Dec. 4, 2007 - A Snow Day is Still a School Day Here!
I had a little taste of what it must be like to "Weave" with many children that are all at different levels. Yesterday it snowed like crazy here in Maine (and it is still snowing) so public school was cancelled. I have a five-year-old girl who joins us for school three days a week and her two sisters came too because of the snow. I decided to plow through with school anyway and let them help me out. I had five children, 10, 8, 5, 4, and 2 years of age. We were beginning Unit 5 about day four of creation and focusing on the sun. We gathered around the table and discussed why the sun is important, it's uses, and then looked at Usborn's First Guide to the Universe, particularly the recommended pages about astronauts. We all got a kick out of learning that spacesuits have a built in "nappie". When I told the kids it was a diaper, they couldn't stop laughing.
I found that my usual students were more attentive, perhaps because the older girls had a lot to offer the discussion and it wasn't just me trying to lead and direct it. The oldest said "I wish our school was like this", which, of course, made me feel good. We made a little sun craft by tracing our handprints, painting a paper plate yellow, and gluing our prints to the back of it to look like its rays. Even at 8 and 10 they enjoyed this craft and were able to help me with the younger ones.
This day gave me encouragement as I think about multi-level teaching in the future using the Weaver and also realizing that school, in general, will get "easier" as my children mature. I use the word "easier" very lightly however!
Many blessing to all of you moms who are already in this stage of teaching many! Isn't the Weaver wonderful? I found it really brought all of us together in a special way and made our "snow day" productive.
Comments
Dec. 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 2boysmom
I "only" have 2 boys, but I've often thought it would be so much more fun (dare I say that!) to have more kids around the table. I even considered, this past summer, offering my home to a few kids that would have been entering ps. I chickened out because we travel during the year and I didn't know how that would work with other people relying on me to teach their kids. If you don't homeschool, you usually don't appreciate the homeschooler's schedule.
Anyway, glad you survived. Don't be surprised when their mom tells you they are bugging her to homeschool them!
Dec. 6, 2007 - from a mom of many
Posted by hollyhsmom
Your post made me smile as your snow day is my everyday and more. Yes, Weaver works just like your day for most of my days with lmy crew. How wonderful it was for you to have given your "extra children" the treat of homeschooling. Your own children will remember how you not only took the time to teach them but you freely offered that special blessing to others. Thanks for making me smile,
holly
mom of 10 blessings honored foster mom to many more
