tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92184266984010367312024-02-17T23:01:52.248-08:00Hobo MamaA baby for a bindle: A natural parenting blogLauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.comBlogger152113tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218426698401036731.post-40138195173840626062020-09-15T17:15:00.000-07:002020-09-15T17:15:02.586-07:00Teaching to mastery: How we naturally learn<div align="right"><a data-pin-do="buttonPin" data-pin-count="beside" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hobomama.com%2F2020%2F09%2Fteaching-to-mastery.html&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-RslVBxACwyo%2FX2FPqWImE_I%2FAAAAAAAAPjc%2Fy-hL927skUQkscBSdqC2s_2123NSKcGkwCLcBGAsYHQ%2Fs0%2FTeaching%252Bto%252BMastery%252Bpin.png&description=Good%20point%3A%20The%20normal%20way%20we%20learn%20is%20to%20practice%20until%20we%20truly%20understand%20something%20before%20moving%20on."></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bG2ggOvRvIM/X2FR0cpkSkI/AAAAAAAAPjk/_C26cTL3Ke0wwYuIA5t_r0ccXmYbHdtNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Teaching%2Bto%2BMastery%2BFB.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img width="100%" alt="" border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bG2ggOvRvIM/X2FR0cpkSkI/AAAAAAAAPjk/_C26cTL3Ke0wwYuIA5t_r0ccXmYbHdtNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Teaching%2Bto%2BMastery%2BFB.png"/></a></div>
<i>My 9-year-old learns art techniques & origami
<br>by practicing them over and over and over.</i>
<br><br>
<a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blogger! Look at how professional she's being!" border="0" height="24" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RXW7KD8LAoA/WLTy4LRD_JI/AAAAAAAAMFo/6svrB54HiZI8_5uUYBbshsnAJbTWrsjnACLcB/s1600/hm-disclosure-short.png" title="Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blogger! Look at how professional she's being!" width="309" /></a></center><br /><br />When I was new to the world of homeschooling, and pedagogy in general, I heard about the term "teaching to mastery," and it perplexed me. The idea is that you <b>teach something until the student understands and retains it</b>. You test as you go along, but if the student doesn't score highly on any given test, you adjust your teaching style and go over it again. What perplexed me was that there were teachers <i>not</i> using this technique.<div><br /></div><div>It makes sense in a homeschool situation. Or, in other words, the reverse makes no sense. There's no reason I would, say, teach my child fractions, have them be confused and doing them all wrong, and then say, "<b>Welp, that was all the time we have for fractions! On to geometry.</b> You get a fail on fractions." I wouldn't hold my child back a grade in homeschool in some punitive sense, and, conversely, there's no time pressure to move up at a certain pace. We can speed ahead of things they've got down pat, and slow down for the more frustrating bits.</div><div><br /></div><div>But then I remember my experiences in school, where teaching to mastery was not the norm. You kept up — or you flunked out. I was strong academically, so my two personal examples were in art and physical education. Fortunately, both were graded more on effort than skill, but I remember being criticized in art class more than learning how to complete assignments. In P.E., I remember being ignored most of the time. I wasn't worth bringing up to scratch, I suppose.</div><div><div><br /><a name='more'></a>Obviously, this scenario is even worse for kids in academic classes who feel constant pressure to live up to expectations they can't meet. And, generally speaking, it's not the teachers' fault, so I don't mean to shame anyone. The whole system is set up as a sort of conveyor belt to move all pupils along at the same pace — <b>slow for some and overly quick for others</b>. This might be an inevitable drawback of large class sizes and emphasis on test scores and grade point averages. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>I was thinking today of the analogy of hair brushing as I was once again patiently working knots out of one or another of my kids' long locks. <b>I don't stop until I can touch the brush to their scalp and pull the bristles down the whole length with nothing catching</b>. Due to twirling and swinging and general childlike goofiness, there are always, always mats to work out. If I'm not working toward perfection and we're in a hurry to get out the door, I can do a quick and substandard job. I can smooth the top layers and the ones nearest their faces, and people won't notice too much how tangled the strands are underneath. </div><div><br /></div><div>But teaching to mastery is <b>patiently picking up each lock of hair and teasing out each tangle</b> until the whole thing rests free. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thinking again about how <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/04/unschooling-is-how-adults-naturally.html" target="_blank">unschooling is how adults naturally learn</a>, <b>we as grown-ups use teaching to mastery as the default in our own lives</b>, whether it's with learning gardening or baking or knitting or woodwork or painting or parkour or whatever. I don't mean we set an unrealistic interpretation of what mastery is — because certainly we can enjoy an endeavor we'll never perfect — but we don't shut down our learning and assign a grade and print out a certificate once enough time has passed. If we enjoy it and are getting something meaningful out of it, we keep at it. We keep growing and learning, and we move on to the next step when we're ready, not when someone says we must.</div><div><br /></div><div>Teaching to mastery is the normal way we learn as humans, and I hope we can extend that <b>grace of time</b> to all the learners in our lives.</div>
<i><div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>If you're stuck into the world of e-learning, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>you might also enjoy:</i></div><center><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmYUMNcYjSM/XngMCpmpxhI/AAAAAAAAPWc/mZ4_yvB4CC0s-sbzioFU9A6m7faDb_bRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200322_180443_0000.png"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmYUMNcYjSM/XngMCpmpxhI/AAAAAAAAPWc/mZ4_yvB4CC0s-sbzioFU9A6m7faDb_bRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200322_180443_0000.png" width="420" /> </a></center><center><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmYUMNcYjSM/XngMCpmpxhI/AAAAAAAAPWc/mZ4_yvB4CC0s-sbzioFU9A6m7faDb_bRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200322_180443_0000.png"> Homeschooling in a time of crisis</a><br>
<br><br><a href="http://amzn.to/1RUsItJ" target="_blank"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QmnsbF_3ulU/VfyAnnSkhtI/AAAAAAAAJ4s/3HB_FM9FfSg/s1600/what-will-we-learn-today.jpg" alt="what-will-we-learn-today" width="150" />
<br><i>What Will We Learn Today? Easy Homeschooling Activities</i></a><br>
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<a data-pin-do="buttonPin" data-pin-count="above" data-pin-tall="true" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hobomama.com%2F2020%2F09%2Fteaching-to-mastery.html&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-RslVBxACwyo%2FX2FPqWImE_I%2FAAAAAAAAPjc%2Fy-hL927skUQkscBSdqC2s_2123NSKcGkwCLcBGAsYHQ%2Fs0%2FTeaching%252Bto%252BMastery%252Bpin.png&description=Good%20point%3A%20The%20normal%20way%20we%20learn%20is%20to%20practice%20until%20we%20truly%20understand%20something%20before%20moving%20on."></a>
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<br><br><a target="_blank" href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=926907&u=328369&m=40843&urllink=&afftrack=" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://static.shareasale.com/image/40843/PerfectGift2600x500.jpg" width="300" border="0" /></a></center></i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><hr//></p><p><img src="http://images.hobomama.com/hobomama.jpg" style="float:left;" width="80"//>Thanks for subscribing to <a href="http://www.HoboMama.com">Hobo Mama</a>. Please feel free to comment on the post & share it with friends!</p></div>Lauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218426698401036731.post-51453293380798179622020-07-19T18:21:00.003-07:002020-07-19T18:28:56.575-07:00 Why is sleeping a punishment?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pA0prQqyESI/XxTseSIEz-I/AAAAAAAAPgY/-dHsFYwBqZETAYSy9UfEqAhaG0q-d4u-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/Why%2Bis%2Bsleep%2Ba%2Bpunishment%2BFB.png"><img alt="Why is sleep a punishment - picture of child under quilt with eyes open" border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pA0prQqyESI/XxTseSIEz-I/AAAAAAAAPgY/-dHsFYwBqZETAYSy9UfEqAhaG0q-d4u-wCLcBGAsYHQ/d/Why%2Bis%2Bsleep%2Ba%2Bpunishment%2BFB.png" width="100%" /></a></div><center><br /></center><center>
<a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blogger! Look at how professional she's being!" border="0" height="24" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RXW7KD8LAoA/WLTy4LRD_JI/AAAAAAAAMFo/6svrB54HiZI8_5uUYBbshsnAJbTWrsjnACLcB/s1600/hm-disclosure-short.png" title="Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blogger! Look at how professional she's being!" width="309" /></a></center><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
Have you seen the <b>pandemic-schooling schedule</b> floating around? <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-19yNAhoRGx0/XxTemD8zRwI/AAAAAAAAPgM/OgQYAJtpbdAun3iRPaPSvCX3snbASmL2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/covid-19-daily-schedule.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-19yNAhoRGx0/XxTemD8zRwI/AAAAAAAAPgM/OgQYAJtpbdAun3iRPaPSvCX3snbASmL2ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/covid-19-daily-schedule.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>(To give proper credit, it's from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jessicamchalephotography/photos/a.10150670586898233/10157197466568233/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jessica McHale</a>, and I'm not posting this to call her out because I know what I'm talking about here is a common parenting mindset.)<br /><br />There are joke versions crafted on this template that replace every slot with screen time or <i>Frozen 2</i> or fighting over toys. That's all good and fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I'll direct you to the last two slots marked Bedtime: <b>Any kids who follow the daily schedule and don't fight are entitled to an extra hour before bed</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I showed this to Alrik, he had the same reaction I did: "<b>Why would you punish your kids by making them sleep?</b> Isn't sleep something we all need?"<br /><br /><br />
<center><a target="_blank" href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1574866&u=328369&m=22557&urllink=&afftrack="><img src="https://static.shareasale.com/image/22557/earthmama_motherly_300x250_ladyface_fina.jpg" border="0" alt="Earth Mama - Lady Face™ Mineral Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 40" /></a></center><br />
<a name='more'></a>Why indeed. Why do we use something so basic as food or sleep to manipulate behavior and make our kids feel bad? I think of this every time I hear of a child being sent to bed without supper or missing out on dessert or being sent to bed early. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't think basic needs should be tied to performance. We don't (do we?) refuse to give our kids a bath if they've disobeyed, or take away their shoes. At least, I hope not. <b>Food and sleep should be neutral givens</b>, unrelated to <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2020/03/homeschooling-in-time-of-crisis.html" target="_blank">how well kids followed a(n arguably capricious and overly ambitious) schedule during a time of turmoil</a>, or how cranky said kids might be because of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Can you imagine punishing yourself or a fellow adult the same way? If you didn't get all your chores done today, you have to go to bed an hour early and skip your bedtime reading. If you raised your voice, you don't get to eat with the family. It's bizarre, not to mention mean-spirited. <b>It doesn't lead to healing the relationships or resolving the damage; it's just retribution</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>My kid gets it. Why don't adults?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_CYw1I9FKUY/XxTs6kXCZiI/AAAAAAAAPgg/SIdYjcDNy3gHX-2SVu6gRh8KxfRXJ-8bQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1500/Why%2Bis%2Bsleep%2Ba%2Bpunishment%2Bpin.png" style="display:none;"><img alt="Why is sleep a punishment? - smiling young child in bed" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_CYw1I9FKUY/XxTs6kXCZiI/AAAAAAAAPgg/SIdYjcDNy3gHX-2SVu6gRh8KxfRXJ-8bQCLcBGAsYHQ/d/Why%2Bis%2Bsleep%2Ba%2Bpunishment%2Bpin.png" width="300" /></a>
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<center><a target="_blank" href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1314786&u=328369&m=30242&urllink=&afftrack="><img src="https://static.shareasale.com/image/30242/grovia_300x250-2.jpg" border="0" /></a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><hr//></p><p><img src="http://images.hobomama.com/hobomama.jpg" style="float:left;" width="80"//>Thanks for subscribing to <a href="http://www.HoboMama.com">Hobo Mama</a>. Please feel free to comment on the post & share it with friends!</p></div>Lauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218426698401036731.post-69789751046055338502020-05-10T10:00:00.000-07:002020-05-10T10:00:14.680-07:00Moments of motherhood<img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-653Tx1sOSz8/XrgvO0AlUPI/AAAAAAAAPa4/4ThxlD5rjf4EZ3J-VxUpZb6jCBHKuDfJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200510_094314.jpg" class="alignright" align="right" width="250" /><h3>Astronaut</h3><br />
Rotating with no axis,<br />
unfurled tether<br />
keeping you in place.<br />
<br />
The atmosphere around you<br />
unbreathable,<br />
so air comes to you.<br />
<br />
Extraterrestrial glow<br />
illuminating<br />
the dimness<br />
<br />
As you spin and twirl,<br />
no upside down<br />
or right side up,<br />
<br />
Weightless,<br />
waiting,<br />
your hand before<br />
your face<br />
<br />
Waving to Earth.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h3>Unexpected </h3>Tricky boy, you sneaked in behind the midwife's back,<br />
fooling me into believing I wasn't pushing,<br />
that you wouldn't be arriving till morning at least,<br />
that we had time,<br />
long, monstrous hours to fill,<br />
instead of intense, rapturous, terrible minutes.<br />
You slipped out to our surprise,<br />
a splash that we didn't catch — couldn't —<br />
you too slippery for us to contain or predict,<br />
a flashing red-purple,<br />
wriggling in the water, and finally hauled in,<br />
turning it around<br />
and catching us in your net.<br />
<br />
<center><img src="http://images.hobomama.com/20110521_4751copy.jpg" width="450" alt="homebirth baby" title="Poems for Weekly Parenting Poetry Workshop — Week 2: Emerge == LaurenWayne.com and Hobo Mama"><br />
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<h3>Happy Mother's Day to you! </h3></center><br />
<blockquote><!-- <img src="http://images.hobomama.com/20110626_7269.jpg" title="Photo Credit: Hobo Mama" alt="family portrait of four on the beach" width="250" align="left" hspace="10">Lauren blogs at <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> about natural and attachment parenting and is the author of -->Read more parenting poetry in (affiliate link) <br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/1qebOAl" target="_blank"><i><b>Poetry of a Hobo Mama: The First Three Years</b></i></a>, a collection of poems about natural and attachment parenting. <!-- her parenting journey so far with her now four-year-old son, Mikko. The poem above is from a new collection for a new baby, two-month-old Alrik. Lauren cofounded <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network</a>, and she blogs about writing at <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/" target="_blank">LaurenWayne.com</a>. She lives and writes across from the beach in Seattle. You can follow Lauren on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/HoboMamaBlog" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Hobo_Mama" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. --><br />
<br />
</blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><hr//></p><p><img src="http://images.hobomama.com/hobomama.jpg" style="float:left;" width="80"//>Thanks for subscribing to <a href="http://www.HoboMama.com">Hobo Mama</a>. Please feel free to comment on the post & share it with friends!</p></div>Lauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.com1