Brand New....
smartypants0205
I've been homeschooling my son (9) for about 2 years now. My
daughter (13) has been home for just over a year. We have been, as
most new homeschoolers seem to do, using a more classical approach
to education. I often squirm when my son says he might as well be
back in school when doing some of his lessons. My daughter was in
school until the 7th grade so she has public school much more
ingrained than my son. Plus, I have a senior in public high school
(will not be coming home...she's so near then end of school, she
wants to stick with it, plus it is all she's ever known) so we
always have public school topics in our home. My kids do math,
grammar, spelling, literature, and writing every day. We alternate
science and history and sometimes do art, Spanish and music. It is
all so scheduled and predictable. I often feel as if they should
just be in school if this is the best I can do. Yesterday, I gave
them free reign to collect bugs and create habitats with large jars,
plants, soil, etc. They both loved it even though they are so far
apart in age. I want all learning to be this great, every day!!! I
have been allowing more free time for personal interests, but it is
very hard to let go of those old p.s. standards, ya' know? I feel
they need to be producing something all the time to show dad,
grandpa, etc. It's so "staged".
I'd love advice, help, whatever on how to get this going. I think I
need a gradual breaking in period. I'm not sure my 13 yo will feel
comfortable being left to her own devices, my 9 yo would love it!
Thanks,
Robin
daughter (13) has been home for just over a year. We have been, as
most new homeschoolers seem to do, using a more classical approach
to education. I often squirm when my son says he might as well be
back in school when doing some of his lessons. My daughter was in
school until the 7th grade so she has public school much more
ingrained than my son. Plus, I have a senior in public high school
(will not be coming home...she's so near then end of school, she
wants to stick with it, plus it is all she's ever known) so we
always have public school topics in our home. My kids do math,
grammar, spelling, literature, and writing every day. We alternate
science and history and sometimes do art, Spanish and music. It is
all so scheduled and predictable. I often feel as if they should
just be in school if this is the best I can do. Yesterday, I gave
them free reign to collect bugs and create habitats with large jars,
plants, soil, etc. They both loved it even though they are so far
apart in age. I want all learning to be this great, every day!!! I
have been allowing more free time for personal interests, but it is
very hard to let go of those old p.s. standards, ya' know? I feel
they need to be producing something all the time to show dad,
grandpa, etc. It's so "staged".
I'd love advice, help, whatever on how to get this going. I think I
need a gradual breaking in period. I'm not sure my 13 yo will feel
comfortable being left to her own devices, my 9 yo would love it!
Thanks,
Robin
Joanne
Hi Robin...welcome. :-)
My kids do also, but I have a feeling it looks different in your
house. ;-)
What happens if someone wants to listen to a CD or paint a picture
on a day that music or art is not scheduled? ;-)
The beauty of unschooling is that ALL those things you listed (math,
writing, art, etc) are part of your day, everyday...because it's
part of life. :-)
one step closer than you were before. :-)
(((hugs))) Good for you for seeing that and wanting something
more...something better.
Yes, I do know. We all do. :-) It's not easy to change...but it can
be done.
I believe, unschooling starts with you, the parent. You have to
deschool yourself first. You came to the right place. Start reading
some of the older topics. There's a lot of really good information
here. :-)
Unschooling is not leaving your kids to figure out things on their
own or to learn by themselves. Use the time you would have used
on "grammer" and "music" to go to a museum, make a solar system
model, fly a kite, watch a movie together, play a game of molopoly
or dig for bugs in the yard. What are they interested in? Explore
that WITH THEM. :-)
~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (8), Shawna (11) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 2003
************************************
Unschooling Voices ~ Add Your Voice
www.foreverparents.com/UnschoolingVoices.html
>>>>>My kids do math, grammar, spelling, literature, and writingevery day.>>>>>
My kids do also, but I have a feeling it looks different in your
house. ;-)
>>>We alternate science and history and sometimes do art, Spanishand music.>>>>>
What happens if someone wants to listen to a CD or paint a picture
on a day that music or art is not scheduled? ;-)
The beauty of unschooling is that ALL those things you listed (math,
writing, art, etc) are part of your day, everyday...because it's
part of life. :-)
>>>It is all so scheduled and predictable.>>>It sounds it. I'm glad you're here looking for a better way. You're
one step closer than you were before. :-)
>>>I often feel as if they should just be in school if this is thebest I can do.>>>>
(((hugs))) Good for you for seeing that and wanting something
more...something better.
>>>but it is very hard to let go of those old p.s. standards, ya'know?>>>>
Yes, I do know. We all do. :-) It's not easy to change...but it can
be done.
I believe, unschooling starts with you, the parent. You have to
deschool yourself first. You came to the right place. Start reading
some of the older topics. There's a lot of really good information
here. :-)
>>>I'm not sure my 13 yo will feel comfortable being left to her owndevices, my 9 yo would love it!>>>>
Unschooling is not leaving your kids to figure out things on their
own or to learn by themselves. Use the time you would have used
on "grammer" and "music" to go to a museum, make a solar system
model, fly a kite, watch a movie together, play a game of molopoly
or dig for bugs in the yard. What are they interested in? Explore
that WITH THEM. :-)
~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (8), Shawna (11) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 2003
************************************
Unschooling Voices ~ Add Your Voice
www.foreverparents.com/UnschoolingVoices.html
Melissa
What we did when we broke away from school-at-home was just leaving
it as fall break. Now is the time we started, a year ago. We just
decided we were getting ready for the holidays, and did all that we
would normally do then, start decorating, baking, planning trips and
visiting, shopping and baking. And we spent a lot of time planning
how we wanted this year to go...I was on bedrest and expecting any
day, so we were all focused on that. We snuggled in bed together,
watching our favorite movies, reading our favorite books, and playing
our favorite games (and some new of each because after a few weeks
of our 'favorites' we found they were losing their flavor!)
After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we slowly started doing
the things we truly enjoyed, not the things that society tells us we
need. As a facilitator rather than an instructor, I saw my children
not only learning more than ever, but happier and more relaxed than
ever. It will happen, trust trust trust!
Melissa
Mom to Josh (11), Breanna (9), Emily (7), Rachel (6), Sam (5), Dan
(3), and Avari Rose
share our lives at
http://360.yahoo.com/multimomma
it as fall break. Now is the time we started, a year ago. We just
decided we were getting ready for the holidays, and did all that we
would normally do then, start decorating, baking, planning trips and
visiting, shopping and baking. And we spent a lot of time planning
how we wanted this year to go...I was on bedrest and expecting any
day, so we were all focused on that. We snuggled in bed together,
watching our favorite movies, reading our favorite books, and playing
our favorite games (and some new of each because after a few weeks
of our 'favorites' we found they were losing their flavor!)
After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we slowly started doing
the things we truly enjoyed, not the things that society tells us we
need. As a facilitator rather than an instructor, I saw my children
not only learning more than ever, but happier and more relaxed than
ever. It will happen, trust trust trust!
Melissa
Mom to Josh (11), Breanna (9), Emily (7), Rachel (6), Sam (5), Dan
(3), and Avari Rose
share our lives at
http://360.yahoo.com/multimomma
On Oct 27, 2006, at 1:22 PM, smartypants0205 wrote:
> I'd love advice, help, whatever on how to get this going. I think I
> need a gradual breaking in period. I'm not sure my 13 yo will feel
> comfortable being left to her own devices, my 9 yo would love it!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Kelly Weyd
I'm sure everyone has different ideas, different philosophies, etc. What works for one may not work for another, etc. But for us I decided life was too short to stress my kids out over a bunch of stuff they did not want to do. When I pulled my girls out of public school I decided that I was not going to recreate school at home. I'm taking the lead from them. One of my daughters I could not get to read for nothing when she was in public school.......she was struggling and considered behind in reading, and a number of other areas. Well she read two chapter books out loud to her Grandma this week because she wanted to, not because anyone asked her to. When she was in public school we had nightly tears over Math. Now she asks me to do Math worksheets, and all on her own because she wants to.......not because I or PS wants her to. Life is so much nicer now, and so much less stress. This group has been great at letting me see things in a whole new light.
Kelly
smartypants0205 <smartypants0205@...> wrote:
I've been homeschooling my son (9) for about 2 years now. My
daughter (13) has been home for just over a year. We have been, as
most new homeschoolers seem to do, using a more classical approach
to education. I often squirm when my son says he might as well be
back in school when doing some of his lessons. My daughter was in
school until the 7th grade so she has public school much more
ingrained than my son. Plus, I have a senior in public high school
(will not be coming home...she's so near then end of school, she
wants to stick with it, plus it is all she's ever known) so we
always have public school topics in our home. My kids do math,
grammar, spelling, literature, and writing every day. We alternate
science and history and sometimes do art, Spanish and music. It is
all so scheduled and predictable. I often feel as if they should
just be in school if this is the best I can do. Yesterday, I gave
them free reign to collect bugs and create habitats with large jars,
plants, soil, etc. They both loved it even though they are so far
apart in age. I want all learning to be this great, every day!!! I
have been allowing more free time for personal interests, but it is
very hard to let go of those old p.s. standards, ya' know? I feel
they need to be producing something all the time to show dad,
grandpa, etc. It's so "staged".
I'd love advice, help, whatever on how to get this going. I think I
need a gradual breaking in period. I'm not sure my 13 yo will feel
comfortable being left to her own devices, my 9 yo would love it!
Thanks,
Robin
---------------------------------
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Kelly
smartypants0205 <smartypants0205@...> wrote:
I've been homeschooling my son (9) for about 2 years now. My
daughter (13) has been home for just over a year. We have been, as
most new homeschoolers seem to do, using a more classical approach
to education. I often squirm when my son says he might as well be
back in school when doing some of his lessons. My daughter was in
school until the 7th grade so she has public school much more
ingrained than my son. Plus, I have a senior in public high school
(will not be coming home...she's so near then end of school, she
wants to stick with it, plus it is all she's ever known) so we
always have public school topics in our home. My kids do math,
grammar, spelling, literature, and writing every day. We alternate
science and history and sometimes do art, Spanish and music. It is
all so scheduled and predictable. I often feel as if they should
just be in school if this is the best I can do. Yesterday, I gave
them free reign to collect bugs and create habitats with large jars,
plants, soil, etc. They both loved it even though they are so far
apart in age. I want all learning to be this great, every day!!! I
have been allowing more free time for personal interests, but it is
very hard to let go of those old p.s. standards, ya' know? I feel
they need to be producing something all the time to show dad,
grandpa, etc. It's so "staged".
I'd love advice, help, whatever on how to get this going. I think I
need a gradual breaking in period. I'm not sure my 13 yo will feel
comfortable being left to her own devices, my 9 yo would love it!
Thanks,
Robin
---------------------------------
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Schafer Vanessa
Hi Robin,
We have been homeschooling/unschooling now since the
beginning of this school year. We chose to unschool,
because it was what felt right for us, and our
lifestyle. We are still in the deschooling process.
(all 4 of us, my ds, dd, dh, and I). It is still a
big adjustment. I am loving this, because there is no
school work, only learning the natural way. We have
done some gardening, cooking, reading, watching lots
of movies, listening to music, and playing video
games. We are relaxing, and loving it.
Although sometimes my kids like their space, and need
alone time (which I totally understand), we are doing
just about everything together, except for dishes,
laundry, etc. LOL. I am finding that I am learning
right along with them. For our gardening, we dug up
our hostas, and discovered they have hard roots to dig
out, and that we don't want to have any more in the
flower garden. (the hostas were here, when we moved
in.). We've also went for lots of walks, and trips to
the store. We've done grocery shopping, and just
window shopping. They know that money is tight, and
we can't afford alot of extra's right now, but it's
fun to look and see what is new.
Just learning to relax was hard for me. It's hard
letting go of the PS life. My kids were in 3rd and
4th grade when we pulled them out, at the end of the
year. Since then, we have been exploring what life is
like, and to learn life lessons, as we go. We did go
to the air zoo at the end of last month, and we
discovered that we didn't like it.
I'm sorry this is so long, but learning is easier, if
there is no restrictions, and they are free to pick
subjects that they really are interested in. Life
becomes easier, when you throw caution to the wind,
and just be.
---Vanessa
--- smartypants0205 <smartypants0205@...>
wrote:
Get your email and see which of your friends are online - Right on the New Yahoo.com
(http://www.yahoo.com/preview)
We have been homeschooling/unschooling now since the
beginning of this school year. We chose to unschool,
because it was what felt right for us, and our
lifestyle. We are still in the deschooling process.
(all 4 of us, my ds, dd, dh, and I). It is still a
big adjustment. I am loving this, because there is no
school work, only learning the natural way. We have
done some gardening, cooking, reading, watching lots
of movies, listening to music, and playing video
games. We are relaxing, and loving it.
Although sometimes my kids like their space, and need
alone time (which I totally understand), we are doing
just about everything together, except for dishes,
laundry, etc. LOL. I am finding that I am learning
right along with them. For our gardening, we dug up
our hostas, and discovered they have hard roots to dig
out, and that we don't want to have any more in the
flower garden. (the hostas were here, when we moved
in.). We've also went for lots of walks, and trips to
the store. We've done grocery shopping, and just
window shopping. They know that money is tight, and
we can't afford alot of extra's right now, but it's
fun to look and see what is new.
Just learning to relax was hard for me. It's hard
letting go of the PS life. My kids were in 3rd and
4th grade when we pulled them out, at the end of the
year. Since then, we have been exploring what life is
like, and to learn life lessons, as we go. We did go
to the air zoo at the end of last month, and we
discovered that we didn't like it.
I'm sorry this is so long, but learning is easier, if
there is no restrictions, and they are free to pick
subjects that they really are interested in. Life
becomes easier, when you throw caution to the wind,
and just be.
---Vanessa
--- smartypants0205 <smartypants0205@...>
wrote:
> I've been homeschooling my son (9) for about 2 years____________________________________________________________________________________
> now. My
> daughter (13) has been home for just over a year.
> We have been, as
> most new homeschoolers seem to do, using a more
> classical approach
> to education. I often squirm when my son says he
> might as well be
> back in school when doing some of his lessons. My
> daughter was in
> school until the 7th grade so she has public school
> much more
> ingrained than my son. Plus, I have a senior in
> public high school
> (will not be coming home...she's so near then end of
> school, she
> wants to stick with it, plus it is all she's ever
> known) so we
> always have public school topics in our home. My
> kids do math,
> grammar, spelling, literature, and writing every
> day. We alternate
> science and history and sometimes do art, Spanish
> and music. It is
> all so scheduled and predictable. I often feel as
> if they should
> just be in school if this is the best I can do.
> Yesterday, I gave
> them free reign to collect bugs and create habitats
> with large jars,
> plants, soil, etc. They both loved it even though
> they are so far
> apart in age. I want all learning to be this great,
> every day!!! I
> have been allowing more free time for personal
> interests, but it is
> very hard to let go of those old p.s. standards, ya'
> know? I feel
> they need to be producing something all the time to
> show dad,
> grandpa, etc. It's so "staged".
>
> I'd love advice, help, whatever on how to get this
> going. I think I
> need a gradual breaking in period. I'm not sure my
> 13 yo will feel
> comfortable being left to her own devices, my 9 yo
> would love it!
>
> Thanks,
> Robin
>
>
>
>
Get your email and see which of your friends are online - Right on the New Yahoo.com
(http://www.yahoo.com/preview)
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: smartypants0205@...
I want all learning to be this great, every day!!!
-=-=-
ANd it *can* be! That's what all our days look like!
--=-=-==--=
I have been allowing more free time for personal interests, but it is
very hard to let go of those old p.s. standards, ya' know?
-=-=-=-
I know. Try allowing ALL time for personal interests---not just "more"
time.
-=-=-=-=-=
I feel they need to be producing something all the time to show dad,
grandpa, etc.
-=-=-=-
Why do you feel this?
-=-==-=-=-
It's so "staged".
-=-=-=-
It IS! SO what are you going to do about it?
You ARE the producer---what's your plan?
-==-=-=-
I'd love advice, help, whatever on how to get this going. I think I
need a gradual breaking in period.
-=-=-=-=-
Nope---you need to start your extended family vacation NOW. Today!
-=-=-==-
I'm not sure my 13 yo will feel comfortable being left to her own
devices, my 9 yo would love it!
-=-=-
No one's left to his own devices. Do things WITH them. BE with them.
Watch movies. Play games. Go to parks. Bake cookies. Make paper
airplanes. Make ATCs. DO! BE!
~Kelly
"Wisdom begins with Wonder," ~Socrates
________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and
security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from
across the web, free AOL Mail and more.
From: smartypants0205@...
I want all learning to be this great, every day!!!
-=-=-
ANd it *can* be! That's what all our days look like!
--=-=-==--=
I have been allowing more free time for personal interests, but it is
very hard to let go of those old p.s. standards, ya' know?
-=-=-=-
I know. Try allowing ALL time for personal interests---not just "more"
time.
-=-=-=-=-=
I feel they need to be producing something all the time to show dad,
grandpa, etc.
-=-=-=-
Why do you feel this?
-=-==-=-=-
It's so "staged".
-=-=-=-
It IS! SO what are you going to do about it?
You ARE the producer---what's your plan?
-==-=-=-
I'd love advice, help, whatever on how to get this going. I think I
need a gradual breaking in period.
-=-=-=-=-
Nope---you need to start your extended family vacation NOW. Today!
-=-=-==-
I'm not sure my 13 yo will feel comfortable being left to her own
devices, my 9 yo would love it!
-=-=-
No one's left to his own devices. Do things WITH them. BE with them.
Watch movies. Play games. Go to parks. Bake cookies. Make paper
airplanes. Make ATCs. DO! BE!
~Kelly
"Wisdom begins with Wonder," ~Socrates
________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and
security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from
across the web, free AOL Mail and more.