saturnfire16

I'm trying to put together a list of ideas for things to have to help
create a rich learning environment. I'd like to post a big list on
my blog. Here's what I have so far- can you help me expand it?
Thanks!


Art supplies- pens, pencils, crayons, markers, paper, tape, scissors,
chalk, clay
Reference books- dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesaurus
Adult books- fiction and non-fiction- where kids can easily access
them
A kitchen stocked with easy to make foods and cookbooks and
ingredients accessible for not so easy to make foods.
Atlas, local maps, globe
Games
Newspapers and magazines
Basic tools for carpentry, plumbing and mechanics
Where possible- pets and gardens

Please expand on things I already have, too. What are you family's
favorite cookbooks, things to grow in the garden, games, etc?

Robyn L. Coburn

Fabrics, sewing materials
Yarns, knitting needles, looms, crochet hooks in different sizes
Computer with internet, PC games
Satellite or cable tv
DVD player and DVD library, Netflix or similar membership
Dolls, figures, role playing tools
Puzzles of all kinds
Magnets of all kinds
Magnifying glasses and loupes
Digital camera, video cameras
Marbles
Balls of different sizes and types

Robyn L. Coburn
www.Iggyjingles.etsy.com
www.iggyjingles.blogspot.com

> I'm trying to put together a list of ideas for things to have to help
> create a rich learning environment. I'd like to post a big list on
> my blog. Here's what I have so far- can you help me expand it?
> Thanks!
>
>
> Art supplies- pens, pencils, crayons, markers, paper, tape, scissors,
> chalk, clay
> Reference books- dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesaurus
> Adult books- fiction and non-fiction- where kids can easily access
> them
> A kitchen stocked with easy to make foods and cookbooks and
> ingredients accessible for not so easy to make foods.
> Atlas, local maps, globe
> Games
> Newspapers and magazines
> Basic tools for carpentry, plumbing and mechanics
> Where possible- pets and gardens

Joyce Fetteroll

On Dec 25, 2008, at 2:30 AM, saturnfire16 wrote:

> Art supplies- pens, pencils, crayons, markers, paper, tape, scissors,
> chalk, clay
> Reference books- dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesaurus
> Adult books- fiction and non-fiction- where kids can easily access
> them
> A kitchen stocked with easy to make foods and cookbooks and
> ingredients accessible for not so easy to make foods.
> Atlas, local maps, globe
> Games
> Newspapers and magazines
> Basic tools for carpentry, plumbing and mechanics
> Where possible- pets and gardens


Box of interesting diverted trash - I have a box under the kitchen
sink that I toss bits of interesting plastic, caps, old phones,
corks. Occasionally I empty it into a bigger box. It was a great
resource for making things.

Internet - pretty much a replacement for reference books which are
quickly outdated.

If I were to start over again, I'd have way fewer books. I'd buy the
books Kat loved (from reading at the library and bookstores and so
on) and way way fewer books that I thought would "enrich her
environment".

While I see what you're trying to do, the list makes people focus too
much on the environment as though if you just supply enough, you'll
create an educated child. At least that was my focus when I first
heard about unschooling and it made it harder for me to really get
unschooling.

Yes, unschooling is helped by a rich environment and lots of open
doors, but it's helped most when the primary focus is on the child
and the parents' attitude. Playing a video game or watching a
favorite cartoon on the couch (with a bowl to lick from the brownies
baking) with a child beats a packed bookshelf. Approaching life with
a "Let's see how we can make that happen," attitude beats a stocked
workshop. (A dad or mom who loves building things -- or can
facilitate a child who shows a passion for it -- and says "Sure!"
when kids ask to help or do something is the *first* and best item in
a workshop. It can turn rocks into hammers when resources are short.)

Didn't Pam have a list of qualities that facilitate unschooling?

Joyce

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Lyla Wolfenstein

computer and high speed internet
balls, for throwing, bouncing on (like a yoga ball)
independent or readily accesible (willing parent) acces to the outside
bike, skateboard, or other mode of movement/transit
we get a lot of use out of audio books, ipods/cd player, music
more art supplies: modeling clay, sculpey/fimo, scrap objects, glue, popsicle sticks, wikki sticks, pipe cleaners, etc.
craft supplies - sewing, knitting, whatever anyone might be into
a willing adult




----- Original Message -----
From: saturnfire16
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 11:30 PM
Subject: [SPAM][AlwaysLearning] Rich Learning Environment


I'm trying to put together a list of ideas for things to have to help
create a rich learning environment. I'd like to post a big list on
my blog. Here's what I have so far- can you help me expand it?
Thanks!

Art supplies- pens, pencils, crayons, markers, paper, tape, scissors,
chalk, clay
Reference books- dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesaurus
Adult books- fiction and non-fiction- where kids can easily access
them
A kitchen stocked with easy to make foods and cookbooks and
ingredients accessible for not so easy to make foods.
Atlas, local maps, globe
Games
Newspapers and magazines
Basic tools for carpentry, plumbing and mechanics
Where possible- pets and gardens

Please expand on things I already have, too. What are you family's
favorite cookbooks, things to grow in the garden, games, etc?





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Lyla Wolfenstein

Yes, unschooling is helped by a rich environment and lots of open
doors, but it's helped most when the primary focus is on the child
and the parents' attitude. Playing a video game or watching a
favorite cartoon on the couch (with a bowl to lick from the brownies
baking) with a child beats a packed bookshelf. Approaching life with
a "Let's see how we can make that happen," attitude beats a stocked
workshop>>>>

i so agree with this - which is why i added "a willing adult" to my list addition.. in fact, in my experience, GOING to the store or other source of supplies, spontaneously, upon expression of interest, is one of the best parts of each new interest/exploration. if i have to much around, it's not as intriguing - it's a real balance.

lyla

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Ariana Zora Ziminsky

Great idea!

Musical instruments - random assortments: small shakers, big piano, guitar,
anything in between

CDs (or online streaming music is wonderful, too) - we love having
international music in different languages; alllll types (metal to
classical) - kids get to pick whatever type they feel like listening to.

Small trampolene, indoor swing (if possible), small indoor slide (for winter
is great! also makes great car ramp)

Those are some things that first come to mind for me!

- Ariana


----- Original Message -----
From: "saturnfire16" <saturnfire16@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2008 2:30 AM
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] Rich Learning Environment


> I'm trying to put together a list of ideas for things to have to help
> create a rich learning environment. I'd like to post a big list on
> my blog. Here's what I have so far- can you help me expand it?
> Thanks!
>
>
> Art supplies- pens, pencils, crayons, markers, paper, tape, scissors,
> chalk, clay
> Reference books- dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesaurus
> Adult books- fiction and non-fiction- where kids can easily access
> them
> A kitchen stocked with easy to make foods and cookbooks and
> ingredients accessible for not so easy to make foods.
> Atlas, local maps, globe
> Games
> Newspapers and magazines
> Basic tools for carpentry, plumbing and mechanics
> Where possible- pets and gardens
>
> Please expand on things I already have, too. What are you family's
> favorite cookbooks, things to grow in the garden, games, etc?
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

saturnfire16

--- In [email protected], Joyce Fetteroll <jfetteroll@...>
wrote:
>
> While I see what you're trying to do, the list makes people focus
too
> much on the environment as though if you just supply enough, you'll
> create an educated child. At least that was my focus when I first
> heard about unschooling and it made it harder for me to really get
> unschooling.
>


I understand what you're saying. This isn't so much for me as it is
for this blog. It's a homeschooling blog, not an unschooling blog, as
I do in in conjunction with another homeschooling mom.
http://midvalleyhsresource.blogspot.com/

I started thinking about it because dd (3) was asking about something
and I wished I had a globe to show her. We have very little in the
house that's just "on hand useful stuff." We usually go out an buy
things that we need for specific projects, but even that is hard
because of a very limited income. So, I was thinking about things I'd
like to slowly accumulate so that we can use them more spontaniously.

But mostly, I wanted to post it for blog readers, most of whom are
structured homeschoolers.

saturnfire16

Thanks Robyn, Joyce, and Lyla! I posted on the blog, and credited
you all for the additions. http://midvalleyhsresource.blogspot.com/



--- In [email protected], "saturnfire16"
<saturnfire16@...> wrote:
>
> I'm trying to put together a list of ideas for things to have to
help
> create a rich learning environment. I'd like to post a big list on
> my blog. Here's what I have so far- can you help me expand it?
> Thanks!
>
>
> Art supplies- pens, pencils, crayons, markers, paper, tape,
scissors,
> chalk, clay
> Reference books- dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesaurus
> Adult books- fiction and non-fiction- where kids can easily access
> them
> A kitchen stocked with easy to make foods and cookbooks and
> ingredients accessible for not so easy to make foods.
> Atlas, local maps, globe
> Games
> Newspapers and magazines
> Basic tools for carpentry, plumbing and mechanics
> Where possible- pets and gardens
>
> Please expand on things I already have, too. What are you family's
> favorite cookbooks, things to grow in the garden, games, etc?
>

BRIAN POLIKOWSKY

I started thinking about it because dd (3) was asking about something
and I wished I had a globe to show her
-=-=-=-=-=-
I do have a globe and I love globes ( and all maps) but you can always downolad Google Earth for free and what a fantastic globe!
 
Alex Polikowsky
http://polykow.blogspot.com/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingmn/
 




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]