Learning without Teaching

The Wonderful World of Minecraft

I have been sitting at the computer for hours researching the Georgia Performance Standards set for each grade level: a long, detailed list of everything the student should know by the end of each grade level.  I like to do this review prior to planning the next school year for the boys.  See www.georgiastandards.org.   

Some of the expectations are tiring and a little silly.  Do we really need to make a rule that all second graders will be able to throw a ball both underhanded and overhanded?  What about the requirement that a second grader know how to run, chase, kick, and dodge a ball?  Won't those things happen naturally if a child is allowed to play with other children and a ball?  Does it have to be taught and tested?  The Georgia Performance Standards says it does.  

Between playing in the yard and going to the pool,
Denver and Spencer love to spend hours in the office
watching and playing minecraft videos.

I was in the midst of writing down five pages of notes about all the things Denver is expected to know by the end of his second grade year when something funny happened.  I was just completing an analysis and summary of the math section (which doesn't introduce multiplication at all) when Denver shouted out with delight, "Eight fives is 40!"

I stopped and looked across the room.  "Yes.  Where did you learn that, buddy?"  
"Oh, I just noticed it on my minecraft game," he replied.  "I was counting out diamonds from my treasure box and I noticed there were five rows with eight diamonds in each; and that's 40."
I smiled and looked back at the Georgia Performance Standards on the computer screen.  "Yep," I said.  "You got it."

I will continue to review the Georgia Standards because it makes me feel better to know the state's expectations.  But it seems to me that the boys are learning all they need to know and more-- even in the summer; even without being taught.

Watching him Swim

Jibby is finding his way and I get to watch him swim.

I am his support team, his cheerleader, his towel holder.
He is swimming into adulthood, and it's all going by so fast . . . 

On the starting blocks for the 100 freestyle.
He placed second overall.

Last night, an adorable curly haired girl with two dimples and a smile like a toothpaste commercial rolled down her window as we walked toward our car.  "Good job tonight, John!," she shouted as she passed.  

"Thanks," John Robert waved and smiled.

Oh, My.  Yes.  It's all going by so fast.

Diving into a new fastest time in 50 meter freestyle.
Good for second place overall.

Welcome to Summer

The Old Courthouse on the square in Covington

Full of fried chicken, Spencer relaxes in the shade.

On a sultry summer day, there is no better place for a picnic than the Covington Square. We listened to live music, enjoyed lunch, and talked with friends under the shade of a giant magnolia tree.  Afterward, there will be ice cream and a swimming pool.  This is the way we like to say "hello" to summer.

Denver enjoys crunching ice and clapping
his hands in time to "Mustang Sally"

John Robert politely looks up from his book for a photo.

The boys with Mimi and Paw Paw.

Goodness . . . Learning Everywhere.

Everywhere I look there is something to learn, something to enjoy.  To the question, how much time do you spend teaching, experienced homeschoolers often write, "I don't teach much, but the learning never ends."  After a couple years of homeschooling, I now know what they mean.

Spencer and John Robert have chosen to attend summer camps this year-- one a computer design camp; the other, a math camp.  They are looking forward to it. When I invited friends to join them, the answer from their school friends was loud and clear:
This is summer.  Nothing educational, please.  

I am so grateful that the boys no longer separate learning from fun.  It's all of a piece.  I am so grateful that I was brave enough to give the boys more choices.  They show me-- time and again-- that their capacity for learning is far beyond anything I once imagined.

Spencer, Denver, and friend share the work
of building an enormous marble run last weekend.

The beautiful yucca flowers this morning--
their seeds were used by the Navajo Indians
to dye fabrics, and the plant has many
medicinal and ceremonial uses.

Macon our own Fun . . . and bad jokes :-)

Spencer and John Robert were particularly interested in this exhibit.

With John home for a few days, we took a daylong adventure to Macon, Georgia this week.  It was a wonderful opportunity to see their new exhibit and planetarium movie on astronomy and black holes.  They have also recently renovated their children's exploration area-- all three floors!  We had a fine time.

It was a special joy to watch the boys all having fun in different ways.  John Robert was mature enough to ask questions of the professional astronomer who presented the Black Hole film.  Spencer loved the hands on experiments and space flight simulators that took him to the edge of a black hole.  And Denver . . . well, he enjoyed everything.  As often happens, John had the opportunity to share some of his scientific knowledge with the boys.  And me?  Much in the way my grandma used to get pleasure from cooking for others, I enjoyed watching the boys enjoy themselves.  

After a morning of black holes, we went to a wonderful restaurant and fed the black hole created by three hungry little boys.  Okay, four if you count my husband. :-)  After lunch, we joyfully explored the Barnes & Noble bookstore-- a rare and wonderful treat for us.

It was nice to spend such pleasant time together as a family.  Our summer is off to a great start.

The boys (all of them) at the entrance
to the Macon Museum of Arts & Sciences

Denver and Dadders

This fascinating room made colorful art out
of our body shapes and movement.  Here,
Spencer is in the center waving his arms and
John Robert is watching on all four corners.

The boys enjoy the newly
renovated kids' exploration area.

Everybody wanted to try the
astronaut ice cream.

Denver enjoys a new game that we bought at
the Macon Museum.

A Walk in the Park

Denver poses with his walking stick/laser gun/sword
at Varner Lake this week.

I'll let you in on a little secret:
Living with Denver is no walk in the park.  He talks incessantly.
 He seems to need neither down time nor quiet time for reflection.  Denver is all action adventure and continually narrates his thoughts and activities.  And it's not enough to simply be present with him as he does all this.  You must watch, comment, and participate.

He can-- quite frankly-- be exhausting.  And yet, when I am able to give him my full and undivided attention, he is a joy.  Yesterday was such a day.

While his brothers enjoyed other activities, Denver and I took Lady to Varner Lake.  Alone time with Denver allowed me to really appreciate his company. I pushed him in the swings, watched him play on the playground, listened to him narrate imaginary adventures, and answered all of his many questions.  He held Lady's leash and played with her.  We explored the rocks along the lake's shore and hiked around the lake.  It was a lovely afternoon-- a walk in the park.

The Renaissance Men

The boys and I at the entrance to the Georgia Renaissance Festival.

It was a day promising rain.  We went anyway.  With a car full of snacks, drinks, rain ponchos, and umbrellas, we set off for the Georgia Renaissance Festival.  The boys had never been to a Renaissance Festival, and John and I hadn't been since before we married.  The boys had spent the entire year learning about the Middle Ages, and the festival was a wonderful way to cap off the year's studies.  

It was wonderful--jugglers, acrobats, a jousting tournament-- there was something to see around every turn and most of it made us laugh with delight.  People dressed as medieval villagers, knights, fairies, elves, and all sorts of strange costumes.  

The best part for me was watching our teenager, John Robert, play like a child-- learning to juggle, climbing a rope ladder to try to win a prize, riding in a spinning bucket just to get dizzy.  All of the boys had a great time.    

I had a good time too.  It never did rain; and I got to meet one of my heroes-- Leonardo DaVinci talked with me!

Leonardo DaVinci spoke to us

about one of his favorite paintings.

After the show, he talked to us privately

about his weapon designs for

the Duke of Milan.

 

I cannot imagine why John didn't want to be in this picture!

If you can climb to the top of the ladder and ring
the bell, you win $10.  All the boys tried.

The Number One Rule of Juggling.

All of my boys had to try the free juggling lessons.

The Barely Balanced Act

Spencer and John Robert make their first juggling attempts.

Spencer and Denver learn to play
the Australian instrument, a digiridoo.

Denver and Jibby enjoy the swinging, spinning barrel ride.

Making History

A union soldier trains his troops
and prepares to fire his musket.

Today at the Atlanta History Center Homeschool Day, we learned about life in Atlanta during the Civil War and the Battle of Atlanta.  Actors dressed as farm wives, slaves, confederate troops, and union troops acted out a story in which we became involved.  It was exciting and wonderful.

During another activity and with John Robert's assistance, Denver got to be a confederate soldier.  He saw his fortunes rise and fall (he was wounded, survived the war, returned to Arkansas, opened a drugstore, and lived a long, full life).

It was a lovely day of learning made even better by John's ability to join us.  I was thrilled for him to see for himself one of the wonderful activities the boys have been participating in for the last year.  More learning.  More fun.  More memories.

Mr. Toothless smiles for the camera.
He pulled his own tooth!

John Robert and Denver do a project
together at the Atlanta History Center.

Enjoying a sandwich at the Atlanta History Center

What Makes a Happy Momma

Happy Momma

We're on summer vacation, but you cannot tell.  Since we went to the Scholastic Book Sale three days ago, John Robert and Spencer have barely lifted their heads out of the new books they bought.  Okay.  Not true.  Spencer keeps one book-- a Minecraft How To Manual-- open beside him as he creates new adventures on Minecraft, and John Robert has to have a five course meal every half hour or so!

But seriously . . . What is it about a book sale?  I take the boys to the library weekly; and for the past month, they have come home empty-handed and disinterested.  Yet we go to the book sale and suddenly they cannot get enough books!

So in the past three days, John Robert has finished The Book Thief and two other books.  Spencer has read two books, and is rereading his new Minecraft book in an attempt to memorize much of the information.

And Denver?  Well, he is busy being a Mad Scientist.  Although I'm sure this frenzy will pass, it is a delight to witness.  As you can see, I'm one happy Momma.

Spencer enjoys an Adventure Time
graphic novel.

John Robert is reading a popular novel entitled
Divergent.  He spent the next hour explaining
parts of the book to me, and discussing
his opinion of the political factions.

Denver and Spencer begin a science project.

The Mad Scientist

The Mad Scientist

A good portion of this past school year I have spent trying to get Denver interested in school subjects-- physics, history, math, reading, writing, Latin, Spanish, grammar.  Although he undoubtedly did a lot of work and learned a good bit this past year, it was with some relief that we completed our annual testing and called it a year.

NOW he is obsessed with science experiments and having me read to him!

It began with my picking up a wacky little storybook entitled "Night of the Zombie Goldfish" at the Scholastic Book Fair three days ago.  I began reading the book to him as we waited for lunch at a favorite restaurant.  He loved it so much that he didn't want me to stop reading when our meal arrived.  By the time I finished the book (about a boy whose chemistry experiment goes very wrong), Denver wanted to be a scientist like the boy in the book.
That was okay with me.

Tornadoes in a bottle

With my assistance in reading the directions and purchasing a few supplies, Denver has created: tornadoes in a bottle, fake blood (and it is edible . . . Yuck!), a shrunken head (apple), a bendable bone, slime, and glow in the dark slime.  Although he cannot read the science books without assistance, he has been doing all the measuring and mixing.  It is a delight to watch him dance happily around the house with his new creations.  He even created a laboratory corner to display it all.

So this is how our summer vacation begins!

Denver's Laboratory Shelf

Our Three Smarty Pants

Denver poses by the Smarty Pants cake
he helped decorate (and taste test!).

How is it that another school year has flown past?  What have the boys accomplished as they finish their seventh, fifth, and first grade years?  What have they learned?  Over the next two weeks, I'll be reviewing all of their work and my lesson plans to prepare a summary of the boys' year, their strengths and their challenges; and our goals for next year.  

Meanwhile, we held a Steak, Cake, & a Break party tonight.  We invited over the grandparents and celebrated another year of growth and change in our boys.  After steak and veggies, we enjoyed a Smarty Pants cake that Denver and I prepared.  It was delicious and wonderful. 

But the boys won't really be taking a break from learning.  Not even for a day.  I've noticed that whether we call it a "school" day or an "off" day, the boys don't really take a break. They are always exploring, learning, asking questions, and making messes! 

Next week, we'll be attending the Renaissance Festival as a way to celebrate our study of the medieval time period. We'll also be going to the Atlanta History Center to study the Civil War's Battle of Atlanta. The following week, the High Museum is opening a spectacular new exhibit on rare and unusual car designs. Even John Paul is excited about that one. We'll be seeing a Shakespeare comedy next week, and Jibby will begin his weekly swim meets.  And that's just the formal stuff.  Spencer is deep into learning about computer programming.  Jibby is reading about World War II Germany.  Denver bounces from interest to interest-- always ready to get excited about the next thing.  We are a house full of quiet and not-so-quiet learners-- and John and I are thrilled with our three Smarty Pants.
  

Spencer and Denver enjoyed the Fairy Festival today.