concentration

Usually the girls wake up first.  This is comforting because when Tabor wakes up first he goes straight out into the backyard.  It is fenced in, but I would rather him wake me up so I am aware of what he is doing.  This morning was one of those mornings he woke up first... he was outside checking to see if any strawberries had turned red.  He loves to check on the garden as well.  The sugar snap peas are growing well.  You can tell the kids planted the lettuce because they are growing in spontaneous places. I absolutely love having a garden with the kids. 

 

Something I have been REALLY working on is concentration levels.  I am not so worried if they can read right now, they can do that later.  I have been trying to get them to focus on an object or task for a longer period of time.  Pepper has always had a phenomenal ability to focus.  She loves to listen to chapter books, do any sort of art, and even enjoys cleaning.  She likes to ride her bike and go on hikes outside but she just passes everything by.

 

With Pepper I am working on focusing outdoors... In the forest this could be stopping to study a flower for 3 or 4 minutes instead of glancing at it.  I encourage her to find how one flower differs from another etc.  She is suddenly noticing all sorts of things.  Bringing along my camera has really helped for her because she loves to find something "neat" to take a picture of.

 

  Tabor LOVES THE OUTDOORS .  He often stays out there from dawn until dusk.  He can stay on task weeding for over and hour, and he seriously enjoys it!  He has been spotting bugs, animals, plants, clouds ever since he could see.  He thrives outside.  With Tabor I am working on focusing indoors.  He is doing so much better!  He sat and put beads and a ribbon for fifty minutes today.  50!  I do this in hopes that his ability to ponder/focus will help him with school work.  For now he is just 3, I let him pick what he is interested in, and then help him focus on it just a bit longer then he normally would.