The week started with a creative writing workshop at the British Library.
Tiger and I attended the workshop with much interest. While Tiger was just generally happy to be out and about and seeing other children, I was curious to see how he fared at a writing activity as we have not done very much formal writing in the past. I was pleasantly surprised to see Tiger being really engaged throughout the workshop and participating eagerly in the various writing games and exercises, even to the extent of reading aloud his draft towards the end of the session.
The next day Tiger went to the first of a series of creative writing classes held in a homeschooled friend's kitchen. The class is made up of six homeschooled children, ages 9 to 13, and a tutor who guides them through discussions and techniques. Tiger says he loves this class for its intimate atmosphere where everyone sat around the small dining table and had plenty of opportunities to discuss their ideas and respond to one anothers' writing. It also helps that the creative writing tutor is the same man who also teaches Tiger drama at another location, so they are already familiar and comfortable with each other's teaching-learning styles.
The class has obviously been a success, as Tiger came home inspired to write three different drafts followed by two different short stories. I don't think I've ever seen him write so much and for such a long time at one go.
The good start to the week led to more positive things. The boy who resisted playing the piano and who hadn't done so for two years suddenly sat and played a few tunes one day. Seizing the moment, I asked Tiger whether he would like to learn to play new pieces, and he said yes! So I taught him two more pieces whereby I was amazed at his newfound patience to persevere through the difficult sections to practise over and over again until he mastered them. Compared to his typical response two years ago whenever we came upon a new, unlearned part ("This is too hard! I've had enough!"), his sudden willingness to keep trying really took me by surprise. Needless to say, I am over the moon about this. I continued to feel really pleased when Tiger practised the new pieces on his own, without needing to be prompted, and couldn't wait to show Tortoise in the evening what he has learned.
Tortoise is of course very happy to see Tiger's renewed interest in playing the piano, so the two of them have been spending some time in the evenings doing improvisations at the piano.
We also did a bit of maths -- looking at patterns and square numbers.
The irony about having such a seemingly 'great' (i.e. productive) week at the start is that it leaves this mother thinking, "Why can't we be so productive every day?" Success breeds success, doesn't it? I was all geared up to give Tiger a tonne of work when I stumbled upon this article that made me say to Tiger, "You know what? The days are getting shorter and the weather is cooling down. Wouldn't you rather be in your 'fortress' right now while the sun is out?"
With that, Tiger spent an entire afternoon and a few more hours afterwards playing in the "fortress" that Tortoise helped him put up at the weekend. My decision to let Tiger play outside in the middle of what seemed like a terrific week almost certainly disqualifies me to be upheld as the epitome of discipline, I am at peace with it because I am keenly aware that Tiger's childhood is quickly passing by. I don't recall any of the formal lessons I had as a child but I remember the sights and smells of my childhood playtime. I doubt very much that Tiger will remember any of the superb maths lessons that I give him or the delightful vocabularly pages that he has to fill in, but hopefully he will have fond memories of hours spent under a big blue sheet of tarpulin on a warm, sunny day.
Still, there are ways to combine fun and learning if one looks hard enough.
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Tiger and I attended the workshop with much interest. While Tiger was just generally happy to be out and about and seeing other children, I was curious to see how he fared at a writing activity as we have not done very much formal writing in the past. I was pleasantly surprised to see Tiger being really engaged throughout the workshop and participating eagerly in the various writing games and exercises, even to the extent of reading aloud his draft towards the end of the session.
The next day Tiger went to the first of a series of creative writing classes held in a homeschooled friend's kitchen. The class is made up of six homeschooled children, ages 9 to 13, and a tutor who guides them through discussions and techniques. Tiger says he loves this class for its intimate atmosphere where everyone sat around the small dining table and had plenty of opportunities to discuss their ideas and respond to one anothers' writing. It also helps that the creative writing tutor is the same man who also teaches Tiger drama at another location, so they are already familiar and comfortable with each other's teaching-learning styles.
The class has obviously been a success, as Tiger came home inspired to write three different drafts followed by two different short stories. I don't think I've ever seen him write so much and for such a long time at one go.
The good start to the week led to more positive things. The boy who resisted playing the piano and who hadn't done so for two years suddenly sat and played a few tunes one day. Seizing the moment, I asked Tiger whether he would like to learn to play new pieces, and he said yes! So I taught him two more pieces whereby I was amazed at his newfound patience to persevere through the difficult sections to practise over and over again until he mastered them. Compared to his typical response two years ago whenever we came upon a new, unlearned part ("This is too hard! I've had enough!"), his sudden willingness to keep trying really took me by surprise. Needless to say, I am over the moon about this. I continued to feel really pleased when Tiger practised the new pieces on his own, without needing to be prompted, and couldn't wait to show Tortoise in the evening what he has learned.
Tortoise is of course very happy to see Tiger's renewed interest in playing the piano, so the two of them have been spending some time in the evenings doing improvisations at the piano.
We also did a bit of maths -- looking at patterns and square numbers.
The irony about having such a seemingly 'great' (i.e. productive) week at the start is that it leaves this mother thinking, "Why can't we be so productive every day?" Success breeds success, doesn't it? I was all geared up to give Tiger a tonne of work when I stumbled upon this article that made me say to Tiger, "You know what? The days are getting shorter and the weather is cooling down. Wouldn't you rather be in your 'fortress' right now while the sun is out?"
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| Tiger's "anti-wind, anti-rain, structural fortress". |
With that, Tiger spent an entire afternoon and a few more hours afterwards playing in the "fortress" that Tortoise helped him put up at the weekend. My decision to let Tiger play outside in the middle of what seemed like a terrific week almost certainly disqualifies me to be upheld as the epitome of discipline, I am at peace with it because I am keenly aware that Tiger's childhood is quickly passing by. I don't recall any of the formal lessons I had as a child but I remember the sights and smells of my childhood playtime. I doubt very much that Tiger will remember any of the superb maths lessons that I give him or the delightful vocabularly pages that he has to fill in, but hopefully he will have fond memories of hours spent under a big blue sheet of tarpulin on a warm, sunny day.
Still, there are ways to combine fun and learning if one looks hard enough.
 |
| At Shakespeare's Globe, again! |
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What a great, fun week! Look at all that writing!!
ReplyDeleteIt turned out ok. I was pleased with the amount of writing done this week. If only every week were like this.... :-)
DeleteWhat a great week...things seemed to click for him and that writing - HUZZAH! love the fort! Enjoy the weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melissa. I do worry about his writing. It seems that what Tiger needs is more guidance and consistency. This week has brought some relief to me in this respect. :-)
DeleteIt sounds like a great week. I like the fortress. My youngest loves dens-the essence of childhood!
ReplyDeleteOn hindsight it looked like a really good week, but I did worry whether I was doing the right thing by calling the day off and letting Tiger go outside to play. Writing this wrap-up post for the week has helped to put things in perspective for me. :-)
DeleteThis is such a great post. Have you listened to any of the audios in the 'Teaching from Rest' series by CIRCE? (online, free. Religious in nature) They have put me on the path to a more peaceful attitude towards my girls education. NB. Put me on the path. At the very beginning!
ReplyDeleteI think his afternoon of play is a perfect compliment to such a strong week. Time to think, ponder & create... :)
Not yet, Lynn, but I will do! I've been looking at Circe's website but haven't had time to sit down and listen to the podcasts yet. There are certainly many useful resources there which are worth checking out. I know what you mean though. I'm not exactly feeling very relaxed about homeschooling all of the time, but am learning to as well. :-)
DeleteSounds like a fab week, I love the fortress!
ReplyDeleteChildren (at least, my son does) do seem to need very little to be naturally happy, don't they? My son has had much joy out of simple things such as big boxes, sticks, and big sheets. The simple things just fire his imagination! :-)
DeleteIt is the afternoons of play that they will remember and is that a fabulous gift? I also think that our children will look back fondly on the learning they did at home and maybe stop for a moment to contemplate how lucky they were :) I hope that I'm right.
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up.
I hope so too, Prudence! :-)
DeleteHwee,
ReplyDeleteGetting together with other people to write is so good! We love sharing ideas and encouragement. It sounds like Tiger is really enjoying his writing too.
And the piano! I've been thinking about how much easier it is for children to learn when they are ready for the experience. Recently Gemma-Rose wanted to learn how to ride a bike after resisting for the past few years. She learnt in a matter of minutes. And now she is really enjoying cycling along with the other girls. I hope Tiger continues to enjoy the piano. I love it when our house is full of music. I bet you do too.
The sights and smells of childhood playtimes... oh yes! What a good reminder.
Some things are more fun when done in a group. Creative writing is certainly one of them. I'm glad to have found this opportunity for Tiger, especially when we already know the tutor from drama class and he is a very good English teacher indeed!
DeleteThe situation with the piano is an interesting one. I sometimes wonder whether Tiger's refusal to play has to do with how he responds to a perceived pressure -- both my mother-in-law and I are very good pianists so we may have unconsciously given him the message that we expect him to play well. Now that he is back on the playing stool, I'm taking a low-expectation approach so that he plays for pleasure rather than for exams. :-)
Yay for all the writing! I am so impressed! Well done Tiger!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement, Claire! It's a good start and I hope the trend continues. :-)
DeleteIt really is hard not to just jump in and say "Now that we've had a super successful week, let's get the rest of this week going just as awesome!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it just?! That's exactly what I was thinking at mid-week, so you understand my dilemma! :-)
Delete(Hwee- apologies if this is a duplicate comment - google seems to have eaten my first one.) The writing workshop sounds perfect for Tiger, and it sounds like it really inspired his creativity. It's so nice to read about things working so well!
ReplyDeleteI'm also very encouraged by how well the writing group is going for the children. I suspect part of the reason for its success (at least for Tiger) is the social aspect of exchanging ideas and writing as group.
DeleteHow lovely to have a resource like the British Library available! Glad to hear about such a successful week.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. Not every week is so successful, so I make it a point to take note when things go well, as a kind of positive reserve for the not-so-good days. :-)
Delete