go, and I think it's cool that I can't predict where she will take them. The sixty or so seconds when she is on the task I presented add up when repeated over the week, and I see her engage with the game for longer stretches once she is familiar with it.
So many different strands of learning work into these brief moments of directed activity. One of Ladybug's newest books is The Three Bears by Byron Barton. So we also talked about big, medium, and small nesting bowls, just like Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear have.
This afternoon she climbed eagerly onto the bed and quickly nested the three bowls, then turned her attention elsewhere. Did I mention that this activity was scheduled for an 8 month old? Good thing I've only spent a few moments on it!
I grab the measuring cups and line them up smallest to largest, left to right, as the book instructed me. Then I begin nesting smaller cups in larger cups. I think Ladybug stacked (not nested) a couple of them before realizing that the metal cups make an awesome sound when banged together or on the tile floor. And she was off making music!
This is often how our activities go, and I think it's cool that I can't predict where she will take them. The sixty or so seconds when she is on the task I presented add up when repeated over the week, and I see her engage with the game for longer stretches once she is familiar with it.
So many different strands of learning work into these brief moments of directed activity. One of Ladybug's newest books is The Three Bears by Byron Barton. So we also talked about big, medium, and small nesting bowls, just like Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear have.This afternoon she climbed eagerly onto the bed and quickly nested the three bowls, then turned her attention elsewhere. Did I mention that this activity was scheduled for an 8 month old? Good thing I've only spent a few moments on it!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Caldecott Board Books
Ladybug loves turning pages in the books we read, and non-board books drive me a little crazy these days. It takes time to peel normal pages apart, and she is always grabbing the entire book and turning to the end if the book is printed on regular paper. I enjoy letting her look through the books without worrying about torn and bent pages. There's a reason board books were invented, and toddlers are that reason.
I also really enjoy the art in Caldecott award winners and am always looking for quality board books to add to our collection. With that in mind, I have created a list of the Caldecott medal or honor books available in board book format:2009 Medal Winner - The House in the Night
2004 Honor Book - Ella Sarah Gets Dressed
2003 Medal Winner - My Friend Rabbit
2001 Honor Book - Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
2001 Honor Book - Olivia
1999 Honor Book - Snow (Available as a board book October 2012)
1993 Honor Book - Seven Blind Mice
1990 Honor Book - Color Zoo
1985 Honor Book - Have You Seen My Duckling?
1984 Honor Book - Ten, Nine, Eight
1981 Honor Book - Truck
1979 Honor Book - Freight Train
1976 Honor Book - Strega Nona
1963 Medal Winner - The Snowy Day
1961 Honor Book - Inch by Inch (Available as a board book June 2012)
1957 Honor Book - 1 is One
1945 Medal Winner - Prayer for a Child
1944 Honor Book - A Child's Goodnight Book
1943 Medal Winner - The Little House
1940 Honor Book - Madeline
I am excited about several of the books on this list. Some of them I was unaware of, like My Friend Rabbit or A Child's Goodnight Book. Ladybug has started recognizing shapes, and Color Zoo looks like a brilliant way to continue talking about them. 1 is One is a counting book written in rhyme, complete with pretty pastoral illustrations. Not every board book is an appropriate read-aloud for a young toddler. I know that The Little House has a lot of text that Ladybug probably wouldn't sit through. But she has surprised me in the past with how quickly she accepts longer stories. I'm sure we'll be reading them soon.
On Ladybug's Bookshelf:
Monday, May 7, 2012
Loving Language and Corduroy
Ladybug and I read together all the time, and she is adamant about her role of turning the pages. Up until recently, it has taken her a little time to get used to a new book. She might have lost interest before the story was over, or demanded to flip through the pages more quickly. As she became familiar with the book's pictures and plot, her attention span increased. This process took a little time, and I found myself adding new books to our collection at a rate of about four per month.
Last week she startled me by developing a stronger thirst for language. I noticed it first when Jamberry became an instant favorite, no breaking-in time needed. She requested the book constantly, and I must have read it a dozen times a day. She honed her usage of the word no to reject other books in favor of Jamberry. The last page of the book sends her into a fit of giggles that warm my heart.
Now her book requests have ramped up. The other day she brought me ten books in a row. It looks like this: Toddler approaches, book in hand, and pleads, "Dee! Dee!" Mommy reads book. Toddler slides off Mommy's lap to fetch another book. Repeat. I worked out a system where I fold one diaper in between each reading so I can still get the laundry put away.
One of the books Ladybug pulled into our fetch and read rotation is Corduroy. I bought this one several months back, not realizing how much text it has. I introduced it to her by summarizing pages, just talking about the pictures, and only getting through half of the story before her interest was gone. Back then I put the book aside, not wanting to annoy and overwhelm her with something so long. She's a tiny kiddo, after all.
Well, that concern has passed, because Corduroy is now the #1 book in our household. Ladybug points at me when we read about Lisa's mommy. She grins in anticipation before the "Pop!" as Corduroy pulls the button off the mattress and points to her own arms as we read how Lisa carried Corduroy. She hums, "Hommmm," after Corduroy declares that he has always wanted a home.
Between the massive number of book requests and absorption of a longer storybook, I can see that the demand for more involved stories is high. I'm excited! I have ordered Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Madeline. It can only get more fun from here.
Last week she startled me by developing a stronger thirst for language. I noticed it first when Jamberry became an instant favorite, no breaking-in time needed. She requested the book constantly, and I must have read it a dozen times a day. She honed her usage of the word no to reject other books in favor of Jamberry. The last page of the book sends her into a fit of giggles that warm my heart.
Now her book requests have ramped up. The other day she brought me ten books in a row. It looks like this: Toddler approaches, book in hand, and pleads, "Dee! Dee!" Mommy reads book. Toddler slides off Mommy's lap to fetch another book. Repeat. I worked out a system where I fold one diaper in between each reading so I can still get the laundry put away.
One of the books Ladybug pulled into our fetch and read rotation is Corduroy. I bought this one several months back, not realizing how much text it has. I introduced it to her by summarizing pages, just talking about the pictures, and only getting through half of the story before her interest was gone. Back then I put the book aside, not wanting to annoy and overwhelm her with something so long. She's a tiny kiddo, after all.Well, that concern has passed, because Corduroy is now the #1 book in our household. Ladybug points at me when we read about Lisa's mommy. She grins in anticipation before the "Pop!" as Corduroy pulls the button off the mattress and points to her own arms as we read how Lisa carried Corduroy. She hums, "Hommmm," after Corduroy declares that he has always wanted a home.
Between the massive number of book requests and absorption of a longer storybook, I can see that the demand for more involved stories is high. I'm excited! I have ordered Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Madeline. It can only get more fun from here.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Spanish for My Toddler - The Background
I would love for Ladybug to learn Spanish. What a great opportunity we have to teach her a second language now, while her language acquisition is so rapid. We are not a Spanish speaking household, and we don't have any Latin heritage. I am simply one of those people who believes that Americans don't do a good job learning foreign languages and that we'd be better neighbors and thinkers if we did.
So here's the rub. Despite my noble belief that Americans should learn more foreign languages, I don't speak one. I have under my belt one year of college French and one continuing ed. Spanish class, taken as part of my senior year of high school. This is a perfect example of a time when I want my daughter's education to be superior to my own. But I also need to fess up and face my fears. I feel utterly, nakedly, stupid when limping along in a foreign language. I realize that I am not alone and that many (most?) people feel this way. That realization is no comfort, and I have shied away from serious language study as a result.
A quick web search tells me that Ladybug is not going to learn a second language if she isn't speaking it regularly with a real human being, preferably a parent. I am in luck! While I have a lame track record with language, my husband is a super-star. He has done serious dabbling in Italian, Japanese, Arabic, French, German, and Latin. He has done more than dabble in Spanish and is at a respectable conversational level. He can speak with fluent speakers and got by just fine in Brazil on the similarities between Portuguese and Spanish.
Okay, Daddy will teach her Spanish then, right? Well, it turns out that Daddy is also a "lazy bum" who is working nonstop to finish his Ph.D. When that is done, he'll be working full time to support his family, so his wife can stay home and teach their child. It is a shame that I married such an unsupportive slacker, but I have accepted my lot in life.
Seriously though, I believe that if a project is important to me, it's my job to do the work. My husband does read to Ladybug in Spanish, but I am with her full time, and I am taking on the bulk of the homeschool instruction. Here is a great opportunity for me to improve myself, triumph over a fear, and benefit my child. Let's learn Spanish!
I love how motherhood inspires me to be my best.
So here's the rub. Despite my noble belief that Americans should learn more foreign languages, I don't speak one. I have under my belt one year of college French and one continuing ed. Spanish class, taken as part of my senior year of high school. This is a perfect example of a time when I want my daughter's education to be superior to my own. But I also need to fess up and face my fears. I feel utterly, nakedly, stupid when limping along in a foreign language. I realize that I am not alone and that many (most?) people feel this way. That realization is no comfort, and I have shied away from serious language study as a result.
A quick web search tells me that Ladybug is not going to learn a second language if she isn't speaking it regularly with a real human being, preferably a parent. I am in luck! While I have a lame track record with language, my husband is a super-star. He has done serious dabbling in Italian, Japanese, Arabic, French, German, and Latin. He has done more than dabble in Spanish and is at a respectable conversational level. He can speak with fluent speakers and got by just fine in Brazil on the similarities between Portuguese and Spanish.
Okay, Daddy will teach her Spanish then, right? Well, it turns out that Daddy is also a "lazy bum" who is working nonstop to finish his Ph.D. When that is done, he'll be working full time to support his family, so his wife can stay home and teach their child. It is a shame that I married such an unsupportive slacker, but I have accepted my lot in life.
Seriously though, I believe that if a project is important to me, it's my job to do the work. My husband does read to Ladybug in Spanish, but I am with her full time, and I am taking on the bulk of the homeschool instruction. Here is a great opportunity for me to improve myself, triumph over a fear, and benefit my child. Let's learn Spanish!
I love how motherhood inspires me to be my best.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Using Slow and Steady: Get Me Ready
I really hesitated about buying this book, but I am glad that I did.
It's a curriculum with an activity suggestion for every week of life
from birth through age five. Am I that parent? I asked
myself. That parent who so longs for a high achieving child that she
follows a curriculum guide for her fifteen month old? I really value
child directed learning. I began my own homeschooling back in middle
school after reading The Teenage Liberation Handbook, which is about as unschooling and child directed a homeschool book as you will find. So why on Earth would I want a curriculum, especially when my daughter is at an age where she learns the most through free exploration? I'm not worried about missing any crucial building blocks, or that she might become delayed. But I have found that in the long hours of unstructured time it preserves my adult sanity if have some activities up my sleeve. Ladybug has fun, and I always move to something else when she's losing interest. That happens within ten minutes or less, which is to be expected.
I like to page around the weeks near her current age and pick something that feels good. Or, I will select an activity that I would not do naturally. I figure that broadens our horizons a little bit more. Then as I read the page for that activity, I try to internalize it so I'm not referencing a book all week. That way I can make the activity my own and change it to suit our needs.
The first activity I chose was "The Face and Head Game," listed under Age 1 - Week 1. It's about learning the parts of the face by drawing a face as well as touching the child's face and naming eyes, ears, nose, etc. I drew the face on a sheet of paper once, but my drawing is seriously sub-par, so I abandoned the creepy face. Ladybug was very engaged simply by the touching and naming. I also bought Where Is Baby's Belly Button? and read it to her frequently. It was a fun book to integrate into our playtime. The whole game extended well past one week, and now Ladybug knows the parts of her face.
I will let weeks pass without having a Slow and Steady activity in mind, no big deal. I skip the rhythm activities because Ladybug is enrolled in Music Together, so we do tons of that already. I often repurpose a toy we already own instead of fashioning the props exactly as the book suggests. I'm enjoying all the ideas I get from having the book to use, while balancing it with a flexibility that fits us.
Friday, April 27, 2012
"It's Not Homeschooling. It's Parenting."
I have come across variations of this comment on the internet. The idea
is that you can't call it homeschooling your toddler or preschooler when
you're just doing what any at-home parent with a rich list of
activities does. Part of the argument is that you're kidding yourself,
because actual homeschoolers of older kids have a much tougher job.
Also, this line of thinking continues, stop minimizing the work of those
actual homeschoolers by calling your ordinary parenting
"homeschooling."
I think these people are probably right, but I'm not going to stop calling my behavior homeschooling. Here's why:
It really is an argument over semantics. How often are these kinds of arguments worth spending much time on? Just know that when I say I homeschool, I do not sit my toddler down in front of worksheets, and I don't think I have mastered the challenges of home educating a rebellious 9 year old.
I live in an area where children begin preschool programs at age 2. Maybe 3 if you're a holdout. Stay at home moms will ask what you're planning "to do with" your toddler, and they mean which preschool are you selecting. I have a good friend encountering a lot of this preschool pressure. She has no intentions to homeschool, but she's wondered aloud if she needs to meet up with the area homeschoolers simply to find other parents who aren't choosing early school. In short: where we live, if you don't preschool, it's homeschool.
We do plan to "officially" homeschool when Ladybug reaches school age. Why does her learning count as homeschooling when she has reached the state-mandated age, but not now? She's working hard!
I homeschooled. I attended public school through mid-eighth grade, then withdrew and homeschooled through completion of high school. It's a lifestyle I love, and learning with my daughter feels like a joyful return to that lifestyle.
I think these people are probably right, but I'm not going to stop calling my behavior homeschooling. Here's why:
It really is an argument over semantics. How often are these kinds of arguments worth spending much time on? Just know that when I say I homeschool, I do not sit my toddler down in front of worksheets, and I don't think I have mastered the challenges of home educating a rebellious 9 year old.
I live in an area where children begin preschool programs at age 2. Maybe 3 if you're a holdout. Stay at home moms will ask what you're planning "to do with" your toddler, and they mean which preschool are you selecting. I have a good friend encountering a lot of this preschool pressure. She has no intentions to homeschool, but she's wondered aloud if she needs to meet up with the area homeschoolers simply to find other parents who aren't choosing early school. In short: where we live, if you don't preschool, it's homeschool.
We do plan to "officially" homeschool when Ladybug reaches school age. Why does her learning count as homeschooling when she has reached the state-mandated age, but not now? She's working hard!
I homeschooled. I attended public school through mid-eighth grade, then withdrew and homeschooled through completion of high school. It's a lifestyle I love, and learning with my daughter feels like a joyful return to that lifestyle.
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