Montessori at Home!

Montessori at Home! does make homeschooling a breeze.  It's very easy to follow.  One can get started as soon as you get hold of the handbook.  A lot of the materials to get you started can really be found in the house.  And the kids, they love the activities.  I do not find very much resistance.  Both Marek and Markus enjoy the rice & water tubs... just a little too much.  My challenge lies in taking control.  Our homeschool is messier than the examples in the book.   They need to train some more on right-away obedience.  They do obey, but a lot of times, only when it's convenient to obey!  M2 has to work on self-control.  And M1 has to be a little less mischievous... which pushes my buttons sometimes.  Gentle disciplining sure can be challenging.  But over-all I'm less overwhelmed about our homeschooling.  Montessori at Home!  makes one step one day at a time easier.

Early Years Education Revamp

After A's hesitancy with Catholic Heritage Curricula's Numbers, and Letters Practice, which I'm afraid might lead to frustration, I have decided to let go with the 2 books for now.  Those will have to wait for next year-- hopefully the flow with the rest of CHC's core Kindergarten Curriculum will be smoother.  I'm sticking with Who Am I? for Religion.  The rest of the activities will be taken from ideas in Montessori at Home! (e-book sold at montessoriathomebook.com).  Areas covered will include Practical Life, Sensorial Experiences, Art & Music, Mathematics, Reading & Writing, and Science.  We're also working on the "prepared environment" aspect of the approach.  (Finally, our books will now have their long-overdue shelves!  And, goodbye clutter!).  On Charlottte Mason approach, I'll be acquiring living books whenever I can, perhaps monthly-- speaking of which, I can't wait for "The Children's Book of Virtues" by William J. Bennett, plus 2 other books to land in the mail!  (See my Priority Living Books wishlist @ Amazon.com).  I'll also put much more focus (as previously planned) on character/ values/ virtues formation... hence, my recent purchase of We Choose Virtues' Homeschool Kit (it's a little pricey but I know reaping the rewards is priceless).

Hmmm... what else?  Oh, I'm working on improving my bond with the kids-- trying to be better at being a real mom.  Let's face it, time around them doesn't always mean quality time with them.  (And time flies so fast!)  Always listen, pay attention, and play play play and participate in their play!  And read them stories.  I can feel how they adore it when I do all those stuff for them.  They cling to me like honeybees to honey!  I know when I'm slacking off... they're more attached to the baby sitter (who also was my mom's baby sitter since I was a toddler!--  She's has always been, and will be, family, but still...)

For inspiration, here's a post I recently stumbled upon: Homeschooling Makes Me a Better Parent.
And, finally, here's a reminder to self, and other homeschool moms-- if anyone might happen to drop by:

Stepping back

First week.
A's advanced preschool books involved a lot of writing and coloring practice. However, he is finding it difficult. Perhaps the fine motors involved are not ready yet. And I've been pushing him. So, now there's the struggle. Everyday he becomes reluctant to work on his lessons. There's the willingness to learn. But I realized that perhaps the activities involved are not yet for him. Now I'm changing approach. So this is what homeschooling is all about... to constantly remind oneself that the process should be child-centered, and not the other way around- the child adjusting to an institution/ system. I guess, the books... letter & number practice will have to take the backseat for now, while brain-boosting games/play should fill out his schedule. Highly considering Montessori.

New book buys:
Number & Logic Games for preschoolers by Jane Kemp & Clare Walters
Montessori at Home! by John Bowman (http://www.montessoriathomebook.com)