Ethan wrote about his highlights from this current school year and what he hopes to accomplish in 2020. Looking back over the past few months, we see that he’s done a lot. On top of learning a lot of math and science, he’s also worked in his writing. He has enjoyed writing about topics he’s interested in. He particularly likes writing about astronomy.

Another thing he has been into is coding. He started learning Python and Javascript. He coded several projects in Python but Javascript has been a bit tougher to wrap his head around. He has continued coding in Scratch, as well. Instead of learning Python from the Internet, he has used books from the library.

We asked him why he wants to learn to code and he answered that it would be useful for working at NASA.

In terms of math, Ethan has continued diving into algebra and finding new things to learn on a daily basis.

A couple of notable things he said when we were talking about SelfDesign were, “Let the child lead” and “I’m a big boy now.” He has shown more independence in many areas, not just with his learning. He was concerned with finding things to learn at the beginning of the fall but that hasn’t been an issue at all. He’s been very good at finding things to learn. In fact, he doesn’t require input or suggestions from us because he knows what he wants to learn and can find materials online or at the library.

He likes reading the same book(s) over and over. He likes to really get into subjects he’s interested in. This also goes for fiction, as he never gets tired of repeatedly reading certain books. He has also been listening to audiobooks borrowed digitally from the library. Again, when he finds a book he likes, the listens to it over and over. The Wild Robot, Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Waste of Space come to mind.

His violin skills have also really improved and he was asked to move up to the concert strings class. He also started taking two violin classes this month to spend more time learning and playing the violin.

We also put him into more swimming classes so he had more physical activity. In addition to his usual taekwondo and nature school class, he’s been far more active. The result is that lately, his appetite has dramatically increased.

Those were for us, the major highlights. Most importantly, he’s still the same happy and enthusiastic kid he’s always been.

January 12

It started snowing tonight. Ethan was very excited about the snow and being able to go out and play in it.

January 13

January 14

Ethan started diving into the SelfDesign Learning Experience Library and found many topics and materials of interest. For example, he learned about how math determines the way animals evolved their unique patterns and characteristics within a given environment. He didn’t use this resource as much before but will likely do so from now on.

January 15

January 16

January 17

January 18

Thank you for contributing to the Winter Connection! I really appreciate that you offered two perspectives, one from Ethan and then your parental one.

After Feb 2nd you’ll see the Winter Connection in the “Seasonal Learning Communications” page. Let me know if you have any questions.

Ethan wrote about his highlights from this current school year and what he hopes to accomplish in 2020. Looking back over the past few months, we see that he’s done a lot. On top of learning a lot of math and science, he’s also worked in his writing. He has enjoyed writing about topics he’s interested in. He particularly likes writing about astronomy.

Another thing he has been into is coding. He started learning Python and Javascript. He coded several projects in Python but Javascript has been a bit tougher to wrap his head around. He has continued coding in Scratch, as well. Instead of learning Python from the Internet, he has used books from the library.

We asked him why he wants to learn to code and he answered that it would be useful for working at NASA.

In terms of math, Ethan has continued diving into algebra and finding new things to learn on a daily basis.

A couple of notable things he said when we were talking about SelfDesign were, “Let the child lead” and “I’m a big boy now.” He has shown more independence in many areas, not just with his learning. He was concerned with finding things to learn at the beginning of the fall but that hasn’t been an issue at all. He’s been very good at finding things to learn. In fact, he doesn’t require input or suggestions from us because he knows what he wants to learn and can find materials online or at the library.

He likes reading the same book(s) over and over. He likes to really get into subjects he’s interested in. This also goes for fiction, as he never gets tired of repeatedly reading certain books. He has also been listening to audiobooks borrowed digitally from the library. Again, when he finds a book he likes, the listens to it over and over. The Wild Robot, Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Waste of Space come to mind.

His violin skills have also really improved and he was asked to move up to the concert strings class. He also started taking two violin classes this month to spend more time learning and playing the violin.

We also put him into more swimming classes so he had more physical activity. In addition to his usual taekwondo and nature school class, he’s been far more active. The result is that lately, his appetite has dramatically increased.

Those were for us, the major highlights. Most importantly, he’s still the same happy and enthusiastic kid he’s always been.

Hi Natasha! 

Here are the answers to your questions from week 19.

Does ethan edit his work after he writes? 

Um, sort of, because after I’m done, I do show it to my mom & dad, but normally I don’t capitalize the first letter. This time I did though! and I guess I should from now on too.

WINTER REFLECTION SUMMARY:

well, I really liked:

• that I got my brown belt in taekwondo
• that I got over 120 subs on youtube
• reached the end of violin book 2
• got a new bed (?)
• getting over 270 videos on youtube channel
• getting to the seventeenth century in my history timeline
• finishing trig functions in trigonometry
• getting good at coding, like scratch, python, and starting to learn javascript. Also, being able to create a program in python for everything I learn in math & science.
• learning cursive

plans for the spring:

• try and get into history more
• try and make more youtube videos and get 150 subscribers
• read more books
• learn more stuff
• exercise more
• finish my history timeline

The post Unschooling Journal January 12-18, 2020 appeared first on How to Do Stuff With Ethan.