Tania's Homeschool September Recap

Pheeew...Ever since Tania's Birthday, our life was one full hectic routines. We got our cousin sister wedding at our house just 1 week after Tania's Birthday. On top of that, our Language center is in full swing, it was end of the terms for my students at Polytechnic SOOO... in the end... I fell sick. The hectic day took it's toll on Tania's learning schedule. we didn't get to do as much as I hoped to but we were able to sneaked some sessions through out the day. So here is a recap of our learning this month.

Learning About Light and Dark - Source of Light

Tania always loves doing shadow puppet with candle light during the night when our city was out of power for few hours (it happens a lot). So that morning she helped me to hung some laundry on our little patio when she discover her shadows. We discussed about shadows, what made shadow, about source of light (sun, lamp, candle etc) also talk about how and why shadows look big, long. tall etc depending on the distance and angle of the object from/to the light source. But bottom line is... she loved her shadow dance.

Learning Numbers

 We still continuing with her session on numbers. Tania has mastered the alphabet and currently being introduce to letter sound which will lead to reading. So now is the perfect time to harness her number skills. I mentioned and showed the counting puzzle on my previous post and we continue to use it in different ways. Instead of matching the center (number) piece to the pictures of things. We took the center piece out so she can do sorting and ranking. She likes the idea and want to 'play' it over and over again. She also use her imagination and took her soring and lining up as the keyboard (piano) and pretend to play a tune. She is getting the hang of numbers and we are now begin to embark on Addition.

Point of View

We have a small pocket camera that we allow Tania to use. So one day, Tania was fussy and was not in the mood for play learning. She wanted to play with the camera. I did not pushed her to learn So I set her a task to take pictures of things that she finds interesting and important to her. After 1 hour of her going here and there in the house while I finished my work. She came back and said, "mommy I think I have all that I need".

She actually took many good shots (not blury and good focus). Her hand is more steady now. We then imported the pictures to my laptop. I asked her to tell me the reason beging every picture she took. I am ever so impressed by her articulation, her thoughts and her wisdom. Later, I told her to pick 4 of her most favorite the pictures which I will share on my blog out of the 137 pictures she took. (yeah!! trigger happy finger). After a while she said, "Aww MOM! 4 is NOT enough! Can we have 6? Six is a good number". I told her that that was a great idea. And she happily picked the above 6 pictures. Here are the reason/story behind her pick of the bunch

• Top left : My feet - I need my feet to go everywhere. My shoes will be sad if they don't have my feet. Especially my pink Cinderella shoes. it can make me run and walk and run very fast when I wear  my running shoes. 
• Top Middle : Your (Mommy's) Hand - because you always scratch my back when I am going to sleep at night. You can use your hand to make me cookies and fried noodles. I love your hands mom because I love youu... **she made puppy face*** AWWW
• Top right : Your wallet, the candle and tissue. You put your money in the wallet so we can buy food and clothes... AND shoes! We also need candle so we can play shadow puppet when the electricity went out. And the tissue is when I have yuck things in my nose or when I spill something on the floor
• Bottom Left : Snow globe - because I can see snow... like in Brighton. They are so pretty. But you said I cannot play with it if there's no adult to help me holding it. 
• Bottom Middle : Daddy - I really really love my daddy. He drive Nuning (our motor cycle) and take us every where and take me swimming and carry me on his shoulder and he's very very good at reading me books.
• Florescent Star Sticker : it's my pet star. It fell down from the sky and broke one of it's star leg. But actually daddy and I get it (won it) when I play the fishing game at the mall.

Dealing with Fear

Ever since her 4th Birthday on Sept 8th, Tania entered the 'Creepy Crawlies' phase. She is absolutelly terrified of every single creature even little ants. Simon and I think it is because she is more aware of her surrounding. We tried every day to comfort but also to help coax that fear out of her.
One morning, Tania screamed out loud and was stuck to our sofa just because a tiny spider was in her path when she was going to the bedroom.
I went and sat with her. She hugged me and trembled and we sat there watching the tiny spider. After a while, I asked her what makes her scared of the spider? She said it was because she cannot see the face. She doesn't know which one is the face to look at.
So I took a glass and a piece of paper and caught the tiny spider. Tania scrambled to the other end of the sofa and started crying. I sat on the other end of the sofa just holding the glass. I told her to clam down and that I wont gave the spider to her. We are just going to look at the spider from this distance.
I told her that she is much bigger than this spider and that the spider is more afraid of her. I told her that the spider is really scared now in the glass. It wants to go home to it's family. Tania started to listen. Then I inched closer to let her look at it. Then I showed her the spider face. Every time she react positively, I inched closer until I was right next to her. In the end, she was brave enough to hold the top of the glass. After few minutes her fear is gone and she wanted to hold the glass all by herself. I am so proud of her...

Right!... Those are some of the highlights of this month...

Home-school Updates : Letter, Counting and Traditional Market

I didn’t posted Tania’s daily Home-school progress these couple of days because we lent our camera to Tania’s uncle and our internet connection was a very troublesome matter. Tania’s Mommy’s camera is not the sophisticated hi-end with the built-in camera to be use as substitute. However, Tania still learns every day. She has finished the ‘learning book’, even the one that required reading and writing. The reading part she persuaded us to read it to her and she will answer. For the writing part she will tell us what the answer is and then ask us to dictate the letter. She is getting better and better at ‘drawing’ letters. 

In order to support the growth of her writing, I gave her sheets of letter tracing to help her with controlling her pencil strokes. However, I did not push her to finish the whole page and only do it when she has the mood. We do this between 15 – 30 minutes every day. Other time, we learn creatively and artistically. 

top: Letter tracing. Bottom left: Counting puzzle. Bottom Right: Color  by number

Last week, we took Tania to the traditional market, simply to introduce her to it. We mostly took her to the supermarket or mall to shop. But local vegetables etc we usually get from traditional market and we need to go there very early and she’s not up yet. However, we timed her sleep and able to took her last week. 

We asked her what she thinks about the traditional market. She said it is noisy, too many people, smelly and dirty. HAH! Typical city spoilt kid answer. So to make sure she does not turned in to one. We (I) am determined to take her more often. We talk about how the people plant the vegetables and other crops and then take it to the traditional market to sell. That money will be use to buy food, clothes and pay school fee of their children. And that we are helping each other by purchasing from traditional market. I hope in the long run, she will be able to understand and look past the smelly and dirty place to see a way to live sustainably. YAY! To local produce!

Now, you may think this is a bit too much of information. But I think Tania is more than capable to understand this. And Kids need to learn the reality and understand what they can contribute to it. Tania already understands Mommy and Daddy do not have lots of Money to buy her EVERYTHING that she wanted. We will buy her what she need but when she wanted something we will see whether mom and dad have enough money to spend or not. Usually when she said, Can I have this or that to a toy or books, and we have no money, we are very comfortable to tell her, “I am sorry dear. Mommy and Daddy don’t have money now. Can we get it some other time? Or if you really wanted it we can make a piggybank especially for this?”. She always obliged and happily went along. She understands now that Mommy and Daddy works and get paid and the money is used to buy many things in our lives and we need to make sure we have enough for everything. I am blessed to have such an understanding kid.

I feel very blessed to live and to raise a child in this life situation. We have enough money and a little bit more to cover everything in life. We are not rich in money and swamp in treasures. My child grows in reality and knowing that she need to work hard to earn living and to give thanks for whatever we are given. I do hope when our life gets way better than today. All of us will not forget to give thanks and to remain in simplicity. --

Can't Wait ... but Mommy is Busy!

On Day 3 of our Homeschool-Homeschoolan - by the way, I playfully use this mashed up Indonesian and English terms to (freely) means 'Mock Homeschool' (because I am not following any official curriculum) or more likely a learning at home activity.

Anyway, on the 3rd day, Tania woke up and immediately asked for her 'learning book'. She walked to her red bookshelves and picked up the book and the pencil. With a tangled hair and out-of-bed face, she sat down and asked to do some learning while her breakfast cereal was prepared. In the spirit of following her lead, we said yes (Of course!).

Tania with our male cat, Katherine.. :-)

I was getting ready to go to run some errands so I cannot really stay with her. She begged me to stay and do some pages with her. We did letter tracing and matching activity.

The book has a very nice and colorful display. It has stickers too. However, I wish I can find her an English pre-school activity book. O well... perhaps I can just print one out for her. The fun thing we did this day was to learn the Indonesian words for the things she's working on. for Example, Ice Cream - Es Krim, Carrot - Wortel, - Cheese - Keju. - of course she did this with her 'bule' accents. hehehe.... Bless her little heart. I have the video too but our internet is not strong enought to make the upload.


It was a bit sad that I had to go. But mommy got to work!

Getting Crafty - 'Homeschool-Homeschoolan'

Day 2 of our 'Home school' took on the art and crafty side of us. I basically needed to make some decoration for my Language Center classroom that I use for KIDS class. I also know Tania LOVEs to do art and craft just like her favorite Cebeebies program, Mr. Maker.
Because it was raining all the time (Rainy season is upon us), I thought it'll be great to make a rainy display. So I decided we are going to make a cloud, raindrops and umbrella. After getting everything we need Tania immediately set to work.

Here's how we do our "Rainy Display" :

1. I cut out a rain template on a piece of cardboard while I set Tania to make all sizes of cotton balls. (top left pic)
2. Then we smeared glue on the rain template and glued the cotton balls on it. (Tania loved smearing the glue). (Top right pic)
3. As she was doing that I cut a tear drop shape on the cardboard and cut it out again. 
4. Later I asked Tania to trace the teardrop shape on Blue origami paper. The teardrop shape will make the 3D raindrops. (Bottom left pic)
5. Then we glue it together and string it up with an ordinary white sewing string. The raindrops strings is then sewed on to the bottom of the cloud. You can also glue it too.
6. We put some double tape behind the cloud, pick the rigth location and we glue it on. 
7. Later I cut a shape of Umbrella and have Tania to color it. 
8. The Viola! We have a nice Rainly Display that my Language Center KIDS admire...
   

   

   example of how to do it from Okidomag

   The above picture is the inspiration I use to make the 3D raindrops. 

We do not have a 'sit down and learn' session today. I do tried to alternate and also follow her lead. So.. That conclude our day 2

'Homeschooling' Tania Day 1

On my last post, I talked about 'homeschooling' Tania.
I put 'Home school' in quotes because honestly I know nothing about homeschooling. I don't know anything about its curriculum and whether Indonesia has a home school curriculum. However, my view on Home school, in my opinion, is basically learning at home in a more organized and structured manner.
We have been doing a 'play and learn' principle with her which means we inserted information and learning during anything we do with her as well as answering her questions in an informative way. For example, we were looking at rain outside the house and ask her where does rain comes from. We then explain to her the water cycle (in language that she can understand of course). We learn color and counting and shapes when playing with her toys etc... Praise God! Her development is astounding. We have no goal of pushing her to be a prodigy. We simply wanted to get her ready of what education world she will face in the future through having as much fun as possible. Through this process, both Simon and I will also have the privilege of growing and learning with her (KIDS are wise beyond their age!) as well as getting to spend these golden times with her.

Thus, the principle of Tania's 'Homeschooling' is fun and valuable learning time for her and for us too. The current goal is to help her acquire basic learning skills such Alphabet (saying the letter, Spelling, writing/drawing the letter), Numbers (saying the number, counting and writing).

Tania is currently slightly advanced. She knows all the letter and number (up to 10). She spells really well. And has already began 'drawing' (if not writing) the letter when we spelled it for her. She can write her own name and spell it - also Mommy, Simon, Nene, Tete etc. Her love for books and reading is noticeably above average compared to other Ambonesse kids. Of course, we have to read them to her. However, she will always take the book and tell the story back to us again. I pray she will be an avid reader one day.

THE "TANIA's HOMESCHOOL"

So yesterday was our 1st official Tania Homeschooling day. Below is the picture of what we've prepared for her.

Basically, we will have more and she (I) can use most of our Language center learning Props in her learning (and vice versa). as you can see in the above pictures are some of our "starter-kit"
Top picture : Old small handheld whiteboard for her to doodle. She already tried to write OPEN (the N is erased when I took this picture). This board usually serve as her shop sign (OPEN-CLOSE). She writes open when she open her pretend store and shouted 'Hello, Customer!" and coax us to shop. Then erases it and writes CLOSED and said "Sorry, We're closed now!".
I also use our old cutlery tray to put her coloring pencils for her easy use. together with her marker, eraser, pencil sharpener etc... Along the run it might contain more.

Bottom left Picture : is the red shelf that she chose yesterday. We bought it at Hypermart for Rp. 96,000,-. She wanted Yellow but the yellow one is 3 shelved and with wheels. And more expensive than what I can afford. So as I explained to her, she chose red. - She's a very understanding girl. The bottom shelf holds her stationary tray and her reading books. I will show what she's reading on the next entry. The top shelf holds her working book, coloring book etc. Still more to be done but this way, she will learn how to tidy after session.

Bottom right picture : is the book we currently use. Before this I print out some worksheets but I haven't got the time to prepare one especially with her as I am still occupied with Campus teaching and preparing teaching materials for our language center. So when she picked up this book yesterday and suggested us to use it, I couldn't be happier. The book boast to be the IQ test book for pre-K and K level. It turned out to have some fun stickers inside. It has lots of different activity sheets.

As soon as we get home, we set out the place for her shelf, which currently next to my teaching class and next to the sofa. She then collected her books and we decided what to put in each shelf. She then took her little purple chair and perched herself on the coffee table in the living room. I think this will be our station for the time being.

She can't wait to get home actually. After we bought the book, I still need to do some shopping. She asked to read her book on the trolley as I shopped. As soon as we get home, she immediately gets to 'work' and appeared to enjoy it very much. I love watching her seriousness. As she already know alphabet, I introduce her to the shapes of the numbers she copied it quite well (for a 3 y/o). But I didn't push further. On this matter, I like to follow a scheme of : Introduce - Explain - Follow her lead. I introduce the learning topic, explain a bit then see if she wants to continue. if she does we will but she is welcome to stop anytime. The bottom left picture is me reading the instruction for each activity. She cannot be stopped. she wanted to finish the whole book. hehehehe... however I managed to convince her to stop at page 14 (of 48).

I planned to do at least 30 mins - 1 hour 'Home School' session with her and add some more if she wanted to. Then alternate this days with art and craft or hands-on activities.

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