However, we have kept up with our reading, signing, writing, math, and maps. It is harder to demonstrate these activities on the blog so I wanted to do an update on what the kids are doing. It is going really well.
Reading: Kaycie and Nico are both learning to sight read. They watch Your Baby Can Read and also read books for beginning readers with me. They are doing well and having fun doing it. Jolie has not yet demonstrated to me that she is learning to read words. It is harder for me to determine how much Jolie is learning because she doesn't like to perform on demand. I know that there are a few words that she has learned and I know that she understands the concept of reading being a symbolic language.
Signing: Kaycie and Jolie love signing. They watch signing time every morning. I also sign to them throughout the day. They both easily remember their signs and have a pretty large vocabulary. I have noticed that Jolie loves to sign while she talks now. I have also noticed an increase in the ability to do more complex signs.
Writting: I have the kids write there name and three random words on a white board. Sometimes we use paper and pencil so that they learn how to hold a pencil correctly. Kaycie can write any word she says and is starting to be able to write several words from memory. I thought it was funny the other day when she tried to write Kieffer's name in the sand by memory and wrote KF, "that says Kieffer." Jolie isn't writting words on her own yet but she has become excellent at writting "O's"
Math: For math we use Reader Rabbit. I sit with the kids and help them through the problems. Jolie can count to 20. Kaycie can add when using something to help her such as gold fish. She has a little trouble identifying her numbers but can count to about thirty.
Maps: Map time is always fun. We get out the maps. Sometimes they get stickers for every place they show me and sometimes I have them do some kind of activity before coming up to the map and showing me the place. For example, "Spin three times and show me South Carolina." We also make up songs about some places or funny phrases. I have been really impressed with Kaycie's knowledge of her map. She can list a number of states and countries. She can also tell you how many continents there are and where they are located. (see side for Kaycie's list) Jolie can show me Utah, Australia (because that's where Nemo lives), and where the water is on the map.
