September Learning

 Our first official month of homeschool has come and gone. Most of our "home education" days, if that's what you want to call them, are ordinary days. But I think that's where the best learning happens. Math happens when we bake, reading happens when we go to library story time, art happens when Isla tinkers in her mud kitchen, science happens when she climbs and builds ramps with her nugget couch, but more importantly learning to be a kind, caring, and considerate person happens in every interaction with Ewan, friends, and strangers. We view education as a process and part of life. The lessons and units I set up for her are just a supplemental tool and enriching exposure for her, but it's not where we necessarily see the best learning. That is the measurable stuff of the classroom, but the reason we love home education is that it doesn't start and end there. We get to do life together and that's the best kind of classroom possible. 

But because I was a teacher and Isla does actually enjoy structured learning, we spend a short time each day doing "school" (as she calls it). I pull from a lot of different things, but let her interests lead the way. Each week is a unit lesson that coincides with a nature curriculum and her interests. We spend as little or as long as we like on a subject. And because Isla has asked to learn to read, we have started that process too. We are taking the Montessori approach in learning our letters, which is more sound based. Phonemic awareness (hearing the sounds, formations, rhymes, etc. of words) is a foundational piece to learning to read. Letters and phonics come later. So we are working on the very starts of that, again going at her pace. 

First week: Apple Week

We dissected an apple, counted the seeds, and then painted with them.

I outlined some apples and Isla spent the week adding stickers along the border. These are the kinds of activities that should take place before a pencil ever gets in the hands of a preschooler. This is fine motor work at it's finest.

Our math usually comes in the form of baking. What better way to learn numbers, fractions, measurements, counting, and more! Of course, it was an apple pie.

I think she liked it :)

We also made some cider. Both kids loved it!

Week Two and Three: The Harvest Moon and the Autumn Equinox

We spent the week learning about the Harvest Moon and the Autumn Equinox that happened to fall in the same week this year. Isla loved learning about the phases of the moon and we even let her stay up late to observe the moon. Unfortunately, we couldn't see it well. 

Week Four: Farm

We also finished up learning the days of creation, the story of Adam and Eve, and the story of Noah.

After nap, we like to have tea time. We don't have it every day, but it's fun when we do! We light a candle, make some tea, and have a snack or goodies. We read some poetry and a little bit from our read aloud. Currently, we are working through "Now We are Six" by A.A. Milne. I'm always amazed at Isla's ability to sit through a chapter book, even with few pictures. 

But the most important school will always be playing outside, being with friends, reading good books together, and living life with the eyes of learners.