School Days
We started school back up yesterday after a 5 week break (it was scheduled to be a 3-week break, but I ended the last term at 5 weeks because I had no brain power or emotional energy to do school, then Knox postponed his arrival until the end of my planned post-partum week, so I took another week for post-partum recovery and we’ll have another 5-week term).
Hans now has independent work he does on his own and then shows to me afterward, including reading that he narrates back to me. I’ve started him just reading one Aesops and one short early-reader geography book that he has to retell to me. On Monday he mixed up the details of Aesops and only remembered 1/3 of it, so I narrated it to him to show him what I meant. Today he was able to narrate the full story on his own. No longer will I tolerate him telling me, as he has been, that “I don’t remember; I just threw that in the garbage of my brain.” He’s got to start hitting the ‘save’ button. :)
In even more exciting news, Jaeger sounded out his first words today! “Sat,” “at,” and “last.” Hans just started reading more in spite of me rather because of instruction; I’m not even sure how he did it. Jaeger doesn’t have that natural bent, but he has more determination and work ethic than did Hans, who didn’t want to read what didn’t come easily to him. Jaeger knows most of the letter sounds, though he’s sketchy on the vowels still, and he can blend, and understands how reading works, but he has to concentrate and try hard to do it. So it’ll take him some work, but he’s ready and willing to put up the effort. We’ll be using TATRAS more according to direction this time around, I think. :)
I CAN’T believe you are starting school already! That’s amazing. Although, Bennett does so much independent work that it is easier sometimes to spend 15 minutes with him to get him started because it keeps him occupied and out of trouble! Good job!
It takes a lot of mental energy to get myself up to it each morning, but all three of the children (and more and more myself as well) handle life better when we’re functioning in our routine. Although, I must say that while we weren’t doing school, I was actually able to keep on top of housework and laundry! :) Now we’re doing school and the housework and laundry are falling behind. My mom helped a lot with kitchen and laundry all last week, so I didn’t start the week off behind, at least.
Good job!
I always love these posts. Somehow, you thinking “aloud” about your children helps me reassess my own, if that makes sense…
Your posts help me in the same way; it makes perfect sense. :) We all notice different sorts of things going on.
Go Jaeger! I’m rootin’ for you.