Jesse Suckow Crowell
I credit the preschool my boys went to with making me more receptive to
starting us on our unschooling journey (albeit many years later). They
went to a Regio Emilia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggio_Emilia_approach)
parent co-op school. I worked there as the admin so I was around all day
and could pop in and out of the classroom and be available as needed. I
learned a lot about respectful parenting, how to handle conflicts, how to
listen. The wiki entry is pretty much spot on for the school my boys went
to, other than the hundred languages part. It really was an amazing school
and the boys still remember it fondly.
I do wish we had moved straight to unschooling after that but I had no idea
unschooling existed. I wasn't able to extrapolate out to that and went
straight into the typical school route which really sucked for my guys.
After things progressively became worse and I started looking into
alternate methods of learning, unschooling really stood out. It made me
think of the Regio Emilia approach and that's why we ended up unschooling.
This started off being a response about preschools, but has turned into a
gratitude note. So, thanks to all the unschooling contributers who have
helped me on my journey. It's been invaluable.
Jess
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
starting us on our unschooling journey (albeit many years later). They
went to a Regio Emilia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggio_Emilia_approach)
parent co-op school. I worked there as the admin so I was around all day
and could pop in and out of the classroom and be available as needed. I
learned a lot about respectful parenting, how to handle conflicts, how to
listen. The wiki entry is pretty much spot on for the school my boys went
to, other than the hundred languages part. It really was an amazing school
and the boys still remember it fondly.
I do wish we had moved straight to unschooling after that but I had no idea
unschooling existed. I wasn't able to extrapolate out to that and went
straight into the typical school route which really sucked for my guys.
After things progressively became worse and I started looking into
alternate methods of learning, unschooling really stood out. It made me
think of the Regio Emilia approach and that's why we ended up unschooling.
This started off being a response about preschools, but has turned into a
gratitude note. So, thanks to all the unschooling contributers who have
helped me on my journey. It's been invaluable.
Jess
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sandra Dodd
-=-I credit the preschool my boys went to with making me more receptive to
starting us on our unschooling journey (albeit many years later). They
went to a Regio Emilia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggio_Emilia_approach)
parent co-op school-=-
It's cool looking back to see "how we got here," how experiences we had before brought us to the present.
I credit La Leche League and Adult Children of Alcoholics, because they helped me immensely, but not everyone lucks into a cool local La Leche League (or any breastfeeding or parenting-of-infants) support. I did. And I'm hugely grateful that not everyone had an alcoholic parent from which she needs recovery assistance!
When people have had a horrible accident, they often speak fondly of how much they learned, and it can almost seem that they wish others would have horrible accidents, too. (Maybe that's just my personal perception.)
I'm glad there are cool alternative schools, though, because it's good for people to see and learn about how learning is different with different treatment of the children, and it's good for people to have choices.
I'm glad unschooling works so well for so many families, and I'm glad people on this list are willing to help keep clear information flowing, so thanks, Jess, for being one of them.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
starting us on our unschooling journey (albeit many years later). They
went to a Regio Emilia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggio_Emilia_approach)
parent co-op school-=-
It's cool looking back to see "how we got here," how experiences we had before brought us to the present.
I credit La Leche League and Adult Children of Alcoholics, because they helped me immensely, but not everyone lucks into a cool local La Leche League (or any breastfeeding or parenting-of-infants) support. I did. And I'm hugely grateful that not everyone had an alcoholic parent from which she needs recovery assistance!
When people have had a horrible accident, they often speak fondly of how much they learned, and it can almost seem that they wish others would have horrible accidents, too. (Maybe that's just my personal perception.)
I'm glad there are cool alternative schools, though, because it's good for people to see and learn about how learning is different with different treatment of the children, and it's good for people to have choices.
I'm glad unschooling works so well for so many families, and I'm glad people on this list are willing to help keep clear information flowing, so thanks, Jess, for being one of them.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]