Local Light Display

I’m not sure if this news video will work or not, but we saw this light display in person tonight. It was amazing.

ABC News Story on Crazy Lights

And here are a couple of still photos we took as we went by:

December 26, 2006 | Filed Under Fun Stuff | 3 Comments 

Amazing Shoe Tower (or how a VS learner entertains himself in a hotel room)

In April, we went to Disney World. Well, that isn’t exactly true. We went to Orlando and stayed in a VERY FANCY hotel outside the gate to Disney and did everything BUT go to Disney.

Alvin (ds 7) seems to need less sleep than the rest of the world. He wakes early no matter what time he goes to bed. I’m constantly telling him that he needs to be quiet in the mornings and not wake his brothers. He’s gotten really good about staying in his room and playing quietly. He just doesn’t realize just how loud the sound of rummaging through a lego bin really is!

Anyway, in a hotel room, it is more of a challenge for him to stay quiet while everyone else is still sleeping. Add to that the fact that we accidentally left the Leapsters in the car overnight, so he had nothing to do to entertain himself. But guess what?! He found a way. Very very ever so quietly, he took all of our shoes and built a tower. It was the most fascinating creation I think I’ve ever seen. Look closely. It’s pretty amazing.

December 16, 2006 | Filed Under Learning | 5 Comments 

The Black Eyed Peas - Visual Spatial Style

This is for Cindy at Applestars.

About a year ago, I went to a live concert with “the girls.” We went to see Gwen Stefani, opened by The Black Eyed Peas at George Mason University.

I told Simon that we were going to see the Black Eyed Peas. He’d never heard of them, but THIS is what he imagined (the lettering he asked me to add on the computer). He is definitely a visual-spatial learner!

December 15, 2006 | Filed Under Learning | 3 Comments 

NEWSFLASH — We Used Pencils!!!

Yes! It is true. My children actually used pencils. It is truly a miracle! And let me tell you, the older two are DEFINITELY visual-spatial (VS) learners. The funny thing is that they are very different VSers. I would say that Simon (ds 9 in the tie-dyed shirt) is very much an auditory learner, but he has distinct right-brained strengths. He has a history of reading and handwriting difficulties. He’s not a builder like Alvin, but he is very artistic and creative. He’s a “problem solver” just like his dad.

Alvin (ds 7 in the red shirt) is the definition of a VS learner. He fits EVERY possible description, except that he has great handwriting (poor spelling). Dysgraphia is pretty typical for the VSers, so he doesn’t fit that one. He has a history of ear infections, which I find fascinating as a factor in determining VS learners. Perhaps it is due to the fact that the ear pain and hearing issues caused the right side of the brain to overcompensate in the very early (pre-verbal) years, thus creating a stronger preference for right brained thinking??

Theodore (ds 5) I have yet to determine. He seems to be following a rather left-brained or perhaps whole-brained pattern of development. We’ll see.

Anyway, here are some of the results of our day of pencil use.

Simon drew a picture of some aliens, and as an afterthought added Santa in outer space. Note the only use of color is Rudolph’s nose (was Rudolph really one of Santa’s reindeer?).

Simon’s Aliens with Santa

Alvin made a type of cartoon series. Note the use of color, the incredible details, and the different perspectives on the alien popping out of the crater. I’m not sure exactly where the fireplace and stockings fit into the story. However, the tag above the stocking on the left says “I ‘heart’ YOU.” (the word heart is actually a picture of a heart). I have no clue what the other tag is about. It has a moon and stars, as does the stocking.

(Update: I asked him about the picture and the pictures I thought were different perspectives on the alien in the crater are actually a picture of the alien in his “UFO” and the alien looking out the window of his “UFO.” As for the tag on the Christmas stocking on the right — “That’s a pattern mom! See? Moon, Star, Moon.” I asked him what all the little lines around the Christmas tree were and he said, “Those are the needles that fell off.”)

Theodore used a pencil too. He chose to do his Handwriting Without Tears Cursive book. Yes. He’s 5 and he’s learning cursive. It was HIS choice to do this. He asked me to print off some HWT paper so he could write, and this is what he did. He was so pleased with his word, he put the pencil down. Why mess with perfection?!

Theodore’s Cursive

I have more fun stuff to post, perhaps tomorrow, but I wanted to give our day of actually holding pencils a place of honor!!

December 14, 2006 | Filed Under Learning | 5 Comments