Today was an interesting day. Someone popped online for a few minutes before their school day began and then forgot to turn me off. Thanks to a perfect location in the room, and no children using me for their studies-gotta love those people with multiple computers-, I was able to observe.
The mom looked fresh, as though she'd just gotten ready for the day but it was after noon. I don't know if they're night owls or if she just 'freshens up' for the school day. The children looked slightly rumpled but the clothing was clean, it fit, and there were no holes or tears. I think they'd been wearing them for a few hours. All of them had nice clean faces and 'done' hair.
The room was very cheerful. Tastefully decorated, it was homey without being cluttered. The 'students' assembled on the couch, around a table, and in nearby chairs. The mother settled down in a nicely padded recliner beside a low bookcase. One by one the older children filed by receiving their assignment sheets and asking simple questions about different subjects. As the younger children drew near, she handed worksheets to each one. How she did this, I thought, was interesting.
She would hand the sheet to a child and say, "What do you do on this sheet?" The child would look at it and tell her the answer. Sometimes she'd say, "Excellent, go do it!" but other times she'd say, "You didn't read it very well. Read it, don't guess." Usually the child would reread it, get a silly look on his face like he can't believe he didn't read that right, and go do it. One child didn't understand. She reread the instructions several times but still misunderstood. The mother showed her by doing one of the items on the sheet. I could see the lightbulb go off from across the room. The child raced to the table and did the worksheet in record time.
At this time, after a quick assurance to a child asking if they were doing a problem right, she pulled out a science book and flipped through the pages. She took notes on what they'd need for some experiments and then put that book back. She pulled out a grammar book and flipped to the current page. She then opened the pages of three workbooks and called for three of the childrn to come into the room. They read the instructions aloud, she gave an example of how to identify a direct object, and told one of the scholars to identify the direct object in the next sentence. Once each of them managed to successfully complete the task, she sent them to work on their grammar assignments.
Later, after a few minutes listening to a new reader read and explaining how to find what an integer is, she opened the science book. Three students came rushing to listen and take turns reading from the book. They did an experiment, each turning out similarly but slightly different, and then assembled the necessary materials for the next one.
The mail interrupted at this point and mom called several of the children to see the new piano instructional DVDs. Two of the children immediately took a laptop to another room and in a few minutes I could hear the instructional video and their tentative striking of keys. Before mom could begin correcting work, three of the younger children were finished with all of their work. Mom looked at a list of books and movies and sent them to another room to watch a science video.
The mother then pulled me from my perch. I couldn't see anything anymore but I could hear the sounds of a toddler waking and squealing with joy. The mother snuggled with the little girl and read a short book from low bookcase. Full of security, suggles, and energy to burn, the toddler dashed away to find her siblings and woo them into a swing on the swingset.
Now mother went to work recording grades, correcting work, taking notes, and I think working on her own curriculum that she is writing. I saw her glance at the computer clock. "It's almost four, finish up whatever you're doing and let's get this place in shape for daddy. I'l start dinner."
Children climbed out of the woodwork replacing books on shelves and sharpening pencils. One little girl squealed excitedly when she realized that the next day was 'art'. The mother, unfortunately, closed me at that point. I don't think she ever got to actually read anything I had to share. I hope she comes back. It was a nice experience.
Comments
Oct. 8, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Michelle32
Great post!