Monday, March 14, 2011

Learning through Knitting (and yarn along)

Ginny from the awesome blog Small Things had the lovely idea of a weekly "Yarn Along" (you post your current WIP and the books you are reading at the moment..I'm a day early with this post, by the way..) I'm happy to participate, and I also have some reflections to share..
But first, my current WIP...
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More longies for W! Yes, winter is leaving us and warmer weather is a promise. Wouldn't one be ready to pack away the wool?
There is an old English saying, "The months that include an "R" are months for the little ones to wear wool!" I happen to wholeheartedly agree! Fostering warmth in a young child is important for emotional, physical, and spiritual growth! (wonderful article here for more on Warmth)
We will happily be wearing our woolens well into spring:)
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I borrowed the beautiful books from a wonderful woman at our church.
The Easter book is going to guide me considerably in the next few weeks as we prepare for Easter, Springtime, and our Baptism!
The toymaking book has been on my list for a long while. In my opinion, it's a classic, and perhaps even a "must have" for a Waldorf family!
Having the ability to knit playthings and clothing for my son is a wonderful gift that I am so thankful for. I am by no means a seasoned knitter!
Two close friends of mine taught me last summer.
They made it look so easy! I struggled a lot during the first month. My stitches were too tight. I was holding the needles wrong. I lost count all the time. Forget reading patterns- that was like learning a new language! I kept turning to Jay and saying, "This doesn't look right! This doesn't feel right!"
I so envied knitters who could hold a conversation and knit; all the while looking pleased and relaxed.
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My first completed project...full of dropped stitches, mistakes, and crooked rows. I love it.

I almost gave up. I thought, "Maybe this isn't for everyone. Maybe it's just not my thing."
I doubted myself; especially since knitting incorporates a good amount of math.
I have posted before about my struggles with math, how I had been "diagnosed" with a learning disability, how missing points on a standardized test had kept me from advancing my career. I recall being so embarrassed. Staying inside for recess to be tutored, (while my teacher whispered about me to my tutor as I did long division totally wrong on the chalkboard..."hmph. See what I mean?" Yes. I heard you. And I remember, 20 years later..) failing tests over and over. I was tracked so low in high school that I was in an algebra class with sophmores my senior year. Of course I failed all of my standardized tests; I had never even been introduced to more than half of the concepts!
Into my life walks knitting and a yearning to create. And to overcome obstacles.
Through knitting, I have discovered a real patience and confidence. I count my stitches. I divide them. I multiply them. I take my time. I pull projects apart when I make mistakes, even though it almost hurts to do so. You know what I mean.
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Fall hat for W, 2010

During an observation morning at our local Waldorf school, I walked into a classroom of 4th graders during their handwork block. They were making socks. They held them up to show me; they talked about the experience as a whole.
Children who are lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with their hands (head, and heart!) are given such a huge gift. Handwork is powerful. Skill learning is a huge foundation for all learning, not to mention the sense of self reliance when one creates useful, everyday objects.
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Legwarmers for baby W, summer 2010

How different would my experience with math be if I were lucky enough to internalize it through art? Or handwork? Or a passionate teacher?
At nearly 30 years old, I am now facing it. I'm learning by doing and it feels great.

21 comments:

  1. I have wondered that too, maybe I am just not truly a knitter, even though I have known how for about 12 years. I can still hardly have a conversation while knitting! Mistakes cause a moment of panic, but I am determined, I think I will even attempt my first sweaters for the girls some time this year.
    We have different versions of both of those wonderful books. The new cover of Toymaking with Children is so beautiful! And then we have Crafts Through the Year which I believe includes the Easter Craft book and the other seasons all in one. I think I will take a peek through the spring section now. And then I will go do some crocheting, cause those mistakes are easier to fix! But you do inspire me with your lovely knitting!
    Love to you.. XOXO

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  2. I'm also a knitter who struggles with math - I'm *so* glad you've stuck with it! I do more math more happily now than I ever thought possible - can you believe I even cross-multiply on a regular basis? Me neither. I think you're right about teaching children handwork - if I'd had more hands-on learning about math as a child, I wonder if I would have grasped it more easily. Good for you for persevering - I hope you're proud of yourself!

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  3. Hi Rebecca,
    You are so inspiring! I love this blog. I am also a knitter who struggles with math. What I've noticed though is knitting actually has helped my math!!!!Don't know why? Love your new books. Love,Maria

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  4. Wow! All of us beginning knitters! ;-) I am learning so much about why children need handwork by having to endure it myself. ;-) (I do enjoy it, but I see how it works out patience and endurance and the like.)

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  5. Im so sad for you having had negative experiences with math, I too had the same as a child. I think thats why knitting is such a great thing for children to learn, they are learning maths too in a very gentle way. I love that you display your first knitting project, with all its wonderful faults!! I too am very slowly learning knitting so that I can hopefully teach my children too, my daughter already knows how to cast on by herself and finger knit!

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  6. I never thought of knitting as a math tool, I'll have to keep that in mind. I too have always struggled with math...

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  7. I've been a "beginning" knitter for way too long. Ten years! I think it is time to challenge myself to move beyond simple things. But you know what? The MATH scares me. I'm going to try to take your message to heart.

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  8. i like the colors of your first project and the way you use it. i think it's great too that you are going to heal yourself through waldorf education. i'm envious. but, maybe i'll be able to swing this homeschool thing.

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  9. knitting is such a loving thing to do isn't it? it does feel intended for someone special when you take on a new project...it always feels like a worthy thing to create something with your hands, head and heart... we love wool -- my two children now nearly teenagers grew up in wool and other natural and organic materials... lovely -- good for you !
    light and peace to you xoxo

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  10. Love this post! I also had a lot of trouble with Math. I'm so excited to be re-learning Math in Waldorf. I'm loving it and I've just begun learning about simple math concepts with my son.

    The toy making book looks really good. I will wish list it. Also I love your first project, such beautiful color. Love how you've displayed it. My first attempts were quite sad. I'm definitely a beginner. Can't wait to learn more.

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  11. We're wearing woollies well into Spring as well! I agree whole-heartedly with the Waldorf perspective on warthm for children! Right now I'm knitting on a pair of new Spring longies for O. (So tall, so fast!)
    I also wanted to let you know that the hat you knitted for O has been love, worn, and outgrown and is now being loved and worn nearly every day by his baby cousin! Thank You♥
    ~Carrie

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  12. Rebecca, your posts are always so heartfelt. I love coming and reading them. I agree with all that you are saying. Though I don't knit, ever since I was little my mom encouraged me in art. Drawing classes, painting, pottery. If I was interested in it, she would look for a class on it. I took art during school, and hung out in art class with friends during lunch. Besides art, my favorite class was math. I don't know what it is, but my mom always told me that I could see things a certain way with art and it translated over to math. Anywho, I have to get that toymaking with children book. I think I will just love it. Your knitting is beautiful. Hugs!! :-)

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  13. Mainstream schools are just a terrible environment to learn for so many children. I'm sorry that your ignorant teachers made your experience of math so terrible.

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  14. I am a math phobe. I love your projects and tenacity-gorgeous! Knitting can be so healing is many different ways!

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  15. Your story is so inspiring! I'm so glad I stopped in from Yarn along. Knitting *is* challenging; I'm still trying to teach my 27 year old son who feels left out when his sister and I knit. But your observations on the children learning are so true.

    My yarn along link is http://blog.mymummyknits.com/yarn-along-12/

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  16. This is a lovely post. You are so candid and honest. It took me a long time to get to the point where I can do other things and knit at the same time. Sometimes I still can't if the pattern is difficult. Handwork is an amazing thing for children and adults alike!

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  17. So well said about handwork! Where would I be, where would my children be, with out it? I hate to think!

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  18. Those look like two books I must check out. I think your first project is lovely. Orange is so cheery and clearly you picked it up along the way, the leg warmers and hat are darling. Take care.

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  19. I can recall so many memories like the ones you described. I didn't realize I could do math until I was teaching Forestry to a group of high schoolers a few years ago. Calculating board feet for a tree and then determining it's worth to the timber company is not easy math, but because we were outside, in the woods and using hands on tools I got it! It was amazing to see students that typically struggle really enjoying math!
    Couldn't agree with you more that skill building and hands-on activities dealing with math (and all subjects for that matter!) help to create confident little learners.
    Great post.

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  20. I just came across your blog, I just wanted to say that I have that exact same mermaid picture in a white frame too:). Mine was a card someone gave to me when I had my first child and I have always loved it!

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