I remember being in Grade 2 and using the cuisenaire rods. After a short period of using these things we had to put them away. I recall not being ready to put them away, I recall not being finished with what was being done, I recall the emotions from that single time.
My oldest child is also a Kinaesthetic learner. I can push his limits and teach and teach and teach getting book work done in hardly any time. With a child who has no idea what he has just completed. Comprehension. It is important.
Extended Lessons
I have an extended lesson philosophy.. Meaning.. When a child is absorbed in a concept/lesson/activity that is stimulating to their development I will let them go for it for as long as they freely desire to. If this means using up the entire morning then the entire morning is used up.
Some lessons can take 4minutes in completion, but is interesting enough to hold the fascination of a small child for four hours! I drop other 'lessons' until they've reached fulfillment in their chosen outlet.
This can mean maths only.. Or geography only.. Or language only.. And it doesn't matter one bit!!
It means the lesson is well established in their heart and minds.
Think about
Your in a school setting, and it is Art & Craft. You have a 40 minute time gap to get 30 kids through the painting activity. Naturally you have teachers aids who help with this. Children are brought out in small groups for a small period of time to have a go at the lesson before being cleaned up and whisked back to the classroom.
Sure, they've completed the art work, got messy, have a nice painted thing to take home when dry and have contributed to the lesson in some personal way. Then been taken away before any real creativeness gets going.
It's not enough is it?
At Home
When I open the table to a painting activity I can allow the children to continue until they are finished. THEY are finished. Some times it seems endless, two hours later we've gone through loads of paper and loads of paint. Children are really involved in their creativity. Then it ends.
We can do this because we are at home and have no set time limits.
Benefits
Extended lessons allow the children enough time to really grasp the content of the lesson and therefore extend their overall learning experience. For us it has meant that children can really take ownership over their education and I have found my guys choose to repeat the lesson or use it in their play.
When time is not permitted we can always go back but when I do not allow enough time for the children to learn in that area they are not interested to go back and re-learn yet not always ready to move onto the next stage.
Practical Daily Routine
Hubby is home for lunch between 12 & 1. For us this means we have breakfast around 8am, lunch at 12 until 1 we spend time with him and hubby returns home from work at 5pm.
So we have between 8:30-12 & 1-5 for school and activities. Somehow we get everything done :)
5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Learning hands on
2. Having time available
3. Knowing my children are not being pushed ahead of their development and leaving them behind
4. Knowing the concept is really understood
5. Encouraging a love for learning in a variety of contexts
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