We started homeschooling the J-Man this month. I use the term loosely at this point, since he is just at that pre-school age, but we do sit down for 1 - 1 1/2 hours several times a week and "do school". Superman and I have spent a plethora of hours discussing homeschooling as of late and are now 100% convinced that we are totally thrilled, excited, pumped, and also a little terrified of the fact that we feel the need to homeschool.
Anyway, the J-Man had known SOME of his letters in no particular order (and by some, I pretty much mean he knew "J" since that is what his name started with). He was never very interested in letters and such. Not if there were tools to play with or messes to be made. I wasn't concerned. And rightly so.....for in the two weeks that we have been working on it, he knows all his letters and most of their sounds. We started "spelling" together on Thursday. You know, the kind of spelling where the child asks "how do you spell 'Mom'?" or "what letters do you use to make the word 'cat'?". well, the thing is with boys...they don't really want to spell "mom" or "cat". The words J-Man wanted to spell extended beyond the 3 letter, short-vowel words I wanted him to focus on. After working on MY words of choice for a bit (cat, bat, pig, bug), we worked on HIS choice.
Fast forward to Friday. I get out his magnetic letters and the old cookie sheet and then get called away by the need to rock the Pooter back to sleeop. When I come back, I see that word. Not "bug", or "cat", or "mom". But THIS word:
Of ALL the words he remembered, it had to be this one?! Really? Teaching a boy to spell is going to be interesting, to say the least. I even questioned him, wondering if it was purely coincidental that this word appeared. I asked the J-Man, "What is this word here?"
"Oh, that spells 'poop', Mom. Two "p's" and two "o's". That's how you make the word 'poop'."
Awesome. Didn't know you guys are homeschooling. My friend, Miriam, has 4 children and has been homeschooling them for several years. They are currently seven, six, four and two. She is a great resource for advice about working with multiple ages, choosing your curriculum, etc. Let me know if you'd like to connect with her. Or maybe you've already received plenty of unsolicited advice... Miss you, friend!
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