Thursday, August 20, 2009

This Makes Me Smile

Yesterday morning as I was upstairs in the loft exercising on my gazelle (my morning routine) with headphones in ears and my mind in motion, I glanced over at one of the toyboxes to see the dry erase board with a school lesson on it. When I got off, I went and took a closer look at exactly what was written on it.



Now this does make me smile, because we haven't started school yet, but this is what Joy likes to do in her spare time. She plays with her dolls and they have school. Isn't that so much better than TV? She really can entertain herself for hours upstairs in that loft with her dry erase board, dolls, figurines, and barbies.



Notice what subject is NOT on that board? If you said math, you would be correct! There's no science there either, but science rates much better than math in her book. I have to remind her that math is necessary, although she doesn't always agree. She is all about reading and writing and all that goes along with words! Could it be because her mom is the same way???



When we get in the car, this little pink book goes just about everywhere with her! This is where she writes her stories as they pop in her head. I have to get past the not-so-neat handwriting because I know her mind works faster than her hands can get it down neatly. I'm the same way....sometimes only I can read what I wrote.



She has a couple of ongoing "books" that she is writing....and don't you know I encourage it BIG TIME? :) And something else I've learned.....wide reading = wide vocabulary. It's amazing how that works, but it really does and it shows in the writing. Do you have a budding writer on your hand? Encourage it!



Don't you just love it when your kids use their free time to do something creative and use their imaginations? I know it warms this mother's heart and puts a big smile on my face! :)

27 comments:

Parsley said...

My dear daughter loves to read and write too. She fills her notebooks and dry erase board with her imagination.

I read to her since birth, while nursing, etc. Sometimes the only thing that would calm my colic baby was a book.

Now, she lives for words. To write, to read. She uses her stuffed animals for her play and writes down their needs and accomplishments.

Janene said...

You have a very special girl, Tammy.
I used to play school and house when I was little. My girls tend to play outdoors more than I did. But I love the idea of the TV being off. I could live without that!
I love reading Joy's post...so is very articulate...but then so are you. You are a great inspiration/role model for her!

Nancy M. said...

That's wonderful that she loves to learn! I can't say I blame her much, math isn't a favorite of mine, either.

arkie said...

My daughter growing up was a reader and wrote lots of poetry. I am a firm believer that if you pass a love for the written word on to your kids they will succeed in life. My daughter now reads to her son who is 5 months old now. She has read to him since his birth. He seems to really like it, as he looks at the pages and listens to her voice.

Sherri/Here Goes My Life said...

I can see why that would make you smile.That's so neat that she likes to write.So uncommon these days,with the computer and video games,I didn't think kids these days even knew what reading and writing are.You should be very proud.She may grow up to be the next JK Rowling.

The Farmers Oldest Daughter said...

What a wonderful post. That would make any mother proud.

My daughter did not like math either, but she soon learned that she had to have it but she is a great writer.

I think it is great you are home schooling.

Have a great day!!!
Maxine

Paula said...

I had a little girl like that - now her thoughts go down in her journal and its private. And there are times that I get an opportunity to read something that has come from her heart and I realize that God teaches us through our children in so many ways.

Word Verification: saten - he likes to try and sneak in any way he can - Jesus be glorified, amen.

Something Nice and Pretty said...

I used to write books too when I was about ten till twelve years old, I forgot about that.LOL Now I love to read and always have a book at hand and also belong to two libraries. My math was never my strongest subject so I know how Joy feels:)
Rondell♥

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

you have one smart cute cookie on your hands..:)what a little cutie she is..

Sharon said...

I must agree that I did not like Math much either.
My granddaughter is a big reader also.
I is great to hear that she can entertain herself without that TV
Thanks for sharing
God bless

Joy ~ Doodlebug ~ said...

Mommy,

I'm glad you smiled when you saw that......to tell the truth...I didn't think about Math or Science!!!! I love you! 8!

Love, Joy =D

Kimberly said...

Ha! I was just thinking the same thing... the girls have a friend over today and they're downstairs playing school... me, I'd be out in the pool, but not them!

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

I think that is awesome! I always wrote stories, songs and poetry when I was younger and I still do! My daughter also does this and we are hoping that her little one will also do it. I have to say that my daughter is much better at it than I ever was.

Enjoy the rest of your week, Tammy!

A Bit of Colour said...

That is fantastic! Keep encouraging her; you never know what is in store for her future. My son has written a couple of books. Just keep encouraging!

Birgit said...

Hi Tammy~ It looks like you've got an aspiring writer on your hands! That's just wonderful, what she's doing with her "play" time. My daughter is a reader too and also enjoys writing. She wrote an amazing eight page story last year. Although, she doesn't do it as much now as she did. :( Hopefully her interest will return. You're a great mom for recognizing and encouraging her special gifts! You both are blessed!
Hugs~ Birgit

Amber said...

That's absolutely wonderful! She reminds me of myself when I was about her age. I was always carrying my journal around writing short stories and poems.

Oh, and we're using Sonlight Core K - Intro to World Cultures. We're also doing their science as well.

Never So Simple said...

I see a future teacher in the works. Tammy you should be so proud Joy is such a wonderful young lady just like her Mom!

Donna

Shelley said...

Joy is such a creative soul! I enjoy reading her blog and she really is talented for such a young girl! You must be so proud!

Tammy said...

Oh Tammy, this sounds like first of all- me, when I was her age, playing school with my dolls (I was an only child) and writing lots of stories!
Secondly, it is a lot like both my girls as well...especially when it comes to writing little stories and NOT liking math. (Well, at least a certain penpal of Joy's doesn't like math AT all either!) :D

This made me smile, too, Tammy...Joy is such an imaginative and bright young lady and she will go far! :)
Hugs, the other Tammy

Blessed Beyond said...

Awww! You are blessed with a really special girl there, Tammy! You actually are blessed with two great kids! It is so heart warming! What a great feeling you had! Hope yall have a wonderful weekend!
Hugs and Blessings,

Anonymous said...

That is so awesome Tammy! Joy just might grow up to be a teacher someday, just as my middle son did. Jamie use to play school and he was the teacher. He'd keep a grading book and had all the kids names and grades in it. There were about 20 or so imaginary kids in his book & in his imaginary school room. He was around Joy's age when he did this. He'd schedule detention time and everything. He did grow up to be a math teacher for several years and then he was an assistant principal for a couple of years, and now Jamie is in his second year of being a Principal at an elementary school in California. One just never knows, but this could be Joy's calling, especially from the wonderful job that you have shown her so far with homeschooling! Your love for learning and reading and all has and will always be such an important factor in Joy's life, that's for sure! That is so great!! You've done a beautiful job with your homeschooling Tammy!

I always love to see how Joy is into reading her books, and especially when they first arrive to your home in their box! Her love for learning is sooo very awesome, and so wonderful!! She has some very special parents indeed!! Joy's a sweetheart!!

You and your family have a wonderful weekend Tammy!!

Love & Blessings,
~Lynn/OKC

Colleen/And Baby Makes Five said...

Awww, what a sweet girl! I used to do the same thing and now my kiddos play school too. Though I expect Michaela to revolt soon because she never seems to get to play teacher.

We read more of "On the Banks of Plum Creek" last night and Laura and Mary played school and tried to teach Carrie her letters. Now my two are inspired to "teach" Brendan as well. Oh boy! I just love imaginative play.

Happy Weekending, my friend...

Elle Bee said...

What a gifted girl you've got there Tammy! That is so wonderful! I love to see young talented writers just writing their little hearts out. And I love even more that you encourage it. Fantastic.
Elle

Mandy said...

Joy and I think alike! I have a notebook that goes with me too!

Zach writes comic strips complete with detailed pictures. He spends hours coming up with new stories.

Yes, unfortunately we must learn math also!

Lois Christensen said...

My daughter also loves to write and is forever filling up books and books! I use to love to do what Joy does and play teacher with all my dolls. Great post!

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

That was one of my favorite activities as well - my Jen too. So much better than TV is right!! Maybe she will be an award winning novelist some day!!

Carole said...

Hello, I just discovered your blog (I've been "blog hopping" for a while... but I should be doing many other things !!) and this post really made me smile, because I could have written the exact same thing for my daughter ! Except that she has LOTS of notebooks, notepads, sheets, EVERYWHERE ! (And it drives me crazy to go into her room...). When she couldn't write, she drew and dictated us what she wanted written. We'll see how it goes with her little sister !