Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
A Poet's Mind
I have a poet's mind. It's not that I speak in rhyme constantly (although I did force myself to write "constantly" rather than "all the time"). I also think in metaphor, similes, puns and long descriptive passages. I can't help spouting flowery speech. I should have been born in a different time. I don't think my penchant for painting with words is appreciated in today's world. It's certainly more likely to cause odd stares than not.
It also makes it harder for me to speak my mind. When I'm passionate about something, I find myself at a loss for words. Not because I have nothing to say, but rather it is a protective reflex. I don't like to be mocked or teased, so I prefer to keep my opinions to myself or wait until I can mull over the words on my computer screen. Even then, I may keep my thoughts to myself. I can't help it. My sensitive poet's mind is very aware of others' feelings. It doesn't want to cause hurt. For me, poetry is about healing and empathy. It is about gently leading others to my way of thinking, about using honey instead of vinegar. Whoops, there I go again.
The more emotional I am, the harder I find it to speak from the heart, because it comes out poetic without even trying and I'm not sure whether my poetry will be well-received. Worse, I worry whether it will be misunderstood. For instance, I recently tried to sign an online guestbook in memory of my mother's cousin, Cindy. I stumbled over every word. I was flooded with emotion--grief, loss, and fear. Fear always comes into play for me when it comes to death. My greatest fear is being alone. It's a bit paradoxical since I like to be alone to think, but the thought of being left completely to my own devices is frightening. I can't even post a blog entry without my husband or one of the kids reading it and assuring me it sounds okay. This little message of sympathy was freezing me like a deer in the headlights. These feelings swell to my fingertips and suddenly simple expressions like "my condolences" or "my thoughts and prayers" sound trite and hollow and unacceptable to me. So writing in that guestbook was hard. It didn't help that my husband has a more analytical mind and thought I should just make it simple. You would think he hasn't been married to me for almost twenty years. Me? Simple? How?
I ended up emailing my sister to see what she thought of my entry. This is what I mean about not wanting to be alone. I don't know what I would do without my sister. I bounce thoughts and ideas off of her a lot, as I do with other family members. If mom isn't available, I tend to turn to my sister. (Mom was actually visiting my sister, but I figured she needed some rest after a long day traveling, which included a missed flight.) My sister understands my poet's mind better than many. With one word she was able to give me the courage to post my entry. That word? "Perfect."
It also makes it harder for me to speak my mind. When I'm passionate about something, I find myself at a loss for words. Not because I have nothing to say, but rather it is a protective reflex. I don't like to be mocked or teased, so I prefer to keep my opinions to myself or wait until I can mull over the words on my computer screen. Even then, I may keep my thoughts to myself. I can't help it. My sensitive poet's mind is very aware of others' feelings. It doesn't want to cause hurt. For me, poetry is about healing and empathy. It is about gently leading others to my way of thinking, about using honey instead of vinegar. Whoops, there I go again.
The more emotional I am, the harder I find it to speak from the heart, because it comes out poetic without even trying and I'm not sure whether my poetry will be well-received. Worse, I worry whether it will be misunderstood. For instance, I recently tried to sign an online guestbook in memory of my mother's cousin, Cindy. I stumbled over every word. I was flooded with emotion--grief, loss, and fear. Fear always comes into play for me when it comes to death. My greatest fear is being alone. It's a bit paradoxical since I like to be alone to think, but the thought of being left completely to my own devices is frightening. I can't even post a blog entry without my husband or one of the kids reading it and assuring me it sounds okay. This little message of sympathy was freezing me like a deer in the headlights. These feelings swell to my fingertips and suddenly simple expressions like "my condolences" or "my thoughts and prayers" sound trite and hollow and unacceptable to me. So writing in that guestbook was hard. It didn't help that my husband has a more analytical mind and thought I should just make it simple. You would think he hasn't been married to me for almost twenty years. Me? Simple? How?
I ended up emailing my sister to see what she thought of my entry. This is what I mean about not wanting to be alone. I don't know what I would do without my sister. I bounce thoughts and ideas off of her a lot, as I do with other family members. If mom isn't available, I tend to turn to my sister. (Mom was actually visiting my sister, but I figured she needed some rest after a long day traveling, which included a missed flight.) My sister understands my poet's mind better than many. With one word she was able to give me the courage to post my entry. That word? "Perfect."
Friday, June 24, 2011
Happy Birthday Hubby!
I consider myself pretty lucky. I am married to my best friend. There is no one I would rather have a discussion with than him. We are interested in many of the same books. And most important, he is incredibly supportive of me, in every meaning of the word.Let's be real. Homeschooling is hard. It takes a lot out of the parent who is on the front line, no matter what method you choose and what educational philosophy you follow. It is always helpful to have a supportive spouse. Someone who doesn't mind living on one paycheck. Someone who doesn't mind earning that paycheck. Someone who supports your crazy schemes. Someone who believes in you. I got lucky. I have that.
So when I wish my dear husband a happy birthday, I do it with my deepest gratitude that he chose to spend his life with me and has helped me raise three of the most interesting people I know.
Happy Birthday!!!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Making Fire!
Our last class of the school year at the nature preserve included making fire. We were shown several techniques. Flint and steel seemed to work best for the kids. Here is a collage of our day...
Carnival at Successful Homeschooling
The latest Carnival of Homeschooling: The Summer Camp edition is happening at Successful Homeschooling! Please visit the carnival and read some of this week's submissions!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
In Gratitude for Dads
What would we do without dads?
My father definitely influenced my life. I know he worked long hours and was involved in community organizations that kept him out late, so he wasn't there as much as mom, but still he impacted me. Perhaps because he wasn't home as much, the memories of dad time stuck out more. Not that dad time was always peachy. We had our issues, especially regarding smoking and the very strained period of my adolescence. What can I say? Dad taught me to be a free thinker and demand respect, so I did.
I remember many days sitting at the table having something to eat while he sat nearby, reading the newspaper, a cup of coffee at his elbow and a cigarette in the ashtray. A ribbon of smoke stretched and curled to the ceiling as the ash collected on the tip of his forgotten fix. He would start reading out loud whenever something interested him, his strong voice resonating as he spoke, his Spanish accent giving flavor to the words. Back then, I didn't always want to listen. I didn't always understand what the article was about. But now I see how those moments created similar moments for me. I will read articles out loud to my family, just like dad did with me.
I remember dad building things and fixing things. Sometimes I was the unwilling helper. Dad could get annoyed if you didn't understand which tool he wanted you to give him. I took for granted all of the things he did: putting that cage together for our pigeons; mixing cement to build walls and a patio in the backyard; fixing leaks and electrical issues in our broken down house. Now that I have my own little broken down house, I appreciate the amount of knowledge he had, and also the lack of knowledge but willingness to give it a try. Now I build things too, and I do my best to save money by learning how to fix things myself. Dad taught me that.
I remember nights wheezing or sick with a cold when dad would come in and I wished it was mom. Mom didn't try to make me drink the odd home remedies dad did. "Drink it gloo-gloo!" was the common phrase I would hear as he held up a cup of odd smelling tea or water laced with cider vinegar. I hated that stuff! But sometimes it would work and I would avoid a trip to the doctor or emergency room. He would turn on our little black and white TV and fiddle with the antenna so that I could watch a show on yoga. Now I incorporate alternative remedies and yoga into our lives. We still go to the doctor, but I will question vaccines and look for better ways to care for my son's asthma, rather than rely on drugs. Dad taught me to do my own research in my quest for better health.
My husband is a good dad. Sometimes he has to work late for weeks on end, but I know he likes coming home to his family and being with us. I'm sure my kids will have memories of their dad and how he influenced their lives. I can't say what those memories will be, but I'm sure some of it will revolve around computers, barbequing, and book discussions. Dads do things a bit different than moms, even the dads I know that are the primary homeschooling parent. Each parent brings their own unique view of the world to the child. I'm glad there have been men in my life who are family-centered. Dads are nice to have around.
Happy Father's Day to all the dads I know, especially my dad, my husband, my brother, and my brother-in-law. And Father's Day thoughts for my late father-in-law, who raised a fine son. Thanks for being dads.
My father definitely influenced my life. I know he worked long hours and was involved in community organizations that kept him out late, so he wasn't there as much as mom, but still he impacted me. Perhaps because he wasn't home as much, the memories of dad time stuck out more. Not that dad time was always peachy. We had our issues, especially regarding smoking and the very strained period of my adolescence. What can I say? Dad taught me to be a free thinker and demand respect, so I did.
I remember many days sitting at the table having something to eat while he sat nearby, reading the newspaper, a cup of coffee at his elbow and a cigarette in the ashtray. A ribbon of smoke stretched and curled to the ceiling as the ash collected on the tip of his forgotten fix. He would start reading out loud whenever something interested him, his strong voice resonating as he spoke, his Spanish accent giving flavor to the words. Back then, I didn't always want to listen. I didn't always understand what the article was about. But now I see how those moments created similar moments for me. I will read articles out loud to my family, just like dad did with me.
I remember dad building things and fixing things. Sometimes I was the unwilling helper. Dad could get annoyed if you didn't understand which tool he wanted you to give him. I took for granted all of the things he did: putting that cage together for our pigeons; mixing cement to build walls and a patio in the backyard; fixing leaks and electrical issues in our broken down house. Now that I have my own little broken down house, I appreciate the amount of knowledge he had, and also the lack of knowledge but willingness to give it a try. Now I build things too, and I do my best to save money by learning how to fix things myself. Dad taught me that.
I remember nights wheezing or sick with a cold when dad would come in and I wished it was mom. Mom didn't try to make me drink the odd home remedies dad did. "Drink it gloo-gloo!" was the common phrase I would hear as he held up a cup of odd smelling tea or water laced with cider vinegar. I hated that stuff! But sometimes it would work and I would avoid a trip to the doctor or emergency room. He would turn on our little black and white TV and fiddle with the antenna so that I could watch a show on yoga. Now I incorporate alternative remedies and yoga into our lives. We still go to the doctor, but I will question vaccines and look for better ways to care for my son's asthma, rather than rely on drugs. Dad taught me to do my own research in my quest for better health.
My husband is a good dad. Sometimes he has to work late for weeks on end, but I know he likes coming home to his family and being with us. I'm sure my kids will have memories of their dad and how he influenced their lives. I can't say what those memories will be, but I'm sure some of it will revolve around computers, barbequing, and book discussions. Dads do things a bit different than moms, even the dads I know that are the primary homeschooling parent. Each parent brings their own unique view of the world to the child. I'm glad there have been men in my life who are family-centered. Dads are nice to have around.
Happy Father's Day to all the dads I know, especially my dad, my husband, my brother, and my brother-in-law. And Father's Day thoughts for my late father-in-law, who raised a fine son. Thanks for being dads.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Personal Favorites: Revisiting the Fire Swamp
Slightly tinkered with from my original post of 5/28/09 and then reposted after I inadvertently edited the original instead of posting the updated edition. Everything clear to you?
Once upon a time, a long time ago and after Westley and Buttercup became parents, they thought long and hard about the benefits of homeschooling their children. In spite of the concerns of their family, friends and neighbors, they worked through their struggles to teach their own. But it wasn't always easy.
"We'll never be able to do this!" Buttercup cried. Westley held her close.
"Nonsense! You just say that because the naysayers never have!" He pulled Buttercup to her feet and they walked along the forest trail as their children explored the natural world around them. "What are the dangers of homeschooling? Well, according to our critics, our children are too sheltered and unprepared for the real world. No problem there, since they have been taught self defense by Fezzik, swordplay by Inigo, and we have shown them the secrets of the Fire Swamp. Second, we've been told we aren't qualified to teach them. No need to worry about that! Most people only need to hear about our rise from humble peasantry to princess and pirate captain to know that we are well studied and ready to help our children learn..."
"But Westley," Buttercup said, "What about the S.O.U.S's?"
"Socialization Of Unusual Situations? I don't believe they exist!"
At that moment, Westley and Buttercup were attacked by a vicious creature, half man and half animal. It wore a ragged robe with a large S over its muscled frame and held a dodgeball menacingly as it verbally abused them. The putrid stench of gym lockers and cafeteria food hung about the S.O.U.S. The creature's age shifted as it looked at each of them in turn, matching the age of the person its gaze fell upon. Westley told Buttercup and the children to stay back, but his children were not about to let their father fight this battle alone. Young Robert drew his sword and little Violet mounted her pony and jockeyed behind the beast. Robert blocked a blow from the ball, popping it. Violet whacked the creature with her History of the World, unabridged. The beast fell to the ground and raged while Buttercup tied it up. "Those children should be in school!" it shouted, "They need to be properly prepared for life! What about sports? What about prom? What about socialization? Learning outside of school is... is... INCONCEIVABLE!"
"Socialization?" said Violet, " I do not think that word means what you think it means. You should work on your vocabulary."
"What should we do with him, father?" Robert asked.
"Leave him," Westley said, "Whatever else happens, I want him to live a long life, alone with his ignorance. Come children, we don't want to be late. Miracle Max promised to give you a botany lesson."
(Written after one too many viewings of The Princess Bride. Ideas compiled by various family members. )
Once upon a time, a long time ago and after Westley and Buttercup became parents, they thought long and hard about the benefits of homeschooling their children. In spite of the concerns of their family, friends and neighbors, they worked through their struggles to teach their own. But it wasn't always easy.
"We'll never be able to do this!" Buttercup cried. Westley held her close.
"Nonsense! You just say that because the naysayers never have!" He pulled Buttercup to her feet and they walked along the forest trail as their children explored the natural world around them. "What are the dangers of homeschooling? Well, according to our critics, our children are too sheltered and unprepared for the real world. No problem there, since they have been taught self defense by Fezzik, swordplay by Inigo, and we have shown them the secrets of the Fire Swamp. Second, we've been told we aren't qualified to teach them. No need to worry about that! Most people only need to hear about our rise from humble peasantry to princess and pirate captain to know that we are well studied and ready to help our children learn..."
"But Westley," Buttercup said, "What about the S.O.U.S's?"
"Socialization Of Unusual Situations? I don't believe they exist!"
At that moment, Westley and Buttercup were attacked by a vicious creature, half man and half animal. It wore a ragged robe with a large S over its muscled frame and held a dodgeball menacingly as it verbally abused them. The putrid stench of gym lockers and cafeteria food hung about the S.O.U.S. The creature's age shifted as it looked at each of them in turn, matching the age of the person its gaze fell upon. Westley told Buttercup and the children to stay back, but his children were not about to let their father fight this battle alone. Young Robert drew his sword and little Violet mounted her pony and jockeyed behind the beast. Robert blocked a blow from the ball, popping it. Violet whacked the creature with her History of the World, unabridged. The beast fell to the ground and raged while Buttercup tied it up. "Those children should be in school!" it shouted, "They need to be properly prepared for life! What about sports? What about prom? What about socialization? Learning outside of school is... is... INCONCEIVABLE!"
"Socialization?" said Violet, " I do not think that word means what you think it means. You should work on your vocabulary."
"What should we do with him, father?" Robert asked.
"Leave him," Westley said, "Whatever else happens, I want him to live a long life, alone with his ignorance. Come children, we don't want to be late. Miracle Max promised to give you a botany lesson."
(Written after one too many viewings of The Princess Bride. Ideas compiled by various family members. )
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Home Spun comic strip #626
I was very happy to finally get a chance to make some adjustments to my reel mower this season. I think I have been combing my grass for a while. The reel would spin fast, but it couldn't clip the thinnest blade of grass. After spending three days bent over the front lawn hand trimming the grass with my hedge clippers, I decided to dig out the tools and figure out how to reposition the blades so my mower could actually mow. This means it now takes some effort to push the mower along. When my kids were younger, they weren't strong enough to push the reel mower. I consider it my summer workout. I have very strong arms.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Carnival at Cajun Joie de Vivre
The latest edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling is being hosted at Cajun Joie de Vivre! Please take a moment to stop by and read some of this week's submissions!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Carnival at HomeschoolBuzz
The latest Carnival of Homeschooling: Lemonade edition is happening at HomeschoolBuzz! Please stop by and sample some of the homeschooling articles available this week!
Offer Good While Supplies Last, Selection Varies by Learner
I'm a store circular shopper. Every week, I pull out the sales circular and I base my weekly purchases according to what is on sale.
When you shop this way, you start noticing things. For example, I can usually tell when certain items will go on sale during the year. End of the year/beginning of January you will see a lot of organizational items and diet food. Right before Spring, cleaning items are on sale. June is for sunblock, July and August bring sales on school supplies and September brings sales and coupons for many breakfast cereals. I usually stock up on my baking chocolate and flour in October and November, when baking supplies go on sale. To everything there is a season. Some things have more than one season.
The one thing you can be assured of is that no matter how wonderful an item is, it will either 1) go on sale, 2) end up on the clearance table, or 3) if it isn't a grocery item, it will eventually end up at either a thrift shop or a yard sale. Clothes and fitness equipment are the easiest to find in the third category, but I did get lucky this weekend and find a yard sale with a comfy computer chair so that I no longer need to commandeer one of our kitchen chairs.
The key to finding what you want is patience. Let me tell you, patience is not a virtue of our modern society. The "I want it all and I want it now" attitude permeates our life and it is reinforced by advertisers who create a false sense of urgency. And I'm not just talking about products. In our area, camps start signing up in January. If you want to get into the "right" camp, you had better do it in the winter, because the good ones have no room by May. Planning on college for your preschooler? Better make sure they get into the right kindergarten. Wait--kindergarten? Too late! You should have signed them up for the fast track daycare before you conceived! And speaking of college, have you made sure your child is in enough activities? You'll need that for their application. Make sure they can play at least one instrument. Suzuki method? How old is your child? Six? Too late! Formal instruction begins between the ages of three to five. The same is true for language. How do you expect your child to be completely fluent in a second and third language if they haven't been exposed to several languages as a baby?
Team sports, dance, gymnastics, scouts...the cry is the same. If you haven't started them early, they will be locked out or they will never be as good as they MIGHT have been. And if that isn't enough stress for you, they need to keep their grades up as well, because those tests are coming up, and they're important. Better hire a tutor. If their class grades and their SAT scores aren't in the top ten percent, they will never get into the "right" college, which means they will never get into the high paying job that will allow them to continue the cycle of consumerism that makes this country tick. Don't worry though. There are lots of tutoring programs available. If you have the money, they will be happy to help you. Just remember, you need to do this NOW, before it's too late!
Ouch. I think I stressed myself just writing those last two paragraphs. Time for a reality check. It is never to late to learn. Physically, you might not be able to abuse your body the way a child can, but that doesn't mean you can't take up a sport or learn a new skill. It is definitely never too late to improve your mind, learn an instrument, or take on a new hobby. I learned to do a cartwheel when I was twenty. A friend of mine learned to play the mandolin as an adult. Learning is not something that should ever be finished. It should be a lifelong process. What stops many of us is the idea that it wouldn't be worth it. We won't be able to make money from it. But making money is not the sole purpose of learning. Learning is brain exercise. It is the challenge that helps us to continue to grow throughout our lives and gives us a reason to get up in the morning. It keeps us flexible so that we can deal with any changes that come our way. And it is available whenever we are ready to take advantage, not for a limited time only.
When you shop this way, you start noticing things. For example, I can usually tell when certain items will go on sale during the year. End of the year/beginning of January you will see a lot of organizational items and diet food. Right before Spring, cleaning items are on sale. June is for sunblock, July and August bring sales on school supplies and September brings sales and coupons for many breakfast cereals. I usually stock up on my baking chocolate and flour in October and November, when baking supplies go on sale. To everything there is a season. Some things have more than one season.
The one thing you can be assured of is that no matter how wonderful an item is, it will either 1) go on sale, 2) end up on the clearance table, or 3) if it isn't a grocery item, it will eventually end up at either a thrift shop or a yard sale. Clothes and fitness equipment are the easiest to find in the third category, but I did get lucky this weekend and find a yard sale with a comfy computer chair so that I no longer need to commandeer one of our kitchen chairs.
The key to finding what you want is patience. Let me tell you, patience is not a virtue of our modern society. The "I want it all and I want it now" attitude permeates our life and it is reinforced by advertisers who create a false sense of urgency. And I'm not just talking about products. In our area, camps start signing up in January. If you want to get into the "right" camp, you had better do it in the winter, because the good ones have no room by May. Planning on college for your preschooler? Better make sure they get into the right kindergarten. Wait--kindergarten? Too late! You should have signed them up for the fast track daycare before you conceived! And speaking of college, have you made sure your child is in enough activities? You'll need that for their application. Make sure they can play at least one instrument. Suzuki method? How old is your child? Six? Too late! Formal instruction begins between the ages of three to five. The same is true for language. How do you expect your child to be completely fluent in a second and third language if they haven't been exposed to several languages as a baby?
Team sports, dance, gymnastics, scouts...the cry is the same. If you haven't started them early, they will be locked out or they will never be as good as they MIGHT have been. And if that isn't enough stress for you, they need to keep their grades up as well, because those tests are coming up, and they're important. Better hire a tutor. If their class grades and their SAT scores aren't in the top ten percent, they will never get into the "right" college, which means they will never get into the high paying job that will allow them to continue the cycle of consumerism that makes this country tick. Don't worry though. There are lots of tutoring programs available. If you have the money, they will be happy to help you. Just remember, you need to do this NOW, before it's too late!
Ouch. I think I stressed myself just writing those last two paragraphs. Time for a reality check. It is never to late to learn. Physically, you might not be able to abuse your body the way a child can, but that doesn't mean you can't take up a sport or learn a new skill. It is definitely never too late to improve your mind, learn an instrument, or take on a new hobby. I learned to do a cartwheel when I was twenty. A friend of mine learned to play the mandolin as an adult. Learning is not something that should ever be finished. It should be a lifelong process. What stops many of us is the idea that it wouldn't be worth it. We won't be able to make money from it. But making money is not the sole purpose of learning. Learning is brain exercise. It is the challenge that helps us to continue to grow throughout our lives and gives us a reason to get up in the morning. It keeps us flexible so that we can deal with any changes that come our way. And it is available whenever we are ready to take advantage, not for a limited time only.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Finding Child-Led Learning in the Mainstream
Sometimes I wish I could point out the obvious, but I know that what I see as obvious doesn't translate well into mainstream conversation.
Marina and I like to read a column in the Wall Street Journal called Yoder & Sons. It discusses various money issues between the father and sons and gives both parent and child's perspective of the issues. A few months ago, Yoder & Sons went on hiatus as Steve Yoder decided to take his younger son, Levi, on a six month shoestring tour of Africa. I love that they took this trip! It is my belief that any opportunity for travel should be snatched. What better way to learn about the world than by pounding the pavement (or dirt roads) in distant lands?
The only thing that gets to me is how they have to make concessions for the school. Levi agreed to take online courses so he wouldn't fall behind in school. In this May 11th article, they discuss how work and school lessons intrude upon their trip. Now, I can understand having to write columns during their travels. Part of the purpose of their column is to show how they set up budgets to accomplish their goals. But the interference of school curriculum makes me sigh. This whole trip is a learning experience for them! At the very least, I would say it is pointless to be working on history and geography online when you are traveling! And then I noticed a curious thing happening, see if you notice it too:
But the Yoders are in Africa! If part of their plan, as they state in their first article about the trip, is to study the sites of early Western civilization, they can't help but stumble upon geometry in its purest form. True, Levi might not learn how to write a proof from that, but he will discover why geometry is important and how it is applied in the real world. No structure could be built to last without this basic understanding.
Sometimes book learning needs to be set aside to make room for life experience. Levi and his father seem to have a thirst for this type of learning. It is unfortunate that the artificial timetables imposed by the school get in the way of this. There should be room in the curriculum for independent study. In ten years, which will be most remembered, the learning that happened at a desk, or the learning that happened while touring a continent and interacting with various people and cultures?
Follow the Yoders on their travels at http://www.marketwatch.com/yoder-and-sons
Marina and I like to read a column in the Wall Street Journal called Yoder & Sons. It discusses various money issues between the father and sons and gives both parent and child's perspective of the issues. A few months ago, Yoder & Sons went on hiatus as Steve Yoder decided to take his younger son, Levi, on a six month shoestring tour of Africa. I love that they took this trip! It is my belief that any opportunity for travel should be snatched. What better way to learn about the world than by pounding the pavement (or dirt roads) in distant lands?
The only thing that gets to me is how they have to make concessions for the school. Levi agreed to take online courses so he wouldn't fall behind in school. In this May 11th article, they discuss how work and school lessons intrude upon their trip. Now, I can understand having to write columns during their travels. Part of the purpose of their column is to show how they set up budgets to accomplish their goals. But the interference of school curriculum makes me sigh. This whole trip is a learning experience for them! At the very least, I would say it is pointless to be working on history and geography online when you are traveling! And then I noticed a curious thing happening, see if you notice it too:
I am given a choice of which lessons I want to do. So, of course, I choose the class that is fun or more interesting for me. Right now I am 95% through history and 7% through geometry. Without someone to force me to do the harder classes, I naturally will put them off.Did you see that? What Levi is experiencing is the freedom of learning. His wording is particularly interesting: "Without someone to force me to do the harder classes..." I have a feeling that, much like Marina, the harder classes are a matter of needing a different method of instruction. Online courses are great, but only to a point. They still tend to offer only one option in explaining how a concept works. This is why I would often scour the internet or the library shelves for alternative methods. Geometry was my own breaking point for school math. If my mother hadn't hired a tutor, I would have floundered and failed. It wasn't that I couldn't understand it, I just didn't understand it in the way it was taught to me.
~Levi Yoder
But the Yoders are in Africa! If part of their plan, as they state in their first article about the trip, is to study the sites of early Western civilization, they can't help but stumble upon geometry in its purest form. True, Levi might not learn how to write a proof from that, but he will discover why geometry is important and how it is applied in the real world. No structure could be built to last without this basic understanding.
Sometimes book learning needs to be set aside to make room for life experience. Levi and his father seem to have a thirst for this type of learning. It is unfortunate that the artificial timetables imposed by the school get in the way of this. There should be room in the curriculum for independent study. In ten years, which will be most remembered, the learning that happened at a desk, or the learning that happened while touring a continent and interacting with various people and cultures?
Follow the Yoders on their travels at http://www.marketwatch.com/yoder-and-sons
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
SHHH! She's Learning!
Since I decided to opt for unschooling Sierra, I have felt a little lost. There have been days when I've felt like all of the creative learning ideas I came up with while homeschooling Chase and Marina would end up packed away in a closet in my brain, unused. It's hard to teach a strong personality. Sierra is an explorer, much as I was. She learns best through self-discovery. If she asks for help, I offer it, but otherwise I've learned to step back and just let things happen. I also try to breathe slowly to reduce my anxiety about filling out those quarterlies.
What I have found is that I've inadvertently prepared for this little unschooler.
Many of my comic strips have covered some of the ideas and experiments I did while teaching Marina and Chase. I've amassed quite a collection in the four (five?) years I've been drawing them. They are a semi-autobiographical chronicle of our homeschooling years. Those who are new to my blog may not realize they can find the entire collection in my archives. But looking at them in the archives can be daunting. 600+ comics takes up a lot of space. That was part of the reason I added the Linked Within feature at the bottom. Sometimes it brings up comics I've forgotten about!
Sierra shares my computer for blogging and playing on various sites. She loves reading my comics and blog articles and makes use of the suggested reading links at the bottom of each post. I will often come to my blog and find an article or comic strip open that I haven't read in years. She's reading them. And she's learning from them. How do I know? I see it happening. Yesterday she wandered around the house with her notebook, writing down the reactions of each cat to a ball of fur. She had just brushed Merlin and wanted to see how the cats would respond to the fluff she collected. She wants to do further observations of the cats' behavior. I had written a series of comics depicting similar animal behavior projects the other two did for one of our nature classes many years ago. I never thought I would be able to share an experience like that with my youngest child. I realize now, that I have.
What I have found is that I've inadvertently prepared for this little unschooler.
Many of my comic strips have covered some of the ideas and experiments I did while teaching Marina and Chase. I've amassed quite a collection in the four (five?) years I've been drawing them. They are a semi-autobiographical chronicle of our homeschooling years. Those who are new to my blog may not realize they can find the entire collection in my archives. But looking at them in the archives can be daunting. 600+ comics takes up a lot of space. That was part of the reason I added the Linked Within feature at the bottom. Sometimes it brings up comics I've forgotten about!
Sierra shares my computer for blogging and playing on various sites. She loves reading my comics and blog articles and makes use of the suggested reading links at the bottom of each post. I will often come to my blog and find an article or comic strip open that I haven't read in years. She's reading them. And she's learning from them. How do I know? I see it happening. Yesterday she wandered around the house with her notebook, writing down the reactions of each cat to a ball of fur. She had just brushed Merlin and wanted to see how the cats would respond to the fluff she collected. She wants to do further observations of the cats' behavior. I had written a series of comics depicting similar animal behavior projects the other two did for one of our nature classes many years ago. I never thought I would be able to share an experience like that with my youngest child. I realize now, that I have.
Home Spun comic strip #620
Marina doesn't exactly have eras. I think of her more like a butterfly fluttering over a garden full of flowers, flitting here and there and back again, trying to give attention to as many as possible, but often returning to her favorites.
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