Learning all the time

Well, I was originally going to post some photos but the system seems to be taking its time.. so you will have to endure another "no pic posted" post.

We have had a great few days. Last week we enjoyed going to the zoo and park and had a picnic lunch on top of that! I am always amazed at what we learn and the things I hear the kids talking about while we are at the zoo. From, "Oh yeah, the Prong Horn is that deer like animal that was under the veterinarians care last time 'cause he had a cut on his neck" to .. "OH now I remember that was the Latin name for this one!" and "Are all those ducks captive with their wings clipped or are some wild?" .. Oh I love the zoo!

Tonight as I was checking my email the kids came and and were just being themselves. As always the questions started. Catherine"So Technology means the study of something.. cause OLOGY means study of .. so what does the first part mean?" ( I must pause at this point and explain that the kids were watching the classic pink panther when the screen came on saying "We are experiencing technical difficulties .. please stand by..") .. that got them into a conversation of .. "what exactly did that mean?" .. SO.. I get the English From the Roots UP book and hand it to Catherine. As she is sitting on the couch, Joseph asks.. "Mom, what's 1000 times 100?" then Nathan.. "What's. 100 times 100?" .. In the mean time Catherine is reading " Techne is Greek for ART OR SKILL.. " and ars... artis .. is Latin for art, skill.(she pauses)... cool." .. Needless to say we found all our answers and learned a few math tricks.. then Nathan said "Mom, hey.. look up what is 12 and 11 in Spanish.." he paused "I MEAN.. how do you say it in Spanish?" .. so I got back on the computer and looked it up .. read it to him.. he repeated it back to me a few times and then paused.. "OK>> so what is 100 in Spanish?".. Got that one answered and made the announcement that all other questions would be answered tomorrow.. "If you want me to read My Side of the Mountain.. we have to go start reading or it will be tooooo late" ..

You know.. I soooo believe learning happens ALL the time.. Here we were .. in our PJS.. getting ready to get to bed and out pop all these questions.. I believe children are natural question askers! ( I KNOW.. it would sound better to say "questioners.. or askers.. but question askers just sounds like the way a kid would say it.. so there.. -yes another creative grammar moment from RS-) ..
Theres no way around it! But if we are not careful it could be easy to squash that in them. So .. my approach to a ZILLION questions.. "bring it on" .. But please.. if I ask for "no questions for 5 minutes PLEEEEASE" .. .. that means its getting close to over load :) .. I just need a 5 minute reboot :)

Great quotes from the kids:
"I would rather be read to than watch Pink Panther!" (Catherine)
"We are now going to put on a play called "Jabberwocky".. (By Miranda.. the girls were over and while we were out they rehearsed a play they made up to Jabberwocky).. Oh the Play was GREAT .. (and the "animated shorts" before and after the play.. PLUS the bloopers.. oh.. what fun!)

The kids are not the only ones learning all the time around here... here is a list of books I checked out tonight from out library.. will be interesting to see what they have to say:
Old Time School and School Book by Clifton Johnson pub 1904 reprinted 1935
Homeschooling: Take a Deep Breath, You Can Do This by Terrie Lynn Bittner
The Empty Schoolhouse by Lluther Bryan Clegg
Homeschooling More Than One Child by Carren W. Joye
Boy and Girls Learn Differently by Micheal Gurian

(I will post pics tomorrow.. if the systems lets me :)