I. Jan. 2009: In the Beginning...
The aftermath of Christmas has passed. The house is put back in order, toys have found a home, which they reside 20% of the time. There is an empty space where the tree used to be. What a good time to start something new...LEARNING TIME.It's easy to get Frog excited about something new--especially when it involves something special for him to open. Mommom had given us a small writing desk and chair some time ago that we had never opened. It was perfect! It has the alphabet along the bottom and numbers 1-20 on the top.
SCHOOL IS IN SESSION!
Time to swim along in this homeschooling pool...well...at least time to get our feet wet. Mostly, as I learned later- time to start trying, failing, and trying again.
THE PLAN!
Start with a Bible thing and then do an acedemic thing...(real reveolutionary huh?)
One week we'll do colors, one week letters, numbers, opposites, etc.
DAY ONE!
Prayer, Catechism question 1, and numbers 1-3
II. What is Learning Time?
Learning Time? Homeschooling? Why the funny title?I think I started calling this learning time because in the very beginning I didn't want to talk about school because I didn't think Frog would understand we're not going anywhere. He knows enough from media that school is a place you go to. He's been to Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. So, call it Home School...I supposed that would have worked.
I also think I didn't want to pressure of admitting I am HOME SCHOOLING. On the other hand, I sometime think I'm getting ahead of my self...he's only 3...
III. The Catechism
Frog and I have started working on learning the Catechism as the first thing we do during Learning Time. It is so basic, I am really enjoying it. Frog enjoys yelling the answers or pretending that everything pertains to his sister or PopPop.Learning this comes at a great time because of all his WHY questions. If he asks why long enough it's because God made it that way...why? Why does God make things? "FOR HIM GLORY!"
We made a colorful chart with the questions written out and Frog puts a sticker on the answers he knows. I make the chart as we go along and he asks to make one too. He puts lots of dots everywhere as he says the questions and answers (just like me:)
The Catechism is great because it is so foundational to our faith. It hits on so many major topics. Frog's Sunday School class is learning them too. They do questions 1-10 every year as one of their activities. It's a 3-4yr old class too so this will be reinforced again next year. Who knows how much he is actually understanding but it's a great starting place to knowing who God is and who we are in relation to Him.
IV. February 2009: No School: Inservice day...week or two...
We're taking a break!I'm scaling back my expectation and attitude toward Learning Time. I'm remembering that most pre-school programs only meet twice a week. I'm going to put elaborate plans on hold for a while and take things as they come.
The Bible stuff is most important to me so I am going to continue to do that--we're still on the catechism and I am surprised at how well that is going. I love the set up of the question and answer. The numbers, letters, etc. we still do but it's more random.
