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11/18/2003 Archived Entry: "new lessons"

We got started on the new lessons today. Tabitha was so excited to be doing the math lessons. She cannot wait to use all the cool stuff that came in the kit. Today we just used linking blocks and she can't snap them together! I'm not completely surprised, the fine motor stuff has never been her forté. It frustrated her though and considering snapping the blocks together really has nothing to do with the actual math problems, I think we may switch to her Duplos or just use regular blocks and stack them. That's the beauty of homeschooling, we don't have to stick to the "rules" and can find what works for us. I combined the first two lessons into one and we easily could have done 5 more lessons, but everything involves coloring right now and if there is one thing my child enjoys, it's coloring! It takes her soooo loooooong to color a picture. One activity she had to do was choose a number and draw that many animals (I told you we're doing the easy stuff right now). Anyway, she chose the highest number just so she could draw as much as possible, lol. I have time to read "War and Peace" in the time it takes her to draw and color some animals. I did find out that she draws a really good pig, who knew? Art and math combined in one lesson :)

After math, we started the grammar book. The very first lesson is capitals at the beginning of names. The problem with that is she *only* writes in capitals. So, we're putting aside the grammar book right now and working on writing lower case letters. Now I have very definite ideas about writing, I don't push it. It will happen when it happens. She writes all the time of her own free will. I never tell her to. I also do not give her lined paper because I don't want her to feel constricted and focus on the lines instead of the creative story she's trying to write. So, I don't really like the idea of her practicing writing letters. She was not opposed to the idea though, so I printed out a set of letters that are dotted for her to trace and she also wrote a set herself within lines. As long as it doesn't bother her, I'm going to encourage her to write with lower case, but if she starts focusing more on the formation of the letters and less on what she's trying to say, then we'll stop any mention of lower case. We'll hold off on the grammar lessons a week or two to see how she wants to write and then reevaluate at that time.

My child was just picked up by my mil and taken for the evening. I guess she and my husband decided I need more time to myself and cooked up this little plan. I had mixed feelings about it. First, I was just by myself for a few hours Sunday morning and didn't really need more time so soon. Second, I would miss Tabitha. Usually when she is babysat, Chris and I go out so I don't really miss her as I'm grateful for the time alone with my husband. This is just different and something I'm not used to. So, off they went and here I sit. I have the car so I think I'll go to Toys R Us and pick up a couple last minute Christmas items since I couldn't do that with Tabitha. Then I'll probably pick up greasy fast food and come home to wash my hair in peace. Tabitha is going through a major Mama phase and I can't even take a shower by myself anymore. After that, it will be just like any other evening after Tabitha has gone to bed. I'll watch some TV and work on my holiday cards some more. Party on.