introduction and a few questions
Jennifer and Scott Lynch
Hi all! I am new to this list but after reading for a week or so I feel
like I have found my long-lost family!!! Finally a group with whom I don't
have to explain EVERYTHING!!! My name is Jen, my husband is Scott and we
have a dd who is three and three quarters (she ALWAYS adds the
"three-quarters" part.) My husband works our of our house, I do not work
for pay. I always knew I would unschool although I had a very positive,
very alternative (radical Montessori) school experience myself. I won't get
into our life details here, I hope to get to know all of you better in the
future. My questions are as follows:
1) Evie will be our only child. I am interested in hearing from others who
have only children (I am an "only" myself.)
2) I am interested in hearing about the things you all do with your young
kids. I am especially interested in hearing about situations when your kids
are clamoring to learn something specific and yet tend to lose interest if
they are explicitly "taught" one way.
3) What does "strewing" look like in your house with young kids?
Finally, I have been dying to share the following anecdote with a group who
would appreciate it. My daughter was jumping on our bed with her closest
neighborhood friend. This friend is in daycare all week and has an older
sister who is in "away school" as Evie calls it (as opposed to
"homeschool"). Evie loves to count and so she was counting their jumps.
She was up to about 124 (I don't really know how or when she learned to
count that high) when her friend asked "how do keep all those numbers in the
right order?" I was downstairs, I couldn't wait to hear Evie's answer. She
stopped jumping, thought for a minute and then said, "You just let them leak
out of your head!" She then resumed jumping as if that were a perfectly
logical explanation. I smiled and thought "you got it kid!"
I can't wait to learn and share more with all of you!
Jen L.
Madison, WI
like I have found my long-lost family!!! Finally a group with whom I don't
have to explain EVERYTHING!!! My name is Jen, my husband is Scott and we
have a dd who is three and three quarters (she ALWAYS adds the
"three-quarters" part.) My husband works our of our house, I do not work
for pay. I always knew I would unschool although I had a very positive,
very alternative (radical Montessori) school experience myself. I won't get
into our life details here, I hope to get to know all of you better in the
future. My questions are as follows:
1) Evie will be our only child. I am interested in hearing from others who
have only children (I am an "only" myself.)
2) I am interested in hearing about the things you all do with your young
kids. I am especially interested in hearing about situations when your kids
are clamoring to learn something specific and yet tend to lose interest if
they are explicitly "taught" one way.
3) What does "strewing" look like in your house with young kids?
Finally, I have been dying to share the following anecdote with a group who
would appreciate it. My daughter was jumping on our bed with her closest
neighborhood friend. This friend is in daycare all week and has an older
sister who is in "away school" as Evie calls it (as opposed to
"homeschool"). Evie loves to count and so she was counting their jumps.
She was up to about 124 (I don't really know how or when she learned to
count that high) when her friend asked "how do keep all those numbers in the
right order?" I was downstairs, I couldn't wait to hear Evie's answer. She
stopped jumping, thought for a minute and then said, "You just let them leak
out of your head!" She then resumed jumping as if that were a perfectly
logical explanation. I smiled and thought "you got it kid!"
I can't wait to learn and share more with all of you!
Jen L.
Madison, WI
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/18/04 2:17:23 PM, j.slynch@... writes:
<< Finally a group with whom I don't
have to explain EVERYTHING!!! >>
What do you mean?
.
.
.
.
.
(just joking <g>)
Good story about counting to 124.
Welcome to the list!
Sandra
<< Finally a group with whom I don't
have to explain EVERYTHING!!! >>
What do you mean?
.
.
.
.
.
(just joking <g>)
Good story about counting to 124.
Welcome to the list!
Sandra
[email protected]
Hi Jen,
I am an only and I have an only, he is older though, 14. He likes me to
learn things with him, which I don't mind. We have some great groups where we
are, too, and he has friends that go to school that he sees on weekends.
I strew (strow?) a lot, probably too much. I love books and fortunately he
loves books as well.
Great to have you,
Laura M.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I am an only and I have an only, he is older though, 14. He likes me to
learn things with him, which I don't mind. We have some great groups where we
are, too, and he has friends that go to school that he sees on weekends.
I strew (strow?) a lot, probably too much. I love books and fortunately he
loves books as well.
Great to have you,
Laura M.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tracie Kowalski
I have to second Jen from WI, I too feel very "at home" here. I've been
lurking for a few days since I joined the group and boy have I come to feel
better about the TV and consumerism around this place.
I have three boys, all under five, and I feel sometimes I just let them have
whatever it is they're asking for, cartoons, ridiculously shaped and colored
macaroni, or even, God forbid, candy-to keep the peace. Following that
thread rescued from certain doom I'm sure!
Anyway, I'd love some great children's book recommendations. My four year
old loves to read and be read to, but we are having a hard time coming up
with new "now that was a GREAT book" books. I've read everything Chinaberry
sells and asked the children's librarian locally for help. I was given the
Newberry and Caldecott winners list, but sadly they are far from a great
recommended read list. ANY suggestions are welcome and thank you in
advance.
Tracie K
Columbus, OH
lurking for a few days since I joined the group and boy have I come to feel
better about the TV and consumerism around this place.
I have three boys, all under five, and I feel sometimes I just let them have
whatever it is they're asking for, cartoons, ridiculously shaped and colored
macaroni, or even, God forbid, candy-to keep the peace. Following that
thread rescued from certain doom I'm sure!
Anyway, I'd love some great children's book recommendations. My four year
old loves to read and be read to, but we are having a hard time coming up
with new "now that was a GREAT book" books. I've read everything Chinaberry
sells and asked the children's librarian locally for help. I was given the
Newberry and Caldecott winners list, but sadly they are far from a great
recommended read list. ANY suggestions are welcome and thank you in
advance.
Tracie K
Columbus, OH
Jennifer and Scott Lynch
Anyway, I'd love some great children's book recommendations. My four year
old loves to read and be read to, but we are having a hard time coming up
with new "now that was a GREAT book" books. I've read everything Chinaberry
sells and asked the children's librarian locally for help. I was given the
Newberry and Caldecott winners list, but sadly they are far from a great
recommended read list. ANY suggestions are welcome and thank you in
advance.
I have a few books recommendations. My daughter is almost four. I HATE
that so many books for kids are really thinly disguised how-to manuals about
how to act in school. I have resorted to mostly books from the 30s and 40s,
1939 seems to have been a particularly good year!
The Enchanted Wood series by Enid Blyton (actually almost anything by Enid
Blyton, the whole family is riveted by these)
Twig by Elizabeth Orton Jones
The Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and Snipp, Snap and Snurr books by Maj Lindman
Pippi Longstocking
The Little House Books
The Oz books
Beatrix Potter
The Tarzan Books (not great for wee ones, at least not mine)
Just a few suggestions, good luck. I am personally craving a good story to
read to my daughter, these days it is ALL non-fiction, mostly dinosaurs. I
am almost ready to claim that my tongue can't say "protoceratops" one more
time or it might fall out!!!
Jen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
old loves to read and be read to, but we are having a hard time coming up
with new "now that was a GREAT book" books. I've read everything Chinaberry
sells and asked the children's librarian locally for help. I was given the
Newberry and Caldecott winners list, but sadly they are far from a great
recommended read list. ANY suggestions are welcome and thank you in
advance.
I have a few books recommendations. My daughter is almost four. I HATE
that so many books for kids are really thinly disguised how-to manuals about
how to act in school. I have resorted to mostly books from the 30s and 40s,
1939 seems to have been a particularly good year!
The Enchanted Wood series by Enid Blyton (actually almost anything by Enid
Blyton, the whole family is riveted by these)
Twig by Elizabeth Orton Jones
The Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and Snipp, Snap and Snurr books by Maj Lindman
Pippi Longstocking
The Little House Books
The Oz books
Beatrix Potter
The Tarzan Books (not great for wee ones, at least not mine)
Just a few suggestions, good luck. I am personally craving a good story to
read to my daughter, these days it is ALL non-fiction, mostly dinosaurs. I
am almost ready to claim that my tongue can't say "protoceratops" one more
time or it might fall out!!!
Jen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Paula Sjogerman
on 1/19/04 6:49 AM, Jennifer and Scott Lynch at j.slynch@... wrote:
think that's right). It's fiction, but a story told from the dinosaur's
point of view. Not written for kids.
Paula
> I am personally craving a good story toLOL! We went through that with both kids! Have you tried "Raptor Red" (I
> read to my daughter, these days it is ALL non-fiction, mostly dinosaurs. I
> am almost ready to claim that my tongue can't say "protoceratops" one more
> time or it might fall out!!!
think that's right). It's fiction, but a story told from the dinosaur's
point of view. Not written for kids.
Paula
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/19/2004 1:34:08 AM Central Standard Time,
tracielynn@... writes:
her boys as it brings back many memories for me, I have 6 boys.
Laura in Ohio
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
tracielynn@... writes:
> Tracie KI though your email addy looked familiar, Hi Tracie! I love seeing Tracie and
> Columbus, OH
>
her boys as it brings back many memories for me, I have 6 boys.
Laura in Ohio
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Stephanie Elms
For book suggestions I really like Jim Trelease's The Read Aloud
Handbook...great info on reading to kids etc and a wonderful collection
of titles and little bits of info on bunches of books for all ages.
One book that my older son really enjoyed around 4 was My Father's
Dragon (actually is a series of 3 books that were fun). Let's see...the
Wizard of Oz series (did you know that here are over 10 books!) really
hit his funny bone...they have all sorts of neat, funny characters,
Jason would just die laughing. I think that we did Little House around 4
or maybe closer to 5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Anyone have any suggestions for a 7 yo? We just finished the Redwall
series (and we both absolutely loved it). Right now we are reading
Calvin and Hobbes. I was thinking about starting King Arthur stories...
anyone recommend a particular author? Any other good books?
Stephanie E. (waving Hi! to Susan and Shyrley...)
Handbook...great info on reading to kids etc and a wonderful collection
of titles and little bits of info on bunches of books for all ages.
One book that my older son really enjoyed around 4 was My Father's
Dragon (actually is a series of 3 books that were fun). Let's see...the
Wizard of Oz series (did you know that here are over 10 books!) really
hit his funny bone...they have all sorts of neat, funny characters,
Jason would just die laughing. I think that we did Little House around 4
or maybe closer to 5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Anyone have any suggestions for a 7 yo? We just finished the Redwall
series (and we both absolutely loved it). Right now we are reading
Calvin and Hobbes. I was thinking about starting King Arthur stories...
anyone recommend a particular author? Any other good books?
Stephanie E. (waving Hi! to Susan and Shyrley...)
Wife2Vegman
--- Stephanie Elms
Here's some for ya!
Magic Tree House books
Hardy Boys (if he can handle only have a picture now
and then...Aaron isn't ready for that yet, he wants to
see a picture almost every page)
Garfield
=====
--Susan in VA
WifetoVegman
What is most important and valuable about the home as a base for children's growth into the world is not that it is a better school than the schools, but that it isn't a school at all. John Holt
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes
http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/signingbonus
>Hi, Stephanie!
> Anyone have any suggestions for a 7 yo? We just
> finished the Redwall
> series (and we both absolutely loved it). Right now
> we are reading
> Calvin and Hobbes. I was thinking about starting
> King Arthur stories...
> anyone recommend a particular author? Any other good
> books?
>
> Stephanie E. (waving Hi! to Susan and Shyrley...)
>
Here's some for ya!
Magic Tree House books
Hardy Boys (if he can handle only have a picture now
and then...Aaron isn't ready for that yet, he wants to
see a picture almost every page)
Garfield
=====
--Susan in VA
WifetoVegman
What is most important and valuable about the home as a base for children's growth into the world is not that it is a better school than the schools, but that it isn't a school at all. John Holt
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes
http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/signingbonus
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/19/2004 9:20:48 AM Central Standard Time,
stephanie.elms@... writes:
really liked it. We also liked his version of Robin Hood "Robin of Sherwood."
Here is a short snip from an interview with Michael;
<What are the three most important tips you can give to young writers?
1. Drink in the world around you.
2. Dream your dream until it becomes so involving you can’t stop dreaming it.
3. Tell it from the heart, as you feel your story, as you see it.>
You can read the whole thing here <
http://www.mystworld.com/youngwriter/authors/michael_morpurgo.html>
Laura B - Ohio
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
stephanie.elms@... writes:
> was thinking about starting King Arthur stories...We recently listened to Michael Morpurgo's "Arthur, High King of Britain" and
> anyone recommend a particular author? Any other good books?
>
really liked it. We also liked his version of Robin Hood "Robin of Sherwood."
Here is a short snip from an interview with Michael;
<What are the three most important tips you can give to young writers?
1. Drink in the world around you.
2. Dream your dream until it becomes so involving you can’t stop dreaming it.
3. Tell it from the heart, as you feel your story, as you see it.>
You can read the whole thing here <
http://www.mystworld.com/youngwriter/authors/michael_morpurgo.html>
Laura B - Ohio
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Fetteroll
on 1/19/04 9:48 AM, Paula Sjogerman at sjogy@... wrote:
story!
Joyce
> LOL! We went through that with both kids! Have you tried "Raptor Red" (IWe all listened to that when Kat was 4 and she was enthralled. Excellent
> think that's right). It's fiction, but a story told from the dinosaur's
> point of view. Not written for kids.
story!
Joyce
Paula Sjogerman
on 1/19/04 10:33 AM, Fetteroll at fetteroll@... wrote:
When Zoe was 4-5, we read her "Jurassic Park" - 3 times in a row!
Looking back, that seems a little kooky, but she loved it so.
Paula
>> LOL! We went through that with both kids! Have you tried "Raptor Red" (IOK, here's a true Unschooling Confession:
>> think that's right). It's fiction, but a story told from the dinosaur's
>> point of view. Not written for kids.
>
> We all listened to that when Kat was 4 and she was enthralled. Excellent
> story!
When Zoe was 4-5, we read her "Jurassic Park" - 3 times in a row!
Looking back, that seems a little kooky, but she loved it so.
Paula
Nancy Wooton
on 1/19/04 4:49 AM, Jennifer and Scott Lynch at j.slynch@... wrote:
loved as a kid and passed on to my two. And there's my 13 y.o. son's
favorite book, "Raptor Red," by paleontologist Robert Bakker, a novel
written in present tense about the life of a female Utahraptor. I'm unclear
from your post just what you were replying to, and what was your reply; is
your child four, or the original poster's? "Enormous Egg" could be read
aloud to a young child, but "Raptor Red" is older child/teen material (it's
pretty realistic, and raptors are, well, raptors...)
BTW, don't knock dino books -- the above 13 y.o. boy taught himself to read
with Eyewitness Dinosaur at around age 4. He had no interest in phonics,
but sounded out multisyllabic dinosaur names with ease <g> I was all set to
use some reading program or other, but the kid beat me to it!
Nancy
--
Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education.
-Chuang-Tzu, philosopher (4th c. BCE)
> Just a few suggestions, good luck. I am personally craving a good story toHow about a fiction about dinosaurs? There's "The Enormous Egg," which I
> read to my daughter, these days it is ALL non-fiction, mostly dinosaurs. I
> am almost ready to claim that my tongue can't say "protoceratops" one more
> time or it might fall out!!!
loved as a kid and passed on to my two. And there's my 13 y.o. son's
favorite book, "Raptor Red," by paleontologist Robert Bakker, a novel
written in present tense about the life of a female Utahraptor. I'm unclear
from your post just what you were replying to, and what was your reply; is
your child four, or the original poster's? "Enormous Egg" could be read
aloud to a young child, but "Raptor Red" is older child/teen material (it's
pretty realistic, and raptors are, well, raptors...)
BTW, don't knock dino books -- the above 13 y.o. boy taught himself to read
with Eyewitness Dinosaur at around age 4. He had no interest in phonics,
but sounded out multisyllabic dinosaur names with ease <g> I was all set to
use some reading program or other, but the kid beat me to it!
Nancy
--
Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education.
-Chuang-Tzu, philosopher (4th c. BCE)
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/19/2004 12:34:26 AM Mountain Standard Time,
tracielynn@... writes:
-=-I feel sometimes I just let them have
whatever it is they're asking for, cartoons, ridiculously shaped and colored
macaroni, or even, God forbid, candy-to keep the peace. -=-
The more you read about other unschoolers' experiences and the longer you
live with them that way, you'll see that it gives them much more than momentary
peace!
Not all these pages are as finished as they'll be but I have collections here:
http://sandradodd.com/food
http://sandradodd.com/tv
http://sandradodd.com/respect
(That last one is something I wrote but I think it's related.)
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
tracielynn@... writes:
-=-I feel sometimes I just let them have
whatever it is they're asking for, cartoons, ridiculously shaped and colored
macaroni, or even, God forbid, candy-to keep the peace. -=-
The more you read about other unschoolers' experiences and the longer you
live with them that way, you'll see that it gives them much more than momentary
peace!
Not all these pages are as finished as they'll be but I have collections here:
http://sandradodd.com/food
http://sandradodd.com/tv
http://sandradodd.com/respect
(That last one is something I wrote but I think it's related.)
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Barb Eaton
Tracie,
I don't think Chinaberry have these;
Pippi Longstocking (the orginial one)
Charlottes Web
Phantom Tollbooth
Mr. Poppers Penguin
The Borrowers
The Littles
Freddy goes to Florida, etc
It really depends on what your boys like. Welcome from one Ohioan to
another. :-)
Barb E
"When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion
that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing
positive knowledge."
-Albert Einstein
!
I don't think Chinaberry have these;
Pippi Longstocking (the orginial one)
Charlottes Web
Phantom Tollbooth
Mr. Poppers Penguin
The Borrowers
The Littles
Freddy goes to Florida, etc
It really depends on what your boys like. Welcome from one Ohioan to
another. :-)
Barb E
"When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion
that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing
positive knowledge."
-Albert Einstein
!
>
> Anyway, I'd love some great children's book recommendations. My four year
> old loves to read and be read to, but we are having a hard time coming up
> with new "now that was a GREAT book" books. I've read everything Chinaberry
> sells and asked the children's librarian locally for help. I was given the
> Newberry and Caldecott winners list, but sadly they are far from a great
> recommended read list. ANY suggestions are welcome and thank you in
> advance.
>
> Tracie K
> Columbus, OH
Tia Leschke
>How about mentioning some titles you and your child have enjoyed. That
>Anyway, I'd love some great children's book recommendations. My four year
>old loves to read and be read to, but we are having a hard time coming up
>with new "now that was a GREAT book" books. I've read everything Chinaberry
>sells and asked the children's librarian locally for help. I was given the
>Newberry and Caldecott winners list, but sadly they are far from a great
>recommended read list. ANY suggestions are welcome and thank you in
>advance.
would make it easier to recommend others.
Tia