one l michele
05-06-2008, 12:17 PM
projects with a purpose - any ideas?
I posted on the general board, but it was suggested I also post here, so I'll copy & past my post & replies to others. Thanks.
Do you think I should be doing more with my 6 y/o who turned 6 mid year, thus is really a K'er this year?
He takes ~45 minutes daily to do the following:
reading - we use Sonlight and he's been doing a week's worth of level 1 readers a day, he reads on his own as well
grammar - he's doing 1 page, front and back of Flashkids Grammar, he writes in script
spelling - he's working through SWR, he's now on list H for the second time, we do 5 words per day, he writes them in script
math - he's almost finished with Horizons 1 book one, he does one lesson per day
speech - he has articulation issues which is why I'm not jumping to 10 words per day in SWR, or moving ahead in the level of reading even though he does spell and read at a higher level then he's currently doing for school, we are working on clarity. He uses speechercize daily and goes to public school for speech therapy an hour a week.
He devours art projects and logic workbooks regularly.
He constantly tells me I'm not giving him enough work.
I want him to enjoy being a child and play while he can, he's doing just fine academically IMO, but then part of me does wonder if maybe he's simply not challenged?
He doesn't care for educational computer games.
In the afternoon, I combine my 2nd grader and this ds for Sonlight read alouds, history, music, and MWS. We've already finished health and art for the year.
He loves monkeys and has for years. He has the complete Curious George collection.
He just started collecting sports cards and he's been reading sport magazines and the sports section of the newspaper for awhile. He doesn't care to play sports though.
He loves art projects, but is moving into a new phase. He's past the playdoh, pearler bead, and basic craft stuff. He went through an entire kit of window art clings, mosaics, and shrinky dinks. He really enjoyed, but is bored with the Draw Write Now, Thinker Doodles, water colors, water color crayons, water color pencils, real water color paper, etc.. I do add regular art in for him since he's so passionate about it. He has an easel in his room he sketches on regularly.
He devours 500 piece puzzles, logic books, word searches, etc..
He is very visual, doesn't like busy work, hates repetition, is quite independent, and organized.
Oh, and he doesn't like computers, he says they slow him down.
He just does things around the house he sees needs done, like fold laundry, empty the dishwasher, empty the trash, I never have to ask him to do anything, he always goes beyond. He's just always thinking, always prepared, and so darn logical.
As for school, he takes his worksheets, does them and brings them for me to check, he knows he did well, if he's unsure he will come and ask. He doesn't like praise, he's just so easy to teach, I really don't feel I can take credit for teaching him. I just asked him about school and he told me "It's too easy.". He says he wants more reading, art, and science projects.
My "problem" is, I have three to teach, ages 8, 6, and 4. My 8 y/o is polar opposite. He is exhausting to keep focused and motivated. My 4 y/o is quite curious when it comes to physics - LOL and keeps me on my toes. Definitely an active learner.
How do you know if your child isn't challenged? I'm not one for acceleration, but would rather help them explore their interests and world as it's impossible to exhaust learning opportunities and there is plenty of time for typical school subjects. It's a challenge with mulitple students.
Science kits would be a great idea. He also loves to invent things or problem solve.
He memorized many of the FLL poems & chants from listening to his brother use it a couple years ago. He does have a shuffle with educational "tunes". He'd probably love some books on there too though, thanks for the ideas.
He can definitely wants things to do that have a purpose. His older brother is into woodworking, this one hasn't shown any interest and I kind of prefer them having their own interests.
Hi IS relying on me and that frustrates him being so independent. I guess I'm brainstorming here ideas that he can safely do on his own that build on his interests. Then how to keep little brother away while he does that. He says he wants to be a chef, cake decorator, or artist when he grows up. He's pretty responsible with his art supplies, I could start to allow him to use some in his room so he's brother doesn't disturb him. Little guy still naps, so that is when he could do things in the kitchen.
They exercise twice a day, once with me in the morning, then with dh in the evening. We have a full basement and home gym on one side, the other side they have a rebound net, riding toys, scooters, balls, etc..
I'm definitely trying to avoid busy work, or simply more school, especially if I am needed.
We only have on field guide, for our rock & mineral unit we just started, our yard is bare bones though, no trees, no flowers, and patchy grass so there isn't really much to explore.
I posted on the general board, but it was suggested I also post here, so I'll copy & past my post & replies to others. Thanks.
Do you think I should be doing more with my 6 y/o who turned 6 mid year, thus is really a K'er this year?
He takes ~45 minutes daily to do the following:
reading - we use Sonlight and he's been doing a week's worth of level 1 readers a day, he reads on his own as well
grammar - he's doing 1 page, front and back of Flashkids Grammar, he writes in script
spelling - he's working through SWR, he's now on list H for the second time, we do 5 words per day, he writes them in script
math - he's almost finished with Horizons 1 book one, he does one lesson per day
speech - he has articulation issues which is why I'm not jumping to 10 words per day in SWR, or moving ahead in the level of reading even though he does spell and read at a higher level then he's currently doing for school, we are working on clarity. He uses speechercize daily and goes to public school for speech therapy an hour a week.
He devours art projects and logic workbooks regularly.
He constantly tells me I'm not giving him enough work.
I want him to enjoy being a child and play while he can, he's doing just fine academically IMO, but then part of me does wonder if maybe he's simply not challenged?
He doesn't care for educational computer games.
In the afternoon, I combine my 2nd grader and this ds for Sonlight read alouds, history, music, and MWS. We've already finished health and art for the year.
He loves monkeys and has for years. He has the complete Curious George collection.
He just started collecting sports cards and he's been reading sport magazines and the sports section of the newspaper for awhile. He doesn't care to play sports though.
He loves art projects, but is moving into a new phase. He's past the playdoh, pearler bead, and basic craft stuff. He went through an entire kit of window art clings, mosaics, and shrinky dinks. He really enjoyed, but is bored with the Draw Write Now, Thinker Doodles, water colors, water color crayons, water color pencils, real water color paper, etc.. I do add regular art in for him since he's so passionate about it. He has an easel in his room he sketches on regularly.
He devours 500 piece puzzles, logic books, word searches, etc..
He is very visual, doesn't like busy work, hates repetition, is quite independent, and organized.
Oh, and he doesn't like computers, he says they slow him down.
He just does things around the house he sees needs done, like fold laundry, empty the dishwasher, empty the trash, I never have to ask him to do anything, he always goes beyond. He's just always thinking, always prepared, and so darn logical.
As for school, he takes his worksheets, does them and brings them for me to check, he knows he did well, if he's unsure he will come and ask. He doesn't like praise, he's just so easy to teach, I really don't feel I can take credit for teaching him. I just asked him about school and he told me "It's too easy.". He says he wants more reading, art, and science projects.
My "problem" is, I have three to teach, ages 8, 6, and 4. My 8 y/o is polar opposite. He is exhausting to keep focused and motivated. My 4 y/o is quite curious when it comes to physics - LOL and keeps me on my toes. Definitely an active learner.
How do you know if your child isn't challenged? I'm not one for acceleration, but would rather help them explore their interests and world as it's impossible to exhaust learning opportunities and there is plenty of time for typical school subjects. It's a challenge with mulitple students.
Science kits would be a great idea. He also loves to invent things or problem solve.
He memorized many of the FLL poems & chants from listening to his brother use it a couple years ago. He does have a shuffle with educational "tunes". He'd probably love some books on there too though, thanks for the ideas.
He can definitely wants things to do that have a purpose. His older brother is into woodworking, this one hasn't shown any interest and I kind of prefer them having their own interests.
Hi IS relying on me and that frustrates him being so independent. I guess I'm brainstorming here ideas that he can safely do on his own that build on his interests. Then how to keep little brother away while he does that. He says he wants to be a chef, cake decorator, or artist when he grows up. He's pretty responsible with his art supplies, I could start to allow him to use some in his room so he's brother doesn't disturb him. Little guy still naps, so that is when he could do things in the kitchen.
They exercise twice a day, once with me in the morning, then with dh in the evening. We have a full basement and home gym on one side, the other side they have a rebound net, riding toys, scooters, balls, etc..
I'm definitely trying to avoid busy work, or simply more school, especially if I am needed.
We only have on field guide, for our rock & mineral unit we just started, our yard is bare bones though, no trees, no flowers, and patchy grass so there isn't really much to explore.