Amazingly, I still love homeschooling and am glad I'm doing it, although I have slowed down the pace somewhat. The Papaya is still so young, and he's doing fine in all subjects, and there will be plenty of time in the future to push a little harder.
Here's a short run-down of the past month (a post on what's been going on in our non-schooling lives follows this one):
Math
The Papaya and I are slowly and steadily moving through Singapore 1B material. Right now we're working with adding and subtracting numbers up to 40. I expect we'll be in this unit awhile, since Singapore emphasizes being able to do problems such as 26 + 8 or 26 - 17 quickly in your head, using various mental strategies. I'm very impressed with this program and the way it helps you understand how numbers work.
Our work in Singapore is being nicely complemented by Papaya Daddy's supplementation with Rightstart. The Papaya is working on mentally adding numbers up to the 100's, focusing on the mental strategy of making 10's. They're about to get into fairly tough mental math (i.e. 48 + 59), but Papaya Daddy plans to spend some time shoring up the Papaya's facility with addition facts (using card games and the Flashmaster) before they plunge in.
The Papaya's main weakness in math is rushing on and not reading problems carefully - for example, assuming the equation involves addition when it really has a - sign. I have a feeling this will continue for a long time to be a challenge for him.
Here are two worksheets the Papaya recently completed for Rightstart. He did the sums completely in his head, without even using the abacus. As you can see, he made a couple mistakes, but I was still pretty impressed, considering he's 5 years old:
Language ArtsJust like in math, the Papaya's main problem in reading is to either go too fast and not look carefully at the words, or to get too distracted (either by the pictures in the book or any kind of movement or noise in his environment), and not look carefully at the words. (And believe me, there are usually MANY potential distractions!) This leads to all kinds of mistakes. We've been focusing lately on having him hold the book with one hand and use the index finger of the other hand to point to each word as he reads it (since doing other things with his hands often provides the biggest distraction). When he submits to doing this, he reads really well. However, getting him to submit to doing it (for some reason, he's really fought it even though it clearly helps him) has led to some frustrating battles. I think I'm winning, however, and his reading is markedly improved. Even better, he's recently started to have fun reading again and get engaged in the story.
I got very tired of the constant barrage of CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words in the Papaya's "I Can Read It" Sonlight reader (especially since they've only introduced three short vowel sounds up to this point), so I started stretching out Sonlight's LA-1 program and supplementing with Pathway readers (Amish readers which combine the memorization of sight words with phonetic sounded-out words, resulting in more interesting and varied passages) and including more of the All About Spelling program. This has worked well, and I think I'll continue doing it for awhile.
The Papaya was especially proud of his handwriting on this page (I was, too), so I took a picture:
Papaya Daddy jokes that his son's handwriting is better than his. Papaya Daddy is a doctor, so this may well be true.
Here are spelling words from last week. 
Bible, Social Studies, and Read-AloudsWe put Egermeier's Bible away for a little while. It's a great story Bible, but still a little above the Papaya's comprehension level, unless I worked really hard to help him understand everything. We think he'll get a lot more out of it in a few more months. Between the Banana's "Little Hands to Heaven" program, nighttime story Bible reading (out of a simpler story Bible), and morning verse memorization (using "Sing the Word" CD), the Papaya's still getting a good amount of Bible education.
In our social studies reading, we've been reading from a children's encyclopedia about how people live (and checking out relevant internet sites). One of our most successful topics was music. The Papaya really got into learning about the different instruments of the orchestra (we found some cool internet links). When we listen to classical music on NPR, he tries to pick out the different instruments he's hearing. It's fun to see him excited about it, and it really made me want to hear a live orchestra again. Maybe when we live in the Seattle area...
As far as read-alouds, we finished up Little House in the Big Woods and The Family Under the Bridge. I'm currently reading stories from the James Herriot Treasury for Children - the kids and I are fully engaged and the pictures are wonderful. Papaya Daddy finished up My Father's Dragon as a night-time read-aloud (an enormous hit) and is currently reading the sequel to it, Elmer and the Dragon. What a fun series!
Science
We've been reading a lot about how things work, and this continues to be the Papaya's favorite subject (I think). He especially enjoyed learning about how a car engine works, and I think he knows more about it now than I do.
After learning about how airplanes fly, we made a big paper airplane and cut elevators and a rudder into it. By bending the flaps different ways, we actually made it do what it was supposed to (i.e. go up or down, turn right or left) - after a few tries, that is. That was pretty exciting.
In other science experiements, we've made a parachute, melted ice in an insulated container versus a non-insulated one, and put various liquids in the freezer (in the different compartments of an ice cube tray), then compared their state after two or three hours. The last experiment (conducted by Papaya Daddy while the Portabella and I were shopping in Flagstaff - I came home just in time to see the results) was a huge hit. He and the kids chose 12 different liquidy foods to freeze and made a cool chart with all their hypotheses on it (i.e. would the substance be a solid, a partial solid, or still a liquid after two hours in the freezer?) We wrote the results down on the same chart:
In our social studies reading, we've been reading from a children's encyclopedia about how people live (and checking out relevant internet sites). One of our most successful topics was music. The Papaya really got into learning about the different instruments of the orchestra (we found some cool internet links). When we listen to classical music on NPR, he tries to pick out the different instruments he's hearing. It's fun to see him excited about it, and it really made me want to hear a live orchestra again. Maybe when we live in the Seattle area...
As far as read-alouds, we finished up Little House in the Big Woods and The Family Under the Bridge. I'm currently reading stories from the James Herriot Treasury for Children - the kids and I are fully engaged and the pictures are wonderful. Papaya Daddy finished up My Father's Dragon as a night-time read-aloud (an enormous hit) and is currently reading the sequel to it, Elmer and the Dragon. What a fun series!
Science
We've been reading a lot about how things work, and this continues to be the Papaya's favorite subject (I think). He especially enjoyed learning about how a car engine works, and I think he knows more about it now than I do.
After learning about how airplanes fly, we made a big paper airplane and cut elevators and a rudder into it. By bending the flaps different ways, we actually made it do what it was supposed to (i.e. go up or down, turn right or left) - after a few tries, that is. That was pretty exciting.
In other science experiements, we've made a parachute, melted ice in an insulated container versus a non-insulated one, and put various liquids in the freezer (in the different compartments of an ice cube tray), then compared their state after two or three hours. The last experiment (conducted by Papaya Daddy while the Portabella and I were shopping in Flagstaff - I came home just in time to see the results) was a huge hit. He and the kids chose 12 different liquidy foods to freeze and made a cool chart with all their hypotheses on it (i.e. would the substance be a solid, a partial solid, or still a liquid after two hours in the freezer?) We wrote the results down on the same chart:
The best part of this experiment, however, was that the kids got to eat whatever they wanted after all the results had been recorded. Since over 50% of the substances frozen were sweet (honey, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, chocolate icing, jam), and the kids rarely get to eat much of anything very sweet, this was like heaven to them! They even devoured the ketchup. By the end, only the mustard, soy sauce, and oils were left (although the kids even gave the oil and soy sauce a fair sampling). It was pretty disgusting to watch, since a bunch of the substances mixed together, but they really had a great time. I'm not sure what the scientific conclusion was, though!
Special Banana SchoolThe Banana continues to LOVE her special school time. We've gone through the letters A-D now, and are in the middle of the Patriarchs as far as Bible learning goes. She loves the fingerplays, the dramas we do, and the special preschool-like activities I plan. I was surprised to see her writing down A's on her own initiative the other day, while reciting the "A-A-Adam" fingerplay she learned before Christmas! She has a terrible time distinguishing B and D (even the capitals), but I'm not worried. She's a lot of fun to teach, and sometimes I feel bad I don't spend more time just with her, since she enjoys everything so much.
Field Trips
We got together with the homeschoolers from church on a beautiful last week and climbed up one of the mesas behind some government housing. The kids had a fabulous time scrambling on rocks, and nobody got hurt!
Field Trips
We got together with the homeschoolers from church on a beautiful last week and climbed up one of the mesas behind some government housing. The kids had a fabulous time scrambling on rocks, and nobody got hurt!
The grassy environment on top of the mesa reminded me a lot of the savannah in Kenya. Since it was January, we didn't have to worry about rattlesnakes, and since it was the middle of the day, I didn't worry (very much) about the cougar whose tracks can occasionally be seen.
After our climb, we drove to Beaver Pond/Lake (depending on your point of view - it's the biggest body of water on this reservation, but that's not saying much at all). It was frozen over, but we didn't let the kids run out on it, despite their protestations (we didn't feel like making the occasion TOO memorable!) They consoled themselves with breaking off chunks of ice near the edge and getting gloriously muddy.Before the outing ended, we drove down the road a little bit further to look at the Kit Carson inscription we had heard about. Evidently, he carved his name and the name of his infantry on a rock wall while camping out here a long time ago. We found it - it was pretty underwhelming, but still a lot of fun. The boy crawling along near the roof is commenting on the copious rat droppings he sees, followed by a fairly swift command from his parents to get down! It was a great day.
Music, Arts, and CraftsWe continue to enjoy "Music for Little Mozarts". We are moving through this program VERY slowly, but we're having fun.
Arts and crafts continue to be my nemesis, so whatever happens is usually self-directed. The Papaya actually comes up with some good ideas of what to do in his free time. I thought I'd close with a picture he recently drew of our whole family. He says that it's set in the time when night is turning into daytime, and that's why there are patches of blue everywhere (it's also likely that he started to color the background blue, then got tired). Notice that Daddy has glasses and Mommy is well equipped to nurse an infant!
Definitely one of those pictures you want to save to show in the future!Good bye!
The bursting forth of our backyard bulbs helps console us for the fact that we are still here and not in Washington state. Our initial closing date of January 30 (tomorrow) is not to be. In fact, we are still not 100% sure that we are even moving there, since the Indian Health Service continues to delay things regarding the signing of Papaya Daddy's Memorandum of Agreement. Progress continues to be made, albeit at a creeping pace. The continuing ambiguity of it all really tests my ability to feel peaceful and content, and is the main reason for the blog's long silent period. I kept on hoping to be able to share news, and news kept on being non-forthcoming. I think we need another crocus picture at this point to cheer me up again.
We are sure enough that we are moving to have irrevocably committed $5000 of earnest money to hold "our" house in WA. And Papaya Daddy recently received his license to practice medicine in that state. And I've highlighted our driving route all the way there on maps I ordered from AAA, and started to plan where we'd spend the nights on our trip. All things that will make it even more difficult if it all falls through.
We had a delightful time at Uncle T's California house over Christmas. The kids made an incredible gingerbread A-frame that they happily devoured, we took lots of fun walks to see and feed the nearby ducks, spent lots of great time with Papaya Daddy's parents, and stuffed ourselves silly on an abundance of good food.
Our relaxing week in Sacramento was bookended by a miserable travel experience on US Airways. For the first time in over three years, we decided to fly out of Flagstaff and avoid the unpleasant drive to Phoenix to back. Advice to anybody else tempted to do this: Just say NO to US Air. Fly Southwest instead. We have been amply punished for our lapse in loyalty. Our trip included:
-At least our hotel had a nice indoor pool, and we had suits with us. Here's the Portabella, angelically sleeping on the hotel bed after splashing her legs in the hot tub:
She's sitting up really well now, but is still not crawling. She's made a few attempts that ended in face plants, and the memory of her failures has kept her from trying again for the past couple of weeks. She's making up for this by working on verbal and small motor skills. Her first word is "Hi!", and she says it while waving (opening and closing her outstretched hand) at both friends and strangers. She is incredibly engaging!
I thought it would be fun to post comparison pictures of the Portabella and her sister at similar ages, both sitting in the Boppy, wearing the same outfit. So, here's the Portabella:
The Portabella has more hair, but I think they look pretty similar on the whole (at least from the back). From the front, they're fairly different. The Banana has blue eyes, while the Portabella has true brown eyes. It really tickles me pink that all three of my kids have different color eyes! Here's the Portabella, sitting up in her bath seat for the first time ever:
And here's the Papaya, back in December 2003 (he was a little chubbier):
She's eating more and more solids, but refuses to let us put foods in her mouth with a spoon. She'll only eat what she can put in her mouth with her own hands. Since she has no teeth, this limits her diet and also creates quite a mess. We wish she would eat more, since she still clocks in at below the 3rd percentile in weight (her length and head circumference are quite a bit higher on the growth chart). But I guess she likes being skinny, since she's pretty clear about when she wants to eat and when she doesn't want to eat. Here she is, sampling spaghetti:
She continues to inspire great interest, great amounts of love, and occasional mild torture from her siblings.
The Banana continues to be the World's Cutest Toddler.
The Papaya and his accomplishments are going to get a lot more coverage in the soon-to-come School Update, so I won't spend much more time on him here. I will, however, post a picture of the cake he insisted I make to celebrate Jesus' birthday. (Somewhat belated, but nobody knows when it is, anyway. He got the idea after attending a birthday party for Jesus in Sunday School at Uncle T's church.) He was very clear about the design, icing colors, and cake composition. We took it to church for Sunday potluck and it was much enjoyed by all. Here it is, exactly as he told me to make it:
Soon after making Jesus' birthday cake, I made my own (with help again from the Papaya, who LOVES cooking and baking, and now says he wants to be a pool digger, house builder, and cook when he grows up), and we celebrated my 33rd birthday. I received three beautifully wrapped gifts from the Papaya: a crayon, two colored pencils, and The Cat in the Hat, one of his LA readers for this year ("...because you like to read, Mommy..."). It's definitely the thought that counts, and I was touched.
Before I end yet another long, overdue update, I'm going to post a few pictures from our lovely hike yesterday. Papaya Daddy returned home at 9:00 a.m. after working all night, and we drove to church & headed out with our pastor's family to explore the edge of Third Mesa. Our drive there (following their jeep) reminded me a little of driving through game parks in Kenya in my high school years, and we added some nice new scratches to our Pilot's paint job:
Once we reached the edge of the mesa, we had a lovely time just exploring: we found delightful little alcoves filled with sand and pinyon pine - they had great scope for the imagination (what if somebody made this their little home for the summer...?), scrambled up rock formations, tromped through snow in the north facing shadows, and reveled in the bottomless high desert sky you can lose yourself in. (The man standing highest is our pastor.) It's the kind of adventure that helps overcome the loneliness and isolation of living here, and that will help us remember our years on the Rez with nostalgia. I hope and pray it's days like yesterday the kids remember after 10 or 20 years, and not the lack of friends or daily playmates in their early years.
I thought I'd end this entry with a sunset picture from our back porch. Someday, I'll have to make a portfolio of Badger Butte pictures (the butte in the background, which has been such an integral part of our sense of place for the past 3 1/2 years). We've captured it in such a myriad of moods. This, too, we will miss (can you tell I'm already leaving here in my mind and heart?)...
