Homeschool preschool

A morning in the life of a homeschool preschool....

 Easel painting with poster paints...black and white paints are new, at the specific request of little messyfish. We got the 2 ltr bottles this time, so we wont run out for a little while. After easel painting he usually paints some objects nearby, the ground then his hands. In summer he has painted his tummy and arms and legs. This usually means to me that he wants to take a shower....

 Watercolour painting with cotton buds. In educationese...perhaps this is the beginning of writing...does it matter? No. It was fun. It uses fine motor skills. He loves yellow and blue and black.

 We sat together in the winter sun on the floor in front of the full length glass doors for almost 2 hours looking at all the pretty beads. He knows dots, swirls, bumps, lines, spots, sparkles, stripes, ridges, squares, holes etc etc. I was paying attention, as he has been playing with these beads for more than a year now with great interest. We grouped them in colours. He played families with them. "The mummy bead is looking for her baby"

 Scooping rainwater from a bucket and watering the garden. I taught him ages ago that they all need lots of water. I am a wanna be gardener.  He watered evenly, and did not get wet until he tried to drink from the jug! Lucky those pants are polar fleece....wipes right off...anyhow, he hs been "toilent learning", so 3 changes a day is the norm...

 Morning tea, of homemade sourdough bread with jam and butter. Yep! Ive nailed sourdough. I am super impressed with myself. Ill post about it another time....but did I mention I am super impressed with my domestic goddess skills?

 Time to get a basket and shovel...we are off to dig on the driveway. He says "if the farmer comes in his tractor then we will just get out of the way". Ok then...lets go.
Yes that is sand spilling of of the sand pit. We dont have rules about it. Yes he can pour it where ever he wants outside. Yes we can order more next summer if its all gone. A load costs $30. Not really worth being authoritarian about and all restrictive now is it?

 hmmmm....the driveway is over 1km long. Just loving the freedom to walk. When I am in the big smoke near the road with cars I hold his hand, and am on car alert. Now thats no fun. This however is freedom for mum, and bub.

 We have been learning letters. He likes "o" alot. "A" and "H" are good too. They are the same he says *smile*. He will work it out when he is ready. I could correct him. In fact I could correct him about everything, but we dont do that here. "Natural learning" means just that. Now...where is my "very good" stamp, and red pen (jokes). Read here if you want to know more about this idea.

 Who needs friends when you have max and bowie...

 and the farmer in the dell

 Collecting some leaves for "King Winter" to put on our nature table. Our Preschool is seasons based... I believe knowledge and connection to the earth is paramount. So do many many others. Growing up in the suburbs of Sydney, I dont remember much about learning about the seasons. but then again, I dont remember much...sigh...

"I want to climb that tree". I say, "ok" lets go try.... A good way to make life very unfun is to tell your kids how their experiments will turn out, of be in complete control at all times, and tell them that he wont be able to climb that tree its too big. Silence is better....the joy is hearing him say "oh its very big, can you help me?", "wow....I will have t wait till I am bigger...oh well"....then he moves on to the next thing with joy and excitement. We raced the bull in the next paddock to pick some wattle for out vase at home. We both just loooooove wattle. It comes out in winter here. Must be the gnomes digging up the gold.

linking up with owlet for unschool monday I used to do Cactus Monday....but my commitment waned unfortunately...I must get back to it soon. I could do both?!