I am not entirely sure how this all evolved but we have gone from 'better late than early' to 'doing school'.
Sometime over the past few months I noticed that it had occurred to my five year old son that he did not know how to read.
He wanted to read.
However, I had read You Are Your Child's First Teacher (lovely book!) and it suggests to wait until a child is seven years old to start anything academic, so even though I knew he was starting to show interest I was dutifully waiting. And then I noticed a defeated little cloud settle on my beautiful boy. He knew he couldn't read and other children could and he didn't know how to go about reading.... sigh...
(a mother's heart breaks a into many pieces).
I am glad for a mother's intuition and that I listened to my heart because I think I caught this before he went any further with this thought process and lost precious self esteem. I decided to start practicing some basics with my son, a bit of alphabet, a bit of counting etc. I decided to do it every day and make it special, casual, and fun. This decision fueled my nerdy side and suddenly I was full of ideas and so, so excited!
However, the 'doing school' part...? that was not me. My children coined this. I would have preferred calling it something sweeter, but my children started calling our little lessons 'doing school' and it has stuck. Also, I couldn't do fun activities with just my five year old. My four year old has naturally joined in, and my two year old steals everyone's crayons...
So we have gone from waiting until they are at least seven years old - to doing school with my four year old, with a busy toddler joining in!
Honestly though....the most formal part of our daily school is simply the daily-ness of it. We sit down together, light a candle, read a poem and tuck in to little projects. We are all loving it. The addition of this rather disciplined addition to our daily rhythm has made everything seem to flow better, smoother. I feel like I need this excuse to sit down everyday with them for these kind of projects. it is so easy to get lost in housework and my own projects. I really love spending this time with them and they are learning lots too which is really fun.
And my five year old has shown a fantastic inclination towards math, we started this because he wanted to read and discovered he loves numbers, wonderful!
This is why I love home education, it is ours, we create what we need together. We love learning together.
'Doing School'... so far has been pretty amazing!
1 comment:
Mother's intuition is everything isn't it?
My girl started to love letetrs around 2.5yrs. She's taught herself to read really, and if I actually taught her, she would be amazing I think. But I stopped 'teaching'.
It really only started with supporting her self-directed learning. But I got excited and enthused and bought reading learning books and we practiced simple phonics etc. But very quickly I saw how the English language as not being intuitive (which I know as an ex-tutor) is so utterly unsuitable for such a young brain. She may be smart and willing, but technically, her brain is not developed for complex letter combinations.
And it was all gearing too much too opening up her mind academically, rather than imaginatively.
So I backed right off. I will answer her when she asks what a word is, but otherwise zero 'reading' help. She's only 4.5yrs old.
I'm glad I followed my intuition and allowed her love of letters and words to blossom, earlier than recommended, but her pace. And then I'm glad I continued mindfully by letting go of any teaching.
My nerdy side also gets enthused easily! lol She's teaching me what real learning is all about.
all the best!
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