Homeschool learnings: Snapshot and Math Curricula thoughts

Homeschooling is an adventure. Every day looks different.

Bean and I had an appointment first thing in the morning in Poughkeepsie. On the way home we visited Eleanor Roosevelt’s home (Val-Kill - the only National Historic site honoring a First Lady). Unlike the imposing homes along the river (of FDR, the Vanderbilts. Astors, Livingstons, etc) the place feels people sized. The road wends to a small bridge where a collection of small building sit clustered on a small hill in the curve of the river.

We sat on a picnic bench in the shade surrounded on two sides by the water. She snuggled under two blankets - I kept on rewrapping her as she moved and repositioned along the bench.

We began by finishing off the 6 classifications of animals - Mammals, Birds, Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Arthropods.* Then we practiced our addition facts with carrying the 1s to the next unit (tens to hundreds, etc) in preparation to do subtraction with borrowing (thank goodness for the abacus). As Bean did her problems (papers rustling in the wind) I looked up whether swamp cabbage is edible (yes, but only boiled).

Spelling came next (fifteen through twenty - five new words a day). Finally, we recited again and again our poem to memorize this week, “The Owl and the Pussycat.”

Birds swept over us and darting in and among the cattails. The sun shone. Squirrels chased. Water gurgled. It was us, our books, and nature.

“Momma, look another red winged blackbird!” We watched it dart over the water and land on a stalk.

“The wing color is so extraordinary.”

“I know, they are one of my favorite birds.” She smiled at me.

I smiled back, then glanced at my watch. “Op, time to head home for lunch.”

“Can we listen to a story in the car?”

“Of course.”

I have been confronted with huge differences in academic rigor in our math books - so are ostensibly doing 2nd grade math twice. For example, Right Start Math has the children learn subtraction with borrowing in 3rd grade. Singapore Math has the children learn subtraction with borrowing at the beginning of 2nd grade.** I am unable with my background of academic accomplishment to not use the more rigorous curricula.

We shall see if this actually makes any difference in the long run (doubtful), but perhaps she will become a rocket scientist and we can point to this moment as the fork in the road when that happened (extremely doubtful but amusing to contemplate nevertheless).

Curricula kerfuffles aside - thank you Bean for this time with you. Dragon, I can’t wait to figure out how to add you to the mix - the adventure continues.

*In case you dork about this as much as I do. Amphibians: amphi - both, bios - life. Arthropods: arthron-joint, pods-foot. Arthritis anyone?

** I will say that Right Start Math has great manipulatives and the games are amazing for younger children and we are still going to incorporate the two. But as she gets older, well, yes - switching over.