::snicker::
So in a burst of inspiration Thursday morning, I grabbed an index card from the back room and wrote It's Thursday. Do you know where your femur is?
I taped it to the ends of Leopold's scarf and left him on the table without comment. My own kids arrive earlier than the kids from the buses and drop off area, so they had time to ponder the idea.
Alden* read the card, pronouncing it 'femmer'. He thought a moment, then he said, "Only girls have that, right?"
I did laugh a little but mostly smiled and said no, that both boys and girls have a femur, saying it right without correcting the way he'd said it. The next kid who came to see wasn't as good a reader as Alden, and Alden read the card to him, saying 'femur' correctly.
I have an adorable six year old, Skye*, and she read the card and instantly pointed to the femur on the skeleton. "I learned that in my Montessori school."
She is so cute... platinum blonde hair, glasses, missing teeth in the front. Funny little kid, she doesn't talk much except to Molly*, they've lived near each other most of their lives.
Most of the kids who stopped by on their way to breakfast and class were interested, and although they asked me to solve the little riddle, I didn't. I wrote the word femur on a post it note for anyone who asked, and told them to come back tomorrow and let me know what they found out.
So Leopold is a learning tool, too.
I am not up on my skeletal anatomy terms, so I'm going to have to do some learning slightly ahead of the kids. I discovered during our homeschooling years that my own public school education had some abysmal gaps, and ever since, I've been pursuing learning actively rather than the passive way I was taught in school.
I'm really working to make my program an example of that style of learning, and having a blast with it.
I bet those kids will always remember where their femur is! And it's impressive that a 6 year old already knew. It makes sense she would've learned something like that in a Montessori school -- the good ones are more child-led, so she learned it because she was interested in it.
ReplyDeleteThe children I get in my program who have been to Montessori schools remind me quite a lot of children who were homeschooled. They question everything (very deep and intelligent questions usually) and seem to have a grasp of the connectivity of life. That the world is NOT divided into subjects, and that everything we do is attached to something else.
DeleteYou are a great teacher! Too bad all teachers don't make learning a fun experience.
ReplyDeleteI am not under any pressure to make my kids pass tests, perform on demand, or make all of them go in the same direction at the same time with learning experiences.
DeleteSo I get to be the FUN teacher. I'm grateful for the experience, it's a blast.
Aims, My two girls remember their pre-school teacher. Her name was Val but because she wasn't a local girl and she had a bit of south west coast accent it came out as Vowel and that's how they still pronounce it. You have a job from heaven and the chance to send these kids out into the World with a hunger to learn and goodness in their hearts :-)
ReplyDeleteI love my job about 99% of the time. It really is the place I'm supposed to be, and I'm happy there. How many people can say that?
DeleteOf course I'd like the job to make me a multi millionaire, but somehow I don't see that happening.
Ah well, I'll take it.
What a great idea! I love it!
ReplyDeleteStop by and see Leopold. I'm sure he'd like to meet you. And of course think of the sensation of a lady traveling all the way to Oregon to meet a plastic skeleton!
DeleteAfter her emergency surgery last summer, Hopper knows exactly where her femur is!! :)
ReplyDeleteI think this is such a fun way to get them interested, Ami. Sounds much like what my mom did with us when we were little.
We're having way too much fun out there to be learning. :)
DeleteI'm glad Hopper can still hop.. that her femur is okay now. :)
I love your posts like these. It always gives me ideas for our homeschool.
ReplyDeleteI miss homeschooling so much. I think that's part of the reason the kids in my care reap the benefits of a homeschooling mom frame of mind most of the time.
DeleteIdeas are everywhere, but it requires the adult to think like a kid, something that's pretty easy for me since I hang out mostly with children. :)
Does Leopold have a hyoid bone, and if so, how is it attached?
ReplyDeleteI haven't looked, I'd assume he doesn't have one since it really ISN'T attached to the skeleton anywhere... but I could write on a card 'free prize to the first person who can locate Leopold's Hyoid Bone'
DeleteThat ought to generate a buzz. Thanks for the idea!
Another great idea and example of your fantastic talent with kids :)
ReplyDeleteIt makes me feel good to get compliments... another sign according to my religious upbringing that I'm headed for hell, as pride is a sin. And I'm actually really proud of my little program. :)
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