Today as we started out our new "schedule" things went well through MATH and play time. It is now 10:50 and my kids are playing. We only did about 10 minutes of Language Arts, maybe 15 before I got flustered and frustrated. Cayten is reading simple I AM SAM books. He knows probably 10 words from sight and some short words he can sound out. I wanted to teach him phonograms as I have heard wonderous things about how it will help your child learn better to spell, read, write, etc. I just don't know how to teach it. The letter A has FIVE sounds or something like that and I wanted to go through 3 or 4 cards. I sound like a seal just making sounds and Cayten just laughed. While he was having a good time, I was getting frustrated. Does he get it? Is he learning? I know it is day one but am I going to be flustered like this all the time when things don't work?
After we were done with Language Arts of 15 minutes I wrote a few things down and then started researching how to teach phonograms. This is a splurge of what I wrote:
Overwhelmed, don't know how,
What to do if they don't cooperate?
I get frustrated EASY when they wont do what I say
How do I add Rysa into the mix when
she doesn't understand what I am teaching Cayten?
I know I have a lot to learn, and today is only one day, the first day, and I am not even through. At 11:00 we are going to do reading. I am going to read probably 5 or 6 books TO them. I will ask Cayten to sound out small short words or ask him what certain words are if I know that he KNOWS them. I need to institute some sort of snack time because not only is Rysa hungry, but I am hungry before lunch and her and I are both focused on if we can eat yet.
Today after reading and lunch, we will have art time. I like art time and both kids got playdough for Christmas so we will make creations, maybe some letters and numbers, who knows. I think my idea for structure might fly out the window, but I have to have some sort of structure that is just who I am. I am not "enjoying" the teaching and fun time with my children, so far I am dreading it, worried if they are "getting it" or not. I hate the feeling of being flustered and not knowing what to do. Next week my kids will be gone and I have a feeling I will be doing a LOT of research on how to teach, what to teach, why, and many more questions that are running through my head.
I came upon this
article and I agree with it to a point, but can't there be an in between because I feel I am the in between, I want structure and I want free learning.
http://www.hepg.org/hel/article/479#home
http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/early.htm
3 comments:
I didn't know you were thinking about homeschooling. I have some ideas for you to help with structure if you want. There are only a small group who don't have a set structure.
The home school stereotypes are silly, btw. I had some of the same worries. There are wierd and nerdy kids in public school too. And social problems are the least of all home school families after they start. I worry about them socially more if they were still in school.
Also, I think kindergarten is optional in Utah. You can start right in with 1st grade and do things on your own until then.
Why just kindergarten? You know, he'll learn so much more with just you than he would at school in a big group that he'll probably be so bored in 1st grade. Just my opinion... Call if you want.
Oh.. there's no way I could home school if I didn't want to. You are so brave!
Another thought... I don't know why Cris wants you to just do kindergarten, but if it's for academic reasons, you might want to look into the charter school. It's free and kindergarten there is like 1st grade in public school. 1st graders at Nibley Elementary have the same math homework as kindergarten at Thomas Edison. Mr. Budge is awesome there! You can observe a class anytime. We loved it there.
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