What do they learn when you aren't teaching...

C has learned to set up a chess board! E plays chess frequently and is participating in a chess club. He has taken part in 3 or 4 mini-tournaments after chess club as well. He then plays at home with Hubby. As a result, C has observed the proper chess setup. A week or so ago she set up a chess board by herself. I second guessed it because it was possible that E had set it up and then run upstairs for something. Last night, I went into the living room to see her pairing all the chess pieces, naming them by name, "here are the bishops" and "here are the knights." Then, a while later, Brady came upstairs to tell me that she had set up the chess board perfectly except she had switched the king and queen... I still do that sometimes!

M has learned to read quite well. I thought she was still in the beginning reader stage and needed phonics books. She has all but refused to read out loud except for scripture reading, so I had no idea of the progress she had made. I used to get the phonics books from the library for her, but she didn't like them so I just let her have books like Frances, Frog and Toad, Little Bear, and Dick and Jane. During rest time, she would go in her room and study a book. She loves pictures, so I figured she mostly looked at the pictures with a little work on the words. Needless to say, she has mostly taught herself to read. Today she brought me Swimmy and announced that she had read it this afternoon. When I asked what it was about, she said, "I will read it to you," then she proceeded to read it to me with little difficulty, decent speed, and a clear voice. I am amazed. She also read me The Pokey Little Puppy the other day. Neither of these books are read very often in our house- thus they weren't memorized. I don't remember the last time I read swimmy out loud. Anyway, I am so proud of her efforts to learn to read. She is quite excited that she knows how to read now.

E is always studying science. He loves science books (and math books) and has taught himself all kinds of things about the human body, physics, chemistry, etc. through reading books like The Usborne Encyclopedia of Science. He sometimes does this during rest time and sometimes during other parts of the day.

It is so nice to see the kids learning things and thinking it is a game!