This week was a little off so one night we sat down to finish up school for the day after supper. The topic turned to death and age, and I have really been wanting to have a talk about how they are a chosen generation and what that meant. Isaac had mentioned a few times that he was scared to die and this was another moment we took to discuss why we shouldn't be scared of death. Isaac made the familiar "It's so hard to..." excuse.
Oh, how we all complain at some point or another about how hard something is. Life, tests, school, car problems, whatever. Name it and we've probably complained at some point about how hard life is.
We talked about Joseph Smith and his trials. We talked about the pioneers. We talked about the apostles and life after Jesus died. We talked about my struggles, our families hardships, the colonists (Jamestown and Mayflower) hardships and the list went on. Eventually we weren't even talking about what we were "supposed" to be talking about or on track with our school work. I don't know if it helped quell Isaac's fears, but I had their attention for about an hour. By the time they had to go bed no one really wanted to as we had enjoyed that time together, the talk, and the questions that were brought up.
As was stated on here before, I also bought the Noble Birthright Curious Beings Epic Adventure. I have learned so much in the three short weeks we've been studying it. The points that are presented, especially scriptural, have opened up some huge discussions on the topics. I don't think Curtis and I have had as many discussions about something in a really long, long time. It is drawing us closer. It is opening up many more facets for us to follow. It has been wonderful.
Showing posts with label 5 environments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5 environments. Show all posts
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Group Discussion
An important element in the teaching environment for us in our home is Group discussion. There are so many of us that it is the most efficient way of teaching in our home.
Our group discussions consist of many topics and happen at varying times. Here are some examples of group discussions we hold:
Our group discussions consist of many topics and happen at varying times. Here are some examples of group discussions we hold:
- Scripture reading and discussion
- Family book reading and discussion
- Corrective training and ensuing discussions
- Family Counsel ends up in discussions of various topics
- School subject group discussions
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
My Colloquim Perspective
I have had the privilege over the last year to participate in a women's colloquium with a small group of dynamic mothers. Women who are a strength and a vital force in my life. While we haven't been able to participate in the children's groups it has for a while due to our family's schedule, I fight very hard for my one night a month with them. Let me just be perfectly honest and say the books are not my favorite part our group. I love the potluck dinners we share together. Imagine a group of mothers bonding around a meal, sharing our excitements, sorrows, and concerns. The food is a vast array of our uniqueness that at times inspires a recipe exchange. And the funny times where we all brought dessert and then had to order Chinese. But mostly it is the encouragement and sisterhood that is gained from it. It is in part a small village and their influence at these meetings impacts my role as a woman, mother and wife. When too much time passes in between our gatherings, I miss these women. I would have to say that they are my De facto Indian tribe. Sometimes I want to just build a tepee for myself and my family so so we can go live with Rhonda, Robin, Britta, Syndi, Rachel, Marie and their families. Instead I live in a city where we have to drive at least twenty minutes to see any of those people. When I read the words about Kindred Spirits in The Anne of Green Gables books these women are that to me.
Well now I guess I should speak on the books that bring my "tribe" together. This month we are reading The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. And let me just say that I could totally use some "highly effective habits," who couldn't? This particular book, as is many of the books we chose, is on the list for the 5 Pillars Certification from George Wythe University, a TJed resource. This one in particular gave me a sense of where DeMille gets the "you, not them" philosophy. I am only 2 chapters into it, and now I wonder why I procrastinated in reading it. I will say that next month I am going to request that we read something for fun. I need a break from this genre. I may just suggest Robinson Crusoe since some of you are enjoying it so much! I haven't read that yet.
What is my family reading?
Heather
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Jane Eyre
Andrew (Core..with occasional bursts of LOL)
Buffaloes Before Breakfast (Magic Tree House Series)
Newly into reading recipes and cooking. His new self-appointed job
Children's Illustrated version of Treasure Island
Cassandra (Core- not yet reading, so I read to her)
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Jeremy and Seth (core)
Thomas Trains books
And we are always in search of the Letter F this week and we search for it in every book we read.
Family Reading time books
Little House in the Big Woods
The Blue Fairy Book
Skillet Bread, Sourdough and Vinegar Pie
The Scriptures
A Child's History Of America
Blessings,
Heather
Well now I guess I should speak on the books that bring my "tribe" together. This month we are reading The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. And let me just say that I could totally use some "highly effective habits," who couldn't? This particular book, as is many of the books we chose, is on the list for the 5 Pillars Certification from George Wythe University, a TJed resource. This one in particular gave me a sense of where DeMille gets the "you, not them" philosophy. I am only 2 chapters into it, and now I wonder why I procrastinated in reading it. I will say that next month I am going to request that we read something for fun. I need a break from this genre. I may just suggest Robinson Crusoe since some of you are enjoying it so much! I haven't read that yet.
What is my family reading?
Heather
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Jane Eyre
Andrew (Core..with occasional bursts of LOL)
Buffaloes Before Breakfast (Magic Tree House Series)
Newly into reading recipes and cooking. His new self-appointed job
Children's Illustrated version of Treasure Island
Cassandra (Core- not yet reading, so I read to her)
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Jeremy and Seth (core)
Thomas Trains books
And we are always in search of the Letter F this week and we search for it in every book we read.
Family Reading time books
Little House in the Big Woods
The Blue Fairy Book
Skillet Bread, Sourdough and Vinegar Pie
The Scriptures
A Child's History Of America
Blessings,
Heather
Colloquium
We are beginning our first colloquium this month and are reading Robinson Crusoe. Wow, is this an amazing book! I can hardly put it down. I should finish it tonight or tomorrow. I'm trying my hardest to keep my mouth quiet about it around my friends who are reading. It is hard since books become such a part of me and open my eyes to the world in a new way.
Classic books change the way I view life and inspires me to be a better person, or reminds me of things I shouldn't do or try. I would much rather see an example of how a choice changed another person's life for better or worse and apply it to my memory rather than go through the trial or struggles myself.
In a colloquium, we can share and be inspired by what others drew from the book. Whatever things stood out to others can be an addition source of inspiration and consideration when we review the book in our minds.
I recently read Anna Karenina. It was so powerful and literally changed my life. I wished I could have discussed it with someone else who had read the book. I hate the fact that as I discuss it I may spoil a part of the book when talking about how it affected me. With colloquium we can do just that! No more feeling alone in this amazing journey through a new book!
In applying this to homeschooling as well our children can learn in the same way. My older girls love to discuss their books with me. It has a better result when I have read the book too, and thankfully I have for most of them.
When I was homeschooled around the age of twelve, I had a best friend who inspired me to read Anne of Green Gables and the rest of the series. I fell in love with these books- and Anne- immediately. What made it more fun was the opportunity to discuss each book with my friend. I tried to tell my mom about them, but she hadn't read them and so we couldn't have the same deep discussion or share the same hope for Anne marrying Gilbert.
In writing this post it reminded me that the YOU not THEM is important in this as we are the mentors/ examples. It also reminded me that I need to get the ball rolling in having my girls become involved in a small colloquium too.
Classic books change the way I view life and inspires me to be a better person, or reminds me of things I shouldn't do or try. I would much rather see an example of how a choice changed another person's life for better or worse and apply it to my memory rather than go through the trial or struggles myself.
In a colloquium, we can share and be inspired by what others drew from the book. Whatever things stood out to others can be an addition source of inspiration and consideration when we review the book in our minds.
I recently read Anna Karenina. It was so powerful and literally changed my life. I wished I could have discussed it with someone else who had read the book. I hate the fact that as I discuss it I may spoil a part of the book when talking about how it affected me. With colloquium we can do just that! No more feeling alone in this amazing journey through a new book!
In applying this to homeschooling as well our children can learn in the same way. My older girls love to discuss their books with me. It has a better result when I have read the book too, and thankfully I have for most of them.
When I was homeschooled around the age of twelve, I had a best friend who inspired me to read Anne of Green Gables and the rest of the series. I fell in love with these books- and Anne- immediately. What made it more fun was the opportunity to discuss each book with my friend. I tried to tell my mom about them, but she hadn't read them and so we couldn't have the same deep discussion or share the same hope for Anne marrying Gilbert.
In writing this post it reminded me that the YOU not THEM is important in this as we are the mentors/ examples. It also reminded me that I need to get the ball rolling in having my girls become involved in a small colloquium too.
Environment #2 - Colloquium
I'm going to post on colloquium from a "You not them" standpoint.
My scholar's personality is such that she really doesn't like colloquium - she endures it. Although she has asked me to read the same scriptures with her in order to have colloquium with her over the readings because her seminary home study manual states she has to write what she's getting out of it. She says other than writing down the scriptures, she has no idea what to say. This from a girl who has already gone through two years of LEMI Commonwealth with teachers excited about her papers. So she sees a NEED for it, even if it's not her favorite thing.
I LOVE colloquium - I miss it when I don't get to go. I hope Tracy gets on here and talks about hosting one - I go to hers. Colloquium, in an environment that allows you to speak freely (Tracy does this well) is an excellent source. You get varying opinions to open your mind - to see how other people think, as well has having new perspectives that you would never get just reading it by yourself.
Just because a book resounds with you doesn't mean it will with another. For instance, we recently read Man of the Family. I didn't get to go to that colloquium, but I talked to Tracy and another member about it recently. They all thought it was a fabulous book - I hated it. It is not a classic for me and will never be on my shelf! If I had been at the group, I still would have voiced my thoughts because Tracy allows everyone to have their own experience. I can see where if it is not a safe environment voices would be stifled, and learning would not progress.
I think that's important to remember as we offer colloquium for our children.
I've also recently made an interesting observation. Cultural differences! I'm LDS, living in an LDS environment, but because my family are recent converts and we come from Texas, the way Russ and I express ourselves is completely different than the way most of the people in our group do. Russ told them recently that he hated the book 1984 so much he went outside and chopped it into pieces. Shocked me a little, since it was my book! The difference was I thought it was funny - Texans are passionate people! The people in our group thought he was nuts. It bothered me a little until I thought about the cultural difference. They have been brought up in a much more reserved atmosphere, where we were brought up to embrace passions and act upon them. I don't think either are wrong - they're just different. That is something to consider when you're in a group - not everyone has been brought up the same.
I look forward to reading what everyone else has to say. :)
What we're reading this week:
Dad - I have no idea.
Me - Mansfield Park - I've never read a Jane Austen book!
My scholar - this has been interesting. Last week she was reading a Clive Cussler book and she started telling me how she was disenchanted with his writing style. I told her maybe she needs to take a break, and her dad told her how she needed to realize that writers are people who use the power of the pen to get across their own ideas to the people. They talked about how Clive Cussler had written a book where he wrote the whole story in metric because he felt the US should go to metric since the rest of the world had. They had a colloquia right then and there over the books she had read - it was interesting to watch! She is waiting for my Amazon order to come in today to start on one of the books from LEMI that starts this Friday.
My practice scholar - she's pouring over drawing books. She has started her own blog to showcase her work as she practices.
My love of learning girl - We're slowly getting through that Charles Dickens book, and the name of the book she reads for her liberty girls is Pheobe the Spy by Jean Fritz.
My Core boys - I decided to do nursery rhymes with them. I did this with my love of learner a yr or two ago and we had such fun - I thought the boys might like to do spider cakes and fluffy marshmallow lambs, so we're doing that. I like the checkerboard book - a lady at colloquium does not. Another example of YOURS, not MINE. :)
As a family: We're still getting through You Want Women To Vote, Lizzie Stanton?
My scholar's personality is such that she really doesn't like colloquium - she endures it. Although she has asked me to read the same scriptures with her in order to have colloquium with her over the readings because her seminary home study manual states she has to write what she's getting out of it. She says other than writing down the scriptures, she has no idea what to say. This from a girl who has already gone through two years of LEMI Commonwealth with teachers excited about her papers. So she sees a NEED for it, even if it's not her favorite thing.
I LOVE colloquium - I miss it when I don't get to go. I hope Tracy gets on here and talks about hosting one - I go to hers. Colloquium, in an environment that allows you to speak freely (Tracy does this well) is an excellent source. You get varying opinions to open your mind - to see how other people think, as well has having new perspectives that you would never get just reading it by yourself.
Just because a book resounds with you doesn't mean it will with another. For instance, we recently read Man of the Family. I didn't get to go to that colloquium, but I talked to Tracy and another member about it recently. They all thought it was a fabulous book - I hated it. It is not a classic for me and will never be on my shelf! If I had been at the group, I still would have voiced my thoughts because Tracy allows everyone to have their own experience. I can see where if it is not a safe environment voices would be stifled, and learning would not progress.
I think that's important to remember as we offer colloquium for our children.
I've also recently made an interesting observation. Cultural differences! I'm LDS, living in an LDS environment, but because my family are recent converts and we come from Texas, the way Russ and I express ourselves is completely different than the way most of the people in our group do. Russ told them recently that he hated the book 1984 so much he went outside and chopped it into pieces. Shocked me a little, since it was my book! The difference was I thought it was funny - Texans are passionate people! The people in our group thought he was nuts. It bothered me a little until I thought about the cultural difference. They have been brought up in a much more reserved atmosphere, where we were brought up to embrace passions and act upon them. I don't think either are wrong - they're just different. That is something to consider when you're in a group - not everyone has been brought up the same.
I look forward to reading what everyone else has to say. :)
What we're reading this week:
Dad - I have no idea.
Me - Mansfield Park - I've never read a Jane Austen book!
My scholar - this has been interesting. Last week she was reading a Clive Cussler book and she started telling me how she was disenchanted with his writing style. I told her maybe she needs to take a break, and her dad told her how she needed to realize that writers are people who use the power of the pen to get across their own ideas to the people. They talked about how Clive Cussler had written a book where he wrote the whole story in metric because he felt the US should go to metric since the rest of the world had. They had a colloquia right then and there over the books she had read - it was interesting to watch! She is waiting for my Amazon order to come in today to start on one of the books from LEMI that starts this Friday.
My practice scholar - she's pouring over drawing books. She has started her own blog to showcase her work as she practices.
My love of learning girl - We're slowly getting through that Charles Dickens book, and the name of the book she reads for her liberty girls is Pheobe the Spy by Jean Fritz.
My Core boys - I decided to do nursery rhymes with them. I did this with my love of learner a yr or two ago and we had such fun - I thought the boys might like to do spider cakes and fluffy marshmallow lambs, so we're doing that. I like the checkerboard book - a lady at colloquium does not. Another example of YOURS, not MINE. :)
As a family: We're still getting through You Want Women To Vote, Lizzie Stanton?
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Environment #1: Lecture
Well, here goes. I go off on tangents and then when I take a breath, notice my childrens' glazed over eyes, or that they aren't even in the room anymore, I rethink my plan of lecturing.
Before I had kids, I taught at a public school and had the fortune of attending a conference in which I got to choose a class on story telling. How to do it "interestingly". The first rule is to NOT HAVE THE BOOK IN FRONT OF YOU. What? You mean I can't READ the book to the children? I have to TELL them the story? Have any of you read those books about the African spider, Anansi? They are kinda like the Aesop Fables, only with African touches to them. In one of the books, the story is about a rock. The instructor told us to go find a rock and then proceeded to show us how to just lay the rock on the floor and tell the kids the story, all centered on that rock. I tried it the next week with the class. I'm so painfully shy sometimes, but I sucked it up and tried it out. It was awesome! The kids were attentive and quiet. I was out of my seat and talking with my hands, but that rock was the main focus of the story and it was really a wonderful lesson to me and how to teach children. Who doesn't love an object lesson?
I know this isn't supposed to be about story telling, but rather about lecturing. I have one kid with ADHD who is super smart but just can't sit still long enough to get the whole lesson in. I have another one that would rather read all day. I have two others that if it doesn't involve trains or something that fits into a specific agenda (say, tea party, wearing the color pink, or asking why she wasn't the first born child), I'm not getting anywhere. I've discovered that if I can come up with object lessons or something that involves movement, I get some great results.
This year I started out with a curriculum based on the classics. I got copies of the McGuffey readers, spelling lists, and grammar lessons from the 1800's. They are so cool, but I gotta tell you, boy some of that stuff is dry and puts me to sleep while I'm trying to teach it to the kids. Snooze fest! (Sorry, should I not say that too loudly?) We all better start wearing football helmets our heads bob around so much. I decided to do more oral stuff with the kids and shorten the lessons. This is helping; they see us making progress and feel like they got somewhere and at the end of the week we do a bit of review and move on if they got the concepts. I know they need more writing experience, so I'm not abandoning the lessons completely, but I found I get more back when we all get to participate instead of just me droning on.
I think I'm going to try that storytelling out a bit more than I have.
Salisbury Family Reading
Mom: I picked up Robinson Crusoe today. The original wasn't in, so I got the illustrated version. I also really wanted to check out a book on the Lost Colony of Roanoke, after researching some stuff online. Never found anything at the library about it. Bummer.
Isaac (Love of Learning): I think reading is still a bit hard for him. His eyes don't work together so it makes tracking difficult, but I find him reading more and more the less I prod. He's into the Weird School books. I hear they are really funny. Ugh..and Captain Underpants. Dribble. (but who doesn't enjoy some of that now and then?)
Jesse (Love of Learning): He's reading BeastQuest. He is Curtis' #1 fan for computer games, so he loves this fantasy sci-fi stuff. But, he's also read Moby Dick, Black Beauty and a few other classics.
Hannah (Core): Fancy Nancy. She's doing pretty good on reading the site words. Curious George and Dora books are not far behind.
Simeon (Core): anything with trains: Thomas the Tank Engine specifically. He clears out the whole shelf. He's not really interested in any other books...wait, take that back. Recipe books. I have to fight with him for them. He sleeps with them, eats with them, they go to the bathroom, church, stores, appointments and for rides with him.
As a family:
Aesop Fables
Flower Fables (Louisa May Alcott)
Before I had kids, I taught at a public school and had the fortune of attending a conference in which I got to choose a class on story telling. How to do it "interestingly". The first rule is to NOT HAVE THE BOOK IN FRONT OF YOU. What? You mean I can't READ the book to the children? I have to TELL them the story? Have any of you read those books about the African spider, Anansi? They are kinda like the Aesop Fables, only with African touches to them. In one of the books, the story is about a rock. The instructor told us to go find a rock and then proceeded to show us how to just lay the rock on the floor and tell the kids the story, all centered on that rock. I tried it the next week with the class. I'm so painfully shy sometimes, but I sucked it up and tried it out. It was awesome! The kids were attentive and quiet. I was out of my seat and talking with my hands, but that rock was the main focus of the story and it was really a wonderful lesson to me and how to teach children. Who doesn't love an object lesson?
I know this isn't supposed to be about story telling, but rather about lecturing. I have one kid with ADHD who is super smart but just can't sit still long enough to get the whole lesson in. I have another one that would rather read all day. I have two others that if it doesn't involve trains or something that fits into a specific agenda (say, tea party, wearing the color pink, or asking why she wasn't the first born child), I'm not getting anywhere. I've discovered that if I can come up with object lessons or something that involves movement, I get some great results.
This year I started out with a curriculum based on the classics. I got copies of the McGuffey readers, spelling lists, and grammar lessons from the 1800's. They are so cool, but I gotta tell you, boy some of that stuff is dry and puts me to sleep while I'm trying to teach it to the kids. Snooze fest! (Sorry, should I not say that too loudly?) We all better start wearing football helmets our heads bob around so much. I decided to do more oral stuff with the kids and shorten the lessons. This is helping; they see us making progress and feel like they got somewhere and at the end of the week we do a bit of review and move on if they got the concepts. I know they need more writing experience, so I'm not abandoning the lessons completely, but I found I get more back when we all get to participate instead of just me droning on.
I think I'm going to try that storytelling out a bit more than I have.
Salisbury Family Reading
Mom: I picked up Robinson Crusoe today. The original wasn't in, so I got the illustrated version. I also really wanted to check out a book on the Lost Colony of Roanoke, after researching some stuff online. Never found anything at the library about it. Bummer.
Isaac (Love of Learning): I think reading is still a bit hard for him. His eyes don't work together so it makes tracking difficult, but I find him reading more and more the less I prod. He's into the Weird School books. I hear they are really funny. Ugh..and Captain Underpants. Dribble. (but who doesn't enjoy some of that now and then?)
Jesse (Love of Learning): He's reading BeastQuest. He is Curtis' #1 fan for computer games, so he loves this fantasy sci-fi stuff. But, he's also read Moby Dick, Black Beauty and a few other classics.
Hannah (Core): Fancy Nancy. She's doing pretty good on reading the site words. Curious George and Dora books are not far behind.
Simeon (Core): anything with trains: Thomas the Tank Engine specifically. He clears out the whole shelf. He's not really interested in any other books...wait, take that back. Recipe books. I have to fight with him for them. He sleeps with them, eats with them, they go to the bathroom, church, stores, appointments and for rides with him.
As a family:
Aesop Fables
Flower Fables (Louisa May Alcott)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Lecture Environment
Lecture: n.
1. An exposition of a given subject delivered before an audience or a class, as for the purpose of instruction.
2. An earnest admonition or reproof; a reprimand.
I feel that every healthy learning environment automatically has an element of lecturing going on. An example in our home happened recently after scripture study. We are reading in 3rd Nephi about the parable of the lost sheep. What a perfect time it was to turn the parable into a positive and influential lecture time. It was a topic that was weighing heavily on my mind because of how much I love my friends who are having difficult times right now. I used the analogy that President Ezra Taft Benson spoke of so often in his home, "No empty seats in Heaven." I asked them to look at each other and asked how they would feel if one of us did not make it to the Celestial Kingdom, but the rest of us did. Wouldn't we miss that person terribly? Every child was sober and listening intently. They nodded their heads sadly. I then spoke of our helping those we know outside of our family. Benjamin went so far as to name several of his friends that he would miss terribly. I then turned the lecture into an open forum/discussion and asked what we can do to help those we love and befriend to stay on the straight and narrow path. After the influential and sober lecture, it naturally turned into a lively and positive discussion.
Lectures are a necessary part of learning. When we go to college we listen to lectures. We internalize and take it the aspects that can change us or that affect us. When we go to church, we have lessons many times in the lecture format. Lectures can be powerful learning tools.
I have many positive memories of lectures from my parents that are still with me today. To lecture someone or a group of people takes time, energy, and effort. It is a labor of love because more often that not we are doing it for their good and because we love them.
Lecturing in the homeschooling environment can come in various subjects and for various reasons. The reason could be anywhere from the importance of making our beds to why math is important and how everyone will use it in some form another in life.
Recently, several of my children became "pyromaniacs" and were caught a couple of times lighting small things on fire (i.e. sticks, leaves, paper, and later my pillow and part of my bed!) With the help of my friend Dawn on here, I turned their inappropriate behavior into a learning lecture complete with pictures of burn victims to fire safety. It became a varied learning lecture and I feel that not only did they learn a lot from it, but they became more aware of life, natural consequences, and very grateful to God for not getting burned or killed. Between this intense lecture and the fear of them almost burning the house down we've not had another incident since.
I am very much an advocate of a lecture in the learning environment. I agree with Aine that it should not be done too often as the effectiveness with wear off and eyes will glaze over and ears will shut off. Kids need variation in learning. Lecturing is a great one to teach important lessons. Hats off to the old fashioned "lecture"!
1. An exposition of a given subject delivered before an audience or a class, as for the purpose of instruction.
2. An earnest admonition or reproof; a reprimand.
I feel that every healthy learning environment automatically has an element of lecturing going on. An example in our home happened recently after scripture study. We are reading in 3rd Nephi about the parable of the lost sheep. What a perfect time it was to turn the parable into a positive and influential lecture time. It was a topic that was weighing heavily on my mind because of how much I love my friends who are having difficult times right now. I used the analogy that President Ezra Taft Benson spoke of so often in his home, "No empty seats in Heaven." I asked them to look at each other and asked how they would feel if one of us did not make it to the Celestial Kingdom, but the rest of us did. Wouldn't we miss that person terribly? Every child was sober and listening intently. They nodded their heads sadly. I then spoke of our helping those we know outside of our family. Benjamin went so far as to name several of his friends that he would miss terribly. I then turned the lecture into an open forum/discussion and asked what we can do to help those we love and befriend to stay on the straight and narrow path. After the influential and sober lecture, it naturally turned into a lively and positive discussion.
Lectures are a necessary part of learning. When we go to college we listen to lectures. We internalize and take it the aspects that can change us or that affect us. When we go to church, we have lessons many times in the lecture format. Lectures can be powerful learning tools.
I have many positive memories of lectures from my parents that are still with me today. To lecture someone or a group of people takes time, energy, and effort. It is a labor of love because more often that not we are doing it for their good and because we love them.
Lecturing in the homeschooling environment can come in various subjects and for various reasons. The reason could be anywhere from the importance of making our beds to why math is important and how everyone will use it in some form another in life.
Recently, several of my children became "pyromaniacs" and were caught a couple of times lighting small things on fire (i.e. sticks, leaves, paper, and later my pillow and part of my bed!) With the help of my friend Dawn on here, I turned their inappropriate behavior into a learning lecture complete with pictures of burn victims to fire safety. It became a varied learning lecture and I feel that not only did they learn a lot from it, but they became more aware of life, natural consequences, and very grateful to God for not getting burned or killed. Between this intense lecture and the fear of them almost burning the house down we've not had another incident since.
I am very much an advocate of a lecture in the learning environment. I agree with Aine that it should not be done too often as the effectiveness with wear off and eyes will glaze over and ears will shut off. Kids need variation in learning. Lecturing is a great one to teach important lessons. Hats off to the old fashioned "lecture"!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Environment #1 - Lecture
Providing the lecture environment to my kids is something I like to do creatively. I don't do any "formal" lectures in my day to day schooling. Occasionally while we're reading someone will ask a question and I'll provide the answer and it turns out to be a lecture (usually with eyes at the end a little glazed over - something I have to keep in check, lol), but that's about it.
Instead, I like to invite guests over to provide this environment. For instance, this year our theme is Timeline: A Meeting With Prophetic Minds, in which we're studying what living during the time of the LDS prophets would have been like. I've scheduled different people from around my community to come and "teach" my children about certain topics or time periods. Of course, this will be done in a lecture environment, since it is, for the most part, all they know.
Another way I like to provide my children with this environment is Mom Schools and Commonwealth. Last year I gave a poetry lecture to love of learners in our local mom school. I learned three things happened from that experience - 1) I have something to contribute to others besides my own children, 2) some of the children came away with a love and excitement of writing, and 3) the power of Mom Schools. I'm still amazed at the results of that lecture - I had been squemish lecturing about poetry, afraid that it might be boring, but the feedback from the other mom's really helped.
The LEMI Commonwealth I send my scholar phase daughter to provides all 5 of the learning environments. To supplement, I also send her around the community to different lectures she might find of interest. We've sent her to two lectures provided by the community on the constitution, a gun saftey class, and lectures on our faith to name a few. I think sometimes Moms think we have to do it all - providing the experience from other people, in my opinion, is just as effective. Sometimes, even more.
Shiloah also wants to know what we're reading in our homes this week. Sooo, here goes (deep breath):
Dad - Alice Cooper's Golf Monster (Don't laugh - Alice Cooper has proven to be an AMAZING person of faith that we have gleened lots of wonderful tidbits of wisdom from - maybe not on the classics list, but Russ always comes up with something new and interesting!)
Mom - Night Probe by Clive Cussler - Alright - not a classic in my eyes either, but I have a reason for reading this. I'm working on improving my fiction writing skills, and asked my scholar phase daughter to critique me. She said my story was great, but I needed to improve my skills in the action department. She suggested I read Clive Cussler (she and my husband are fans - this is the first book of his I've ever read). So Redbeard picked this one out for me. So far, it's definitely action packed! The side note is when my daughter came around the corner and saw me reading it she did a double take. I asked her, "What?" she answered, "You're really reading it? I can't believe it!" I told her, "I told you I wanted your honest opinion and you gave it to me - so yeah, I'm reading it because your review was very helpful." Since then, her respect of ME has been amazing. Isn't that interesting? She's 14.
Scholar Phase Daughter - I admit, I'm not sure WHAT she's reading, but it's probably by Clive Cussler. I do know she's reading - she does lots of it. I have placed all sorts of "classics" in front of her, and nothing. I take heart in the stories from other moms who have reported their children being obessed with Star Trek and figure there is something about Clive Cussler that will meet her needs later on. It DOES give her a bond with her dad, which I am VERY okay with. Commonwealth starts this week, so she'll be picking up some other things soon.
Practice Scholar - She's not much for reading. Right now she's reading Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink for the mom school she's in. I don't think she's reading anything for "fun".
Love of Learner - She and I are going through a picture book of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. It has all the original text by Charles Dickens, but seriously condensed for children. She loves them, but we only get through about 2-3 pages a night before she's tired, so it takes awhile to get through.
As a family in our homeschool - You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton? by Jean Fritz
BTW - I know it sounds a little weird that I *don't know* what my daughter is reading. I don't patrol them - I have confidence in their abilities to pick up a good book and put down a lousy one. My daughter (the 14 yr old) came to me just two weeks ago and said, "You know, I saw the Princess Diaries in the library and since the movies were cute I picked it up. Mom, the swearing was HORRIBLE and I couldn't stand it." I don't worry about anything I don't approve of coming into my home. I just don't. They've had a great CORE - so I just take mental notes when I see them curled up on a chair.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the other Moms have to say on this topic. I looked at the email this morning and thought, "What in the world am I going to say on that?" LOL - I guess alot!
Instead, I like to invite guests over to provide this environment. For instance, this year our theme is Timeline: A Meeting With Prophetic Minds, in which we're studying what living during the time of the LDS prophets would have been like. I've scheduled different people from around my community to come and "teach" my children about certain topics or time periods. Of course, this will be done in a lecture environment, since it is, for the most part, all they know.
Another way I like to provide my children with this environment is Mom Schools and Commonwealth. Last year I gave a poetry lecture to love of learners in our local mom school. I learned three things happened from that experience - 1) I have something to contribute to others besides my own children, 2) some of the children came away with a love and excitement of writing, and 3) the power of Mom Schools. I'm still amazed at the results of that lecture - I had been squemish lecturing about poetry, afraid that it might be boring, but the feedback from the other mom's really helped.
The LEMI Commonwealth I send my scholar phase daughter to provides all 5 of the learning environments. To supplement, I also send her around the community to different lectures she might find of interest. We've sent her to two lectures provided by the community on the constitution, a gun saftey class, and lectures on our faith to name a few. I think sometimes Moms think we have to do it all - providing the experience from other people, in my opinion, is just as effective. Sometimes, even more.
Shiloah also wants to know what we're reading in our homes this week. Sooo, here goes (deep breath):
Dad - Alice Cooper's Golf Monster (Don't laugh - Alice Cooper has proven to be an AMAZING person of faith that we have gleened lots of wonderful tidbits of wisdom from - maybe not on the classics list, but Russ always comes up with something new and interesting!)
Mom - Night Probe by Clive Cussler - Alright - not a classic in my eyes either, but I have a reason for reading this. I'm working on improving my fiction writing skills, and asked my scholar phase daughter to critique me. She said my story was great, but I needed to improve my skills in the action department. She suggested I read Clive Cussler (she and my husband are fans - this is the first book of his I've ever read). So Redbeard picked this one out for me. So far, it's definitely action packed! The side note is when my daughter came around the corner and saw me reading it she did a double take. I asked her, "What?" she answered, "You're really reading it? I can't believe it!" I told her, "I told you I wanted your honest opinion and you gave it to me - so yeah, I'm reading it because your review was very helpful." Since then, her respect of ME has been amazing. Isn't that interesting? She's 14.
Scholar Phase Daughter - I admit, I'm not sure WHAT she's reading, but it's probably by Clive Cussler. I do know she's reading - she does lots of it. I have placed all sorts of "classics" in front of her, and nothing. I take heart in the stories from other moms who have reported their children being obessed with Star Trek and figure there is something about Clive Cussler that will meet her needs later on. It DOES give her a bond with her dad, which I am VERY okay with. Commonwealth starts this week, so she'll be picking up some other things soon.
Practice Scholar - She's not much for reading. Right now she's reading Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink for the mom school she's in. I don't think she's reading anything for "fun".
Love of Learner - She and I are going through a picture book of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. It has all the original text by Charles Dickens, but seriously condensed for children. She loves them, but we only get through about 2-3 pages a night before she's tired, so it takes awhile to get through.
As a family in our homeschool - You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton? by Jean Fritz
BTW - I know it sounds a little weird that I *don't know* what my daughter is reading. I don't patrol them - I have confidence in their abilities to pick up a good book and put down a lousy one. My daughter (the 14 yr old) came to me just two weeks ago and said, "You know, I saw the Princess Diaries in the library and since the movies were cute I picked it up. Mom, the swearing was HORRIBLE and I couldn't stand it." I don't worry about anything I don't approve of coming into my home. I just don't. They've had a great CORE - so I just take mental notes when I see them curled up on a chair.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the other Moms have to say on this topic. I looked at the email this morning and thought, "What in the world am I going to say on that?" LOL - I guess alot!
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