Hi mommies,
Thanks for all your sharings. Like most of you, I'm rather disorganised and ill-disciplined when it comes to homeschooling. So,coaching would be a more appropriate description of what I am doing with the kids.
For me, I adopt a 2-prongs approach in coaching my kids structured (Language & Math) and non-structured aka accidental learning (Math & Science/Knowledge). Using Pris sharing as a guide, Ill just briefly touch on what we do
Reading, we use both phonics and whole language approaches. Besides doing new stuff on phonics, I would constantly revisit those that we have covered. For sight words, I use a few sets of readers concurrently. In this way, Brandon was exposed to how sight words are being used in different context. To encourage a better understanding of those common sight words, we would try constructing sentences using them. I'll make a simple sentence focusing on the word and encourage him to come up with one too.
Word making, again phonics is the main mode. For instance, the word back, we try sounding out the first 2 letter sounds and try the various cuh/kuh letter sounds c, ck, k. From there, Brandon will try to make sense of the words bac, back, and bak.
Vocabulary wise, I am using higher-level books for read-aloud sessions with him.
Learning grammar is an ongoing daily activity, meaning I would correct him whenever the need arises. By correcting, I mean repeating him but modeling the correct usage of grammar and words. Aside from that, we have also touched on very basic grammatical stuff sentences and nouns.
For Math, I use the Assessment books (N1 to K2) as a guide on what to cover. For me, getting the concept and foundation right is most important while practice comes later. Some concepts are covered in greater depths while others we merely glide through. For addition & subtraction, this is how we do it
- using manipulative
- number lines
- more & less concept e.g 5 and 3 more is 8
- word problems
- games
- worksheets
- different ways of adding to get a number
How did I introduce addition/subtraction concepts? Think I start off with his bolsters, then proceeded to body parts e.g. 1 eye + 1 eye = 2 eyes, people coming and leaving the waiting room at the clinics etc So, addition and subtraction is very part of daily life. On a structural basis, Ill get him to do worksheets with +1, +2, +3 etc Some of the worksheets are found online. Some are self-created to target areas of understanding.
On Science/Knowledge, we rely heavily on books. Also, as and when the opportunity occurs, we'll explain stuff accordingly. For instance, we often see contrails here. So, hubby will explain to Brandon how the contrail occurs. Another time Brandon asked abt the water droplets on the window. That led to a short discussion on how condensation occurs.
I have just started on theme learning recently. Hope to make more improvement with the next one.
Much as I would like to coach him when he's in the mood, it's near impossible with a toddler constantly vying for attention. Therefore, I do have sit-down sessions with him. For introducing new concepts, I would choose a time when he's receptable and spend no more than 15 minutes on it.
Coaching is especially hard for me cos I'm the only caregiver. Sometimes, I do wish for an extra pair of hands, especially when I'm coaching Brandon. Which is why most of the sit-down sessions are done at night. Besides that, the lack of appropriate materials/manipulative is also another headache for me. Hopefully I can do more with the 2 kids when we are more settled back in Singapore. Personally, I like moshimoshi's artistic stuff a great deal...
