aplan4life

If so, how do you use these in an unschooly way? I've had these on
hand since last year but rarely use the books and I'm 'cleaning house'
today and ridding clutter and am not sure whether or not to keep them
on hand. The title alone says to me that this is what is expected at
age 'x', maybe some use them for unschooling but perhaps it isn't a
good idea for those of us still newer to the philosophy.

~Sandy Winn

Pampered Chef Michelle

On 5/1/06, aplan4life <aplan4life@...> wrote:
>
> If so, how do you use these in an unschooly way? I've had these on
> hand since last year but rarely use the books and I'm 'cleaning house'
> today and ridding clutter and am not sure whether or not to keep them
> on hand. The title alone says to me that this is what is expected at
> age 'x', maybe some use them for unschooling but perhaps it isn't a
> good idea for those of us still newer to the philosophy.


I don't think that they are a good idea for anyone unschooling :) These
books are written for people who are in the "system" even if they are
homeschooling. You are still "in the system" if you are comparing what your
child knows with the "standard" that the public schools set for each grade.
Your child is going to know what your child needs to know in order to do the
things that your child wants to do. Your child doesn't need to know
economics, read Shakespeare's Hamlet, or have a year in state history if
your child is never going to use those things! Those books are written for
the parents who feel that they need to keep up with the standard. Those
books are written for people who are schooling at home, even if they don't
think they are.

If you are unschooling you are going to trust that your child is going to
obtain the skills and knowledge that your child needs when your child needs
those skills and knowledge, not when some book says s/he needs those skills
and knowledge. :)

My suggestion? Make a bit of money off of it and see if you can resell it
at the used curriculum store in town! :-D I'm planning on making a run
down there myself this week to ditch a ton of curriculum that well meaning
family and friends have given over the years and are collecting dust. They
will even take partially used curriculum (for pennies, but hey, it's out of
your house) as many parents are wanting to "take a peek" but not ready to
invest in a particular program.





--
Michelle
Independent Kitchen Consultant #413652
The Pampered Chef
850-474-0817
http://www.pamperedchef.biz/michellelr
Ask me how you can save 60% on some of our most favorite products!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

aplan4life

LMAO at the thought of family sending curriculum! I have never had to
do that nor do I hope to encounter it. As far as the used curriculum
store, are you talking about Rolands or is there another one?

I was just having an email discussion with Kristi and decided to can
those books, for the exact reasons you have stated and also because
until I'm stronger in unschooling, I can easily fall into the trap of
putting myself and kids back into the 'system'.

Thanks for the input Michelle :-)

--- In [email protected], "Pampered Chef Michelle"
<pamperedmichelle@...> wrote:

:-D I'm planning on making a run
> down there myself this week to ditch a ton of curriculum that well
meaning
> family and friends have given over the years and are collecting dust.
>

freepsgal

I have 2nd through 5th grade sitting on my shelf and we just never use
them at all. I was even following the Core Knowledge Sequence for a
while but I still didn't have a need to open these books. My friend
is using CK too, and she doesn't use these books at all either.
There's just not enough information to make them helpful.

Beth M

Joyce Fetteroll

On May 1, 2006, at 8:55 AM, aplan4life wrote:

> If so, how do you use these in an unschooly way?

I read the fairy tales in the 2nd grade book to my daughter and she
really liked them (even though the language was stilted and he
suggests getting real picture book versions.) The language seemed to
have reached her. I can't explain it.

It reminded me to point out warm and cool colors to her when an
appropriate context came up.

And I think I read about Jane Goodall or Dian Fossey to her.

That was our extent. I just used them like any other book. I picked
out the things I thought would interest her.

But I think they can make new unschoolers nervous because most kids
won't know the things in those books by the end of the corresponding
year. The books don't help anyone see what *else* the child learned
instead that year.

Joyce

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Paige

I bought one at a thrift store for .10 then sold it on ebay for about
$10. Not a bad way to "use" them, IMHO.
Paige
:)

[email protected]

When the kids were younger I used to check these books out with our other library books. I'd read the poetry and stories to them when they were looking for something short and new. If someone wanted to try something else in the books I would have helped them, but it never came up. <g> I just used them like any other books.

--
~Mary
http://zenmommasgarden.blogspot.com/

"The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the
green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly
alive."
~Thich Nhat Hanh

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "aplan4life" <aplan4life@...>