Last post I mentioned a phrase used by Charlotte Mason in helping children develop their ownership of an ability: "I promised I'd help you remember." After one day, I can say I see potential, but I need a LOT more field testing!
New topic: pennies. Ever cleaned pennies in salt and vinegar? We hadn't, but were preparing to do so after cello practice. Unfortunately, we hit a snag.
Cello practice didn't go well. Another one of those bothersome "I can't ever get it right" moments that threaten to sabatoge the whole afternoon. Tears, reluctance, frustration, stalled OUT.
"Do you want clean pennies?"
"WHAT??!"
"Do you want clean pennies?"
"Yes."
"How do you clean them?"
"In vinegar and salt."
"Do you think it's easy on the pennies, or would it be nasty and uncomfortable?"
"Nasty, I suppose."
"So is practice. But if you want the spot clean, you have to apply some nasty stuff, like drills."
"Hmmmm."
"Tell you what. I'll put this ugly penny in vinegar, and when you decide you've improved this spot all you can for today, I'll take it out and we'll look at it."
[Now there was a catch. If he didn't practice long, the penny didn't soak long, and therefore wouldn't get as clean. Incentive.]
Soon I heard some pretty good practice going on that troublesome spot--much better than we were getting any other way! After about 15 minutes, he was done, and got to pull the penny out. It was indeed cleaner, but not as clean as he wanted.
I love visual object lessons!
P.S. Improving myself takes some pretty nasty scrubbing and cleaning, as well. I'm so grateful that I don't have to go it alone. I've got a Master Cleaner working on me!
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