Things I Learn

A couple of years ago, Anthony wrote a paper about, why he should be allowed to listen to his Ipod while doing homework.  He really thought this out and did a lot of research.  He even convinced me that he should.  Not for all homework but mainly math and other subjects that didn't require reading.

A teacher discovered that letting his math students use their Ipods while working on problems or taking test, the students preformed better.  ADHD students are often distracted by the little sounds going on around us that most people can tune out.  By allowing an ADHD student to us their Ipod they can tune out all the little distractions and can control the level of sound they are comfortable with.  Also, telling the students that if they abused the privilege or didn't complete their assignments they would lose the Ipod privilege.  He found the students wanted to listen to their music and worked harder to keep the privilege.  I tried this out with Anthony.  As long as he was getting his work done and correctly he could listen to his Ipod.

So why do I bring this up?  I don't know if Jason has ADHD or if it is just that we homeschool and that's where the video games, tv, trampoline and all his other cool toys are.  We have days where this kid just can't focus.  So I decided to give this whole music thing a try.  I let him listen to his Ipod but it didn't work out well.  If I let him listen to his choice of music, he would break out in song and dance.  So I tried a cd that teaches Bible verses.  Great cd, but the words were distracting.  To me and to him.  We needed something that was just music.

One day it hit me.  I should be taking this time to introduce some classical music.  I let him choose Beethoven or Mozart.  He chose Mozart.  I picked up a simple book at the library of Mozart's life.  I wasn't looking for anything to detailed, just something to give Jason a feel for who Mozart was.  I also picked up a cd at the library and ordered "Amadeus" from netflix.  Jason didn't get to into the movie however Megan did. 

 Now, during the quite work times we listen to Mozart.  Jason is really enjoying it and has found he likes his music.  Not only is it helping Jason to focus, but he is learning at the same time.  He is in complete awe of Mozart and his story.  I have even found myself leaving the music on throughout the day.  Mozart has always been my favorite composer. 

We might pick up some Beethoven during this weeks visit to the library.  Or maybe we will pick someone that neither of us is familiar with.  Then we will both learn something new.

Changes Update

An update to my last post.

When you make changes to your schedule and get the kid all excited about it.  You might want to check the library hours.  They don't open until 11am.  Jason was not please with me today.

So we are still going to the library but won't have time to finish the activities we had planned.  So we are going to come home and make homemade cheese-its.  Not sure why but it seems like the right thing to do.

Changes

Fun changes happening around here in our homeschool day.  Jason made the comment that school is boring.  I started thinking about it and he is kinda of right.  I get a little obsessed with schedules.  The greatest thing about homeschool is the flexibility of it.  Unfortunately, I have been to focused on the schedules and not on the fun stuff.

The first thing we are changing is the location where we are doing our work.  Friday, we will be doing the bulk of our day at the library.  He will do his math work there then he will be free to roam the books and do his personal reading time there.  We will also be working in their resource area to work on an Oregon Trail project.

Speaking of Oregon Trail.  We live right on the trail so we have a wealth of information around us.  Next week we will take a trip to the Oregon Trail Interactive Museum.  We will be spending the day there working through the program the museum has set up.  We will have lunch then finish the day hiking the trails located there.

I have also let go of some of my control.  He now does personal reading without me looking over his shoulder.  He later takes a test online where he earns prizes.  It also gives me a way to check and make sure he is reading and understanding it.

I also asked him, "What is it you want to do."  MORE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!!!!!  This is an area that I am just not good at.  I don't get why magnets work and I don't care.  However, Steve totally gets it and likes it.  I asked him if he would like to take over science for me.  Steve not only said yes but is super excited.  I have been working on the solar system with Jason.  We are making the planets and writing the facts.  I think it is very cool.  But Steve and Jason took it to a level I would have never been able to pull off.  They are attaching motors to make the planets rotate and I think I heard something about moving space ships.  I will not only be taking pictures but videos.

These changes may not seem like a lot, but to Jason it means he is growing up. I am very excited for all the changes.  I believe that if school is fun and interesting kids will learn.  I will keep you posted.

p.s.  The picture of the lama has nothing to do with this post, it just cracks me up.