Education

Yesterday I did trimester testing on the boys to see their progress since we started preschool back in August.  I was so excited to see all that I have been able to teach them. They are like little sponges, and it makes teaching them really fun! 

AUGUST:                                            NOVEMBER:

Logan Henry:                                           Logan Henry: 

SHAPES:                                                                  SHAPES:

triangle                                                                       triangle

COLORS:                                                                 circle                                     

white                                                                         square

black                                                                         diamond

red                                                                            COLORS:

blue                                                                           white    

NUMBERS:                                                              black

1                                                                                red

ALPHABET:                                                             blue

none                                                                          orange

                                                                                  yellow

                                                                                  brown

                                                                                 green

                                                                                 NUMBERS:

                                                                                 1, 2, 4

                                                                                 ALPHABET:

                                                                                 A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M

Jack Sawyer:                                             Jack Sawyer:

SHAPES:                                                                   SHAPES:

None                                                                          rectangle

COLORS:                                                                  triangle

black                                                                          circle

blue                                                                            oval

green                                                                          COLORS:

red                                                                             black

yellow                                                                         blue

NUMBERS:                                                               green

None                                                                          red

ALPHABET:                                                              yellow

none                                                                           orange

                                                                                  brown

                                                                                  purple

                                                                                  NUMBERS:

                                                                                  1, 2, 3, 4, 5

                                                                                  ALPHABET:

                                                                                  A,B,C,E,G,J,K,M

(Creating a table like this on blogger proved very difficult! 

I can't seem to get the lists lined up right. Oh well!)

They both improved in all four categories.  Most notably, Logan has learned all the letters I have taught thus far (we are up to "M") and Jack has learned all the numbers I have taught thus far (we are up to "5").  They have both learned to write their names, and before we started preschool, they didn't know how to write any letters.

What fascinates me is that Logan, who has always been more advanced intellectually (speaking first, mastering puzzles first, skilled at problem solving) has memorized all the letters; whereas Jack, who has always been more physically advanced (walked first, jumped first, and is more skilled at any sport) is able to take any letter I show him, and copy it accurately.  His handwriting is beautiful and he has such control of his hand. Their twin is lacking where they are succeeding. (ie Logan can't write the letters as well, and Jack has struggled to memorize the names of the letters)  I will be interested to see how this continues to play out in the educational setting.

Both twins love to read (to themselves or to Wyatt) and they love being read to.  I recently unveiled a gift their Aunt Julie gave them at Christmas a few years back- Tag Readers.  They are like a giant pen that works in concert with certain Tag Reader books.  They can touch each page to hear the story, learn certain words or even play games like rhyming and letter finding.  

I love them because they give me a break, and the twins love them because they have a sense of independence with their reading when using them.  They are totally age appropriate, and a truly educational way to play.  I ordered two more books each for them for Christmas. I can't wait for them to have more to choose from!

We have The Cat in the Hat, The Amazing Spiderman, and Ozzie & Mack.  For Christmas I ordered Brave, The Adventures of Up, Diego Underwater Mystery and Dora Goes to School. :)

Their love of books has been manifested in the littlest Cunningham brother, too.  That baby LOVES books. He likes to look at them, read them, tote them around, and put them away. 

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to spend everyday with my boys, teaching them new things, working on their vocabulary and reading stories to them. It's just the best!

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

-Emilie Buchwald