Learning in Freedom - Rebecca's Blog

Learning in Freedom - Rebecca's Blog - Victoria Advocate http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca I've been "teaching my own" at home for twelve years. I've learned more about "school" and "learning" while living and learning with my own children than I ever learned in "teacher school." I'm sure all teachers feel the same way when they finally get in the classroom. We learn by living. I'll share some of my paradigm shifts, struggles, observations, ideas, and anything else that is on my mind. I'm not a great thinker, speller, writer, or blogger, but I enjoy playing around with this blog! (Remember that my excitement and my observations of my own students and of the learning process are not an attack on where we all learned as children.) I've been "teaching my own" at home for twelve years. I've learned more about "school" and "learning" while living and learning with my own children than I ever learned in "teacher school." I'm sure all teachers feel the same way when they finally get in the classroom. We learn by living. I'll share some of my paradigm shifts, struggles, observations, ideas, and anything else that is on my mind. I'm not a great thinker, speller, writer, or blogger, but I enjoy playing around with this blog! (Remember that my excitement and my observations of my own students and of the learning process are not an attack on where we all learned as children.) en-us Back from Minnesota! (Saint Louis, Kamp Dels, and family wedding) http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/8546 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/8546 I know I said that we were driving up to Minnesota for a wedding but we took a detour and stayed two nights in Saint Louis, Mo.  We went to the Gateway Arch, road along the Mississippi River on a river boat, and let the boys take a little helicopter tour.  We also picnicked at the sculpture park.  Finally, we stayed a week at <a href="http://kampdels.com/">Kamp Dels</a> in Minnesota. <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/6d9d1207358619/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://x6d.xanga.com/9d1c8064c4332207358619/z161371821.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 088" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/c318d207358968/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://xc3.xanga.com/18df137669d35207358968/z161372150.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 135" alt="" /></a> Looking up at the Gateway Arch <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/51e7b207358852/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://x51.xanga.com/e7bc6a7369430207358852/z161372041.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 089" alt="" /></a> Base of the arch <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/053b6207358724/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://x05.xanga.com/3b6c9b6b55633207358724/z161371919.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 126" alt="" /></a> View of Saint Louis FROM the inside of the arch    <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/053b6207358724/photo.html" target="_blank"> </a> <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/e5ecf207359071/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://xe5.xanga.com/ecfc746b71431207359071/z161372240.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 141" alt="" /></a> Riverboats on the Mississippi <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/90c7e207359194/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://x90.xanga.com/c7ec957572c33207359194/z161372345.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 145" alt="" /></a> Family photographer with her mom on the River Boat - These pictures were from Kelsey's camera. <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/88d31207360179/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://x88.xanga.com/d31c926b58133207360179/z161373243.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 147" alt="" /></a> Forgot about little brother! <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/0fb96207362298/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://x0f.xanga.com/b96c946b03733207362298/z161375114.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 170" alt="" /></a> Mom and dad at the Sculpture park <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/709f4207362004/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://x70.xanga.com/9f4c746b68031207362004/z161374867.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 173" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/9f386207362142/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://x9f.xanga.com/386c627023d30207362142/z161374984.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 182" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/b5d32207361890/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://xb5.xanga.com/d32c6b6b20c30207361890/z161374761.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 167" alt="" /></a> My husband's favorite fast food restaurant growing up was Hardee's and in Texas they are all Carl Jr's.  But, up north we found a HARDEES!  I won't even go into Saint Louis PIZZA!  I love IMO'S.  <object width="425" height="344"> <param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iNaB1WiRpGU&hl=en&fs=1" name="movie" /> <param value="true" name="allowFullScreen" /><embed width="425" height="344" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iNaB1WiRpGU&hl=en&fs=1"></embed></object> We stayed at <a href="http://kampdels.com/">Kamp Dels</a> for a week and LOVED LOVED LOVED every second of the Minnesota summer weather: dry mid 80s during the day and 60s at night.  Hey, if "snow birds" are people from up north who flee to the south to escape extreme winter temperatures, does that make us FIRE BIRDS???  A few of Rodney's family members are seasonal campers there at the park (and a few live there) so we were with family the whole week that we were at <a href="http://kampdels.com/">Kamp Dels</a>.  We could walk up the road to eat at his Aunt's trailer or go visit his cousin down the path.  His uncle let us stay at his camper under the trees and right across from the water park.  Here is a video of Matthan jumping off the diving board at the pool: <div style="background-image: url(http://s.xanga.com/images/videoplaceholder.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; width: 480px; height: 380px;"><embed style="width: 480px; height: 380px;" src="http://video.xanga.com/xangaembedplayer2.swf?i=853674&m=e735e" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></div> <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/08372207371327/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://x08.xanga.com/372c627436030207371327/z161383042.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="101_2251" alt="" /></a> A view from our deck.  It was tree covered and overlooked the water park. <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/ae7bf207371199/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://xae.xanga.com/7bfc876a32732207371199/z161382925.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="101_2246" alt="" /></a> Kelsey at the water park.  I usually just sat and read a book as the children played. Of course, Matthan played tennis and found some family members to visit and play basketball with.  We didn't see him  much because he was always walking around the camp grounds.  There was so much to do! <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/ff0c9207362589/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://xff.xanga.com/0c9c8a6b08132207362589/z161375353.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="101_2253" alt="" /></a> Christian playing in the fire pit.  On the day of the wedding we stayed the night in Mankato but headed back to <a href="http://kampdels.com/">Kamp Dels</a> that next morning.  The wedding was so much fun.  All of my children danced and had a great time with their cousins.  The wedding pictures are all on my snail camera.  It took us three days of driving to make it to Minnesota: August 10 - From the coast of Texas up though Dallas then onto 69-75 to Durant, OK for the night.  August 11 - Up through Muskogee onto 44 to Saint Louis, and then up 61 along the Mississippi River through Hannibal into Iowa and up to Waterloo.... August 13- Our final destination was Kamp Dels in Waterville, Mn.  This was a different route for us as we usually stay on 35 all the way up and avoid Dallas! Our trip back only took two days because we didn't jump over to Saint Louis.  We were silly enough to go through Dallas again.  In other words, we sat in Dallas for an hour.  Kelsey caught an image of one of the reasons why: <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/ae7bf207371199/photo.html" target="_blank"> </a>  <a href="http://photo.xanga.com/rebeccawow/80fb5207372851/photo.html" target="_blank"><img width="400" src="http://x80.xanga.com/fb5c6575d1130207372851/z161384417.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="Kelsey's Camera 244" alt="" /></a> And my daughter's take on Kamp Dels: <object width="425" height="344"> <param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hdjk3LtpsBQ&hl=en&fs=1" name="movie" /> <param value="true" name="allowFullScreen" /><embed width="425" height="344" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hdjk3LtpsBQ&hl=en&fs=1"></embed></object> Labels - "Goths" vs "Emos" and "Unschoolers" vs "School-at-homers" http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7853 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7853 (e-mail response to a thread on the A2Z homeschool yahoo group) This thread reminds me of the many times I asked or saw others ask "What is the difference between 'unschooling' and 'homeschooling?'" which reminded me of a question my daughter asked the other day. With her fingernails and toenails painted black she asked, "What's the difference between GOTH and EMO?" "'Emo' and 'Goth' aren't they both freaks?" was my first reaction. I bet when non-homeschool people see someone ask, "What's the difference between homeschooling and unschooling?" they probably think the same thing, "aren't they both crazy?" <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_VX-exTQuoLE/SEq1LNcCm5I/AAAAAAAAACQ/-Xe5PQKEjnQ/s1600-h/emohands.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209175123197860754" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_VX-exTQuoLE/SEq1LNcCm5I/AAAAAAAAACQ/-Xe5PQKEjnQ/s320/emohands.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>In our search to find the answer, to the Goth vs EMO question, we realized that there were as many definitions for each label as there were people who claimed to be one or the other. There also seemed to be much concern about who was a true GOTH and who was just a 'wanna be.' Sure, there were some common characteristics for each, but still, the definitions were fluid. I said, "Be above the labels." Don't worry about the labels or other peoples' image wars. Look at how they both claim that they aren't "conformists" but aren't they conforming to each other? There's a type of peer pressure to adhere to these peer-produced not-so-norms.  And then we found not only were there "goths" and "emos" but there are "punks" too. Just when you thought you had figured out these two labels you find out that there are not just unschoolers and homeschoolers but there are "eclectic" homeschoolers "classical" homeschoolers, and even "John Holt unschoolers"...  What the heck. We didn't get anywhere. So we played around with some GOTH paper dolls and she realized that it was actually all kind of silly. People want to belong. It's what makes us cling so tightly to a group or label. I told her that I loved the way that she dresses! I love her camo capris with all the pockets and buttons and how her t-shirts are always so long. I love her flip flops and her hair in her face. I love the way she is and everyone should be just like her - she's so neat! She should be proud of who she is and not worry about other groups. She's such a cool person! Then I realized, "Hey, I was GOTH and EMO before they had a label for it!" (went through that phase 25 years ago.) But, seriously, I want to be above the labels. I don't want to be an "unschooler" or a "school at homer." We are just a family living and learning together and that means we can fit into all these labels or none depending on the mood. I can identify with all and with none. I love the way we are and I love the people my children are becoming. Let other people who are so inclined entertain themselves by trying to define us. I am not worried about their conclusions. Don't identify with a label and don't try to fit into one. If you don't wear your label like a banner you won't be offended when you feel someone isn't on your imaginary team. GOTH vs EMO wars or the UNSCHOOLER vs School-at-Homer wars - hey, we are all freaks when it gets down to it. Be above the labels. We had some fun with this EMO GOTH thing. When I was taking this picture she wanted to make sure that some of her hair was covering one eye. When I was uploading her images to Xanga, Kelsey said, "See you later, I'm going to go write some depressing poetry!" She has also painted her little brother's fingernails BLUE. I like to say, "ELMO instead of EMO." (Reminds me of that cartoon where the little boy opens his Christmas present and finds a "POLKA MAN" inside. His parents say, "you wanted polka man for Christmas, right?") And speaking of LABELS and STEREO TYPES - THE BREAKFAST CLUB has been on T.V. lately! I love that movie!<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_VX-exTQuoLE/SEq0iJBr6pI/AAAAAAAAACA/5HD191dCCWc/s1600-h/KELSEYHANDS2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209174417638943378" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_VX-exTQuoLE/SEq0iJBr6pI/AAAAAAAAACA/5HD191dCCWc/s320/KELSEYHANDS2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Thank goodness the black nail phase gave way to a more summery nail phase.... (old post - it's summer and we are not doing anything worth sharing....) My six year old's journal entries: http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7771 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7771 I encourage my children to keep a journal even before they can read or write.  Of course, my six year old mostly draws: <img width="400" src="http://x63.xanga.com/4e6c754358533194589061/z150181361.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="christiansdraws" alt="" /> He is on the verge of reading and he wrote his first few sentences yesterday: "I miss you  I loves you DAD"  I read it back to him and he erased the "s" after love. He tore the page out and put it on his dad's pillow.  Isn't that sweet?  His dad has been out of town this week. One thing that is so helpful to me, the teacher-mom, is that I can always look through the journals and see what my children are learning or what they are READY to learn.  Like, yesterday, I noticed that my son had not only written a few sentences, but he had written a few words:  boom, boo, pop, poop.  I took a cue from the word "boom" and showed him how to write the words: broom and room.  So, now he has a few more words in his journal:<o:p> </o:p> <img width="400" src="http://xc7.xanga.com/66fc954559535194589094/z150181384.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="christian's journal 002" alt="" /> He is not only thinking of words but he is thinking of math.  He hasn't officially learned multiplication but he seems to pick up whatever his big sister is doing: <img width="400" src="http://x9f.xanga.com/967c844458c34194589089/z150181380.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="christianmath" alt="" /> Guess what this is: <img width="400" src="http://xf5.xanga.com/615c914458232194589083/z150181376.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="christiangolf" alt="" /> He loves us all:  (He loves his dad FIRST and me SECOND, Oh well.) <img width="400" src="http://x8c.xanga.com/56cc754757d33194589042/z150181344.jpg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" title="christianloves" alt="" /> I guess since we don't go to school we don't have a summer break.  Learning happens all the time and is a part of daily life.  My six year old probably doesn't even understand that he has been "schooled" through his journal.  ;) SchoolhouseRock Rocks! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7716 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7716 I know it's summer when most children just let their brains turn to mush (or finally get to engage in activities that they really enjoy but will never be tested on) but I thought I would share some SchoolhouseRock videos with you all.  This will bring back memories for some, serve as a grammar refresher, or help someone win a million bucks on ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER. Here are the lyrics and links to all the videos:  <a href="http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/">http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/</a> Grammar: Noun: Person, Place or Thing: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2iLAI0gUW0" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2iLAI0gUW0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2iLAI0gUW0</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Verb: That’s What’s Happening? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4QEzJe6_ok&feature=related" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4QEzJe6_ok&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4QEzJe6_ok&feature=related</a> <o:p> </o:p> Prepositions: With On In Over Beyond Through To <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4jIC5HLBdM&amp;feature=related" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4jIC5HLBdM&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4jIC5HLBdM&amp;feature=related</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Pronoun: He Him It His She Her Hers I We <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg9MKQ1OYCg&amp;feature=related" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg9MKQ1OYCg&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg9MKQ1OYCg&amp;feature=related</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Adjective: “We described him with adjectives.” <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYzGLzFuwxI&amp;feature=related" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYzGLzFuwxI&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYzGLzFuwxI&amp;feature=related</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Subject – Predicate “Mr. Morton is the subject of the sentence and what the predicate says, he does.” <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGN_NxKIIFM&NR=1" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGN_NxKIIFM&NR=1">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGN_NxKIIFM&NR=1</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Interjections: Well, WOW, Hey, Hurray, Eeeeeek, Rats <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhHpJ45_zwM&amp;feature=related" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhHpJ45_zwM&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhHpJ45_zwM&amp;feature=related</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Conjunction Junction: AND, BUT, OR <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkO87mkgcNo" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkO87mkgcNo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkO87mkgcNo</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Lolly Lolly Lolly get your adverbs here: (how, where, when are answered with adverb) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWYmEICNgOQ" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWYmEICNgOQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWYmEICNgOQ</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> U.S. History:</o:p> No More Kings – Pilgrims, colonies, King George, taxation without rep., Boston tea party, revolution, a free country <a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofYmhlclqr4&amp;feature=related" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofYmhlclqr4&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofYmhlclqr4&amp;feature=related</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The shot heard round the world – start of the revolution, bunker hill, valley forge, minute men, Yorktown, Cornwallis, God Bless <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place> <a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VQA5NDNkUM&amp;feature=related" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VQA5NDNkUM&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VQA5NDNkUM&amp;feature=related</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Constitution, Preamble, “We the people….”  (Preamble to music) <a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_TXJRZ4CFc&NR=1" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_TXJRZ4CFc&NR=1">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_TXJRZ4CFc&NR=1</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> 4rth of July - The Declaration – Continental Congress – Life Liberty and the pursuit of happiness – “We hold these truths to be self evident….” <a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--VMlvbkJbw&NR=1" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--VMlvbkJbw&NR=1">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--VMlvbkJbw&NR=1</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p>  </o:p> Govt.<o:p> </o:p> Three ring Government: executive (President), legislative (Congress), judiciary (Supreme Court) – checks and balances <a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5I2KFENjS8&amp;feature=related" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5I2KFENjS8&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5I2KFENjS8&amp;feature=related</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> How a Bill Becomes a Law <a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p>  </o:p>Wouldn't it be cool if a classroom or a whole school memorized and performed some of these little songs?  The students could divide up into groups and each take on a different song or lesson - one group could learn the noun song, another group learns the verbs, ...  The whole experience from designing the set, memorizing the songs, and watching the different groups perform, would be so much fun!   (and educational)  There would be those students who would come up with their own skits and songs about various topics and they could help produce their creations. <a href="http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/"></a>   Traditional or year-round-school? (Lbs. for pounds?) http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7530 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7530 After my husband and I spent six days in Cancun it's hard to come home and not have a buffet of fresh fruit, pico, guacamole, and other wonderful foods greeting us each morning or each meal.  It is so hard to get back into the swing of home life and back into SCHOOL.  Now that the pool is opening up it feels like summer!  It feels like summer most of the time here in Victoria, but I mean it already feels like we should be on our summer break.  You know, the pencils feel like they weigh 20 lbs and all of our workbooks are hidden at the bottom of toy boxes.  Which makes me wonder, "Why the heck is LBS used to abbreviate POUNDS?  There's no B or L in the word POUND!?" I think I've asked this before on the homeschool discussion group, but I already forgot the answer.  I just googled "lbs. pounds" and found this:  The word pound comes from the Latin word pendere, meaning "to weigh". The Latin word libra means "scales, balances" and it also describes a Roman unit of mass similar to a pound. This is the origin of the abbreviation "lb" for the pound.  (From Wikipedia) My teen is almost finished with all of his courses but my younger two will be doing some school off and on during the summer.  I guess going to the pool will be incentive to get some learning in.... I think I would rather take more breaks throughout the year so that we never feel rushed rather than have one big summer off.  My teen would rather push himself and free up the summer.  We never are "off" are we?  There is always something to learn! What are the pros and cons of a traditional or a year-round schedule?  Which would you prefer? Chichen-Itza (and Cenote) http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7511 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7511 My favorite part of our vacation in Cancun was not the white sand and the turquoise water; not even the boats, the parasailing, the snorkeling, or the tropical fish.  The food was wonderful, guacamole and fresh fruit and pico three times a day, however, my favorite part of our vacation was our tour of the Mayan ruins at Chichen-Itza.  Though the temperature was 112F standing on the ground looking up at the pyramid brought chills to my skin.  This is the temple of KulKulcan and later, Quetzalcoatl.  (We are standing, dehydrated, in front of it posing with big tourist grins.)  See the snake heads at the bottom of the stairs?  <img alt="" src="http://xb8.xanga.com/5c6c534212731190033227/m146222753.jpg" /> Columns at the temple of a thousand warriors: <div align="right"><img alt="" src="http://x9d.xanga.com/b88836f612219190033202/m146222732.jpg" /> </div> <div align="right"> <div align="left"> Wait, did our tour guide say temple of a thousand warriors or temple of a thousand degrees?  I wasn't quite sure. oooo la la - sexiest man alive standing amid the columns.  "Is that a water bottle in your pocket...or...."    Yes, we had SEVERAL water bottles with us and we drank them all up! <img alt="" src="http://x16.xanga.com/30c853f412d78190033334/m146222852.jpg" /> Temple of the warriors: </div> <div align="left"><img alt="" src="http://x09.xanga.com/337826fa12258190033231/m146222757.jpg" /></div> </div> <img alt="" src="http://x15.xanga.com/17bc2b4222c31190033316/m146222835.jpg" /> Heading towards the great ball court we saw this temple.  I think this is the temple of the jaguar, but I can't remember.  There's a little jaguar looking throne on the inside and the walls are covered in hieroglyphs.  Also, there was a massive expansive wall decorated in skull-like carvings.  Each "brick" resembled a skull.  I don't have a picture of the wall but I remember it was by this temple if you look behind and to the right... <div align="center"><img alt="" src="http://x06.xanga.com/a2c850f512d08190033292/m146222813.jpg" /></div> The snake and snake heads were everywhere, of course, since the snake or serpent was their god.   <img alt="" src="http://x48.xanga.com/358c564223631190033353/m146222868.jpg" /> I'm not buying for one minute that the pelota game required a heavy rubber ball to be bounced off of the hips of the players and into this hoop way up in the top of these great walls.  I'm not buying it.  I always imagined a soccer-basketball type of game instead: <img width="580" height="396" alt="" src="http://x4d.xanga.com/124c2b44d6031190033361/m146222876.jpg" /> There are the big tourist grins: <img alt="" src="http://x4c.xanga.com/ad9c5544c1231190031892/m146221555.jpg" /> Looking down at the hole in the ground: <img alt="" src="http://x02.xanga.com/c9dc545375c31190031809/m146220930.jpg" /> One HOT momma - at 112 degrees!  Our tour guide said we could "sweat our fat off" he lied.  I actually gained weight while we were in Cancun.  Did I ever tell you guys what my favorite food was?  Guacamole!  And we had all you can eat for six days......  But, it's the good fat, right?  <img alt="" src="http://x76.xanga.com/60e82af111038190031970/m146221621.jpg" /> (The Cenote was actually BEFORE the ruins, but the ruins were so awesome that I put the Cenote pictures last.) Looking up at the hole in the ground: <img alt="" src="http://x1f.xanga.com/339826f711368190032152/m146221791.jpg" /> Cenote <img alt="" src="http://xe7.xanga.com/685c2a4210631190032058/m146221703.jpg" /> Thoughts over Coffee - Motivating Learners (TAKS rant) http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7271 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Rebecca/7271 I normally don’t turn on the television in the morning unless the weather is really scary.  I like to burn my mouth on coffee while I check my e mail and lurk over at the TVAO article comments section.  Usually when the caffeine hits me I have a rant to share.  Today, instead of reading comments, I was channel cruising and caught the tail end of a report on how children in middle school are suffering from a lack of motivation.  Motivation is so important in the learning process!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> In the homeschool world, we call this “burn out,” and a lack of motivation is just one of its many symptoms.  Teacher-moms can suffer from it too.  It’s not always a bad thing.  It causes us to become very creative and to “think outside the box” when dealing with children and learning and how we approach education.   <o:p> </o:p> I found an article online that touched on middle school “burn out” and how teachers could help students become more motivated.  Here is the article: <a href="http://www.ericdigests.org/1999-1/motivation.html">http://www.ericdigests.org/1999-1/motivation.html</a>  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I found it very interesting that the remedies put forth by this article are similar to the methods many homeschoolers use in their homes: Lack of dependence on standardized testing in favor of “interest driven learning,” cooperative learning, portfolios, learning for the sake of learning, allowing more autonomy and choices, sibling tutoring (cross age tutoring,) focusing on thinking…..   <o:p> </o:p> When I was doing my practicums and observations in local public schools I learned what the TAKS had done to a classroom environment.  Some teachers had a TAKS question of the day on the board or would start their day with, “Ok, let’s get out our TAKS worksheets.” When my son was in school he came home with TAKS practice worksheets as “homework.”  A few teachers told me that they hated having to teach to the TAKS and of course a few said they rebelled and just taught as if the TAKS didn’t exist.  A focus and reliance on these tests and test scores do not work towards motivating learners.  Motivation is vital.....  Would you do what you knew was best for your students in the long run if it meant not being seen as a “good” teacher or a compliant teacher?  Are there really teachers who would teach and help students learn for the sake of learning with little regard for what will be on the TAKS test?  Wasn't there a story about a local teacher who defied this adherence to teaching to the test?  What ever happened in that case?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I remember that when my son wanted to try out public school for the first time in his homeschooled-from-day-one-life his teachers did comment on his motivation and eagerness to learn.  One even said that it spilled over to the other students.  I concluded that at a time when many of my son’s peers were suffering from “burn out” he was fresh and new to the world of institutionalized learning.  He lacked that “burn out” that many of his junior high friends had developed over the years.  School was fresh and exciting and new.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I just observed a few days ago the benefits of multi-age learning and even sibling tutoring.  We use a dry erase board rather than paper for most of our work so what one child is learning is visible to all.  While my daughter was working with the formulas to convert temperature my six year old son watched.  The next day he had partially memorized the formula and wanted to play around with variables.  My children are not “gifted” they are just curious and motivated by each other.  That curiosity is a necessary part of learning as curiosity can be a motivating factor in itself.  Helping to direct their learning and having autonomy in their own education is a motivating factor. The article calls this self determination.     I’ve shared our experiences with allowing children to create the curriculum.     <o:p></o:p> I’m going to continue sharing my observations and my excitement as I watch my children learn.  I am hoping that the few people who actually read my posts will see my observations and experiences as reflections of my love for my children and excitement of the learning process rather than attacks on where we all learned when we were children.   <o:p> </o:p> Check out the article and, please, as usual, share your resources and ideas!    I'm still learning so my opinions are subject to change.....<o:p></o:p>