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| Looking for creatures in pond water. |
We had just about the perfect school day last week. It began with a big gathering of young homeschoolers hosted by one of the moms in our homeschool group at
JJ Jump in Clackamas. That has to be one of the best indoor play spaces around. Jasper had a blast and really enjoyed seeing many of his friends. The day was a beautiful one, so we decided on the spur of the moment to head to
Stub Stewart State Park. It's one of Jasper's most favorite places. We took a leisurely walk, stopping to peer closely at whatever caught our fancy, and to collect some pond water from the beaver pond to bring home to see under the microscope. On the way back, we took a wrong turn onto a trail that obviously isn't yet ready for visitors. We decided to keep going, and Jasper was shocked that we were able to find our way back to the parking area just by noting the direction of the sun and the change in elevation. He was very concerned that we would be lost, although I kept pointing out that the worst thing that could happen was that we would have to go back the way we came. We came home and spent lots of time peering into the pond water, fishing teeny beasties out with an eyedropper, and putting them in the lid of a film canister to look at under the microscope.
Later, while I made dinner, Jasper did some formal lessons. They took him about 45 minutes. I've been trying to help him count higher, thoroughly grasp the concept of place value, and do more complicated addition. It turns out that simply giving him math problems to do with pennies and dimes helps a great deal with all of that. We read his phonics lesson together, and as always, each time it seems just a little bit easier for him. And he wrote a letter to a friend. One of the moms in our homeschool group had what my husband likes to call "a totally awesome idea": getting our kids to exchange letters. (Three cheers for Anne-Marie!) Since Jasper already knows the kids, he's thrilled to send them crazy messages and loves to find answers in his mailbox. The things we prioritize the most filled our day- friends, nature, learning, and freedom.
We had just about the perfect school day last week. It began with a big gathering of young homeschoolers hosted by one of the moms in our homeschool group at JJ Jump in Clackamas. That has to be one of the best indoor play spaces around. Jasper had a blast and really enjoyed seeing many of his friends. The day was a beautiful one, so we decided on the spur of the moment to head to Stub Stewart State Park. It's one of Jasper's most favorite places. We took a leisurely walk, stopping to peer closely at whatever caught our fancy, and to collect some pond water from the beaver pond to bring home to see under the microscope. On the way back, we took a wrong turn onto a trail that obviously isn't yet ready for visitors. We decided to keep going, and Jasper was shocked that we were able to find our way back to the parking area just by noting the direction of the sun and the change in elevation. He was very concerned that we would be lost, although I kept pointing out that the worst thing that could happen was that we would have to go back the way we came. We came home and spent lots of time peering into the pond water, fishing teeny beasties out with an eyedropper, and putting them in the lid of a film canister to look at under the microscope. 
Later, while I made dinner, Jasper did some formal lessons. They took him about 45 minutes. I've been trying to help him count higher, thoroughly grasp the concept of place value, and do more complicated addition. It turns out that simply giving him math problems to do with pennies and dimes helps a great deal with all of that. We read his phonics lesson together, and as always, each time it seems just a little bit easier for him. And he wrote a letter to a friend. One of the moms in our homeschool group had what my husband likes to call "a totally awesome idea": getting our kids to exchange letters. (Three cheers for Anne-Marie!) Since Jasper already knows the kids, he's thrilled to send them crazy messages and loves to find answers in his mailbox. The things we prioritize the most filled our day- friends, nature, learning, and freedom. 
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