homeschooling happenings

We are well into November now, and a few months in on our first homeschool year, and things are going well. To be honest, it doesn't feel all that different than life before homeschooling. The kindergarten year is all about learning through play, and there is a whole lot of playing going on around here- as there was before we began homeschooling. There are some things that we have added in that are specific to Enki kindergarten and these have been going very well. One is the kindergarten Folk and Fairy Tales- we read one each week and each story is told at least 3 times a week. This summer I went through the collection, and picked out the stories I though would best meet Ari. Mostly I have been using these, but it is nice to have a large collection so I can look through and choose something different when the one I had chosen for the week doesn't feel quite right. So far we have read:

The Old Woman and the Red Pumpkin from India
Matreshka from Russia
Jack and the Sass Patch from southern US
The Talking Fish from Armenia
Persimmon Monster from Korea
Little Red Cap from Western Europe
The Star Frog from Peru
Lubachka from Russia 
and this week we are reading a story from Japan called Cherry Chee.

Ari listens closely to these stories, and I often hear parts of the stories reflected back in his play. He especially loves the Baba Yaga stories we have done- she is scary, but the children in the stories always get the best of her which he delights in.

One of the things that really speaks to me about the Enki philosophy is how the developmental issues of children at each grade level is always a focus, and the curriculum is meant to mirror these issues for the children. I can really feel Ari making some of those big kindergarten developmental leaps right now- the new levels of individuality and awareness of self, which, for all children, is both exciting and unsettling. Therefor all the stories for children at this developmental level essentially tell the same larger story- that one can go out into the  world, face challenges, and return to a safe and dependable home. So over and over, these stories are told to the kindergartner to mirror their large developmental questions. And the fact that this same overarching story is being told through stories from around the world feels essential to me- the underlying message (though of course this is never said overtly,) is that all people are on this same human journey together and that we all have the same access to wisdom and insight.  

Another aspect of Enki that really drew me was the sensory integration activities that have been put to seasonal song and verse. I discovered Enki before I had children of my own when I was working as a music teacher in a local public school. I was really drawn to these activities for the classroom-  integrating the movement and sensory activities children need to learn and grow, with music and poetry that follows the seasons just seemed so beautiful to me. I wondered though, if I would be able to use these activities at home, as a "circle" can feel a little forced in a small family setting. I chose to give it a try though,and it has been going really well. I have been keeping circle very short and very active with lots of leaping about and boisterous singing- and so far the kids are into it. I have mostly been using the Enki materials, though I have been digging into the music teacher repertoire for some of the songs I remember kindergartners really enjoying. I am choosing activities that target the sensory integration aspects I think are most important for Ari, while making sure it stays short and sweet. I am hoping in the next few years we can get together with other homeschoolers and have our kids experience the feeling of a larger circle. We enjoyed this at Enki camp last year, and I would love to have this be a regular part of our week.

Ari has also, on his own, been exporing letters a lot, asking how to form the letters he doesn't know yet, making large strings of letters he wants us to read to him (he finds this very funny!) and copying words he sees. I really am sold on the idea that kids don't need to be "taught" letters and reading yet at this age- seeing the delight and wonder he experiences just by playing around with letters on his own is evidence enough. If I was "teaching" at this point I know it would shut this discovery process right down. I love seeing how organic and self-motivated his learning is at this stage. There is plenty of time for "teaching" and language instruction. Admittedly, the teacher in me can hardly wait to get started on the grade 1 materials- but it feels right to wait until Ari is really ready.

All in all, things are going really well with our home learning. Of course, some days go smoother than others, and some days the "official" curriculum stuff just gets lost amidst the chaos of the day. But the days when our rhythm is strong and we are able to keep all the piece in place- they are lovely indeed. Though learning at home will always have has its own struggles, there really is no place we would rather be right now.
Happy Thursday friends.