photo by Sandra Dodd
Showing posts with label stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stuff. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 26, 2023
Important fun
photo by Sandra Dodd
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Simple but gigantic
It's simple but gigantic.
If things (music, ideas, jokes) are allowed the dignity of being potentially accepted as perhaps good in someone's estimation, lights come on all over that world.
photo by Holly Dodd
Friday, November 25, 2022
Learning, exploration, peace & love
Unschooling is about learning, exploration, peace and love.
photo by Sandra Dodd
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Inside choices
Someone wrote, of a six-year-old, once:
SandraDodd.com/rebellion
photo by Deb Lewis
She's currently refusing to go outside.I responded:
She can't refuse if no one is pressuring or demanding.
photo by Deb Lewis
Monday, April 26, 2021
Birds
More birds
photo by Jo Isaac
(a link to more of Jo Isaac's words or images)
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Words and pictures, sent to you!
When I was in first grade I decided I wanted to be a teacher.
All through school I paid attention to what teachers did and how, and why (when I could figure that out, which was pretty often). And I asked the other kids what they liked about teachers and what they didn’t. So I learned LOTS and lots about how learning works and what factors work for different kinds of people.
When I was older, 13/14 or so, I wanted to become a missionary (still teaching-related), or to work at a magazine. And it seems all those rolled together are what I’ve become. I write, and I help people have happier more peaceful lives, and it’s all about learning. So in a natural-learning way I’ve been working up to this always.
I wrote the above in an online exchange for Mothering Magazine in 2007.
Recently, I remembered another writing-related profession I had seriously considered for a short while in my late 20's. I had read that the Hallmark Cards company was hiring writers, in Kansas City. I thought I could do that! I knew nothing about Kansas City, and decided I didn't want to move, but while I thought about applying, writing mushy or funny or inspiring words to go with an image sounded easy and fun.
Then, with this blog already ten years old, when I remembered that, I saw that Just Add Light and Stir is much like a greeting card collection. Some are funny, or mushy, and many are inspiring. Some are seasonal, and some are about babies. This is post #3744. I guess I have inadvertently written some greeting cards.
When I was older, 13/14 or so, I wanted to become a missionary (still teaching-related), or to work at a magazine. And it seems all those rolled together are what I’ve become. I write, and I help people have happier more peaceful lives, and it’s all about learning. So in a natural-learning way I’ve been working up to this always.
I wrote the above in an online exchange for Mothering Magazine in 2007.
Recently, I remembered another writing-related profession I had seriously considered for a short while in my late 20's. I had read that the Hallmark Cards company was hiring writers, in Kansas City. I thought I could do that! I knew nothing about Kansas City, and decided I didn't want to move, but while I thought about applying, writing mushy or funny or inspiring words to go with an image sounded easy and fun.
Then, with this blog already ten years old, when I remembered that, I saw that Just Add Light and Stir is much like a greeting card collection. Some are funny, or mushy, and many are inspiring. Some are seasonal, and some are about babies. This is post #3744. I guess I have inadvertently written some greeting cards.
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Work at playing
photo by Sandra Dodd
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Thursday, May 28, 2020
Things
I love this photo of Karen Lundy's kitchen utensils, laid out artfully and photographed.
I like things. I like tools. The similarities and differences in things has always interested me—the patterns and departures, in objects, people, games, songs, foods, trees, and ideas.
Some people think "I have too many things." Some want things they don't have. Few think "I have the perfect number of things."
I miss things I used to have, sometimes. Attachments are not ideal, but things can be art, comfort, tools, toys, and portals to history, stories, science, exploration and possibilities.
Be at peace with things, when you can be.
SandraDodd.com/abundance
photo by Karen Lundy
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Some people think "I have too many things." Some want things they don't have. Few think "I have the perfect number of things."
I miss things I used to have, sometimes. Attachments are not ideal, but things can be art, comfort, tools, toys, and portals to history, stories, science, exploration and possibilities.
Be at peace with things, when you can be.
SandraDodd.com/abundance
photo by Karen Lundy
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Sunday, May 24, 2020
Listen, advise, love, laugh
Marina DeLuca-Howard wrote, regarding a teenager:
In the past when someone with a younger child in tow has asked for "the secret" to all this respect I seem to receive I notice they can't *hear* the answer. I gave a lot of respect, choices and did a lot of trusting. I didn't ignore him. I was the resource. I listened, advised, and loved and laughed and supported.
A teen boy out with his mom—what's "the secret"?
photo by Tara Joe Farrell
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In the past when someone with a younger child in tow has asked for "the secret" to all this respect I seem to receive I notice they can't *hear* the answer. I gave a lot of respect, choices and did a lot of trusting. I didn't ignore him. I was the resource. I listened, advised, and loved and laughed and supported.
—Marina DeLuca-Howard
photo by Tara Joe Farrell
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Tuesday, May 5, 2020
What I think
People are always asking me what I think. 🙂
I think if someone reads what's at Joyce's page, and mine, and if that seems true and useful, cool!
Those who read those things and think it's crazy, and can't begin to understand it, will miss out on a fantastic opportunity.
That's what I think.
From a 2006 discussion of the range of, and differentiation of, radical unschooling
photo by Nina Haley
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I think if someone reads what's at Joyce's page, and mine, and if that seems true and useful, cool!
Those who read those things and think it's crazy, and can't begin to understand it, will miss out on a fantastic opportunity.
That's what I think.
photo by Nina Haley
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Monday, April 27, 2020
The whole language
Because phonics treats written English as a simple code when it is not, many children are frustrated very early on.
Whole language involves language as communication, rather than separate parts (writing/reading/spelling). First language; details later.
With unschooling, children will learn from the language you use and they use, from the words they see around them, from using games and computers, from signing greeting cards or playing with words. There's no need for any school-style structure at all. For those who have worried about phonics and reading and spelling, please don't press that on your children.
Play with words
photo by Caroline Lieber
Whole language involves language as communication, rather than separate parts (writing/reading/spelling). First language; details later.
With unschooling, children will learn from the language you use and they use, from the words they see around them, from using games and computers, from signing greeting cards or playing with words. There's no need for any school-style structure at all. For those who have worried about phonics and reading and spelling, please don't press that on your children.
Play with words
photo by Caroline Lieber
Friday, April 24, 2020
Admirable and attractive
Getting warm
or to other posts on perspective
photo by Karen James
Friday, April 10, 2020
No exceptions
Parents should not think that unschoolers are exempt from any expectations of courtesy or etiquette.
SandraDodd.com/etiquette
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Friday, February 21, 2020
It's a good thing.
"Joy really is infectious, so it's a good thing to grab and share whenever you can."
—Sylvia Toyama
photo by Cass Kotrba
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Approaching solidity
There is a danger when someone's own understanding and practice of unschooling is shaky, and she wants the approval of others more than the solid joyful everyday life of her family. I've seen a few of those.
Another problem comes when someone's reasons for unschooling are not about learning and family relationships, but about being way cool and out there, and cutting edge, and anti-this'n'that. But that sets the stage for lots of problems in insecure people, when they want to glom onto something that's wild and new and shocking.
photo by Alex Polikowsky
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Something looks like this:
collection,
furnishings,
stuff
Friday, January 24, 2020
Hooks to hang ideas on
You have to know a lot to learn more, and if you know nothing, you can't learn anything. |
photo by Dawn Todd
Something looks like this:
collection,
dishes,
stuff,
tools
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Seeing in an unschooling light
Before you can see anything in an unschooling light, you must have an unschooling light to see by.
photo by Karen James
Something looks like this:
instruments,
light,
shadow,
stuff
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Juxtaposition
photo by Holly Dodd, of lily pads, in the desert
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Friday, May 24, 2019
Creating history
Remember you don't need a museum to find things your kids will be fascinated by and learn from. You probably have things right in your home that would not only connect to history, but it might be their history. And will be from then on, anyway. Things we have from thrift stores aren't from my family, but for my grandchildren they will be from their family.
Your House as a Museum (chat transcript)
and facebook shared it back to both of us this week.
photo by Sandra Dodd
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Old and new
It's good to see old things in new ways. There is creativity in doing something unexpected with materials already on hand. Learning can come from novel combinations. |
photo by Holly Dodd (long ago; I'm using it anew)
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