Back to Junie B Jones

After our little discussion about what J enjoys reading, we headed to the library to get Junie B. Jones books for her free reading. She finished it in no time and was totally absorbed and happy.

Two people mentioned "My Father's Dragon" by Ruth Stiles so I'm trying to get that book for J. Currently all copies has been checked out at our library so I'm going to wait. We will also try out other books recommended by Enki moms.

I also tried a book recommended by the Classical education model, and read J "Trojan Horse- The World's Greatest Adventure" by David Clement-Davies today and J liked it. It's a very condensed version of a lot of events in one thin book. The first time I read it, I had a hard time following sometimes since there are so many characters in there but the plot is exciting enough. When I read it to J today, it did capture her imagination and she was following along pretty well. It's not something I think she would read herself, but its something she enjoys listening. Anyway, classical education's point is the purpose of these books is to implant "memory pegs" for later and most kids enjoys listening to adventures. So I think this book did achieve those 2 goals.

Anyway, I think where I am at this point is to read her stories from Enki K and just follow the Enki methods suggested by B. Sutton. For casual reading, J can read Junie B Jones if she wants to and today she borrowed 4 JBJ books. It's not what I consider ideal but at least she is excited to read those books and is reading for a good 45-60 minutes by herself and not asking me if her time for reading is up. So I consider that a big improvement. :-)

Crystal Queen and musings on Enki 1st grade fairy tales

Today, we read "Crystal Queen" from Enki K nature story. It was a beautifully well written story. I'm not sure if the kids can appreciate all the descriptions but I enjoy reading the descriptions. :)

I have been taking a break with J from the Enki 1st grade fairy tale mainly because she doesn't seem to love them. In talking with Beth Sutton, founder of Enki Education, she said to follow the Enki method but use a book J enjoys reading/listening and to try the 1st grade fairy tale with her every 2 week or even one a month to see how J take it.

I wonder how other 1st graders listening to Enki 1st grade story fare? Are they really absorbed in the story and feel the story talks to them deeply and mirror their development? For J, I don't think they are "nourishing" and "mirroring her development" as they had been intended.

I read her "Bimwili" from Enki K fairytale story and she seemed to like that one better. Though I wouldn't call her reaction total engagement either. The story was actually intended for Prime but J wanted to listen too. "Bimwili" is also much shorter than Enki 1st grade fairy tales. It is actually intended for younger children ready for fairy tales in Kindergarten. So I'm not sure where emotionally J is. I might have to keep trying and just see.

Beth said in our conversation, that she does not feel J is ready for the 2nd grade tales as they are even longer. But J have been more goofy lately; I don't know if that characterizes as "tricker" energy or not. Her favorite game is to play hide-n-seek with daddy and she revels in hiding and not giggling. :) She and Prime has gotten pretty good at it now. Sometimes daddy have some trouble finding them. She also likes to play "I spy" with Prime.

One thing I notice is that J and Prime both love my Chinese movie, not entirely sure why considering they can't understand too much and it's not always funny. Now when they watch that, they are very engaged. Maybe it's just the TV effect.

We saw a little boy the other day watching a cartoon. Man, he was not only 100% engaged, but his whole body, his whole face seems frozen; his eyes hardly even blinks, and his mouth slightly open. Now that's what I call total absorption like he is in another world.

Anyway, I really need to pray for wisdom and discernment.

Thoughts on J's social needs

I was talking with J last night, and I asked her of all the activities she participated in yesterday, which was her favorite? She said her favorite was making new friends at the play group. And then she asked me which one did I thought she would pick? I said, well, I wasn't sure, (but it sure was not what you picked-didn't tell her that).

But I noticed that she didn't play with her former school friends at the garden party as much. At least that was my impression. So I asked her about that, and she said she didn't feel like playing with her friends at Girl Scott at that time. But then she said, she would next time. Hmmm......and another mom just give us her info so that we can set up a play date.

So I feel there is conflicting information: one is she likes to play with friends, or at least find new friends; second is depending on her mood, sometimes she doesn't.

I know Beth Sutton, founder of Enki Education, told me in a consultation, to give J opportunity to play with her friends; not in a class setting, but just opportunity to play and that I will see more of that desire in J as she grows older. Maybe that's the difference: Girl Scott is more agenda focused; and the Tuesday morning group is more play focused.

I have noticed J gets excited whenever she makes a new friend. Yesterday, she told me she made a new friend at her choir class and showed me the lollipop her friend gave to her. And when her former classmates saw her at school, again they were all excited and was waving and saying hi to J, and told J they missed her. It was really cute. Couple moms even came up to me and told me their daughter told them J is no longer in school and that their daughter really misses J. But J? I'm almost embarrassed to put this on the blog, but J says she does not miss them. I wonder if she is just saying that or what? It definitely makes me wonder why that is so?

Previously, she wrote a "Thank You" card to her class and to her school (her own idea), and it was very nice, very polite but I noticed there's no "I miss you" type of sentiments and asked her about that. She said that's because she does not. But she'll say that to me many times and is very attached to me and I feel an emotionally sensitive/mature child so I'm just baffled on this. On the flip side, I'm glad she is not so attached to her friends and stays a lot closer to the family. Maybe its just as Beth S. said, she is still an young child. Beth also said that J, unlike most other first graders, who are working on opening their areas of development, J's is already open. Our goal for J is to have them remain open. (If you have no idea what I meant by that, that's okay. I'm just reminding myself of what Beth said.)

One thing I have noticed is whenever J or Prime goes on a play date, if I tell them we need to go, they never cry to stay, or make a scene, not even when they were little. The most they do, is ask for 5 more minutes or dawdle for just a little bit. I am not sure if its because they are obedient children or just not as attached to their friends. I'm thinking its probably both.

I think I will have to pray for wisdom on this issue; to understand J's social needs better. Well, J will not lack free play time this weekend with her friends. She got 2 birthday parties to go to this weekend. I know she is excited over that. :)