October 29 - November 4
I really want to start with some food for thought written by Sara at Happiness is Here:
"Children are constantly learning new things anyway, just because you might not be able to see it (or measure it), or it's not something that's traditionally 'academic' doesn't mean it's not there. Not all learning is that obvious or quantifiable. Maybe they'll share it with you when they're ready? Maybe they don't want to? Do you want to share every little thing you learn with other people? Or are there some things you just keep to yourself? Is it even our right to constantly judge and test and evaluate? Can't we just observe and trust? I think so."
Additionally, I would contend that we are not even always cognizant of what we are learning during any given activity. Oftentimes we aren't aware of what we have learned until we are required to draw upon it for some reason, usually to connect it to something else.
This is why, when writing my Lifestyle of Learning updates, I make note of birthday gatherings with a grandparent, visits to a haunted house, all music listened to, all movies watched whether or not they would be considered 'academic,' etc. I note it all trusting that they are learning.
So here is a snapshot of our life for this past week.
Maceo had his final performance of Rocky Horror Show and had strike.
Bishop went with friends to a haunted house.
So here is a snapshot of our life for this past week.
Maceo had his final performance of Rocky Horror Show and had strike.
Bishop went with friends to a haunted house.
Maceo had his preprofessional training acting class.
Maceo and his girlfriend desired to bake up some Autumn goodness. They made pumpkin bread. Yum!
Bishop went to his culinary internship.
Bishop had scouts where he planned a for a campout this weekend and got several things signed off on for his personal management merit badge.
We celebrated Halloween by eating delicious food and decorating fun monster cookies...
... and doing a little trick or treating and partying with friends.
Maceo and his girlfriend desired to bake up some Autumn goodness. They made pumpkin bread. Yum!
Bishop went to his culinary internship.
Bishop had scouts where he planned a for a campout this weekend and got several things signed off on for his personal management merit badge.
We celebrated Halloween by eating delicious food and decorating fun monster cookies...
Maceo, Bishop and I took a trip to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
We viewed the Chihuly in the Forest exhibition...
...aspects of their permanent collection...
...and the Stuart Davis: In Full Swing exhibit.
We went to their library...
...then out to dinner for some amazing food,
...including house made cheesecake.
The entire trip was amazing and inspirational!!!
Bishop went to the dentist and Maceo to get his hair cut before they, along with Christian, went to a special photo shoot. A BFA in photography student needed male biracial subjects to photograph for her Senior Exhibition. I provided her with three subjects. She shot with a medium format film camera. She told us that early colorized film was based on the skin tone of a white woman so that didn't necessarily photograph other skin tones well. The Hershey company apparently didn't like the way this early colorized film made its chocolate bars look and they put pressure on the film industry to make some alterations. I don't know exactly what the photographer is going to do with the photographs for her exhibition but she has that history in mind as she photographs folks with varied skin tone. It was a good time.
Maceo went to No Strings Attached rehearsal.
Bishop went to the pottery studio to trim his pottery.
Bishop prepared for then departed a Boy Scout campout. This particular campout involved the boys each packing everything they need in a five gallon bucket (Bishop's proved to be a mere three gallons but he did it, easily). I look forward to hearing how the campout goes as it sure did start off on a very high note. Just look at these guys, ready and raring to go!
Maceo went to see a production of The Miracle Worker.
Christian and I went to our local university's international services Tour of the Globe. It was fantastic! There were twenty-eight countries represented: Japan, Mexico, Brazil, USA, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala, East Timor, Malaysia, Indonesia, France, Tajikistan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, China, Nigeria, Ghana, Germany, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Finland, Sweden, and Korea.
The exhibit for Mexico included an ofrenda - a Dia de los Muertos altar.
There was a lone student from Tajikistan who shared just a bit with us.
The students from Vietnam put together a very festive display and shared with us sticky rice and a mung bean and ginger broth soup.
There was some amazing food offered by the students from Tunisia - a pasta dish and an egg dish.
The students from Saudi Arabia shared with us some of the architecture of their country and some of their music.
The Mongolia display was very dynamic.
It included an introduction to Shagai, which is both a game and a fortune telling technique. You roll the four bones, the ankle bones of sheep, and the combination in which they land will tell you your future. ( You can read a little bit about it here). My fortune had something to do with experiencing joy in life. I like that!
The Korean students offered up traditional games, Moon Pies, and more.
It was a very good time and I look forward to checking it out again next year.
Maceo performed with his improv team Improvable Causes.
Christian and I worked diligently on creating props for his costume for a party he will be going to. He is going as one of the Unsullied from Game of Thrones. We spent hours working on his shield and spear. As crafting costumes is not our expertise it proved to be quite a mental undertaking.
His shield and chest piece are at his friends house; otherwise, here he is with his shield and sword...
We viewed the Chihuly in the Forest exhibition...
Bishop went to the dentist and Maceo to get his hair cut before they, along with Christian, went to a special photo shoot. A BFA in photography student needed male biracial subjects to photograph for her Senior Exhibition. I provided her with three subjects. She shot with a medium format film camera. She told us that early colorized film was based on the skin tone of a white woman so that didn't necessarily photograph other skin tones well. The Hershey company apparently didn't like the way this early colorized film made its chocolate bars look and they put pressure on the film industry to make some alterations. I don't know exactly what the photographer is going to do with the photographs for her exhibition but she has that history in mind as she photographs folks with varied skin tone. It was a good time.
Maceo went to No Strings Attached rehearsal.
Bishop went to the pottery studio to trim his pottery.
Bishop prepared for then departed a Boy Scout campout. This particular campout involved the boys each packing everything they need in a five gallon bucket (Bishop's proved to be a mere three gallons but he did it, easily). I look forward to hearing how the campout goes as it sure did start off on a very high note. Just look at these guys, ready and raring to go!
Christian and I went to our local university's international services Tour of the Globe. It was fantastic! There were twenty-eight countries represented: Japan, Mexico, Brazil, USA, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala, East Timor, Malaysia, Indonesia, France, Tajikistan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, China, Nigeria, Ghana, Germany, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Finland, Sweden, and Korea.
The exhibit for Mexico included an ofrenda - a Dia de los Muertos altar.
Maceo performed with his improv team Improvable Causes.
Christian and I worked diligently on creating props for his costume for a party he will be going to. He is going as one of the Unsullied from Game of Thrones. We spent hours working on his shield and spear. As crafting costumes is not our expertise it proved to be quite a mental undertaking.
So, the week ends with Christian at a Halloween party, Bishop at his campout, Maceo preparing to hang out with the cast members of Rocky Horror and I am contemplating making chocolate chip cookies.
It has been an invigorating week living and learning side by side.
"Nobody grows taller by being measured." -Roland Meighan
No comments:
Post a Comment