taliasafa

Hello,

I am the mother of a 2.75 year old boy in the rural area outside
Athens, LA (about an hour east of Shreveport, LA). I am interested in
unschooling, but as it is new to me I can't say that I understand it
all completely.

I would also love to hear what others do with their almost 3 year
olds. I am having trouble with giving him opportunities without
everything getting destroyed and my husband freaking out because he
can't walk through our small house without stepping on something. My
son also wants someone to do most things with him. It is hard for me
to get involved without getting in his way.

We read, play games, do puzzles, use play-doh, use art materials,
build with blocks, watch some videos, he helps with or watches food
prep, and other stuff I can't remember right now. He loves balls
(especially small ones), things with wheels or things that roll,
collections of little things, water (especially pouring it on the
floor), and dancing around and singing songs with silly words. He just
started inventing stories to go along with his toys. He speaks very
clearly, has a large vocabulary and is interested in learning to read
and write, so we informally do stuff related to that.

Does anyone have kids who are learning piano with a computer program
or DVD? I would like to learn and my son may join in as well.

I recently tried to enroll him in a ballet class. They would like the
parents to leave them alone after the second class and he is not ready
for that, so we will probably get some videos from the library again
that he can watch if he likes. The only way he will be going to the
ballet class is if they start one for kids who don't want to leave
their parents, as I suggested. The class he was in was over-crowded
anyway.

My son has a lot of fears, especially of sounds and darkness. I have
trouble getting my son to go outside. He seems to be very sensitive to
the sounds we hear out there. Like cicadas, cows, trucks, crows, etc.
When we are outside we walk around, play in the dirt, find and name
plants, pick things from the garden, throw/hit balls, play with
sand/water, take him on bike rides, and whatever else we can find. My
husband's parents live 500 feet away and he ALWAYS wants to go to
their house. I have trouble keeping at home actually. They except his
visits, but at the same time they get exhausted and complain about
being tired.

We have recently been trying to get together with other homeschoolers
in Northern Louisiana, since I just started identifying myself as a
homeschooler. We have made a few friends so far, but I would say that
that are not into unschooling at this time. Though most people with
preschoolers are not terrible structured, nor have they completely
figured out what method they with use (like me).

We have always practiced some level of attachment parenting.
Breastfeeding, baby wearing, co-sleeping, etc.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
talia

Lesa ODaniel

<<Talia wrote:
I am the mother of a 2.75 year old boy in the rural area outside
Athens, LA (about an hour east of Shreveport, LA). I am interested in
unschooling, but as it is new to me I can't say that I understand it
all completely.

I would also love to hear what others do with their almost 3 year
olds. I am having trouble with giving him opportunities without
everything getting destroyed and my husband freaking out because he
can't walk through our small house without stepping on something. My
son also wants someone to do most things with him. It is hard for me
to get involved without getting in his way.>>

**I've only been "getting" unschooling since April of this year (my son is
2.5) and it really sounds like you've got the hang of just enjoying life
with your little guy. I wish you lived closer to Los Angeles because it
sounds like the boys would really enjoy hanging out together. My son sounds
exactly like yours - loves all the same things: cars, trucks, balls, water,
cooking, play-doh, etc. He always wants me to play with him, too, and I do
for the most part. Sometimes when I am "played out" I have explained that to
him but tell him that I'm happy to sit beside him while he plays (I'll
sometimes knit or just sit and drink coffee while he's playing). He likes
that.

It sounds like you are giving him opportunities already but maybe there is a
time before your husband comes home where you can do a quick pick-up (at
least clear a path). When my son is feeling particularly messy, I'll suggest
we take all the messy things outside (any crafts, painting, play-doh, etc.,
we do outside so I can just hose things down) or we'll play in the bathtub.
Right now I'm doing a few outdoor landscaping projects in our yard so he's
right there beside me with his little shovel or spade and helping dig dirt
or pull weeds, pick up leaves, cut leaves, etc. He loves that and is making
connections with what Bob the Builder does and what mommy is doing. He'll
dig some dirt and say, "whew - that's really hard work!"

Like I said, I'm still getting used to this unschooling thing, but it feels
right and I'm always looking for new things to offer my son. If he's not
feeling up to it, he tells me and I'll offer something else. This weekend
we're planning on going to the L.A. county fair. Today we went to the
arboretum and fed all the peacocks and geese that roam freely there. I can't
imagine making him go to preschool and miss all this life together...


Lesa O'Daniel, AAHCC
Instructor, Bradley Method� of Natural Childbirth
323-541-5515
http://www.bradleybirth.com/ndweb.asp?ID=O123&Count=N

_________________________________________________________________
Be seen and heard with Windows Live Messenger and Microsoft LifeCams
http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwme0020000001msn/direct/01/?href=http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/digitalcommunication/default.mspx?locale=en-us&source=hmtagline

Laura

hi, my name is laura. i'm new here. i have 3 unschooled kids, samuel-
11.5, silas-9, and sadie-6.5

i'm looking for a place to talk about unschooling and learn how other
people do it and maybe find some new things to incorporate into my own
philosophy.

i joined a few days ago but haven't gotten any emails, yet there are
postings on the group page. i thought maybe i needed to send an email
to activate it, so i'm introducing myself now instead of lurking for
awhile.

peace,
laura

Schafer Vanessa

Hi Laura,

Welcome to the group. I'm new to unschooling and have
two kids- Tyler 11 and Alexandra 9. We are still in
the process of deschooling, since I just took the kids
out of school at the end of the year. Since
unschooling, the kids are doing great, and we've had a
whole attitude shift. They are happier now than they
have ever been. Even my husband, who wasn't so
convinced on the deschooling thing, has noticed that
they are learning, and doing alot better.

We do alot of shopping, some gardening, lots of
cooking, and playing, and reading. Since unschooling,
I've found that we are able to enjoy life more, and
learn about things that aren't dictated by the public
schools. Even relatives have noticed the positive
changes in my kids. We also experimented on ways to
make a penny shiney again. We tried all sorts of
things, and found that taco sauce works really good.
(I got that idea from another poster, I think in this
group.)

Again, welcome, and enjoy your kids!!!!

Vanessa

--- Laura <ladymomma@...> wrote:

> hi, my name is laura. i'm new here. i have 3
> unschooled kids, samuel-
> 11.5, silas-9, and sadie-6.5
>
> i'm looking for a place to talk about unschooling
> and learn how other
> people do it and maybe find some new things to
> incorporate into my own
> philosophy.
>
> i joined a few days ago but haven't gotten any
> emails, yet there are
> postings on the group page. i thought maybe i
> needed to send an email
> to activate it, so i'm introducing myself now
> instead of lurking for
> awhile.
>
> peace,
> laura
>
>
>
>





____________________________________________________________________________________
Sponsored Link

Get an Online or Campus degree
Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's - in less than one year.
http://www.findtherightschool.com

Ren Allen

"i joined a few days ago but haven't gotten any emails, yet there are
postings on the group page. i thought maybe i needed to send an email
to activate it, so i'm introducing myself now instead of lurking for
awhile."

Good to see you over here Laura!!
Once you join, you're an active member who should receive emails but
Yahoo is entirely unpredictable at times. I checked your account and
it's set to receive individual emails so you should be getting a full
inbox shortly.
If the individuals are too much, you can always switch to digest
format, which has a bunch of posts in one email and doesn't clog up
your inbox so fast.:)

Glad you joined.

Ren
learninginfreedom.com

karen

My name is Karen, we unschooled our 35 yo daughter beginning in 1981,
with the help of John Holt's books. We now have a 14yo son who is also
unschooled, the difference is our daughter began reading and writing
on her own at age 4, all we ever did with her was guide her and teach
her how to find answers for herself, Our son has NLD and mild RAD
issues, He never wants to do much of anything, Anyone here who
has "been there done that, got the Tshirt already" that can offer
advice? Blessings Karen Conrad

Kelly Weyd

I have a daughter who is adopted and had RAD issues, and it's taken several years but we've gotten beyond it. My other daughter (also adopted) has Asperger's and Sensory Processing Disorder. What is NLD? Non Verbal Learning Disability? I am new to Unschooling, but am finding ways to make it work with my AS/SPD child. How long have you been Unschooling your 14 year old? Now you say he does not want to do much of anything, but what are the things he is doing? What does he like to do? Does he have any passions? I know a lot of people here do not like the ADHD labels and such, so I'm not sure what kind of responses you will get. I know for us it's not that I like to label my daughter with Asperger's or Sensory Processing Disorder, but it's really the only way I can explain her. Lot's of people don't understand her behavior and her huge lack of social skills, and by explaining that she has AS/SPD is the only way I can make people understand. Anyway I got off track.
Kelly

karen <micaiahspeaks@...> wrote:
My name is Karen, we unschooled our 35 yo daughter beginning in 1981,
with the help of John Holt's books. We now have a 14yo son who is also
unschooled, the difference is our daughter began reading and writing
on her own at age 4, all we ever did with her was guide her and teach
her how to find answers for herself, Our son has NLD and mild RAD
issues, He never wants to do much of anything, Anyone here who
has "been there done that, got the Tshirt already" that can offer
advice? Blessings Karen Conrad






---------------------------------
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.

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

karen

We have been unschooling since birth :)) yes NLD does stand for
nonverbal learning disorder. He would rather be outside playing all
day or playing video games. His only passion is playing outside and
playing video games. As I said we unschooled our 35 yo daughter (his
bio sister) All we had to do with her was guide. Blessings Karen Conrad

Kelly Weyd

I do not know a lot about NLD. I'm sure other's here will have better advice. Those with teenager's speak up now. Other's her keep talking about the Teanage Liberation Handbook, but I have not read it. Good Luck, I hope you find some answers.
Kelly

karen <micaiahspeaks@...> wrote:
We have been unschooling since birth :)) yes NLD does stand for
nonverbal learning disorder. He would rather be outside playing all
day or playing video games. His only passion is playing outside and
playing video games. As I said we unschooled our 35 yo daughter (his
bio sister) All we had to do with her was guide. Blessings Karen Conrad






---------------------------------
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.

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

Ren Allen

~He would rather be outside playing all
day or playing video games. His only passion is playing outside and
playing video games.~


Sounds great to me!!:)
Maybe you could elaborate on some of your concerns? Is it the reading
thing mainly?

Ren
learninginfreedom.com

Vickisue Gray

Video games are great for reading!
I've been amazed at how well they work.
Vicki

----- Original Message ----
From: Ren Allen <starsuncloud@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 11:34:52 PM
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Re: new member

~He would rather be outside playing all
day or playing video games. His only passion is playing outside and
playing video games.~

Sounds great to me!!:)
Maybe you could elaborate on some of your concerns? Is it the reading
thing mainly?

Ren
learninginfreedom. com






____________________________________________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
http://new.mail.yahoo.com

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

Michelle Leifur Reid

On 11/29/06, karen <micaiahspeaks@...> wrote:
> We have been unschooling since birth :)) yes NLD does stand for
> nonverbal learning disorder. He would rather be outside playing all
> day or playing video games. His only passion is playing outside and
> playing video games.

Video games are how my son (now 8.5) learned to read. It was out of
necessity because his sisters refused to continue reading all the
directions and character speech bubbles to him. In order to play the
games he learned to read. He reads some amazing words and is
undaunted by anything put in front of him. Your son may be doing more
reading than you expect, but it may not be in the form of books. What
are you strewing in his path? Many of the role playing games have
corresponding novels and/or manga associated with them. There are
tons of books, instruction videos, and computer programs that talk
about the art of video games and anime, how to draw characters, how to
program video games, etc. There are clubs formed for gamers. Maybe
he could get a job at a local EB Games or Game Stop or other used
gaming store where he could expand his interest into other areas of
the gaming world. I have a friend who lives in Canada whose husband
is a gaming programmer and has worked on some big name games. I wish
we lived closer because I have 3 kids who would love a tour of where
he works (they are homeschoolers as well and could accomodate) so
maybe there is someone around you doing something similar.

His passions aren't "just" playing outside and gaming. HIs passions
*are* playing outside and gaming. Expand on that. Strew like crazy
for him. Find opportunities for him. He may decline them (maybe even
just at first if this is something new you haven't done).

Michelle

karen

Ren
The problem is he is 14 and only began reading last year so he is on a
2nd grade reading level,in math, all he can do is single digit
addition and single digit subtraction, I have purchased dvds, he is
not interested, I have purchased computer games, no interest, i have
even purchased cds with no interest. I have even volunteered to read
to him, he doesnt want that, (that is something he has never liked).
Blessings Karen Conrad





-- In [email protected], "Ren Allen"
<starsuncloud@...> wrote:
>
> ~He would rather be outside playing all
> day or playing video games. His only passion is playing outside and
> playing video games.~
>
>
> Sounds great to me!!:)
> Maybe you could elaborate on some of your concerns? Is it the reading
> thing mainly?
>
> Ren
> learninginfreedom.com
>

Christy Mahoney

Karen, we can't really know how things are at your house with the
limited description, but when you say he is reading at a 2nd grade
level, the first thing that I imagined is him being given books made
for little kids. Like I said, I don't know, but I hope he has some
more interesting reading material. Does he read stuff on his video
games? On the computer?

When you say that you have purchased games and cds and such, what
types of things are these? Are they for teaching reading? If so,
that could be a problem. Maybe if you give us some more details, we
could give some suggestions.

-Christy M.


--- In [email protected], "karen"
<micaiahspeaks@...> wrote:
>
> Ren
> The problem is he is 14 and only began reading last year so he is
on a
> 2nd grade reading level,in math, all he can do is single digit
> addition and single digit subtraction, I have purchased dvds, he
is
> not interested, I have purchased computer games, no interest, i
have
> even purchased cds with no interest. I have even volunteered to
read
> to him, he doesnt want that, (that is something he has never
liked).
> Blessings Karen Conrad

karen

--- In [email protected], "Christy Mahoney"
<unschooling1@...> wrote:
>
> Karen, we can't really know how things are at your house with the
> limited description, but when you say he is reading at a 2nd grade
> level, the first thing that I imagined is him being given books made
>Christy
We have quite literally, hundreds of books of all genre and age,
Reading is my husband and my favorite past time. I have many childrens
books on cd (stories told by jim weiss) I have reading blasters, math
blasters, I have rainbow rock,numbermaze challenge.the quarter mile
math,memory challenge (critical thinking co.)ranger trail and
hurricane havoc(fisher price)I spy, outnumbered,big job, carmen
sandiego,spy masters,treasure mountain (these are all computer
software) I also have numerous curriculums that we have tried. When he
does do anything, I sit with him(this he likes, he like me to be near
him, I try to sit with him the majority of the time he is playing his
video games. Thanks in advance to all who are trying to help.
Blessings Karen Conrad

Joyce Fetteroll

On Nov 30, 2006, at 4:19 PM, karen wrote:

> The problem is he is 14 and only began reading last year so he is on a
> 2nd grade reading level

I only have a moment but I think it's important to note that he isn't
at "2nd grade level" because he began reading last year. Kids who
begin reading at 14 are reading at age level within a few months and
are indistinguishable from kids who started reading at 6.

Something *else* besides starting late is keeping him from reading
well. Primarily it might be because he doesn't read much. Which isn't
a reason to force him to read, of course! It's just a fact.

Maybe, rather than looking at where you'd like to get him (reading,
math, etc) look at what he loves to do and help him do that. Because
everything connects to everything else. Help him explore outside.
Help him explore games to their fullest extent. Do introduce other
things you think he'd like, but don't get trapped into the mindset of
introducing things that would be good for him or would "help" him.

Work with him rather than working on him.

Joyce

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

Michelle Leifur Reid

On 11/30/06, karen <micaiahspeaks@...> wrote:
> Ren
> The problem is he is 14 and only began reading last year so he is on a
> 2nd grade reading level,

Really? How do you know he is on a 2nd grade reading level? What does
2nd grade look like? Maybe he just doesn't enjoy reading so only
reads that which he needs to in order to get by. I know it is hard
for the bibliophile (I'm one) to understand, but some people just
don't enjoy reading! Your son may be one of those. And, having
worked in a bookstore, I see what many 9 and 8 year olds are reading
and they aren't picture books.


>in math, all he can do is single digit
> addition and single digit subtraction,

Buy him a calculator not more math programs. When he is ready and
when he sees a need he will learn more math. In the meantime strew
his interests in front of him. Provide him opportunities to expand his
interests, but don't force him into those opportunities.

I know you said that you unschooled your older child, but I wonder if
you have a false sense of what unschooling is. I would hazard to
guess that your older child had interests that were more in line with
what you felt were important subjects to learn (math and reading
particularly). Your son may have a broader understanding than you are
giving him credit for, it just doesn't look like "learning" as you
have qualified it.

Michelle

Rebecca Wise

Hi everyone!
I am a homeschool newbie for my eight year old son and I think I am unschooling without knowing it and want to learn more!
~Becky


Becky Wise
"fifteen way to say throw-up: barfing, hurling, upchucking, worshiping the porcelain god, blowing chunks, buying the Buick, spewing, doing the technicolor yawn, puking, heaving, ralphing, driving the porcelain bus, tossing your cookies, and running the stew master"







---------------------------------
Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels
in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit.

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

Debra Rossing

Hi Rebecca - welcome. What "more" are you wanting to know? My DS is 8
1/2 (9 in June) and has never been schooled (institutionally or at
home).


Deb

**********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the system manager.

This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.

CNC Software, Inc.
www.mastercam.com
**********************************************************************




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