Monday:
Today, I learned about capacitors and capacitance for science. I also continued learning about curvature. I actually knew the basic concept of curvature, but they recently updated the curvature playlist, so I went and watched that. Not only that, but I also started writing about how big stars are, and what the largest star in the universe is. I also continued Science News from last week, and I worked on part 2 of electric cars, and I also worked on a news article about giraffes! And I also continued making my Mario-style platformer game. I worked on Koopas, which are those turtle things that try and attack you, and if you bop them on the head, they go into their shell, and you can kick the shell to make it move!
Tuesday:
Today, I learned about tangent planes and local linearization, which is the derivative of a point in 3D (math). I also learned about VSEPR, which is a way to find out what molecules look like in 3D (science). And I did more Science News about plant-based diets (language arts). I also did Currents4Kids, about three things: Indigenous languages, residential schools, and hockey (language arts). I also went to an online SelfDesign class today, Gr. 8 – 9 themes, which was pretty fun because it was about writing and making stories! And I like writing these days, so it was great!
These days, I think that studying is getting easier and more fun because I have a schedule, and it’s very easy to follow that schedule. And after I’m done, I can code. 🙂
Some things (like language arts) are still pretty hard because I haven’t done those questions that many times. Other things (like math) are pretty easy, but getting harder, because I’m learning more things above my grade level. 🙂
Wednesday:
Today, I went to News4Youth and did some of their quizzes. I learned about how you can use multivariable derivatives, I continued writing about star size, and I went to Science News to learn about ocean currents.
Thursday:
Today was a day when I finished a WHOLE ARTICLE of Canadian Reader! Mostly, I just do the first and last questions, not the middle questions. I also finished my taekwondo homework that they gave me at Leadership (more on that below). I also started the cross-enrollment program that I’m doing with North Vancouver Online Learning (NVOL). Not only that, but I worked on Science News about Antarctica, and I learned about intermolecular forces, which are basically the forces that molecules exert on each other.
Friday
Today, I went for a 3 km walk with mom, just like every day. I also practised violin for 1 hour straight, and I continued working on my running cube game. There aren’t any pictures! 🙂 😀 :T
Saturday:
Today, I worked on my top-down scrolling game!
Hi Shannon!
How are you doing?
Here are answers to your questions.
Is there anything you feel you’d really like to fit into your week but can never quite manage to prioritize, or do you feel the structure and activities you have in a week is pretty much optimal right now?
It’s funny that you ask that, because this week, I’ve wanted to make a video, but I can’t fit in the time! And when I do have time, I don’t want to do it. It’s like an amplified version of procrastination 🙂 But seriously, I don’t really have anything that I want to fit into my schedule that I can’t right now, because I think I made a pretty good schedule… but I’m sure that if I think about it, I will think of something that I want to put in my schedule.
It’s neat that what you write also goes on your unschooling blog. If someone not sure about unschooling read your blog, what message would you most want them to take away?
I would want them to know that it’s a great option for learning, and it can be fun at the same time! But I also want them to know that it’s pretty hard to create your own schedule, and plan everything… So try at your own risk, I guess.
Do you know to be very careful not to touch [a capacitor] with a hand or tool if you ever dissect something electronic that contains them, since some can carry a dangerous capacity to shock you even when the appliance is unplugged?
No, I did not know that! It makes sense though because I like to think of capacitors as mini rechargeable batteries. And if you touch the wires, the capacitor can discharge, leading to a big electric shock! But thanks for telling me!
Are you finding areas of overlap among those three subjects (physics, chemistry, and math)? As you keep learning I think you’ll find that understanding any one of those three subjects helps you understand the other two in many ways.
Yes, I am finding areas of overlap between physics and math! There is a lot of vector math in physics, and there is also trigonometry. I think it’s fun once science starts overlapping with math, because you can watch a lesson, and realize, “Hey, I know that!”
Have you told the SelfDesign Guidance office that you’re formally cross-enrolled for those two courses? They’ll need to record that in their paperwork. If you haven’t, just let me know and I will let them know for you.
Yes, I have! Thank you for reminding me!
Also, I have two questions for you…
- I’m thinking about starting a chess club (like I started a book club in Gr. 7), so do you know anyone that you teach that you think would be interested, and if you do, could you ask them if they would want to join (for once a week) a chess club? If they say yes, could you give me their contact information? Thanks!
- Is there a way to talk to my fellow students? As a chatting thing on the SelfDesign website. And is there a “village of conversations” like last year?
Thanks,
Ethan
Hi Ethan,
Thank you for another great Observing for Learning. I’m glad that you’re feeling like following your schedule allows you to explore a balanced variety of learning with the right mix of challenges, and lets you have free time for coding later. It sounds like you’re finding a very strong stride for the year. Is there anything you feel you’d really like to fit into your week but can never quite manage to prioritize, or do you feel the structure and activities you have in a week is pretty much optimal right now? It’s neat that what you write also goes on your unschooling blog. If someone not sure about unschooling read your blog, what message would you most want them to take away?
You’ve done some fun math and science learning this week. Capacitors are an interesting topic. Do you know to be very careful not to touch one with a hand or tool if you ever dissect something electronic that contains them, since some can carry a dangerous capacity to shock you even when the appliance is unplugged? You may well have encountered that information in your reading, but I was never taught it in school science classes and think it’s an important thing for everyone to know. I can tell you’re also really enjoying the multivariable calculus you’re doing, and and that you’re also doing some great learning about molecular structure and intermolecular forces in chemistry. Are you finding areas of overlap among those three subjects (physics, chemistry, and math)? As you keep learning I think you’ll find that understanding any one of those three subjects helps you understand the other two in many ways.
It looks like you made great use of Currents4Kids this week, and it seems like it would be a helpful way to keep apprised of current events and build reading comprehension skills. How do you choose which articles you’ll engage with? I’m glad you included an article on residential schools for Truth and Reconciliation week; it’s an emotionally challenging topic, but a very important one to explore. Did anything you learned in the articles you read make you reevaluate an opinion or assumption you had had, or make you think in a way you’d like to try to think more often?
I enjoyed reading what you wrote about stars, and can tell writing about astronomy is a motivating writing activity for you. I also enjoyed seeing your very strategic use of Koopa shells in the Mario game, and the moving blocks animation, and the origami homework from the Makers workshop. Thank you for sharing so many neat work samples. I wonder how you’re finding the online group learning setting/structure of the Makers series.
I love long walks at this time of year, and am glad you had the chance to go on one. What do you notice about nature when you go for a walk in the fall?
I look forward to hearing what you think of the Math and Science 8 courses you’re taking. Have you told the SelfDesign Guidance office that you’re formally cross-enrolled for those two courses? They’ll need to record that in their paperwork. If you haven’t, just let me know and I will let them know for you.
Thank you for your Observing for Learning and the samples of your work!
Best,
Shannon
This past week, we noticed Ethan being very determined to follow his daily schedule. There were some hiccups but overall, Ethan has shown some resilience and is trying hard to follow his schedule. Most importantly, he’s enjoying what he’s doing and having fun every day.
Now that Ethan’s weekly schedule is set, and he’s doing pretty much the same tasks and topics each day, he will start preparing a weekly summary, rather than writing a daily summary.
We actually don’t mind the daily summaries because they help Ethan to keep a daily journal. For us, they allow us to look back and see how Ethan has grown and what his learning journey has been.
What Ethan writes also goes onto his blog, which we have been posting to for several years. The blog is meant to show other families how Ethan learns and to hopefully, inspire or encourage others to unschool, as well.
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