Re: the Is it Enough posts. :)
freepsgal
I just went back and looked at the archives to find the original
post. As I feared, this one post morphed into a myriad of topics
which becomes vague and concerns and points get lost. I think I
mixed up a few different people in all my responses so maybe my
posts weren't as helpful as I hoped they'd be.
How about we just start all over again? But instead of just asking
lots of 'what if' questions over and over, let us open a true
discussion. I may be living a radical unschooling life with my
children right not but there are doubts still lingering and I
imagine they'll always be there. That's my personality, to worry
about things. My DH says if there is nothing to worry about, I'll
create something. :)
In my own mind, I am not in the least bit worried about Math or
Grammar. I am positive my kids will learn what they need to learn
for whatever reason. If they decide to take the SAT they can study
the prep books. I just don't see a need for Math and Grammar, day
after day, year after year.
However, my biggest worry is Writing. But that is a hangup within
myself. My high school did not prepare me well in that subject.
When I went to college, I absolutely hated Writing assignments. I
flat out refused to do any research reports because I had no idea
how to do them. It felt overwhelming. So I dropped classes instead
of learning how to do the work. I just feel it was the coward's way
out. I don't want my children to feel the same way. During the
times we've been homeschooling with curriculum, I pushed Writing
more than anything else. I no longer push it, but it does sit in
the back of my mind. I'm just telling myself over and over... My
kids will show me what they want when they want. :)
Beth M.
post. As I feared, this one post morphed into a myriad of topics
which becomes vague and concerns and points get lost. I think I
mixed up a few different people in all my responses so maybe my
posts weren't as helpful as I hoped they'd be.
How about we just start all over again? But instead of just asking
lots of 'what if' questions over and over, let us open a true
discussion. I may be living a radical unschooling life with my
children right not but there are doubts still lingering and I
imagine they'll always be there. That's my personality, to worry
about things. My DH says if there is nothing to worry about, I'll
create something. :)
In my own mind, I am not in the least bit worried about Math or
Grammar. I am positive my kids will learn what they need to learn
for whatever reason. If they decide to take the SAT they can study
the prep books. I just don't see a need for Math and Grammar, day
after day, year after year.
However, my biggest worry is Writing. But that is a hangup within
myself. My high school did not prepare me well in that subject.
When I went to college, I absolutely hated Writing assignments. I
flat out refused to do any research reports because I had no idea
how to do them. It felt overwhelming. So I dropped classes instead
of learning how to do the work. I just feel it was the coward's way
out. I don't want my children to feel the same way. During the
times we've been homeschooling with curriculum, I pushed Writing
more than anything else. I no longer push it, but it does sit in
the back of my mind. I'm just telling myself over and over... My
kids will show me what they want when they want. :)
Beth M.
Michelle/Melbrigða
On 6/13/06, freepsgal <freepsgal@...> wrote:
going to be viewed in the same way in which you viewed them. If you
live your life fully, follow your passions and are constantly seeking
new information then you ARE doing research "reports." Especially if
you are coming back here and expressing your findings! :-) If you
strew for your kids and teach your kids to strew then that is just a
form of research!
I think we all have our fears and concerns that are related to our own
disasterous school experiences. Mine is math because I was always
told that I wasn't "math smart." I learned the numerals 4 and 5
backwards so I made horrid mistakes all the way through 8th grade
(when a really good teacher figured it out for me!). I can remember
my teachers telling my mom, "She just doesn't get it. Sometimes I
think she understands a mathematical concept and then she blows a huge
test. She just isn't 'math smart.'" I always thought I understood
the concepts but when I would do poorly on a test I would doubt
myself. Now that my children are asking me 1,982 math questions a day
I have come to realize that I truly do understand a lot more about
math than I was lead to believe. But that "not math smart" still runs
through my head. I know that it is *my* problem, so I try not to
stress about my children's "lack of formal math education." Heck,
they probably understand these math concepts better than I do because
they aren't hindered by the things that hindered me!
--
Michelle
aka Melbrigða
http://eventualknitting.blogspot.com
[email protected] - Homeschooling for the Medieval Recreationist
>If you unschool they shouldn't because writing assignments are never
> However, my biggest worry is Writing. But that is a hangup within
> myself. My high school did not prepare me well in that subject.
> When I went to college, I absolutely hated Writing assignments. I
> flat out refused to do any research reports because I had no idea
> how to do them. It felt overwhelming. So I dropped classes instead
> of learning how to do the work. I just feel it was the coward's way
> out. I don't want my children to feel the same way.
going to be viewed in the same way in which you viewed them. If you
live your life fully, follow your passions and are constantly seeking
new information then you ARE doing research "reports." Especially if
you are coming back here and expressing your findings! :-) If you
strew for your kids and teach your kids to strew then that is just a
form of research!
I think we all have our fears and concerns that are related to our own
disasterous school experiences. Mine is math because I was always
told that I wasn't "math smart." I learned the numerals 4 and 5
backwards so I made horrid mistakes all the way through 8th grade
(when a really good teacher figured it out for me!). I can remember
my teachers telling my mom, "She just doesn't get it. Sometimes I
think she understands a mathematical concept and then she blows a huge
test. She just isn't 'math smart.'" I always thought I understood
the concepts but when I would do poorly on a test I would doubt
myself. Now that my children are asking me 1,982 math questions a day
I have come to realize that I truly do understand a lot more about
math than I was lead to believe. But that "not math smart" still runs
through my head. I know that it is *my* problem, so I try not to
stress about my children's "lack of formal math education." Heck,
they probably understand these math concepts better than I do because
they aren't hindered by the things that hindered me!
--
Michelle
aka Melbrigða
http://eventualknitting.blogspot.com
[email protected] - Homeschooling for the Medieval Recreationist
freepsgal
> Heck, they probably understand these math concepts better than IMichelle, that's exactly what I'm talking about! It's a challenge for
> do because they aren't hindered by the things that hindered me!
me to not hand them *my* baggage. *lol*
Beth M.
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: freepsgal <freepsgal@...>
However, my biggest worry is Writing. But that is a hangup within
myself. My high school did not prepare me well in that subject.
When I went to college, I absolutely hated Writing assignments. I
flat out refused to do any research reports because I had no idea
how to do them. It felt overwhelming. So I dropped classes instead
of learning how to do the work. I just feel it was the coward's way
out. I don't want my children to feel the same way. During the
times we've been homeschooling with curriculum, I pushed Writing
more than anything else. I no longer push it, but it does sit in
the back of my mind. I'm just telling myself over and over... My
kids will show me what they want when they want. :)
-=-=-=-
Writers write.
Just as *you* are writing now, so will your kids when they are ready.
Or not.
Making them write will not make them *want* to write. Nor will it make
them good writers.
But making sure that the opportunities when they *do* choose to write
are pleasant and enjoyable may plant writing 'seeds'.
Many people never find a need to write. Those that do, will.
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
"The hardest problem for the brain is not learning, but forgetting. No
matter how hard we try, we can't deliberately forget something we have
learned, and that is catastrophic if we learn that we can't learn."
~Frank Smith
l
________________________________________________________________________
Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email
and IM. All on demand. Always Free.
From: freepsgal <freepsgal@...>
However, my biggest worry is Writing. But that is a hangup within
myself. My high school did not prepare me well in that subject.
When I went to college, I absolutely hated Writing assignments. I
flat out refused to do any research reports because I had no idea
how to do them. It felt overwhelming. So I dropped classes instead
of learning how to do the work. I just feel it was the coward's way
out. I don't want my children to feel the same way. During the
times we've been homeschooling with curriculum, I pushed Writing
more than anything else. I no longer push it, but it does sit in
the back of my mind. I'm just telling myself over and over... My
kids will show me what they want when they want. :)
-=-=-=-
Writers write.
Just as *you* are writing now, so will your kids when they are ready.
Or not.
Making them write will not make them *want* to write. Nor will it make
them good writers.
But making sure that the opportunities when they *do* choose to write
are pleasant and enjoyable may plant writing 'seeds'.
Many people never find a need to write. Those that do, will.
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
"The hardest problem for the brain is not learning, but forgetting. No
matter how hard we try, we can't deliberately forget something we have
learned, and that is catastrophic if we learn that we can't learn."
~Frank Smith
l
________________________________________________________________________
Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email
and IM. All on demand. Always Free.