No Telling

There are parent-teacher conferences this week, which means Xi, the nine-year old, doesn't have school today or tomorrow. But around here homeschooling continues, so we brought Xi into the fold. Last night as I semi-planned the day I was a little nervous. The dynamic around here these days involves Xi making moves that establish, or re-establish, her place of power as the older sister while Echo runs around doing her best anti-little sister impression. Basically Echo is the little upstart, refusing to be seen as lesser, and doing a pretty good job of it as she spouts new information and exhibits new skills. Xi is feeling a little panicked by the pace. She counters with "big-sisterly" actions and assertions.

In other words? They argue.

So I was a tad nervous to school these guys side by side and my anxiety clicked up a few notches as the two, while breakfasting on apple slices, started their argumentative chatter over the sticker book. For whatever reason, seriously without any hope, I said over my shoulder "Hey guys, you might want to think about what kind of day you want to have together." They said okay, in unison, like a rote response and I went back to making oatmeal.

But maybe it worked?

Who really knows. Maybe enough food hit their bellies. Maybe the percentage of sun to darkness increased just enough. All I know is that things have gone so smoothly today. We read from our curriculum book, I printed out math worksheets and set up math activities (Thursday is math day around here), and the girls are loving it. Right now they are at the table, heads bent over worksheets, while they pretend to be teenagers with boyfriends, talking in British accents. 

Maybe it's fun for Echo to have company and for Xi to see how fun Echo's school is. Maybe it's reassuring to Xi that her worksheets have complex word and multiplication problems while Echo in comparison is working hard through much simpler tasks like dot-to-dot by tens.

Really, who knows?

It's super fun.

Comments

[Rachel]

Hmmm, with fun days like this you may have two homeschooling girls soon...?

[Natalie]

Xi is already hooked. She's planning to homeschool next year because she's loved it so much :)

[carrie]

how great
can i ask if your following a curriculum
if so which one.
xxxcarrie-anne

[Natalie]

Hi Carrie-anne, We are using the Five In a Row, literature-based curriculum, as our foundation. You read the same book five days in a row, using it as a jumping off point for a different subject (math, language, social studies, art, science) each day. After that we follow our own interests and instincts. Xi is nine and if she homeschools for real I will have to find a curriculum more suitable to her age. I was pretty intimidated by homeschool but having a little something to follow has helped tremendously. I had no idea I would love it so much. xoxo