Questioning the need to know misc. facts.

When we were planning for this school year, Connor informed me that he needed to learn all the state capitols. Apparently, Austin learned them at about this age, and Connor decided that would suffice for Geography for this year. Looking at his list of capitols, all set out on flashcards that Connor created, I can't help but wonder... Why does he need to memorize all the capitols? Of course, everyone should know their own state's capitol, but if we need to know the rest of the capitols ever, we can look them up. Perhaps it's just me. I list the ability to memorize a bunch of facts low on the list of "thinking skills." The ability to find the information when needed, and then analyze the information, to me, seems more valuable. Asking questions, such as WHY is Albany the capitol of New York, rather than New York City? Hmmm. Let's see. It must have to do with when NY acquired Albany, vs. when NYC became part of our state...or maybe it had to do with where the governor lived at that time. Let's develop a hypothesis and then, after researching it, see if we were right. Who cares if Connor knows all the capitols by heart? Or maybe it is important. I could be dead wrong. I just believe if he's ever involved in a profession that requires that type of information off the top of his head,such as politics, he'll take the time to memorize it then.But onward we plod, in our attempts to make sure we meet NYS standards. Let's work through these flashcards, memorize this info, and move forward with something that requires more brain power.

Ceding Control

The most difficult thing for me to do as a mom and teacher (and probably as a person) is to cede control. Connor decided the other day that he wanted to write a book. Actually, I wanted to focus on expository writing, but he convinced me that he should write a book instead. I recently converted our Peters family trip blog into a gorgeous photo book, and Connor was impressed. Consequently, we decided Connor could write a blog, and then we could convert it into a book at the end of the year. So, my planned essay writing went completely out the window. After Connor blogged for a few days, I, of course had to try to regain control. Connor bounced downstairs yesterday eager to write his blog, when I suggested,since the blog was about "surviving" homeschooling, shouldn't he begin by brainstorming a list of the challenges to overcome.

"Never mind. I don't want to blog now."

Well, wasn't that a kick in my pants. Here he was all enthusiastic to write, and then I had to put in my two cents. It was obvious that Connor immediately lost the feeling of ownership over his writing. I backed off and let him go back upstairs to read. Thankfully, later that night, he was back to blogging. Last night Connor told me that he shared his blog with his Chinese tutor yesterday, and she asked him if I helped him with it. Happily, he could respond no. He said that sometimes I point out his punctuation/grammar errors, but,
"I told her that my mom thinks I have great ideas, so she lets me write what I want."
Whew! In all my zest for Connor's education I have to work hard to let it be HIS education. And you can see from his blog today that he recognizes the need to study subjects not of his choosing; he just needs to keep control of his own thoughts. Connor's blog is http://homeschooling-akidssurvivalguide.blogspot.com/

Beginning of School

Our school year officially began on Monday, Sept 10th. That was Austin's first official day of school, so we declared it Connor's first day too. However, if you read previous blogs you already know that all summer Connor had five hours of Math tutoring a week,three hours of Tae Kwon Do, guitar lessons and practice, swimming lessons, Chinese tutor etc. So although school didn't end for us, I now have to begin documenting our learning again. I guess it's ok though, it makes me more reflective. This past weekend we drove to Boston on Thursday night, the 10th. On Friday the 11th, we toured Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the battlefields of Lexington. Saturday, we went to Salem. There we learned about the witch trials and the battles fought there. Sunday we went on the most incredible whale watch. Yes, there on the boat I had Connor complete worksheets on the differences between baleen whales and toothed whales, and he studied various whale facts. The naturalist on board was a wealth of information, and Connor did not hesitate to ask her a hundred questions. I don't know if it is his age, the fact that he home-schools, or just his personality, but I noticed that none of the other kids on the boat seized the opportunity to speak with the marine biologist and ask questions the way that Connor did. Overall, it was an educational weekend, to say the least. Monday we knuckled down and began our official curriculum. Connor makes a list, and plows through the list each and every day. He began his John Hopkins University class on computer programming, and that took a few hours. We had some technical difficulties at first, and we realized Connor has to use my lap-top. The computer downstairs just won't cut it. Drats. Connor also began his Mavis Beacon typing program. By hunting and pecking Connor can type 16 words per minute, and using home-row he types 7 words per minute. I have to convince him that he will be a MUCH better typist if he just masters touch-typing. Connor also began his own personal blog. This spring I imported our travel blog (from our trip to Europe last year) onto a book creation software and I printed a cool book. I told Connor that he should consider making his own book, and now he is blogging furiously. Unfortunately, last night he inadvertently deleted his first blog entry, and he has to rewrite and recreate. He is NOT happy, but that too is part of the writing process. I think this book idea is going to be authentic learning, and I will try to self-publish his book at the end of the year.

Connor's blog about his last week of summer

The past week has been a series of spontaneous events. For instance, I knew I was going to chess camp this summer, but I didn't realize how soon it was. So when I woke up on Monday, Dad suddenly dropped me off at the Chess Center. When I first got to the chess center I played some chess games, and a game called Bug-house. Bug-house is a game where two people play against two more people in timed chess. I played a six year old and he beat me! I don't feel bad about it though because the young kids were beating everyone. Then we had a chess lesson. After that, we ate lunch and went outside to play soccer. I was one of the fastest kids, but I was not very good with the ball.
Another spontaneous event was on August 15th (before chess camp) we all of a sudden got Cheng, our new Chinese exchange student. Then on August 31st we got another exchange student from Thailand!! His name is Oat. He is a very quiet young boy. Once Mom heard about that Oat had no host family, she spent a week trying to find him one. With no luck, Mom decided we would take him in ourselves. So now there are four boys in this house!
On Friday, Aunt Linda and Uncle Victor came for dinner. Finally, it is Saturday, a day of rest. The only thing I am doing today is Tae Kwon Do class and going to a Red Wings game tonight. Speaking of Tae Kwon Do, I have to leave to go to a Tae Kwon Do class right now.

My party

This is Connor speaking:
Yesterday, I had a small party. I invited four of my friends.
"Hey Ryan, I did not think you would be the first one to arrive."
"Well your mom did pick me up."
"Yeah, well, let's go get some squirt guns while we wait for the others." Shortly after Ryan arrived, Ezra's car came into view,although we did not know it was his car at first.
"Hey Ezra. You know Ryan right?"
"Yeah, I know him. Hey Ryan, whats up?"
"Oh, nothing much"
"Hey, there is Joe!" I shouted. It seemed like Joe was tailgating Ezra he was so close. We all got some squirt guns and filled them up. We started having a water war and going down the slipping slide at the same time.
"Hey Logan! It's Connor!"
"Hey Connor, can I have a squirt gun too?"
"Take mine." Pretty soon the water slide broke, but we just took the hose out of it and sprayed each other when we went down.
"I don't know about you guys, but I am going to get something to eat." Every one followed me to the food. We had plums, peaches, hint of lime chips and salsa, plus cracker and cheese. We all pigged out till we were going to burst.
"Lets go to the pond," I said. Everyone agreed to go to the pond. We were half-way through the fields with grass 5ft tall when Joe said,
"Hey guys, I am going back because of my allergy."
"Okay Joe," I said. "See you back at the house." When we where at the pond we threw some sticks for Luke to fetch, but Luke was too chicken.
When we came back, we went downstairs to play a board game.
"Can we play Age of Mythology?" Ezra asked.
"Lets play Risk," I replied. In the end, we played Age of Mythology, but we only got half-way through the game before Ezra destroyed it. Then, we went upstairs and made pizza. After that, we played capture the flag. That is the end!

Funny what children learn

Yesterday was Connor's big summer party. In the spring I had promised him that if he finished his math book then he could have a party to celebrate. Then we got the four foster children and we put it off. Well, yesterday was the date. Connor woke up early and began scurrying all around the house. He emptied the dishwasher, swept and mopped the floor, rearranged the deck furniture, got out the squirt guns, set out crackers and chips, etc. etc. It was fascinating to me watching him mimic all the things I do before we have company. He was only having four boys over for a few hours, but he obviously picked up on the "proper" way to prepare for a party over the years. Makes you pause to reflect on what else they are learning when you're not teaching.

This is Connor:
Today Austin, mom and I are going to go to the mall. I need a new book, and lately I have been reading Calvin and Hobbes,which mom thinks is not educational. But, to tell you the truth, I think Calvin and Hobbes is very educational. First of all, the vocabulary that Calvin uses is vast. Some of the words I don't even know. For instance, in a comic strip Calvin's mom comes into Calvin's room and says "Rise and shine." Then Calvin grumbles and his mom says "The early bird gets the worm." Calvin replies by saying "Big incentive." I had to look up the word incentive.
Anyway, I have been reading Redwall,a series by Brian Jacques. Oh, and also, I'm reading The Ranger's Apprentice series, by John Flanagan. But, I just finished all the Redwall books that we have, and I can't get the next Rangers Apprentice book because the sixth one is only out in Australia, as are the seventh and eighth books. Australia is where the author lives. So, I can't wait until I can get a new book at the mall. I keep begging mom to let me take out my $100 from the bank and spend it all on books, but she says no, we can go to the library.