Comments on: In it to Win It http://redseahomeschool.wordpress.com/2007/04/27/in-it-to-win-it/ Domestic Adventures and Homeschool Miracles Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:34:24 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: JJ http://redseahomeschool.wordpress.com/2007/04/27/in-it-to-win-it/#comment-42 JJ Sat, 28 Apr 2007 20:31:00 +0000 http://redseahomeschool.wordpress.com/2007/04/27/in-it-to-win-it/#comment-42 I found my way here through COD's blog and really enjoyed the way you see it, especially from a gifted and musical family (we have the intellectual gifted thing as a theme too, but our musical gifts are pretty much limited to singing and musical theatre.) I see the debate about competition much the same as your view here, infinite layers of challenge and meaning within each experience for each individual to discover and define, and then of course the BIG Challenge of life and learning is figuring out how all that works, and how to discipline yourself, and it, in everything you do. :) I only started to learn this after a whole school and work life far too subject to the external demands and judgments of others. Our always-unschooled kids have done MUCH better though, and every day is an intellectual joy that no one had ever taught me was possible, We sort of stumbled into it through the back door . . . Nice to find your blog (I read a couple of other posts too) and I'd like to come back now and then if you wouldn't mind the visits. And do come see us at our wordpress blogs Snook and Snook Too (my gifted teen has her own new blog now.) JJ I found my way here through COD’s blog and really enjoyed the way you see it, especially from a gifted and musical family (we have the intellectual gifted thing as a theme too, but our musical gifts are pretty much limited to singing and musical theatre.)

I see the debate about competition much the same as your view here, infinite layers of challenge and meaning within each experience for each individual to discover and define, and then of course the BIG Challenge of life and learning is figuring out how all that works, and how to discipline yourself, and it, in everything you do. :)

I only started to learn this after a whole school and work life far too subject to the external demands and judgments of others. Our always-unschooled kids have done MUCH better though, and every day is an intellectual joy that no one had ever taught me was possible, We sort of stumbled into it through the back door . . .

Nice to find your blog (I read a couple of other posts too) and I’d like to come back now and then if you wouldn’t mind the visits. And do come see us at our wordpress blogs Snook and Snook Too (my gifted teen has her own new blog now.)

JJ

]]> By: homespunschool http://redseahomeschool.wordpress.com/2007/04/27/in-it-to-win-it/#comment-41 homespunschool Sat, 28 Apr 2007 20:17:40 +0000 http://redseahomeschool.wordpress.com/2007/04/27/in-it-to-win-it/#comment-41 Very interesting post. I agree with you absolutely, although I must admit I praise my dd's product too much. I am getting better and now explain why I am pleased with it (eg, that she worked so hard, she put real effort in, she thought about her design, etc). If you give children too much external validation, they don't have the chance to develop an inward sense of that for themselves. On the other hand, I've seen teachers go too far and only praise the process when the child is clearly hanging out for a simple, "hey, great picture." So I try to balance it. Both attitudes - "everyone is a winner" and "focus on winning" - repel me. I feel the same as you, that it should be about what you are actually learning. Very interesting post. I agree with you absolutely, although I must admit I praise my dd’s product too much. I am getting better and now explain why I am pleased with it (eg, that she worked so hard, she put real effort in, she thought about her design, etc). If you give children too much external validation, they don’t have the chance to develop an inward sense of that for themselves. On the other hand, I’ve seen teachers go too far and only praise the process when the child is clearly hanging out for a simple, “hey, great picture.” So I try to balance it.

Both attitudes – “everyone is a winner” and “focus on winning” – repel me. I feel the same as you, that it should be about what you are actually learning.

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