OK. There's been a long gap in this blog. I haven't really commited to it - I don't know whether I even want to blog about educational things, but in the past it has helped focus me. I also didn't know whether I should move blogs to
Islamic Unschool. Sometimes a fresh start can be so invigorating, but it feels a little disjointed to have our stuff broken into various blogs.
I have also realised that the youngest needs a totally different way to learning than his brother.
Eldest always responded well to Waldorf methods at the age of 4. He wouldn't draw though; he wasn't at the stage where he could hold a pen, and getting him to do anything structured was torture for him.
I continued this way of doing things with youngest, and have noticed his way is different, but it wasn't til he turned 4 that I realised a different way of learning was called for. He is very much hands on - loves organising, counting, re-arranging, making lines of different length and comparing them etc. Very much going for a Montessori way with him insha'allah.
Getting these two peoples' needs met is tough, like being pulled in opposite directions by wild mustangs.
I hope writing this down will make me realise how much we DO and not how much we DON'T.
A summary of today:
Eldest did tangrams til his head hurt and the midget was given magnetix (whatever they're called) and asked to make a square, a triangle and a pentagon. This he did with glee.
After brains were sufficiently tied in knots, they legoed and drew and watched Attenborough's Life on iPlayer. They did something else, but I've forgotten. Can't have been very educational.
ANYWAY, they are now holding a 'who can hold their breath the longest' competition in the sitting room and it's the quietest I've ever known it. I like this game. Maybe we could extend it into a Grand Prix competition? That would be interesting (and quiet)...