Hello everyone!
For me, its been both a buzy and hard time the last few weeks. A lot of things happened since my last post on my blog. I hope you are all well and that you're having a good time with your families.
I'm happy having a few moments to write here and share with you some of the things we've been doing & learning these last days because you know...
...learning is always happening, wanting or not. Little kids are one of the most amazing "sponges" in the world and they can absorb information like pro. We just need to pay attention and give them resources and a bit of our time in order so they can grow beautiful and become smart individuals.
Dont underestimate their learning capacity!
Most of you are familiar with my posts in the community but for those who don't know this, I have a son, Caleb. He is 3yrs and 10mo old now. I work with him at home pretty much...since ever.
We live in Romania and thats why we need to work on his English skills. The soon the better! He understands the language pretty well already. He learned it and continues doing so by watching carttons in English and A LOT of BOOKS. I began reading for him in English very very early. He was not even one year old.
And from the moment I've decided he can wathch TV screen (that was about 2, 2 and a half), he only could watch in English. I decided so and I don't regret.
In the present, he still watch his shows in English, and very very often in Romanian. His favorite TV show was Numberblocks. He adores them but now I notice he got a little bored. Over one year, Numberblocks were...I dont even know how to explain it. They formed it. Everything he did play and said was around Numberblocks. They were his really first love,
He also watched Alphablock, which he loved. Not anymore.
I even made custom for he a mug with Numberblocks and two puzzles.
Now he's into Dr. Binocs. I love this show. They are really really good resources. If you're not familiar with these, you can find it on youtube.
All right guys. No more intro words. 🤭
Specifically, here are some worksheets we've been working on these days, all on Autumn Season Theme.
I hope they're useful for you too. Maybe they can guide you or give you an idea to try something similar.
All worksheets are from Twinkl. I have a subscription there. Maybe you can register for free and have access to thousands of educational resources. I am so glad I found this website. It is truly helpful.
Initial Sounds.
What initial sound can you hear? Colour in the correct one.
This wasnt hard at all, for my son. He named every image like Hedgehog, Scarecrow, Tree, Leaf, Pumpkin. For some reason he can't memorize the word Chestnut. Haha. He said Acorn at first.
Say it. Write it Worksheet.
This is mainly for thd kids who already know how to write or at least, they started learning it. You can both practice English Language and Writting skills.
We used an English dictionary as well. He didnt understand why Sun is with an "u" rather than an "a". Though he knew already that Sun is correct.
He didnt need my help for the words on the worksheet, except Mug. And funny thing, I thought that is a Cup. Haha. Someone explain to me the difference betweet a mug and a cup. Or I'll google it.
Riddles
This was my favorite because it let me be amazed, happy and content the fact that my baby boy understands those sentences in English. Or at least, something of them because out of 12, he went right 11 times.
Match the image with the right sentence
This one is pretty much the same with the another one, above. The only difference is that here is only a sentence (not two or three) that need to be matched with the right image indicating what the sentence says.
There were some tricky ones where I needed to intervene and explain and show him what he does wrong, but overall it was fine.
One thing here: it would have been better if these cards would have been colored. Definitely.
Autumn Clothes
This was intented to familiarize ourselves with the specific clothes we wear in the Fall Season.
Its mostly a Vocabulary worksheet.
I first let him chose the ones he already knew and fits them on the paper and then we worked on the new words.
You can see on the worksheet that, for a littlw bit of help, we found the initial sounds for every clothing item. That was helpful. You can cut it off if you want.
Cut and paste the labels
The words we worked on, they are all for the Fall season, as you noticed. I even mentioned this, I think.
This was easy, fun, enjoyable. Again, it would have helped if the worksheet was color.
I'm sorry I cut those labels before. I should have let my son doing it, as he already was nuts about using the scissors and cutting paper. Lol.
That would be all for now, mammas! (And fathers) hehe 💛💛
I just want to mention here that I began working with Caleb this way, (with worksheets and more sisthematic), this year. He is not even 4 years old.
Abd I have an advice here. Dont let the age dictate you or guide you what and how to work with your children.
You should be guided by your child and his interests, his capacities and abilities.
Maybe for some, this means earlier than the "average" or for others, later. Either way, its OK.
Dont put to much pressure on you or your child. You'll know when he's readu for what you have in mind regarding your homeschooling learning plan.
Thank you all for (if) reading,
Missdeli 💛
As a librarian and an early reader myself, I always have trouble when a parent asks what books are right for their child based solely on age. We have a selection of books marked according to reading level, but I think the cataloguing system for that is unreliable. We have tools for approximate grade level or lexile scores I can use as a benchmark, but I always encourage people to push their limits and read what looks interesting instead of just what pops up on my screen.
I am also saddened sometimes when kids who are struggling to learn obviously feel like they are being punished with extra drills. Turning learning into even more of a chore for them doesn't encourage growth! My 2 cents, anyway.
Right now, I am working on a social media post for the district to encourage adults to read classic literature along with a few tips to help get through longer and more complicated books in somewhat unfamiliar language. We all need new challenges, after all. Sometimes some effort is required for a worthwhile reward.
I hear you! I totally agree with you, on all aspects. Maybe for some kids, following the standard age requirements and recomandations is a valid point, but I think this is likely to not be the most efficient guiding path, for most of kids. This is not the fundamental guideline we should follow, when we educate kids. Age...is just...one peace of the whole. I consider that the kid should lead the whole learning approach. My son can do Math already and can understand all kind of science principles and etc. Just an example. I mostly use books for 5-6-7-8 yrs old. Sometimes more than this, for example the human body atlas.
I get lots of questions and afirmations on this: why do I keep teaching these stuff to my son? Cause when he'll be in school, he will got bored. I have ny answers, which usually are these one:.
And yes, Im sad too when I hear all kind of comparisions between kids. And this is the reasons I dont like to talk about the way I teach my son with the people here, in Romania.
Sorry,this is another topic.
But what I was trying to say is that I know that learnig wont happen by force.
P.S. Appreciate stopping by and commenting! Your point here is just right!
The way you work with your boy is impressive, as are the results. I have a granddaughter who is three years old and still doesn't speak, I mean she repeats all the words but still only says very simple sentences. I think in a few months she will speak much better and I am interested in doing some of the exercises you did with Caleb. I will take inspiration from your older posts.
I've taken the time and read some of your recipe posts. There are a few that I really like and will try them.
Thanks!
P.S. I couldn't find any posts from your holiday in Balchik. How was it? Did you like it?
Hey! Sorry I'm answering so late! I didnt want to write a short and on a hurry reply.
First, thank you for your comment! Appreciate your words! Truly! And I am so so so happy hearing you'll consider do some of the activities we've been doing. I dont post only for posting and rewards...I post with the thoughts and desire that we can inspire others and help others with some of our ideas and learning activities. And hearing you saying you'll take a look into what we'ce been doing, its absolutely rewarding.
Not that it matters or so, but I also studied Psychopedagogy (studii de licenta) and then I followed a master degree in Interactive Pedagogy. And I did my research and studies and read many books about this topic, of working at home and do activities to develop kids on all areas: cognitive, psychological, social skills, fine motor skills, etc.
Let me know if you try some of the recipes. I'm curios to know, which what you liked?
About Balchik, we went but didnt visit it so much. It was a strange not so normal holiday. My husband was a bit tired and we spent most of our time at the hotel. Also our friends, werent in the mood do visit much. We wisit the garden and the promenade in Balchick. I liked the garden wery much. And we went to two restaurants there. They both were good, dont have complains about them. It was a chilled vacation
And, one more thing. We left early with one day because I got covid. Lol. Our first time having covid. And the day before the check out day I stayed only in bed, with high fever and feelig so bad, I wasnt in my life. We had to stay to Constanta too after that, 3 days or so. But we decided to go straight home. My husband and kid started to have same sympthoms after 1 day arraving home. So its was a very tired time with the road from arad-balchick and then back, after not even 5 nights.
Overall, my husband didnt like it, I did.
I didnt post anything...yet.
Thank you for commenting, I'm happy reading from you.
I do the same as you. Important answers or comments are postponed until I have time to answer correctly and completely, which is why I am sometimes very late in replying.
I appreciate this approach, I chose something similar, I just don't have knowledge in a field that can be useful to someone. That's why I chose to make posts about places in Romania, seen with tourists' eyes and with a lot of information about the history and I know there are some here who know things about Romania because of these readings.
What you show is much more applicable and useful, children's education can interest many. I think it's great that you are applying what you learned first with your little boy!
I have a little more to wait before I try to use some of what you put here, probably in the coming summer my granddaughter will be ready to receive such activities and exercises. Until then I have to read your posts carefully and choose what I think fits... Thank you!
Well, I love most of your recipes and I even applied one, the lasagna one. I really liked that you ditched the béchamel sauce and used cheese. Because of the bechamel sauce, I kept putting off making lasagna but after reading your version I was very glad you found this solution.
I think you know that I am also in love with Thassos and I read with pleasure and nostalgia your posts. It brought back very pleasant memories of Greek dishes.
I will definitely try many of your recipes. I've never cooked lentil soup (nor eaten it), I saw, I think I'm not mistaken, a reference to it in one of your posts but I can't find it anymore.
I think you've figured out that I like to cook.... to my wife's delight and (sometimes) displeasure. Cooking relaxes and soothes me, that's pretty much the reason I do it almost daily.
Oh, you had a nightmare holiday in Balchik! I'm sorry it happened that way. We've had our share of mishaps on holidays but what happened to you and your family was terrible and undeserved. I hope with all my heart that the summer and future holidays will be wonderful and erase these unpleasant memories!
Thank you so much!
Hey! Here is my late reply on this:
I'm not saying this is my approach for any of my posts. I meant mostly for my education posts because I studied these and I really wish they are for any use for others as well.
Its the same with food and nutrition. Maybe some of the words or recipes I share can help others in a small small portion, Idk. But I do get inspired somethimes by what others may share so these two fields I'm passionate about I consider them why not helping others too.
I saw that your posts are full with info, relevant information. And your writting is deep and can help others learn about what you post.
I also keep posting on recipes, travel blogs and sometimes others in between. It doesnt need for us to be knowledged in a sort of a field to have good posts. I write by heart, everything I share.
I'm sure you know what I mean or meant.
Regarding your little granddaughter, not all kids develop the same. This is normal, you know it. You can start already with simple things like colors and shape. Does she knows colors or shapes? You can start with sortings activities or fine motor skills activities. That doesnt require knowledge of any kind, you only work with her to develop her attention, patience, problem solving.
Glad you love my lasagna with cheese. I'm not into bechamel sauce on lasagna. I dont say I hate it, but I prefer the version with mozzarella and riccotta cheese. I found the tecipe a long time ago, few years since I cook it this way.
No, I didnt post a recipe of lentil soup...I think?? .hmmm, I dont remember but its my favorite and I should post it someday.
I love to cook as well, but not under pressure. When I have many chores in a day to solve, cooking is a nightmare. I get stressed out with time and I get tired cooking. We love to eat out, thats the true and we have our meals at some restaurants that we like to eat very often.
I cook at home pretty much every day but we also go out and eat, especially pizza for example. We have a pizza place here in Arad with pastas and pizzas that are really Italian. The taste is so different from everything I have tested in my life.
Anyways...another long reply! Sorry for being late.
Greetings @missdeli, I liked your idea to teach new English words to your child, the flash cards allow him to associate the words according to the image, at the same time it helps him to exercise memorization and concentration; the autumn wardrobe is very particular, in my country we only have the rainy season and the dry season.
Riddles are very good for children, they like challenges and discovering the answer is rewarding, very good for your son, answering twelve riddles 11 shows that he is a very intelligent child and committed to his learning.
Blessings!
Hey there 💙! Sorry I'm late replying. I appreciate your comment, outlining what we've been doing. I didnt know you have only two seasons. We have all four of them.
And yes, riddles are something fun and work with. I am doing them not for so long. And I like how my son responds to it too.
Blessings for you too!
Let me treat you with a !PIZZA, aha? 🤩
Sorry for my sooo late reply! I can't manage my time lately. It's been a hectic and busy period for me.
I appreciate YOU stopping by and treating me with a pizza! 🍕🍕
Very soon this period will change to pre-Christnas... and the to post-Christmas! 🤩 time to make Chr. cards, isnt it?
and always time for a !PIZZA 🍕🙏
I dont know really. I'm not in festive mood. Although tmr I'll be on my way to Prague, Wien and Bratislava to visit, until Saturday. I'll visit the Christmas Market too.. haha
But...what I was saying is that in the last period of time I found hard to be online and posting. A lot have been happening and also I was in the hospital with Caleb. He suffered febrile seizures one night. Anyways, he is OK now, but the whole episode got us...upside down. So...I'm still somehow recovering from that.
I hope we'll get to do some Christmas activities soon.
Thank you for Pizza.
P.S. Actually, I'm on my way now to buy a real one. I'll be thinking of your pizza too. Haha
I gifted $PIZZA slices here:
@qwerrie(3/5) tipped @missdeli (x2)
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As always creatively teaching your little one. very good resources used.
Greetings and blessings
Thanks darling! Greetings for u too.
Caleb is a name I heard and read from the Bible. If I am not mistaken he is one of the spies sent to Jericho.
Anyway, you are so great teaching your young boy with those stuffs. He is smart too because at a very young age he already knew to write and identify letters and sounds. Keep it up @missdeli
Yes, his name is biblical. You're right.
Thank you for your kind words. Apprecuate it! And thank you for stopping by!
Congratulations your publication has been chosen among the best of the day.
KEEP CREATING GOOD CONTENT.
Thank you! Appreciate it!