I’m a teacher. I love to teach and I’m not lying when I say my very favorite thing in life is watching something “click” with a child. I love the moment when they “get it”. I love to teach kids (2nd grade is my favorite) and so naturally, teaching Ethan is fantastic. When I got to stay at home with him and nanny with him, I taught him TONS of things. We went out to explore constantly! Now that I am working those opportunities are limited. I typically work 10-6 and the evening I’m making dinner, laundry or laying on the couch exhausted!! I felt like I was gipping my baby boy because I HAD to work. At first it was a serious struggle balancing work and home. I remember texting my friend “I just abandoned my baby.” I struggle not only because its hard to balance and exhausting but because the control freak in my wasn’t in charge of his learning.
I’ve always been the parent with flashcards, using teaching supplies to make new games with Ethan, coloring and overall being crafty. I had been talking with Conor and since we both know I HAVE to work and Conor feels strongly against homeschooling, I’ve felt a little stuck. I was talking to my friend and she mentioned his cousin supplements education. She sends her kids to school but when they come home, she has a little bit more that challenges them. I love this idea of still having a say in a topic to devulge in at home or even just knowing where my child is when we move. Not everywhere we move will have the same standards and some places we move could have awful school systems. I can do more or less to help Ethan (and future babies!) stay on track with where Conor and I want him to be!
Obviously Ethan is only in a preschool/tot school program. His school is fabulous for learning through exploring. They have dramatic play, all kinds of blocks, science and tons of art! He is starting to make friends there and his best friend Gryph started there a few weeks ago too. I love that he is doing all that but the room he is in doesn’t do letter or number identification, etc. I know my little man is ready and interested for letters and numbers. He is improving his scissor and glue skills and is always up for a challenge.
I started clicking and clicking online until I came across Confessions of a Homeschooler and her fabulous Letter of the Week Curriculum. It was only $10 and I just print what I want/need as I want/need it. We focus our “Houseschool” as Ethan has been calling it, on about 20 minutes of activity. We started with “his” letter, E. I’m doing to start with the letters in his name and then going in order from a book I have from college.
Here is some of what we did this week.
(I’ll post more pictures later, WP won’t let me post them tonight =( )
Nice to see you still remember how to write and spell…
Glad your back!!!
Mom
Well done too….
This is a great idea.
I’m sure it has to be rough to let someone else “do your job.” I am a bit OCD, so I can relate somewhat. However, isn’t it great that he is getting to experience other things and is learning to socialize so well? And like you are now trying, there is no reason you can’t still work with him at home. Now is the best time in his life to get and keep him excited about learning. It should set the “tone” for the rest of his life and his mind is so open to learning right now. Great job.
This is what my Mom did with us growing up, it really helpled her keep in touch with everything we were learning and gave us that special learning time with her! I love homeschooling, but fully realize it doesn’t work for everyone. I’m excited that you are taking an active role in Ethan’s education! If only all parents were that motivated!!