subject matter, and the group of "we"
[email protected]
I built two new pages around this, one called "we" and one called "subjects,"
and will try to link them several ways back and forth.
It's been fun, working on my webpages with a new computer that's fast. And
I used to be disturbed by the haphazard rabbit-warren of it all, but now I'm
liking it a lot. It's a sort of "choose your own adventure" site, and nobody
will ever have read the entire thing (nor need to). I find pages sometimes
I've forgotten about entirely. It's fun.
Those are
http://sandradodd.com/we
http://sandradodd.com/subjects
In a message dated 6/15/05 7:12:39 PM, SandraDodd@... writes:
and will try to link them several ways back and forth.
It's been fun, working on my webpages with a new computer that's fast. And
I used to be disturbed by the haphazard rabbit-warren of it all, but now I'm
liking it a lot. It's a sort of "choose your own adventure" site, and nobody
will ever have read the entire thing (nor need to). I find pages sometimes
I've forgotten about entirely. It's fun.
Those are
http://sandradodd.com/we
http://sandradodd.com/subjects
In a message dated 6/15/05 7:12:39 PM, SandraDodd@... writes:
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> I did an odd thing, when Kirby was five. I consciously decided not to use
> the names of "subject areas," ever. Whether he liked something or not, I
> wasn't going to tell him it was "history" or "math" or "science." Each of
> those
> is made up of dozens, hundreds of interests and unrelated topics. In
> school,
> kids decide to declare that they like or hate "science," when really
> geology
> has very little to do with psychology or surgery. Same with
> "geography."
> Would someone who "likes geography" because he's fascinated by maps and
> mapping necessarily care about the major production of different regions of
> the
> world, or traditional costume of Afghanistan?
>
> But as an unschooling mom, I think it's important for the parents not to
> say
> "I don't like... (maps/science/costume/psychology), because if you have
> fears and prejudices left over from school, it's a good thing to do
> whatever
> internal work you need to get over that, so you can answer your children's
> questions without showing (and maybe passing on) an aversion.
>
> Sandra
>
>
>
Amy Childs
As a sporadic (and enthusiastic) lurker, I apologize if this issue has
been addressed before, but if it has, I haven't stumbled across it yet.
I would like to hear and/or see how unschoolers who live in states with
a "Daily Log" requirement, keep their daily logs. Even though I am an
unschooler and getting better every day at leaving all the school-words
behind, our daily log is a nagging reminder of words like "history"
and "math" that has kept our minds from becoming completely free of
that old and harmful way of thinking.
I'd love to hear about a way to keep a daily log without using those
words, and without picking our daily fun apart in "subjects" and making
it sound like "real school." (yuck!)
~amy
been addressed before, but if it has, I haven't stumbled across it yet.
I would like to hear and/or see how unschoolers who live in states with
a "Daily Log" requirement, keep their daily logs. Even though I am an
unschooler and getting better every day at leaving all the school-words
behind, our daily log is a nagging reminder of words like "history"
and "math" that has kept our minds from becoming completely free of
that old and harmful way of thinking.
I'd love to hear about a way to keep a daily log without using those
words, and without picking our daily fun apart in "subjects" and making
it sound like "real school." (yuck!)
~amy
[email protected]
This is on the other end of reporting and daily logs, being ways to describe
in advance what one intends to do and how, but it might help:
http://sandradodd.com/unschoolingcurriculum
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
in advance what one intends to do and how, but it might help:
http://sandradodd.com/unschoolingcurriculum
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nellebelle
You might get better ideas from a homeschool group in your state whose members are familiar with the specifics of your law. Sometimes the regulations sound daunting but are really quite simple to meet. Many states now have unschooling groups as well. (Yeah!)
Here in WA we have to do an annual assessment or standardized test. I do the assessment. Basically, once a year I write up many of the things my girls have done during the past 12 months. Since WA asks us to include subjects, I do categorize it that way. It does NOT change what we do on a day to day basis. It is just a matter of me sitting down now and then and jotting down a few things.
Although I categorize it by subject, the girls don't need to be told "now you are doing math" or "now you are doing social studies". Really, the hardest part is that subjects overlap and some activities could be categorized under several subjects. The first year I listed things multiple times. If something could be reading and history, I listed it under both. Now I just list each thing once under the most obvious category - or just pick one.
As the years go by I am getting more relaxed about it. We don't have to turn it in to anybody - it is for the parent's use in determining that the child is "making adequate progress".
Mary Ellen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Here in WA we have to do an annual assessment or standardized test. I do the assessment. Basically, once a year I write up many of the things my girls have done during the past 12 months. Since WA asks us to include subjects, I do categorize it that way. It does NOT change what we do on a day to day basis. It is just a matter of me sitting down now and then and jotting down a few things.
Although I categorize it by subject, the girls don't need to be told "now you are doing math" or "now you are doing social studies". Really, the hardest part is that subjects overlap and some activities could be categorized under several subjects. The first year I listed things multiple times. If something could be reading and history, I listed it under both. Now I just list each thing once under the most obvious category - or just pick one.
As the years go by I am getting more relaxed about it. We don't have to turn it in to anybody - it is for the parent's use in determining that the child is "making adequate progress".
Mary Ellen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pam Sorooshian
Unschooler Activity Log
Use this if you need to keep records of educational activities. It is a
"tickler" system - it doesn't really matter which category an activity
is recorded under, the categories are to remind you of the activities.
Reading (books, magazines, newspapers, websites; fiction, biography,
nonfiction, poetry, drama, essays, articles...)
Doing (cooking, swimming, dog training, babysiting, volunteering,
working, singing, acting, music, math...)
Making (art, crafts, builing, sewing, weaving, beadwork...)
Writing (journal, stories, letters, website, email, articles...)
Watching (TV, movies, videos, live theater, demonstrations, exhibits...)
Listening (tapes, radio, music, stories, audio magazines, lectures...)
Talking (speech, discussions, explaining, directing, instructing,
debating...)
Visiting (museums, zoos, field trips,...)
Thinking (planning, analyzing, imaging, plotting...)
Researching (encyclopedias, library, internet searches...)
Use this if you need to keep records of educational activities. It is a
"tickler" system - it doesn't really matter which category an activity
is recorded under, the categories are to remind you of the activities.
Reading (books, magazines, newspapers, websites; fiction, biography,
nonfiction, poetry, drama, essays, articles...)
Doing (cooking, swimming, dog training, babysiting, volunteering,
working, singing, acting, music, math...)
Making (art, crafts, builing, sewing, weaving, beadwork...)
Writing (journal, stories, letters, website, email, articles...)
Watching (TV, movies, videos, live theater, demonstrations, exhibits...)
Listening (tapes, radio, music, stories, audio magazines, lectures...)
Talking (speech, discussions, explaining, directing, instructing,
debating...)
Visiting (museums, zoos, field trips,...)
Thinking (planning, analyzing, imaging, plotting...)
Researching (encyclopedias, library, internet searches...)
Amy Childs
> Basically, once a year I write up many of the things my girls havedone during the past 12 months. Since WA asks us to include
subjects, I do categorize it that way.
If I only had to do it once a year, I wouldn't be as cranky about it.
I am good at dissecting our activities, such that our fun busy
interesting lives look like "school" on paper, but this is actually
the thing that troubles me. Having to do this 180 times a year for
a "daily log" keeps my brain tied to my old "school"y way of
thinking. I have learned to keep the log away from my kids, so it is
just my own head that suffers about it.
If I could find a way to comply with the daily log requirement in
such a way that I didn't have to use words like "science"
and "english" every day, it would help me get even more free of
thinking that way.
I have posted the question on the PA unschoolers board as well, but I
welcome input from people in other states with similar state
requirements.
~amy
Julie W
Hi Amy,
You said:
If I could find a way to comply with the daily log requirement in
such a way that I didn't have to use words like "science"
and "english" every day, it would help me get even more free of
thinking that way.
I now say:
In New Zealand we don't have a requirement for record keeping but I can sympathise with your dilemma. When I first started home education (before I knew much about unschooling) I printed out a one page table for each child with each of the subject headings down one side and a note space on the other. I found everything kind of integrated in the end so I might put: spelling - cover in writing (which meant I helped if asked how to spell something), I kept a rough note of things the children read independently and things we read together and fitted those into as many boxes as possible. Ditto with museum visits, park visits, trips to the library, shopping, time with friends. I still staple all the library tickets in a diary just in case someone wants to see them.
We are reviewed from time to time by our government Education Review Office, the guy didn't ask to look at my lovely forms so the day after the review I stopped doing them but I did find I could fill in three months of gaps in a single sitting with my pocket diary as a memory aid and a degree of creativity.
Do you have to post this log in or can they cold call and ask to inspect it at any time?
Best wishes,
Julie
Wellington
New Zealand
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
You said:
If I could find a way to comply with the daily log requirement in
such a way that I didn't have to use words like "science"
and "english" every day, it would help me get even more free of
thinking that way.
I now say:
In New Zealand we don't have a requirement for record keeping but I can sympathise with your dilemma. When I first started home education (before I knew much about unschooling) I printed out a one page table for each child with each of the subject headings down one side and a note space on the other. I found everything kind of integrated in the end so I might put: spelling - cover in writing (which meant I helped if asked how to spell something), I kept a rough note of things the children read independently and things we read together and fitted those into as many boxes as possible. Ditto with museum visits, park visits, trips to the library, shopping, time with friends. I still staple all the library tickets in a diary just in case someone wants to see them.
We are reviewed from time to time by our government Education Review Office, the guy didn't ask to look at my lovely forms so the day after the review I stopped doing them but I did find I could fill in three months of gaps in a single sitting with my pocket diary as a memory aid and a degree of creativity.
Do you have to post this log in or can they cold call and ask to inspect it at any time?
Best wishes,
Julie
Wellington
New Zealand
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pam Sorooshian
I thought I posted the unschooler's recordkeeping log here, didn't I?
Just a few days ago? It is exactly what you're describing - a daily log
that is not listed in school subjects but in "real" activities.
I suspect you are providing far more than the law requires. I also
think you very likely would be able to use the recordkeeping form I
sent to this list, as a log. Just put book titles on the section where
it says: "Reading" or "Listening." Most superintendents would find that
kind of log acceptable, in fact, it would be more than what many PA
homeschoolers turn in, I think.
This isn't the best list for discussions of specific state regulations
- but I do know unschoolers in PA and here is what they've told me:
1. Some people interpret the log requirement as nothing more that a
list of books read.
2. Others interpret the requirement as a "daily" log, even though it
doesn't say "daily" in the law, but they still think it only needs to
contain the titles of books read. So there would be an entry for each
of the 180 days, but the only thing entered would be book titles -
often the same title over and over, of course.
3. Others interpret it as you seem to be doing, as a log of learning
activities.
The purpose of the log is to provide it to your evaluator to use in
determining if the child is receiving an appropriate education. The log
does get turned in to the superintendent, too.
You have to know what YOUR particular superintendent requires. One way
to find out is to ask other homeschoolers in your district. Another way
is to keep a pretty thorough log for one year, but turn in a very
abbreviated form of it and wait to see if that is accepted. YOU get to
choose your evaluator, so pick one that supports unschooling or at
least one that supports turning in the minimum information required by
law, not over-reporting.
-pam
Just a few days ago? It is exactly what you're describing - a daily log
that is not listed in school subjects but in "real" activities.
I suspect you are providing far more than the law requires. I also
think you very likely would be able to use the recordkeeping form I
sent to this list, as a log. Just put book titles on the section where
it says: "Reading" or "Listening." Most superintendents would find that
kind of log acceptable, in fact, it would be more than what many PA
homeschoolers turn in, I think.
This isn't the best list for discussions of specific state regulations
- but I do know unschoolers in PA and here is what they've told me:
1. Some people interpret the log requirement as nothing more that a
list of books read.
2. Others interpret the requirement as a "daily" log, even though it
doesn't say "daily" in the law, but they still think it only needs to
contain the titles of books read. So there would be an entry for each
of the 180 days, but the only thing entered would be book titles -
often the same title over and over, of course.
3. Others interpret it as you seem to be doing, as a log of learning
activities.
The purpose of the log is to provide it to your evaluator to use in
determining if the child is receiving an appropriate education. The log
does get turned in to the superintendent, too.
You have to know what YOUR particular superintendent requires. One way
to find out is to ask other homeschoolers in your district. Another way
is to keep a pretty thorough log for one year, but turn in a very
abbreviated form of it and wait to see if that is accepted. YOU get to
choose your evaluator, so pick one that supports unschooling or at
least one that supports turning in the minimum information required by
law, not over-reporting.
-pam
On Jul 3, 2005, at 8:18 PM, Amy Childs wrote:
> If I could find a way to comply with the daily log requirement in
> such a way that I didn't have to use words like "science"
> and "english" every day, it would help me get even more free of
> thinking that way.
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/4/05 1:53:33 AM, amyc@... writes:
about how learning works, so the Pennsylvania list/board is a better place for
the discussion.
There are few to no other states with similar state requirements, and there
are many unschoolers in Pennsylvania who don't keep a daily log.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PA-Unschoolers/
If you join that group you can read their archives and files and there are
probably tons of answers there.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> If I could find a way to comply with the daily log requirement inThis is really a question about a particular state's requirements, and not
> such a way that I didn't have to use words like "science"
> and "english" every day, it would help me get even more free of
> thinking that way.
>
> I have posted the question on the PA unschoolers board as well, but I
> welcome input from people in other states with similar state
> requirements.
>
>
about how learning works, so the Pennsylvania list/board is a better place for
the discussion.
There are few to no other states with similar state requirements, and there
are many unschoolers in Pennsylvania who don't keep a daily log.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PA-Unschoolers/
If you join that group you can read their archives and files and there are
probably tons of answers there.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
arcarpenter2003
--- In [email protected], Pam Sorooshian
<pamsoroosh@e...> wrote:
just apply to a log you might have to turn into a school district --
it can also be helpful for the unschooling parent and the spouse and
others to see how learning happens all the time, everywhere:
Reading (books, magazines, newspapers, websites; fiction, biography,
nonfiction, poetry, drama, essays, articles...)
Doing (cooking, swimming, dog training, babysiting, volunteering,
working, singing, acting, music, math...)
Making (art, crafts, builing, sewing, weaving, beadwork...)
Writing (journal, stories, letters, website, email, articles...)
Watching (TV, movies, videos, live theater, demonstrations, exhibits...)
Listening (tapes, radio, music, stories, audio magazines, lectures...)
Talking (speech, discussions, explaining, directing, instructing,
debating...)
Visiting (museums, zoos, field trips,...)
Thinking (planning, analyzing, imaging, plotting...)
Researching (encyclopedias, library, internet searches...)
Pretty brilliant.
Peace,
Amy
<pamsoroosh@e...> wrote:
> I thought I posted the unschooler's recordkeeping log here, didn't I?Yes -- here it is again for those that missed it before. It doesn't
> Just a few days ago? It is exactly what you're describing - a daily log
> that is not listed in school subjects but in "real" activities.==
just apply to a log you might have to turn into a school district --
it can also be helpful for the unschooling parent and the spouse and
others to see how learning happens all the time, everywhere:
Reading (books, magazines, newspapers, websites; fiction, biography,
nonfiction, poetry, drama, essays, articles...)
Doing (cooking, swimming, dog training, babysiting, volunteering,
working, singing, acting, music, math...)
Making (art, crafts, builing, sewing, weaving, beadwork...)
Writing (journal, stories, letters, website, email, articles...)
Watching (TV, movies, videos, live theater, demonstrations, exhibits...)
Listening (tapes, radio, music, stories, audio magazines, lectures...)
Talking (speech, discussions, explaining, directing, instructing,
debating...)
Visiting (museums, zoos, field trips,...)
Thinking (planning, analyzing, imaging, plotting...)
Researching (encyclopedias, library, internet searches...)
Pretty brilliant.
Peace,
Amy