While on our little Thanksgiving trip Will had a few questions that I thought were pretty great. He asked why it was getting dark so early and why it was colder and snowy in SL than in Las Vegas. He asked these questions at two different occasions but they were very connected. I told him in both instances that we could talk about these during home school. I taught these concepts in 6th grade and knew where to find some lesson plan resources but when I got to them they were very detailed and required materials I didn't have to explain this to Will so instead I found a website and a YouTube video that seemed to answer his quandary. One site was a Christian home school site, found here. Here is the YouTube video. I pulled these up and had Will watch and read them and then asked him if he knew the answer to the questions. He explained them well and then we discussed how crazy it was to think that right now in Australia it would be summer.
I loved this experience because Will learned from his own curiosity. I didn't have to follow any curriculum or standard or benchmark for him to wonder about his world and how it works. He read non-fiction science materials, then explained it in his own words all without me dictating or persuading him with grades or tokens to do so. He was curious, I supplied the resource and then he learned for himself. BEAUTIFUL.
As for the rest of school yesterday. . .
I found ants upstairs in the TV room and freaked out. So we spent a lot of the day moving the TV room back downstairs. Will has my assistant and we discussed how I was crazy and that was just part of who I was, he seemed OK with it.
We also finished the last 3 chapters of Bridge to Terabithia. I sat and cried through the whole thing and Will sniffled along. I had planned to read only 1 chapter but he urged me to finish as it was the climax of the story and he didn't want to stop. Again I was reminded of the beauty of home schooling and that it allowed us to finish when were at that tumultuous part of the story not wanting to put it down.
We also read scriptures and worked on memorizing the articles of faith as part of his faith in God and went over a new chore chart for a scout project.
Will was very sweet today. He jumped at my asking for any help and even though had a choice moment or two with his siblings was helpful and kind to them. He played bubbles with the kids and Bat man and Robyn with Ian escaping to the "Bat Cave". He also made the kids lunch all by himself without me even asking!!! So far I am thinking home school is where it's at!!!
Will asked me about the weather difference in SLC, too. I'm glad you were able to give him concrete answers - you know me, I wowed him with a long story about the rotation of the earth, until his eyes glazed over! His curiousity is a beautiful thing. You are also an excellent educator.
ReplyDelete