Nothing Is Adding Up

When we started home schooling, I was rather surprised to find that math was fun to teach. It was never my strongest subject in school, but as an adult, I had gone back and taught myself more algebra, geometry and some trigonometry because it just seemed ignorant not to know these subjects.

With math, you do see incremental improvements day by day, so perhaps that encouraged me while working with the older kids. But with Samuel, I feel like I'm running through mud. It's not him! He's plenty bright enough and seems to have an analytical mind and a natural sense for numbers. But I have to kick myself to sit down and do math lessons with him. I have no idea why.

Reading, Again!

While this blog is primarily about Samuel, today I'd like to focus on his main sidekick, Uriah, who has just turned four. Naturally, when we're doing school, Baby U joins in as best he can. He loves hearing books and stories and is usually on my lap as Samuel and I read.

Lately, I've noticed that Uriah is beginning to make the connection between letters and their sounds. So I've encouraged him, by pointing to simple two and three-letter words with a short vowel sound. I get him to identify the letters first, then tell me the sounds, then I help him put them together. Some words like no, on, Pa, and stop, he's seeing on his own as we read.

Of all the joys of home schooling, this is one of my favorite. To see the kids start reading has been such a thrill!

Since their Dad is dyslexic, I was concerned for my boys since it is more prevalent among males. I held my breath with an older brother, and he just plowed into reading. I was concerned there might be a link between Samuel's communications challenges and reading -- but so far, he's doing very well! And now Uriah is at the very preliminary stages, and I get to do see another child blossom with reading!

Jumping for Joy

At his last occupational therapy session, Miss Nicole introduced Samuel to jumping rope. It uses a lot of energy and requires coordination at several levels; but forget the technical aspects, Samuel is having so much fun!

I don't know why we hadn't thought of this before -- perhaps jumping rope seems more like a "girl" activity; certainly that was the case when I was young. But then, boxing movies always show boxers working out with jump ropes, so maybe it really is for guys.

For most of the last week, we've had no opportunity to get into a store that sells jump ropes. Today, we finally had the chance, and both boys selected purple jump ropes. They're off to a jumpy start!

What Is Tested?

I've started looking at possible testing for Samuel this spring. I often did this with my older kids to help with curriculum selection for the coming school year. With Samuel, I'm concerned we will face a bit more scrutiny because he is "special needs."

Here's my dilemma: from what I've seen so far, the tests will depend a lot on language skills, his ability to understand what I tell him and his ability to express himself. He is reading at a second grade level (at least) and is doing well with his math, science, and social studies. So how do I demonstrate that without encountering his known weaknesses?

Looking at some of the test prep materials might be helpful and may eliminate my concerns. Right now, I'm just going by online descriptions. We have a store locally that sells educational materials, so it will be worth a trip over there.

Bon (Electronic) Voyage

Since I had been out of touch with my inner blog, I missed until yesterday a comment that merits discussion. It reads in part:

I do see your point about accidental learning, but, at least for me, I feel that the internet is actually a much more effective medium [than print media]. I learn so much from the internet by following random links that it actually interferes with my ability to learn what I should be learning as a college student. Often times it is in the course of researching for a paper that I am drawn to random links, especially on Wikipedia, where I learn nearly everything but the thing I am looking for. 

 OK, I'll cling to my old newspaper, but I do agree that the internet has given much to everyone -- and to home schoolers in particular. Ten years ago when I first started home schooling, I thought we'd be using electronic media more. Both my husband and I are computer-savvy, but search algorithms could be frustrating and the electronic materials at the time were clumsy; they often either emulated a classroom or created  unnecessary impediments.

Jump forward to 2010 and I find the internet to be one of my biggest allies.

When we come across an intriguing topic in literature, history, or science, we can usually find pictures if not audio and video. Bagpipes don't have to be just a passing mention in a book, but something performed on the screen in front of us. (My youngest now wants to learn the pipes!)  A static picture of pioneers making their way out west suddenly comes alive with  creaking wheels, dust flying, and people struggling to dig themselves out of the mud.

We have found that some authors and even characters have their own websites with classroom activities. Our handwriting curriculum has a huge website with how-to videos, ideas, and a multitude of support. Science is limited only by my sons being so young.

Whether hard copy or electronic, a sense of adventure or willingness to explore can go a long way on the information highway!

Up Out of the Snow

Ah, the wheels are beginning to turn again. My husband is back at work, and my oldest son is back at his Christian school; We were mostly at home for about 10 days after back-to-back major snow storms (one actually labeled a blizzard). We were blessed in that we only lost electricity for eight or nine hours and were plowed out fairly quickly. One homeschooling friend did not get out until yesterday since she had six-foot drifts along a quarter mile of driveway.

From an occupational therapy perspective, these snow storms benefited Samuel -- steering a sled down an snow chute in our backyard involves a fair amount of core strength, coordination, and balance especially since he has to steer by leaning. Besides, it was plain, old-fashioned fun!

I continued reading to the boys (from the Little House series) but ran out of new materials for Samuel to read aloud to me. Little House on the Prairie corresponded nicely with our history and geography because we are studying western expansion in the US.

Our big news: Samuel's little brother is beginning to sound out three-letter words! Our reading adventure continues.

Storm Snows Blog!

First I was having trouble logging in to this blog, then we got blasted with 30+ inches of snow in an area that considers six inches of snow a big deal. We were amongst the thousands and thousands of people who lost power. And we're expecting another storm starting tomorrow!

Samuel and Uriah have had a blast barging their way around to make "roads" through the snow. I've also pretty much continued homeschooling both to stay on schedual and to keep little boys busy! Samuel's speech and occupational therapy have been canceled.

With the whole family home, though, I'm having a hard time finding time for this blog.

A Fact Is a Fact

"Do I have fluid in my stomach?" This question comes out of left field as Samuel plays with a monster truck.

We had been studying how the body processes food. What fascinates me is the way Samuel processes information. I think whatever we talk about in school just gets run over and over in his mind and pops out over the next few days as questions.

I'm also wondering if he's checking that facts remain facts. That's a given, to you and me -- unless proven otherwise, what is a fact today will be a fact tomorrow and next week. But I suspect Samuel is testing this. It takes patience to answer the same questions over and over (by the evening, my eyes are starting to glaze over!) but it's worth it in the long run.