JEWEL POOKRUM - BLACK PARENTING--EDUCATING THE BLACK PARENT

I.Q. vs. Problem Solving

So, I was watching a youtube video by Mwalimu Baruti who is both an educator and activist among other things. He spoke a little about I.Q. (Rote Learning) and Problem Solving. After I got done denying that I hadn't taught my children problem solving skills, I really starting to think about the impact that a lack of problem solving skills could have.

Schools today believe in giving grades for participation, showing up to class, and having a positive attitude. When I was in school you were expected to do all of the aforementioned AND do you work and do it well. How do I know? Because I wasn't the best student. Academically I did pretty well. I had some rough patches, but they were either because of behavior or when I transitioned in to A.G. classes where I was actually required to work and study. I rarely participated unless I really liked the teacher. I would show up late until they started locking us out for being late, because then they would call my mother and that was a no-go. Most times my attitude was less than positive and I had a quick wit *read "smart mouth* and still do to this day. If I were in school right now, I probably would have been pushed through the system thanks to "No Child Left Behind".

All that to say that when we got a grade, we had earned it by doing the work. In math class I asked my teacher why I needed to take trigonometry and for the first time I was told that it would teach me to problem solve. Suddenly for me there was a shift. I still hated the math and she sucked as a teacher, but now I viewed it as a challenge and it wasn't so bad. Now, memorization is glorified and nobody cares if you are dumb as a rock. E.O.G.'s are proof of that. Many of our children won't even try to figure anything out. Rather than looking a word up, they want you to just tell them. Rather than trying to solve a math problem in different ways, they sit and stare at the page waiting for it to jump out at them. I also blame television and video games. I remember my Mama playing games with me, I would read VOLUNTARILY, and play with my dolls. My children think I'm mean because there are so many things that I don't allow. I see what it's doing to other people's children so, although we seem strange and strict to other people, I try to make a habit of paying attention to patterns. The same people who tell me that I am to strict and protective are the same ones who will say, "You're children are so respectful and mature. I wish my children were like that." TURN OFF THE TELEVISION. Stop letting other people tell you children what to think, how to act, and what's important.

I'm all of topic. I'm sorry. I was trying to get to my experience yesterday and today with teaching from a problem solving perspective. Long story short, since I done "talked" your ear off, both my children melted down at least once on both days. The root was SO CLEAR. They had assignments that required them to think, and I realized that I had been doing the work for them in some ways. I would rescue them rather than walk them through it after giving them a REAL chance to THINK about the different options to solve the problems. As I kept telling them to think about the problem before asking for help, they seemed to get used to it. I am so grateful for this lesson. I doesn't mean that I am taking a hands off approach either. Quite the opposite. It means that I am even more involved because there is much work to be done to undo the laziness that I have allowed to take root.

We only have our children under our direct care for a short time, and even though they may not like or appreciate it, we must help them learn to solve problems so that little by little they can help us to get out of this mess we are in. They are indeed our future and our hope and we must ensure that they are well equipped to fulfill their destinies.

Sugar & Corn Syrup

Homeschooling: Still trying to find my way.

So, I thought at some point I was just going to know what I was doing with this whole homeschooling thing. 3+ years in, I still flounder and constantly change styles and ways of doing things. Today was a more structured day that was triggered by a change. My niece and nephew have returned, which is pretty cool, because I think I secretly missed having them around. lol

So today, we got started later than I wanted. I went for a walk this morning before my bonus babies arrived without my children. I realized during the walk that it is much more fun WITH my son and daughter than without. I got back home and the children were still in bed. I waited for them to get up and for my bonus babies to arrive. We started our family workout at 8:30ish. Everybody did some work before having an early lunch. DD did math, because she is working toward getting 2 grades ahead, DS was doing math because he needs to get "caught up" although I am don't really buy into the whole thing of them being on a particular level. I had BB1 working on writing her name and BB2 working on numbers using cards and beads. They both did VERY well. After that we read Masai & I, ZZZNG ZZZNG, and Leola and The Honey Bears. Now, it's nap time.

I like having a schedule, but it never goes the way it should. I think my failure at being able to keep a schedule makes it kind of easy to just throw the whole idea out of the window and unschool. I guess that's why I consider myself an eclectic homeschooler, because I do whatever I feel like, they feel like, or we need to do.

What will we do tomorrow? I'm thinking another structured day to try to keep everything moving, keep everyone off each other's nerves, and to see if it can be done. I guess this was just an update/vent. Either way, I'm glad to have my BB1 & BB2 back.

I am Trayvon Martin

Short Story of My Life

So, the other day I was in my local Walgreens which is a drugstore. I walked down the aisles looking for toothpaste, which is like a treasure hunt. They found it necessary to change the store around and now it's just illogical, but that's another story.

As usual I went down the clearance aisle and then the children's aisle. You know the one you try to avoid when you are actually with your children? I saw the game Monopoly and thought, "Now that would be fun!" I don't know why we didn't own it already. What can I teach with this game? I need to have an excuse to play during school because my husband is more of the school-at-home type while I'm more the do-your-reading-and-math-and-let's-play type. CAPITALISM!!! I can teach them about capitalism. That's the whole basis for Monopoly! I never even thought of it!

I picked up the game. I'm was all kinds of excited. When I got to the register, the cashier said, "Oh, you getting Monopoly huh? We have that game." I told her that I couldn't believe that I was just now, buying it. To that she says, "I know that's right. You gotta get something for your kids to do so they will leave you ALONE chile." I look at her kind of confused. It took me a second to remember that I used to feel the same way. My children used to seem like two little burdens to me too, but not now. Nope. I actually LIKE my children. I looked at her and said, "No. I want to play this game with them to teach them about capitalism." She looked a little confused and told me to have a good day. I thanked her and I thanked God for my growth in the area of loving AND liking my children.

What kind of homeschoolers are we?

There are all types of homeschooling families. From people who school at home with desks and strict curriculum to unschoolers (child-led learning). I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to homeschool and what type of homeschoolers we would be. I have always loved the concept of unschooling, but I have trust issues as far trusting my children to learn the "important" stuff on there own. Not to mention, my husband would be elated if I had desks set up in a little school room with set hours and assignments. My daughter enjoys more structure, while my son is more of a free spirit. Both are VERY smart, but they just learn in two different ways.

After much struggle I now understand that we are and eclectic family. What does that mean? It means that I don't fit neatly into any box or unbox. We do what we want, need, or feel. What do our days look like? Well they are never the same, but here is what we did today.

• Everybody got up whenever they wanted, but it happened to be around the 7:00 hour. 
• The children grabbed some fruit and water for breakfast.
• We waited on a friend of mine to come over so we could exercise together. 
• She was going to be late so we decided to walk a mile before she got here. 
• We all worked out to the tabata timer while listening to Common's old CD.
• Everybody showered.
• Sunshine suggested pizza for lunch and we all agreed.
• I did my prayers while my sun practiced with his flashcards.
• When I finished my prayers, we went to the store to get stuff for the pizzas.
• Came back home and made pizzas
• Watching about 3 episodes of Electric Company right now
• After that, the plan is to play a survival game, but we'll see.how it goes because they have class tonight and I'm really sleepy