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insegnante
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| Posted: May 27 2009 at 11:28am | IP Logged
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So my son (who turned 7 in March) brought over this neat picture he made of a leopard that he said was a "cave drawing." I asked him where he got the idea and he said from his homeschooling art book, i.e., the one I ordered but haven't yet begun using (for various reasons including that I have a bunch of supplies to order -- it's Artistic Pursuits.)
And my reaction changed from appreciation of his work to something like, "Wait, you weren't supposed to start going through that stuff without me!" Not that he disobeyed some order, a more general "weren't supposed to." A "hey, those were for 'official' homeschooling" sort of thing.
Then I caught myself, but I'm not certain there isn't *anything* to wanting him to wait to be properly "guided" through it all. This illustrates how up in the air I am about a lot of educational philosophy. I'd love to hear your thoughts -- I'm guessing most will come down on the side of letting him learn from any age-appropriate materials he can find unless I have some specific reason not to (e.g., interfering with the future use of the books?)
Oh. He also showed me his and his brother's names in some pretty respectable cursive writing. He's been wanting to learn that for a long time; now he finally has, without much help from me, just looked ahead in the handwriting book on his own!
He wants to write a letter to Grandma in script now. I'm not sure what to think of the part of me that is uneasy with him doing this without some more formal kind of instruction. He might learn to do it the "wrong" way or something, right, and make it harder for himself down the road?
(Of course, I was taught cursive writing by my then-best friend when we were both 5. Then I switched schools and skipped third grade, the one in which the most intensive cursive writing instruction incurred. I didn't have the best handwriting those first few years -- especially had trouble making my lowercase o's not look like a's -- but still ended up having this really neat, quick, even beautiful handwriting later in my school years. [And now I've been typing instead for so long I don't anymore...])
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Theresa
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 27 2009 at 11:56am | IP Logged
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keep put away something you want to do with them like that.
and as soon as you're through learning the cursive.. it becomes a free for all anyway.. and how much will it really get used. I finally found my most comfortable writing style was a mix of cursive and printing.. but all I actually write out these days is a grocery list 
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: May 28 2009 at 7:22am | IP Logged
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Theresa,
I am a control freak. "No you can't read that book. We wont be reading that until week 17 in the school year!"  Over the years I have really tried to change and go more with the flow. But when those boxes of new materials start arriving I want to hide everything to keep the kids away from it "until it's time".
What I am trying to remember is that children often learn best when they are interested in that particular topic. (And, if your kids are like mine, their interests can change by the hour.) So, if I got an electronic circuits kit to use when we get to that chapter in the Science book it would be a great hands on extra to help them learn. BUT, if the child finds it ahead of time and is so excited to learn about it right then, it would be better for me to let go of my plan and help him figure it out. .. right then ...regardless of what the plan was.  When we DO get to that chapter, it can be a nice review of what he already learned from the kit! Let me tell you, this is hard for me. I know many will think I'm crazy, but it's my type A personality I guess.
I think, with the handwriting, maybe you could watch him write for a few minutes and see if he is using correct formation techniques so that there wont be problems later. Other than that, i would let him go with it.
The art book might be something to hide if you want to use that for special Mom/kid time. There are things that warrant that I believe.
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Becky
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Kathryn
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| Posted: May 28 2009 at 12:38pm | IP Logged
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I understand about going with the flow and something I could def. work on more as well. It seems some of the surprise and excitement of us presenting the new material is gone when they go rummaging through the new stuff because then it's obviously no longer a surprise or may be as exciting.
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stellamaris
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| Posted: May 28 2009 at 4:13pm | IP Logged
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This has been one tough aspect of homeschooling for me personally--it's really hard to surprise your kids when they are with you all. the. time. I would like to be able to take out our new material and get some "oooo's" and "aaa's", but usually they get into it before I can present it in some sort of orderly fashion. Like you, Theresa, I try to bite my tongue and put a positive spin on it, because, after all, they are learning and most effectively, too. And I find that they usually are not all that thorough in studying the material, so if I can find all the pieces of it again  , we just go ahead and use it with whatever study I had planned to use it originally.
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 28 2009 at 10:59pm | IP Logged
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I would SO let him use whatever materials his little heart desires. These are materials you picked out for him to use anyway, right? So what if his timing isn't exactly what you had planned? Look at the big picture. He is learning, actively, of his own volition! Wow! Time to pat yourself on the back, sit back, and enjoy!
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folklaur
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| Posted: May 28 2009 at 11:00pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
| I would SO let him use whatever materials his little heart desires. These are materials you picked out for him to use anyway, right? So what if his timing isn't exactly what you had planned? Look at the big picture. He is learning, actively, of his own volition! Wow! Time to pat yourself on the back, sit back, and enjoy! |
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just agreeing.
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Bridget
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| Posted: May 29 2009 at 7:01am | IP Logged
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Mine do that! Each summer big stacks of books grow in my bedroom as I gather them for the next school year. There is constantly a child sprawled on my bed or sitting on the floor among the books. I figure going through some of the material twice will do them no harm and may solidify the information or experience. It's all good. What a joy that our kids can't wait to get their hands on new books!
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Maria B.
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| Posted: May 29 2009 at 7:31am | IP Logged
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For some good ideas on implementing a summer reading program, see this at the new Phases of Womanhood website.
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MarieA
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| Posted: May 30 2009 at 1:31pm | IP Logged
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I agree with letting him use the materials. I have found that the things that my kids have picked up and used have remained favorites.  (Just my 2 cents. )
Marie
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JennGM
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| Posted: May 30 2009 at 7:51pm | IP Logged
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My son does that, and I do let him go forward. Isn't this a bit of unschooling -- child led interest? It goes farther than just coming from me.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: discouraging learning "on their own"
