Well this week marked the end of our trial period for our co-op. The review meeting went really well and we are all looking forward to beginning again in the spring. I have a few things to learn before then because we will start teaching more langauge and math concepts. I also finished my grad school course. My final project ended up being much bigger than it needed to be (over 30 pages plus a website)- but I was having a good time. You can see the webpage if you'd like. It was fun and I am glad that it's done.
There is a chance that little man may be a climber. After figuring out how to get up onto the dining room chairs he has realized that the same principles can be used to climb on top of the table and the piano keys. He is not allowed to do these things - but he tries.
He might be paying more attention to the signs then I give him credit for. Yesterday he went into the bathroom in the middle of the afternoon and made the sign for bath. We didn't take one at that point. Later that night he heard my husband and I talking about it - came by on his way to the bathroom and made the sign. He also LOVES making the sign for milk (now he drinks lactaid or soy milk).
So now its on to new projects - I have a couple I have set aside that I will pick back up now.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Every day something new!
I can't believe how quickly the little guy is getting new things. Little man is now working on feeding himself with a spoon - although he isn't always that successful. He also managed to climb in and out of our kitchen chairs yesterday. All of our friends were entertained because he was on his tippy, tippy, tippy toes to do it - he was determined that's for sure. He has taken a few steps by himself (mostly to get between larger pieces of furniture. We have a baby gate surrounding our computer area and recently he's taken to trying to lift the gate up so that he can come around the outside edge - he is pretty strong.
Today he was playing with the curtain in my room and I asked him if he wanted to go outside. He immediately started crawling super fast straight to the door that we use to go outside. He then stood up and tried to push the lock open for the door. As soon as I opened the door he walked out of it on two feet. I guess he REALLY wanted to go outside. He had a good time and I discovered we still have pecans out there. I had to convince him that sticks are not good for eating.
We'll see what he does next!
Today he was playing with the curtain in my room and I asked him if he wanted to go outside. He immediately started crawling super fast straight to the door that we use to go outside. He then stood up and tried to push the lock open for the door. As soon as I opened the door he walked out of it on two feet. I guess he REALLY wanted to go outside. He had a good time and I discovered we still have pecans out there. I had to convince him that sticks are not good for eating.
We'll see what he does next!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Thankful for . . .
I hope that you and yours had a great Thanksgiving. This year I think Thanksgiving snuck up on us - but we had a great time. My parents were in town and we went out to visit my Aunt and Uncle. Good food, laughs and rest. Can't ask for much more.
This week little man has learned quite a few things and I am very thankful that he continues to develop and grow into a little boy. Here are the things he has learned:
1. How to push a chair over to the counter so that he can better reach on top.
2. How to hold onto an adults fingers and walk around (he still doesn't have enough balance to walk on his own).
3. How to go to the fridge/ his high chair to tell us that he's ready to eat.
4. How to climb onto our couch by himself.
5. How to loosely put some of the lids back on his toys.
6. He crawls to his room for a diaper change and to the bathroom if you talk about getting a bath.
7. Sometimes he can put puzzle pieces (big ones with knobs) back into their correct hole.
8. He uses words like done, more and sometimes spoon correctly. He really isn't interested in signing with us - he just wants to say the word. (Although more means food I think - whoops).
We are very blessed and have many things to be thankful for this season. Now on to decorating our house for Christmas!
This week little man has learned quite a few things and I am very thankful that he continues to develop and grow into a little boy. Here are the things he has learned:
1. How to push a chair over to the counter so that he can better reach on top.
2. How to hold onto an adults fingers and walk around (he still doesn't have enough balance to walk on his own).
3. How to go to the fridge/ his high chair to tell us that he's ready to eat.
4. How to climb onto our couch by himself.
5. How to loosely put some of the lids back on his toys.
6. He crawls to his room for a diaper change and to the bathroom if you talk about getting a bath.
7. Sometimes he can put puzzle pieces (big ones with knobs) back into their correct hole.
8. He uses words like done, more and sometimes spoon correctly. He really isn't interested in signing with us - he just wants to say the word. (Although more means food I think - whoops).
We are very blessed and have many things to be thankful for this season. Now on to decorating our house for Christmas!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Reflection
Today as I read about the role of reflection in teacher education it highlighted a difference between my understanding of wisdom and knowledge and the education systems take on this subject. I have to say I am not as adept as my husband in sniffing out the philosophical implications of a belief system - but today this little bit of information hit even me over the head.
The article discusses different theories on reflection and depth of reflection. As it summarizes them it says "Third, the higher a persons’ reflective thinking develops the more he/she starts to realize the subjectivity of knowledge, the relativity of truth, the multiplicity of sources of knowledge and the importance of context in determining meaning." (Baker El Dib, 2006, bolding mine) Basically, the point is that the more reflective thinker is open to the swaying wind of ideas and the mulitple frameworks of the world. I think that many people do see this as the hallmark of an educated person. However, I have to disagree. I think that while a well educated person knows about these different things, in the end they are grounded in something, somewhere. As the old saying goes "Don't be so open minded that your brains fall out!"
Often the goal of the educational establishment is not to anchor students in truth or provide them with a good foundation of knowledge but instead to introduce them to all of life's possiblities. Often these days people talk about critical thinking, higher order thinking, etc. Which I am in favor of to a large extent. However, in the end you must have something TO THINK ABOUT and a STANDARD to compare things to (or else how can you be critical). The relfective practice above does not create a standard - it invites you to create your own in some ways. In fact, you might be thought less intelligent if you CHOSE to hold onto a traditional standard. So once again the prevailing view of an educated mind seems to fly in the face of true education. I never thought I'd be a "back to basics" kind of gal - but I think it is growing on me.
The article discusses different theories on reflection and depth of reflection. As it summarizes them it says "Third, the higher a persons’ reflective thinking develops the more he/she starts to realize the subjectivity of knowledge, the relativity of truth, the multiplicity of sources of knowledge and the importance of context in determining meaning." (Baker El Dib, 2006, bolding mine) Basically, the point is that the more reflective thinker is open to the swaying wind of ideas and the mulitple frameworks of the world. I think that many people do see this as the hallmark of an educated person. However, I have to disagree. I think that while a well educated person knows about these different things, in the end they are grounded in something, somewhere. As the old saying goes "Don't be so open minded that your brains fall out!"
Often the goal of the educational establishment is not to anchor students in truth or provide them with a good foundation of knowledge but instead to introduce them to all of life's possiblities. Often these days people talk about critical thinking, higher order thinking, etc. Which I am in favor of to a large extent. However, in the end you must have something TO THINK ABOUT and a STANDARD to compare things to (or else how can you be critical). The relfective practice above does not create a standard - it invites you to create your own in some ways. In fact, you might be thought less intelligent if you CHOSE to hold onto a traditional standard. So once again the prevailing view of an educated mind seems to fly in the face of true education. I never thought I'd be a "back to basics" kind of gal - but I think it is growing on me.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Concentration
Today my research was discussing the unrealistic expectations that pre-service teachers sometimes set for children. The example they used was expecting 1st and 2nd graders to be engaged in work for a long while. Common knowledge is that they flit from thing to thing and have short attention spans. This caught my attention because Montessori expects the exact opposite of its students. In fact, elementary classrooms have 3 hour work periods in the morning where students choose their work and go to it. She believed that students could be taught to concentrate deeply if given the right atmosphere and properly engaging objects. She basically talked about Flow before the term became a buzzword.
Tonight before bed we finally let little man do his own thing (after running lots of errands today). He is only 14 months old but he already has the idea of flow. He spent about 20 minutes just playing with two of his shape puzzle pieces - he wasn't even trying to put them in the puzzle. He was banging them on things - putting them up high and down low and generally just checking them out. He took a short break and then went back to it for about another 10 minutes. I am not sure if this is normal or not. I will say that at least once a day he will get lost in his play for about 30 to 45 minutes. He will pull out all his books or empty his kitchen cabinet and just see how everything works. If a 14 month old can do it - I expect with encouragement and the right atmosphere older kids can do it.
This again points out the difference between the education I think my child will most enjoy and benefit from and the choppy, line up, sit down, read aloud education that has to be given through the public school. There really isn't any other way for a public school to function - but I'm not sure that's the best way for my son to learn.
It's been interesting to watch the coop class I am leading. I think the kids are so used to trying to "get through" everything and just recently they started realizing that they can sit and enjoy working with one item. One of the kids that we all sort of expected might struggle with this has really taken to it. He spent a good 15 minutes with the pink tower - building, unbuilding, comparing sizes, etc. He spent another 15 minutes pouring beans. I think he liked the noise and the feel - but that's the point. This kind of work engenders a love for learning because it allows students to explore for themselves - not constantly being told what to think about whatever they are working with. This is a HUGE change for me - but I like it.
I have to say I have been lost in a few projects recently and that's why I haven't posted. The research is interesting - I love to research! Another time I'll talk more about what I'm learning.
Tonight before bed we finally let little man do his own thing (after running lots of errands today). He is only 14 months old but he already has the idea of flow. He spent about 20 minutes just playing with two of his shape puzzle pieces - he wasn't even trying to put them in the puzzle. He was banging them on things - putting them up high and down low and generally just checking them out. He took a short break and then went back to it for about another 10 minutes. I am not sure if this is normal or not. I will say that at least once a day he will get lost in his play for about 30 to 45 minutes. He will pull out all his books or empty his kitchen cabinet and just see how everything works. If a 14 month old can do it - I expect with encouragement and the right atmosphere older kids can do it.
This again points out the difference between the education I think my child will most enjoy and benefit from and the choppy, line up, sit down, read aloud education that has to be given through the public school. There really isn't any other way for a public school to function - but I'm not sure that's the best way for my son to learn.
It's been interesting to watch the coop class I am leading. I think the kids are so used to trying to "get through" everything and just recently they started realizing that they can sit and enjoy working with one item. One of the kids that we all sort of expected might struggle with this has really taken to it. He spent a good 15 minutes with the pink tower - building, unbuilding, comparing sizes, etc. He spent another 15 minutes pouring beans. I think he liked the noise and the feel - but that's the point. This kind of work engenders a love for learning because it allows students to explore for themselves - not constantly being told what to think about whatever they are working with. This is a HUGE change for me - but I like it.
I have to say I have been lost in a few projects recently and that's why I haven't posted. The research is interesting - I love to research! Another time I'll talk more about what I'm learning.
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