I love his solution. I will definitely be incorporating this into our plan. Bennett has published a book of brain games and has a website containing several game and puzzle resources. http://www.iwannabigbrain.com/
Let the games begin.
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
If Not Math, Than What?
I love it when someone smarter than me agrees with me. Last year I wrote about how I don't think we should be requiring our high schoolers to study higher math. Link Here. I recently found this TED Talk by John Bennett making a much better argument than I did.
I love his solution. I will definitely be incorporating this into our plan. Bennett has published a book of brain games and has a website containing several game and puzzle resources. http://www.iwannabigbrain.com/
Let the games begin.
I love his solution. I will definitely be incorporating this into our plan. Bennett has published a book of brain games and has a website containing several game and puzzle resources. http://www.iwannabigbrain.com/
Let the games begin.
Aspbergers and Autism
I found these guys about a year ago. These young men, on the spectrum themselves, bring an insight that I desprately needed. After their simple explainations I understood my son so much better.
Meet the Aspbergers Experts
Ya know, the more I get to know people on the Autism Spectrum, the more I like them. Of course I am biased with one of my own and a couple beloved brothers. But...yeah. They're Great!!
Higher Math?
I had a bit of an epiphany this last year and I have been on a bit of a soapbox about it since.
The main reason we started teaching higher math is to teach logic. But higher math is not a good fit for all students; even college bound students.
What did I get out of my study of higher math? I received the knowledge that I could do higher math - with a fair amount of work. That's really about it. I do not use it in my daily (or yearly) life.
However what I would have really benefited from is a personal finance course. That is the kind of math that affects me on a daily basis. I have had to learn on my own how taxes, interest and amortization works. I have struggled to make a working budget and how to effectively make wise financial choices.
I venture to speculate that the lack of emphasizing personal finance in lieu of higher math courses might actually contribute to a rising generation and nation who have more debt than they can handle. Many do not understand the true purchase amount of a new car or mortgage. They do not understand how to budget and save. They do not know what it actually takes to run a business. They often do not take personal responsibility for their finances and look to others or even government to take care of them.
When I was in school, personal or consumer math had a stigma to it: it was for the "losers;" the kids who were just barely going to graduate anyway. I find this is unfortunate. We encourage higher math for all students to teach logic. Why not instead teach Logic. We encourage higher math because we have decided that everyone needs a college degree. I'm not so sure about that one either - but that is a different soap box.
I am certainly not saying we should not offer Calculus and Statistics. But I do think it would be better to emphasize personal, consumer, or business math.
So if I had my way, This would be my recommendation: Encourage math courses for everyone through Algebra and perhaps a little Geometry and then require a personal finance course (or consumer or business math). Algebra and Geometry often appeal to different of students. (I did better in Algebra; my husband did much better in Geometry.) By then most students know whether or not they would want to continue with the higher math courses. Leave higher math for the scientists, mathematicians, engineers and those who just love it. However have everyone take a personal finance course. I think we will be better off as a society.
Why Oh Why are we insisting our kids study higher math?
What did I get out of my study of higher math? I received the knowledge that I could do higher math - with a fair amount of work. That's really about it. I do not use it in my daily (or yearly) life.
However what I would have really benefited from is a personal finance course. That is the kind of math that affects me on a daily basis. I have had to learn on my own how taxes, interest and amortization works. I have struggled to make a working budget and how to effectively make wise financial choices.
I venture to speculate that the lack of emphasizing personal finance in lieu of higher math courses might actually contribute to a rising generation and nation who have more debt than they can handle. Many do not understand the true purchase amount of a new car or mortgage. They do not understand how to budget and save. They do not know what it actually takes to run a business. They often do not take personal responsibility for their finances and look to others or even government to take care of them.
When I was in school, personal or consumer math had a stigma to it: it was for the "losers;" the kids who were just barely going to graduate anyway. I find this is unfortunate. We encourage higher math for all students to teach logic. Why not instead teach Logic. We encourage higher math because we have decided that everyone needs a college degree. I'm not so sure about that one either - but that is a different soap box.
I am certainly not saying we should not offer Calculus and Statistics. But I do think it would be better to emphasize personal, consumer, or business math.
So if I had my way, This would be my recommendation: Encourage math courses for everyone through Algebra and perhaps a little Geometry and then require a personal finance course (or consumer or business math). Algebra and Geometry often appeal to different of students. (I did better in Algebra; my husband did much better in Geometry.) By then most students know whether or not they would want to continue with the higher math courses. Leave higher math for the scientists, mathematicians, engineers and those who just love it. However have everyone take a personal finance course. I think we will be better off as a society.
The Logic of English
I have struggled with spelling my whole life; I'm a big reader and I have still struggled. In elementary school, I would have to practice every day to be able to pass my Friday spelling tests. I eventually got a tape recorder to record my test on so that I could give myself the tests. That way my mother was free to do something else (anything else, probably). Even with all that daily practice I would still miss at least some. My high school English teacher told me I would never survive adulthood without a word processor. (Thanks a lot! It's not like I wasn't trying.)
It wasn't until I started teaching my own children to read that I discovered that there were actually spelling/phonics rules that governed those "exceptions." I was thrilled. I called my mom immediately and shared my new discovery. "Mom, did you know that there is a rule that says that English words do not end in 'v'? That is why there is an e at the end of give, have, and love." Why didn't they tell me that?"
I have looked for these rules and have discovered that English is much more logical than I thought. I recently came across this video and wanted to share it. I learned a few more rules just watching it.
Enjoy
Visual Latin
I have looked at several Latin programs, some are very thorough and quite expensive, others can be quite dull. A few months ago I came across Visual Latin. After previewing it through their free sample lessons, I decided to try it myself. Visual Latin helps me see, hear, and write the lesson. Dwane Thomas teaches the lesson in the visual component while I read what is being said. I then have the opportunity to listen, repeat, and then translate passages. This is great for me. I need to see and hear at the same time for it to stick with me. I then benefit from repetitions. Thomas's sense of humor is great and his love of the language shows. I never really thought that learning a language could be so fun.
Compared with other programs this is surprisingly affordable; this is a huge plus. I will warn you though, it has a strong Christian bent, however this happens to be a plus for me. I am actually enjoying learning Latin.
Beware of Being Behind
I recently read this article by Steve Demme, author of the very successful Math-U-See math series. He said beautifully what I often tell parents: It's O. K.
This was in the Math-U-See newsletter volume 25: April 19, 2011.
Beware of Being BehindThe most common myth that I am regularly addressing at fairs, on the phone, and in emails, is that someone’s student is behind.
I often diffuse this by asking what the scripture reference is that determines what age a student must be to take Algebra 1 or Geometry or begin studying fractions. Is it in 1st Hezekiah or 2nd Assumptions? There is often a pause, then a light begins to dawn, and the look of consternation from wrongly surmising their child is behind, is replaced with a look of relief when they realize he is right where he needs to be.
Now if you have an 18 year old that is still counting on his fingers I recommend you consult a learning specialist to determine if there is a problem. But in 20 years will it make a difference whether your student is studying fractions when he is 10 or 12? The primary indicator is a child’s readiness and math background, not his age, or God forbid, his grade level. Perhaps the root problem is not the student, but an insecure parent? While I am at it, most studies do not support putting children in school at 5 years old. Neither is it in the law given at Sinai, that children must leave home at 18 and enter college.
All three of our college graduates were 20 when they entered college, and they did fine. In fact I think they did better with a few more years of maturity than they would have done as an 18 year old.
This is not to say children can’t being formal schooling at 5 or enter college at 17, but please trust your instincts and teach and train your children according to what you know about their abilities and readiness.
Math-U-See does not have grade levels because so many older students have to go back and redo these levels. Most of these older students were moved through successive math classes based on their age and not their achievement. There’s never enough time to do it right the first time, but there is always enough time to go back and do it again.
Please let your children move at their own pace and not some man made standard from one of the worst math nations on the planet, the good old USA.Protect your children, those precious individuals that God has placed in your care, from state imposed guidelines and raise them and train them in the way they should go.
This was in the Math-U-See newsletter volume 25: April 19, 2011.
Beware of Being BehindThe most common myth that I am regularly addressing at fairs, on the phone, and in emails, is that someone’s student is behind.
I often diffuse this by asking what the scripture reference is that determines what age a student must be to take Algebra 1 or Geometry or begin studying fractions. Is it in 1st Hezekiah or 2nd Assumptions? There is often a pause, then a light begins to dawn, and the look of consternation from wrongly surmising their child is behind, is replaced with a look of relief when they realize he is right where he needs to be.
Now if you have an 18 year old that is still counting on his fingers I recommend you consult a learning specialist to determine if there is a problem. But in 20 years will it make a difference whether your student is studying fractions when he is 10 or 12? The primary indicator is a child’s readiness and math background, not his age, or God forbid, his grade level. Perhaps the root problem is not the student, but an insecure parent? While I am at it, most studies do not support putting children in school at 5 years old. Neither is it in the law given at Sinai, that children must leave home at 18 and enter college.
All three of our college graduates were 20 when they entered college, and they did fine. In fact I think they did better with a few more years of maturity than they would have done as an 18 year old.
This is not to say children can’t being formal schooling at 5 or enter college at 17, but please trust your instincts and teach and train your children according to what you know about their abilities and readiness.
Math-U-See does not have grade levels because so many older students have to go back and redo these levels. Most of these older students were moved through successive math classes based on their age and not their achievement. There’s never enough time to do it right the first time, but there is always enough time to go back and do it again.
Please let your children move at their own pace and not some man made standard from one of the worst math nations on the planet, the good old USA.Protect your children, those precious individuals that God has placed in your care, from state imposed guidelines and raise them and train them in the way they should go.
Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?
I had an epiphany: I need to trust my children; it is their education after all. My job is to facilitate, to guide, to mentor not to dictate what they should learn and when. I know all this, but it is so easy to forget. This is a little long, but well worth the time. After viewing, let me know what epiphanies you received.
