Today was productive! We began with geography. Bryan and Ann familiarized Jack with the geography game we use. I've always liked it, as it uses mistakes to teach. What a concept! Mistakes can be a good thing! Right now, we are working on North America.
As it was a mild, sunny day, I dropped the kids at Poet's Walk, while I went to the store. They walked down the trail to the Eno River and got some exercise and fresh air and a little time to be on their own - collectively, that is. On my way back, I called Annie on her cell phone and they were down at the river, not quite ready to head back inside. So, I unloaded groceries and waited a short while for them to call me. It's so nice that something as beautiful and historic as Poet's Walk is so nearby. We love to witness the seasons change there - so picturesque. Here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi48Szd7oe8&feature=related
We made our bagel lunches and watched part 1 of the the five-part PBS documentary, "We Shall Remain" about the history of Native Americans. Part 1, "After the Mayflower," begins in Colonial America, ending with the aftermath of King Philip's War (1675-76) in which King Philip (the Wampanoag Indian Chief, son of Massasoit) sought to rid New England of British settlers; two thousand settlers were killed before King Philip perished and his followers were subdued. Here is a nice summary:http://thewampanoag.com/wampanoag-history/metacomet-king-philip/
Bryan followed up on a lead for a guitar teacher for him and Jack. We should be hearing something soon!
Afterwards, the boys took out trash and recycling and shot baskets for a while. They played some video games while waiting for Avery, a neighbor boy, to finish his homework. Then all three boys jumped on Avery's netted trampoline and had a great time. I could hear the laughing from next door -- and there is a wooded lot in between!
While I cooked dinner, Annie and Jack worked from their "Editor in Chief" grammar books. Unlike the geography game, this book series allows the student to correct the mistakes of others. They read and find the mistakes in articles. In the instructions, the student is informed as to how many mistakes appear in each article. There is an answer key in the back.
We ate homemade pizza and chili and then Annie started making brownies. While they baked, she and Jack began an online American Sign Language program. We used a cable to view it on the big screen and they REALLY got into it! They were downright gleeful about their first complete sentence. They were in their own world for awhile. Definitely "in the flow" of learning.
What is "flow?" In his book, "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience," Csikszentmihalyi defines flow as ‘the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.’ I saw this firsthand with Annie, Jack and American Sign Language today. When Paul and Maria came to pick up Jack, they were able to get more instruction from Paul, who knows ESL, or English Sign Language.
It was a great day. We are excited about having Jack around!
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