I recently came across this video from Ted Talks. It features 13-year-old Logan LaPlante discussing "hackschooling."
So what is hackschooling?
It's roughly equivalent to the "unschooling" movement in homeschooling. Instead of a strict curriculum in the basics, Logan is given access to varied learning experiences centered around his interests. Logan loves skiing, and interned with a skiing equipment manufacturer, for example.
Logan's hackschooling is pretty interesting.
No doubt, given how articulate and mature he is, his parents have done a terrific job. But just how practical is it? That is, how many parents could afford to fund this sort of education, let alone devote the time to it that it would require?
How many of you do a bit of "hackschooling"? Do you have examples of doing so affordably, in a way that doesn't cost a fortune paying for trips out of state?
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Cutesy vs. Practical Worksheets
There are a lot of terrific worksheets and printables available on the internet, and not just from this website. Just like you, we love finding a terrific worksheet online that we know our students will love. But sometimes, we find ourselves frustrated by the overwhelming graphics.
Sometimes, the printable that looks terrific on the computer monitor is completely impractical in real life. Cutesy graphics take up most of the writing space, while simultaneously using a lot of ink to print.
It sometimes seems that teachers and companies making worksheets have either never worked in a school, or worked in one with an enormous printing budget! At every school I’ve worked in, the problem wasn’t getting enough paper—which is general inexpensive these days. The problem was with the cost of ink cartridges for the school’s printers and photocopiers.
It’s so aggravating to print something and realize that making a classroom set will use up half of the school’s ink reserves! And of course, like I already mentioned, butterflies floating across the page are adorable, but they leave little room for students to write.
How do you balance the need to capture student interest with a worksheet with the need to save on printing costs?
Sometimes, the printable that looks terrific on the computer monitor is completely impractical in real life. Cutesy graphics take up most of the writing space, while simultaneously using a lot of ink to print.
It sometimes seems that teachers and companies making worksheets have either never worked in a school, or worked in one with an enormous printing budget! At every school I’ve worked in, the problem wasn’t getting enough paper—which is general inexpensive these days. The problem was with the cost of ink cartridges for the school’s printers and photocopiers.
It’s so aggravating to print something and realize that making a classroom set will use up half of the school’s ink reserves! And of course, like I already mentioned, butterflies floating across the page are adorable, but they leave little room for students to write.
How do you balance the need to capture student interest with a worksheet with the need to save on printing costs?
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