Holt in Action

                         

I have been reading a lot of Holt lately, I guess to reinforce my decision to unschool and have been quite surprised to see so many of the examples he gives in his books, unfold right under my nose.  He talks of children wanting to be a part of the adult world and how much learning takes place when we stop teaching and just let them observe our lives.

Quite unexpectantly, Retta received mail from Aunt Carla. Just getting unexpected mail is always a treat, but inside there was even an bigger treat...a grown up Archaeology magazine. She opened it to a page of a woman sitting outside with a tray of sand in her lap. Retta was almost hysterical she was so excited. She quickly moved her fingers over to the text and started reading.. moving her fingers under the text as she spoke.

"Listen Mama, it says here the this is a lady who is an archaeologist and this is where she digs. She digs and digs all day and she is very happy. She finds bones and cups and walls. She even found some ARTY SACS (artifacts)  She is happy and they all lived happily ever after."

She has scanned the entire magazine from front to back and shown me every picture. She told me she likes grown up magazines better than "baby" ones.  She fell asleep last night looking at it in bed.

So interesting that I just read the chapter from Holt's book, Learning All the Time, in which he outlines this exact event as he watched children learn to read.  

So....Aunt Carla....next I need you send me a copy of the NY Times, in large print. Really. Thanks for having the insight to know that Retta would LOVE this magazine.