Aug. 18, 2005 - Learning Happens August 17th
I am starting to see the fruit of asking myself "who can benefit from being with me at this moment" - I am taking the younger ones with me to go through their math, or discuss a moral issue, or even to retell a Bible story as I hang the laundry or prepare something in the kitchen. Its kind of multi-tasking in a discipleship kind-of-way!
Monday – Josh, Jess and Nomi all spent time on their stories this morning. Josh wrote a purpose for his non-fiction book and an outline. He usually doesn’t write with such a structure but for the purposes of completing this book I decided it was necessary. Jess is quite happy with the humour that is creeping into her story. Nomi … she just keeps writing and writing. We had another little discussion about it not being a competition for the longest story but rather the most interesting and that it had to come to an ending sometime!
While I did the laundry Daniel came outside with me and we practiced his counting. I mentioned the other day that we are thinking that it may be his speech holding him back from counting orally. It is actually six-seven he has difficulty with and that seems to throw him with seven-eight. We practiced and practiced, both with pegs and just saying the numbers. We also reviewed colours. He is getting a good grasp of numbers (one more will make 6, I need one more to make 7 etc) it seems to be just verbalising the numbers. Since this is a busy week we will move on to another area of math for him next week.
Nomi also joined me outside and we practiced counting 0-100. We also discussed the pattern of counting in the teen’s. When we came inside we used the Math-U-See blocks to build, write and say numbers 10-25. Nomi needed practice in seeing the difference between 15 and 25 (one-ty five and two-ty five). At the end of the session she was able to confidently build numbers with the blocks and write them correctly, switching between the teens and the twenties.
We then got out a model Solar System that Daniel was eyeing off all weekend. We have painted all the planets. Next step is to string them all up and make the mobile.
Notebooking time – Jess worked on a page for “Creation” this is purely an artistic/communication project as she is doing it so her “Notebook” starts from the beginning so to speak! She then glued in her work on “Noah and the Flood”.
Josh organised his completed work for the year – He has worked on a unit “Great Dinosaur Mystery”, and is currently working on Chemistry and Roman Civilisation History. Working with systems is a big effort for Josh so we continue to discuss this and give plenty of direction and guidance as he works through it.
Nomi and Daniel worked on “Things that Fly” mini 4 tab book. They both chose 4 things that fly from our clipart file to glue into their book. I wrote details about these items in Daniels book. I chose words that would be good for him to practice speaking. Tomorrow Nomi and I will do some research and I will dictate her narrations as she discovers a few facts about each one.
Daniel’s speech is improving all the time. Over the weekend he started to come up and say, “Listen to this…. I can say – paint!” with the inference that he has said it by himself and correctly. His confidence and perseverance has been outstanding.
Nomi and Daniel found a Praying Mantis on the Pawpaw tree – why didn’t I get them to draw it!
Our day finished with a Radio Sermon “The Holy Spirit – a Helper for Everyone”
Tuesday – Our day focused around visiting our little friend K, in hospital. Jess, Nomi and Daniel spent the first part of the morning making cards for her. They used my lace box, and found beads, bells, ribbon and embroidered motifs. A real mixed medium art session.
Joshua worked on his Timeline catching up with various areas of interest and study.
While in town we went to the library, had lunch and did a small grocery shop.
This afternoon Peter and Josh fixed the lawnmower catcher and handle. Daniel tried to make a “something” to tow behind his bike. Jess made an obstacle course for Nomi and Daniel.
Peter and Josh also worked on the model train, laying more cork and getting the track up and running again.
Wednesday – We have heard that our favourite librarian is leaving so we are going to write a book to say our thanks. We brainstormed together, went our separate ways to write our own parts to the story. Josh and Jess then typed everyone’s stories, and combined them, editing the “joining” bits in order to make the story flow.
Then everyone had to do a drawing. We photocopied and enlarged their drawing onto watercolour paper and they used watercolour pencils as their medium (except Daniel).
Later in the evening I scanned everyone’s artwork and used Publisher to put the story together – text and artwork – 24 pages! It is a very good story and a very good days work.
Jess had her music lesson and her first ride on a motorbike.
Daniel had his speech lesson.
Josh and Nomi played a game of chess. (Nomi is learning from her brother).
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