This is Mane's "model" of the solar system this year. When Mango saw this he asked if I'd helped. The truth is, I didn't really even pay attention until it was all done. Here's what happened:
I had to rush out the door to work one night, and I knew Mane needed to be working on something while I was gone. I was out of projects, but I knew I had pinned some solar system ideas on pinterest. So, I called her on my way to work. I directed her to my pinterest board called "For The Love of Science," and I told her to look around and find a project relating to the solar system. She dug out some books, buttons, plastic canvas, embroidery floss and needles. I saw her working on this for the next few days. And then, TA-DA!! Here is the final product!
Self-direction has been a major area of growth for Mane this year. The other day, in fact, I was lamenting how little time I have to "do school" with her on days that I work. Mane was the one who pointed out that if I left her things to do, she could get her work done on her own. Of course! This year she's done a number of completely self-directed "educational" things, too. She made her own blog on blogger. She's posting famous poems and projects like her solar system (above). She was learning about the Civil War at her homeschool co-op. So, she checked out books from the library and took notes on the Civil War and put them in her history binder. She learned how to cross-stitch. She drew a diagram of the layers of the atmosphere after we spent some time talking and reading about the atmosphere. (I didn't ask her to. She just did!) She enters her own projects on ravelry. And she posted Bible verses on her door frame just because she wanted to post them (reading AND writing practice + memory work).
I can't begin to tell you how HUGE this is at our house. I never know what to say about homeschooled kids who read voraciously and learn everything on their own. Mane has never been a reader. Reading is her main struggle. BUT, since we have worked very hard together to overcome the reading struggles, she consistently tells me that reading is her favorite "subject." I am so proud of that. So, anyway, she hasn't been much of an independent learner. I've attributed this to reading struggles somewhat, but I also know she'd just rather play. She's been more inclined to complain when I ask her to work (and we're not talking about "school at home" worksheets and busy work, either). So, it's been a pleasant and unexpected surprise to find her motivated to DO and LEARN things on her own this year. I feel like we must have finally hit our stride. Yes, it took this long. But, yes, I'm glad we took the time to allow it to happen slowly. I think traditional school would have burned her out a long time ago.
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