full inclusion

For the past few days Lori has been blogging about how important it is to include the "littles" in your learning. She says "letting your youngest children marinate in this atmosphere of engaged, excited learning is the best way to effortlessly raise relentless learners."

I figured I'd better show her how much Elizabeth likes to marinate in the learning that's going on around here.

Comments

[Stefani]

Oh man, she and Ryder would get along famously. Tell me, do you also hear lots of "MOM!!!!! Can you PLEASE get Ryder out of my work!!!!"
I do really try to include him, and lots of the time he is a joy. It's fun to see how much he really does absorb, and it's neat to watch his brothers come alongside him and teach him.
But, um, there are those moments when something to occupy those little hands for just a few moments is kind of helpful.

[amy]

and this is how it should be most of the time- perfectly lovely!

[Amy]

It kind of makes me want to go to school at your house!

[Joy]

ha ha!
Sub David in for your little, and that's my house. What a giggle. I always forget to take pictures of this kind of stuff.

[Mary Smith]

Smile. That's where my youngest Myles loves to sit. Right in the middle of the kitchen table. Tonight he was shaking salt all over the table as well.:)

[Sarah Jackson]

That is some serious marinating. Love that series of photos.

[Lori]

these are so great - actually, they remind me not only of jack when he was little, but our cat spot who used to want to sit in the epicenter of whatever activity we were doing, lol! :^)

[Mama Urchin]

She looks so marinated I want to have her for dinner. My kids are off from school next Mon and Tues. You guys free?

[inga]

I don't home school, but whenever my oldest is at the kitchen table writing/coloring/drawing the little one is doing pretty much the same thing Mary does + eating the pencils or crayons and screaming bloody murder if she is not "airlifted" to the nearest chair.

[bigbucketgirl]

Haha! gorgeous photos!
Our youngest is so keen to learn fractions at the moment...i dont think its genius...just he loves to steal the fraction pizza pieces off the table. Our eldest is really, really struggling with fractions....he doesn't always notice the pieces are missing. It makes for some interesting answers!

[Linn]

So cute! And so typically curious! Great job not squelching her curiousity. And kudos to sisters for allowing it!

[amy h]

I love how she's lying ON the book.

(Also, your red woodwork is great.)

[miss chris]

I love this photo series! That's one way to soak it up.

[Jessica]

That is a very familiar sight at our house as well!

[Deb]

Breanna's enjoyed a "middle of the table" spot in our schooling since she could sit up. Brian, too. I don't do anything special with either of them--just invite them to participate in our "schooling," which they call "fun."

[erin]

that sweet girl!
we need to make a plan so i can meet her!

[Thimbleina]

Great photos and she manages not to disrupt the work like my little boy who comes up and snatches the things that are most important then runs off to throw them somewhere. Sitting down to do any learning with my daughter is nigh on impossible even if I try to involve him in the process.

[Sarah S.]

I like how shw stars out on the bench and then moves to the table!

[caron easley]

oh man i love it! good work.

"Do children know the feel of dew-fresh grass on their bare feet, and lush freshness of the shade of a leafy tree on a hot afternoon? Do they know the fun of autumn leaves, and the fairy-tale beauty of an icy morning? Wherever the child lives, we should consider his contact with nature as part of his life." p85, For the Children's Sake, S. Schaeffer Macaulay

[joanna]

that is so funny!!

[emily]

cracking up again. you're making my morning in the airport a lot more fun! (ps. that turnip pic. wow.)