Learning From One of the Best Teachers I Know

I really do pride myself on being prepared and organized (for the most part) when it comes to homeschooling.  So much so, that it stings quite a bit to think that I could be (just may be) a little too task-oriented some days when it comes to fitting it all in.  This week, I learned this lesson from my MBug (19 months old).

You see, while the boys were playing on ALuv’s new favorite math website, I took it upon myself to give some one-on-one attention to MBug.  She begs constantly for me to let her paint with the do-a-dot paint and it always spells messy when I’m trying to juggle everyone at the same time.  Last time she painted, I turned my back but for a brief moment and she was sucking on the paint!  YIKES!!

So, I got out my nice, neat printable; matching with NJoy’s Winter Clothing theme for the week, and thought I’d show her exactly how to paint without making a mess.  Plus, painting would be a good chance to work on some fine motor skills with her, right?  My agenda was quickly trumped.

I spent the next 20 minutes watching her take my “in the box” idea of dotting all the circles and crushing it into a pile of rubble.  I was completely amazed by this little girl and so glad I had my camera handy to catch it all.

First, she dotted a little on the paper (with a lot of prompting by me)

Then she practiced screwing and unscrewing all the lids

Next, she lined up all the bottles, making sure they were all turned exactly the right way (wonder where she gets that from…)

Then came the counting…over and over and over…1, 2, 3, 4 (I said the numbers as she touched each top, but she was quick to let me know that just ten times through wasn’t going to cut it).

More unscrewing of lids…but this time, it was to re-match all the colors.  At one point, she mixed up the yellow and green lids and she kept messing with them until she got it “right”

Stacking the lids

More unscrewing and screwing…more lid color matching

And finally a cheesy MBug smile…LOVE it!

Of course, the tears came when I told her it was time for the boys to begin their schoolwork and we’d have to clean up…

…but I learned a lesson from this little girl.  While an agenda can be important (and necessary), I need to always remember to be flexible enough to learn from some of the best teachers around…my own kiddos!

Thank you for joining This Reading Mama on a learning journey.

~Becky

 

 

 

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