Ready for Big School

Hubby and I are really contemplating where to send our daughter to school. Since the international school here doesn't meet our expectations, we need plans B and C. so we let our daughter take an entrance exam at my alma mater. This is just to check if she is really ready for school, whether a brick and mortar or homeschooling. I wasn't really confident that what I taught her was enough and that she will be at par in academics with kids her age.
This was the result.

Our daughter passed the exam. The school staff was impressed that she did very well at all subjects considering that our daughter never attended school before --- except for our homeschooling activities. The mistakes that our daughter made wete more on math questions. They asked her to add 5 and 6. She said she cannot do it since those numbers won't fit on her fingers. Lol. My bad. I haven't taught her how to add numbers more than 10.

Now, she is beginning to be good at adding more than her fingers. We've been practicing this a lot lately.

She is confident now that she can add bigger numbers too. I'm so proud of her.

 I hope she'll thrive well and enjoy the big school or in whatever kind of academic setting we decide in the future. 

Homeschooling Resources

We came here early this year with a handful of books my little one and I can use to start our "homeschooling". They were really great to keep the little learner busy and to make lesson plans easier for mommy. However, we finished them all before our "school year" ended so I have to squeeze out my creative juices to keep this preschool homeschool going. Luckily,  I found TeachersPayTeachers , a site were teachers and passionate educators share for free and /or for a minimal price their original teaching resources. The website is a haven /heaven of awesome worksheets and teaching paraphernalia.  

I started downloading some free worksheets just to try it out. My little kid loves them. And I love them too because I don't need to make (or go out  buy) teaching supplies and activities for our homeschool. 

Free printable worksheets I found online 

Among my favorite sellers/ authors are:

Moffatt Girls

Science Doodles

Mrs. Leeby

Another website that has awesome printable worksheets we really like is from Wild About Teaching. We use her worksheets for practicing handwriting of my little kid.

I think I have a new place to "hang out" other than "Pinterest".

Homeschooling Notes: Simple Tallying

I spent too much time trying to search ideas how to teach addition (and now subtraction) to my little learner. We already tried crafts in answering equations, used her toys in representing numbers, jumped on number line to solve math problems and other props but nothing seemed to be really useful in making Math easy for her. Well, jumping on a number line was effective but that won't be really ideal in a desk and chair setting. So I taught my little one the tallying technique, which I thought was a bit boring to learn numbers for my very playful toddler. Surprisingly, it worked. We've used tallying to solve math equations in different situations for the past weeks (shopping or Cashier pretend play, written seat works, board problems, etc.) and tallying is really working for her.

tallying

Why didn't I try this simple technique before? Argh. I sometimes (okay, often times) complicate things. Now, we can move on to subtraction. Yay.

Tallying

Homeschooling Notes: Math Time, Fun Time

We've been struggling with Math for the past weeks. Maybe addition is not our preschooler's thing". So we brought this subject outside to make it more fun. And anything that involves Jumping is a sure way to make our (not so) little one interested.

Jumping on each number in getting the sum

We are getting better at Adding numbers now.

I'm a happy teacher/mama.

Homeschooling Notes: Sight Reading

Well, you really can't have it all (at the same time.) While we struggle in math, sight reading seems to be a breeze. Let's stick to this for awhile and enjoy homeschooling. :)

Homeschooling Notes: Math

I've always liked math when I was younger. My uncle would teach me numbers and simple math problems every chance he gets. I would rather sit with him and do math equations than play with my cousins during weekends. So I thought, this must be an easy subject to teach. Oh boy I was wrong.

I've tried several approaches in teaching addition to my toddler including her fingers, my fingers, sticks, clips, beads, and all the other teeny tiny things you can count and add.

Nothing seems to get her full attention. Let's just try this again another day. 

Homeschooling Notes: Starting to Read

I used to set up a Sight Words Wall, more of a fridge actually. I put up short words (consonant-vowel-consonant) where the little one can see and "read" often. She can't really read them yet, though she can make the letter sounds already. The wall looks something like this:

 But it always ends up like this:

She would say the sounds of each letter correctly then reads the entire set of letters as "dinosaur".  Ppppfff. I stopped making the wall because it is more difficult to unlearn reading those letters (and other set of letters) as "dinosaur". We can learn reading some other time anyway.

So I gave it a try again a few days ago at this sight reading and CVCs but using a different approach.

DIY CVCs flashcards

We even tried "making" the words and when the little one is in the mood, even write the words down on paper.

stamping on clay

I must say, this has been quite effective. The little one has read her first word last night. Initially just saying the letter sounds then eventually combined all the sounds to make the word. And her Dad was there to see and hear it. We are one proud parents.

I have to be really more creative, innovative and flexible at this homeschooling thing. Some things work and some things will work eventually. :)

Homeschooling Notes: Prewriting and Writing

I've been hard on my little one with her writing. I got really frustrated that she can copy a short note (the one she made for her dad for Valentines)

 but can't write number "2" properly.

writing number "2"

There were a lot of bargaining, negotiations, whining, tears, whining, tears, whining and tears just trying  to finish the task on the photo.

So we spent the past few weeks forgetting writing "2"  and spent them just doing tasks the little one likes. Like painting,

drawing on smartphone app,

her Rainbow Cow

lacing,

beading, 

and other activities (clay, puzzles, etc.) trying to develop more her fine motor skills that, hopefully, will translate to writing better, specially number "2".

Homeschooling Notes: Story of St. Patrick

I've only heard of St. Patrick's Day and never celebrated it. I guess it's not that popular in my part of the world. I only know there's a lot of greens, leprechauns, 3 leaf clover, Liam Neeson and a lot of Irish beers. Silly me.

I tried to research about it now (just now) 'cause it will be helpful in learning religion and other cultures in our homeschooling. And I found this youtube video about St. Patrick a little helpful and a bit funny too.

In our mini celebration of St. Patrick's life, we made some Green Crinkle Cookies. I tried shaping them like shamrocks but this is all I can do. I'd better update my cookie cutting tools for more baking crafts. 

Homeschooling Notes: February Crafts and Activities

Our first month of our scheduled homeschooling is over and we are looking forward to our next homeschooling journey next month (in 2 days). Here are some of our activities for February.

left - right 1st row: picture of our school; counting, matching numbers
left-right 2nd row: Valentines day card, Ash Wednesday craft (salt dough ornament), Chinese New Year craft (dragon)
left- right 3rd row: lesson on senses -- touch, taste and smell

Starting Our Preschool Homeschool

I have taught our 3 year old toddler since she was born through books, games and songs about what I/we think are basic academic and necessary for survival skills -- She can say her name, know her parents' name, name other family members, recite alphabet, count up to 10, identify colors and numbers, know big/small, up/down, left/right, can do self care activities, tell stories, draw and write a few letters, etc. She responded well that's why we are seriously considering homeschooling.  Besides, international preschools are limited where we are living and homeschooling might be the best education for our child right now. Our intention is just to prepare our "preschooler" for real school work once she goes in to a regular school a year or two from now. If all goes well (or school choices are still limited) with this endeavor, we might continue this homeschooling a little longer --with a formal curriculum of course. But for now I'll just create this homeschool to keep our little one busy and prepare her for regular school in the near future.

from my generous sister in law, family and friends

We are now ready for homeschooling!

And I'll use this as my guide:

 Homeschooling in the Philippines

 Standard and Competencies for 5 year Old Filipino Children

Homeschooling Notes: Writing, Small Letters and 2 Step Instructions

The little one has already "mastered" the big letters. So last week, I started teaching her the small letters. While at it, we can practice writing and following instructions. 

I told her to:

1) get Blue Pen and draw Circle around Big Letter A
2) get Purple Pen and draw Circle around Big Letter B
3) get Orange pen and draw Circle around Big Letter C
4) get Green pen and draw Circle around Big Letter D

Then,

1) get Purple pen and draw X on small letter a

2) get Green pen and draw X on small letter b

3) get Blue pen and draw x on small letter c

4) get Orange pen and draw X on small letter d

She did pretty well even though she seemed to resist and verbally asserted that she doesn't know or like it.

I'm amazed how my 34 month old was able to follow instructions and do "complicated tasks" "perfectly". Ahhh, the simple joys of my life.

Homeschooling Notes: At Her Own Pace

Our little one seems to know a lot about animals (naming, sounds, mama-and baby), colors, shapes, answering basic questions, spontaneously saying (polite) common phrases, etc.  But she just doesn't say the alphabet or count like her peers do. So we started homeschooling to make sure our little one is ready for traditional school when the need arises. Everything was doing well for a couple of weeks. However, I get disappointed when she seems not interested or not learning anything at all. (and I ran out of ideas how to creatively teach her in our homeschool classroom) I decided to cease this scheduled sessions and just go about playing and horsing around after the 3rd week. I'll just "teach" her when the opportunity comes. Maybe 2 years old is just not ready for school yet. Or maybe the "traditional-school-in- a-home-setting -set-up" is just not for us (yet).

After a few months of totally no scheduled homeschooling, our little one started saying and doing these:

"Mama, look, other M." -03102014
(as of press time, she said, "M and double U.")

"Mama, same letter B" -03122014

"Mama, I make same letter H." -03232014

Hallelujah!

I thought she is not learning anything. She is actually really learning it, not just memorized but learn and understand even if you put these letters in different directions. 

I am, more than ever, convinced that:

1) Play is an important part of learning for little kids. Read more on Why Play-based Learning and Play Based Learning

2) Learning is not confined to four walls of a classroom (or flashcards, pen, paper and books). Read more on Education Outside the Classroom

3) Children (and adults) learn at their own pace and style. Read more on Your Child's Learning Style

 We just have to keep on providing her with a stimulating environment for her learning, growth and development.

Trying Out Home Schooling

I have a couple of friends who are into homeschooling their kids -- not just one but 2 -3 kids. They have been successful at it even when they are Work-at-Home-Moms. I see the value of homeschooling as you can structure and re-structure your own "classroom" as you go along with it or as you see fit with your child. I still intend to put my little one in traditional academic setting. But since I am a Stay-at-home-mom for now, I would give this a try.

I found this sites very helpful in trying to create my lesson plan for my very playful 2 year old.
All In One Homeschool
JumpStart
I don't expect her to learn all or even finish any activity suggested here as my toddler's mind is pre-occupied with Unboxing Egg Surprise Videos on Youtube. 

So far we have done these:

Day 1: Filling Letter A

Day 3: B for Breakfast

Day 6: Pin the Letter/Shapes

And she's doing well... and too smart to let me teach her things that "she already knows". I used to spend 2 days on 1 letter so I adjust it to just 1 letter a day.

I'll end this entry with a movie scene from 2009 that I just watched recently...

Zebulon (The Answer Man): I'm gonna tell you a couple of things. All kids develop in different ways at different times and in different directions. Now I am confident that Alex at some point will be able to tell time and make change, which, let's face it, just about covers it.... What I am hearing is that Alex is not a good candidate to be a robot in your clone army.