I decided to keep better track of what Emma is learning, since we are taking more of a full-on unschooling approach with her. This means instead of us deciding on what to teach and when to teach it, we listen to her and answer whatever questions she has, letting her follow her own interests. I’m noting it here so you can follow along and see how it works in practical application. (I may need to make a new category.)

Since November or so Emma has followed her own curiousity and learned about:

- making her own bouncy balls
- digging for dinosaurs
- investigating whale brains when we went to the provincial Museum. The helper declared that nobody had ever asked her about whale brains before, especially a then-four-year-old.
- exploring the human body with the visible woman, complete with baby, and knowing at least half or more of the parts and where they go. This lead to:
- watching A Baby Story and talking about childbirth, including her own
- sending e-cards
- skip-counting to 100 at night to fall asleep. She starts and the parent (usually it’s Ron’s turn) does all the even numbers, including the tens, which she has trouble with.
- making her own audio files. This includes starting the computer, logging into my profile, firing up Audacity, adjusting the mike, recording and playback. She doesn’t know quite how to save yet as her typing skills aren’t developed enough.
- putting on plays and ballet recitals, combining famous dances and storylines. The rest of us have to sit on the couch and applaud. I must say, she curtsies quite well.
- dictating stories for me to write down. I’n sure an email account will soon follow.
- the knowledge that French, Spanish and English are different languages. Plus words in French and Spanish.
- making snowflakes

In the past, she has asked to “play school” at home, getting ready and toting a backpack from one room to another. Last week, she asked to play school, so I suggested she get dressed. “Oh Mommy,” she said, “I can stay in my jammies; I’m homeschooled!” The indoctrination has begun.

Her vocabulary has also taken leaps, as we have never spoken down to her. New words include: magnificent, amazing, adorable, interesting, imagination, fantastic, wonderful – and probably more.

She seems to have backed off a bit on her interest in Egyptology and film commentaries, and we still read a pile of books to her every day. She is also recognizing more words.

Emma turned five in December.