What makes a good day of learning?
A homeschooling friend of mine has been considering transitioning to a more project-based approach. She has some excellent questions and we’ve talked back and forth a bit about various aspects of the way we do things here at Lapaz Farm. Her question today was particularly thought provoking and so I thought I’d share my ideas here as well as with her personally, just in case anyone else was curious.
Her question was: “What do you consider a good day of learning?”
This really got me thinking because, really, how does one decide how much is “enough” without the aid of a professionally prepared lesson plan or step-by-step curriculum? Good question!
Here is the answer I gave (edited a bit for a more general audience here):
You know, that’s a very good question without a simple answer (of course!LOL!).
Let’s see. Perhaps we can dissect today’s activities as an example:
Today we got off to a late start because our weekend out-of-town company was leaving. At about 10 Superboy did his math while I did some sight words with JBug , then I showed him the Easter egg ideas from my blog and let him choose which he wanted to do. He made a list and also listed materials he would need to do them. The egg-drop site inspired him to spend some time researching and exploring websites about Leonardo DaVinci’s flying machine drawings. I was more than happy to let him run with that for awhile, especially as he kept exclaiming, “the man was a genious!”
Fussy, clingy baby made anything further on that front impossible for today, so we went out on the porch and began read-alouds. I rocked the baby while the littles blew bubbles and I read from St Patricks Summer, DK Illustrated Family Bible, and several chapters of the Burgess Bird book for Children. Lots of good discussion about all of those.
Lunch time and naps for the littles. Then read-alouds again-I read American Story while Superboy filled in an entry or two on his timeline, then read a few chapters of Child’s History of the World, and three chapters of Field Guide to the Familiar (maple trees, frogs, and raccoons). We watched birds, hung a new feeder, discussed frog metamorphosis and how gills work, and identified a red-tailed hawk.
Littles up from nap, we went out in the yard so they could catch bugs for the lizard we found yeterday, while Superboy worked on his wattle-and-daub cabin. He had to totally rebuild it since it had gotten run over and squashed by our out-of town company’s car.Ugh!
So, was this a good day? Maybe. It was NOT AT ALL what I had planned, and not really a typical day, but when I look back, it seems like a good day. The fussy baby made our plans change considerably, but then again it allowed us to get through ALL of our read-alouds, which hardly ever happens!
But, this does not really answer your question, I realize.
Here are what I consider the components of a good BASIC day (ie the bare bones):
- Progress is made on the “one thing” we are currently focused on, which is usually a project (in this case, the wattle and daub house).
- Nature study is addressed in some way, little or big.
- Reading happens, either by read-aloud or independantly, preferably both.
- Something of interest is learned by all.
- Religion is addressed somehow (either by reading Bible, catechism, project, or simply by discussing the relevant saint or feast day).
- Math is done. (Math is the only subject that I insist is done in a very consistent way, first thing in the day, usually a page a day, depending on the page. We use a variety of resources, so the amount just depends.)
Anyway, that is the bare bones.
On a VERY good day there will be
- several projects going on throughout the day in multiple subject areas
- nature being studied
- excellent discussions happening
- thoughts being put into words on paper
- art being created
- and lots of reading
As for the writing, we loosely follow the Bravewriter Lifestyle. But our writing happens in fits and starts and is very seasonal. Right now it is all about writing nature notes in our journals and entries in the timeline. Other times it is more about creative writing, poetry, and essays. That tends to happen more in the winter.”
After I wrote all that and sent it to my friend, I continued turning that question over in my mind. It bugged me because I still felt like I didn’t exactly answer the question she asked. I gave her examples and listed the components of a good day, but never said exactly HOW I decide whether that day was good enough or not. And I think it is because I am still not sure myself. The closest I can come to the short answer is: “I just feel it.”
Not very satisfactory, I know, and probably no help to anyone, but the truth none the less.
Because our days rarely go as planned, and I don’t think we have ever been able to follow a schedule more than a week or so, I cannot rely on plans or schedules to tell me if we’ve done enough. I have had to develop a sort of sixth sense about the fullness of our days. As we go about our activities through the day there is a sort of subconscious weighing and measuring going on. Nothing scientific, but at the end of the day I just know. I feel it just as surely as I can feel a full cup of coffee or a full tummy. Or an empty one. And my goal is simply to try to keep it full.
Speaking of full, this has been an exceptionally long post so I will close with a question for all of my readers:
What do YOU consider a good day of learning?
I’d really like to know!
Filed under: Curriculum or Lack Thereof..., Random Ramblings
At Lapaz Farm, every day is an unbelievably GREAT day of learning!
[To answer your question, my idea of a good day of learning is when we've spent time outdoors, great books have been read, prayers are said, and everyone is happy!]
First-time commenting, but enjoy your blog tremendously!
For me, a good day of learning would be when ANY learning took place. On the other hand, a bad day would be one where none or little learning took place because of laziness, wasted time, chaos, not getting along with each other, etc.
I have a 2 yo son and a 4 yo daughter along with my 2 big kids, so my biggest challenge is not being interrupted by the wildness of the 2 yo!
That’s why I’m happy if any learning at all takes place, and I don’t worry about the amount. Over time, it’s usually, plenty.
I’m happy if I can remember to say the Morning Offering with everyone, get in a little religious discussion, read something aloud, do at least math, and get everybody outside for a while. That doesn’t always mean that we’ve had a “good day”, though. LOL For instance, yesterday the kids learned quite a bit — we planted seeds, the big kids both did math and spelling, there was a lot of birdwatching, reading (independently) about birds, and outside play going on, and my husband read to the kids at night, but… the little ones drove me nuts all day with one thing after another!! I suppose the best days are days when I feel that *everyone* has gotten something out of the day. Yesterday it seemed like I spent all my time hauling the babies off the furniture (away from the road or out of the briars) and breaking up fights picked by my 3 yo. I was never able to relax enough to actually enjoy what the big kids were doing, which hampers my feeling of success.
It must be Spring! Everyone is thinking and musing and wondering and considering! I asked Marianna just after she read your post and she said if she gets Math, Spelling, her journal and lots of Science into one day she feels like it has been a good day of schooling. Now, if only I listen…
I think your answer to the question is a good one – the example of a good day for you, the components and that you just feel it.
My good day of learning? I think attitudes (mine and my dc) play a major part in whether or not it feels like a good day or not for me. For the components, right now I prefer: staying home, reading aloud, finishing the short lessons, creating, playing and praying.
Theresa
I would agree with your list, when those things happen I feel happy and just know that we have achieved:)
To take it a step further though, the day when I feel EXCITED and re-juvenated about homeschooling is when I can see through dc’s excitement and conversations that they are CONNECTING with their studies:):) When they are fired up and eager for more.
Wonderful comments, everyone! I agree with every one of you! The common threads seem to be a sense of accomplishment and pleasure in learning! Terrific!
Theresa,
I love this post — and have saved it in my “helpful/thoughtful quotes for homeschooling” file….you’re so good to do nature study everyday …. my kids love to be outside and particularly String Bean loves the garden, bugs, etc. but tend to be the let’s-sit-inside-and-watch-a-video (and KNIT of course) kind of person …
That should change this summer when dh is off school and we’ll do lots of camping and hiking — I’ll get back into the whole nature study thing … I hope. Pray for me, Theresa!
Theresa, I can tell from your writing that Superboy is a very self-motivated learner. Was he always, or did it take some maturity for that quality to develop? I ask because I have a 7 yr. old boy (in p.s.), and we’re trying to pin down what works best, learning-wise. We do lots of things at home to foster learning in nontraditional ways. The Cornell Backyard Bird Feeder program has been GREAT for that.
I love your list of what makes a good day of learning. I think mine would be that the kids become excited and engaged in learning. That SHOULD happen every day, but it is a continuous goal.
Theresa,
EXCELLENT!! I understand what you are saying about “feeling it”. You just know when it is a good day and when they have connected with their studies.
Very inspirational! You have given me much to think about!
Great comments!
Kirsten
Wow! Lots of great comments here today!!!
First of all, thanks to all of you. I appreciate the support so much! This homeschooling can be a lonely thing sometimes and it is great to have a little bit of affirmation from time to time!
Susan: Superboy is fairly motivated. Like all kids he has his good days and his not-so-good, but overall I think he does well for his age. It is something I have been trying to cultivate for quite awhile.
Mary G:Nature study is what keeps us sane!That’s why we do it so much-to preserve our mental health!
Theresa — this is a terrific post, and a very good question. My oldest is nearing eighteen and we’ve always homeschooled: this is a question which arises regularly throughout the years. I, too, feel it intuitively if it’s been a “good” homeschooling day … usually, a day that leaves me feeling happy and content is one which has included prayers, playing together, reading together, doing math, nature study of some kind, progress being made by the eldest in one or more of his focus areas … And no fighting between the youngest two! (They’ve been cranky with one another lately). It’s complicated though … what constitutes a “good” day now is different from what it was in the past …
Hmmm … I might just write my own post on this topic — you’ve inspired me!
Terrific post, Theresa! I will ponder this question.
http://steph-roomofmyown.blogspot.com/
Hello,
I recently wrote a post called “A Good Day of Learning” for my almost 4 yo and 15 mo. Here is the link. I enjoy your blog quite a bit, btw.
http://divinagrace.blogspot.com/2007/03/good-day-of-learning.html
[...] The lovely Karen E. mentioned in the comments that my last couple of posts tie in nicely with what super-cool Theresa of Lapaz Farm has been talking about: What makes a good day of learning? [...]