How language influences thought
Lera Boroditsky, an assistant professor of psychology, neuroscience and symbolic systems at Stanford University, wrote a fascinating paper about her research into how language shapes the way we think.
Food for thought
I read a few interesting articles tonight:
I enjoyed this article about the placebo effect. It’s good to be reminded how much our attitude can affect our health.
Steve Pavlina has a blog about personal development that I look at regularly. He wrote about climate change and I was surprised to learn what an impact the meat industry has on the environment.
And then, I really liked this book review from the New York Times. My favorite quote: “If history naturally pushes people toward moral improvement, toward moral truth, and their God, as they conceive their God, grows accordingly, becoming morally richer, then maybe this growth is evidence of some higher purpose, and maybe — conceivably — the source of that purpose is worthy of the name divinity.”
Paper making
My dd6 asked me how paper is made. We watched a few clips on youtube and this is our favorite. Now she wants to make some paper right away.
Write now
If you want to change your status from an armchair writer (ahem) to a productive, real writer, here are some great tips.
Quail Botanical Gardens
We had an errand to run in Encinitas so I checked to see what there was to do while we were up there and found a treasure. I paid for admission, and by the time we were done looking around I decided we had to have a membership. My kids love this place and they ask me often when we are going to go there again. It isn’t a huge place, but it is big enough for many lovely twists and turns. And the children’s garden is wonderful. They have some great programs for kids. I am very impressed and am hoping it will make a greenthumb out of me somehow.
Lies
Here’s a story from the BBC about a judge in Australia who just couldn’t admit he was speeding. How absolutely sad. Just think how different it would have been for him if he had just said, “I’m sorry” and paid the fine.
remember remember
An article on the BBC news page had some advice for memorizing numbers. This might make the pain of memorizing math facts more fun. We’ll have to try it.
She wants to learn Arabic
My dd6 is extremely interested in Arabic lately. My dh knows some Arabic and taught her a few letters and she loves it. It has made her curious about all things Arabic. I found a website called Islamic Playground that has a few games she can play to learn the Arabic alphabet.
I also found a great system for teaching the arabic alphabet based on the shapes of the letters, called the Abjad System. It is interesting to see the way the letters are arranged here.
“the bright cocoon of life”
“It is not so much what we are taught, but what we are surrounded by, that determines the course of our lives: the music and poetry and talk, the bright cocoon of life that is woven around us.” Julie Keller
I found this quote on this lovely, crafty homeschool blog. I love the sentiment!
