I finally started Janelle on the Letter of the Week curriculum. I've been trying to get organized for about 3 months and realized that if I just didn't start with what I had, I never would. So the first week I only did the theme which happened to be "cows". I got several books from the library about cows and some story books as well. It was great. We learned so much about cows and she still remembers all of it. For example, a baby cow is called a calf, a male cow is a bull, and the names of some body parts ie, teats and udder. I found a picture on Google images of a cow and calf and posted the on her learning board. I'll have to post a picture of it.
The next week our theme was "Jungle" and I think she enjoyed that more than the cows. Also this week I added the letter to the board that we studied all week. Each week I added another component of the curriculum until I had the theme, letter, shape/color, number and this week I'm adding the nursery rhyme. I realized that it didn't have to be perfect for me to start, and that something was better than nothing. I'll keep you updated with our progress and fun. I love this job.
We went apple picking with Marissa and her sister Joanna at a local orchard. It was a bit chilly but we had a good time. It was the last day of the season to pick apples, and we
made it just in time. They close at 6 and we got there at 5:55.
Afterwards we went to their farm store and got an apple cider doughnut and some of their delicious mulled cider. Janelle had fun holding the apples and also learning the sign for apple. We watched the sun set on the first day of day light savings time at around 6:15, and I took a picture of the full moon. Looking forward to going back in the spring for blueberries and strawberries. It was a beautiful day.
I was listening to NPR (National Public Radio) today and herd an interesting discussion on early childhood development. It started out talking about the famous Baby Einstein DVDs and books, and if they really did make kids smarter. The conversation then went on to talk about teaching children to read. The "expert' guest was stating that children can't possibly learn to distinguish written language until at least age 6 or 7. WHAT! He also said that even if they could discern written words at a young age, they wouldn't have any comprehension until they enter school age.
Well I'm glad they had Janet Doman on to set the record straight. I think that babies are very smart. They only need the opportunity to grow and develop. I was given How to teach your baby to read by a friend and have put a lot of the method into practice with Janelle. To me it make so much sense. We start talking to our children right at birth, but wait until they're 5 to give them the same information through a different pathway. I can remember knowing how to read and write when I started Kindergarden, and my mom didn't do anything special other than read to me. I think the earlier you teach a child to read or math or encyclopedic knowledge, or whatever you lay a foundation in the brain to receive and process information. It's not so important that your child can read by 1, but that their brain has been wired to receive info though many different pathways. Glenn Doman says that "function determines structure", in other words the what you give the brain to do will determine how the brain grows, and the brain will grow more rapidly in the first 6 years of life than any other time.
Its our responsibility to present Janelle to God to be used by Him for whatever He wants. I'm trying to lay a good foundation for him to work with. I need my brain to do EVERYTHING. That means God needs my brain to use me to serve my family, win the lost, pray, read, preach, EVERYTHING.
We are teaching Janelle to read using the Little Reader program. I'll post some videos of her soon.
Janelle and I have had lots of fun the past few days out in the sunshine. We've gone on several nature walks and have learned about trees, flowers, grass, rabbits, squirrels and colors. We sat in the grass and felt how itchy it makes you feel, and we got to smell different types of flowers. We especially liked the dandelions because they were everywhere. We heard the bees buzzing, the birds singing, and the lawnmowers. She really enjoyed touching the leaves on the trees, (although she did try to eat them). As an added bonus she was ready for nap time after each of our expeditions. :) But best of all, I had the pleasure of teaching her that God created all of these things for His pleasure. Rev 4:11 says Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Next time we'll take the camera to document our findings.
pronunciation: yieh su This is the formal translation for Jesus
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I found this site with lots of info, tips, and activities for young children and babies. This mom is pretty organized and has lots of creative ideas for teaching little ones at home. I was at Dollar Tree the other day just getting ideas for some of the projects I could do with Janelle.
I planted some Zinnias to put in Janelle's room in front of the window. I though it would be nice for her to have something living in her room. Not only are they beautiful flowers, they will provide many teaching opportunities like how God created them, gratitude and appreciation for the beautiful things He created, responsibility (watering and caring), science (how flowers grow), and since I got an assorted package they can help with teaching colors. They also produce oxygen to help keep the air clean and fresh. I bought a package of seeds from Wal-mart for $.99, and I planted them in a gallon water bottle that I cut in half. After they sprout I will transfer them to pots. I found this picture online to show what they look like. I hope mine turn out this beautiful.
sun set on the first day of day light savings time at around 6:15, and I took a picture of the full moon. Looking forward to going back in the spring for blueberries and strawberries. It was a beautiful day. 
