Enrichment
[email protected]
Looking for something, I found (as usual) something else on the way--an
article I had kinda forgotten about. It was published locally, but is in the
unschooling.com library. This is the last part of it:
-=-
I'm an unschooler. Lessons are never over. On the other hand, lessons never
really begin. Children's question are answered and an atmosphere of learning
is created so that questions are constant and answers are never far away.
-=-When people ask a structured family how much time it takes to homeschool
the response usually ranges from three hours a day to six hours a day (much
more than kids actually spend in classrooms in school). When you ask an
unschooling family how much time it takes to homeschool, first there's a
pause. I've heard, in rapid succession in groups of unschoolers, "None" and
"All of it." Their range is it takes from zero hours a day to 24 hours a day.
-=-When learning is recognized in the fabric of life and encouraged, when
families make their decisions based on what leads to more interesting and
educational ends, children learn without effort, often without even knowing
it, and parents learn along with them.
-=-Many homeschoolers fall somewhere between structured and seamless-life
learners. There are families whose children attend school whose houses are
learning labs, museums and libraries all rolled into one. Enriching our lives
for the benefit of our children isn't just for homeschoolers. Small changes
in parental attitude are sometimes all it takes.
-=-Learning isn't in fancy books or computer games, it all happens in the
ideas children have, in the trivial facts they fit together to come up with
their view of the world--past present and future. You don't need a lesson or
a unit to show a child what's wonderful about woodgrain, ice crystals on the
windshield, or birdsongs. Five seconds worth of pointing and saying "Look,
these trees were not native to North America" might possibly lead to an hour
long discussion, or a lifelong fascination. Bringing something interesting
home, browsing in an antique shop, listening to new music on instruments
you've never heard--all those build neural pathways and give you a chance to
be together in a special place.
-=-No matter how your children formally learn, take a few more opportunities
to share wonder and discovery with them. It will enrich you all.
Online at http://www.unschooling.com/library/essays/essay04.shtml
Linked from http://maeshell.com/unschooling_what.shtml
-=-
In schools, "enrichment" centers are where the good stuff is, for the gifted
kids.
Why the whole school can't be "enriched" is because enrichment is relative,
and ongoing. Something's never totally and fully "enriched," because there
could always be more added later. I suppose for someone to be "as enriched
as Midas," everything they'd touch would turn to fascination.
Sandra
article I had kinda forgotten about. It was published locally, but is in the
unschooling.com library. This is the last part of it:
-=-
I'm an unschooler. Lessons are never over. On the other hand, lessons never
really begin. Children's question are answered and an atmosphere of learning
is created so that questions are constant and answers are never far away.
-=-When people ask a structured family how much time it takes to homeschool
the response usually ranges from three hours a day to six hours a day (much
more than kids actually spend in classrooms in school). When you ask an
unschooling family how much time it takes to homeschool, first there's a
pause. I've heard, in rapid succession in groups of unschoolers, "None" and
"All of it." Their range is it takes from zero hours a day to 24 hours a day.
-=-When learning is recognized in the fabric of life and encouraged, when
families make their decisions based on what leads to more interesting and
educational ends, children learn without effort, often without even knowing
it, and parents learn along with them.
-=-Many homeschoolers fall somewhere between structured and seamless-life
learners. There are families whose children attend school whose houses are
learning labs, museums and libraries all rolled into one. Enriching our lives
for the benefit of our children isn't just for homeschoolers. Small changes
in parental attitude are sometimes all it takes.
-=-Learning isn't in fancy books or computer games, it all happens in the
ideas children have, in the trivial facts they fit together to come up with
their view of the world--past present and future. You don't need a lesson or
a unit to show a child what's wonderful about woodgrain, ice crystals on the
windshield, or birdsongs. Five seconds worth of pointing and saying "Look,
these trees were not native to North America" might possibly lead to an hour
long discussion, or a lifelong fascination. Bringing something interesting
home, browsing in an antique shop, listening to new music on instruments
you've never heard--all those build neural pathways and give you a chance to
be together in a special place.
-=-No matter how your children formally learn, take a few more opportunities
to share wonder and discovery with them. It will enrich you all.
Online at http://www.unschooling.com/library/essays/essay04.shtml
Linked from http://maeshell.com/unschooling_what.shtml
-=-
In schools, "enrichment" centers are where the good stuff is, for the gifted
kids.
Why the whole school can't be "enriched" is because enrichment is relative,
and ongoing. Something's never totally and fully "enriched," because there
could always be more added later. I suppose for someone to be "as enriched
as Midas," everything they'd touch would turn to fascination.
Sandra