photo: http://www.123rf.com

Things never stay as they are do they?  Over the last year or so we’ve really had a good time with Nomi and Daniel learning together.   But things are a’changin’

Just recently Nomi showed a keenness to study the Viking era.  She’d gathered books both from our library and from the public library and was spending her reading time reading these books.  We were going through a time where I wasn’t specifically teaching so she had more independent time than usual so she was reading more about the Vikings then as well.

There were three main activities that showed me she was truly learning:

1. She created a notebook page that was very creative, full of Nomi-flair.  It took her 3 days to complete but in that time she covered design, materials, art, and technology (yes all in one notebook page!)  The information on the page was simply an overview of all she had learnt about Viking ships but I consider all the skill that went into the notebook page just as valid.
2. She found a game played by Vikings; she made the board etc, learnt the rules and taught members of the family and anyone else interested to play this game.
3. She wanted to know where all the Vikings travelled to so she read (or dipped into) a collection of non-fiction books and recorded the various directions on a map.  The exciting thing was her being able to retell this information to the family over dinner.  She has never been that connected to geography before.

I was looking for a few study skills

1. an ability to understand non-fiction writing
2. an ability to ask questions before and after reading (not only ability but habit as well!)
3. an ability to go to other resources to answer her questions
4. an ability to record her learning (bonus that she is recording it in a way that is consistent with her talents)
5. an ability to share her knowledge verbally

Though I saw these things as the indicators of her being able to study independently I also see that she still has things to learn in these areas.   I still expect her to grow in her study and thinking skills over the next few years.

Because of her keen interest in history she will be able to carry this independent study (that is my expectation anyway) but she will still need my involvement in Science topics.

With her taking this step forward with her learning it leaves me with one and a half hours, three times a week, with one on one time with Daniel.  So our family dynamics have changed, and there is a little twinge of some emotion – things have been working for us – but children grow, things change and it is time to move on.