What
little boy doesn’t have a collection of trains, cars, trucks, or other
vehicles? Caleb has all of the above. We were playing together in the camper
the other day while Daddy had an event and book signing. As with most days, my
toddler is my inspiration. We had all of his Thomas trains pulled out and
usually he likes to put all the magnetic ends together to make a really long
train, but today, he started putting trains together and mixing the colors.
Unintentionally, he created a train combination that was an AB pattern. I
spotted this and commented on the colors.
Me: Look
Caleb! What color is this train?
Caleb:
Red
Me: What
color is this next train?
Caleb:
Green
Me: What
color is the one after that?
Caleb:
Red
Me: And
what is the last train color?
Caleb:
Green
Me:
Let’s say them again. (I point to each one as he names them.)
Me: What
color would come next?
Caleb:
Red!
Me: Yay!
That’s right! Good thinking! You made a pattern!
That one
conversation sparked an interest in making more patterns with different color
trains. With each success, he excitedly tried new patterns. As he fit together
trains, he also, again unintentionally, created an engine, tender, engine,
tender pattern. With another little conversation, he noticed what had been
created and began to look further than just colors. At one point, he ran to his
toy bin and grabbed some cars and trucks. He created a car, truck, car, truck
pattern among several others. It was a wonderful experience of fun and learning
that day.
On a
side note, we had to stay in a hotel last night due to bad weather coming in.
As we were unpacking our clothes to prepare for the next day, I noticed Caleb
playing again with his cars and trains. He surprises me sometimes with his
imagination. He turned the decorative carpet into a cluster of complex roads
that he weaved and maneuvered his vehicles around in true boy fashion with
sound effects included! Lily is also discovering her world in her own way
turning an open cabinet into her own little exploration station. I hope they can always see what they love in
the ordinary things life presents them. 
In my classroom, I used my observations of my students to guide me in know when they were ready to learn something and how I could present it to them, so they could master that skill or concept. As a homeschooling/roadschooling mom, I'm enjoying the inspiring moments my children create that open opportunities for me to teach them something new each day as we play.
In addition, I wanted to share this inspiration with you, so I created a Train Patterning Product that includes 3 activities to build AB, AAB, ABB, AABB, & ABC concept. I hope you enjoy it!
In addition, I wanted to share this inspiration with you, so I created a Train Patterning Product that includes 3 activities to build AB, AAB, ABB, AABB, & ABC concept. I hope you enjoy it!
Have a Blessed Learning Day!
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