Advice please.............
Genary
Hi
I am the mother of five beautiful children, ages 18 months to 7
years old. I have been homeschooling for 2 years. I try to use a
combination of methods, but I am unsatisfied. Many of the unschool-
ing parents we see are those with extravagant lifestyles. Are there
any financially challenged people unschooling successfully? My
husband and I want to learn to unschool. We are operating on
limited resources, but we feel that home/unschooling is the only
option for our children. I know that unschooling is natural
learning, but how do you break free from traditional teaching
thinking and on a tight budget?
We don't have a lot of support for homeschooling. My children are
constantly probed for information by others who disagree with our
decision to homeschool. I want advice on how to deal with these
issues. Many of these people are family with whom we desire to
maintain a civil relationship. I know that I am making the best
choice for my children, but we have chosen the road less traveled.
Thanks for your imput in advance.
Genary and Cory (please excuse any typo's)
I am the mother of five beautiful children, ages 18 months to 7
years old. I have been homeschooling for 2 years. I try to use a
combination of methods, but I am unsatisfied. Many of the unschool-
ing parents we see are those with extravagant lifestyles. Are there
any financially challenged people unschooling successfully? My
husband and I want to learn to unschool. We are operating on
limited resources, but we feel that home/unschooling is the only
option for our children. I know that unschooling is natural
learning, but how do you break free from traditional teaching
thinking and on a tight budget?
We don't have a lot of support for homeschooling. My children are
constantly probed for information by others who disagree with our
decision to homeschool. I want advice on how to deal with these
issues. Many of these people are family with whom we desire to
maintain a civil relationship. I know that I am making the best
choice for my children, but we have chosen the road less traveled.
Thanks for your imput in advance.
Genary and Cory (please excuse any typo's)
Deb
First thing is that since there's no curriculum or "should know"
stuff, you can use the money that you've been using for 'school
stuff' for whatever your family chooses to use it for (it may still
be some workbooks here and there even!)
I can't say we have an "extravagant" lifestyle at all - we have one
income (mine), two paid for 8 year old vehicles, a mortgage, student
loans from DH's university days (he started after we'd been married
two years and DS was born midway through) and the usual utilities
and such. Once the fixed expense stuff is paid, we decide what is
important that we want to use the discretionary part for. Sometimes
it's saving up for a trip to someplace we want to see and
experience. Sometimes it's just setting aside some funds to go to
the drive in when there's a movie we want to see. Sometimes it means
having the funds to buy the stuff to make really cheesy fondue (with
the good, expensive Ementhaler and Gruyere) with fresh artisan-type
breads and chocolate fondue with fresh strawberries and invite some
friends over. Sometimes it means putting funds aside to pick up the
just-released first season of the new Dr. Who series on DVD. It's
all good.
Use the summer to drop all the 'school stuff'. Just vacation and
enjoy being. When the weather starts to cool, keep on vacationing.
If you -want- to go out and buy new crayons and notebooks and stuff
because they're on sale, have fun. But you don't have to. No need to
prowl the bookstore and the Internet looking for the workbooks and
such that you "need" - you don't "need" them. Go to the library and
max out your library cards on stuff that catches your eye (the
collective you - all the members of the family).
As far as people poking in - did you ask them when you had 5
children? Did you allow them to question your decision with no
answer? Odds are you basically told them to butt out. Same applies
to homeschooling in all its forms - it's *your* choice for *your*
family. Politely tell them to either do the research you've done or
stay out of it - it is not open to debate or unfounded opinion.
You'll gladly answer questions *once they've done the amount of
research on the subject that you have*.
As far as the people bothering your kids, you can do several things
(your choice): you can step in and deflect the questioning ("I'm
sorry to interrupt but Billy, could you please go get me a spoon.
Thanks so much." basically giving your child a polite excuse to
leave the presence of the pest); you can prime the kids with
something such as "Gee you don't know that either? Let's go ask my
mom - she helps me find out answers when I have a question"; you can
prime the kids with something like "I don't know that yet (or answer
if they do know it). Do you know which Pokemon is the best to fight
a Fire type?" (basically tossing a question in the child's area of
expertise back at the questioner).
I've found that the best defense is a good offense so I make sure to
keep a running stream of info flowing to the various extended family
members and friends - things we're doing, seeing, exploring. When we
talk about the TWO vacations we've had this year before the rest of
the kids were even out of school, about picking berries in the back
yard (and DH showing DS how to tell the safe ones from the hazardous
ones, and where the poison ivy lives and all that) and then helping
make jam and frozen fruit pops (DS goes out every morning and picks
whatever is ripe - he's just hooked on harvesting fresh berries),
about how DS helped us build the raised boxes for our garden,
pictures of DS playing with other unschooled kids at a get-together
a few weeks ago, all that sort of stuff. Basically, we don't leave a
vacuum for questions to form - we are pro-actively filling in stuff
for the grandparents. And, it seems to be working - my parents have
been cutting out articles as they appear about kids who are
homeschooled AND unschooled and sending them to us with notes
like "This makes a lot of sense" and "Sounds like what you're doing -
looks pretty interesting"
--Deb
stuff, you can use the money that you've been using for 'school
stuff' for whatever your family chooses to use it for (it may still
be some workbooks here and there even!)
I can't say we have an "extravagant" lifestyle at all - we have one
income (mine), two paid for 8 year old vehicles, a mortgage, student
loans from DH's university days (he started after we'd been married
two years and DS was born midway through) and the usual utilities
and such. Once the fixed expense stuff is paid, we decide what is
important that we want to use the discretionary part for. Sometimes
it's saving up for a trip to someplace we want to see and
experience. Sometimes it's just setting aside some funds to go to
the drive in when there's a movie we want to see. Sometimes it means
having the funds to buy the stuff to make really cheesy fondue (with
the good, expensive Ementhaler and Gruyere) with fresh artisan-type
breads and chocolate fondue with fresh strawberries and invite some
friends over. Sometimes it means putting funds aside to pick up the
just-released first season of the new Dr. Who series on DVD. It's
all good.
Use the summer to drop all the 'school stuff'. Just vacation and
enjoy being. When the weather starts to cool, keep on vacationing.
If you -want- to go out and buy new crayons and notebooks and stuff
because they're on sale, have fun. But you don't have to. No need to
prowl the bookstore and the Internet looking for the workbooks and
such that you "need" - you don't "need" them. Go to the library and
max out your library cards on stuff that catches your eye (the
collective you - all the members of the family).
As far as people poking in - did you ask them when you had 5
children? Did you allow them to question your decision with no
answer? Odds are you basically told them to butt out. Same applies
to homeschooling in all its forms - it's *your* choice for *your*
family. Politely tell them to either do the research you've done or
stay out of it - it is not open to debate or unfounded opinion.
You'll gladly answer questions *once they've done the amount of
research on the subject that you have*.
As far as the people bothering your kids, you can do several things
(your choice): you can step in and deflect the questioning ("I'm
sorry to interrupt but Billy, could you please go get me a spoon.
Thanks so much." basically giving your child a polite excuse to
leave the presence of the pest); you can prime the kids with
something such as "Gee you don't know that either? Let's go ask my
mom - she helps me find out answers when I have a question"; you can
prime the kids with something like "I don't know that yet (or answer
if they do know it). Do you know which Pokemon is the best to fight
a Fire type?" (basically tossing a question in the child's area of
expertise back at the questioner).
I've found that the best defense is a good offense so I make sure to
keep a running stream of info flowing to the various extended family
members and friends - things we're doing, seeing, exploring. When we
talk about the TWO vacations we've had this year before the rest of
the kids were even out of school, about picking berries in the back
yard (and DH showing DS how to tell the safe ones from the hazardous
ones, and where the poison ivy lives and all that) and then helping
make jam and frozen fruit pops (DS goes out every morning and picks
whatever is ripe - he's just hooked on harvesting fresh berries),
about how DS helped us build the raised boxes for our garden,
pictures of DS playing with other unschooled kids at a get-together
a few weeks ago, all that sort of stuff. Basically, we don't leave a
vacuum for questions to form - we are pro-actively filling in stuff
for the grandparents. And, it seems to be working - my parents have
been cutting out articles as they appear about kids who are
homeschooled AND unschooled and sending them to us with notes
like "This makes a lot of sense" and "Sounds like what you're doing -
looks pretty interesting"
--Deb
Melissa
I have seven kids, so I understand your fear. just wanted to reassure
you that there are lots of free ways to enjoy your children's
interests. We're certainly not extravagant, except with our time and
love.
Melissa
Mom to Josh (11), Breanna (8), Emily (7), Rachel (6), Sam (4), Dan
(2), and Avari Rose
share our lives at
http://360.yahoo.com/multimomma
you that there are lots of free ways to enjoy your children's
interests. We're certainly not extravagant, except with our time and
love.
Melissa
Mom to Josh (11), Breanna (8), Emily (7), Rachel (6), Sam (4), Dan
(2), and Avari Rose
share our lives at
http://360.yahoo.com/multimomma
On Jul 5, 2006, at 11:11 AM, Genary wrote:
> Hi
> I am the mother of five beautiful children, ages 18 months to 7
> years old. I have been homeschooling for 2 years. I try to use a
> combination of methods, but I am unsatisfied. Many of the unschool-
> ing parents we see are those with extravagant lifestyles. Are there
> any financially challenged people unschooling successfully? My
> husband and I want to learn to unschool. We are operating on
> limited resources, but we feel that home/unschooling is the only
> option for our children. I know that unschooling is natural
> learning, but how do you break free from traditional teaching
> thinking and on a tight budget?
> We don't have a lot of support for homeschooling. My children are
> constantly probed for information by others who disagree with our
> decision to homeschool. I want advice on how to deal with these
> issues. Many of these people are family with whom we desire to
> maintain a civil relationship. I know that I am making the best
> choice for my children, but we have chosen the road less traveled.
>
> Thanks for your imput in advance.
>
> Genary and Cory (please excuse any typo's)
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Michelle/Melbrigða
On 7/5/06, Genary <genabeamommy@...> wrote:
I would classify as having "extravagant lifestyles!" Most of us are
living paycheck to paycheck and trying to make ends meet while we
provide for the needs and desires of our family!
yourself limitations. If you have a child that has an interest, by
doing a little research you are sure to find a way to make that
affordable for your budget. There are all kinds of opportunities out
there for our kids. Unschooling does not mean that you are going to
saturate them with everything possible. It does mean that you are
going to find a way to let them experience the things that interest
them.
made a bad decision was to ask them, "Do you not think that I would do
my best to provide for my children in the ways that they need?" I've
also said to people, "Prove to me that the way I am raising my
children is harmful." Another thing you can say is, "I appreciate
your concern for my children, but know that I have researched this and
am making the decisions I think are most beneficial for our family."
Of course my family already thinks I'm crazy!
--
Michelle
aka Melbrigða
http://eventualknitting.blogspot.com
[email protected] - Homeschooling for the Medieval Recreationist
>Many of the unschool-ROFLOL!! Most of the families I know who are unschooling are not what
> ing parents we see are those with extravagant lifestyles. Are there
> any financially challenged people unschooling successfully?
I would classify as having "extravagant lifestyles!" Most of us are
living paycheck to paycheck and trying to make ends meet while we
provide for the needs and desires of our family!
> MyFirst to learn to unschool you need to unschool yourself. Stop giving
> husband and I want to learn to unschool. We are operating on
> limited resources, but we feel that home/unschooling is the only
> option for our children. I know that unschooling is natural
> learning, but how do you break free from traditional teaching
> thinking and on a tight budget?
yourself limitations. If you have a child that has an interest, by
doing a little research you are sure to find a way to make that
affordable for your budget. There are all kinds of opportunities out
there for our kids. Unschooling does not mean that you are going to
saturate them with everything possible. It does mean that you are
going to find a way to let them experience the things that interest
them.
> We don't have a lot of support for homeschooling. My children areOne of the ways that I dealt with family members who thought I had
> constantly probed for information by others who disagree with our
> decision to homeschool. I want advice on how to deal with these
> issues. Many of these people are family with whom we desire to
> maintain a civil relationship. I know that I am making the best
> choice for my children, but we have chosen the road less traveled.
>
made a bad decision was to ask them, "Do you not think that I would do
my best to provide for my children in the ways that they need?" I've
also said to people, "Prove to me that the way I am raising my
children is harmful." Another thing you can say is, "I appreciate
your concern for my children, but know that I have researched this and
am making the decisions I think are most beneficial for our family."
Of course my family already thinks I'm crazy!
--
Michelle
aka Melbrigða
http://eventualknitting.blogspot.com
[email protected] - Homeschooling for the Medieval Recreationist