[email protected]

This may be working for you. I'm sure you'll hear how it's not unschooling.
:) But maybe you're easing into it.

At any rate, I just can't imagine doing this. It seems so artificial. I don't
care whether we call it unschooling or not -- it's just so disconnected from
reality.

I mean, do you ever do this? Go to the park and then come home and have
someone tell you what and how to write an essay about what you picked up?

Not meaning to be mean -- hope it doesn't sound that way.

Let me tell you how our park trip might go. We go to the park. We come home.
We talk about whatever we want to -- sometimes what happened at the park,
sometimes not.

If DD wants to write something it will be in her notebook when she wants to
-- but really that's more full of drawings than any sort of writing.

If DS wanted to write something, I would just keel over with a heart attack!
:)

But these are smart, literate kids -- no worries there. Books R Us. :)

Anyway, that's our reality.

Nance



In a message dated 7/8/2004 6:58:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
Well, I'm not sure what you would call what I'm doing. 90% of the day is
letting the kids do their own thing. About 10% of the day we work on something
together. Yesterday we went to the park and my kids and a friend each were asked
to select an object to bring home. When we got home I asked the kids to write
about one of the three objects. I suggested they could write poetry, a short
story or stream of consciousness. Then they switched to the next persons object
and wrote again. They wrote beautiful things. They really enjoyed the lesson
and felt really proud of what they created. I'm trying to make a combination
of home schooling and some directed (not arm twisted) learning.

Jeanne


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Jeanne Goodman

Nance,

I do realize that this isn't unschooling and I'm trying to figure out what's going to work best for me (something I expect will me somewhere close to, but not quite unschooling.)

I actually got this idea when I heard a writer on NPR once talk about how she gives herself a writing exercise everyday just to keep writing. She'll write about some object -- any object or the first thing she thinks of that day. She doesn't give herself a time limit or length objective -- just a plan to write.

For me, the main thing is that it was an activity they enjoyed and they were proud of it. It also gave them ideas of things they'd like to do. My son began to fanaticize that he might keep a journal of his poetic writings.

Now...as to your point about 'Books 'R Us' I'm approaching reading all wrong. I keep *wanting* my kids to read and I'm struggling on this point. We go to the library, they take out books and we return them -- unread. They'd rather play with the computer or watch tv -- they'll go along with any of my attempts for creative learning, but they really don't want to read. I'm going to continue to try different things. I'm about to sit with Mr. B (11.9) and read with him to try to get him to read this book (It's required for school next year -- since I'm homeschooling as a trial over the summer I want his summer assignments done in case he has to go back in the fall. He agreed to this in principal.)

Jeanne

"This may be working for you. I'm sure you'll hear how it's not unschooling.
:) But maybe you're easing into it."

"At any rate, I just can't imagine doing this. It seems so artificial. I don't
care whether we call it unschooling or not -- it's just so disconnected from
reality."

"But these are smart, literate kids -- no worries there. Books R Us. :)"

<<Well, I'm not sure what you would call what I'm doing. 90% of the day is
letting the kids do their own thing. About 10% of the day we work on something
together. Yesterday we went to the park and my kids and a friend each were asked
to select an object to bring home. When we got home I asked the kids to write
about one of the three objects. I suggested they could write poetry, a short
story or stream of consciousness. Then they switched to the next persons object
and wrote again. They wrote beautiful things. They really enjoyed the lesson
and felt really proud of what they created. I'm trying to make a combination
of home schooling and some directed (not arm twisted) learning. Jeanne>>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 7/8/2004 10:18:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
goodmanj@... writes:

I actually got this idea when I heard a writer on NPR once talk about how
she gives herself a writing exercise everyday just to keep writing. She'll
write about some object -- any object or the first thing she thinks of that day.
She doesn't give herself a time limit or length objective -- just a plan to
write.




<<<<

SHE gives HERSELF A writing exercize every day. Someone else doesn't assign
her one.

~Kelly


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

TreeGoddess

On Jul 8, 2004, at 10:06 PM, Jeanne Goodman wrote:

> [I keep *wanting* my kids to read and I'm struggling on this point. We
> go to the library, they take out books and we return them -- unread.
> They'd rather play with the computer or watch tv]

Well, I read an awful LOT when I'm using the computer whether I'm
surfing the net or playing a game. Here's a whole page of article
links on kids learning to read that may help you to relax. :)
http://sandradodd.com/reading

More specifically, here's a page on books being "better" (or not) than
other forms of communication. http://sandradodd.com/t/bookworship

[I'm about to sit with Mr. B (11.9) and read with him to try to get him
to read this book (It's required for school next year -- since I'm
homeschooling as a trial over the summer I want his summer assignments
done in case he has to go back in the fall. He agreed to this in
principal.)]

Doesn't he have the option of changing his mind? If he chooses to
return to school in the Autumn, what about getting the book on tape
just before classes resume? Also, he's not going to think staying home
and home/unschooling is fun if he's being force fed books that he's not
interested in. KWIM? :)

-Tracy-

[email protected]

In a message dated 7/8/2004 9:17:57 PM Central Daylight Time,
goodmanj@... writes:

We go to the library, they take out books and we return them -- unread.
They'd rather play with the computer or watch tv -- they'll go along with any of
my attempts for creative learning, but they really don't want to read. I'm
going to continue to try different things. I'm about to sit with Mr. B (11.9)
and read with him to try to get him to read this book

Once again, sounds like my own kids. I read every night to my youngest son,
6, because he requests it. (We've read every book in our house at least 3
times now and he loves library books as long as they are story, with pictures!)
But, his brother, 11, isn't a book kinda guy. I have noticed though, that
he is listening to me read to his brother. I've also "caught" him reading
the funnies in the newspaper, instructions to his legos, instructions to
various desserts he likes to fix or foods to prepare (he loves to cook). Also his
magazines on Xbox, or Hugio (sp?) cards. Also the cards themselves. One time
he brought home 11 books on from the library on sharks. He never read thru
any of them completely, but he sure gained alot of knowledge from them. He got
out of them what he needed to know. I could go on and on, but do you see my
point? He IS reading. Maybe not by school standards, but his own, and
what he wants to learn or do. So, just another-- this is how it is here, from
Syndi!!!!


"...since we can't know what knowledge will be most needed in the future, it
is senseless to try to teach it in advance. Instead, we should try to turn
out people who love learning so much and learn so well that they will be able
to learn whatever needs to be learned."
-- _John Holt_ (http://www.quoteworld.org/author.php?thetext=John+Holt)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 7/8/2004 10:04:56 PM Central Daylight Time,
treegoddess@... writes:

Also, he's not going to think staying home
and home/unschooling is fun if he's being force fed books that he's not
interested in.


Has anyone told you that you need to deschool before you homeschool and
that you can plan on a month for every year in school? Just a thought (again).
_http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/_ (http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/)
This is not an unschooling site, but she does talk about it here and you
can learn about the deschooling part of it all.
syndi

"...since we can't know what knowledge will be most needed in the future, it
is senseless to try to teach it in advance. Instead, we should try to turn
out people who love learning so much and learn so well that they will be able
to learn whatever needs to be learned."
-- _John Holt_ (http://www.quoteworld.org/author.php?thetext=John+Holt)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

TreeGoddess

On Jul 8, 2004, at 11:30 PM, Onesnotenough@... wrote:

> Has anyone told you that you need to deschool before you homeschool
> and
> that you can plan on a month for every year in school?

Good point. For more about deschooling check out
http://sandradodd.com/deschooling
-Tracy-

[email protected]

In a message dated 7/8/2004 10:15:10 PM Central Daylight Time,
Onesnotenough@... writes:


>
> But, his brother, 11, isn't a book kinda guy. I
>
ya know,,my sons all three went to ps,learned to read ,,at between 5-7,,but
onlyone has the same desire to read for the sake of reading and that is my now
19yr.old..the other two,read if they have to to know something,,but not for
enjoyment,,,my 11yr.old daughter reads some for intertainment,,but mostly wants
me too read to her,,,my point??first 3 were psmostly and still have different
leveel as far as reading,,,daughter has been private and home-schooled and
she is smewhere inbetween...its all the person,,not sooomuch what we try to
''yeach''..
June



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 7/8/2004 10:15:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:

Message: 25
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 22:06:00 -0400
From: "Jeanne Goodman" <goodmanj@...>
Subject: Re: asking the kids to write

Nance,

I do realize that this isn't unschooling and I'm trying to figure out what's
going to work best for me (something I expect will me somewhere close to, but
not quite unschooling.)

I actually got this idea when I heard a writer on NPR once talk about how she
gives herself a writing exercise everyday just to keep writing. She'll write
about some object -- any object or the first thing she thinks of that day. She
doesn't give herself a time limit or length objective -- just a plan to write.


*
But her Mom wasn't assigning the writing. :) This was what she figured out
for herself to organize her own day.


For me, the main thing is that it was an activity they enjoyed and they were
proud of it. It also gave them ideas of things they'd like to do. My son began
to fanaticize that he might keep a journal of his poetic writings.

*
That's great. Now maybe he will take off and figure out what he wants to
write even more. And if it is about a trip to the park, terrific. If it's assigned
creativity -- does that count?




Now...as to your point about 'Books 'R Us' I'm approaching reading all wrong.
I keep *wanting* my kids to read and I'm struggling on this point. We go to
the library, they take out books and we return them -- unread.
*
Why? Why are you going to the library at all if they don't want to?

The library is just a resource. Not a requirement.



They'd rather play with the computer or watch tv -- they'll go along with any
of my attempts for creative learning, but they really don't want to read.

*
There's a lot of reading involved in using the computer, for instance. Or
maybe they'd read if it was something they were interested in -- somehow library
books aren't appealing. OK, how about the sports pages? How about comic books?
Nature magazines? The world is full of reading.



I'm going to continue to try different things. I'm about to sit with Mr. B
(11.9) and read with him to try to get him to read this book (It's required for
school next year -- since I'm homeschooling as a trial over the summer I want
his summer assignments done in case he has to go back in the fall. He agreed
to this in principal.)

Jeanne
*
OK -- maybe this is why none of this is making much sense to me. 3 months of
trying hsing over the summer isn't really giving it a fair shot, imo. It's a
longer term commitment. The whole mindset of having to read a certain book for
ps (what book is it?) just isn't what hsing or unschooling would be like if
you didn't have that "school is starting soon" deadline looming. KWIM?

Try to imagine what you might do if you definitely were not going back to
school. Things wouldn't HAVE to happen. They could just happen. Now you're sort
of in a strange mixed state. Which sounds harder than either choice -- ps or hs
-- would be. Like you're trying to cover too many bases.

Nance


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Jeanne Goodman

>>JG: Now...as to your point about 'Books 'R Us' I'm approaching reading all wrong.
I keep *wanting* my kids to read and I'm struggling on this point. We go to
the library, they take out books and we return them -- unread.
*
Nance: Why? Why are you going to the library at all if they don't want to?
Nance: The library is just a resource. Not a requirement.
>>

The kids like going to the library. They like picking out books to read. They just don't read them.

>>JG: They'd rather play with the computer or watch tv -- they'll go along with any
of my attempts for creative learning, but they really don't want to read.
Nance: There's a lot of reading involved in using the computer, for instance. Or
maybe they'd read if it was something they were interested in -- somehow library
books aren't appealing. OK, how about the sports pages? How about comic books?
Nature magazines? The world is full of reading.
>>

They mostly use the computer for nick.com and the like (i.e. games). I'm trying to realize that Nick.com might be a learning situation for them, too and I shouldn't judge that. It's hard for me, but I'm trying.

>>Nance: OK -- maybe this is why none of this is making much sense to me. 3 months of trying hsing over the summer isn't really giving it a fair shot, imo. It's a
longer term commitment. The whole mindset of having to read a certain book for
ps (what book is it?) just isn't what hsing or unschooling would be like if
you didn't have that "school is starting soon" deadline looming. KWIM?
>>

I do understand, but I also have to be practical. I've got my own business. If I can't juggle hs & work I have to send the kids back. I have to do the best I can to figure out how practical this is with the limited time I have. The social pressures on Mr. B have been hard enough without having to go back to school after the term starts. (FWIW: The book was "A Place Called Ugly" http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0380724235/104-9835070-8007153?v=glance&s=books&vi=reviews )

>>
Nance: Try to imagine what you might do if you definitely were not going back to
school. Things wouldn't HAVE to happen. They could just happen. Now you're sort
of in a strange mixed state. Which sounds harder than either choice -- ps or hs
-- would be. Like you're trying to cover too many bases.
>>

I am trying to imagine that... that's why I'm here. ;)

Jeanne



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Robyn Coburn

<<<The kids like going to the library. They like picking out books to read.
They just don't read them.>>>

If they are not reading them at all, then maybe what they like is the
approval they are getting from you and possibly the librarian, for choosing
a book.

Are they choosing too many at a time, and then getting overwhelmed by having
a stack to "have to" get through.

I am probably so in the minority here, but I never go to the library (yet).
We go to Barnes and Noble and Borders a lot. We go to used book stores and
Amazon for used books a lot. Once the book is in the house, and we like it,
we just won't want to give it up. If we hate it, we sell it on Amazon or
Ebay or give it to Goodwill.


<<<They mostly use the computer for nick.com and the like (i.e. games). I'm
trying to realize that Nick.com might be a learning situation for them, too
and I shouldn't judge that. It's hard for me, but I'm trying.>>>

Your dd might like the games at Barbie.com, Pollypocket.com and
Divastars.com. Jayn loves all of those.

<<<I do understand, but I also have to be practical. I've got my own
business. If I can't juggle hs & work I have to send the kids back. I have
to do the best I can to figure out how practical this is with the limited
time I have. >>>

Is it a home based business? There are quite a lot of parents on these lists
with businesses who will have insights. I used to work more than full time
in the film business. Now I'm a part time writer and I do one outside gig a
year. I'm so much happier, although sometimes it is hard to find the
concentrated long blocks of uninterrupted time to really make breakthroughs
on my current and future scripts. Jayn's activities are still my priority
for time. However if your time priority is growing your business you will
come up with different solutions that if your priority is homeschooling your
kids.

Robyn L. Coburn

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.717 / Virus Database: 473 - Release Date: 7/8/2004

[email protected]

Sorry if I was squawking at you. You'll get there. :)

Nance


In a message dated 7/10/2004 6:42:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
would be. Like you're trying to cover too many bases.
>>

I am trying to imagine that... that's why I'm here. ;)

Jeanne


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]