This week, I went to swimming classes on Friday, violin on Monday & Tuesday, and taekwondo on Tuesday & Thursday. I also went to orchestra and black belt training on Saturday. Besides my classes, I made a video about simulating heat flow in Scratch. I also played with TPT (The Powder Toy) a lot. TPT is, and I quote from The Powder Toy website, “The Powder Toy is a free physics sandbox game, which simulates air pressure and velocity, heat, gravity and a countless number of interactions between different substances! The game provides you with various building materials, liquids, gases and electronic components which can be used to construct complex machines, guns, bombs, realistic terrains and almost anything else.”
And find this nuclear reactor here: https://powdertoy.co.uk/Browse/View.html?ID=2711965
From last week’s nature school session, written by Ethan’s teacher, Mink:
Even with a slight drizzle, everyone was excited to kick off our field trip day at Whey-Ah-Wichen. The opportunity to be in a new location–especially the beach–brought an exciting buzz to the day!
We started off with Luisa’s group with a land acknowlegemet (sic) circle, in which we talked about the rich history of Whey-Ah-Wichen as a Tsleil-Watuth village site, and the importance of this spot. Looking across the water, we could see Burnaby mountain, where the TMX pipeline project is currently being pushed through unceded native land, despite local pushback and devastating environmental impact. It was quite an impactful place to stand. We talked about the importance of being good guests, and how that might shape they way we interact with this landscape as we explore the beach.
Next, we all joined in a big fun game of Raven Steals the Sun–in which nocturnal animals try to free the sunbeams (brightly coloured bandana balls) from the clever ravens who have stashed them away in the East. After the game, we settled in for a sharing circle and story. Mink read a traditional Haida children’s story from The Mouse Woman Trilogy, and we all marveled at it’s wonderful strangeness.
The rest of the day was spend exploring the beach! Many rocks were overturned in search of crabs, and we learned how to safely hold them, and how to tell males from females. We also learned that any rock left over-turned soon became an opportunistic feast for seagulls, who would pick the small starfish from the bottom. We will have to be much more prudent in the future! But the seagulls seemed pleased with themselves.
Among the rocks we found many varieties of starfish and crabs, but we also found EELS! This was a highlight for many of us, and the kids soon began building a miniature aquarium to house some of our aquatic friends. Meanwhile, others collected and traded beautiful shells and treasures–one of the most exciting find was a dried fish that was long and skinny, with a snout that looked like a seahorse. What in the world could this being BE?! I challenge you all to try to identify the mystery fish for next session. At the end of the day, we carefully deconstructed our aquarium before heading back.
Week 35: Direct Contact
I had my last Zoom call with Ethan and his parents, here are some of the notes from the conversation:
What have you been doing lately?
-Khan academy, differential equations
– maybe Make video,
You are very good at that and reteaching yourself all of the content
– I am working on a webpage about big history
– I am making a page for each section
Here is a sweet screenshot I took of a happy and proud family. Homeschooling has been a journey for them all and one they are so glad they chose!
When is Black belt test?
June 13th, I am nervous and excited, 12 people are taking it in total
Not sure if we can watch on zoom
I have to memorize forms,
And do an essay, require you to do 5 topics, memorable experiences.
Carl has been working on what is possible for next year,
-not sure about cross enrollment, the idea is good, self paced math or science
-maybe the North Vancouver online school, Ethan could even start in the next few weeks, do it at his own pace, a possibility.
-You can enroll anytime, as long as they are working. We will have to decide to try grade 8 curriculum.
-He did do EMF, Brilliant where you pick your topics of interest, but it is not a course
– In talking to the SD guidance for grade 8/9 workshops, circles that preps for 10/11/12 for themes. That made us think maybe he will do that.
Carl:
After the 4th year it is different and the same. Challenges, screen time has been a big topic of conversation
We wonder are there are other programs he could be doing, how could it be using the compute more or less?
How can he be more self disciplined, managing his own time? There is not a predefined time frame, no assignments, having discipline to not get distracted, challenges to work in this way.
Ethan seems to pick content seems excellent, it is the how,
we tried a few ways to limit the screen time the schedule, set a timer on the computer
He knows what he wants to do, a matter of getting it done,
It has been helpful to go to classes, orchestra, swimming, etc. this year
We have been listening to different things about screen time, it is world we live in these days
Be careful, so much sitting, his health, what are you doing while you are on the screen?
How have you found Self Design and homeschooling?
It is exciting, it is so nice to have the option, It has been so important for all of us.
Having the flexibility, still a lot of learning and challenges to get through each school year.
It is more unpredictable being a homeschooler.
Parents have to be quite involved. There is a lot of trust involved. It is challenging. Hard to know how much to get involved, whento let go, when to intervene.
We have been having more conversation about Minecraft, Ethan has been asking about it for years. Play at friends, so rare, now it is up for debate again.
Amount of Minecraft, the question once again is the discipline. How do we fit it in? have him work on things he is working on? Quite jammed packed in terms of his day. It is also addictive.
He made a presentation of pros and cons. From a social perspective it can be collaborative with friends, our main concern is time suck, and the little to no educational value of it.
Wondering what he is doing, can we trust him really do the things he can do….
We had a bit more conversation about freedom and responsibility, ways to earn trust and built it together.
It has been such an honour to be your LC and watch Ethan grow and learn so much over the years together. I wish him all the best in all of his endeavors, please keep in touch.
Natasha
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