Hurrumph... We had our first work cycle (2 hours) together today. Both boys are home on Mondays but I haven't been doing a structured work cycle with them, rather just doing Hug's
school set "homeschool" activities (this term: Cooking & Cleaning). On the Montessori front I have been doing about an hour with Lovely twice a week for the past 2 months & separate activities with Hug at different times, but not in a formalised way like this. And, to be honest, I'm a little underwhelmed with how it went.
I struggled to keep them focused. They complained. I had to be firm. I had to redirected. I insisted. They resisted. I had to ask them (each on separate occasions!) to come out from a hiding spot. I know that it was longer than I've expected either of them to focus on this work for a while but - Eeeeek! This is not want I wanted, not how I imagined it would go.
There were nice moments! Here, Hug has the Australia Continent Box contents out & has (on my suggestion) 'invited' Lovely to look at all with him. He did a good job of talking him through it all, too.
The thing that got Hug really focused was when I showed him how to use my paper cutter. He did if for about half an hour before I asked him to choose a work from the cupboard because I felt like he was using it as a distraction from having to involve himself in any of the Montessori cupboard work.
Maybe that was a mistake? He was obviously enjoying it but at the same time he often doesn't like applying himself when he is *asked* to. I know that sounds kinda crazy to say when he's only 5 and a half! But, the teachers at his Montessori preschool struggled at times, I think, to get him involved in choosing activities especially anything challenging. He would have preferred to have just drawn or would get a bit silly. They had to lead him to the Maths & Language materials & he wouldn't choose them on his own to follow up on lessons. Now I know that we are all different and Hug obviously has a leaning towards artistic endeavours but he is also a really smart kid with an amazing vocabulary and lots of amazing ideas. He can work on following really intricate Lego instructions all by himself... I just can't see what the connection is, or more to the point - what I'm missing.
I originally got interested in Montessori when Hug was 2 because I really felt it would suit him. I felt that he needed & would love the opportunity to drive his own learning AND I also felt that he needed to learn self-control and everything that goes with that.
I don't feel that I've lost faith in Montessori at all but more in my ability to provide him the right environment to blossom in. I know that he wants to learn his own way - but he takes it to the extreme at times with refusing to be shown anything, lessons included. It kinda feels like he *wants* to *resist* any organised learning and when all I really want is to instill in him a LOVE of learning, that's a really sad thing :(
I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to force this work on them at all - but I do believe that it's important & that it's not asking too much to insist that we work on these things for a certain period of time.
I need help!
This cute not-so-little fellow decided to befriend us on our second day! I think he's an Australian Water Dragon.
He was on our deck when we came back to our room. 
It was only when I got a little close with my camera that he scuttled off, but he was soon back.
I took this photo from inside the room as he climbed up the screen door. Funny guy.
We've had almost a week away which has been just wonderful! We woke on our first morning to the sight of a Hot Air Balloon just outside our hotel window & ate lunch at a Hot Air Balloon themed pancake restaurant another day. Yup, you heard it here. Pancakes for lunch ;)
This was our booth. Cute, huh?!
Yum.
Plus, don't forget that you can still get a special 20% reader discount on any of my cards until the end of March. The details are at the bottom of this post. 
Hurrumph... We had our first work cycle (2 hours) together today. Both boys are home on Mondays but I haven't been doing a structured work cycle with them, rather just doing Hug's school set "homeschool" activities (this term: Cooking & Cleaning). On the Montessori front I have been doing about an hour with Lovely twice a week for the past 2 months & separate activities with Hug at different times, but not in a formalised way like this. And, to be honest, I'm a little underwhelmed with how it went. 
Check out Lovely's lifesaver swimmers ;)
Ahh, perfect!
The Watermelon massacre of 2009.
