TAKING SHAPE: CJ's birthday is coming (this Sunday!) and yesterday morning I woke with a start, remembering I'd promised him a pinata. Those take days to make (what with all the layers and drying time), so we had to get started. But first things first, I had to know what he wanted to beat the living stuffing out of. Turns out the answer to that is Barney the Dinosaur. Excellent choice, I must say.
So yesterday, Barney started taking shape on our kitchen island, with a lot of balloons and some painter's tape.
Today, we continued the process, adding arms along with another layer on the head and body. He'll get legs tomorrow, along with another layer on his body and head.
I asked CJ what kind of cake he wanted and without hesitation he said he wanted to recreate what is clearly the finest moment in Food Network history, and perhaps the best moment in television history. ;) history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVvdLeRHQoQ
Guess he's officially a tween, as his birthday is all about bashing bastions of childhood, eh?
I figured if NdGT was appearing in Portland, he most certainly had to be coming to Seattle, too. I took to the Google and it took me a few minutes to hunt down a date and place. Turns out he'll be at the historic Paramount theater on Monday, Sept. 15. Today was a presale with code-only event, but a little more research and I was able to run that down. So now we've got our tix in hands. Can't wait!
UP NORTH: As of today, we are now spending an extra hour a week up in Shoreline because Annabelle is now enrolled in a weekly art class there, which she's very happy about. Today, she got to dabble in watercolors. She completed the class project, a vase of daffodils, and then had extra time, during which she created a dandelion-themed pony.
While the kids were in math today, I went to a presentation about an Internet-based curriculum called Odysseyware. I'm trying to sound not too negative, because it was as pretty brief overview, but let's just say it wasn't a game changer, at least for us.
I appreciate what the company appears to be trying to do - offer "Common Core" compliant classes for students in grades 3-12 students. However, I found the interface overly cluttered, clunky and the video portions of classes we saw were (IMHO) cheesy, not dynamic and not compelling compared to classes we've taken online via Coursera, edX, etc. It also sounds relatively expensive, given all the free, excellent resources there are out there.
I appreciate what the company appears to be trying to do - offer "Common Core" compliant classes for students in grades 3-12 students. However, I found the interface overly cluttered, clunky and the video portions of classes we saw were (IMHO) cheesy, not dynamic and not compelling compared to classes we've taken online via Coursera, edX, etc. It also sounds relatively expensive, given all the free, excellent resources there are out there.
a class for math students of all ages. From Dr. Boaler's email announcing registration is now open, she explains the class "is FREE and is designed for any learners of math (all ages, all levels), to give them a positive relationship with math. The course has 3 goals
To instill a growth mindset, especially in math
To teach a range of mathematical strategies, such as representing, and seeking big ideas
To show math as a connected, living subject with videos of math in soccer, dance, art, nature and many more applications."
What's not to like?!
The class will consist of 6 course sessions that take 15-20 minutes each, and it will be open at the end of May/beginning of June.
The class will consist of 6 course sessions that take 15-20 minutes each, and it will be open at the end of May/beginning of June.
Registration link is here: https://class.stanford.edu/courses/Education/EDUC115-S/Spring2014/about
Most of the time "math" is a tool, and sometimes a toy!. It helps us describe things and discover things. It isn't an end in itself. Sounds like that's what Dr. Boaler is trying to convey. Should be a lot of fun.
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