I know, I know, I really shouldn't keep pointing it out,...we're homeschoolers. If it weren't for the fact that we get such a bad rap, I'd leave it out of the equation altogether.
I was thinking about what faydean said yesterday, about how some homeschoolers see awfully odd things as education. And it's true, we count as educational what most people wouldn't, and we find lessons where others always thought they shouldn't.
Take chess with my daughter for instance, yes she's six. A game you all play, or at least intend to with your children. I learned more than she did, as she gently kicked my ass. Mainly, I'd underestimated her brain power and nearly let her win.
She taught me a new move, that requires looking w-a-a-a-y ahead. Suddenly, out of nowhere, each time I aimed to take her guy, (instead of moving) she moved a new guy in there. She blocked me!
I'd better study harder.
10 comments:
She is really super duper cute.
I look forward to the chances to take regular life moments and make them into schooling opportunities. When she was 4, my daughter took pretty firm hold of the basics of fractions from looking at them in a cookbook with me and then measuring them out. This led to multiplication and division. Granted, it's not genius level so some are not impressed but what pre-k can you go into and see kids doing this? Montessori maybe, but I don't have $800 extra dollars a month for that. ($2400, when you figure that I've got 3 kids) I'm still not 100% sure what we'll do for her next year, though. Mostly it's that I'm having a really hard time doing school for the eldest with the 3 & 1.5 year olds running around - or rather insisting on being in our faces, literally, when ever I'm trying to concentrate on a lesson. Really, how did you do it?
Totally grooving the Chess set...
not to mention the genius with the supercute grin
6 Years old and playing Chess! That's amazing. The 3 nephews that I have that are in school do not play chess. You should be very proud.
I love the chess board. Share your secrets :)
Sarah, I've learned to capitalize on the moments of peace, and to just roll with the moments of complete and utter distraction.
It is very difficult with toddlers, but you're lucky because at these young ages, reading is the best thing you can do with them.
Here's a "lapbooking" site that can be a good excuse to let everyone distract themselves with glue and safety scissors, while you work on slipping some phonics or math problems or history or science before your older ones.
http://www.squidoo.com/lapbooking
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/
If all else fails, Leap Frog videos, and others you can check out at the library are great for all ages.
Maria, my kids got turned onto chess during a playdate at our house. My friend had taught her son how to play, though with a few rule exceptions, and suddenly my kids wanted to try too.
So, teach one kid the moves, and the enthusiasm will be contageous. They have some really cute chess piece themes out these days, which I think adds to the fun.
you should scream that you are a homeschooling family on the rooftopds (okay maybe not since neighbors might be scared), but it is great that you partipate so bluntly in your children's education..and because of that you are my heroe
have to second Heather & Maria. the fred flinstone chess set is great!
I will be homeschooling my oldest two next year (ages 7 and 6 now) and moments like this are something I cannot wait for...actually, they can't either!
It's great to see the positive side of homeschooling!
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