Experiential Learning

It happens daily, but we often don't get to see it. Amalia goes to school where, with a class full of friends, she is exposed to language, to color, to fun experiences, to talking, and observing and communicating. She is also exposed to conversations, new words and an incredible new world of learning. Mommy and daddy are often doing their own work and it's hard to identify what it is, exactly, that she does in class. Sure, conversations might revolve around "what did you learn today?" or "did you learn any new songs in class?", but it's not quite the same as seeing little Amalia in action!  

How wonderful it is, on the rare occasion that we can glimpse into her school life, to watch her interact with her classmates and her environment. Mommy visited her the other day to lead her class through a cooking session!  The class read "The Gruffalo" and two weeks ago they went to see the play. They have been learning about the forest, so Natalia guided them to make their own tree with pretzels, cream cheese with maple syrup, and grapes. The children scarfed it down in no time at all!  They say that learning happens best when you experience it, and this little girl is learning some pretty cool stuff each and every day!  In the evening, and sometimes without questioning, she will break out into a song, or tell us a story, or explain what her classmates did in class that day. Those moments, the spontaneous ones shared in the spur of the moment, are quite possibly the very best ones. Watching your child grow can be so much fun! Every day.

By the way, the hair in the face is a natural and daily occurrence. Daddy thinks it's adorable. Mommy thinks it's messy. Hee hee.

Letters Coming Alive

They are just little moments... Amalia is well on her way. She stands there and opens a book and starts, "Oh, en, cee, ee, you, pee, oh, en, ayy, tee, eye, em, ee" and so the story begins. She can do it in Spanish and in Greek too (though in Greek with a bit more difficulty with the letters, of course). She can follow the context of a book and pretend read. Irini models behaviors from her class, opening a book as if teaching it and showing it to the "class" (more than likely the audience is just Amalia sitting on the floor and replying to Irini's questions and requests to repeat). Reading is becoming a bigger part of our day. It starts with a read of a short book (given to Irini every day from class) as we are having breakfast. Then on to school and classes and the like. Then the return with play reading in the afternoon. Then the evening where books are brought out "en mass" to be read before heading to bed. 

But now, ever so gently, words are popping out of the "real world" as well. As Irini works out what strings of letters mean she is announcing "IS" and "THE" and "AND" as she reads them on the walls, on the elevator, at stores and in books. Her enthusiasm and her conviction (as well as confidence) are impressive. Slowly the world has a different twist to it. There are meanings coming out, being discovered. Life's experience is about to become grander, more creative, more far-reaching. Reading has begun, in small steps.