The very first thought that popped into her head, excited out of her mouth in a rush of utter excitement, "Oh Mommy! Can we do science experiments today?!"
Um. Well. I was thinking more along the lines of sitting around doing nothing, maybe reading all day. But sure. That sounds just as appealing.
School does not start till next week. Why on earth would my daughter want to start learning now??
Because you can't always schedule learning. Mommies are always teaching their kids whether they homeschool or not. Science is fun. Learning is exciting. It doesn't always take place in a classroom setting. Learning can be and most often is spontaneous. If you are in the habit of having a teachable heart, you will learn something everyday without even going and looking for it - it will find you. And lastly, each person is responsible for their own learning. I can't force information, concepts, new ideas/formulas into someone's head. That person has to want to learn!
I absolutely adore that Chloe wanted to do science experiments. I told her that it would involve some writing in a science journal like a real scientist does to record his scientific process. She zoomed up the stairs to gather necessary pen and spiral and waited with bated breath as I revealed the experiments I had picked to do with her. Of all things, I started with a chemistry book. But I'd done all these experiments with Gavin before and knew she would be able to grasp these simple concepts and see quick results with her experiments.
After two experiments, she'd had enough. But it was fun to see her brain at work trying to explain new ideas/concepts to me. At one point she even said, "Mommy, I don't know the right words to say [explain] this." I don't want her to be intimidated by science or hard vocabulary or concepts above her comprehension level. We all have to start somewhere.
Now...I think it's finally time for me to go lounge on my chair and read that book I'm been wanting to spend time with. Afterall, I've got some learnin' to do!
