Last weekend we got back from a week in Orlando. Everyone had a great time. Our favorite places included Kennedy Space Center where the kids seemed re-inspired to become astronauts, Universal Studios where we walked into the wonderful imagination of J.K.Rowling and the world of Harry Potter, and the Disney parks. Both of the kids had an amazing time in the Lego store filling cups with Legos to take home. The minute they walked in the door from the airport they started building! Although I'm glad we went, it will not be a place that I revisit. It was by far the most expensive and exhausting "vacation" I've ever been on.
With the bustle of everyday life I often forget how odd our family is, but taking a trip to Disney World was a huge reminder! Aiden was very upset that they didn't learn anything. At one point we went for a stroll on a trail in Animal Kingdom that was supposed to be a Cretaceous Era walking tour. They had some large dinosaur models along the trail. Aiden asked me which dinosaur it was, because he didn't recognize it. Of course neither did I, so I told him to find a sign that would tell him. There was no sign anywhere. He was so mad! He pursed up his face and exclaimed "Mom, why doesn't Disney want kids to learn?! All they had to do was put up a sign! Would that be so hard? I just want to know what kind of dinosaur that is!" All the other children where running around climbing all over the statue, but my kids were so upset that they refused to play on it.
We're slowly getting back into the groove with school work. The kids are continuing their "free learning" afternoons. Yesterday was a great success. Aiden spent his time building a model Sear's tower. He researched everything and built it to scale using legos. In his version the height of one lego is 2 stories or about 27 feet. He did all the math himself and had a great time building it. Hopefully he'll want to do Taipei 101 next. Zoë made a computer program on Alice. I enjoyed watching her perfect the program by tweaking small details. I can't wait to see what they come up with for tomorrow.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Electricity and Survival
This week has been busy, but strangely calm. We started out the week working on an experiment with lemons and light bulbs. I gave the kids a lemon, a potato, an onion, 2 alligator clips, a zinc and a copper piece, a light bulb from the snap circuits set, and an LED bulb and told them to try to get the light bulb to light up. It was a lot of fun watching them progress from wires everywhere to thinking about circuits, electricity flow, and how to test for problems. In the end we discovered that the LED bulb did not work and they couldn't get anything to light with just lemons as the power source. Zoë was upset and thought the experiment was a failure.
After a great suggestion from Tom, we spent some time the next day making a list of all the things they learned from their trial. They came up with a bunch of great things, and in the end felt much better about not meeting the original challenge. We also had a discussion about watts, amps, volts and ohms. I think we all understand electricity a little better now.
We also started (and in Aiden's case finished) reading "My Side of the Mountain." He loved this book about a boy surviving in the Catskills on his own. We've decided that next week we're going to have our own mini survival trip. I got them both pocket knives (I must be crazy), and they've started making their own fishing hooks that they're going to try to use at Grandma's lake. Everyone agreed that we should have backup dinner plans just in case though. I'm going to teach them how to start a fire and we're going to try to build a shelter. Zoë insists that we set up the tent too.
Everyone's progressing nicely with their math, piano and clarinet for Zoë. I also started a daily writing time. At this point I don't care what they write about, they just need to spend some time every day writing. In the hopes of having Aiden enjoy writing, we're not going to do much editing to his stuff. Instead I'm going to have him edit things that someone else has written and I have altered with mistakes.
Everyone is slowly adjusting to the new way of doing things. I am still struggling with being able to see progression without a list of completed tasks, but I'm starting to come around. It probably helps that I've mentally made my own list of things that we've learned from our challenges. After all, it wouldn't be reasonable to expect the kids to get this if I can't model the behavior!
After a great suggestion from Tom, we spent some time the next day making a list of all the things they learned from their trial. They came up with a bunch of great things, and in the end felt much better about not meeting the original challenge. We also had a discussion about watts, amps, volts and ohms. I think we all understand electricity a little better now.
We also started (and in Aiden's case finished) reading "My Side of the Mountain." He loved this book about a boy surviving in the Catskills on his own. We've decided that next week we're going to have our own mini survival trip. I got them both pocket knives (I must be crazy), and they've started making their own fishing hooks that they're going to try to use at Grandma's lake. Everyone agreed that we should have backup dinner plans just in case though. I'm going to teach them how to start a fire and we're going to try to build a shelter. Zoë insists that we set up the tent too.
Everyone's progressing nicely with their math, piano and clarinet for Zoë. I also started a daily writing time. At this point I don't care what they write about, they just need to spend some time every day writing. In the hopes of having Aiden enjoy writing, we're not going to do much editing to his stuff. Instead I'm going to have him edit things that someone else has written and I have altered with mistakes.
Everyone is slowly adjusting to the new way of doing things. I am still struggling with being able to see progression without a list of completed tasks, but I'm starting to come around. It probably helps that I've mentally made my own list of things that we've learned from our challenges. After all, it wouldn't be reasonable to expect the kids to get this if I can't model the behavior!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Our week "off" and met goals
It has been a busy week off, but also a little relaxing. Today we're heading to the Science Center for some fun and tonight Zoë is preforming in a duet night piano recital.
I've spent the week trying to learn the difference between volts, amps and ohms so I can teach it to the kids next week. Thankfully, Tom did some research for me, and I should be able to cover this. I've also planned an experiment for them with no clear directions. The plan is to give them the tools they need, tell them what we're trying to find out, and have them come up with their own method. In the end we're going to write a scientific paper to have the results "published."
I'm definitely struggling with the new learn as you go approach. I keep wanting to have them work on the curriculum because I'm worried they aren't learning enough since I haven't formulated where they should be going ahead of time. Of course that doesn't make any sense, and really I'm struggling with my own need to control things! Hopefully I'll adjust soon.
Aiden finished his ALEKS pie last week a month ahead of his original goal. He's ready to start Algebra I next week. I know I should be excited for him, but really I'm filled with fear. Of course I am proud of him. The amount of work he put in to finish a month ahead of schedule was incredible. It's WHAT he's finishing that makes me so uneasy.
Zoë also finished her 50% math goal a month ahead of schedule. She's also a week ahead of her piano goals. I worry about her because she doesn't seem happy about meeting any of these goals. It's almost like she can't allow herself to feel proud of her accomplishments. Gee I wonder where she gets that?! She has two parents that continuously do the same thing! As long as she isn't expecting perfection, maybe she's just driven.
I've spent the week trying to learn the difference between volts, amps and ohms so I can teach it to the kids next week. Thankfully, Tom did some research for me, and I should be able to cover this. I've also planned an experiment for them with no clear directions. The plan is to give them the tools they need, tell them what we're trying to find out, and have them come up with their own method. In the end we're going to write a scientific paper to have the results "published."
I'm definitely struggling with the new learn as you go approach. I keep wanting to have them work on the curriculum because I'm worried they aren't learning enough since I haven't formulated where they should be going ahead of time. Of course that doesn't make any sense, and really I'm struggling with my own need to control things! Hopefully I'll adjust soon.
Aiden finished his ALEKS pie last week a month ahead of his original goal. He's ready to start Algebra I next week. I know I should be excited for him, but really I'm filled with fear. Of course I am proud of him. The amount of work he put in to finish a month ahead of schedule was incredible. It's WHAT he's finishing that makes me so uneasy.
Zoë also finished her 50% math goal a month ahead of schedule. She's also a week ahead of her piano goals. I worry about her because she doesn't seem happy about meeting any of these goals. It's almost like she can't allow herself to feel proud of her accomplishments. Gee I wonder where she gets that?! She has two parents that continuously do the same thing! As long as she isn't expecting perfection, maybe she's just driven.
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