These last two weeks can be defined as thinking outside of the box. To be honest, I don't usually think it is my style. I like to go down the checklist and get it done. But I'm finding my children are much more receptive, interested, and quick to learn when I'm more loose about finishing things, especially because it is so beautiful outside during springtime!
First, with the gorgeous spring weather that has finally arrived, we've played outside, doing math problems and spelling words in between swinging and running. A few times I'd give my son the math problem orally (a word problem) and he would do it in his head. My daughter still liked to write it down. A few times I'd bring out an assignment and he'd have to answer 2 or 3 questions every 5 or 10 minutes. It was infrequent enough that he was okay with it. My daughter loved the outside way to do spelling words: she had to write them in cursive with her finger in the grass. Not every day will we do finger handwriting practice, but it is a nice change from the copy work and spelling practice we normally do.
I'm trying to make an effort to help my youngest learn things too. I was doing all kinds of fun enrichment with my older children when they were preschool age, but I feel I don't do as much with my littlest since I'm always helping out the others now! We got out the play dough, the paints, and the color-with-water books (my absolute favorite!).
Strawberry loved "dressing" the girls on Life Over C's play dough seasons mats. Her favorite was the winter season scene, because then could add boots and gloves. She also put "glasses" on all the girls' eyes.
We're still reading about shapes and I'm (obviously) introducing seasons and colors as well. It is so exciting to me to see my little one learning!
That's not to say it's not exciting to see my older child learning too. He is getting more comfortable with math and spelling. He is loving learning about everything else too! I simply feel he is enjoying school, and that is how it should be. No more tears.
What do you do to "think outside the box" once weather gets nice and warm?
Here are some other outdoor activities.
Here are some more springtime activities.
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