Taking the plunge
lesliel23
I always say I'm going to start unschooling and I keep getting closer
and closer to the real thing (I think) but I kep putting it off. First
it was "after she learns long division, fractions, whatever", then it
was "well she hasn't quite grasped fractions so after christmas break",
then it was "I need to teach her all about american history first" and
then "ok we'll finish up 6th grade and I'll start unschooling
summer/7th grade". Do you see a pattern here? The real thing is it
scares me! And as much as I've read other lists and blogs and people
reassure me it's going to be ok... I'm so freakin' nervous! So I
decided last night that today was it. We were going to wake up and
UNSCHOOL. No more excuses! I have an only daughter who is 12 so I will
be digging through groups and lists about onlies to get some ideas! So
anyway, I'm taking the plunge... will everyone please keep us in your
thoughts and prayers?
Leslie (in Moody, AL)
and closer to the real thing (I think) but I kep putting it off. First
it was "after she learns long division, fractions, whatever", then it
was "well she hasn't quite grasped fractions so after christmas break",
then it was "I need to teach her all about american history first" and
then "ok we'll finish up 6th grade and I'll start unschooling
summer/7th grade". Do you see a pattern here? The real thing is it
scares me! And as much as I've read other lists and blogs and people
reassure me it's going to be ok... I'm so freakin' nervous! So I
decided last night that today was it. We were going to wake up and
UNSCHOOL. No more excuses! I have an only daughter who is 12 so I will
be digging through groups and lists about onlies to get some ideas! So
anyway, I'm taking the plunge... will everyone please keep us in your
thoughts and prayers?
Leslie (in Moody, AL)
Deb Lewis
***I have an only daughter who is 12 so I will
be digging through groups and lists about onlies to get some ideas! ***
I have one son who is thirteen, and always unschooled.
Unschooling can be thought about and pondered on but it won't happen
until you do it. You won't really understand about human learning until
you see it happen without coercion, without teaching, without
requirements. You have to do it to believe it. You have to believe it
before you can see it.
There is a folder at the message board for unschooling an only child at
www.unschooling.info .
Unschooling an only child is blissful. <g> There's so much time for
conversation, few to no scheduling conflicts, so much flexibility. It
will be the easiest, most natural, wonderful thing you'll ever do, like
giving birth again, only without the pain. <g>
Deb Lewis
be digging through groups and lists about onlies to get some ideas! ***
I have one son who is thirteen, and always unschooled.
Unschooling can be thought about and pondered on but it won't happen
until you do it. You won't really understand about human learning until
you see it happen without coercion, without teaching, without
requirements. You have to do it to believe it. You have to believe it
before you can see it.
There is a folder at the message board for unschooling an only child at
www.unschooling.info .
Unschooling an only child is blissful. <g> There's so much time for
conversation, few to no scheduling conflicts, so much flexibility. It
will be the easiest, most natural, wonderful thing you'll ever do, like
giving birth again, only without the pain. <g>
Deb Lewis
Joanne
Hi Leslie.....
*getting out my girls pom poms*
YOU CAN DO IT! GO LESLIE GO!
*attempting a high kick but not getting up that high*
:-)
~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (7), Shawna (10) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 30, 2003
http://anunschoolinglife.blogspot.com/
http://foreverparents.com
--- In [email protected], "lesliel23"
<lesliel23@...> wrote:
*getting out my girls pom poms*
YOU CAN DO IT! GO LESLIE GO!
*attempting a high kick but not getting up that high*
:-)
~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (7), Shawna (10) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 30, 2003
http://anunschoolinglife.blogspot.com/
http://foreverparents.com
--- In [email protected], "lesliel23"
<lesliel23@...> wrote:
>closer
> I always say I'm going to start unschooling and I keep getting
> and closer to the real thing (I think) but I kep putting it off.First
> it was "after she learns long division, fractions, whatever", thenit
> was "well she hasn't quite grasped fractions so after christmasbreak",
> then it was "I need to teach her all about american history first"and
> then "ok we'll finish up 6th grade and I'll start unschoolingpeople
> summer/7th grade". Do you see a pattern here? The real thing is it
> scares me! And as much as I've read other lists and blogs and
> reassure me it's going to be ok... I'm so freakin' nervous! So Iwill
> decided last night that today was it. We were going to wake up and
> UNSCHOOL. No more excuses! I have an only daughter who is 12 so I
> be digging through groups and lists about onlies to get someideas! So
> anyway, I'm taking the plunge... will everyone please keep us inyour
> thoughts and prayers?
>
> Leslie (in Moody, AL)
>
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: lesliel23 <lesliel23@...> We were going to wake up and
UNSCHOOL. No more excuses! I have an only daughter who is 12 so I will
be digging through groups and lists about onlies to get some ideas! So
anyway, I'm taking the plunge...
-=-=-
The water's FINE! <g>
Try the backstroke!
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
From: lesliel23 <lesliel23@...> We were going to wake up and
UNSCHOOL. No more excuses! I have an only daughter who is 12 so I will
be digging through groups and lists about onlies to get some ideas! So
anyway, I'm taking the plunge...
-=-=-
The water's FINE! <g>
Try the backstroke!
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
[email protected]
>>So I decided last night that today was it. We were going to wake up and UNSCHOOL.>>Congratulations! You'll probably want to just deschool for awhile. Just stop the curriculum and take a break. Declare a vacation and relax together. Go to the movies, take a nap, go out to lunch, take a walk, read a magazine, whatever. Pretend it's a weekend for the next 6 months.
--
~Mary
http://zenmommasgarden.blogspot.com/
"The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the
green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly
alive."
~Thich Nhat Hanh
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "lesliel23" <lesliel23@...>
pjppsmd
Hey Leslie,
I'm new to the group and can relate to your feelings! So how has the
plunge been? Today my kids just played outside and I was so tempted to
get out the spelling books but I didn't. I can't say we've officially
taken the plunge but I'm wanting to.
We haven't been "all day workbook homeschoolers" but usually did
"school" from 9-1130 mostly covering math, bible, spelling and language.
Free reading time whenever they wanted.
I guess I'm mostly nervous about my 12 yr old. He talks of going to
college and all the questions arise in my mind. How will he learn to
write essays, know grammar, advanced math, and enough to do well on the
ACT if he chooses to pursue college?
Anyone have any ideas? How about moms who unschooled and kids are in
college?
Thanks for your input!!!! Glad to have found this site.
Jenny
Mom of 5 , ages 3-12
--- In [email protected], "lesliel23" <lesliel23@...>
wrote:
I'm new to the group and can relate to your feelings! So how has the
plunge been? Today my kids just played outside and I was so tempted to
get out the spelling books but I didn't. I can't say we've officially
taken the plunge but I'm wanting to.
We haven't been "all day workbook homeschoolers" but usually did
"school" from 9-1130 mostly covering math, bible, spelling and language.
Free reading time whenever they wanted.
I guess I'm mostly nervous about my 12 yr old. He talks of going to
college and all the questions arise in my mind. How will he learn to
write essays, know grammar, advanced math, and enough to do well on the
ACT if he chooses to pursue college?
Anyone have any ideas? How about moms who unschooled and kids are in
college?
Thanks for your input!!!! Glad to have found this site.
Jenny
Mom of 5 , ages 3-12
--- In [email protected], "lesliel23" <lesliel23@...>
wrote:
>break",
> I always say I'm going to start unschooling and I keep getting closer
> and closer to the real thing (I think) but I kep putting it off. First
> it was "after she learns long division, fractions, whatever", then it
> was "well she hasn't quite grasped fractions so after christmas
> then it was "I need to teach her all about american history first" and
> then "ok we'll finish up 6th grade and I'll start unschooling
> summer/7th grade". Do you see a pattern here? The real thing is it
> scares me! And as much as I've read other lists and blogs and people
> reassure me it's going to be ok... I'm so freakin' nervous! So I
> decided last night that today was it. We were going to wake up and
> UNSCHOOL. No more excuses! I have an only daughter who is 12 so I will
> be digging through groups and lists about onlies to get some ideas! So
> anyway, I'm taking the plunge... will everyone please keep us in your
> thoughts and prayers?
>
> Leslie (in Moody, AL)
>
lesliel23
Well, everything has been great. Shareen slept late (9:30, very late
for her), we babysat for a friend of mine until about 12:00, we went
skating, and then went to another friend's house (with 4 children that
my dd likes to play with) and stayed until 10:00pm (past my normal
bedtime!). I just want to thank everyone for the encouragement,
stories, advice, and support that I have found here. Although I don't
post a lot, I read what other people post all the time and I find it
very inspiring, to say the least. You guys are helping me out when you
don't even know it! To see Shareen counting her tickets that she and a
friend won at the skating rink and dividing them up evenly would seem
like no big deal, but to me, this dd of mine freezes on tests and on
on-the-spot questions, it took everything I had not to yell "LOOK,
You're using math!!!". And the interest she showed in the eggs in the
incubator at our local teaching supply store (where we stopped to look
for a computer game)! She actually asked the lady behind the counter
all kinds of questions (who gave them the eggs, how long do they stay
in the incubator, how long have they already been in there, etc). I
couldn't help but grin and encourage her. Ok, now I'm just rambling...I
am going to love this unschooling/deschooling/lifelearning/whatever!
for her), we babysat for a friend of mine until about 12:00, we went
skating, and then went to another friend's house (with 4 children that
my dd likes to play with) and stayed until 10:00pm (past my normal
bedtime!). I just want to thank everyone for the encouragement,
stories, advice, and support that I have found here. Although I don't
post a lot, I read what other people post all the time and I find it
very inspiring, to say the least. You guys are helping me out when you
don't even know it! To see Shareen counting her tickets that she and a
friend won at the skating rink and dividing them up evenly would seem
like no big deal, but to me, this dd of mine freezes on tests and on
on-the-spot questions, it took everything I had not to yell "LOOK,
You're using math!!!". And the interest she showed in the eggs in the
incubator at our local teaching supply store (where we stopped to look
for a computer game)! She actually asked the lady behind the counter
all kinds of questions (who gave them the eggs, how long do they stay
in the incubator, how long have they already been in there, etc). I
couldn't help but grin and encourage her. Ok, now I'm just rambling...I
am going to love this unschooling/deschooling/lifelearning/whatever!
Lesa McMahon-Lowe
Jenny,
I know that there have been quite a few posts from unschooling parents about
their high school/college age unschoolers and how their doing with all of
that stuff that you question. There is a search option on the groups home
page... you might want to look around at the old posts and see what you find
Oh, and take the plunge! It will be one of the most refreshing things you
ve ever done! :)
~*~*~
Lesa M.
LIFE Academy
http://lifeacademy.homeschooljournal.net/
-------Original Message-------
From: pjppsmd
Date: 04/15/06 09:43:50
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Re: Taking the plunge
Hey Leslie,
I'm new to the group and can relate to your feelings! So how has the
plunge been? Today my kids just played outside and I was so tempted to
get out the spelling books but I didn't. I can't say we've officially
taken the plunge but I'm wanting to.
We haven't been "all day workbook homeschoolers" but usually did
"school" from 9-1130 mostly covering math, bible, spelling and language.
Free reading time whenever they wanted.
I guess I'm mostly nervous about my 12 yr old. He talks of going to
college and all the questions arise in my mind. How will he learn to
write essays, know grammar, advanced math, and enough to do well on the
ACT if he chooses to pursue college?
Anyone have any ideas? How about moms who unschooled and kids are in
college?
Thanks for your input!!!! Glad to have found this site.
Jenny
Mom of 5 , ages 3-12
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I know that there have been quite a few posts from unschooling parents about
their high school/college age unschoolers and how their doing with all of
that stuff that you question. There is a search option on the groups home
page... you might want to look around at the old posts and see what you find
Oh, and take the plunge! It will be one of the most refreshing things you
ve ever done! :)
~*~*~
Lesa M.
LIFE Academy
http://lifeacademy.homeschooljournal.net/
-------Original Message-------
From: pjppsmd
Date: 04/15/06 09:43:50
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Re: Taking the plunge
Hey Leslie,
I'm new to the group and can relate to your feelings! So how has the
plunge been? Today my kids just played outside and I was so tempted to
get out the spelling books but I didn't. I can't say we've officially
taken the plunge but I'm wanting to.
We haven't been "all day workbook homeschoolers" but usually did
"school" from 9-1130 mostly covering math, bible, spelling and language.
Free reading time whenever they wanted.
I guess I'm mostly nervous about my 12 yr old. He talks of going to
college and all the questions arise in my mind. How will he learn to
write essays, know grammar, advanced math, and enough to do well on the
ACT if he chooses to pursue college?
Anyone have any ideas? How about moms who unschooled and kids are in
college?
Thanks for your input!!!! Glad to have found this site.
Jenny
Mom of 5 , ages 3-12
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: pjppsmd <pjppsmd@...>
I guess I'm mostly nervous about my 12 yr old. He talks of going to
college and all the questions arise in my mind. How will he learn to
write essays, know grammar, advanced math, and enough to do well on the
ACT if he chooses to pursue college?
Anyone have any ideas? How about moms who unschooled and kids are in
college?
--=-=-
I have a just-turned 18 year old who is on & off contemplating college.
He sat in on one sociology class two years ago.
He'll learn to write by writing for real.
He'll learn grammar if you use proper grammar with him.
He'll learn advanced math is he's interested.
He'll do well on the SAT/ACT if he gets a book/computer program and
studies them.
College entry isn't as black and white as high schools would like for
you to believe! <g> *Many* more ways to skin a cat if you want to!
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
From: pjppsmd <pjppsmd@...>
I guess I'm mostly nervous about my 12 yr old. He talks of going to
college and all the questions arise in my mind. How will he learn to
write essays, know grammar, advanced math, and enough to do well on the
ACT if he chooses to pursue college?
Anyone have any ideas? How about moms who unschooled and kids are in
college?
--=-=-
I have a just-turned 18 year old who is on & off contemplating college.
He sat in on one sociology class two years ago.
He'll learn to write by writing for real.
He'll learn grammar if you use proper grammar with him.
He'll learn advanced math is he's interested.
He'll do well on the SAT/ACT if he gets a book/computer program and
studies them.
College entry isn't as black and white as high schools would like for
you to believe! <g> *Many* more ways to skin a cat if you want to!
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org