Homeschooling

Some people ask, "So how is homeschooling going?"  I still don't really know how to answer that.  I do feel like it is going well, but it has been especially a challenge in the past couple of weeks.

When I started homeschooling Eden, I choose to start with her alphabet packets that came from a Kindergarten teacher in the Bay area!!  Thanks, Donna!!  They were the best place to start for us.  She had already learned her letters, but it was needful to start from the beginning.  Eden knew what to expect with the packets since they are much the same, but just a different letter.  The packets included one page to practice writing the letter (very needful, since I wanted to teach her the correct way so when she goes into cursive it will be smooth), identifying objects that start with that letter (for her identifying objects is still hard) which we modified a bit and she spelled each word out with my help.  Lastly, it had a page of math, which she really, really loves!  We started her math pages using paperclips for help, but eventually I asked her to try it without paperclips and as I suspected, she didn't need them!!  I had slowly started Eden in her Saxon Kin. Math book, which was good because it starts with writing her numbers, which she mostly knew anyway.

Now that she has finished those, we are working mostly in her Math book and Houghton Mifflin Kin. Reading book, which is good with reviewing her letters again!  Since starting into these books, I am assured that Eden is where she belongs, with her schooling.  First off, she just doesn't understand a lot of basic directions.  To try to read the directions on the pages to her does not work a lot of times.  I have been working on a lot of vocabulary with the directions (top, bottom, first, second, point to, etc.) Most of all, if she was in a classroom with other kids, she would be confused much of the time, even though she is quite sharp!  Objects that our kids are used to being around Eden does not necessarily know the name of it.  In fact, Bella has helped Eden a number of times. 

The other day, we were learning signs in her book.  I knew that Eden knew what a light switch was, but Bella had to help her find it in the house after looking at the picture.  Shapes are a whole new thing.  Needless to say, it has been very challenging.  There are many times when I think she is getting it, but she may not be.  I am working on her verbalizing more of what she is thinking, or understanding (but that can be challenging too).  In fact, I have to remind her that if she does not understand what Mommy is telling her she needs to tell me, "No understand, or I don't know."  I love that she is eager to learn and eager to please me!  I have to remind myself at times that she has not even been home for two months.  She is intellectually ahead in many ways, yet the language is still a barrier many times.  

Last week I received something in the mail from blogger friend, Krista!!  The timing could not have been any better!!  Today we had a fun project, thanks to Krista!  I needed this reminder, to mix in a little more fun.  Bella has been doing the Hougton Mifflin Reading Kin. book right along with Eden, a little differently in some ways though (smile).  It has been fun to watch Bella take in things I am teaching Eden and Bella is writing her letters!!  Anyway, today both my little home schoolers enjoyed a very fun project.  Here are some pictures for you, Krista!

                                                         
                                                         Are these not the cutest?!! 

This was such a hit!!  Krista cut out this project on her cricut.... and you all know I have a cricut that I love to use too.... so that has my mind rolling,.... for some fun projects for both my girls since they loved this so much... and I think the break from the regular school work is good!  The biggest challenge is that I only have a couple of hours each day (usually) to do homeschooling.  The irony of this project, though, is that Eden didn't know what a snowman is!!  We hope to go to Iowa for the holidays, though, and I am hoping to introduce her to a snowman, with a carrot nose! 

P.S. - Please don't ask my how homeschooling is going after I have one more running around here!!!