Question about strewing
Julie Bogart
Can anyone give some recent concrete examples of strewing? Does strewing include
reading aloud, suggesting stuff, arranging outings, planning events? Or is it more subtle?
Julie B
reading aloud, suggesting stuff, arranging outings, planning events? Or is it more subtle?
Julie B
Mary
From: "Julie Bogart" <julie@...>
All those things are great but one can still do even more. I find that
sometimes when I suggest things that I know my kids are interested in, they
still say no to them. It seems that my timing is off from theres. And what
normally would interest them just doesn't at the time.
So instead of asking, I just place things out and around of interest.
Anything from books, movies and games to baking stuff like cookie cutters
and rolling pin. Sometimes just the look suggests so much more to the child
than the words. Some parents cycle toys too. Boxing some up and putting out
ones that have been boxed.
Leaving out artsy stuff within eyesight is good too. Not just crayons and
paper but yarn, glue, paints, playdoh, buttons, material, etc.
I find that talking about my interests to the children is like strewing too.
It can get them started on similar things or a whole new path.
Mary B
> Can anyone give some recent concrete examples of strewing? Does strewinginclude
> reading aloud, suggesting stuff, arranging outings, planning events? Or isit more subtle?
All those things are great but one can still do even more. I find that
sometimes when I suggest things that I know my kids are interested in, they
still say no to them. It seems that my timing is off from theres. And what
normally would interest them just doesn't at the time.
So instead of asking, I just place things out and around of interest.
Anything from books, movies and games to baking stuff like cookie cutters
and rolling pin. Sometimes just the look suggests so much more to the child
than the words. Some parents cycle toys too. Boxing some up and putting out
ones that have been boxed.
Leaving out artsy stuff within eyesight is good too. Not just crayons and
paper but yarn, glue, paints, playdoh, buttons, material, etc.
I find that talking about my interests to the children is like strewing too.
It can get them started on similar things or a whole new path.
Mary B
catherine aceto
Erhh...
I didn't coin the term and don't pretend to define it, but I think of it as creating a rich environment with cool things that I know about and that my children wouldn't know about to ask for.
In the last week, for example, I have carted home some plastic tubes that are tuned so that if you whack them on something they have a pitch (they come in a set of 8 for an octave), a book on simple origami, a translation of the Egyptian Book of the Dead showig the heiroglyphs and the translation under them, a plastic board version of the game traffic jam, that we have enjoyed playing online, and a "drinking bird."
I don't consider it "strewing" that we have paper and markers and pens and art supplies and plastic test tubes and child-friendly chemicals to mix in them and stuff to climb on and stuff to build with. Those I just consider the basics that every house should have.
I don't consider it strewing that we went to the toy store and got a Blinkie that my daughter saw a commercial for and wanted to see.
I guess I do consider it strewing that before buying the Blinkie, I showed her the existence of online review of toys, and at her request read her a few to see whether we could find out whether the toy was as cool as it looked like it would be based on the commercial.
Yeah, for me, the "strewing" is the cool, quirky odd thing that I see that I think they would like -- not what I consider the basics that all children should have access to and not what they see or hear about and ask me for.
-Cat
I didn't coin the term and don't pretend to define it, but I think of it as creating a rich environment with cool things that I know about and that my children wouldn't know about to ask for.
In the last week, for example, I have carted home some plastic tubes that are tuned so that if you whack them on something they have a pitch (they come in a set of 8 for an octave), a book on simple origami, a translation of the Egyptian Book of the Dead showig the heiroglyphs and the translation under them, a plastic board version of the game traffic jam, that we have enjoyed playing online, and a "drinking bird."
I don't consider it "strewing" that we have paper and markers and pens and art supplies and plastic test tubes and child-friendly chemicals to mix in them and stuff to climb on and stuff to build with. Those I just consider the basics that every house should have.
I don't consider it strewing that we went to the toy store and got a Blinkie that my daughter saw a commercial for and wanted to see.
I guess I do consider it strewing that before buying the Blinkie, I showed her the existence of online review of toys, and at her request read her a few to see whether we could find out whether the toy was as cool as it looked like it would be based on the commercial.
Yeah, for me, the "strewing" is the cool, quirky odd thing that I see that I think they would like -- not what I consider the basics that all children should have access to and not what they see or hear about and ask me for.
-Cat
----- Original Message -----
From: Julie Bogart
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 6:18 PM
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Question about strewing
Can anyone give some recent concrete examples of strewing? Does strewing include
reading aloud, suggesting stuff, arranging outings, planning events? Or is it more subtle?
Julie B
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
24hrmom
<< Can anyone give some recent concrete examples of strewing? Does strewing
include
reading aloud, suggesting stuff, arranging outings, planning events? Or is
it more subtle? >>
I think strewing can involve any of those things as long as the child is a
willing recipient. The child may show an immediate interest in something
you've strewn about / suggested, or may ignore it for now but bring it up
later, or may show no interest ever! I don't think it necessarily needs to
be "subtle", if by that you mean not even mentioned but just left about ...
they may never notice it. I do think it's important not to be invested in
the outcome though.
I have a few examples from the past week. Two that sparked something and
one that still might. :-)
One involves my youngest who's 7. Michael's been a bit concerned lately
that he's not yet reading though his schooled cousin (she's 6 months older)
has been for at least a year. I have been playing with words and sounds
with him ... not really as games but as they come up in his life and he's
been picking it up well. Anyway, I have a phonics "kit" I picked up many
years ago and haven't touched that has a some tapes, easy reader books,
games and so on. I brought it out a few months ago and we had some fun
making short rhyming words with the letters. He hadn't asked to use it
again and I just left it in his closet where he would see it from time to
time.
The other day he was in his room fishing for something to do and I pulled it
out. It turned into a wonderful spontaneous hour. His sister (she's 10 and
started reading at 9) dropped in and told him about the dumb little books
she used to have to read at school (she came home in grade 2) and how she
didn't read until she found something interesting (Harry Potter). She
started reading the easy reader books to him and they howled with laughter
at the *weak* storylines! They played with a couple of the games.
I got a chance to mention to them the idea that at school it's important to
the teachers that the kids learn to read early so they can read the
worksheets and so on on their own. But that right now Michael loves numbers
and reminded both of them how a couple weeks ago when we played Monopoly
with his cousin she was quite lost dealing with the money while it was easy
for him. It was a great chance for them to see unschooling in action ...
that they can follow what they are interested in. That he can pick up more
reading now over the next months (or years), and his cousin will pick up
more math as well over time.
I initially strewed the phonics kit around my son when he expressed an
interest in learning to read but when it did spark something I was much less
interested in the learning-to-read aspect of it and more in the way I could
ease his fears about not yet reading!
In another "strewing incident" (LOL!) we went camping on the weekend and dh
and I decided to strew / bring along the boys' bicycles. Michael has
expressed a bit of an interest in learning to ride it but not on the
sidewalk in front of our house. Too many spectators! And Joseph has not
been interested in riding for the last couple of years. If we asked them
I'm pretty sure they'd have said no, leave them at home. Anyway we just
brought them, along with dh's bike, because we thought they *may* be
interested but we agreed not to be at all frustrated if the bikes were left
untouched. Well, surprise! They were the most used items we brought. And
although Michael took many tumbles he kept on trying and can now, after 3
days, ride quite confidently.
And lastly, my daughter has been making a number of connections regarding
Albert Einstein lately. She's enjoyed some of his quotes strewn around our
local Science Centre, a reference to his thoughts on time travel in the
movie Paycheck, my recent Discover mag devoted an issue to him and she
looked through the pictorial presentation of his ideas, and so on. Many
connections. A couple days ago at the library I came across a tape of a
NOVA show about his life and ideas and picked it up. I mentioned it to her,
I've left it in the TV room, and maybe she'll watch it. Or maybe I will put
it on and watch it and 1, 2, or 3 kids may join me ... or not. ;-)
I've found that if I strew something that makes connections to other things
they are already interested I really just need to leave it around and
probably mention it to them so they know it's there. If there's something
new that I think they may enjoy, new as in it really has no relation or
connection to something they already are interested in, I'm much more likely
to get a response if I start doing it, reading it, watching it etc myself.
If I just mention it to them and leave it laying around they are much less
likely to try it out. But they'll likely come check it out and join me if
they are interested.
Pam L
www.livingjoyfully.ca
PS I hope that helps ... why can I never write a short email!?!?!
include
reading aloud, suggesting stuff, arranging outings, planning events? Or is
it more subtle? >>
I think strewing can involve any of those things as long as the child is a
willing recipient. The child may show an immediate interest in something
you've strewn about / suggested, or may ignore it for now but bring it up
later, or may show no interest ever! I don't think it necessarily needs to
be "subtle", if by that you mean not even mentioned but just left about ...
they may never notice it. I do think it's important not to be invested in
the outcome though.
I have a few examples from the past week. Two that sparked something and
one that still might. :-)
One involves my youngest who's 7. Michael's been a bit concerned lately
that he's not yet reading though his schooled cousin (she's 6 months older)
has been for at least a year. I have been playing with words and sounds
with him ... not really as games but as they come up in his life and he's
been picking it up well. Anyway, I have a phonics "kit" I picked up many
years ago and haven't touched that has a some tapes, easy reader books,
games and so on. I brought it out a few months ago and we had some fun
making short rhyming words with the letters. He hadn't asked to use it
again and I just left it in his closet where he would see it from time to
time.
The other day he was in his room fishing for something to do and I pulled it
out. It turned into a wonderful spontaneous hour. His sister (she's 10 and
started reading at 9) dropped in and told him about the dumb little books
she used to have to read at school (she came home in grade 2) and how she
didn't read until she found something interesting (Harry Potter). She
started reading the easy reader books to him and they howled with laughter
at the *weak* storylines! They played with a couple of the games.
I got a chance to mention to them the idea that at school it's important to
the teachers that the kids learn to read early so they can read the
worksheets and so on on their own. But that right now Michael loves numbers
and reminded both of them how a couple weeks ago when we played Monopoly
with his cousin she was quite lost dealing with the money while it was easy
for him. It was a great chance for them to see unschooling in action ...
that they can follow what they are interested in. That he can pick up more
reading now over the next months (or years), and his cousin will pick up
more math as well over time.
I initially strewed the phonics kit around my son when he expressed an
interest in learning to read but when it did spark something I was much less
interested in the learning-to-read aspect of it and more in the way I could
ease his fears about not yet reading!
In another "strewing incident" (LOL!) we went camping on the weekend and dh
and I decided to strew / bring along the boys' bicycles. Michael has
expressed a bit of an interest in learning to ride it but not on the
sidewalk in front of our house. Too many spectators! And Joseph has not
been interested in riding for the last couple of years. If we asked them
I'm pretty sure they'd have said no, leave them at home. Anyway we just
brought them, along with dh's bike, because we thought they *may* be
interested but we agreed not to be at all frustrated if the bikes were left
untouched. Well, surprise! They were the most used items we brought. And
although Michael took many tumbles he kept on trying and can now, after 3
days, ride quite confidently.
And lastly, my daughter has been making a number of connections regarding
Albert Einstein lately. She's enjoyed some of his quotes strewn around our
local Science Centre, a reference to his thoughts on time travel in the
movie Paycheck, my recent Discover mag devoted an issue to him and she
looked through the pictorial presentation of his ideas, and so on. Many
connections. A couple days ago at the library I came across a tape of a
NOVA show about his life and ideas and picked it up. I mentioned it to her,
I've left it in the TV room, and maybe she'll watch it. Or maybe I will put
it on and watch it and 1, 2, or 3 kids may join me ... or not. ;-)
I've found that if I strew something that makes connections to other things
they are already interested I really just need to leave it around and
probably mention it to them so they know it's there. If there's something
new that I think they may enjoy, new as in it really has no relation or
connection to something they already are interested in, I'm much more likely
to get a response if I start doing it, reading it, watching it etc myself.
If I just mention it to them and leave it laying around they are much less
likely to try it out. But they'll likely come check it out and join me if
they are interested.
Pam L
www.livingjoyfully.ca
PS I hope that helps ... why can I never write a short email!?!?!
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/20/04 6:19:08 PM, 24hrmom@... writes:
<< Pam L
www.livingjoyfully.ca
PS I hope that helps ... why can I never write a short email!?!?! >>
How can you tell exciting strewing stories in a short e-mail!?
I liked the bike story especially. It could be pretty nice to fall on autumn
leaves and soft dirt instead of year-round concrete.
Joyce took us to the National Science Museum a couple of weeks ago, and we
saw a floating pig thing. I wanted one but they didn't have any for sale. I
wrote down the webpage thinking it would be an easy thing to get later.
Not so easy. The company doesn't come out and say how to get one. Maybe
they only sell wholesale. So I googled it and found ONE (1) place offering it
for sale, so i ordered one ($32 plus shipping). It arrived while I was in
Chicago, but the kids opened it, and showed it to Kirby.
Every person who has come over since (except Mo, darn it, who came to borrow
chain mail for a history class she teaches; I forgot) has been shown the pig.
And Holly discovered that if you shine a laser light at the pig, even though
it's not there (you can't touch it), the light does not pass through it. And
if you look down into the chamber at the REAL pig (brace yourselves,
non-optic-physicists), the real pig has a laser pointing at him too. OOOOH it's so
very wonderful.
And I'm not finding the online site, and I threw the box away.
It's like a little black flying-saucer looking thing about 8" across, and the
top has a hole in the middle and can come off.
Ther'e a little pink rubber pig about 1" long. You set him in the bottom,
put the top on, and a ghostly projection-pig appears above the open hole. And
right under him is a relflection of HIM, as though he's standing on a mirror.
And he looks real enough to grab, so people try to grab him.
If I can find a photo I'll send the link.
The laser business really surprised us.
Kirby returned from a three-day trip to an anime convention in Denver, and
one of the first things we said was "Shine a laser on the pig!" He just did
it, without any other questions.
I can't find a picture of it, can't find the papers, don't remember the
company name. Darn it.
I'll look later.
Sandra
<< Pam L
www.livingjoyfully.ca
PS I hope that helps ... why can I never write a short email!?!?! >>
How can you tell exciting strewing stories in a short e-mail!?
I liked the bike story especially. It could be pretty nice to fall on autumn
leaves and soft dirt instead of year-round concrete.
Joyce took us to the National Science Museum a couple of weeks ago, and we
saw a floating pig thing. I wanted one but they didn't have any for sale. I
wrote down the webpage thinking it would be an easy thing to get later.
Not so easy. The company doesn't come out and say how to get one. Maybe
they only sell wholesale. So I googled it and found ONE (1) place offering it
for sale, so i ordered one ($32 plus shipping). It arrived while I was in
Chicago, but the kids opened it, and showed it to Kirby.
Every person who has come over since (except Mo, darn it, who came to borrow
chain mail for a history class she teaches; I forgot) has been shown the pig.
And Holly discovered that if you shine a laser light at the pig, even though
it's not there (you can't touch it), the light does not pass through it. And
if you look down into the chamber at the REAL pig (brace yourselves,
non-optic-physicists), the real pig has a laser pointing at him too. OOOOH it's so
very wonderful.
And I'm not finding the online site, and I threw the box away.
It's like a little black flying-saucer looking thing about 8" across, and the
top has a hole in the middle and can come off.
Ther'e a little pink rubber pig about 1" long. You set him in the bottom,
put the top on, and a ghostly projection-pig appears above the open hole. And
right under him is a relflection of HIM, as though he's standing on a mirror.
And he looks real enough to grab, so people try to grab him.
If I can find a photo I'll send the link.
The laser business really surprised us.
Kirby returned from a three-day trip to an anime convention in Denver, and
one of the first things we said was "Shine a laser on the pig!" He just did
it, without any other questions.
I can't find a picture of it, can't find the papers, don't remember the
company name. Darn it.
I'll look later.
Sandra
24hrmom
<< I liked the bike story especially. It could be pretty nice to fall on
autumn leaves and soft dirt instead of year-round concrete. >>
That's how I imagined it too. LOL! In reality, no leaves had fallen yet and
he found the grass too hard to pedal on so he opted for the gravelly dirt
road. After a few tumbles he happily went for long pants and the helmet and
knee pads we brought. By the next day he had scrapped his hands a few
times, and his brother was getting a blister on his hand from changing gears
(something new he learned about) so Rocco drove into town and picked up some
bike gloves for both of them. They had a great time until their butts were
too sore to ride! ;-)
Still a nice story!
Pam L
www.livingjoyfully.ca
autumn leaves and soft dirt instead of year-round concrete. >>
That's how I imagined it too. LOL! In reality, no leaves had fallen yet and
he found the grass too hard to pedal on so he opted for the gravelly dirt
road. After a few tumbles he happily went for long pants and the helmet and
knee pads we brought. By the next day he had scrapped his hands a few
times, and his brother was getting a blister on his hand from changing gears
(something new he learned about) so Rocco drove into town and picked up some
bike gloves for both of them. They had a great time until their butts were
too sore to ride! ;-)
Still a nice story!
Pam L
www.livingjoyfully.ca