Re: new to homeschooling need some advice
sahm2cody
"My husband is also stressing me out because he doesnt understand
Unschooling and thinks at home school should be structured with the
american flag and text book courses. Any ideas on how to convince
my husband unschooling is better and any ways to feeling like I am
not a failure mom by letting her do what society says is wrong."
If your husband is a reader, print him out some articles to read,
borrow some unschooling magazines or books from the library and
*both* of you read and discuss them.
Some magazines to try: Home Education Magazine, Life Learning
Magazine (both of which have articles you can read for free on their
websites), and Live Free, Learn Free which is written *completely* by
unschooling parents and kids.
Some books to try: The Unschooling Handbook; Homeschooling our
children, unschooling ourselves; The Unprocessed Child; Parenting a
free child, an unschooled life; Homeschooling for Excellence; John
Taylor Gatto or John Holt books (your library should have at least
*some* of these).
If your husband isn't interested in reading anything about
unschooling, I would strongly suggest that you read them anyway. You
can then drop in little bits of information during conversations. He
may think of homeschooling as "school-at-home" simply because he's
not aware that there are any other ways to do it.
~Carri Ann~
mom to Star Wars/lego obsessed 10 y/o
Unschooling and thinks at home school should be structured with the
american flag and text book courses. Any ideas on how to convince
my husband unschooling is better and any ways to feeling like I am
not a failure mom by letting her do what society says is wrong."
If your husband is a reader, print him out some articles to read,
borrow some unschooling magazines or books from the library and
*both* of you read and discuss them.
Some magazines to try: Home Education Magazine, Life Learning
Magazine (both of which have articles you can read for free on their
websites), and Live Free, Learn Free which is written *completely* by
unschooling parents and kids.
Some books to try: The Unschooling Handbook; Homeschooling our
children, unschooling ourselves; The Unprocessed Child; Parenting a
free child, an unschooled life; Homeschooling for Excellence; John
Taylor Gatto or John Holt books (your library should have at least
*some* of these).
If your husband isn't interested in reading anything about
unschooling, I would strongly suggest that you read them anyway. You
can then drop in little bits of information during conversations. He
may think of homeschooling as "school-at-home" simply because he's
not aware that there are any other ways to do it.
~Carri Ann~
mom to Star Wars/lego obsessed 10 y/o
Drew & Tami
Please also read: "Moving A Puddle and Other Essays" by Sandra Dodd! Put
this or any of the below in whichever bathroom he uses. Put a book under
his coffee mug in the morning. Put one on his pillow with a booklite or
headlamp. Make it easy for him!
Tami, who is currently halfway thru "Moving A Puddle" and loving it!
free child, an unschooled life; Homeschooling for Excellence; John
Taylor Gatto or John Holt books (your library should have at least
*some* of these). <<<
mom to Star Wars/lego obsessed 10 y/o
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
this or any of the below in whichever bathroom he uses. Put a book under
his coffee mug in the morning. Put one on his pillow with a booklite or
headlamp. Make it easy for him!
Tami, who is currently halfway thru "Moving A Puddle" and loving it!
>>> Some books to try: The Unschooling Handbook; Homeschooling ourchildren, unschooling ourselves; The Unprocessed Child; Parenting a
free child, an unschooled life; Homeschooling for Excellence; John
Taylor Gatto or John Holt books (your library should have at least
*some* of these). <<<
>>>snip<<<~Carri Ann~
mom to Star Wars/lego obsessed 10 y/o
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Drew & Tami
Does anyone remember that board-type game that was a plastic frame with a
spring-loaded panel... there were smallish round pegs with stems that you
filled into the frame and pushed the panel tight. Then, players took turns
pulling out a peg...until WHAM! the spring gave way and pegs went flying! I
think Adam (3) would love it, but I can't search for it as I don't know what
the heck it's called!
Tami, who is an only child and somewhat board game deficient as a result.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
spring-loaded panel... there were smallish round pegs with stems that you
filled into the frame and pushed the panel tight. Then, players took turns
pulling out a peg...until WHAM! the spring gave way and pegs went flying! I
think Adam (3) would love it, but I can't search for it as I don't know what
the heck it's called!
Tami, who is an only child and somewhat board game deficient as a result.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Joyce Fetteroll
On Feb 17, 2006, at 4:43 AM, Drew & Tami wrote:
Joyce
Answers to common unschooling questions:
http://home.earthlink.net/~fetteroll/rejoycing/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> Does anyone remember that board-type game that was a plastic frameBooby-Trap.
> with a
> spring-loaded panel... there were smallish round pegs with stems
> that you
> filled into the frame and pushed the panel tight.
Joyce
Answers to common unschooling questions:
http://home.earthlink.net/~fetteroll/rejoycing/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Deana Brown
Hi thank you for replying. Last night I printed out a forum board
question I posted with the same thing I posted n the emails and printed
the unschooling parents replys. When he got home he asked his daughter
what she did in school today. She said we didnt do any book stuff. I
felt my heart jump. (hehe why cant kids lie when they need to I
thought) Then I turned to my husband and he said why didnt she do any
school today, and I said she did. Then I handed him the print out at
first glance he said so does this mean we have to send her back to
school since your not finding any joy in it. I told him to read the
whole thing before he said anything.
Then he asked, well what if she doesnt show interest in something that
is vital for her to learn, for example, proper writing, reading and math
problems. So I posted that question cause I wasnt sure how to answer
that. I told him about our day and how much less stressful and fun it was.
I said the kids played out in the blizzard, made snow angels,
shoveled. Then brought some snow in and made snowcream with it. Then
she played funbrain.com math. She helped do some chores. Fed her
brother. Played with her brother. (and halfway through the day I
started to feel irresponsible so I made her color some president
pictures while I colored with her and then I made her read the facts out
loud to me and then I made her sit with the timer on 10 mins and make a
booklet of whatever she wanted.) She didnt like it but she did it.
So I told him see she did PE, Sharing, Measuring, Math, Cleaning, Caring
for brother. Watched some TV learned about presidents and wrote her
own story. So she learned today. :P I still felt unsure at this
point. But then I showed him this website I found of The ABC's of
Unschooling. And the Unschooling Recordkeeper. Because he was a bit
unsure of how you keep grades in unschooling and a bit skeptical that
she may not pass SAT's if she chooses to go to college some day.
Within an hour he said, so I take it you dont like the Switched on
School House - thats all on computer. I said yes it is on computer but
it is still almost all reading and answering questions. Lynzie hasn't
found any fun in it and refuses to do it. So he posted the Switched on
School House back on Ebay where we bought it from. He said he feels
like he waisted alot of money buying all the books he bought if we arent
going to use them. I told him from what I read alot of families new to
homeschool or and unschool have done the same thing and I can try to
sell them at this summers rummage sales.
He seemed alot more open to the idea then I thought he would be and
surprised me with this.
Today it is already almost 10am and I am trying so hard to fight the
anxiety I feel that I am being irresponsible by letting my daughter
watch tv and basically choose what she wants to do all day. It is a
new road for me and a very scary one. I am so afraid that too many days
may go by where she hasnt done anything to learn.
Again thank you for your advise and sorry this thread has gotten so
long, It's just that it is all new to me.
Deana
sahm2cody wrote:
question I posted with the same thing I posted n the emails and printed
the unschooling parents replys. When he got home he asked his daughter
what she did in school today. She said we didnt do any book stuff. I
felt my heart jump. (hehe why cant kids lie when they need to I
thought) Then I turned to my husband and he said why didnt she do any
school today, and I said she did. Then I handed him the print out at
first glance he said so does this mean we have to send her back to
school since your not finding any joy in it. I told him to read the
whole thing before he said anything.
Then he asked, well what if she doesnt show interest in something that
is vital for her to learn, for example, proper writing, reading and math
problems. So I posted that question cause I wasnt sure how to answer
that. I told him about our day and how much less stressful and fun it was.
I said the kids played out in the blizzard, made snow angels,
shoveled. Then brought some snow in and made snowcream with it. Then
she played funbrain.com math. She helped do some chores. Fed her
brother. Played with her brother. (and halfway through the day I
started to feel irresponsible so I made her color some president
pictures while I colored with her and then I made her read the facts out
loud to me and then I made her sit with the timer on 10 mins and make a
booklet of whatever she wanted.) She didnt like it but she did it.
So I told him see she did PE, Sharing, Measuring, Math, Cleaning, Caring
for brother. Watched some TV learned about presidents and wrote her
own story. So she learned today. :P I still felt unsure at this
point. But then I showed him this website I found of The ABC's of
Unschooling. And the Unschooling Recordkeeper. Because he was a bit
unsure of how you keep grades in unschooling and a bit skeptical that
she may not pass SAT's if she chooses to go to college some day.
Within an hour he said, so I take it you dont like the Switched on
School House - thats all on computer. I said yes it is on computer but
it is still almost all reading and answering questions. Lynzie hasn't
found any fun in it and refuses to do it. So he posted the Switched on
School House back on Ebay where we bought it from. He said he feels
like he waisted alot of money buying all the books he bought if we arent
going to use them. I told him from what I read alot of families new to
homeschool or and unschool have done the same thing and I can try to
sell them at this summers rummage sales.
He seemed alot more open to the idea then I thought he would be and
surprised me with this.
Today it is already almost 10am and I am trying so hard to fight the
anxiety I feel that I am being irresponsible by letting my daughter
watch tv and basically choose what she wants to do all day. It is a
new road for me and a very scary one. I am so afraid that too many days
may go by where she hasnt done anything to learn.
Again thank you for your advise and sorry this thread has gotten so
long, It's just that it is all new to me.
Deana
sahm2cody wrote:
> "My husband is also stressing me out because he doesnt understand
> Unschooling and thinks at home school should be structured with the
> american flag and text book courses. Any ideas on how to convince
> my husband unschooling is better and any ways to feeling like I am
> not a failure mom by letting her do what society says is wrong."
>
> If your husband is a reader, print him out some articles to read,
> borrow some unschooling magazines or books from the library and
> *both* of you read and discuss them.
>
>
> ~Carri Ann~
> mom to Star Wars/lego obsessed 10 y/o
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
>
> Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
> <http://www.unschooling.info>
>
>
>
> SPONSORED LINKS
> Graduate school education
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Graduate+school+education&w1=Graduate+school+education&w2=High+school+education&w3=Home+school+education&w4=Middle+school+education&w5=New+york+school+education&w6=School+education+in+california&c=6&s=181&.sig=XeERtAmMH6xOclFlfF3kXw>
> High school education
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=High+school+education&w1=Graduate+school+education&w2=High+school+education&w3=Home+school+education&w4=Middle+school+education&w5=New+york+school+education&w6=School+education+in+california&c=6&s=181&.sig=89oOLkTPWnhxf__b2u72QA>
> Home school education
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Home+school+education&w1=Graduate+school+education&w2=High+school+education&w3=Home+school+education&w4=Middle+school+education&w5=New+york+school+education&w6=School+education+in+california&c=6&s=181&.sig=1aW-X2S2ZokW3qzZ8RgBsQ>
>
> Middle school education
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Middle+school+education&w1=Graduate+school+education&w2=High+school+education&w3=Home+school+education&w4=Middle+school+education&w5=New+york+school+education&w6=School+education+in+california&c=6&s=181&.sig=ekWG86FHE6rjFjd8jaZHOw>
> New york school education
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=New+york+school+education&w1=Graduate+school+education&w2=High+school+education&w3=Home+school+education&w4=Middle+school+education&w5=New+york+school+education&w6=School+education+in+california&c=6&s=181&.sig=aSJE8BjHS18knvLinwtebQ>
> School education in california
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=School+education+in+california&w1=Graduate+school+education&w2=High+school+education&w3=Home+school+education&w4=Middle+school+education&w5=New+york+school+education&w6=School+education+in+california&c=6&s=181&.sig=gkGybS6R2TNc7Ffa1FldiA>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
> * Visit your group "UnschoolingDiscussion
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UnschoolingDiscussion>" on the web.
>
> * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
> <mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscribe>
>
> * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
Marjorie Kirk
We have a wooden version. Here's a link to it:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00003G4K1/104-0501887-2267969
?v=glance
HTH,
Marjorie
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Drew & Tami
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 4:43 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] What's the name of that game?
Does anyone remember that board-type game that was a plastic frame with a
spring-loaded panel... there were smallish round pegs with stems that you
filled into the frame and pushed the panel tight. Then, players took turns
pulling out a peg...until WHAM! the spring gave way and pegs went flying! I
think Adam (3) would love it, but I can't search for it as I don't know what
the heck it's called!
Tami, who is an only child and somewhat board game deficient as a result.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
<http://www.unschooling.info>
Yahoo! Groups Links
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00003G4K1/104-0501887-2267969
?v=glance
HTH,
Marjorie
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Drew & Tami
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 4:43 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] What's the name of that game?
Does anyone remember that board-type game that was a plastic frame with a
spring-loaded panel... there were smallish round pegs with stems that you
filled into the frame and pushed the panel tight. Then, players took turns
pulling out a peg...until WHAM! the spring gave way and pegs went flying! I
think Adam (3) would love it, but I can't search for it as I don't know what
the heck it's called!
Tami, who is an only child and somewhat board game deficient as a result.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
<http://www.unschooling.info>
Yahoo! Groups Links
Sandra Dodd
On Feb 17, 2006, at 2:36 AM, Drew & Tami wrote:
It's available two places, both linked here:
http:/sandradodd.com/puddlebook
> Tami, who is currently halfway thru "Moving A Puddle" and loving it!Thanks!
It's available two places, both linked here:
http:/sandradodd.com/puddlebook
Sandra Dodd
On Feb 17, 2006, at 8:48 AM, Deana Brown wrote:
Why did you add that "basically" to "choose"?
Please try to let her REALLY choose. And not to think of it as
choosing what to do all day, but to choose in each moment whether to
do this or that, or wear this or that, or eat or not, or what to eat,
and where. Those are real choices.
http://www.sandradodd.com/choicerobyn.html
Robyn Coburn on Giving Children Options
http://www.sandradodd.com/choice.html
The Value of Choices
http://www.sandradodd.com/respect.html
How to Raise a Respected Child
http://www.sandradodd.com/strew/ifilet.html
A list of the fears parents have expressed to justify limitations and
forbidding children to make choices.
Sandra
> Today it is already almost 10am and I am trying so hard to fight the"Basically"?
> anxiety I feel that I am being irresponsible by letting my daughter
> watch tv and basically choose what she wants to do all day.
Why did you add that "basically" to "choose"?
Please try to let her REALLY choose. And not to think of it as
choosing what to do all day, but to choose in each moment whether to
do this or that, or wear this or that, or eat or not, or what to eat,
and where. Those are real choices.
http://www.sandradodd.com/choicerobyn.html
Robyn Coburn on Giving Children Options
http://www.sandradodd.com/choice.html
The Value of Choices
http://www.sandradodd.com/respect.html
How to Raise a Respected Child
http://www.sandradodd.com/strew/ifilet.html
A list of the fears parents have expressed to justify limitations and
forbidding children to make choices.
Sandra
Sandra Dodd
On Feb 17, 2006, at 8:48 AM, Deana Brown wrote:
School schedules are 180 days out of 365, and of those school days,
MANY of them go by without an individual learning something new.
#2, you-the-mom MUST change your view of learning. If you think
learning only happens when someone has "done something to learn,"
unschooling will elude you.
Sandra
> I am so afraid that too many days#1, how many days would be "too many"?
> may go by where she hasnt done anything to learn.
School schedules are 180 days out of 365, and of those school days,
MANY of them go by without an individual learning something new.
#2, you-the-mom MUST change your view of learning. If you think
learning only happens when someone has "done something to learn,"
unschooling will elude you.
Sandra
Drew & Tami
Well Dang!
How perfect! I just realized the other day that I've been nursing for
almost 6 years-- I sort of FFEL like that game! The prolactin has made my
brain feel like all of those little pieces, flying off in every direction!
Thanks Joyce!
Tami, who is secretly hoping that the baby won't grow up too fast, as she
can't remember life without one!
*** On Feb 17, 2006, at 4:43 AM, Drew & Tami wrote:
Joyce
Answers to common unschooling questions:
http://home.earthlink.net/~fetteroll/rejoycing/ ****
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
How perfect! I just realized the other day that I've been nursing for
almost 6 years-- I sort of FFEL like that game! The prolactin has made my
brain feel like all of those little pieces, flying off in every direction!
Thanks Joyce!
Tami, who is secretly hoping that the baby won't grow up too fast, as she
can't remember life without one!
*** On Feb 17, 2006, at 4:43 AM, Drew & Tami wrote:
> Does anyone remember that board-type game that was a plastic frameBooby-Trap.
> with a
> spring-loaded panel... there were smallish round pegs with stems
> that you
> filled into the frame and pushed the panel tight.
Joyce
Answers to common unschooling questions:
http://home.earthlink.net/~fetteroll/rejoycing/ ****
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Julie
On Feb 17, 2006, at 4:43 AM, Drew & Tami wrote:
<<Booby-Trap.>>
Back in the 70s, I knew this game as Perfection:
http://www.areyougame.com/interact/item.asp?itemno=HB4060 . I loved how it
started to make a clunking sound just before the pieces flew everywhere.
Thanks for the nostalgia!
Julie
> Does anyone remember that board-type game that was a plastic frameJoyce wrote:
> with a
> spring-loaded panel... there were smallish round pegs with stems
> that you
> filled into the frame and pushed the panel tight.
<<Booby-Trap.>>
Back in the 70s, I knew this game as Perfection:
http://www.areyougame.com/interact/item.asp?itemno=HB4060 . I loved how it
started to make a clunking sound just before the pieces flew everywhere.
Thanks for the nostalgia!
Julie
nrskay
Deana: I sold all of my textbooks on ebay last summer and I believe I
broke even. Early summer may be the best time because people are
looking for the next Sept books.
Hang in there. We have been deschooling since this summer and my
husband doesn't understand unschooling but is willing to be open.
Just keep giving him links and articles.
Just to let you know we have a radical Christian unschooling yahoo
group, many of us are members to this list and the christian
unschooling list too. Check us out.
Kay
broke even. Early summer may be the best time because people are
looking for the next Sept books.
Hang in there. We have been deschooling since this summer and my
husband doesn't understand unschooling but is willing to be open.
Just keep giving him links and articles.
Just to let you know we have a radical Christian unschooling yahoo
group, many of us are members to this list and the christian
unschooling list too. Check us out.
Kay
Have a Nice Day!
Today it is already almost 10am and I am trying so hard to fight the
anxiety I feel that I am being irresponsible by letting my daughter
watch tv and basically choose what she wants to do all day. It is a
new road for me and a very scary one. I am so afraid that too many days
may go by where she hasnt done anything to learn.
********************************88
I thought I might post a bit about our adventures over the past few years in a way that might help "bridge the gap" between your anxiety and unschooling and results. This is specific to our family, and involves some level of "continuing education" but also demonstrates that unschoolers can get wherever they need to be at any time in their lives.
My son was 16 last year. He has always hated math and formal writing. He has spent his time sleeping, sleeping, and more sleeping. When he is awake, he is on the computer playing games, on the xbox, or watching tv. He builds bikes and plays video games with his friends. He does not have a job yet. He hasn't gotten his driver's license either. He has a girlfriend he likes to spend time with. And he plays drums in a neighborhood band (he taught himself). Generally speaking, this is how he has spent his last few years. A few times, he has gone "trainin" with his buddy who is 30...they go and photograph trains in different train yards, and identify them, learn their history, etc. Other times, he has helped do some siding jobs with the same buddy. Other hobbies have been biking and skateboarding, hanging out with friends, and fishing/hunting.
Obviously, his "education" has been anything but traditional or conventional and has mostly consisted of "dabbling".
Last year he enrolled in a college English Comp course at the local community college. He enrolled as an "early admit" but could not meet the "admission requirements" for "early admits" because he never took the SAT's and didn't have a "transcript". So, I made a narrative "transcript" of all the things he has done and he took the college placement test for English. (not SAT's)
There are two levels of remediation and he tested into the second level, the one just before qualifying for Eng 101. This without any formal writing lessons, or at least very few (I also lasped into my anxiety at times). We were told that most high school *graduates* test into the first level, not the second. And had it not been for his punctuation, he would have qualified for Eng 101. After Eng 051, he decided not to pursue any other courses, but he could have, and he could have eventually earned a degree, or transferred into a 4 year school.
Instead, just yesterday, he applied at the local Career and Tech Center (votech). Last year when we discussed it with the CTC, they said if I graduated him last year (at 16) they would still gladly take him, but it would not be free. I mention this to show that not every "school" thinks like the traditional high school. They were very willing to work with us.
Anyway, we decided to wait another year. This year we were told that in order for him to have a better chance of acceptance, he should enroll through the high school. (They take all high schoolers first, and then "adult" students (those that have graduated already).
The high school requires incoming seniors to take the PSSA as juniors to make sure they are all on the same level. Etown will not graduate any senior who did not pass the junior pssa. It wouldn't have mattered if he took it and didn't pass it, we didnt' care about the Etown diploma.... but we didn't want to have to deal with any "required mediation" either.
We decided we really did not want to go down the PSSA road at all, that we would rather avoid this kind of testing which we feel has been detrimental to so many kids. But then, we were afraid he wouldn't even get into the CTC because he'd be enrolling as an adult student. The CTC recommended we talk to the high school again and see what they would say, so I did. Low and behold, since we do not want an Etown diploma, we do NOT have to take the PSSA. We merely need to apply to the CTC like anyone else in any other high school.
So, the bottom line is, my unschooling 17 year old is going to go to the CTC next year and learn a trade, graduate, and start working in the real world as a second year apprentice, and proceed from there. The average pay for his chosen programs ranges from $17-$50/hour.
The fact that he unschooled and didn't have all the traditional stuff doesn't even matter.
Kristen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
anxiety I feel that I am being irresponsible by letting my daughter
watch tv and basically choose what she wants to do all day. It is a
new road for me and a very scary one. I am so afraid that too many days
may go by where she hasnt done anything to learn.
********************************88
I thought I might post a bit about our adventures over the past few years in a way that might help "bridge the gap" between your anxiety and unschooling and results. This is specific to our family, and involves some level of "continuing education" but also demonstrates that unschoolers can get wherever they need to be at any time in their lives.
My son was 16 last year. He has always hated math and formal writing. He has spent his time sleeping, sleeping, and more sleeping. When he is awake, he is on the computer playing games, on the xbox, or watching tv. He builds bikes and plays video games with his friends. He does not have a job yet. He hasn't gotten his driver's license either. He has a girlfriend he likes to spend time with. And he plays drums in a neighborhood band (he taught himself). Generally speaking, this is how he has spent his last few years. A few times, he has gone "trainin" with his buddy who is 30...they go and photograph trains in different train yards, and identify them, learn their history, etc. Other times, he has helped do some siding jobs with the same buddy. Other hobbies have been biking and skateboarding, hanging out with friends, and fishing/hunting.
Obviously, his "education" has been anything but traditional or conventional and has mostly consisted of "dabbling".
Last year he enrolled in a college English Comp course at the local community college. He enrolled as an "early admit" but could not meet the "admission requirements" for "early admits" because he never took the SAT's and didn't have a "transcript". So, I made a narrative "transcript" of all the things he has done and he took the college placement test for English. (not SAT's)
There are two levels of remediation and he tested into the second level, the one just before qualifying for Eng 101. This without any formal writing lessons, or at least very few (I also lasped into my anxiety at times). We were told that most high school *graduates* test into the first level, not the second. And had it not been for his punctuation, he would have qualified for Eng 101. After Eng 051, he decided not to pursue any other courses, but he could have, and he could have eventually earned a degree, or transferred into a 4 year school.
Instead, just yesterday, he applied at the local Career and Tech Center (votech). Last year when we discussed it with the CTC, they said if I graduated him last year (at 16) they would still gladly take him, but it would not be free. I mention this to show that not every "school" thinks like the traditional high school. They were very willing to work with us.
Anyway, we decided to wait another year. This year we were told that in order for him to have a better chance of acceptance, he should enroll through the high school. (They take all high schoolers first, and then "adult" students (those that have graduated already).
The high school requires incoming seniors to take the PSSA as juniors to make sure they are all on the same level. Etown will not graduate any senior who did not pass the junior pssa. It wouldn't have mattered if he took it and didn't pass it, we didnt' care about the Etown diploma.... but we didn't want to have to deal with any "required mediation" either.
We decided we really did not want to go down the PSSA road at all, that we would rather avoid this kind of testing which we feel has been detrimental to so many kids. But then, we were afraid he wouldn't even get into the CTC because he'd be enrolling as an adult student. The CTC recommended we talk to the high school again and see what they would say, so I did. Low and behold, since we do not want an Etown diploma, we do NOT have to take the PSSA. We merely need to apply to the CTC like anyone else in any other high school.
So, the bottom line is, my unschooling 17 year old is going to go to the CTC next year and learn a trade, graduate, and start working in the real world as a second year apprentice, and proceed from there. The average pay for his chosen programs ranges from $17-$50/hour.
The fact that he unschooled and didn't have all the traditional stuff doesn't even matter.
Kristen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/17/2006 6:26:47 PM Eastern Standard Time,
julesmiel@... writes:
started to make a clunking sound just before the pieces flew everywhere.
Thanks for the nostalgia!
Julie<<
I think they're different. Boobie trap had a bunch of circle shaped thingys
with a spring, and you had to take them out without setting off the spring
and all the circles flying everywhere.
In Perfection, you have different shaped puzzle type pieces that go into the
same shaped holes, and you try to get all the pieces in their places before
the timer goes off and shoots them all over the place.
BTW, Ebay has a bunch of old "booby trap" games for sale right now.
Nancy B.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
julesmiel@... writes:
>>Back in the 70s, I knew this game as Perfection:http://www.areyougame.com/interact/item.asp?itemno=HB4060 . I loved how it
started to make a clunking sound just before the pieces flew everywhere.
Thanks for the nostalgia!
Julie<<
I think they're different. Boobie trap had a bunch of circle shaped thingys
with a spring, and you had to take them out without setting off the spring
and all the circles flying everywhere.
In Perfection, you have different shaped puzzle type pieces that go into the
same shaped holes, and you try to get all the pieces in their places before
the timer goes off and shoots them all over the place.
BTW, Ebay has a bunch of old "booby trap" games for sale right now.
Nancy B.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Drew & Tami
On Feb 17, 2006, at 4:43 AM, Drew & Tami wrote:
These days, Perfection is the one where you fit the shapes into their
spots in the box before time runs out. Go figure!
Tami, who wishes that "They" would ask permission before "They" change
things, dangit!
*** > Does anyone remember that board-type game that was a plastic frame
> with a
> spring-loaded panel... there were smallish round pegs with stems
> that you
> filled into the frame and pushed the panel tight.
Joyce wrote:
<<Booby-Trap.>> ***
>>> Back in the 70s, I knew this game as Perfection:
http://www.areyougame.com/interact/item.asp?itemno=HB4060 . I loved how
it
started to make a clunking sound just before the pieces flew everywhere.
Thanks for the nostalgia!
Julie <<<
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
<http://www.unschooling.info>
SPONSORED LINKS Graduate school education High school education Home
school education
Middle school education New york school education School education
in california
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
a.. Visit your group "UnschoolingDiscussion" on the web.
b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nrskay
> Joyce wrote:I thought that was a mammogram. (for those of us over 45)
> <<Booby-Trap.>> ***
Kay
Krisula Moyer
Tears rolling down my face I'm laughing so hard.
Krisula
===============================
Krisula
===============================
> Joyce wrote: >> Booby-Trap.>> ***[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>Kay answered:<<I thought that was a mammogram. (for those of us over 45)>>