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It takes two to tango: The Artist and the MathematicianHow indeed does one learn Math, Science, Reading etc etc through play, movement, music and art?
My little girl was taught this song in school when she was four (4) years old:
Limang ibon nakaupo sa sanga
Lumipad ang isa
Apat natira...
Five birds sitting on a branch, one flew away, four stayed. On and on the song went with one bird always flying off until none were left.
She was singing with her fingers representing the birds and her other arm as the branch. She was changing lyrics of the song too as the days and weeks progressed:
She was singing with her fingers representing the birds and her other arm as the branch. She was changing lyrics of the song too as the days and weeks progressed:
Limang ibon nakaupo sa sanga
Lumipad and tatlo
Dalawa natira...
Dalawang ibon nakaupo sa sanga
Duamapo and dalawa
Apat na sila...
Lumipad and tatlo
Dalawa natira...
Dalawang ibon nakaupo sa sanga
Duamapo and dalawa
Apat na sila...
She was adding and subtracting birds as she sang the song. One day she asked for my arm to be the branch so she can work with ten fingers for ten birds.
It was wonderful to see her discover things on her own and her knowledge of arithmetic unfold through song and finger movement. She has since branched out from the birds and gone as far as buying her taho on her own.
She has progressed pretty well for her age. Discovering the universal truths in arithmetic as she plays.
Discovery is a powerful tool for children to learn. I noticed that children who discover their lessons do not get bored as compared to children who are fed their lessons.
Formdrawing has many uses
I would have wanted to teach my daughter to read much sooner but she wasn't interested with reading. So I held back the reading. Why teach her something she would easily discard anyway. To teach a child something she isn't ready to grasp, for me is a waste of time and energy.
But, she loves listening to stories. Rest after play for her always includes listening to stories. She would always pull out a book and ask me to read to her. Sometimes she'd ask me to read aloud whatever I am reading - even office work.
One day, she started asking me about letters. Children know when they're ready for a new lesson, they ask. As a parent, I realized that adults should be very keen to the type of questions children ask for these are signs for new discoveries.
This went on and on for days and weeks. Then she changed her questions:
First it was just a book she saw. Then the avalanche. We revisited all her books. She would pull one out flip through pages and ask What is this word? What about this? What does that mean?
I was ready to teach her how to read but she wasn't ready. She was discovering letters and how letters strung together can make words. She'd even string together random letters and ask me what it meant or say or read:
This went on and on. Almost ready to learn but not quite.
Then one day, she sat beside me and showed me that she can distinguish one letter from another. Then she pulled out a card and said:
My very independent daughter knew it was time to ask for help. She hit a wall in her process of learning to read. I didn't overwhelm her, I just gave her a little clue to nudge her in the right direction.
A few days later, her mom was getting dressed for a meeting in Makati, my daughter says:
Ah! The joys of discovery.
Arns Jara
http://koliskofoundation.blogspot.com/
http://arnsjara.multiply.com/journal
http://whywaldorfworks.org/
It was wonderful to see her discover things on her own and her knowledge of arithmetic unfold through song and finger movement. She has since branched out from the birds and gone as far as buying her taho on her own.
She has progressed pretty well for her age. Discovering the universal truths in arithmetic as she plays.
Discovery is a powerful tool for children to learn. I noticed that children who discover their lessons do not get bored as compared to children who are fed their lessons.
Formdrawing has many usesI would have wanted to teach my daughter to read much sooner but she wasn't interested with reading. So I held back the reading. Why teach her something she would easily discard anyway. To teach a child something she isn't ready to grasp, for me is a waste of time and energy.
But, she loves listening to stories. Rest after play for her always includes listening to stories. She would always pull out a book and ask me to read to her. Sometimes she'd ask me to read aloud whatever I am reading - even office work.
One day, she started asking me about letters. Children know when they're ready for a new lesson, they ask. As a parent, I realized that adults should be very keen to the type of questions children ask for these are signs for new discoveries.
What is that? Letter A
What is this? Letter V
and this? O
This? C
What is this? Letter V
and this? O
This? C
This went on and on for days and weeks. Then she changed her questions:
What does this say?
THE
What about this?
AVOCADO
And this?
IS
THE
What about this?
AVOCADO
And this?
IS
First it was just a book she saw. Then the avalanche. We revisited all her books. She would pull one out flip through pages and ask What is this word? What about this? What does that mean?
I was ready to teach her how to read but she wasn't ready. She was discovering letters and how letters strung together can make words. She'd even string together random letters and ask me what it meant or say or read:
What does this mean? SKENAMLX
Nothing.
OK. How about this? SEGAORLP
Nothing.
Nothing.
OK. How about this? SEGAORLP
Nothing.
This went on and on. Almost ready to learn but not quite.
Then one day, she sat beside me and showed me that she can distinguish one letter from another. Then she pulled out a card and said:
I know this says TO
I know this is says my name HAPPY
I know this says FROM
I know this says MOMMY
Then she pulls out a book, points at a word in a page and asks:I know this is says my name HAPPY
I know this says FROM
I know this says MOMMY
How do I read this?
Can you see the K in King?
My very independent daughter knew it was time to ask for help. She hit a wall in her process of learning to read. I didn't overwhelm her, I just gave her a little clue to nudge her in the right direction.
A few days later, her mom was getting dressed for a meeting in Makati, my daughter says:
Your shirt says GREED.
Ah! The joys of discovery.
Arns Jara
http://koliskofoundation.blogspot.com/
http://arnsjara.multiply.com/journal
http://whywaldorfworks.org/
