School is in session...oh yay.

Yup, school started at Casa de Locos. Do you need a translation? I certainly don't! I need something else...that comes in a bottle...with a cork...


But, let's not dwell on my sanity level.


I learned so much last year about curriculum, learning styles and the simple fact that Agent P and I are VERY DIFFERENT.


He loves, loves, loves science and history and facts. I really don't. 


I love math and numbers.  He does not.


It makes for a very complicated learning environment at times.


I also have come to appreciate that all my kids learn differently. Some need to read it, some need to see it, some need to touch it...and my kids are all a bit of all of that.


I remember ADog being in Kinder and about half way thru, I figured out he still didn't know how to read and that they weren't really teaching him, nor did they mention anything about it. By then, he was 6. (Give me a break, he was my first kid...we experiment with those...right?) So, I took it into my own hands and taught him myself. By 1st grade, he was reading at a 3rd grade level - so obviously he was ready. He was a math kid and at 4 could add numbers in his head and loved to be drilled on them...


Then came Agent P. He started part time preschool when he was a bit over 4.5 yrs old. They discovered by week 2 he knew all his sight words for Kinder already, plus 50 more - and that was just the initial testing they did. Who knew. We aren't the type of parents who push academics as a primary learning  path.  I'd like to say for him, "we pursued a more substantial learning path such as exploratory learning thru experiments and excursions"... But let's be honest here, he was 2.5 when the twins were born. His learning came from him having to fend for and entertain himself. I cannot take credit for his aptitude to read. We really didn't have to teach him anything and even now he is good at deciphering new words.


Then there came Mini P. Mini P has loved, loved, loved books from the time she could pick them up! She would sit and let anyone read to her. ALL. DAY. LONG. I remember one time they were at my parents house for a few hours - and they were young - under 2 or 3 probably. When I got back, I asked how they were and my dad says "fine. I think I read 60 books." That is Mini P. 


At 4 or maybe before, she started reading. Not just sitting with books making up the words, actually reading them. For a few weeks she asked what each word was, often remembering it after the first time. She did this in the truck A LOT (try driving and deciphering a word that someone is spelling out loud...trickier than it sounds).  In 4 months she will be 5. She cannot start Kinder at schools for another year. But she has read all of Agent P's books from school last year (2nd grade readers) reads chapter books (such as M@gic Treehouse books which are 2nd-4th grade books), and is spelling her sight words. 


Let us not forget Monkey. Monkey, oh Monkey. How I love him. I love him for his love to not learn school things. He has no desire to read or write or anything. He is a normal 4 year old boy who loves trucks and trailers and towing things. He knows his letters, but often tells us a different letter because he just DOESN'T CARE. LOL!  This week he had sight words - it, in, for, me, I. He still has no clue what they are. Even after practicing all week. But he loves singing and watching shows about construction and trucks and is very good at playing alone with his trucks. To him, life is funny and entertaining. He loves to mess around and not take life seriously. He is what grounds me and makes me realize it's ok to NOT follow the norm. It is ok to hook up My Little P0ny trailers to a dump truck.  He colors outside the lines, goes against the grain and challenges me to open my mind to his chaos.


So, we move forward. At 3 different paces. 


Doing 3 different things.


BUT with some things in common.


They get to be with each other. Learn to get along with their siblings. Fight Play with each other every day. Go to T@rget when Mama needs to. Swim. Play games. Even go to Grandma and Grandpa's if we want.


They will all have their strengths.

They will all have their weaknesses.


They will all learn what they need to learn.


SO, while some may not agree with homeschooling, it is what we do for the younger 3. It works for us for now. And today, we are going to play with colored water and do some painting (on paper, not my walls...I hope...)


Cheers!