Mr E::: Chinese and Art

After sulking and feeling quite down in my previous post, today, who else but my dear Mr E made me feel so motivated in this homeschool journey.

Chinese

Well, I have been struggling with this big time!  I can’t seem to get Mr E interested or motivated.  I visited another fellow homeschool mum a few weeks ago, and recall seeing a reward chart and asking her about it.  Well, I implemented this on Mr E. 

Every new Chinese term he knows earn him a stamp.  If he knows and can even write, that earns him 2 stamps.  Every 10 stamps earn him an ice-cream.  20 stamps earn him a simple gift of his choice (my budget.)

This works!!!  In just this last 2 weeks, he has collected 14 stamps (got his ice-cream today), and can even recognise Chinese numerals from 1 to 12!  He got so motivated that he kept memorising the Chinese terms for flower, trees and grass for the whole day long today so that he can get 3 stamps at 1 go!

Well, some may not agree with reward system.  I am one who is careful about it.  But for Chinese, I really come to the end, and have no other choice. It works! So, why not?!

Art

Was on our way home from in-law’s place, and talking about what we can bring tomorrow so that he can be kept occupied while I will be busy baking the cookies.  I suggested his Sketch book and said he can draw all the trees, flowers, grasses, etc.  His reply enthusiastically:

“Yes!! I love drawing.”

Erm, this is coming from a boy who wasn’t that interested in drawing previously.  Why the sudden change?  Hee hee… will give the answer in my next post soon.

“Mr E, thank you so much.  You have no idea how much you have done to lift up my spirit.  Today, you have made all the tiredness seem so worth it!”

(Having said that, I still do need to try to do less.)

When Ethan schools, Zoe…

Here are the pictures of some of the things that Zoe does while I homeschool Ethan… Depending on the child’s temperament, these activities are able to keep Zoe occupied for at least 20 minutes.

Scooping and Pouring with Rice

I know many will think this is a ridiculous no-no… but, both my children simply love it whenever I cook rice… Its so easy to set up… 

Spread the floor with shower curtain (which is our picnic mat actually, from ikea, machine washable), add a few kitchen utensils, spoon, bowl, funnels, sift, etc, done… to clean up, just pour whatever spilled over rice back. 

Water play

I doubt any 2yo will resist this.  I didn’t add bubbles cos it will be too soapy and slippery in the hall way.  Its in the hall way instead of any other places in the house cause I want her to me near our homeschool area, ie, near me.

Painting

Another sure hit activity.  Spread newspaper around for easy cleaning.  This is actually a form of informal schooling for Zoe.  I usually give at most 2 colors, cause I want her to experiment the effect of mixing colors.

Playdoh and cutting

 

For little children who still eat playdough, homemade playdough will do the trick.

Zoe is now into cutting playdough, paper, etc….  I bought this kid’s scissor from Popular.  Very good and cheap and safe. She been using it since she was just over 1yo (or younger?).

Paperclips and magnets

So so response on this.  But good enough to keep her busy for max 20 mins.

Crafts with big bro

 

Coloring, cutting, doodling, etc… Zoe will be happy to join in the craft that Ethan does.

more updates on this as we go along…

Our new daily schedule… I’M LOVING IT!

Old Daily Schedule

Prior to my Break, I used to homeschool Ethan only when Zoe naps.  And while Ethan rests/naps, I will spend 1-1 time with Zoe.  This gives me a VERY PACKED day.  I started my day at about 8am, and I would me on my toes with the 2 children till 8pm.  Once they sleep, I would be at my PC, planning for lessons.  On most days, only heading bed near 2am, and not forgetting the night nursing.  Was I exhausted?  You bet!

New Daily Schedule

During the break, I started to have the siblings nap at the same time.  Wow… the nearly 2 hours break from them in the middle of the day was SUPERB… I had a nice cuppa in peace, had time to do some reading, as well as be at my PC.  I LOVE IT! And wanna keep it…

So now, with my new term started, days at home now look like this:

Morning 

- my devotion while children free play

- outdoor physical time

- children’s devotion time

- wash up

- 30 mins solo time with Zoe, while Ethan snack

- homeschool time with Ethan, while Zoe snack and free play

- lunch prep and lunch

Afternoon

- Children nap for nearly 2 hours, while I prepare homeschool materials for following day.

- Children awake, spend about 60mins with them.

- Children 30-45 mins of TV time

- Dinner followed by night routine and bed time by 8pm!

The 2 hours of their nap time was so good.  That buy me extra 2 hours of sleep at night!

My only concern is Zoe being a little cranky while I homeschool Ethan.  B gave me a list of things to do for the younger child while the older is being homeschooled.  So far, the list been pretty useful.  Hopefully that will sustain.  And hopefully, Zoe will also get used to the routine.

So here it is, my daily routine.  Certainly better FOR ME! Else, it was insanity!

BTW

Uh… I’m just soooooo happy that I completed my planning for another FIAR book.  That mean, lesson for next 3-4 weeks are safe! I’m loving it!  This is only possible due to our new routine… yay!!!

Curriculum

Burn out?!

Have received several encouragements and comments from many who view my homeschool blog for the efforts I put to school my children.  Am I tired?!! I’m kidding if I say I’m not… So many times, when I look out of my window in front of my PC table, I envy all those houses that are pitch dark, ie, the people in there are deep in their dream… I have to do something before I’m burn out!!!

Curriculum search

And this last 3 weeks of no-homeschool due to car, holiday, conferences, was a good time for me to think about how am I going to go far, go long… I finally have to say that I need curriculum… but which!? Seen Bob Jones’, good but can’t really slot it into Ethan’s age group. Fellow homeschool mums said its better for older kids.

Was thinking about ‘Five In A Row’, but having used ‘Before Five In a Row’, I’m not too impressed and found it too easy… BUT I’m wrong…

I found it!

Went to Amy’s house yesterday, and had the opportunity to browse her FIAR curriculum… I’m impress!!! and please… There are much more content within the lesson, and the activities are not that basic… Its really an answered prayer… I know I have found my answer…

So while I wait for my order to arrive, I will continue with the lessons that I have already planned, and finish up the rest of the books in B4FIAR that we have not done last year.  When my curriculum arrive, I look forward to a ‘Better Tomorrow’ with the following plan:

One more problem

Chinese… sigh… Anyone any suggestion??? Tien Hsia, Berries, etc etc??? or ???

Today was at East Coast and a Malay lady kept talking to me in Malay, I told her I’m a Chinese.

Later, while Queuing for  dinner, Ethan told me: “Mum, I’m an English not Chinese… because I speak English, I don’t speak Chinese”…

Hmmm…

Conclusion

Nevermind, let me think about Chinese for a little while more… Meanwhile here’s the plan which I hope can lengthen my homeschooling journey with my children.

Reading : Reading A to Z

Science, Maths, etc : Five In A Row

Biblical : Danielle’s Place