Who's on First?
Homeschooling this morning resembled that famous skit by Abbot and Costello. And it wasn't my often challenging, lovely daughter, Sarah. It was my adorable, easy-going son, Alex, who decided that today he would pretend to be Chatty Cathy. It started something like this:
Me: Sarah, what does this word say?
Sarah: Um... huh, aw, guh... hot!
Me: No, look at...
Alex: (shrieking) Mommy! Look! Apple! (He points to an alphabet card with an apple.)
Me: (smiling) Yes, very good! "A" makes a sound like in apple.
Sarah: Let me see the card!
Me: Alex, show her the card. Okay, back to the word. Sarah, sound it out..."
Alex: Look! Baby nest!
Sarah: Where?
Me: Okay, Alex, that's nice. Can you just look at the cards while I help Sarah? Sarah?
Sarah: Haw... Haw... Hot!
Me: No, the last letter is a "g," not a "t." What sound does the last letter make?
Alex: (screaming excitedly) You be the Mouse King! I'll be the Nutcracker and kill you with my sword!
Sarah: (also screaming, in irritation) Alex, stop talking!
Me: Sarah, don't yell at him. Alex, you need to be quiet so I can work with Sarah. Sarah, can you look at the word again?
Sarah: Alex needs to be quiet.
Me: He will. Go ahead.
Sarah: Haw... Hot!
Alex: (singing at top of lungs) Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle All the Way!
Me: (now screaming) OKAY! Everybody be QUIET!
I took a few liberties, but that's basically how it went. Some days are just like that. We finally salvaged the lesson (after I comforted Alex, who didn't like my yelling at him) by tossing him into the back yard to play.