I'm now a homeschooling mom! Unbelievable!
We got off to a bang Monday morning with me waking up with an awful cold. I decided that we needed to start school anyway. The day went surprisingly smoothly! Really, considering how awful I felt physically, the school part couldn't have gone better. Dallin apparently agreed, because several times that day he informed me, "This school is fun!"
It worked out well that our first few weeks were pretty lite, allowing us to ease into the school year. Starting in September, we start hitting Language Arts and doing bits of math each day, but for now, we're mostly just priming the pump for learning. The main thrust of each day is a distinctly Waldorf activity called Form Drawing. The forms are basically patterns that the children must learn to draw--quite perfectly. It sounds simple, but really, it is quite a challenging activity that requires pretty intense focus and self-control from the child--and that's the purpose of it, to develop the child's will.
The lesson starts with physical activity--in this case we were practicing drawing straight lines (I know, sounds cinchy--but it really did require him to concentrate!). We went outside and had him walk on this balance beam, then he had to do it backwards and blindfolded.
Naturally, he thought this was WAY fun. Then it was on to the actual drawing. Here, he was not quite so cooperative. He wanted to do things his way, not follow my instructions. He didn't want to slow down and focus, he wanted to race through it, and his lines weren't as straight as they needed to be. He did not want to trace the line in the air prior to drawing it. He then got frustrated when his line didn't look so great, and we almost had a meltdown on our hands. I have learned a trick! Whenever a meltdown is about to occur, suggest taking a break and having a snack! Works wonders every time! He even said, "At regular school, we never got to have snacks. We didn't get to eat until lunch time!" He really likes having snacks!
And then he came back and did such nice work in his book!
Then we did math. Turns out the math I planned is way too easy. I had no idea he had already learned Roman numerals! I don't recall him ever bringing home any homework or worksheets having to do with Roman numerals! And I'm quite sure I even asked him earlier this summer about it and he never said a word. Until Monday. But we're doing it anyway, because he's enjoying it, and I figure a review can't hurt. He also thinks it's cool that he gets to draw a picture in his book for every assignment (math or otherwise) that he does. I wasn't sure how he'd take that--he's not what I'd call "artsy". But he said he loves all the drawing. The premise is that children this age need to have their hearts engaged in the subject matter, and this engagement comes through creativity. Therefore, art is infused into every lesson.
This is Dallin hand-sewing a beanbag. Yep, hand-sewing. And liking it! And, he did a pretty darn good job for his first time ever. We are making a set of beanbags to practice math facts. In fact, this afternoon I sat down to make a couple of beanbags, and he actually came up (this was during his free time) and asked me to get his beanbag down so he could finish it. Handwork is a regular part of this curriculum, occuring about once a week. Next week we start knitting. This is said to develop fine motor skills as well as self-discipline and perseverence.
This is Dallin's illustration for the Native American tale of Coyote and Fire, where Coyote tricks the fire beings and is able to acquire fire for humans.
The only real rough spot we had was on Wednesday, which was the public school early out day. That is also one of three days a week in which Dallin can have computer time. The first two days, with no computer, he didn't even bring it up. But Wednesday, knowing he would get time after school, he mentioned it several times. And he wanted me to let him have his time early. I said no, our boundary was no computer during school hours, which for us means not while the public school kids are in school. And he whined and grumbled and told me that on early day in regular school, they always got to watch movies, therefore he should get to play on the computer. And I said, well, this isn't regular school, this is homeschool, so no. And he had a meltdown. Now, I had a set of books that I wanted him to read, but he thought they looked babyish. (The Animal Stories series by Thornton Burgess.) So while he was pouting and mad, I started looking through this book, trying to figure out how I could get him interested in reading. I told him I'd read to him, and he flat out said NO. But then I noticed that the fox, who is the main character, gets shot by the farmer's son. So I very nonchalantly said, "Hmmm, I think there's a gun in this story." Dallin immediately perked up: "A gun?" "Yeah," I said. "I think the fox gets shot." Silence for a few minutes... Then Dallin says, "OK, you can read to me, I guess." So I did, and he was hooked. He ended up reading the rest of the book on his own, and I think he'll read the whole series. It's just been amazing how many times like that I've felt pure inspiration as to how to get him to do something!
I'm surprised how relaxed this all feels. I know, it's home, not school. I guess I need to do alot of deschooling myself, because somehow it feels wrong to be so relaxed, yet it also feels SO right. We had the most wonderful day ever today!
Dallin has seemed so mellow and happy (of course having those few moments), and this just feels like a wonderful way to live and learn. It almost makes me feel guilty, though, like is shouldn't be this nice!
And the following two scenes represent, to me, what homeschool is all about: Several times in the past few days I have come across Dallin reading to Sariah. Of his own accord!
Below, he is sitting outside on the horse reading to her. And they've been playing games together. Without being asked! And the amount of fighting going on between the two of them has been far less this week. I hope it lasts!
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