play play play

We have been doing LOTS of playing lately... it is just too pretty to sit inside all day, so we have been spending lots of time in the yard. Not all is lost though... their bodies and imaginations get a work out when we are outside. We find bugs, we pick flowers, we play with the dogs. Alex loves driving her mustang and Emma pushes her little cozy coupe. For some reason they are both loving picking grass and loading up their cars. Sometimes they are just playing, sometimes they pretend that the grass is something specific (things they went shopping for). For example, they love to get in their cars and tell me "Bye Bye, see you later!" and then head off. When I ask where they are going the answers range from: to therapy, shopping, to church, to Poppy's house, to Nonnie's house, to Ms. Lisa's house, etc. Today I think they were playing drive through because Alex was 'ordering' cookies and ice cream from Emma. They must have learned this at the park last week while playing with a few other little kids on the playground. So, while these things show some creativity, I am still trying to encourage their little minds as much as possible. I ask them where they are going shopping, what they are shopping for, if they will get me certain things, etc. In addition to all of these great things about playing outside, Alex can sit in her car and play for hours without ever having to fall down.
We still read at least a book or two every night before bed. The Three Little Pigs seems to be a great book to read slowly and ask lots of questions, so we keep reading that one on a regular basis. Alex pays close enough attention and is now able to answer simple questions about what will or what already happened in the story. Ms. Heidi has been reading her Goldilocks and the Three Bears in therapy and last night I was asking Alex about the story. I asked her what it was about and she was able to tell me the main characters. When I asked what happened she said "it broke", and after some more prodding from me (like I didn't know what happened) she giggled and told me Goldilocks broke the chair. I'm so happy she is making this progress. Emma is mainly concerned with getting to turn the page when we read, but at least now she is willing to wait until I read one page before she turns it. In the not so distant past we would have tiffs over her wanting to turn the pages at her whim. Progress!
Oh, labeling ordinary objects around the house doesn't seem to have helped with word recognition in any way. It does, however, make people think I'm crazy when they come over and see what I've done! So, the labels are coming down and we will just continue our repetition and working on Alex's prereading skills. She is having a full neuro-development evaluation on September 22-23 at Children's Mercy Hospital. Once that eval is complete the doctor may be able to give me some insight on the most important things to work on and any specific approaches that may be most helpful to Alex (and to Emma)... based on her developmental level (which we already know is quite delayed) and what will be the most important to learn before she loses the ability to gain skills, as well as what will help her the most once she begins losing abilities in the future.

The Starting Line

The official home school forms are submitted and the school year has officially begun. In the last week we have spent some time with the workbook, trying to become more aware of letter sounds at the beginning of words. We say the word, emphasize the sounds, and identify the letter that starts the word. Alex has been practicing writing her name a lot and doing great. Emma can't write her full name but writes the 'E' (usually upside down) and is so proud of herself. We have played Candyland and I was suprised at how upset Alex got when she didn't win... No big deal though, I'm happy to foster competition... I just want to teach them both to be good sports. The only way to do that is to lose now and then. We have played the Memory game also. Yesterday we also pulled out the play dough.
Last Saturday we spent the day working on the yard. The girls helped me pull weeds and plant new flowers. Drew found a little frog in the grass and we all took turns holding him and checking him out. One day we were headed to my grandpa's and saw a big turtle making his way across the parking lot. I stopped and opened the van doors so the girls could see and we sat and watched as he made it into the grass. Sometimes the best learning opportunities come unexpected. We have also had several play dates and played outside a lot. The weather has been so beautiful! I also value the time the girls have playing with Lorelai and Mollie on Wednesdays. It is a safe and intimate setting for them to play with friends, without me.
I am infinitely blessed to be home with my girls and so thankful for the opportunity to be mommy and teacher.

Great Stuff

Since returning from our vacation (which included the girls' first trip to the beach, educational in itself) we have done lots of fun stuff. Last week we spent a day at the Tulsa Zoo. The girls were so excited to see the animals! Each time we go it is a new experience, there is so much to see and learn about there. The girls rode a camel and there are pictures... but Christin refuses to turn those pictures because she too is riding that camel :) The days before and after our zoo trip we read animal books and it has turned into something of a unit study because on Monday we went to the safari in Gentry with the Hardins. A fun field trip with our very own preschool teacher! The safari is great in a different way because there is so much hands on. We saw kangaroos with joeys in their pouches (and got to pet them), petted the goats and pot bellied pigs, loved on baby monkeys and geunie pigs, and even got to pet a lion cub! Alex was having SO much fun that I'm sure she would have stayed all day had I been willing. This weekend we are going to Ft. Sill to be with Drew and plan to make a trip to the Wildlife Refuge to visit the prairie dog town in particular. Just another piece of this unit study that seems to have found us.
On a more academic note, we have been drawing (got to work those fine motor skills) and spending time on pre-reading skills. I decided to take a cue from ESL and label things around the house. I have labeled the door, wall, chair, table, etc so that the girls can become familiar with the words in direct relation to the object. Emma has rediscovered the magna doodle, so we have done a lot of our alphabet work there. They ask me to draw a certain picture, I do, and then we write and sound out the word.
More developmental stuff... above/below, inside/outside, thick/thin, etc.
Both girls, Emma especially, are making great strides in language therapy. Emma is frequently saying the 's' on the end of plural and possesive words. She is also using pronouns much better... "her", "his", etc. Using the gender correct pronoun is something they have really been working on and I try to encourage regularly.
Our vacation has also provided a great opportunity to encourage their story telling ability. I am trying to ask open ended questions and encourage them to tell me about things. Emma seems to want to give the answer she thinks I'm looking for (usually "Mickey Mouse" regardless of the question) and I'm really trying to get her to elaborate and give her recollection or opinion. That is getting better. Alex is doing great with that. I'm having a great time listening to Alex and enjoying my conversations with her over this and other subjects.