an *unschooling* curriculum package
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/12/02 12:33:14 PM, homeschoolmd@... writes:
<< Oh, I'd buy an *unschooling* curriculum package in a heart beat. >>
I've thought for years about a set of 365 "to do today" cards--a year's worth
of unschooling in a box. Do the cards in whatever order you want, repeat all
you want to or not. Nobody would take a whole year to be ignoring the cards
and doing even cooler stuff without them, I figure. I think of doing that, a
math book, and a book of essays.
The math book would be not really a math book, but directions on how to use a
math book wrong, kind of.
Sandra
<< Oh, I'd buy an *unschooling* curriculum package in a heart beat. >>
I've thought for years about a set of 365 "to do today" cards--a year's worth
of unschooling in a box. Do the cards in whatever order you want, repeat all
you want to or not. Nobody would take a whole year to be ignoring the cards
and doing even cooler stuff without them, I figure. I think of doing that, a
math book, and a book of essays.
The math book would be not really a math book, but directions on how to use a
math book wrong, kind of.
Sandra
Pat Cald...
Sandra, how much would you charge for a pack of 365 index cards with hand written ideas on them? I'm very serious.
Pat
Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: SandraDodd@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 4:53 PM
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] an *unschooling* curriculum package
In a message dated 2/12/02 12:33:14 PM, homeschoolmd@... writes:
<< Oh, I'd buy an *unschooling* curriculum package in a heart beat. >>
I've thought for years about a set of 365 "to do today" cards--a year's worth
of unschooling in a box. Do the cards in whatever order you want, repeat all
you want to or not. Nobody would take a whole year to be ignoring the cards
and doing even cooler stuff without them, I figure. I think of doing that, a
math book, and a book of essays.
The math book would be not really a math book, but directions on how to use a
math book wrong, kind of.
Sandra
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/12/02 3:27:50 PM, homeschoolmd@... writes:
<< Sandra, how much would you charge for a pack of 365 index cards with hand
written ideas on them? I'm very serious. >>
You want to be the prototype test family?
I should just do that, huh?
<< Sandra, how much would you charge for a pack of 365 index cards with hand
written ideas on them? I'm very serious. >>
You want to be the prototype test family?
I should just do that, huh?
Tia Leschke
>I would *love* to have a book like that. Even if you don't finish it until
>
>The math book would be not really a math book, but directions on how to use a
>math book wrong, kind of.
after my son has grown up. I'd like to have it for me.
Tia
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
*********************************************
Tia Leschke
leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
Pat Cald...
YES, YES, YES!
Pat
Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: SandraDodd@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 5:32 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] an *unschooling* curriculum package
In a message dated 2/12/02 3:27:50 PM, homeschoolmd@... writes:
<< Sandra, how much would you charge for a pack of 365 index cards with hand
written ideas on them? I'm very serious. >>
You want to be the prototype test family?
I should just do that, huh?
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Karin
Count me in too! I'd also be interested. I'm already loving all the movie recommendations. Kinda like homework!
Pat, you should also consider getting Sandra's Thinking Sticks, if you haven't already. Those are cool, too.
Karin
Sandra wrote:
In a message dated 2/12/02 3:27:50 PM, homeschoolmd@... writes:
<< Sandra, how much would you charge for a pack of 365 index cards with hand
written ideas on them? I'm very serious. >>
You want to be the prototype test family?
I should just do that, huh?
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pat, you should also consider getting Sandra's Thinking Sticks, if you haven't already. Those are cool, too.
Karin
Sandra wrote:
In a message dated 2/12/02 3:27:50 PM, homeschoolmd@... writes:
<< Sandra, how much would you charge for a pack of 365 index cards with hand
written ideas on them? I'm very serious. >>
You want to be the prototype test family?
I should just do that, huh?
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Jocelyn Vilter
Sandra,
Have you talked about the Thinking Sticks here yet? I think Pat (and
others) would like them.
Jocelyn
on 02/12/02 2:32 PM, SandraDodd@... at SandraDodd@... wrote:
Have you talked about the Thinking Sticks here yet? I think Pat (and
others) would like them.
Jocelyn
on 02/12/02 2:32 PM, SandraDodd@... at SandraDodd@... wrote:
>
> In a message dated 2/12/02 3:27:50 PM, homeschoolmd@... writes:
>
> << Sandra, how much would you charge for a pack of 365 index cards with hand
> written ideas on them? I'm very serious. >>
>
> You want to be the prototype test family?
>
> I should just do that, huh?
Pat Cald...
Sandra, I was thinking. In order to start organizing your thoughts, you could start a paid subscription email list. Once a week you could send some ideas, tips, movie suggestions etc. Over time you would have enough to write a book. You wouldn't have to spend the time thinking up a
full years worth of ideas, there would be no out-of-pocket expenses and we would get the benefits sooner.
Pat
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
full years worth of ideas, there would be no out-of-pocket expenses and we would get the benefits sooner.
Pat
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/12/02 8:45:44 PM, homeschoolmd@... writes:
<< Over time you would have enough to write a book. >>
I already have that. <g>
I have essays (most of them are hooked to a website, so maybe that was a bad
idea <g>) and there were subject chats on AOL that I could review to steal
my best ideas (back from me).
I'd hate to charge people for what I'm already doing free. Books are
different because there's a physical thing to keep, that you can read in the
bed, or in the bathroom, or at a park or in the car waiting for someone.
It was a nice suggestion, Pat, but I'm not mercenary enough to go with it!
<g>
Joyce mentioned the thinking sticks. I have an order sitting right now. The
sewing week finished yesterday. I've gathered the stuff up to make a few
more batches. The sticks are described here:
sandradodd.com/thinkingsticks
Sandra
<< Over time you would have enough to write a book. >>
I already have that. <g>
I have essays (most of them are hooked to a website, so maybe that was a bad
idea <g>) and there were subject chats on AOL that I could review to steal
my best ideas (back from me).
I'd hate to charge people for what I'm already doing free. Books are
different because there's a physical thing to keep, that you can read in the
bed, or in the bathroom, or at a park or in the car waiting for someone.
It was a nice suggestion, Pat, but I'm not mercenary enough to go with it!
<g>
Joyce mentioned the thinking sticks. I have an order sitting right now. The
sewing week finished yesterday. I've gathered the stuff up to make a few
more batches. The sticks are described here:
sandradodd.com/thinkingsticks
Sandra
Pat Cald...
From: SandraDodd@...
The other problem for me is organizing all of your wisdom into a workable plan. You mention so much in passing and in answering specific questions. It flows. Well, to my simple way of thinking it flows right through me! At least it is not going over my head. <g>
I need a *concrete* visual image in order to make it work. If I don't have that, the next best thing are steps (with guidelines)to lead me.
Sandra, you are a gifted teacher. Open up a classroom and teach us how to unschool *your* way.
Pat
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>I have essays (most of them are hooked to a website, so maybe that was a badUnless I haven't seen all the resources yet, I don't see what you already have and do as the same as what I was thinking of. I see what you currently do as mentoring. What I was talking about was actually putting a "teaching" style course together. Some people need to feel like they are actively learning, doing something constructive, something productive. As you mentioned, a lot of people drop out of unschooling because they are not patient.
>idea <g>) and there were subject chats on AOL that I could review to steal
>my best ideas (back from me).
>I'd hate to charge people for what I'm already doing free. Books are
>different because there's a physical thing to keep, that you can read in the
>bed, or in the bathroom, or at a park or in the car waiting for someone.
The other problem for me is organizing all of your wisdom into a workable plan. You mention so much in passing and in answering specific questions. It flows. Well, to my simple way of thinking it flows right through me! At least it is not going over my head. <g>
I need a *concrete* visual image in order to make it work. If I don't have that, the next best thing are steps (with guidelines)to lead me.
Sandra, you are a gifted teacher. Open up a classroom and teach us how to unschool *your* way.
Pat
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pat Cald...
I'd like to read a book entitled "Keeping Kids Learning". Kind of like the book "Keeping Kids Reading" by Mary Leonhardt. It gave a lot of good ideas on how to figure out what types of books your kids would be interested in, how to feed their interest and how to create good memory moments around books.
We could all help with the research for a book like this. What it would take would be the input from people whose kids like different things and what resources they use to satisfy their children's interests.
If nothing else, it would be good information for all of us to share. Maybe we could use the database feature available with this list. I would be happy to do the data entry.
Let's think about how other information that we share could be collected and organized.
Pat
We could all help with the research for a book like this. What it would take would be the input from people whose kids like different things and what resources they use to satisfy their children's interests.
If nothing else, it would be good information for all of us to share. Maybe we could use the database feature available with this list. I would be happy to do the data entry.
Let's think about how other information that we share could be collected and organized.
Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: SandraDodd@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 1:49 AM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] an *unschooling* curriculum package
In a message dated 2/12/02 8:45:44 PM, homeschoolmd@... writes:
<< Over time you would have enough to write a book. >>
I already have that. <g>
I have essays (most of them are hooked to a website, so maybe that was a bad
idea <g>) and there were subject chats on AOL that I could review to steal
my best ideas (back from me).
I'd hate to charge people for what I'm already doing free. Books are
different because there's a physical thing to keep, that you can read in the
bed, or in the bathroom, or at a park or in the car waiting for someone.
It was a nice suggestion, Pat, but I'm not mercenary enough to go with it!
<g>
Joyce mentioned the thinking sticks. I have an order sitting right now. The
sewing week finished yesterday. I've gathered the stuff up to make a few
more batches. The sticks are described here:
sandradodd.com/thinkingsticks
Sandra
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Pat said:
<<Sandra, you are a gifted teacher. Open up a classroom and teach us how to
unschool *your* way.>>
But then it wouldn't be unschooling, would it?
I would like to see another "unschooling handbook" that got much more into
the philosophical side of trusting children and letting go. Seeing what they
are learning and how rather than what parent' WANT them to learn. Maybe with
lots of letters/postings/essays from "rabid" unschoolers. (That's my term
for what I do when asked ;o) )
Maybe a chapter on FAQ's or each chapter an answer to a FAQ.
Hmmm, I think I want to do that idea.
Elissa, who will soon be singing
Yippee - Kai - Yay!
<<Sandra, you are a gifted teacher. Open up a classroom and teach us how to
unschool *your* way.>>
But then it wouldn't be unschooling, would it?
I would like to see another "unschooling handbook" that got much more into
the philosophical side of trusting children and letting go. Seeing what they
are learning and how rather than what parent' WANT them to learn. Maybe with
lots of letters/postings/essays from "rabid" unschoolers. (That's my term
for what I do when asked ;o) )
Maybe a chapter on FAQ's or each chapter an answer to a FAQ.
Hmmm, I think I want to do that idea.
Elissa, who will soon be singing
Yippee - Kai - Yay!
Fetteroll
on 2/13/02 10:14 AM, Pat Cald... at homeschoolmd@... wrote:
years. ;-) I'm an engineer. I love orderly approaches to learning. I
secretly lust after Calvert ;-) My advantage has been that I've had Sandra
interpretters over the years who were halfway between her thinking and mine
and could translate things into something I could understand.
It takes lots of work to get beyond linear A to B thinking and think in
terms of expansion.
For example, I tried to get "Strewing their paths" to match up with my idea
of learning as leading kids to a specific point. So strewing was like
dropping a trail of bread crumbs to lead an animal into a cage.
But now I see strewing as each strewn bit creating a little path into the
world that my daughter can travel or not, explore thoroughly or just a
little. The strewing expands her world rather than leading her any place in
particular.
What did you do with the kids over summer vacation? Or when they were
younger? Or anytime you weren't doing school?
There's nothing wrong with planning or scheduling things. But the plan
should be your slave, not your master. It should help you live life, not
dictate how you or your kids live it.
Perhaps practice thinking in terms of living life in the here and now rather
than trying to get someplace.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> The other problem for me is organizing all of your wisdom into a workablePat, I've been unconsciously trying to do that with Sandra's wisdom for 7
> plan. You mention so much in passing and in answering specific questions. It
> flows. Well, to my simple way of thinking it flows right through me! At
> least it is not going over my head. <g>
years. ;-) I'm an engineer. I love orderly approaches to learning. I
secretly lust after Calvert ;-) My advantage has been that I've had Sandra
interpretters over the years who were halfway between her thinking and mine
and could translate things into something I could understand.
It takes lots of work to get beyond linear A to B thinking and think in
terms of expansion.
For example, I tried to get "Strewing their paths" to match up with my idea
of learning as leading kids to a specific point. So strewing was like
dropping a trail of bread crumbs to lead an animal into a cage.
But now I see strewing as each strewn bit creating a little path into the
world that my daughter can travel or not, explore thoroughly or just a
little. The strewing expands her world rather than leading her any place in
particular.
What did you do with the kids over summer vacation? Or when they were
younger? Or anytime you weren't doing school?
There's nothing wrong with planning or scheduling things. But the plan
should be your slave, not your master. It should help you live life, not
dictate how you or your kids live it.
Perhaps practice thinking in terms of living life in the here and now rather
than trying to get someplace.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pat Cald...
From: ElissaJC@...
Pat said:
<<Sandra, you are a gifted teacher. Open up a classroom and teach us how to
unschool *your* way.>>
But then it wouldn't be unschooling, would it?
It would be unschooling because it is what I want, it is for me. The same as when a child expresses an interest in taking lessons, you find sign them up for a class.
Pat
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pat said:
<<Sandra, you are a gifted teacher. Open up a classroom and teach us how to
unschool *your* way.>>
But then it wouldn't be unschooling, would it?
It would be unschooling because it is what I want, it is for me. The same as when a child expresses an interest in taking lessons, you find sign them up for a class.
Pat
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Elissa, who will soon be singing
Yippee - Kai - Yay!
about unschooling MY way. That's a little of Sandra's, a little of Mary's, a
little of Ren's, a little of Jane's, etc. put it all together, add my kids
and remove my meddling... BAM! kicked up a notch, it's our way.
****And aren't you already learning it? Aren't you already doing it? You've
spent time on the web, you're reading Holt nad other authors, you're
watching your children adn learning about them. You already HAVE your
unschooling curriculum!
Last thought. Unschooling *Sandra's way* may very well not work for you.,
you're not Sandra. NO ONE can unschool just like someone else. It's all
relative.
<<The same as when a child expresses an interest in taking lessons, you find
sign them up for a class.>>
****OR you could find a mentor, take a trip to the library for books, head
to blockbuster for tapes, go to exhibits, galleries, visit a specialty shop,
ask someone for tips and ideas, sit down and practice.
A class is only ONE way to learn about something not the only way.
I'm just trying to point out that you already have the "class" you are
looking for.
Elissa
Yippee - Kai - Yay!
><<Sandra, you are a gifted teacher. Open up a classroom and teach us howto
>unschool *your* way.>>****I guess I think of unschooling as very personal. I am learning so much
>But then it wouldn't be unschooling, would it?
about unschooling MY way. That's a little of Sandra's, a little of Mary's, a
little of Ren's, a little of Jane's, etc. put it all together, add my kids
and remove my meddling... BAM! kicked up a notch, it's our way.
><<It would be unschooling because it is what I want, it is for me. >>
****And aren't you already learning it? Aren't you already doing it? You've
spent time on the web, you're reading Holt nad other authors, you're
watching your children adn learning about them. You already HAVE your
unschooling curriculum!
Last thought. Unschooling *Sandra's way* may very well not work for you.,
you're not Sandra. NO ONE can unschool just like someone else. It's all
relative.
<<The same as when a child expresses an interest in taking lessons, you find
sign them up for a class.>>
****OR you could find a mentor, take a trip to the library for books, head
to blockbuster for tapes, go to exhibits, galleries, visit a specialty shop,
ask someone for tips and ideas, sit down and practice.
A class is only ONE way to learn about something not the only way.
I'm just trying to point out that you already have the "class" you are
looking for.
Elissa
duckfordu
-=-Sandra, you are a gifted teacher. Open up a classroom and teach us
how to unschool *your* way.-=-
That dog eats its own tail and swallows itself whole.
Helen Hegener (who might be reading here, some sometimes <g>)
discussed an online class they would sponsor that I could teach. I
balked, saying it seemed just wrong. But I also sketched up a course
outline, just in case. Just a couple of weeks ago I was thinking I
should get back with Helen and discuss it some more.
It seems wrong.
But I learned about the open classroom in a traditional "take notes,
there will be a test" college class. I read about studies. I heard
lectures on what works better than lectures.
I'll think about it. Thanks for the compliment.
how to unschool *your* way.-=-
That dog eats its own tail and swallows itself whole.
Helen Hegener (who might be reading here, some sometimes <g>)
discussed an online class they would sponsor that I could teach. I
balked, saying it seemed just wrong. But I also sketched up a course
outline, just in case. Just a couple of weeks ago I was thinking I
should get back with Helen and discuss it some more.
It seems wrong.
But I learned about the open classroom in a traditional "take notes,
there will be a test" college class. I read about studies. I heard
lectures on what works better than lectures.
I'll think about it. Thanks for the compliment.
[email protected]
**I'd like to read a book entitled "Keeping Kids Learning". Kind of like the
book "Keeping Kids Reading" by Mary Leonhardt. It gave a lot of good ideas
on how to figure out what types of books your kids would be interested in,
how to feed their interest and how to create good memory moments around
books. **
I love Mary Leonhardt's books. They're full of sensible stuff that
contradicts the common wisdom. But not a lot of the stuff in Keeping Kids
Reading has been actually useful to me personally, because so much of it is
about how to keep school from ruining your kids. (Same problem with Coloring
Outside the Lines by Schenk, which I also recommend).
Just another comment to add to the mix, not sure if it means anything. :)
Deborah in IL
book "Keeping Kids Reading" by Mary Leonhardt. It gave a lot of good ideas
on how to figure out what types of books your kids would be interested in,
how to feed their interest and how to create good memory moments around
books. **
I love Mary Leonhardt's books. They're full of sensible stuff that
contradicts the common wisdom. But not a lot of the stuff in Keeping Kids
Reading has been actually useful to me personally, because so much of it is
about how to keep school from ruining your kids. (Same problem with Coloring
Outside the Lines by Schenk, which I also recommend).
Just another comment to add to the mix, not sure if it means anything. :)
Deborah in IL
[email protected]
**The same as when a child expresses an interest in taking lessons, you find
sign them up for a class.**
Maybe. Maybe not. :)
I usually don't jump to sign a kid up for a class at the first glimmering of
interest. I often drag my feet about "signing up" while working on figuring
out *with* the child what truly is the best way for that child to learn
whatever it is they're wanting to learn. Sometimes it does turn out to be
classes. Often it's not.
School and classes and teachers and all that are so ubiquitous in our society
that even my totally unschooled kids can't help thinking sometimes that those
are the only ways to learn anything.
My kids (and I think most people in most situations) learn most things better
in mentoring relationships or tutoring relationships than in "classes".
A long time ago on AOL there existed for a short time a Homeschooling
Academy. It was an attempt by long time homeschoolers, AOL homeschool forum
regulars and volunteers, to provide something like an ongoing conference
online. Sandra and a few others held "classes" on unschooling. A lot of
people came wanting to be told exactly how to unschool. I'm not sure we ever
figured out what to tell them in an hour that would fill that need.
Deborah IL
sign them up for a class.**
Maybe. Maybe not. :)
I usually don't jump to sign a kid up for a class at the first glimmering of
interest. I often drag my feet about "signing up" while working on figuring
out *with* the child what truly is the best way for that child to learn
whatever it is they're wanting to learn. Sometimes it does turn out to be
classes. Often it's not.
School and classes and teachers and all that are so ubiquitous in our society
that even my totally unschooled kids can't help thinking sometimes that those
are the only ways to learn anything.
My kids (and I think most people in most situations) learn most things better
in mentoring relationships or tutoring relationships than in "classes".
A long time ago on AOL there existed for a short time a Homeschooling
Academy. It was an attempt by long time homeschoolers, AOL homeschool forum
regulars and volunteers, to provide something like an ongoing conference
online. Sandra and a few others held "classes" on unschooling. A lot of
people came wanting to be told exactly how to unschool. I'm not sure we ever
figured out what to tell them in an hour that would fill that need.
Deborah IL
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/13/02 12:49:49 PM, ElissaJC@... writes:
<< Unschooling *Sandra's way* may very well not work for you.,
you're not Sandra. NO ONE can unschool just like someone else. It's all
relative. >>
And it has more to do with the kids than the mom.
I had no way of knowing that Holly would really love 1930's music. I rented
paper moon because one day we were mixed up about change for a $20, and which
way it would go, with her needing to give me some money back for me to give
her her allowance and some money I had borrowed, but she would keep the $20.
It got so crazy and funny that I tried to tell her about the $20 bill scam
from Paper Moon, and couldn't remember it exactly, so I rented the movie.
Holly LOVED the music.
So for Christmas I ordered a CD with songs from that. We discovered Irving
Berlin ("Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee") also wrote Annie Get your Gun,
which Holly knew had discovered at a friend's house.
We rented Top Hat, because "Cheek to Cheek" was on her CD. She LOVED
that--we kept it ten days. So I ordered a CD of Fred Astaire doing all
Irving Berlin songs.
Somewhere in the depths of the Wizard of Oz video was something about
"Everybody Sing," an old Judy Garland movie. Holly wanted to see it; we
found it and rented it.
One song on there, "Why? Because" (I think it's called), Holly loved, and she
wanted the lyrics. The lyrics weren't online (or I didn't find them) but I
DID find an ad for a Judy Garland CD collection of stuff from MGM movies,
with that song on it. AND there were lots of songs from Annie Get your Gun
there. We ordered it.
Tuesday night was a friend's birthday party, and we went to buy him a DVD.
Bladerunner, we thought (endedstory, were some scenes with... JUDY GARLAND!
So two days ago Holly saw film of two songs from the movie, with Judy
Garland. It was finished with another actress instead, because Judy Garland
got sick and couldn't finish the movie.
This morning, the Judy Garland CD came.
(I should keep this in Holly's diary, to show the speed with which this
Irving Berlin "unit study" came on.)
Here's the bid deal: In my whole life I have had a great aversion to that
style of music. Keith pressed me to watch some Fred Astaire stuff, and he
was right, it was nice, but I was still tepid. I've never liked Judy
Garland much at all. I didn't realize what all Irving Berlin had done. I
never knew anything about Annie Get your Gun until Holly told me about it.
So this wasn't something I taught Holly. It was me facilitating her
interest, connecting dots as they appeared one or two at a time, encouraging
her, enabling her, and sharing her interest. Now I'm actually pretty
interested, and we'll probably look for some Fanny Brice stuff, because she's
the other singer on the "Why? Because" number.
Oh--Shirley Temple figured into this some too, but was in parallel (similar
music and time period).
Holly will know more about the 1930's (she asks LOTS of questions about the
depression) by the time she's grown than I've ever known or ever wanted to.
Oh! We're reading a book called "The Doll People," and this morning there
was a mention of Amelia Earhart. "Who?" says Holly.
"Well, in the 1930's..." And I told her I knew a song about her, and sang
part of the chorus, and promised to sing the whole thing sometime when we're
in the car.
I don't know if Holly will get tired of the 30's soon, or if she'll grow up
to be a jazz singer or an economic theorist or biographer of Irving Berlin or
absolutely none of the above. I'm going to treat her the very same way in
any case.
(She's in the other room saying "Little Lord Fauntleroy's a little BOY," and
I've just pulled up a website with photos of Little Lord Fountelroy suits.)
Sandra
------------------------------------
<< Unschooling *Sandra's way* may very well not work for you.,
you're not Sandra. NO ONE can unschool just like someone else. It's all
relative. >>
And it has more to do with the kids than the mom.
I had no way of knowing that Holly would really love 1930's music. I rented
paper moon because one day we were mixed up about change for a $20, and which
way it would go, with her needing to give me some money back for me to give
her her allowance and some money I had borrowed, but she would keep the $20.
It got so crazy and funny that I tried to tell her about the $20 bill scam
from Paper Moon, and couldn't remember it exactly, so I rented the movie.
Holly LOVED the music.
So for Christmas I ordered a CD with songs from that. We discovered Irving
Berlin ("Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee") also wrote Annie Get your Gun,
which Holly knew had discovered at a friend's house.
We rented Top Hat, because "Cheek to Cheek" was on her CD. She LOVED
that--we kept it ten days. So I ordered a CD of Fred Astaire doing all
Irving Berlin songs.
Somewhere in the depths of the Wizard of Oz video was something about
"Everybody Sing," an old Judy Garland movie. Holly wanted to see it; we
found it and rented it.
One song on there, "Why? Because" (I think it's called), Holly loved, and she
wanted the lyrics. The lyrics weren't online (or I didn't find them) but I
DID find an ad for a Judy Garland CD collection of stuff from MGM movies,
with that song on it. AND there were lots of songs from Annie Get your Gun
there. We ordered it.
Tuesday night was a friend's birthday party, and we went to buy him a DVD.
Bladerunner, we thought (endedstory, were some scenes with... JUDY GARLAND!
So two days ago Holly saw film of two songs from the movie, with Judy
Garland. It was finished with another actress instead, because Judy Garland
got sick and couldn't finish the movie.
This morning, the Judy Garland CD came.
(I should keep this in Holly's diary, to show the speed with which this
Irving Berlin "unit study" came on.)
Here's the bid deal: In my whole life I have had a great aversion to that
style of music. Keith pressed me to watch some Fred Astaire stuff, and he
was right, it was nice, but I was still tepid. I've never liked Judy
Garland much at all. I didn't realize what all Irving Berlin had done. I
never knew anything about Annie Get your Gun until Holly told me about it.
So this wasn't something I taught Holly. It was me facilitating her
interest, connecting dots as they appeared one or two at a time, encouraging
her, enabling her, and sharing her interest. Now I'm actually pretty
interested, and we'll probably look for some Fanny Brice stuff, because she's
the other singer on the "Why? Because" number.
Oh--Shirley Temple figured into this some too, but was in parallel (similar
music and time period).
Holly will know more about the 1930's (she asks LOTS of questions about the
depression) by the time she's grown than I've ever known or ever wanted to.
Oh! We're reading a book called "The Doll People," and this morning there
was a mention of Amelia Earhart. "Who?" says Holly.
"Well, in the 1930's..." And I told her I knew a song about her, and sang
part of the chorus, and promised to sing the whole thing sometime when we're
in the car.
I don't know if Holly will get tired of the 30's soon, or if she'll grow up
to be a jazz singer or an economic theorist or biographer of Irving Berlin or
absolutely none of the above. I'm going to treat her the very same way in
any case.
(She's in the other room saying "Little Lord Fauntleroy's a little BOY," and
I've just pulled up a website with photos of Little Lord Fountelroy suits.)
Sandra
------------------------------------
zenmomma *
>>I had no way of knowing that Holly would really love 1930's music.>>Thanks for sharing Holly's musical journey. When I was in high school, I
developed an absolute passion for Fred Astaire and movie musicals. (And I
wondered why nobody thought I was "cool" :-D) I collected songs, sheet
music, movies, posters and memoribilia. I was probably the only 16 year old
with a crush on a skinny, balding guy who was in his prime 45 years earlier.
~Mary
_________________________________________________________________
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[email protected]
We have listened to an unabridged audio of The Doll People a couple of
times and just love that story! It has lots of little details that I
find amusing (such as, Barbies never take the oath), besides raising lots
of issues to discuss with kids. I was watching VH1 100 greatest songs
and 9yog joined me. They chose R-E-S-P-E-C-T as performed by Aretha
Franklin for #2. I told her that was the same song that the doll people
sang. Two dots to connect!
Maybe the Unschooling Curriculum should be "Connect the Dots".
Mary Ellen
snip>>>Oh! We're reading a book called "The Doll People," and this
morning there was a mention of Amelia Earhart. "Who?" says Holly.
"Well, in the 1930's..." And I told her I knew a song about her, and
sang
part of the chorus, and promised to sing the whole thing sometime when
we're
in the car.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
times and just love that story! It has lots of little details that I
find amusing (such as, Barbies never take the oath), besides raising lots
of issues to discuss with kids. I was watching VH1 100 greatest songs
and 9yog joined me. They chose R-E-S-P-E-C-T as performed by Aretha
Franklin for #2. I told her that was the same song that the doll people
sang. Two dots to connect!
Maybe the Unschooling Curriculum should be "Connect the Dots".
Mary Ellen
snip>>>Oh! We're reading a book called "The Doll People," and this
morning there was a mention of Amelia Earhart. "Who?" says Holly.
"Well, in the 1930's..." And I told her I knew a song about her, and
sang
part of the chorus, and promised to sing the whole thing sometime when
we're
in the car.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/28/02 4:52:26 PM, zenmomma@... writes:
<< I
developed an absolute passion for Fred Astaire and movie musicals. >>
It's been fun talking with her about the depression. People were SO poor
that the fantasy of people wearing nice clothes, and being in
state-of-the-art art-deco resorts (made of a few plywood sets, probably) in
all KINDS of movies from the Marx Brothers to musicals to murder mysteries
was as good for them as Star Wars was for us. People who could afford to fly
or cruise somewhere and hire a car with a chauffeur to take them to this
poshest-of-posh (imaginary)hotel could be looked at by people who could
afford a dime to go to a movie.
I didn't get that aspect of it at all in the 60's and 70's.
Sandra
<< I
developed an absolute passion for Fred Astaire and movie musicals. >>
It's been fun talking with her about the depression. People were SO poor
that the fantasy of people wearing nice clothes, and being in
state-of-the-art art-deco resorts (made of a few plywood sets, probably) in
all KINDS of movies from the Marx Brothers to musicals to murder mysteries
was as good for them as Star Wars was for us. People who could afford to fly
or cruise somewhere and hire a car with a chauffeur to take them to this
poshest-of-posh (imaginary)hotel could be looked at by people who could
afford a dime to go to a movie.
I didn't get that aspect of it at all in the 60's and 70's.
Sandra
Elizabeth Hill
SandraDodd@... wrote:
Top) and Ryan O'Neal, in What's Up Doc. (I thought it was really funny,
when I was a preteen.)
And Barbra Streisand will tie back into your Fanny Brice study.
Betsy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>This is kind of a stretch, but there is one Cole Porter song (You're the
>
> It got so crazy and funny that I tried to tell her about the $20 bill
> scam
> from Paper Moon, and couldn't remember it exactly, so I rented the
> movie.
> Holly LOVED the music.
Top) and Ryan O'Neal, in What's Up Doc. (I thought it was really funny,
when I was a preteen.)
And Barbra Streisand will tie back into your Fanny Brice study.
Betsy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]