Non-Lessons WAS Re: math experience
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/21/2002 3:05:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ecsamhill@... writes:
information, whether it be in a lesson-y way or not.
This morning, for example, my son (3) just could not wait to get his hands on
a paper airplane he had made last week. My daughter (2) soon became curious,
and had to come over to play with the plane. She asked me to make a plane
for her, and handed me some of the felt from her, as she calls it "Arts and
Crabs Box."
So I went ahead and made a plane-looking thing for her out of the felt, and
she had a heck of an unsuccessful time trying to get the thing to fly the way
her brother's plane was filing.
So SHE went over to my work files and pulled out a manilla folder and folded
it into a crude paper airplane all by herself. Then she and my son just had
fun throwing the darn things around for a while, before they decided that
they wanted to use their "Wizzers" (Scissors) from the "Arts and Crabs Box"
to see if they could make a plane that would go faster and further.
I don't know. Maybe they learned nothing from the whole episode. But they
were having fun, and I was letting go.
I wonder if I will be able to train myself to continue to do this as they
grow older, or if I am just able to do this at this point in time because
they are pre-school age and I think they need to have fun more than they need
to learn how to add and subtract. Any thoughts?
Kate Davis
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
ecsamhill@... writes:
> Could someone give examples of "offering" information in a non-lesson-yMaybe I'm crazy, but I am beginning to see the real value in not "offering"
> way?
>
> Betsy
>
information, whether it be in a lesson-y way or not.
This morning, for example, my son (3) just could not wait to get his hands on
a paper airplane he had made last week. My daughter (2) soon became curious,
and had to come over to play with the plane. She asked me to make a plane
for her, and handed me some of the felt from her, as she calls it "Arts and
Crabs Box."
So I went ahead and made a plane-looking thing for her out of the felt, and
she had a heck of an unsuccessful time trying to get the thing to fly the way
her brother's plane was filing.
So SHE went over to my work files and pulled out a manilla folder and folded
it into a crude paper airplane all by herself. Then she and my son just had
fun throwing the darn things around for a while, before they decided that
they wanted to use their "Wizzers" (Scissors) from the "Arts and Crabs Box"
to see if they could make a plane that would go faster and further.
I don't know. Maybe they learned nothing from the whole episode. But they
were having fun, and I was letting go.
I wonder if I will be able to train myself to continue to do this as they
grow older, or if I am just able to do this at this point in time because
they are pre-school age and I think they need to have fun more than they need
to learn how to add and subtract. Any thoughts?
Kate Davis
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/21/2002 12:21:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
Katedavislawfirm@... writes:
That's what I think!!
Don't worry about later - let it come, you'll be ready.
Read Frank Smith's "Book of Learning and Forgetting."
Read Peggy Kaye's "Games for Learning," "Games for Math," and "Games for
Reading." Just use them as idea books - to stimulate your own ideas.
If you can, get a copy of Anna Kealoha's "Trust the Children" -- again, as an
idea book so you're ready with information and suggestions when the time
comes (it looks more schooly than you might expect from a book recommended by
unschoolers - but use it as a reference book - it is so full of interesting
information and ideas!!!).
Read "The Homeschooling Book of Answers" edited by Linda Dobson (you'll
recognize some of the people in it <G>) for its diversity of ideas.
Read Carol Narigon's "Unschooling Curriculum" just to get clear in your head
that what you're doing is legitimate - it is BETTER for learning. It is at
http://sandradodd.com/unschoolingcurriculum.html
Read something about learning styles/ multiple intelligences - Thomas
Armstrong or someone else.
Read something from Dawna Markova - "Your Child is Smart" is one.
Hmmm - and when you've finished those <G> -- your kids will, by that time,
have proven to you that unschooling works and you'll be an "expert" and will
be writing the books yourself <G>.
--pamS
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Katedavislawfirm@... writes:
> I wonder if I will be able to train myself to continue to do this as theyOh yes!!!! THEY are so lucky to have you as their mom.
> grow older, or if I am just able to do this at this point in time because
> they are pre-school age and I think they need to have fun more than they
> need
> to learn how to add and subtract. Any thoughts?
That's what I think!!
Don't worry about later - let it come, you'll be ready.
Read Frank Smith's "Book of Learning and Forgetting."
Read Peggy Kaye's "Games for Learning," "Games for Math," and "Games for
Reading." Just use them as idea books - to stimulate your own ideas.
If you can, get a copy of Anna Kealoha's "Trust the Children" -- again, as an
idea book so you're ready with information and suggestions when the time
comes (it looks more schooly than you might expect from a book recommended by
unschoolers - but use it as a reference book - it is so full of interesting
information and ideas!!!).
Read "The Homeschooling Book of Answers" edited by Linda Dobson (you'll
recognize some of the people in it <G>) for its diversity of ideas.
Read Carol Narigon's "Unschooling Curriculum" just to get clear in your head
that what you're doing is legitimate - it is BETTER for learning. It is at
http://sandradodd.com/unschoolingcurriculum.html
Read something about learning styles/ multiple intelligences - Thomas
Armstrong or someone else.
Read something from Dawna Markova - "Your Child is Smart" is one.
Hmmm - and when you've finished those <G> -- your kids will, by that time,
have proven to you that unschooling works and you'll be an "expert" and will
be writing the books yourself <G>.
--pamS
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
firemedic219
<<<<I wonder if I will be able to train myself to continue to do this
as they
grow older, or if I am just able to do this at this point in time
because
they are pre-school age and I think they need to have fun more than
they need
to learn how to add and subtract. Any thoughts?>>>>>
Kate,
I struggle with this too. My boys are 4,3 & 1. I feel like I *should
be directing their learning but I see that they learn better when
left to their own devices. They have just discovered the joys of
legos. I always wanted to show them the pictures on the boxes and
say, "See? Put this one here and the yellow one here and you'll have
a rocket!" Naturally they couldn't care less, lol! When I finally
stepped back and stayed out of their way they built things that I
couldn't believe. UGH! I, too, hope I can learn to back off and let
them teach themselves. No advice here, just understanding. :-)
Lisa
as they
grow older, or if I am just able to do this at this point in time
because
they are pre-school age and I think they need to have fun more than
they need
to learn how to add and subtract. Any thoughts?>>>>>
Kate,
I struggle with this too. My boys are 4,3 & 1. I feel like I *should
be directing their learning but I see that they learn better when
left to their own devices. They have just discovered the joys of
legos. I always wanted to show them the pictures on the boxes and
say, "See? Put this one here and the yellow one here and you'll have
a rocket!" Naturally they couldn't care less, lol! When I finally
stepped back and stayed out of their way they built things that I
couldn't believe. UGH! I, too, hope I can learn to back off and let
them teach themselves. No advice here, just understanding. :-)
Lisa