jmcseals SEALS

Hi Sandra,

I was thinking more along the lines of specific things that happen to show
that children learn 'educational concepts' without being *taught*. Like the
balance example with the see-saw. Personally, I went through very long
moments of doubt, before I joined this list...thanks everyone!!! It was
difficult for me to *see* the lessons my children were actually learning. I
know I've seen several people on this list ask about documentation, etc.,
and find it hard to explain exactly *what* their kids are learning in more
specific terms. It's hard for a some people, myself included a lot of
times!, to make the connection and turn see-sawing into a balance lesson,
without actually *teaching*.

I also hear a lot of skeptics and nervous moms state that they aren't
*creative enough* to turn everday situations into learning opportunities.
It seems like if there were a place to read how others use those little
moments to spring off of, it might help them to realize that learning does,
in fact, happen all the time. And for those that need documentation (we
don't in Texas) it would be a great asset when trying to translate natural,
daily activity into educationese.

Any thoughts? I'm not exactly sure if this was what you were looking for or
not for your page.

Jennifer





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In a message dated 5/3/03 11:48:43 AM, jmcseals@... writes:

<< It was
difficult for me to *see* the lessons my children were actually learning. >>

The only problem I foresee is that some people might lock onto that idea too
hard, and want to "see a lesson" in everything, and only see school-style
"lessons" as legitimate goals.

Most people get over that naturally, but others might see it as the target to
hit and stick to.

Other than that it seems like a great project and isn't the same
(unfortunately for my project <g>) as listing typical days.

Sandra

zenmomma2kids

>>It's hard for a some people, myself included a lot of times!, to
make the connection and turn see-sawing into a balance lesson,
without actually *teaching*.>>

Remember, it's great to expand and enhance and enjoy what your kids
are doing. The way your day took off from the fork balancing thing
was a perfect example of a day just flowing and letting the learning
just *be* right there where it is. Turning anything into a "lesson"
is not the point. It's seeing the learning without the lesson that
you're looking to get to.

>>I also hear a lot of skeptics and nervous moms state that they
aren't *creative enough* to turn everday situations into learning
opportunities.>>

We don't need to turn them into learning opportunities. The learning
is there from the start. Even if you had never noticed what your kids
were doing with the forks, they would still have gotten a little
piece of the balance puzzle to store in the heads for future
reference. Learning to play with ideas, and opportunities to expand
on them is maybe closer to what we're looking to do.

>>It seems like if there were a place to read how others use those
little moments to spring off of, it might help them to realize that
learning does, in fact, happen all the time. And for those that need
documentation (we don't in Texas) it would be a great asset when
trying to translate natural, daily activity into educationese.>>

Here's an article I wrote about educationese. Maybe it's a little of
what you're looking for.

Life is good.
~Mary

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A Day With Peter Pan
by Mary Gold

What could be more playful than Peter Pan? This well-loved musical
theater production was sure to be a big hit with my daughter and her
friend. Flying pixies, lost boys, pirates, silliness, songs and fun:
this was going to be a day for delight. We set off in great
anticipation, leaving thoughts of learning and homeschooling behind.
We started off with lunch, whisked off to the production, and stayed
after to meet the actors for some Q&A. We were after entertainment,
and that is what we got.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. (Another fine
musical, by the way.) We experienced something else in the bargain.
It is something that our children understand instinctively, but we
parents sometimes have a hard time seeing. It is something that is
available in any fun day. We experienced a day of natural learning.
It was just as meaningful and productive as any day we may have
scheduled as `educational,' even more so in fact because it was all
so natural. We heard new music and rich dialogue. We asked questions
and found our answers. We were learning! In fact, there was so much
new information flowing into our day that the girls and I were
bubbling over with inspiration. Our discussions and enthusiasm
lasted the long drive home and beyond.

Just for fun (and to inform a friend new to homeschooling) I decided
to come home and jot it all down. I thought it would be inspiring to
see in print all the learning that takes place in a child's fertile
mind. As an exercise in my own unschooling awareness, I tried to put
all we had experienced into the language of school. It is what we
homeschoolers like to call educationese.

So let's see, what exactly could a professional educator come up with
as a syllabus for a day at the theater? Putting on my best
bureaucratic curriculum-writin' hat, here is some of what I came up
with.

English:
-Classical Literature: Introduction to James Barrie's classic novel
Peter Pan. Discussed origins of story and compared and contrasted
visual interpretations of the same story. (We talked about the book,
the Disney version and the show.)
-Vocabulary:
-Introduced the phrase `non sequitur.' Practiced pronunciation and
used examples in definition. (This actually did come up, totally
by accident—almost as if it were a non sequitur. It was a funny
conversation.)
-Introduced the words overture, conductor, director, technician, and
intermission. (These have a more obvious origin.)
-Poetry: Created rhymes using classic folk songs.

Music:
-Choral participation: Sang traditional songs and composed and sang
original compositions to traditional tunes. (This happened during the
drive down to the show. You haven't lived until you've heard that new
classic, "Dashing through the snow, on a pair of broken skis..." a
few dozen times.)
-Attended a musical performance with a full orchestral accompaniment.
Listened to and discussed different instruments in an orchestra.

Theater:
-Attended a professional theater performance. (I guess that one is
kind of a given.)
-Researched and presented ideas on technical theater applications.
(We talked beforehand about how we thought they would do the stunts
and stage the show.)
-Attended a presentation on staging, vocal prep, acting techniques,
scene design and overall production. (This was included as part of
the Q&A with the actors.)




Science:
-Intro to physics: Learned about momentum, force, and simple
machines. (We saw a demonstration of pulleys and counterweights and
learned exactly how much force it really does take to make Peter Pan
fly. Apparently the stagehand on the other end of the rope must jump
off a very high ladder to get the actor airborne.)
-Electronics: Saw demonstration of microphone and sound technology.
(Did you know that microphones are now so small and sensitive that
they can hide them in the actor's hair?)

Math:
-Money skills, simple addition: Counted out change for tip using
bills, quarters, dimes and nickels.
-Intro to Economics: Discussed basic service industry economics. (As
in "why do we leave a tip?")
-Simple multiplication: Figured out the lunch cost per child based on
the $.55 per year of age formula used at the restaurant.

Social Sciences:
-Interpersonal Relationships: Explored and experimented with various
interpersonal scenarios. Evaluated efficacy of basic skills and
adjusted according to explicit circumstances. (There always seems to
be opportunity to hone these skills.)
-Careers: Explored careers in the theater such as acting, set design,
sound technician, and lighting technician.

Wow, what a day! Keep in mind that my daughter is only eight years
old and her friend is just six. And yet there they were seeking out
all sorts of new information. They were soaking it up like little
sponges. Now if I had planned all this out beforehand, it would have
been a pretty impressive syllabus for one afternoon. Apparently we
covered an awful lot of `topics.' In fact, if I had written it down
beforehand, I would have doubted my ability to fit it all in. It is
quite a little curriculum the girls built into their day. But I
didn't have to fit anything in. I simply let the day flow. I talked
with the girls and answered their questions. I kept our pace slow to
allow for observation. I acted silly and posed some thought provoking
questions. I did what any parent would do with two bright,
thoughtful, eager learners.

If you have never attempted that convoluted language of the schools
you might like to try it sometime. You will undoubtedly impress
yourself with how much of what the schools work so hard to accomplish
can be handled by two little girls in just one afternoon of play.
Your syllabus will of course be different than theirs. That is the
beauty of self-directed learning, it suits the learner not the
teacher. But the learning will be there. It will be surrounded by
joy, excitement and laughter. Because in the words of author James
Barrie "The most wasted day of all is that in which we have not
laughed."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

jmcseals SEALS

***Remember, it's great to expand and enhance and enjoy what your kids
are doing. The way your day took off from the fork balancing thing
was a perfect example of a day just flowing and letting the learning
just *be* right there where it is. Turning anything into a "lesson"
is not the point. It's seeing the learning without the lesson that
you're looking to get to.***

Somehow, that is what I was trying to say but didn't chose the best words to
express it. <g> My husband is so skeptical that he looks for me to explain
everything in educational *lesson-learned* mode. Makes it difficult to lose
the terms, even if you don't always identify with them.

Jennifer







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Olga

---
> Jennifer,

I can't find your original post. I would LOVE a site where everyone
shared their life like that. Especially for us new to this
lifestyle. Seeing how others do it, makes it clearer where it is
happening in your own life! I don't know if I can be of any help but
let me know if you can find some use for me!

BTW, I looked up RV's for my family to go to the conference(we have a
wedding in CT the following weekend so we had to go up anyway)
www.cruiseamerica.com had some specials. From Florida or Louisana it
was get 7 days and get 7 more free (about $1000). Now, you may need
to purchase additional miles and they charge you per hour for the
generator running so I am sure that will add up. However, we are
weighing all that right now. I personally think that is the ultimate
family unschooling vacation!!

Another BTW, you mentioned the thinkpad for your daugther. It
depends on her personality. My son has a computer. I debated for
over a year on the leap pad system. He kept bugging me so finally I
gave in. I figured even if he uses it in the car?? Right?? Wrong.
Never touches the thing!!! I think after the animations in the
computer or the personal interaction of reading to him it just
doesn't do it. On the other hand my friends son, also 4 1/2 loves
his but he does not have his own computer. Just a note, the books
are expensive and rarely on sale, $15 each. Computer games can
always be gotten cheaply. I liked the fact that the reading was so
close to real reading but the words can read wrong. So all in all,
if you know someone who has one, see if you could borrow it!! If you
lived here I would be happy to lend you mine!! <g>

Hope to meet you at the conference, I always enjoy your posts!

Olga

She who laughs...lasts!! :)
>

jmcseals SEALS

Thank you Olga! I think we've decided against RV'ing. I did check into it
briefly and it seems *very* expensive considering the size we'd need and the
length of travel. There's also still the issue of seatbelts for car seats,
etc. Maybe once the kids are a little older.

We got ahold of a Think Pad and I think we may put one on the list. The
kids really seemed to enjoy it and with 7, surely the money won't be wasted!
If anything, my boys (almost 2 and 3) will enjoy the noise it makes! LOL!

I'm still working out the details of how I'm going to put together a
webpage/group for unschooling examples, but I will definitely let you know
once it is up! Thanks for your interest!

Jennifer






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