Use Your Schema!

Soo,My topic for this week is something my daughter brought to my attention about a month ago. Everytime I think of this word, I think, "I need to tell someone about this" and everytime I do, they look at me like Im crazy!, So I figured if I write about it, and resarch it a bit, maybe someone will believe me..

So, I dont exactly remember how this went, but I do remember telling my daughter, (Brooklyn) to use her brain, and she said,''No mom, you mean my schema"(Pronounce skeema).. and I said to her, yes... your schema...

Then a few days later she was doing something that involved some good thinking.. and she said '' I will use my schema ''.. At this time I was a bit concerned that she was thinking her brain was called a schema, so I decided to explain to her what her brain was, where it was, and how it looked, I also showed her the 2 fist thing, you know the ''actual'' size of your brain with your 2 fists.. anyways.. she agreed with my brain explination, but then again brought up the schema..
So I said, ''Brooklyn, what is a schema??''

So went to on explain that the schema is a chain in her head, and it opens and closes all by itself, and it helps her learn...

Interesting I thought to myself.. so I had to google it. I love google. So here is what a schema is..''A schema is a cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information. Schmas can be useful, because they allow us to take shortcuts in interpreting a vast amount of information. However, these mental frameworks also cause us to exclude pertinent information in favor of information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs and ideas. Schemas can contribute to stereotypes and make it difficult to retain new information that does not conform to our established schemas.''

 at first when I read this,Im going to be honest here.. I thought,, WTF... Like where does she come up with this and how is it quite similar to her definition to the schema?

 I asked her where did you learn about a schema? She replied, My teacher told me..

So the next thing i did, was ofcourse, go back to google, and I googled ''learning about schema in kindergarten'' lol. I found some more seful information there.

Basically, they call this method ''Planting ALiteracy Garden'' making connections/schema, and what they are doing from grades k-3 is do some hands on activities that are both motivating and stimulating for kids as they read and write about gardening and respond to other literature.., They also srive instruction with the use of hands-on ''tools'' sunglasses (for visualizing), seeds (relate to prior knowledge/SCHEMA), plastic schovels ( to model digging for meaning) rakes ( for questioning), hoes(help us determine importance)""not in my opinion... haha... watering cans(synthsizing agent) and lastly a picture of the sun ( shines light on inderring).
So they say with the acknowledgement of the kids prior knowledge of gardening, they cant wait to get thier hands dirty, use real tools, and produce/nurture the real life gardening...
　
So,a bunch of useless information? Maybe, I have yet to find out in about 15 years from now when my daughter is, ''real life gardening''.. for now, I am glad to know what a schema is, happy to know my daughter knows more then me in some sences. I hope this infornmation was useful (ish) to you, and maybe if your kid comes home from school talking about their schema, You now will know what they are talking about!!
Till next week.
Love Sheena.