More Music Class

You have seen them before but we just LOVE our music class. Scout has always loved it and is now participating much more (before she ran around the room, paying attention but mostly doing her own thing).

Class always starts with the drum.

bang with little fingers

wind

she plays the drum now instead of sitting on it.

"bye drum"

jumping

clapping

shaker eggs

down dog

she is interested in books now

picking up

scarfs...always a favorite

Always learning

We are still amazed everyday at how much Scout learns. So much each day, week, month....She is free as a lamb to do and explore at her will. She is full of curiosity, happiness, adventure and joyfulness, everyday. We couldn't imagine stopping that to send her to "school" in a box. Our decision to unschool is reaffirmed everyday.

We are so happy with Meryl's Music. They understand all the different types of learning and all types are included in every class every day. Scout likes standing on the drum. You would expect that she would be told to get off....no, the teacher points out that she is enjoying "feeling the beat" and is encouraged to stay.

The kids all look out the window during a slow song. This is normal, but they are all paying attention, jumping and banging to the beat. They are allowed to move freely in the room during class...to participate in the way that feels right to them.

We always remember to take time to stop and smell the flowers.

Scout likes carrying her "girl" around and there is lots of imitative play. She hugs her, talks to her, dances her, pats her back, gives her a ride on the stuffed pony and recently has been feeding her.

There is so much to see and learn everyday. We are all so very happy!!

Baby mouse

Since we are homeschooling I think in terms of education each time Scout is learning something new. She is only 15 months old but she is learning everyday. Yesterday we ment a mom ( a doctor) who said she was interested in homeschooling. She was shocked when we said Scout was being homeschooled (shocked because of her age). I told her that our job at this point is to instill some critical qualities, creativity, independant play, a love of learning, curiosity and a vivid imagination. We think we are successful in fostering these since she aready posess each of them.

We definately are not a structured family, in fact we seem to thrive on "in the moment" type of living. Not wanting to miss out on a great adventure because of being forced into some sort of structure. Scout definately wants to follow this type of lifestyle. We move through our day following what needs to be done and what we find interesting along the way. As I think about what we accomplish it is very satisfying. We work independently for most of the day, projects in the yard need to be done. While we are working on that Scout is happy to explore the yard. Science is big. She plays with the animals, she loves to listen and then look for the birds, finding treasures on the ground, digging in her dirt pile (we have added water for her). We found this mouse a few days ago. It was orphaned (by use taking stuff to the dump) so it lives in the house now and we feed it goats milk (bought by Daddy at the health food store). It looks like its eyes are just starting to open this morning. Scout loves it and is so gentle, petting it with one finger.

Throughout the day we stop and play together, when she shows us a treasure, when we walk on the path in the woods, when she wants to climb, slide and swing on her playground. She will help with a project, handing us nail, carrying pieces of bricks we are piling, she loves to be helpful. It is a graceful dance between working independantly and then together throughout the day.

Math- she is fascinated by her nesting cups. She plays with them in the house every day. Learning how they fit together, taking them apart and getting them together again. She is also very interested in her blocks, stacking them, carrying the stacks and relocating them to other places.

Art- she is interested in coloring now, though not for long periods. We usually stop when she starts to taste he crayons!

Music- she loves her music class. We have a CD in the car of the same songs from class. She will use these songs for 10 weeks and then get a new collection. It is amazing how she loves this CD in the car. She is starting to repeat rhythms, clap her hands and pat her legs to the beat, and starting to sing some of the words. Even if you can't understand her words you can tell which song she is singing by her rhythm and tone. Speaking of music it is time to leave for class now. We have a special treat, Daddy has the day off so we are all going together! More later!

Music class

I have written about this class before...it is fabulous! It works so well with Scout's kinesetic learning style. She can run al around during class, there are plenty of movement exercises, instruments to use, scarves and other visual props and varied ages, including the parents participating for the kids to learn from. At home we play music frequently and our instruments are always available to take out. This morning she pulled them out so we shut off the TV, put on som Iggy Marley and rocked out with Daddy before he went to work.
This picture is a little dark but it shows one of the drums that is out at the beginning of each class.

The scarves help the visual learners "see" the beat.

This was a fun time!! One os the songs is about beach balls so the room was filled with them and the kids had a "ball"!!

Such a cutie...