Scribblenauts
8:00 AM
I'll be honest, even though I can see that the boys are learning when they play games on their iPads, I feel that sometimes there is too much technology in their lives. In all of our lives. Sometimes I feel that I don't do enough structured learning with them, or that my unstructured ways aren't good. I doubt our choice to educate them at home. I doubt myself as a mother, learning facilitator, and a parent. Then, they show me that we are going in the right direction. That all of this is working for them. That they are really, truly learning. Everyone learns new things in this family, including myself.
This time it was with Scribblenauts, a new game that they found on their own. I had never heard of it before, but it looked interesting. I'm still not sure how you win, though I do know that to play/create things in the game you have to spell out words. The boys asked how to spell a lot of words when they first started playing. Now they don't ask as much because they are remembering how to spell more words as they play.
And the best part is that one morning I saw the above on their beds. Both of them got out paper and crayon to write down words/things they wanted to use in the game! All on their own! Both my husband and I were really impressed. It's a struggle to get them to find writing fun, so this was amazing! Once again the boys prove my doubts wrong, and show me that I need to have more patience with them and myself.
10 comments
Megan, as a veteran homeschooling mom, I can tell you that the doubts don't go away. It's all part of the awesome responsibility we have chosen to take on. Keep lots of paper, notebooks, and writing tools around for your kids to pick up. Also, try being their scribe. My kids loved to dictate a story. I wrote it down and we created a homemade book with their illustrations. That's how they learned to read!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! Thank you so much for the support and ideas! It's good to know that these feelings are a part of the process. We are all learning here.
DeleteI have the same doubtful thoughts about my homeschooling as you. It's good to know others struggle, too. This is my first year homeschooling and despite the fact I am a certified teacher, I still worry! Thank you for sharing this app your awesome boys found! Going to check it out for my 8yo son tonight who literally would rather have a root canal without anesthetic than write. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to swim against the current, but the kids keep reminding me we are on the correct path. :)
DeleteYes yes yes! I completely know what you are talking about and those doubts of which you speak! Crazy how we seem to be going through so many of the same things. Oh how wonderful it feels when your children happen on something they find genuinely interesting and unbeknownst to them, learn some wonderful things through play! My boys love Scribblenaughts too. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to have found and connected with you! It really helps with being a home ed parent and artist to find others in the same boat.:)
Deletethis is so great. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lori! It is awesome!!!
DeleteHi Megan, @Wandrlady here, yes the doubts don't go away, part of going in your own direction (as we well know!😞). My oldest has just finished, with awards for excellence in so many areas, and yet im still worrying that im doing "the right thing" with the youngest two! And yes, getting them to dictate stories is great, worked wonderfully with my second. She hated writing, (at 16 still isn't keen) but loves storytelling. Since she was old enough to draw she has churned out mountains of pictures telling stories, so it's in her, but she would get frustrated by the writing process. Dictating to me helped the creativity flow. She still prefers to do all her writing on a computer, she says its just easier to get her thoughts out that way. I'm like you, prefer less technology, but i had to let that go with her and just trust she would find her way. She's an atrocious speller too, no matter how many arguments! (letting it go...!) But so, so creative. At the end of the day i just have to be content that I've done the best job at helping them find their path, the rest is up to them. If you want to check how their writing and expression is going:-
ReplyDeleteAliena (18): https://sweetwildlena.com/
Annalise (16): https://exlusivekitten.wordpress.com/
It's comforting to know I'm not alone in this. It's always a battle within myself and I know it will be ongoing, but I need to just try to balance the negative, doubtful thoughts with the good ones. I love the girls' blogs! Very strong voices!
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