Saille
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Posts posted by Saille
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Well, that essay made my brain spin rather violently. Apparently, all work and no sleep makes it hard for Saille to wrap her head around watching the worldview snake eat its own tail.
Rose, looking at the posts since last night makes it fairly clear that I was wandering in circles by myself instead of answering you. However, although I would not perhaps have articulated it as succinctly as you do, much of my religious journey over the last several years has involved the realization that, as a member of a minority religion, I'd somehow moved from my Catholic upbringing and my family's (widely shared) worldview to the unspoken abdication of one. I don't know if I'm explaining that clearly. It's difficult to express. Recently, my sense has been that if there are folks out there teaching worldview so actively, I'd better focus myself, and frame and teach our family's worldview to our own children, lest we exclude ourselves from such discussions entirely. Embracing that concept has been very empowering for me, and has affected what I want out of my kids' RE program at church, as well.
Yes, I do teach worldview. It is integrated instruction at this point...even the kids' RE classes are more about story and principles than worldview, and how it plays out on the temporal plain. But I would say that it's a constant thread in our homeschooling and family lives, and we also model. The kids are with us or hear us discussing our participation in our wider communities, and will ask questions about things we discuss in front of them or things they overhear. That gives us an opportunity to place our actions in the context of our worldview. (Just don't ask me to articulate it above an elementary level this morning. :lol:)
Over the last year or two, I've seen them responding to this instruction by taking initiative and volunteering to do things at our church without being asked or prompted by anyone, including us. Some of the things they've offered to do would not have occurred to us. They've framed decisions in the context of an active belief system. I gather from them that they perceive a worldview as something they are responsible for developing and carrying out to the best of their ability.
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R, do you restrict the term "worldview" to religion, or extend it to culture, ethnicity, class, etc. as well?
When I consider worldview, one historical topic that lends itself as an example is the Crusades. If one states to one's child that the Crusades were a series of glorious campaigns by Roman Catholics to retake their rightful Holy Land, that would be one very specific and narrow perspective on that event. If, on the other hand, you and your child study events from the perspectives of a variety of historical figures, and discuss how even people on the same side may have had separate motivations for participating, that would be a more rounded attempt at focusing on worldview as historical motivator. I think that some of the recent discussions on historiography have also identified teachable moments WRT worldview. Does that sound like what you are talking about?
If, alternatively, you are talking about giving your children a pagan framework from within which they can view the world, then I do think I do that...more with UU than paganism. We view the world through a UU lens, we look for early UUs or spiritual "foreparents" in our history studies, and we probably pay more attention than others might to the role of dissenters and heretics in shaping history. One of the ways I plan to mitigate the concerns SWB has raised about the bloody nature of Modern history is by focusing on the role that conscientious folk played in protecting victims and standing for social justice throughout that period...journalists like Jacob Riis, musicians like Woody Guthrie, activists like Susan B. Anthony...is that the sort of thing you mean?
Sorry if my large edit causes confusion...
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I was just working on next year's book lists, and every. single. book. reads "currently unavailable" underneath. I'm assuming there's some kind of maintenance going on, but how creepy!
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Wow, you and I have similar handbags!
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Personally, I'd consider a dog. My English Shepherd would eat him alive if he came near my kids. He'd wear more than shorts in future, I can guarantee you that.
I really, really love my dog.
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Hmmm...can I hit that one? B/c I have to say, these board have influenced my answer.
When I talk to my kids about respecting others' religions, it is not because I am affording religions special status that frees them from the need to be credible (is that what you're asking?), but because religion is deeply personal. It is easy, particularly if one is part of a very dogmatic religion, has had bad experiences with religion in the past, or has come to the end of a difficult search, to be somewhat sanctimonious...to value one's own conclusions and faith over another's, even in the absence of any real knowledge about the other person's beliefs. I'm not saying we shouldn't argue about or discuss the tenets of various belief systems...only that it's important to me that my children approach each individual with the assumption that his or her religious beliefs are every bit as sustaining and important to them as ours are to us. Defensiveness and judgementalism derail authentic discussions about religion.
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Wait, legos in your bra aren't normal?
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How funny that you mention Jeff Corwin! I think of him every time I pick a snake up.
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They look great! Aren't you so proud? If you can do socks, you can do anything!
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My theory is that Star Wars is sort of the Hero's Journey for dummies. Not sayin' that anyone here is a dummy, just that it ain't Tolkien. I'd much (much much) rather my kids get it out of their systems now and move on to more complex viewing and reading material than that they discover it in high school and think it's the height of cinematic, spiritual and pseudo-mythological achievement, like some fellas my age I could mention. My kids have seen all but the "third" movie, in which Anakin goes bad. I'm not ready to explain to them what happens to all the little child Jedis.
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My children take them because in our state, it is required annually from 3rd grade on. And my children so far test exactly how they are as "students". My child that naturally struggles with spelling/punctuation scored lower on that section but 2+ grades higher for vocab/comprehension. My child that rushes through math and doesn't double-check answers scored lower for computation but 2 grades higher for ability to apply math concepts.
My ds's test scores are very similar. And I knew that they would be this way, b/c I know what my expectations and priorities are, and what his strengths are weaknesses are. When spelling, punct. and computational speed come up, they're going to come up fast, but they aren't my foundational priorities. He also scored well above level on Social Studies and Science on the ITBS, which we took this year. Lots of folks in other educational models wouldn't care about those yet, but I do. However, I wouldn't have been testing him at all if I hadn't been trying to familiarize him with the timed test experience prior to taking a test we'd have to submit to the district.
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It made it look like the cross was sinking, too. I never thought about it before, but ds4 walked past the laptop, saw the "before" picture, and exclaimed, "Oh no! He dropped it!" :lol:
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Hmmm....and yet...we have historically expected children to do much more in terms of chores, sibling watching, etc. than many families do now. The reward wasn't being able to drive, vote, or earn money. Children helped out because their help was important...it was integral to the success of a family.
My kids are 4, 6 and 8, and they are all expected to pick up their toys, to varying degrees based on age. My 8 year old can run a load of laundry. The older two can (sort of) fold. They are responsible to varying degrees for putting their own laundry away. As a three-kid team, they can feed the chickens and check for eggs. They help me weed in the garden. My oldest can prepare simple meals, and my middle child is chafing at the bit to do so. They can pour themselves cereal or toast a bagel, and wash their plate or bowl. They can sweep up a mess with a dustpan. And frankly, they need to, because we have a big garden, chickens and ducks, and we homeschool. Dh works a very busy job, and I work two part-time jobs to make homeschooling possible.
Their small helps keep them involved in the daily success of our family, and they know that what they are doing matters. What started out as a Montessori and Waldorf-influenced experiment has become an issue of simple practicality.
As far as being an adult at the age of twelve...that's actually the first time I've seen that sentiment in print. Gonna have to think on that. But I certainly plan to have kids involved in semi-communal meal prep and clean up by that age, and to have the chores spread around a bit more (vacuuming, laundry, garden). I suspect they'll be involved in the meal planning and grocery shopping as a result, and I'll have to give way so that everyone can have ownership over that process. If they're going to drive at age sixteen, I want them to have a good grasp on finances by then. Cars are expensive. Ditto on college educations. But that's a good bit later than what you're talking about.
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I recently bought a set of these, and am reading through them now, but I won't use them until 2011-2012. I bought them specifically because of the emphasis on primary sources, and so far I like them very much. I think they'll be right up my son's alley. Come to think, they already covered themselves in glory in his eyes last week, when he found a photo of the Narmer Palette in the Egypt volume. (We're reading The Red Pyramid. Serpopards.)
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The newspaper has been interesting here this week. Not in a good way. Unfortunately, as my dh works at the newspaper, he's rather thoroughly and immediately exposed to the bad news...at the scene. These weeks are really hard on him.
Sorry. I know it's a downer, but it feels good to be able to say it somewhere.
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Hmmm...Robin McKinley? (Not Deerskin, though.)
Cynthia Voigt? (A Solitary Blue, Dicey's Song)
Where the Red Fern Grows
Maniac Magee
Lloyd Alexander's Westmark series
Jo Clayton's Souldrinker series? It's been a while, but I read it when I was not much older than that.
Tell us if we're close, or way off.
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Is anyone using Audible for this purpose? What plan do you have? Is there a secret discounted plan?
Narratives seem to help me stay focused when running. Plus, taking the dog for a run every morning cuts into my self-ed. time. Right now I'm listening to Yale's Ancient Greek History course, and it's working out well. I'm wondering if Audible might enable me to "read" classics and books on various historical periods while I run. Of course, I'm having to come home and rewind things to take notes, but even that doesn't seem to be posing much of a problem.
What sayeth the Hive?
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We enjoyed M.T. Anderson's book Feed which has a similar message and could be used as a follow up. The dialogue includes cuss words, though, including the f-bomb, for those of you who try to avoid them. One of the characters (Violet) is homeschooled.
Count me a Ray Bradbury fan, too.
Feed is one of the few books I prefer in its audiobook format. The ensemble cast really makes the "feed" come alive. It would also be a good way to get a reluctant reader to step up to Bradbury et al.
Fahrenheit 451 was released in graphic novel format last year, approved by Ray Bradbury. My ds8 heard the news story and asked for a copy, so we own it. The intro is fun. Bradbury says that, looking back at his inspirations, this is basically a walk that became a short story that became a novella that became a novel that became a graphic novel.
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Dh just told me...he got a text update. We didn't feel a thing!
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So happy that Chuck Norris arrived before me...
MCT got all the legos out of my ventilation system.
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Well, the Hustler store across the highway is just fine.
That crossed my mind, too.
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unsinkable no likey.
Big, scary Jesus crawlin' out of ground scared me.
Oh gosh...I found it creepy, too, but something about your post made me think "Aaah! Zombie Jesus!" :lol:
It really was just so far over the top. I had such dislike for that thing. It struck me as self-aggrandizing...and not much better than the enormous metal palm trees and animal statues at the flea markets that surround it.
Somehow, it existed in a bubble for me. It never occurred to me that any other members of the Hive might see it regularly...let alone..."Butter Jesus". "Touchdown Jesus". LOLOLOL.
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The $18 hardcover is on sale for $9.89. With shipping, it's not that great a deal, but if you've got other stuff to order and could get super saver...
We got our library copy on Friday and are about halfway through it, but I thought the Hive might like to know.
The details, by the way, have had my kids running for every Egypt book in the house. Say what you will, but not every chapter book will have your kids dancing in excitement b/c they found a photo of the Narmer Palette. (They found it in OUP's World In Ancient Times series, too...so now I've got kid approval for our Logic Stage history spine.) :)
Am I being stalked?
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
My parents sold a huge yellow Plymouth when they lived in Kansas City. Years later, the owner turned up driving it at my Girl Scout Camp in Oklahoma.
I moved near dragons in the flower bed at about the same time I wondered who this person was on LibraryThing who had all the same books I had.
dh ran into someone on the sidewalk who'd moved here from our small town in Ohio.
Last week I found out that a guy at my church (I've known him and his wife for four years) lived in the same tiny Oklahoma panhandle town in which I resided as a small child.
I mentioned an old news story about a baby who was named Winston IROC Nascar on my blog. His aunt turned out to be a regular reader...and one of my kids' old swim teachers at the YMCA, from years ago.