Observing for learning

The Master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play,
his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body,
his education and his recreation, his love and his religion.
He hardly knows which is which.
He simply pursues heis vision of excellence in whatever he does,
leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing.
To him he is always doing both.
--Zen Buddhist Text

I have started observing the kids more and more. It is so exciting to really notice what they are interested in, what they excel at, what catches their attention. For example, today Oscar was burning through some spellings, he was burning through them because he was listening to AC-DC's "TNT"!! I could believe how focussed he was, how much he was enjoying doing what he was doing. Bring on Acca Dacca! He is such a musical boy, it makes sense that he'd play music while he's doing stuff he may not really want to do! What would normally take at least half an hour with distractions, not being able to sit still and not focussing was done in 5 minutes! We were all happy at the end of it!

Observing for learning is what I will be doing in reporting weekly to our Learning Consultant. It is exciting to be listening for and looking for what the children are learning - all the time! Its true that we are all natural learners & curious beings.

Yay!