Remember the Dictaphone?

I've had this thought in the back of my mind for some time. Actually a memory, I kept thinking about my father's dictaphone. Remember those hand held voice recorders with the little tapes? Daddy's is long gone, but I haven't been able to shake the feeling that I was missing out on an opportunity, so I went shopping.

It wasn't hard to find a small, inexpensive ($25@Target) digital recording device. As I brought it home, I mentally listed all the possibilities for it; justifying my purchase. I held it for a few days (in deep contemplation), then handed it over to my nine year old son. Oh BOY!

Can I just tell you how much excitement there has been around here because of that recorder! To say he loves it, would be putting it mildly. He's having an absolute blast with it.

Right off the bat he recorded his first story written for IEW. He was proud! So proud! Next, he secretly recorded everyone in the house. This, of course, precipitated the rule that no one may be recorded without their knowledge.

He has recorded himself sleeping--all ten hours worth. He recorded how to make oatmeal for breakfast. He made up his own version of Jonathan Park. He became a cub reporter and began interviewing his sister. The two of them made up some great tales.

He, and his visiting partners in crime, recorded themselves screaming at the top of their lungs. Oh yes indeed. He recorded himself reading his history assignment. AND he recorded music he was listening to on the ipod. Weird :) I've caught him recording various appliances and basically any sound he is capable of recording. I'm not sure if he's been in the bathroom yet. Probably has. Boy!

Did I mention that he recorded himself reading his story he wrote for IEW? That was the whole point. Love that.

Now...I'm a bit bummed that I didn't consider computer compatibility with this thing. I imagine that would require a lot more money. But now that I know the possibilities, I'll be thinking about where to go with this "hobby" next!

So Much To Tell: Surprises!

With every new day, comes a surprise or two! My most pleasant surprise has been son's interest in our writing lessons from Institute for Excellence in Writing.

On Monday, I set up the video for him on my laptop at the dining room table. I made a point of removing myself from the temptation to let him watch it on TV like it was a show. Next I handed him a PEN (recommended) instead of a pencil. He was curious. He fussed a bit at first, but by the time he finished the 40 minutes, he was sold!

My totally reluctant writer may be a thing of the past! He has written his assignment for 30 minutes each day without complaint. He completed his great "work" and proudly presented it to me today.

Part of my "master plan" to get him writing was the purchase of a portable recording devise. I presented him with it today after a full day of lessons with no whining. One of the first things he did was record himself reading his story! That would be me jumping up and down and woohooing in the corner! :) He then set off to record his own version of the Jonathan Park stories (after I told him about the newest volume being released).

In case you haven't heard Andrew Pudewa, or purchased the IEW program, YOU ARE MISSING OUT! It is beyond good and Andrew is an incredibly smart man and gifted speaker/teacher.

IEW: Whooohoo!

This year's convention brought a couple of surprises my way. One of which, though wasn't new to me, was certainly an unexpected pleasure: The Institute for Excellence in Writing.
I've heard of this program for years and I've read several people rant and rave about how good it is. I even stopped at their booth a couple of years ago. I confess that at the time, I didn't understand a word of it. Nor have I been able to make heads or tales of their catalog/newsletter which I've been receiving since then.

It wasn't until a friend took me aside and explained it and introduced me to a gal in the booth, that I was able to hear what the concept was that I was not getting. The concept that would allow me to understand the whole program.

It was really very simple, but my own preconceived ideas and thoughts about writing were keeping me from seeing it. I was getting in my own way...again! I hate that when it happens!

I began watching the DVD teaching series the other day and was having quite a few "aahhh" moments. My son is most assuredly a reluctant writer...unless. Unless he is excited to write something down. He has very good penmanship and he's a good speller. What I hadn't considered was how difficult it is for young children to complete a thought transferable to paper. That it actually uses several skills rather than just "doing" it, as I would.

Andrew Pudewa, the speaker on the DVD's, also challenged my thinking on the importance of penmanship as opposed to typing. Though we have done a little typing program, I've been resistant to the idea of replacing handwriting with it, because of my stubborn leanings regarding the passing of penmanship into oblivion and the idea that if he learns to type, he'll never have good penmanship. Reality check: one doesn't have much to do with the other.

I think we are going to get a lot of help from this program. He described my son to a tee, so I know that son's straight on, though I haven't known how to help him.

I'm encouraged. Though the initial outlay was steep, I see that this program is for the long haul. I'll even benefit from it. Yeah! So, I believe it will be worth it. I have to add that when I was at the convention and in their booth, there were a lot of happy people stopping by to say how happy they were with the program! That was encouraging. I'm sure I'll have more to say on this in the near future.