first grade is always full of wonder

I read the stories of Buddha's birth and enlightment to the hero today. He said, "It seems like becoming Buddha was what he really wanted. So maybe if I sit under a tree, I'll become a superhero."

Earlier this week, his checklist told him to do pages 14, 16 and 37 in his math workbook. He groaned when he heard he had to do another page after 14. I told him I was sorry but he had to turn to page 16 now. He said, "I know!" and grabbed his felt-and-wood magic wand. Waving it in the air, eyes squeezed shut, he said, "I wish I didn't have to do page 16!" The storyteller laughed at him. Then I turned to page 16 anyway, of course, and it was just the blank back of a page of manipulatives to cut out for a different lesson. It said, "This page intentionally left blank." The hero gasped, then began to dance. "It really is magic! It really is magic!" he called, waving his wand around.

We also did the first chapter of Chemistry Pre-Level One this week, defining the atom and molecule. The author wrote a series of "have you ever wondered... " questions to introduce the chapter. As I read them, the Hero's eyes got wider and wider. "Yes! I HAVE wondered if the moon is really made of cheese! YES! I HAVE wondered why carrots are orange!" By the end he was wondering if the author was psychic.

He's had a good time running around the couch in circles chanting his memory work. It entertained the baby we were sitting, too, especially when the hero ended with a dramatic, "Ooooooey! goooooey!" (He is memorizing the famous anonymous poem about a worm who stands on a train track too long.)

I can't believe he's old enough for real narration and copywork, but we started this week. He did great with the copywork but was a little slow to figure out narration. Retention isn't his strong suit. That's okay, though; it's the major strength of our writing program.

It's great to watch his little fingers become nimble on the ukulele. He's not anywhere near able to consistently play anything (me either, really) but he's getting closer, and he can tell, and it is adorable.

He's such a joy to teach, so enthusiastic. During a long day of making big kids do stuff that's hard, the Hero reminds me why I like homeschooling.