Learning Update - 12/10/2015 - 30/10/2015

I thought it's time I started having proper account of her learning progress no matter how small it seems. Initially I've wanted to do a weekly account, but she needs more time to learn as the 'skills' get harder. 

For 3 weeks, I had her learning to trace lowercase 'c', 'a', 't' in individual worksheets and now she is tracing the word 'cat' - and identifying it with the meaning. I made the tracing worksheet myself as it is difficult to find the exact one that I had in mind. I have a few more words in mind for her to trace. My logic is that now that she is older, she might find it too childish to just trace the alphabets individually and she might not see the point in them. After she managed to trace the alphabets individually, I had her progress to words to enable her to see the usefulness of these alphabets in forming words. 

Currently, she is also learning to write 'c' independently on lined paper (with no tracing). She is still working on keeping within the lines, and differentiating between the uppercase and lowercase c when writing on lined paper. 

She is relearning her counting skills. We do this every few days to have her recognise the numbers and it's value. Currently, she is still struggling with 1,2 and 3. She will be able to write numbers 1 and 2 when I hold her hands and guide her at least one time. then she can finish the rest of the work. (It is actually fluctuating progress. Sometimes she can write the numbers 1 and 2 even if I did not touch her - but only show the number. but sometimes she seems to need the extra touch to have the confidence - I can see it in her eyes, when she wrote her first few words and looked at me for confirmation. She would smile so sweetly if she had it right) However, If I simply gave her the paper and pen, then asked her to write 1 or 2..... she usually ends up with writing the number 2. For the number 3, she is still struggling to differentiate between 2 and 3. She needs someone to at least touch her hand lightly (I usually just touch her little finger) and she would trace/write the number. I think it's just a matter of self-confidence. I will be having her trace/write all the numbers 1,2 and 3 everyday so that she doesn't forget. 

It is the same for colour identification. I tried in our mother-toungue (Chinese) to gauge her ability to tell the colours. She made a few mistakes - what else to say for English. I guess I am starting again from the beginning - to teach her all the skills that she learnt and mastered in the past few years. This time, I am determined to make it more systematic and make it a point to revise whatever we have learnt again and again - even if it means it will take longer for us to progress to new things. 

But one thing I am happy about is her attitude in learning. It has been a daily routine for us, to start working after dinner. After I had a short rest and when she sees me taking out her worksheets, she will arrange the chairs and wait for me to start. 

She manage to sit there and do her work for around 30 minutes to 1 hour, which is a great improvement. Sometimes, I'd let her have 5 minutes break in between, and she happily skipped off and came back when I called. :)

Learning progress 4/10/2015 - 11/10/2015

I've mentioned and attempted several times over these years to teach my daughter to learn academically.  A few times I'd managed to stick to a schedule for a few weeks, sometimes a few months- but in the end, life happens and I'd stop. Having high expectations causes deep frustrations in me. For almost 2 years, after she entered primary school,  I've stopped focusing on her academic skills and decided to lower my expectations to only having her not causing troubles in school and learning independent life skills.
          Once in a while,  I'd get her to do some written work, but never expecting much from her. I'd hold her hands and guided her to write - with the intention of introducing the knowledge,  while I explained in as simple way as possible the work being done. I think I've sort of given up getting her to write independently but still hoping that she'd learn something.
          Anyway, God's gentle nudge prompted me to start teaching her to write again. I almost gave up - the 2nd day. She had me crying and boiling inside throughout the day. Being pregnant, I tried hard to control my emotions but failed. I was so disappointed with myself.
          But somehow God decided that I should not give up now. Deep inside,  I felt something kept reminding me to see the readiness in my child. Yes! She does show signs of readiness in learning academically. Several times we 'caught' her peeking at her brother when he is doing his homework.  She'd come over to have a look when the brother complained about some difficult work. Whenever I asked her to come to the table for some work,  she'd willingly come. And whenever I 'helped' her with her maths addition - I'd sometimes feel her hands moving against mine as she attempted to write numbers - at times, the movement is correct.  Plus, she is showing reaction when I praised her for doing her 'homework'. After every exercise,  she'd look at me expectantly. If these aren't readiness - tell me what should I look for....
          On the 3rd day, I decided to try a different approach. I prepared a glass of milk for myself and acted as if I don't expect much from the lesson.  With a neutral tone, I had her trace her numbers 1 and 2 - sometimes just touching her little pinky to get her going. I praised her for good writing but quietly held her hands to correct the wrong ones.
          By the 4th day, she did it! She independently wrote her number 1, with enough strength and pencil control (written within the boxes).  Then we proceeded to number 2. She seemed to have gained more confidence and followed instructions to hold her pencil correctly with the other hand holding on to the sheet of paper, AND have her eyes on the paper while writing. After a few tracings,  she'd look at me for confirmation - we praised her profusely!  I try to build her confidence by having her trace the number 2 (I wrote with light coloured pencil colour) and purposely leaving a few boxes blank here and there.
         By the 6th day, she could write the number 2 without tracing. Isn't that something!!!
         What I have learned from this week is that every child is different.  I believe that she will reach her milestones in her own time. But - I will have to be attentive and alert to her signs of readiness to each milestone and work on them when the time comes. The Montessori concept emphasizes on respecting the child and to teach each child when they are ready.
         I pray that this time I will be more consistent to slowly get her to love learning academically and to continue to improve.


          I shouldn't neglect my son's progress too. For the past months,  he has discovered the fruits of hard work. In his eagerness to receive presents in kindergarten for being in the 1st to 4th position, he told me he wanted me to help him with his revisions prior to his mid year test. The beginning of the year, he got the 5th position and could only look on as his peers receive presents. 2 weeks before his tests, I did intensive revision with him ( while discovering his weaknesses in certain subjects :(, which I didn't really notice before) I created and printed worksheets after worksheets and drilled him with his spelling and surprisingly - he did not complain! He did shed a few tears, when he made mistakes in the worksheets and spelling - but he persevered. The end result - he got the 4th position. He was elated! We celebrated and bought him his favourite comics and made a big fuss of him (while reminding him how his hard work paid off)
          He couldn't stop talking about it that I took this opportunity to get him on track for a good study routine - preparing him for a more gruelling primary 1 life.
          Together with his sister - on the same day - I took the risk of tiring myself - I prepared daily schedule for him. He has the freedom to do whichever of the 4 to 5 items of reading/exercises I prepared for the day - in return for a sticker. He has to promise me not to ask or 'beg' for ipad or tv time during school days nor to complain about his workload. (More for my sanity) I do however, reduce his work when he looks tired.
          So, my son has been on daily schedule for a week too. He learned to quickly finish his work and he is free to read his comics and play. On Friday, he'll have 6 stickers (we start from Sunday) to enable his access to ipad games we downloaded (no wifi for videos). He can have the ipad until Saturday but he still has a few light items to do in his schedule like colouring and flash cards revision. (My time to relax :)  I am hoping that we can continue with this pace through the next 6 weeks of school. Then we'll have around 5 weeks of school holiday where I need to work on his weaker subjects. Hopefully by next year, I won't have difficulty getting him into the primary 1 rhythm without having to send him to tuition classes. Praying hard. :)

Year end holiday - Day 1

I am guilty of not being consistent when it comes to doing activities with my children. This time, I am trying to make myself accountable by committing myself to post pictures of the activities we did every day - for the whole 6 weeks of holiday. It may sound overwhelming, but I am giving myself some allowance by posting once every few days, at best.

So, this is today.

Other conscious teaching :

1. Piano lesson

2. Table manners (meal outside)

3. Manners outside 

I'm so happy!!!!!!!

          Okay, this might be just me over-reacting. But still, I am VERY happy with my daughter today. Well, so happy that I didn't have time to take photos and can't wait to sit down and write this post.
         
          To make long story short, she was playing and exploring upstairs when she suddenly came down with the writing exercise I kept in our study upstairs. I printed a whole stack of the exercise and guided her to write them almost everyday since the semester starts.

          I asked her why is she bringing the papers down. Does she want to write? Her answer? A big 'Yes'. (in chinese). I almost jumped out of my chair and quickly set up the chairs. (I did have a shorter table for their activities in the living room, but as I need to find another small chair to sit with her, she climbed onto my chair in my work area). And to my surprise, I discovered that she could actually do simple copywork. The exercise was printed off a homeschooler's blog (I need to find the address again) and was supposed to target sight words practice. The words were printed with boxes under the words for copywork practices. When I started this exercise with her, I would point to the word, letter by letter, while saying it out loud. With me holding her hands, grasping the pencil, I'd guide her writing, helping with the letters she's having trouble with, and loosening my hold when I can feel her moving the pencil in the correct direction.

          Well, it might be the first time, some may tell me that it's coincidence or whatever... I totally believe that she is in another phase of handwriting now. She can copy the letters, and write some of the letters. I just have to think of a way for her to have the confidence to write without me holding her hands. Off to thinking..... lalalalala

2013 - May #10 (son)

Joy has a tutor coming in every morning for about 2 hours. I had to prepare enough activities for Jay to occupy his time from disturbing his sister, and to satisfy him. (He kept asking why sister have tutor coming, but he has none - I told him his mommy is a teacher too and we can't afford to have 2 tutors)

Too easy. I had him explain why certain foot belongs to certain body. 

He can really explain well.

He drew and coloured a helicopter even before the tutor arrived.

Some time with the Pink Tower and Broad Stairs is a must nowadays.

A quick revision.

Angry Bird helping with his colour word recognition.

Extension exercise. I did the grey - to explain.

He still needs help with word recognition. I need to help to glue (following his instructions)

and he will write and colour. Not bad. He spent almost half an hour on this.

Then, It's play dough time - as a reward. :)

2013 - May #9 - night

The kids seemed energetic last night and refused to sleep. So instead of allowing them to watch more tv, I ushered them into the study : (by the way, they loved going into the room... the boy is so motivated to learn anything, and the girl just love being able to 'play' with her favourite books)

Suddenly forgot what to call this activity...

He has been eyeing this for a long time and wanted to give it a try. 

Still needs more practice.

Colour by word.

He's loving this tracing cards.

Tracing. 

The girl - fine motor skills with her left hand,

Colouring. 

(Had to colour the border and keep reminding her 

to keep her eyes on the picture)

We read a few books together, with Joy walking around.

2013 - May #9

Here's some of what we did today:

Jay:

Helicopter

Bicycle. To him, this one doesn't need pedals.

This is suppose to be a factory of some sort. He specifically told me the smoke comes out of the brown tunnel.

I gave in and let him create. 

More practice on sight words and making sentences.

( I got these free from here. )

Vocabulary in English. At the same time, trying to create awareness of the first letter sound and the letter. There's follow up activity to this. 

Alphabets review. Stamp the correct letter.

Or circle the correct letter. He finished all the 26 letters in one sitting. 

 Joy :

Colouring practice. With her left hand.

More handwriting practice. She can actually do this. I told her repeatedly that I am very proud of her. She just smiled at me. (For the record, we have to place her pen on the beginning which we marked as beginning. Then she would do her tracing or printing)

Felt items to help with her speech imitation. 

2013 - May #8

More improvements for Joy :

Watching Nemo together with little brother.

Colouring practice.

I am so proud of her. She wrote the letter 'C' by herself. 

Her holiday tutor discovered that she is actually very interested and concentrated 

when she is given marker pen or coloured ink pen to trace or write.  

She even traced her own name - all by herself! 

But when given a pencil - she refused to write. Perhaps it's the colour? 

Montessori Language

Here's a few presentations for language.

Sandpaper letter

sand writing

Using the moveable alphabets

2013 - April #6

For some unavoidable reasons, I have an extra holiday today. While the whole world continues with it's business as usual, I am able to have the extra 20 minutes to lie on my bed, dreaming and planning my agendas for the day. Most importantly,  I get the chance to send my daughter to school today.  My son is not feeling well so we have decided to keep him at home.  (But I got his homework from his teacher after sending Joy to her class)
Both Jay and I had a productive morning together. Here's what we did:

I took out a new set of activity.

He matched the puzzle, spelled the word and read out loud.

Then he arrange neatly on the table.

For a bit of movements, I had him arrange the puzzles on the floor mat, based on the first letter. We were on A, B and C. 

  

Lastly, he matched the flash cards to its puzzle.

He worked on vocabulary and phonetic sounds.

Homework.

More spelling activity. 

He spent half an hour on this. A birthday card for daddy which is on this week.

He practiced drawing a heart several times before drawing on the actual card. Then he coloured and decorate with stickers and stamps. I held his hand to help him with the birthday wish inside. Actually he tried to write by himself but instead of writing 'd', he wrote 'p'. And he was very unhappy with the mistake. So I helped him to write on another piece of paper and he had to cut and paste it on the mistake. He can't wait to give it to his daddy. ;)

#Just for the record, I didn't apply for leave today. My workplace had to be closed for unavoidable maintenance works and everyone enjoys an extra holiday.