Cup Stacking Overtakes our Home

It's new, it's exciting, it's engaging, and it's FUN!! If you haven't heard of or seen Speed Stacking or Cup Stacking, I encourage you to seek out information or demonstations of it.

Some time ago, I was saw a short spot on the PBS about speed stacking. Neat, I thought! I didn't understand the rage it has become! Neighbors are doing it, schools are having tournaments, National Circuits exist etc, etc. Now, our homeschooling co-op will be offering a class to introduce the "sport" and teach biblical concepts that relate (ie.firm foundation). We will incorporate relays and time trials and hope that as the 6 class periods progress, our students will improve upon their scores and increase their confidence to complete the cycle without fumbles.

We have had the opportunity to teach a few other families in the meantime, and they too see the value/challenge of this engaging activity. Even our 2 year old Irene has taken to the upstacking in particular. Give it a try. You might surprise yourself!!

When it Works!

Last night over dinner seemed like a good time to finish our science for the week. The kids and I had covered the science topic "cells" and our assignment for the next day was to make a cell out of jello, dried beans and a marble or grape. Daddy likes science, he'd probably get a kick out of this, I thought to myself. And he did!

We had already poured the gelatin into a small plastic bag (to represent the cell membrane) and now we needed to add the nucleus (marble) and organelles (dried beans). We took turns going around the table adding a small handful of organelles and then turning to the person on our left and explaining what we had just done or idenitfying the new part. We continued around the table, with the nucleus and by the end of the conversation, learning had occured! Conversation skills, listening skills, and parts of cells being identified.

A day ahead of schedule we finished science. And a new technique for learning and sharing what we had learned was tried. It worked!!

"I'm the Momma"

I didn't think it would ever occur. Playing school in a homeschooling house. But it did today! I can't say I am anything less than thrilled. I'm ecstatic! Here's how it happened...

Mari (age 5)was playing nicely with her little sister Irene (23 months). A lull came in the action and Mari asked sweetly "do you want to play school?". I listen for the upcoming "NO!" by Irene (that is one of her "I am in control" responses of late). Irene surprised us and went along with her sister's idea. Mari then stated to me, "I'm her momma. I am going to make her a page (worksheet) to do". Mari then created Irene's first homeschool worksheet which included "My Name_________________" and a couple of other "fill in the blank" type questions. The mood faded fast and was not well received by Irene, but Mari was in the moment and all wrapped up in it for a time. It was so cute! Isn't it said that a child will imitate someone who has touched their life in a significant way? I do hope that is the case here. I marvel at the change from my growing up years, where it was stated by many young friends "I'll be the teacher". Different than here, now, where my daughter said "I'll be the momma".

I will undoubtedly replay those few moments in my head when I am wondering if I am making headway with our middle child Mari. Although she still "drives our bus" (- meaning that she takes us to school each and every day with her questions "when can we do school today?", "are we doing school today?", "can we do school today?"), it is challenging to keep her busy enough with coloring pages, window phonics exercises, Explode the Code pages and other things to keep her happy for a few minutes while I introduce new material for her older brother, now a 3rd grader. She desires doing exactly what her older brother is doing and has a difficult time when she recognizes that I have given him more or something different than her. Some days, I think she could school ALL day, happily flitting from one thing to the next.

Recently asked by the children's dentist, who is unaware of our homeschooling, "what do you like best about school?", Mari stated, "science!" I wonder about her enthusiasm for new things. Discovery of the unknown. We hadn't recently done any amazing science experiments, but something must have sparked a new found love for science. This I will continue to investigate and will report my findings.

Blessings
Marie