So, today was another learning curve.  For me.

But I need to start at the end of the day to explain it.

My husband comes home from work to S greeting him at the door, telling him to ask me what we did today because we "only did art!"  At lunchtime, S had come to me with a sly smile, saying "Do you know Mom, today all we did was art!"  (We are starting with art instead of Maths, trying to start on a creative, inspiring note)

I replied with my own sly smile.  The boys had watched Kangaroo Dundee while eating breakfast which led to online research about marsupials and the map of Australia.  Then I had an idea about an art picture they could do with a kangaroo, which of course they didn't do but it led to their own ideas.  Which they did while I was reading "Fudge-mania" by Judy Blume.  For two hours.  Then while we were tidying up I asked them their spelling words.  So today we actually did Biology, Geography, Reading, Art and Spelling.

But we only did Art today.

Yay!

And I learnt something today too, other than a possum is a marsupial.  A lady on the TJEd facebook group said this:
I like to compare this style of learning to a child learning to talk - you don't schedule it, you don't force it, you allow it to come naturally because they hear you and others communicating and they want to join in, they have something to say... Or teaching them to walk; you don't sit a bunch of kids down in a classroom and say we are all going to take our first steps today, 'left, right, left right left'. THAT would be ridiculous and it would backfire - they would see walking as a drill, as work, and they would be scared if they got it wrong instead of just looking at walking as a way to get from one place to another. So, you hold their hands as they eagerly try to take their steps... And if you put something in front of a toddler that they want, you can barely hold them back from learning to walk to get it.

Wow.  What a powerful analogy.

The ladies on that group are so wise and generous with their encouragement and wisdom.

Day done!

A lesson about learning

This is what happens when we are on holiday!

C is reading a book about the human body which is supposed to be for when we start school again and S is engrossed in a secret project that involves paint and a glue gun.

S called out to me "Hey Mom, this is like homeschool!"  Except they are on holiday and this is all self-initiated.  If I had asked C to learn about the human body and asked Sam to make whatever he is making there probably would have been groaning and dragging feet and the "work" done as quickly as possible to just get it finished.  

In the midst of all my planning for the term ahead, choosing Maths and Writing programmes and all the questioning and thought that goes into that, it makes me stop and think how to ensure that I am not stifling this natural curiousity and creativity with workbooks and worksheets.

While the boys were busy, I prepared supper while listening to this:

I loved what Sir Robinson had to say about the unknown future we are preparing our children for and how we need change our mindset about education to best prepare them for adulthood.  What also struck me is how all countries rate subjects in order of importance in much the same way, with Maths and Languages being at the top and creativity and the Arts at the bottom, if at all.  If those are not your strengths or talents, then they shouldn't be at the top of the list.  I am not saying they are not important or useful, but honestly - unless you are going into a career where advanced Maths is needed or required for further study surely it is more beneficial to the child to cover the basics and then allow them to focus on their own strengths and allow those to develop rather than the tears, coercion and frustration that normally go with a maths lesson?  Why do I even always start the day with Maths because that's what we did at school?  Maybe I should begin our day with something creative and inspiring and see if that makes a difference.

I want to give the boys time and space to explore, to find their own unique talents and creativity and help them to develop and express them.  To do that, I need to change my classroom mentality and find ways to create an environment in which they are inspired and nurtured.