Thursday, 10 November 2011

Great day! So excited!

Well today was fab!  After the frustrations of yesterday the contrast couldn't have been bigger!  It could have been quite different.  S's big brother was off school today.  Both the girls have been off and that's been ok.  Ultimately what they watch on tv is not really going to be a problem for S to miss as it's way to "girlie" for him.  With his brother though it could have been very different.  S adores his brother and likes watching, doing, thinking about anything he does!  It was great though!  S is clearly getting used to home school and is understanding that even with other people at home there is an expectation that he will be learning.  Phew!

Having abandoned my prep last night I felt really quite apprehensive this morning when we sat down at the desk!  One of my books on home schooling suggested letting the child along with you choose the topics that you look at so I gave it a go!  S chose ICT, then I chose maths, S chose topic work and I chose library and then S chose music.  We've agreed we will try to go for 5 things a day.

ICT just now is teaching S to touch type.  I still reckon that was the most useful thing I learnt at school!  If he could get the hang of that now that would be amazing.  I picked up a "Teach yourself touch typing" CD Rom last week and so we loaded it up and registered him.  It was great!  He did the first lesson and then went on to play one of the typing games.  He loved it!

Following that we did maths.  He moaned!  He complained at how hard he found maths and the addition and started showing signs that he'd forgotten some of the things we'd done already!  So, we went outside and did our counting up and down the garden path.  He loved it!  He ran up and down the path, happily filling in the path.  He wanted me with him all the time but hey - if I've a problem with that then what am I doing!!!!  From that we went inside and looked at "time" again using the clocks I'd made and stuck on the back of the door!  Again as soon as he saw the pencil and paper he made moves to go loopy so we abandoned them and did everything with our hands and movement.  And so the day went on!

We went to the church coffee morning for coffee where S politely spoke to some of the ladies and we also had a trip to the local library (which to my shame I'd never been in!!).  For topic work we read "The Frog Prince" which he thoroughly enjoyed.  I read it to him but we discussed it too (sneaking in some reading comprehension too!!) 

The highlight of my day was overhearing S telling his big brother all about what he'd learned about clocks!  He proceeded to explain all the different numbers!  I was so chuffed!  He was so chuffed! 

So I've done nothing for tomorrow!  We will learn together!  S has transformed over these past 3 weeks.  These past 2 days alone I've learnt how active S needs to be to learn.  I'm quashing all the preconceptions I have about education.  We all talk about how good "active learning" is and it is such a big buzz word in education just now but I wonder just how many people are like me and who deep down think that the REAL learning happens sitting at a desk with a book, a pen and paper.  S is teaching me just now how wrong I am and how different we all are!  S will take me way beyond my comfort zone and I am excited to see that!  The buzz I get from seeing him understanding new concepts and learning things whilst having fun is worth more than any salary or money I could be getting working somewhere else! 

So after today - Bring on tomorrow!!

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