Sue & Ron Patterson

>The homeschool Zoo Academy is coming up in
> February, which he is incredibly excited about.

Karen, is there a lot of writing planned for his day at the Zoo Academy? Do
you get to know in advance what the schedule is like?

> He didn't even register what a
> sentence was (but I know he knows it in another context). He picked up
> the fill in the blanks thing and answered all the questions correctly.
> (big whoop)

Yeah, most of that stuff - stuff schools spend a LONG time teaching (ie. how
to fill in the circle completely for that multiple choice question,
"test-taking" skills) - the kids I know pick it up quickly. It's not a
content question they don't know, it's simply the way it's posed to them.

>And as soon as I told him he could type the sentences, he
> was eager to do them.

Which I think would be totally impressive to them. Although, they may think
*you* did it for him. <g>

> It took him a long time to do one set of
> sentences.

It takes me a long time too!

> (Of course, he wrote one sentence for each word and plans to
> write a second set with each word, which is what a person in school
> would know is the "wrong" way.)

If he's typing them, you can just show him how to group the sentences
together - two sentences for each vocab word. Right? Or am I doing it the
wrong way too?

>Some of his sentences do not make sense
> (ie., A bat is echolocation.--he learned how to do the "underline the
> vocabulary word" part on the computer. lol.)

But he wanted to let them know he knew about echolocation! I'm sure there
will be others that don't have the sentences done perfectly. Think of that
ole bell curve. Are at least half of his sentences done ok? Then it's
probably fine. At least they'll know he did it. ;-)

> Anyway, I'm trying to figure out a way to let him know that there is a
> chance his sentences will not fit their mold, will be odd to them--you
> folks know what I mean...I'm afraid someone will say something to him
> about his abilities (I'm afraid it will be another homeschooler, too.
> :P).

Bummer that it would be a homeschooler. :-(
My kids are pretty aware that this grammar/writing thing is not their
strength right now. We talk about it. They don't want to put a lot of time
into rectifying it, so they live with it. They know, otoh, that the
information *is* their strength. They know that they know TONS about
animals. That's what I'd remind Will. He may not be great at writing it all
out, but *he knows about animals!* I'm not sure what the goal is for going
to the zoo academy, but I'd imagine getting hands on experience with the
animals is the biggie. And regardless of his writing skills, he'll get to do
that. I'd emphasize that with him.

>My
> natural reaction is to volunteer for the class (they only allow two
> parents), and he wants me there. I could run interference for him if I
> were there. But I didn't get a volunteer form with my registration (I'm
> calling tomorrow to volunteer, of course.)

I would do this too. <g>

> He's a responsive kid and I can see that he could fall either way on
> this issue. There has already been some frustration with the writing
> and the sentences. Either the week will cause him to get completely
> frustrated, or it could be a spark that leads him into his next phase of
> literacy.

Maybe. Nevertheless, he'll have fun with the animals!

Good luck!
~Sue

<:><:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:><:><:>:<:>
Sue Patterson
National Home Education Network: http://www.nhen.org
Military Homeschoolers: http://nhen.org/nhen/pov/military/
<:><:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:>:<:><:><:>:<:>

KT

Sandra said:

> Why don't you do it for him? The "rules" about not helping and not
> cheating
> don't apply to unschoolers. If there's no grade and no competition,
> IF the
> zoo thinks they need sentences (WE know they don't, and THEY think
> they're
> testing the kids' abilities to... to do what? Schoolwork!?) then give
> the
> zoo some sentences.

I understand what you're saying, and that's exactly what we did last
year when he was an newborn reader (I read everything to him if he
needed it). There wasn't a whole lot of writing though...lots of
coloring pages and cutting. I don't think he'll be happy with me doing
the sentences for him, now that he's begun it. He wants to do it and I
don't stand in his way in anything, and I just ask him if he wants me to
show him tips on what he's attempting and never criticise it or grade it
or anything like that.

I think this is about me witnessing him losing his innoncence of all
things schooly, and I'm JUST NOT READY! It's bad enough that the boy
next door is a "star" student at his school and fills Will's head with
stuff about it, and because the boy is highly intelligent and likes to
read, etc., Will is very attracted by what he says. :P I just see this
Zoo thing could go either way--he could love it, or hate it. I'm trying
to make sure he loves it.

Sue & Ron Patterson wrote:

> >The homeschool Zoo Academy is coming up in
> > February, which he is incredibly excited about.
>
> Karen, is there a lot of writing planned for his day at the Zoo
> Academy? Do
> you get to know in advance what the schedule is like?

Nah, we got a syllabus, but I know that they do get to get out and see
the animals and touch them and stuff. There was a lot of seatwork last
year, but it was mostly for crowd control purposes. No writing, though.

>
> > He didn't even register what a
> > sentence was (but I know he knows it in another context). He picked up
> > the fill in the blanks thing and answered all the questions correctly.
> > (big whoop)
>
> Yeah, most of that stuff - stuff schools spend a LONG time teaching
> (ie. how
> to fill in the circle completely for that multiple choice question,
> "test-taking" skills) - the kids I know pick it up quickly. It's not a
> content question they don't know, it's simply the way it's posed to them.
>
> >And as soon as I told him he could type the sentences, he
> > was eager to do them.
>
> Which I think would be totally impressive to them. Although, they may
> think
> *you* did it for him. <g>

Bad mommy. ;)

>
> > (Of course, he wrote one sentence for each word and plans to
> > write a second set with each word, which is what a person in school
> > would know is the "wrong" way.)
>
> If he's typing them, you can just show him how to group the sentences
> together - two sentences for each vocab word. Right? Or am I doing it the
> wrong way too?

Oh no, that's the "right" way! He printed out the first set and then he
was going to do the other set on a second sheet. Now that I think about
it, my other son, who was in school at this age, was always doing stuff
like that. If someone can fit this into a "learning style" or
"intelligence" thing I'd sure like to know. I need a hook to hang it on.

>
> >Some of his sentences do not make sense
> > (ie., A bat is echolocation.--he learned how to do the "underline the
> > vocabulary word" part on the computer. lol.)
>
> But he wanted to let them know he knew about echolocation! I'm sure there
> will be others that don't have the sentences done perfectly. Think of that
> ole bell curve. Are at least half of his sentences done ok? Then it's
> probably fine. At least they'll know he did it. ;-)

Yeah, but there is something interesting in this whole deal. Something
schooly he hasn't learned yet. Two sets of directions on the page,
activity 1 and 2. I'm holding the paper up and he keys in on activity
2, the fill in the blank one. All the clues are such: A mammal which
is spotted. [blank]. He does activity 2 first and enjoys it. I help
him spell porcupine Then we talked about activity 1, which is the
sentences...and he really thought that all his sentences should start
like the clues in activity 2. He wrote them all like the bat one. It's
like he doesn't realize that the two activities are unrelated. Maybe
that's a good thing?

> > Anyway, I'm trying to figure out a way to let him know that there is a
> > chance his sentences will not fit their mold, will be odd to them--you
> > folks know what I mean...I'm afraid someone will say something to him
> > about his abilities (I'm afraid it will be another homeschooler, too.
> > :P).
>
> Bummer that it would be a homeschooler. :-(
> My kids are pretty aware that this grammar/writing thing is not their
> strength right now. We talk about it. They don't want to put a lot of time
> into rectifying it, so they live with it. They know, otoh, that the
> information *is* their strength. They know that they know TONS about
> animals. That's what I'd remind Will. He may not be great at writing
> it all
> out, but *he knows about animals!* I'm not sure what the goal is for going
> to the zoo academy, but I'd imagine getting hands on experience with the
> animals is the biggie. And regardless of his writing skills, he'll get
> to do
> that. I'd emphasize that with him.

You're right of course, but he is really into this activity and feels he
*should* do it. Like he would be breaking the rules if he didn't.
Oooooooh, *that's* what I don't like about all this!

There's a little boy in our Campfire club who is special needs, but
extremely intelligent, probably a genius. We were painting picture
frames and he kept asking me, "Can I paint here?" "Can I paint this
side?". He asked me and asked me (which is one of his special traits)
and I realized he needed "permission" to go ahead and be creative. So I
finally stopped and held up his picture frame and showed him every
portion that he was "allowed" to paint, which of course, was every
portion of the frame, and I showed which colors he could use, which of
course, was every color. He went happily on his way. I understand that
Connor needs some kind of special handling, and that this is probably
more normal than not for a kid in school, but I don't want Will to have
even an *inkling* of that.

Okay, I feel all pepped up, listened to, and understood right now.
Thanks for helping! :)

Karen

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/4/01 1:10:39 AM, Patterson5@... writes:

<< He's a responsive kid and I can see that he could fall either way on
> this issue. There has already been some frustration with the writing
> and the sentences. Either the week will cause him to get completely
> frustrated, or it could be a spark that leads him into his next phase of
> literacy. >>

Oh, yeah, Quinn is the same way. I would do all the things suggested so far.
I'd tell him how the zoo wants the sentences - and I'd probably say something
like: " you know how in school there is only one right way to do
something....." But maybe first you could call and ask what it will really be
like when he goes. When we sent pre-show materials with our theater company,
they were kinda like that (a little more fun, I hope). And I would volunteer,
and I would let him opt out if it wasn't going well.

Are you pepped now?

Paula

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/4/01 1:14:27 PM, sjogy@... writes:

<< I would let him opt out if it wasn't going well. >>

Absolutely.

Two years after Nick came home from second grade (it had taken him 18 months
to recover) -- he signed up for a NASA space camp. We'd thought NASA-type
people would be there to run it, but no -- they provided the syllabus and the
local elementary school librarian took charge.

The first day -- while parents and children were milling about in the hallway
-- she stalked in, put hands on hips, shrieked at the children, "Be quiet and
get in line!" Then she looked with knowing amusement at the parents and
said, "Got to take charge right away!" Uh huh. She termed herself,
"Captain" and did indeed order the kids through each activity. Nick lasted
two days. If there'd been materials with which he was unfamiliar, he might
have stuck it out longer, but as it was, he knew the material, and was
unhappy with the whole "I'm large and in charge" attitude.

I hope the Zoo Academy is much different.

Sharon

KT

> I hope the Zoo Academy is much different.


Thanks, Sharon. I think it will be. All the educators at the zoo are
much younger than me, most with no children. I can talk circles around
them and deflect them before they even know what happened. ;)

And I let my 17 yo opt out of public high school again so he could go
back to college...I guess Zoo Academy won't be any trouble. lol.

Karen