Dormant Gardens

What happens to gardens in the winter?  Well, I guess it depends on your climate, but here on Vancouver Island, most things are dormant.  This does not mean that there is nothing happening though.  There are processes taking place that are necessary for continued growth when the next season comes.  In my garden, however, there are a few herbs that have remained fresh and strong. 

Does your garden appear dormant or fresh and strong?  Whatever the case, remember that each plant has its own cycle.  Our learners may appear dormant but I wonder if they just need things done differently for a time; working through a different growth process so they are ready to sprout when the time comes.  Sometimes introducing them to more field trips, hands-on investigations, videos, or a new computer program might be just what they need right now. 

To stray from my beautiful schedule and plans is a challenge, but then I must realize that my outdoor garden does not need me to tell it when to grow and how; God does that part.  I just have to provide it with what it needs at the time it needs it.  If your learner is going strong, then take advantage of it!  Keep up the great work. 

Practically, it is a good idea to go into Encom at the end of each term to review your SLP (Student Learning Plan).  After reviewing first portfolios, I do notice that some of you are taking a different direction than what has been recorded.  That is just fine but please let me know what direction you are going in now.  Or maybe it will just serve as a good reminder that indeed at one point, you did have a plan :).

Here are just a few ideas or tips that could be added should you see the need:

• Curl up and read a favorite book and then have the kids use these forms to write a book report.  The older grades challenge critical thinking from a christian perspective!  BOOK REPORTS
• Our online library has an incredible list of resources for ANYTHING!  HCOS LIBRARY  Just click on Weblinks, Querries and Databases for a list of sites like: ALL-CANADIAN SEARCH ENGINE or this AWESOME MATH SITE - ILLUMINATIONS

I will leave you with a teaching tip from one of my colleagues, Rick Janzen:

Teaching tip:  I want to continue a series of tips I began last year on different learning activities that you can use to both enhance learning, and to assess comprehension.  Today’s tip is using role-play.  This one is excellent and easy for novels and stories.  Simply have your child take on the role of one of the characters of the story for you.  You could ask your child, who is in role, what it was like when.....?  How did you decide to ....?  In social studies you could have them role play a certain profession, or historical character and then interview them about a related topic.  In science they could role play an animal, plant or even a molecule.  Ask them what it is like to dissolve in water, to evaporate or to be heated.  If your child has some difficulties at first you can model it for them  Role play a character or article first for them to show them how to do it.  You could even do it together and have a lot of laughs.  Let me know if you are able to give this tip a try.  I would love to hear how you did.