I have been searching for a while for a sustainable way for the kids to report their learning from science experiments.
I made them these great notebooks with a blank space at the top of each page and a lined writing area at the bottom (thanks to StartWrite and cheap comb binding). And MS was faithful to take pictures during the experiments. Problem: I struggle just
getting to science experiments (last year, I delegated to one of our shared nannies; this year, ML is doing Science Saturdays each month with the kids; everybody say, "Yay, Daddy."). Downloading the pictures, getting copies printed out for each kids' notebook, cutting and pasting them, and writing about all of the experiments was not happening.
Plus, then what do we do with all of the notebooks we accumulate? I'm always thinking in terms of international mobility, especially having done emergency evacuations three times, and that means we save only a few pages from each subject each year for a folder. All that work for saving only a few pages? No, thank you.
So, this morning (our first Science Saturday for this year; a friend had done some other experiments with them a few weeks ago) I had an epiphany: a science blog! Then, I realized, why limit it to science? Why not have a place where they can report on and share about all of their school experiences? Field trips, cooking experiences, creative writing products, etc.
We've already transitioned to dictated or typed creative writing for the boys, so this is just the next logical step.
MS has been quick to pick up on all of the computer skills we've taught him, and I don't think blogging will be a steep learning curve, so I'm going to work with him this afternoon and turn it mostly over to him. I will assign each child a font (and hopefully figure out how to indicate that in the sidebar). MS can type his own entries, and I will let JW and MA (and ZL, down the road) dictate their entries/perspectives to me. I anticipate it being an excellent authentic writing outlet, because I'm sure grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins will provide a willing audience.
We'll give it a few weeks and see how it goes. School of the future, here we come.
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3 comments:
ML: I am so glad you are enjoying learning about the computer and doing well. Your mother's Uncle TLM is a serious blogger. Ask your mom to show you his site. I really enjoy all I am learning about computer editing at my job. I will look forward to reading about your Science Saturday, and I'll be thinking about an experiment we can do together when I come to visit you in four months. MUCHO love, Deedah
Hey, greetings from Baltimore.
My blog is http://www.getreligion.org
And, if you like school blogs, check out MY students at:
http://www.wjcinktank.org
I will try to get the Matts to check in!
Ina said. . .
ML: I loved your Psalm. Aunt Mindy's teacher in Africa had her write a Psalm too. I think she was in 5th grade. I also liked hearing about the bird. The thankful tree was really fantastic. It was so big!!! We did one several years ago on Thanksgiving and had people write and leaves and hang it on a tree branch that we had painted. That was fun too. I loved all the pictures. We are going to make a copy of the play that we did. It was the best part of our Christmas. Liselle was baby Jesus and Savannah was Mary, Luke was Joseph, Ian was a star, Noelle was an angel and Charis was a wise man. Boba was Herod and Aunt Marilissa was a donkey. I was the narrator. We had great costumes that we made. I can't wait for you to see it.
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