What Kindergarten Looks Like

Prepare to be bombarded by pictures of an adorable boy. I cannot express too strongly how much I'm enjoying being teacher to another 5 year old. And this 5 year old is simply a joy to be with...

Our mornings often begin in this way...Ju is the big boy amongst littles when we take big sister and brother to school. While his age mates enter their classroom, he swings and plays superheroes with younger friends. Then it's off to our morning ritual- buy milk and stop by the coffee shop for a cookie- what a way to start the day!

Coming home- we get out our books and settle down at the table. Some math, some phonics, working through the alphabet in handwriting...all while mommy straightens and cleans. This doesn't take long, and he's flying...

He finished his first (primer) math book and is on to the next. As this was pretty basic material and gave lots of practice pages, he was able to use the same book big brother used. Well done, Ju! One thing I love about laying the educational foundation at home is that we can go at his pace, spending time on thoroughly understanding things and moving on from things that are easily comprehended.

Sometimes, school days look like this. We pack up and head to the park, find a shady spot to work...

...then head out on a paddle boat for a spin and a card game on the water.

One thing we really love about the area where we live now is that we can ride our bikes down to a little food market, and we go there for lunch several times a week, uno cards in hand to play while we wait for our food...

lime shake-mmm!

If there's one word that encapsulates our days this year, I would say it's freedom. I'm free to teach Julian at his own pace. We're free to cover the basics and then enjoy the wonderful world around us. We're also free to do other things when life intervenes, believing that all of life is learning and experience and play are primary teachers at this age. I'm grateful for this gift of time with him, watching him unlock the mysteries of the written word, discover how numbers work together, and growing in relationship with him. What a privilege.

enjoying his freedom- taken when out with Daddy getting our intern settled in her new apartment...this yummy beverage was consumed, and then the inevitable tummy ache ensued!