The Technological Wave in Education

Maybe they can have an extra 15 minutes on the computer ; )

Lost to history

History and memory . . .we often think of things lost to history meaning 1,000’s of years ago i.e. how the pyramids were built, what was Easter Islands purpose, but what about hundreds or even a generation.

I was just listening to the history channel which was talking about the cornerstone on the White House. A stone that was placed with much pomp and circumstance, a brass plate was even put to it, but today the location us unknown. Under President Truman there was even a study by the corps of engineers to find it but to no avail.

What about even in your own life? Talk to your parents, your siblings – there will already be facts lost, ideas that no one is quite sure of, memories that people diffiantly disagree about. . . My answer write, photograph, tape . . .

How will / do you keep memories alive and accurate?

Geography Game

If you want to challenge your geography knowledge, check this out. I found it on facebook, but what a great way to test your geography IQ.

Survivor - Gabon - Season 17 - Episode 7

Vocab:
Reward
Delusional
Blindside
Totem pole


Crystal tripped over the rice. Matty was quite upset at this and then she opted not to eat. Was this a reasonable, mature response? How do you define the word maturity?

Dan talks about his “inner child”. Corinne says that he is acting like a child trying to fit it. What does it mean to have an “inner child”? How can you care for yours?

Sugar has taken 5 trips to Exile Island. Create a model of your ideal “Sugar Shack”. Also, find out what a real Sugar Shack is and what it is used for.

One of the most touching parts of Survivor is always their contact from home. Choose a family member that has affected you. Write and deliver a heartfelt note.

Sugar seems to have a combination of beauty and brains. Do some research on other women in history that posses this lethal combination.

Rice is the most valuable thing they have right now. What is the most valuable thing that you have? Why?

Play the FreeRice game and help feed others in the world that are starving

Be yourself vs. holding it in – Jeff asked several tribe members where they were on the scale between these two extremes. Which do you think is more advantageous as a survivor contestant? Why?

What would you carry?

Today I had the kids complete a version of "If there is a fire in your house, what would you take?" but with a slightly different bent.

I am reading Suite Francaise. A novel about France as the Germans overtake it. Interestingly, the book is written by a woman who herself was there and was herself deported and later died in Auschwitz.



This book starts in Paris with the Germans on the march. The people of Paris realize that the fall of the city is imanant and that they must leave and so they begin to pack their cars to head to the contryside, so I posed the question to the children - If we had to escape our home quickly and could only take what we could fit in DH's truck, what would you take? They both scibbled down lists.

As the book continues, Petrol or gas runs out and people are forced to abandon their cars. I asked the children to trim their lists to what we could carry on our backs.

Futher along, there is a bombing that causes them to flee for their lives. Many of the characters are happy to make it out with their lives. I asked them to trim again to what they would carry at all times as not to leave something behind. I read them the following section:

She (Madame Pericand) looked again at everything she had brought, "everything she had saved": her children, her overnight cases. She placed her hand over the jewelery and money sewn into her blouse. Yes, during this terrible time she had acted with determination, courage and composure. She hadn't lost her head! She hadn't lost . . .she hadn't . . .Suddenly she cried out in a choked voice. She clutched her throat and fell backwards, letting out a low moan as if she were suffocating.
"My God, Madame! Madame, what's the matter?" exclaimed Nanny.
"Nanny, my dear Nanny," Madame Pericand finally groanded in a barely audible voice, "We forgot . . ."
"What? What did we forget?"
"We forgot my father-in-law," said Madame Pericand, dissolving into tears. (pages 112)

This led to a great car conversation about growing up in fear of Russia and in the importance of relationships and items. We were very happy to see that no only did they see the value and necessity of things, but also of people. They remembered to collect their grandfather (my father) down the street.

Using Speech Recognition for Writing and Proper Enunciation

Today, I have been introduced to a powerful program. In fact, I am using it right now. It is speech recognition. I thought this program would be very helpful for my son who has a hard time when trying to write. I thought he may be able to dictate his ideas. Then he could correct the dictation (which may take more work than I expected).

Like many things in homeschooling, I have found a second use for this program as well. As DD was helping me learn the program, we found that you have to dictate very well for the program to work correctly. DD thought that this would help her in her acting. When he was very young, she had a speech impediment. Now you do not really do not notice it, but it did affect this program. Apparently, you can continue to work with the program so that it can get smarter (i.e. get used to you speech patterns).

This speech recognition program was not an additional cost for me. In fact, it was already on the computer. It was just a matter of learning how to use it.

We certainly have a lot more to learn and all must be more careful in how we speak to it, but it may be a very helpful program to use. You may want you check and see if your computer has the program as well.

Homeschooling Hints - Use Your Resources Wisely

Using your resources wisely is an important mantra when you homeschool (Hint #3). Although it is important for the young and old, it is most important during the teenage years.

Keep your eyes out for people that may supplement your children's interests or studies. Today for example DD and I went to the neighbors for some beading lessons. Pam recently gave me a bracelet as a thank you for sewing on her son's Cub Scout patches. DD was impressed with it. She has beaded before but was concerned that her patterning looked too childish. So I took the opportunity to call Pam and see if she would give us a lesson. She was thrilled at the idea and so we went over today.

It was like having a personal shopper. She introduced us to all the necessary parts and pieces. We have looked at beading before but I always hesitate to buy anything but a kit because I have no idea what to buy - too many options. She really helped us figure out what was necessary and even coached us through making two bracelets and a necklace. DD was thrilled.

So keep your eyes open. Who can help your children? Who may have a talent or skill that they can share? Most will be thrilled to pass on the info. Such relationships may even translate into a internship / apprenticeship.

PS. I'll try to get the digital camera working so that we can post some pictures of our creations.

Child Centered Learning - From Leaf to Maple Syrup to Gum

When you homeschool you always have to be ready to change direction and follow the learning. This is why I was always a fan of open classroom. Teachers need to have the ability to move where the interest of the kids goes. If a ladybug flies in and the kids want to learn about ladybugs, you should be able to adjust. This is not such an easy task when you are tied down by curriculum and checked by standardized tests. At home, you can go where ever you are drawn (Homeschooling Hint #1).

Yesterday, for example, as I worked in the kitchen and DS read his science pages diagramming the leaf and stem, we were led us in other directions. We suddenly had to put celery in dyed water to better see the xylem and phloem. We had challenge questions about maple syrup – do you think we tap the xylem or phloem and why? (I should tell you that DS has memorized which is up and down by using the pneumonic device – phloem sounds like flow. You flow down. Therefore Xylem is up / phloem down. I was amazed at how well he understood the application. Maple syrup making was something that he understood and could relate to. We do it. We discussed why we could not over tap a tree. This used to be just a rule that we had to follow, but now he understood why we couldn’t do that. ) We compared this idea to cuts on a human body. Then something in this suddenly spurred off a question about gum. And while I did not have the answer, we did come over the computer when we finished. I had him write “Bubble Gum” on the last page we were reading so that we wouldn’t forget and so that he could take the distracting thought out of his head.

When we finished, I found a great little explanation on the making of gum on the Glee Gum site. (Actually, I tried to get DH to help him so that I could get dinner done and get to choir, but I immediately heard him tell him to Google “Bubble Gum”. I tried to intervene to encourage DH to add “for kids” or “how to make bubble gum”, but he said that it will bring up Wikipedia and he can get his answer there. Homeschooling hint #2 for the day, work to strengths not weaknesses. As I have mentioned, reading is very hard for DS especially when DH has the tv on in front of him. So I interceded, tried to help him with Wikipedia and then did my own search which came by this site which was much more visual with some reading. It not only was clearer to DS, but also encouraged him to read in short blurbs. )

“While it is helpful to have a map of where you are planning to go; don’t be afraid to follow an interesting diversion. You can always get back to the main road later. Maybe you will even find a short cut.” me

Which of the Following States is in One Time Zone?

Remember me talking about Nautilus learning and how you add layers - Ironically, we had a microcosm of this idea this weekend.

On the train ride back, one of the girls started playing "Who wants to be a Millionaire?" (teaching with technology - Imagine if we sent quizzes / refreshes that way). Anyway one of the questions was "Which of the following states is in one time zone?

Oregon
Oklahoma
Indiana
Kansas"

The problem with this game on the girl's phone is that when you get the answer wrong. It doesn't give you the correct answer - so we were left wanting - TWICE!

Flash forward to today, DS was doing his MATH. What is the math about? Traveling across the country. What is the picture at the top of the page? A time zone map of the US. What is the correct answer to the question? Oklahoma.

To brush up on other useless trivia:

Can't Go Over it, Then Why Not Under it?

Sometimes when you homeschool, you wonder if you are on track. Are your kids going to make it in the outside world? Have I deprived them of something that they can never regain?

And then sometimes, you wonder . . .and I graduated from school (and college)??? How did that happen?

We have started letting our dog have roam of the house when we go to bed and when we go out. However, he has still been know to get into the cat liter. So I figured if we put up a baby gate, the cat could get in and the dog would stay out. But I could only find the very tall gate, I wasn't sure if the cat could jump that high. I must have verbalized my fear, because I hear from DS, "Mom, why don't you just put in up higher so that the cat can just go UNDER it but the dog can't?"

Wow, that made a lot of sense. I guess he got the critical thinking portion of our homeschool curriculum beat.

Integrating Technology and Learning

Since I have been hearing about this video all weekend, I figured that I should share it with you:



Mind you it does not strictly apply to us homeschoolers and many of us will see it as confirmation as to why we homeschool, but if you can get past that you may also be inspired. Of course DD's reason for her excitement about this video is that she sees it as yet another reason why she should get a cellphone. I'm not sure that that is going to work, but I am going to allow her to create a PowerPoint in leiu of a self test in Social Studies. We'll see how that goes and go from their. I'm also thinking, she may be getting some interesting emails. Also, I noticed that our library now has mp3 books on their website for downloading. This may be just the thing for DS.

Let me know any great technology ideas that you have.

TeacherTube.com

Did you know about this? It is just like YouTube.com but with an educational bent.

In one of the lectures I sat in on last night and today, the speaker was talking about the integration of technology and education. Mind you for a homeschooler, the usage is a little different, but it certianly can impact our teaching / learning too. For example, check out the following video:



Show it to your children and then have them pick one of the items in the song to do a research on and write a quick summary.

I am looking forward to really crawling around this site to see what else they have to offer.

Reading Your Way into Good Habits

When I was at work the other night, the Family Consumer Science teachers gave me an article, “Healthful Messages, Wrapped in Fiction” by Tara Parker-Pope. The article discussed the idea of positive messages to girls can be introduced in literature and successfully change their habits. As we have been having problems with DD (teenage issues) and would love to have her get better (more positive) media information, I thought this article may help. I thought it may help me foray into a conversation about the media and its impact on her. Also, I thought perhaps she may read these books.

Impressively, she took to the idea right away. She read the article with interest and then this morning took out not one but three of the Beacon Street Girlsbooks from the library to read and review for me. I thought this was great, because we adults can sit around and discuss what is “good” for kids, but they need to decide if it is really good. When she writes something up, we’ll publish it for your review.

In the meantime, please let me know if you or any of your daughters have read this series.

Dutch Oven Cooking

Homeschooling with heart sometimes means that you do something illogical. Tonight DS and I cooked dinner on an open fire. Did we really have time to do it? NO. Was it the most effective way to cook? NO. Did I do it anyway? Yes.

DS has gotten involved in Dutch oven cooking because of Boy Scouts. He has been enjoying it when they go camping, so tonight he wanted to share one of the recipes he made. So tonight we had Dutch Oven Pot Roast with carrots and potatoes.

DH loves Dutch Oven cooking too, but I think desserts are his favorites. He especially like to make cobblers? DS seems to be fully involved he wants to make soups, side dishes, main dishes, breads, and desserts. We may have a culinary master born 150 years too late.

Note: This is also another great site for recipes.

Rock Star Animation

Check out this new character that DS created. This is actually my rendition of his creation. He has a drawing but my scanner is broken so I have given up waiting and decided to try to recreate it using paint.

Now I'm thinking that it would be cool to create an animation. Does anyone know how to do that? What basic programs would you recommennd? Any information is welcome.

Election Day Plan

Our house is revving up for Election Day. Of course, step one is to get out and vote ourselves. I have always brought the kids to the Polling Place. Many years they have seen me work the polling place and two years they have assisted me in running for office myself. These activities, I think, have made them more aware of the whole election process. When I grew up, my mother would never tell us who she would vote for. She said it was her business and no one else’s. In my house, I can’t imagine that. We talk about politics all the time.

During the primaries, we had a list of the states posted on the fridge. As each state declared its delegates we would post the results. It was CNN and our dining room table coverage. DD was often better informed than even my husband and I were. Our friends were amazed.

I think for tomorrow, we are going to print off a blackline master map and a state by state chart to record the Electoral College votes. This site gives you the number of electoral votes for each state and the number of votes needed to win. I figure tomorrow, we’ll be glued into the tv first thing in the morning and then after 6pm. I just hope that we have an answer by the time we go to bed and not have to wait until Christmas again.

How do you plan to experience the election with your kids?

Update on Science Experiment

I cannot believe how much a plant can grow without light. DS had to grow seeds. One jar with water and one jar without in the light AND one jar with water and one without in the dark. I thought that it would teach him that plants needed water and light to grow, but apparently NOT. See the great thing about homeschooling is that even the adults learn with the kids. The seeds in the dark, wet setting actually have a much healthier looking root system and they actually grew first. I am actually now looking forward to continuing this experiment to find out what other tid-bits I may learn.