Learning time

As we are busy gearing up for Halloween (so many fun costume ideas percolating -- some even being made into reality! yes, made. by hand. we're crazy, i know), I thought I'd show y'all what I've been doing with our going-on-three year old as far as schooling goes. He is WAY too young, in our opinion, to be in a school setting. He still has SO much to be taught here at home first, with loving discipline and without the wonderful things other kids would teach. Not to mention, he should probably be able to button his own shorts first.

 So, we are staying close to home. And, while little Eva naps in the a.m., we bake and do this little thing I made called the Learning Poster. Yeah, it's intense...don't judge, I was home-schooled.

 After discussing the theme, vocab word, and bible verse of the week on Monday, we repeat that on Tues/Wed/Thur with the addition of either a letter (right now, we are doing digraphs, as he's got the regular alphabet down pat), shape (actually, we haven't been doing this either, as you can see above. He knows all of the normal shapes, so instead of introducing parabolas, we're doing a poem instead!), or a number (he's currently obsessed with one hundred. we count up to it and beyond often around here).

  Then we take a glance at the calender. It's just a dry erase board that I change monthly. I print out some clipart of the holidays or special events that are happening that month, and we talk about what's coming up daily. This month, we have a basketball game with daddy on the 19th and, of course, Halloween. Oh, and we also have little pics of different weather, so he takes a peak out the window, reports back, and then we tape up the corresponding picture together. Yes, we are total geeks. And, I think I'm okay with that! Kiel already says he wants to go to Stanford like Daddy did. Gotta start somewhere, kid.

 This is my mommy arsenal. I stocked it fairly well right before September in preparation for the "school year" ahead. We do multiple crafts a week along with the learning poster and calender, and this helps tremendously. It sits on the kitchen counter, so we can grab supplies for art projects at will. Here's a mash-up of some of the stuff we've been working on...sorting with tongs and cutting with scissors (fine motor skills), as well as shaving cream land-formations (gross motor skills, off the hook).

 

The scissors were a pretty big deal. These are shots of his first try. Not bad. Not bad at all, kiddo.

 We originally formed the land-formations on the paper, but Kiel demolished them far too quickly to get photographic proof!

 

Once this little beauty wakes from her morning slumber, we hit the streets, parks, bikes, and stores, and just keep running until the main napping event of the afternoon. These are good days. I value this one-on-one time while my kids are young. We know this time is sacred and holy. Don't get me wrong, it's Intense with a capital I and Crazy with a capital C. But good. Very good.

May you be inspired to do the good work He is calling to, and may you be at peace, loves.

m