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jhigdon
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| Posted: Sept 08 2007 at 7:50am | IP Logged
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I have read Elizabeth's book and fell in love with it. But, I have to admit, I'm still not sure I understand the whole method behind it.
Right now I am homeschooling my six year old, and I have a preschooler, a three year old, and an eight month old baby. We've started with phonics and math from Seaton, and some supplmentation from CHC.
School is basically done in an hour or so because my daughter is such an excellent student and zips through everything.
But, I find myself looking to entertain them after "school" is over. I'd like more structure in the day to keep them learning (hence, entertained). I don't like to use the TV if I don't have to, but find myself doing so in order to rest or just have some peace and quiet.
My daughter can read, and can read well. I am floored by just how much she can actually read at this point. She pretty much taught herself and soaks up stuff like a sponge.
I feel a deep call from the Holy Spirit to adopt this method of learning, but honestly have no idea where to start.
I've ordered some nature journals for the older two kids, and would like to instill a love of books, classical music, and nature into my kids.
Any suggestions? 
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missionfamily
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Joined: April 10 2007
Location: Louisiana
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| Posted: Sept 08 2007 at 8:40am | IP Logged
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What about letting your dh have quiet reading time in the afternoons using the selections from the Real Learning booklist? And having a family read-aloud that is on a bit higher level that would challenge her thinking skills and get her talknig about literature. Tea time to celebrate the liturgical feasts on the week and a bit of outside time observing nature each day would fill out your afternoons. Having her narrate stories and illustrate her narrations could keep her busy for hours! That's a good bit of real learning for her age!
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Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
Footprints on the Fridge
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Sept 08 2007 at 6:35pm | IP Logged
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The Beethoven's Wig cd's are so much fun- a great way to start introducing classical music to children. Otherwise, just pick a great cd and start playing it.
I find that when I try to think too hard: ie, what composer do I start with? which piece? how often should I play it? etc... then I get "learning paralysis".
If I just start small and actually start then I am always surprised at how the kids soak everything up.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: Sept 13 2007 at 8:26pm | IP Logged
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Colleen and Melinda have great suggestions. To this you could add some picture study (informal -- discuss colors and which pictures she likes and why) and art with a variety of mediums (colored pencil, chalks, paint).
One natural way to begin "real learning" is to go for a nature walk or just pick an area of the backyard to investigate. Look up your discoveries in field guides, children's nature books, the internet. My boys love doing this and get so excited when they've made a discovery.
Another idea is to use something like Five in a Row to jumpstart your learning. We use the Five in a Row manuals but go deeper into each subject (making longer studies out of them). I pull extra ideas from this board, the FIAR board (you have to be logged-in to search their archives) and craft books, and then add supplemental reading from the Real Learning booklist, books mentioned here, and my library searches.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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cornomama4
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| Posted: Sept 13 2007 at 10:30pm | IP Logged
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It is hard to fill the hours with little ones sometimes, especially when an older child or two is getting bored. Some things I try (emphasis on try..)
Will the older 3 listen to a story CD while coloring or doing some other quiet activity? If baby is napping then, you could do light housework or maybe even test out those sofa cusions to make sure they're still comfy! Somehow, a story CD always seems better than a video.
Maybe you could do some Montessori type activities while "training" them to help you around the house. Show the 3 yr old how to fold dish towels (I NEVER fold my dishtowels, but my second son loves to do this and see the drawer with neat stacks) Let the 6 yr, and maybe the preschooler, vaccum or dust mop or just sweep. My not-quite-two has her own dustpan and whisk broom..she loves to sweep the floor..and the walls..and the stove..and her brothers! Give the 3yr a damp spounge and let them go to town on the major appliances. When I do this I set my standards on LOW and my patience on HIGH, but I'm always surprised to find that some cleaning actually does get done.
Let the 6yr teach the 3yr letters and numbers. My boys taught their little sis 10 new letters this week!
Have a "regular" craft time a few days a week, with each child doing something to their level. This means the baby gets to tear up paper (or whatever is safe) and the 3yr gets to color..maybe on an "educational" coloring page.. and the older ones could do an actual simple craft (maybe related to the liturgical year) or just work with different types of art equipment. I can only do this well if it's planned a little in advance, because finding glitter glue, popsicle sticks and empty TP rolls at a moment's notice is not my forte!
If you have transportation, try to get out a little almost each day. Look for things that are regular and cheap or free...maybe story time at the library, art classes, park days, etc. Having something planned really helps break up my day, and staves off that panic feeling I get at like 10:30, of the vast wasteland of time to cover before dinner.
Don't worry too much about some TV or a video during this season of your life. You are still "recovering" somewhat from the newest baby, and probably haven't slept through the night since before your first was born (I know I haven't!) So catch a rest or put your feet up here and there during the day. Just try to choose the best of the worst, meaning "educational" videos or TV. But one too many episodes of Little Bear is much less damaging than seeing mommy being driven off to the loony bin.
We try to do the nature journals, but I have to be careful not to critique at this stage. It's really neat the things they will observe and record, if left to their own devices. Since classical music is my and dh's profession, they get a lot of exposure but again I have to let them experience it where they are now. There is a lot of interpretive dance going on around here, and I find they listen quite well when the classical station is on the radio in the car.
It's been said that children will learn from their familiarities (this is a paraphrase at best) so if they exist in a world full of good books, music, art and spend plenty of time outside they are bound to pick up the things you want for them in these catagories, and you may not even have to "teach" them!
I hope it doesn't sound like I think I've got it all figured out..I know I don't.(who does?) I had a major frustration meltdown myself today, partly because my dh went back to work this week after our 6 weeks of seasonal layoff and I didn't, but I do know the days go better with a little structure and an attempt to get a little something done each day. And just remember this time will be over before you know it. Now is the time for just being kids and learning the way little kids learn...you know, just living. Plenty of time later for all that book-learnin'
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Tell me about Real Learning
