Summer Learning

Summer 2011

To keep learning going over the summer for Jackson (the only one in school at the time), I instituted "Mama School". I was thinking reading and math facts--the basics. He was thinking chemistry and mechanical engineering (motors). Before the inevitable petering out, we did some cool experiments and mechanical devices (and a bit of math and reading)!

Meanwhile, Lauren was anticipating kindergarten after having successfully graduated from preschool. She declared that she was worried about kindergarten but excited about testing! Both emotions quickly dissipated.

Summer 2012

Jackson took over the teaching last summer. Lauren wanted to do homework like Jackson so Jackson made or gathered some homework pages for her and graded them when complete. She did really well except on the blank pages (ie. the back sides that had no problems). They always ended up with a giant 'F' on them! Luckily, Lauren didn't take it personally.

Lachlan wanted to get into the game as well so his brother and sister made some homework for him. Then he and Lauren would play "going to school". They'd get their school clothes on (we have a dress code in Santa Fe), their backpacks and their lunches and go into one of the bedrooms and pretend to be at school.

It seems to have paid off. When we went to the Science Museum in Albuquerque last spring, in spite of being exhausted, Lachlan caught on when we were discussing the fact that he needed S-L-E-E-P. "I do NOT need to S-P-M!", he declared angrily.

Summer 2013

This summer Jackson gamely went to a summer program. There was a lot of math but also some games and a visit by the circus! Lauren's learning consisted of viola classes, continuing on from the school year program she had participated in. She was either really excited or really frustrated and sick of it, mostly the latter. Lachlan pointed out that he can't do viola. "I'm horrible at viola! I would just go 1, 2, 3, throw, break!". Lauren had her final summer concert outdoors at Jackalope. This was her first concert in which she had to do a solo. Simon managed to miss it, somehow, in spite of the fact that he left before our neighbors, who arrived on time. Not quite sure how that happened but Lauren redid it at the end so he could see.