Not Quite Hooked on Phonics....

At Alexa's parent-teacher conference this fall, her teacher told me that Alexa usually gravitates to the practical life lessons and isn't too interested in numbers or letters.  Although the Montessori method encourages self-directed learning and she is only threee, Damon and I are still trying to give Alexa a little nudge in the right direction.  Even Santa was in on the act this year, with Granty the Elf buying her an alphabet book for our flight to St. Louis and giving her a Phonics book for Christmas.  Needless to say, those gifts didn't seem to be at the top of her favorites list.

Sometimes it seems as if Alexa's egging us along, pretending not to know the answer, simply to elicit a reaction.  Talk about frustrating   I've never recognized patience as being one of my best traits, so these informal lessons have been a good exercise for me as well.  I'm becoming quite the expert at creating a list of words that begin with the same letter, hoping Alexa will be able to identify the letter with the sound.  I think she's batting about 0.300, but we'll just keep practicing.

Damon started "Breakfast Phonics" this morning to try to engage Alexa in a routine of learning before school.  I had to smile when he told me about his plan last night, because it represents a complete turning of the tables.  Damon's mom, Carol, has always told stories of how Damon would try to do anything but his school work, leaving her to plead, "Damon...Focus!"  Payback has come 30-years later as Damon's pleading with Alexa to do the same.  I can only imagine the smile on Carol's face when she hears of "Breakfast Phonics." :)

T-R-O-U-B-L-E. :)