Let the wild rumpus start!!! Officially you know. :)

And so today, we OFFICIALLY begin homeschooling, since Uncle C, my youngest brother, has gone to high school early morning, and my boys were like, "Mommy, so we have school today?"

We're still waiting for the materials from our provider, Catholic Filipino Academy, but I nevertheless wanted to formally begin today. The teacher in me was eager to improvise this day's lesson. Mind you, I have a 6 and a 2 1/2 year-old; both boys, B and M. I requested our bunso girl (1.2y/o) if she can play with yaya first while I teach her kuyas.

We sat on our little table at 9 am, and I felt this is the most workable time for all of us. We prayed first, in the lines of... "God send us Your Holy Spirit... Bless our family... Jesus, please help us make this school at home our best memory ever." Then, I asked Kuya if he wanted to start off with a free drawing first before his lesson. I turned to Diko and we traced standing and sleeping lines, hand-over-hand (HOH). After which, we traced a square, chanting up-down, up-down, while coloring the inside of the shape. We touched a bit on colors, and he has mastered blue, red and yellow. M asked if he can go to our play area and I permitted him to.

Kuya B was done with his drawing at this time (a shark and little fish, and we talked about gills and oxygen, how to color clouds that should be white with blue shades), and by now, he got a book that we eventually read aloud. I asked him to copy his new vocabularies on his notebook (recycled from his previous traditional school last year; this I truly love!) We were able to list 10 words, which he recited aloud in the end.

Off to numbers, as he was getting sleepy with this "bed" weather. I improvised Montessori beads using my old calling cards and my handy marker, drew dots to represent ones, tens, and hundreds. Yes, you're right. I want to begin with place values. This basic concept will be the foundation of everything about numeracy. Being reared in a Montessori system during pre-elementary years, then later on teaching in a Montessori school right after college, had made me realize how concrete their math system is. Manipulatives and all, by far, Montessori math is hands-down the best for younger children, according to, none other than, moi. (Tell me what suits your kids.)

After a series of numbers to be expanded, from single to 3 digits, B got a little bit bored and it was the best idea for snack and recess (play time). I had to explain to him that snack is well, snack, and recess means break. Here in Pinas, we were unluckily taught that recess IS snack period. Nope. Erase, erase, erase that notion.

M by this time was done with playing so, he went back to the study area to trace a big apple. :) We colored it once more, doing HOH once in a while. He still cannot do a tripod grip, unlike Kuya who did it at 2 years old. (Lots of coloring and tracing activities at abcteach.)

30 minutes after, I asked Kuya to sit with me so he can make a flag. I told him the significance of the Independence Day celebration yesterday while he painted. We cut yellow paper for the three stars and the sun (suddenly thought of FrancisM...) When the flag was dry enough to post on the wall, we stood up straight, placed our right hands on our left chest, and sang Lupang Hinirang. He was mumbling some words, oh well, actually not some, but a lot, so now you and I know what our next lesson would be. :)

We wrapped it up at 12 noon; gave them some more time to build blocks, this time with little girl, then off to a hearty lunch of Pork Nilaga at 12:30. Hmmm... Warmed tummies, warmed hearts.

T'was so fulfilling. First day, huh. Couldn't be more affirmed. No trauma, no uniforms, no crying, no I-don't-want-to-go-to-school-don't-leave-me whines. Just giggles, excited eyes, and "Mommy, tomorrow ulit?" Whew. :) Never knew I'd homeschool, really. But I actually enjoyed it more than the boys. (God you really are up to something I'm so clueless about. Anyhoo, just continue planting Your Will in my heart; I'm listening now.)

Upper Room Homeschool dismissed till tomorrow morning. :) (Thought I'd give our homeschool a name! Hooray!)