Okay, so really it was Jack's first day of third grade, too, but I had already prepped him that it was really going to be about Lucy today. She has spent the last two years being the tagalong add on in our school day and today I wanted to celebrate that she is finally a grade schooler. She's been begging for school to start for days, and was so excited that the big day was finally here.
I borrowed an idea from my friend Krista and started our morning with an introduction to our new supplies and a rather firm admonishment that they are properly taken care of and used only for school. I've noticed that at the beginning of the school year I can act very "teacherly" and they take it seriously.
We started with a circle time that we are going to add onto for the next month. I'm planning on having circle time for a block and then to morning walks for a block. They love circle time, but it can get a little stale, so I'm hoping this mixes it up a bit.
After circle time I told the story about Dear Heart and how he received his recorder. Then Lucy received her first flute lesson. I started with a brief introduction about how to blow into the flute properly. Then she learned how to put her fingers on and began learning her first song, played just with her thumb. She is four notes in, and very proud of herself!
In one of his 8 billion books, Steiner describes an ideal first day of first grade that begins with discovering the concept that the entire world is made of lines and curves. Lucy tagged along on this day two years ago, so there wasn't quite that A-HA! moment there was for Jack, but it was still fun to run around the house looking for lines and curves and then to go outside. I challenged them to find something that wasn't made of lines or curves, and they were amazed that they couldn't.
Then we came inside and modeled lines and curves out of playdough. Yuck, I made that playdough months ago and it really needs to be refreshed! We drew lines and curves in the air and then each drew one on the board.
(In case you were wondering, "Wow, is every flat surface in her house covered with really ugly flat, beige paint?" Yes, yes it is. "And hasn't she already lived there for two years?" Yes again.
The Jack and Lu practiced drawing the lines and curves on their new white boards. I noticed immediately that it is going to be a lot easier for me to avoid breathing down Jack's neck while he does this type of thing now that I have two doing school. He hates form drawing (hmmm... maybe has something to do with my neck breathing?) so I was surprised when he made it harder for himself and asked if he could create patterns with lines and curves. Lucy, as usual, wasn't going to be outdone, so she did some patterns, too. After some practice time they each got a sheet of paper and Lucy made one large line and curve using crayon, and Jack made his pattern using colored pencil. We numbered them and put them away for binding at the end of the year.
I forgot our opening verse (The sun with loving light...) so we stopped in the middle, stood up and said it. Then I completely forgot our closing verse. Somewhere mixed in here we ate a snack and went outside to jump rope. Oh, I forgot we did a little beeswax modeling, too. All the above took about two and half hours, so my plan is to then send them outside while I make lunch. Lucy didn't want to go out, so I said something to her along the line of, "Well, you're going to miss recess if you don't go out." To which she replied, "Oh, that's recess? Kids in school LOVE recess!" Then she ran out the door. They went out and worked on fairy houses and digging clay.
After lunch and clean up Jack had his first lesson on the diatonic flute. It is a little trickier than the pentatonic when it comes to getting a nice tone. So he mostly worked on proper breathing. He also learned Hot Cross Buns. Then it was time for Lucy's first knitting lesson. Those years of kindergarten handwork coupled with an intense desire to learn really payed off as Lucy knitting her first stitch today and followed it up with three rows.
Normally Jack will have more of his own work in the morning, plus some pm lesson work, but as I said we are starting with Lu and taking it slow. It really was a super day and I'm glad I have this record to look back on for the days when I want to put them on the first school bus that comes by. I feel so lucky to have this time with them.
During our afternoon quiet time, John came home with Lucy's most anticipated birthday gift.
