? about unschooling ?
Buffie Kidwell Fox
Hello all,
I am new to the group and have been reading many of the past post. I
find many of your post very helpful to me and my situation.
I am not sure where to start. I dont want to bore you to death but I
know you cant help me with your thought and opinions if you dont know
where I am coming from.
Lets see we started homeschooling 4 years ago . We have 3 girls, 11, 8,
and 6. We have a small farm and raise chickens, goats and dogs. Also a
good size garen and what ever other animals the girls can find to raise.
We are also very active in church, 4H, Girl Scouts, and a local home
school support group that a friend and I started a year ago. Did I
mention we are in the process of building a new home, so for now we are
in a large 5th wheel camper.
The girls range in ability from one with a high IQ to one with reading
disablities. I have tried many different curriculums and have only
found that the younger 2 like Horizons for math. We try to do hooked on
phonics but the middle child hates to read. The oldest finds most work
boring. But she will read any animal science book she can get her hands
on.
I have struggled each year to get the 4 hours of book work in each day
that my stated requires. Actually it does require book work just that
you spend 4 hours a day learning.
I have been researching unschooling for at least the last year or so.
I think this is us. I at times am very confused and worried about what
i am doing. the girls do work the farm everyday. they all go to 4h even
though it is for 4h or higher. we do the home school group and then a
lot of extra ag groups. they all do to scouts. and we all do church.
then there are field trips that we go on. there is at least 2 a week we
could do but we dont.
we play board games , card games and more all the time.
my issue is my husband. he totally leaves the school work up to me. but
lately has been questioning the girls and me if they have done enough
book work.
when i have spoke with him of unschooling , he only hears the un part.
i see the girls learning everyday in many different ways. i think he is
blinded to it. i am at a loss of what to do.
should i just jump with both feet in and unschool all the way. from
what i have read up on each family is different. my younest child loves
her math book but no other books. well she loves fun pads. middle
daugher loves to write , she can not spell but she loves to copy words
out of books. she is good at math but does not choose to do it. unless
it is while playing store. oldest daughter loves animals and trys to
learn as much as possible by reading. i try to cater to that , this is
one reason we are very active in 4H.
I am sorry to ramble. i guess i dont have anyone to talk to around her
that could maybe understand where i am coming from.
I am hoping that someone out there has some helpful hints for me. I am
at the stage where i feel something needs to change. I have prayed and
prayed about it and i truly feel the Lord lead me here to this group
and to unschooling.
Thanks for listening
Buffie
I am new to the group and have been reading many of the past post. I
find many of your post very helpful to me and my situation.
I am not sure where to start. I dont want to bore you to death but I
know you cant help me with your thought and opinions if you dont know
where I am coming from.
Lets see we started homeschooling 4 years ago . We have 3 girls, 11, 8,
and 6. We have a small farm and raise chickens, goats and dogs. Also a
good size garen and what ever other animals the girls can find to raise.
We are also very active in church, 4H, Girl Scouts, and a local home
school support group that a friend and I started a year ago. Did I
mention we are in the process of building a new home, so for now we are
in a large 5th wheel camper.
The girls range in ability from one with a high IQ to one with reading
disablities. I have tried many different curriculums and have only
found that the younger 2 like Horizons for math. We try to do hooked on
phonics but the middle child hates to read. The oldest finds most work
boring. But she will read any animal science book she can get her hands
on.
I have struggled each year to get the 4 hours of book work in each day
that my stated requires. Actually it does require book work just that
you spend 4 hours a day learning.
I have been researching unschooling for at least the last year or so.
I think this is us. I at times am very confused and worried about what
i am doing. the girls do work the farm everyday. they all go to 4h even
though it is for 4h or higher. we do the home school group and then a
lot of extra ag groups. they all do to scouts. and we all do church.
then there are field trips that we go on. there is at least 2 a week we
could do but we dont.
we play board games , card games and more all the time.
my issue is my husband. he totally leaves the school work up to me. but
lately has been questioning the girls and me if they have done enough
book work.
when i have spoke with him of unschooling , he only hears the un part.
i see the girls learning everyday in many different ways. i think he is
blinded to it. i am at a loss of what to do.
should i just jump with both feet in and unschool all the way. from
what i have read up on each family is different. my younest child loves
her math book but no other books. well she loves fun pads. middle
daugher loves to write , she can not spell but she loves to copy words
out of books. she is good at math but does not choose to do it. unless
it is while playing store. oldest daughter loves animals and trys to
learn as much as possible by reading. i try to cater to that , this is
one reason we are very active in 4H.
I am sorry to ramble. i guess i dont have anyone to talk to around her
that could maybe understand where i am coming from.
I am hoping that someone out there has some helpful hints for me. I am
at the stage where i feel something needs to change. I have prayed and
prayed about it and i truly feel the Lord lead me here to this group
and to unschooling.
Thanks for listening
Buffie
Michelle Leifur Reid
On 11/19/06, Buffie Kidwell Fox <chewie1973@...> wrote:
intelligence. That child just processes information differently.
unschool :)
the free frog dissection CD-ROM (I have a child who loves animal
science as well and adores this program - do a google search for
alternative frog dissection - if you can't find it LMK and I'll search
through my files and find where I got it from). Strew animal science
stuff for her.
*schooling.* An unschooler is learning every moment that s/he is
awake. I learn new things all the time. I can't go for 4 hours
without learning something new, whether it is in a book I read, a tv
program I watched, reading something on the internet, watching the
news, or listening to someone else talk about something. I can get in
4 hours of "learning" before my local public radio station switches
over to classical music!
book to learn!
you are going. Some people can't get past the UN part because the
equate unSCHOOLing with unLEARNing and that isn't the case!
And what part of her math workbooks equates to the math that we
*really* do in real life?
You have a rich and active life it sounds like. Farm, home building
(gee there's some education for you - involve them in that as you
go!), 4H, GS, homeschool group, etc. Search your area for other
unschoolers - that will really help. Even if it is just e-mail
contact in your state. Until your dh gets comfortable with
unschooling, point out to him all the things the girls ARE doing, not
what they AREN'T! Read and learn yourself from other unschoolers.
I'm presuming you have found the links section at the yahoogroup.
That's a great jumping off place!
Michelle
> The girls range in ability from one with a high IQ to one with readingThe ability or inability to read does not signify anything in
> disablities.
intelligence. That child just processes information differently.
>We try to do hooked onHooked on phonics has little to do with *reading.*
> phonics but the middle child hates to read.
>The oldest finds most workI find most school work boring. That's one of the big reasons that we
> boring.
unschool :)
>But she will read any animal science book she can get her handsThen let her read all the animal science books she can find. Get her
> on.
the free frog dissection CD-ROM (I have a child who loves animal
science as well and adores this program - do a google search for
alternative frog dissection - if you can't find it LMK and I'll search
through my files and find where I got it from). Strew animal science
stuff for her.
> I have struggled each year to get the 4 hours of book work in each dayThere is your sticking point. The difference between *learning* and
> that my stated requires. Actually it does require book work just that
> you spend 4 hours a day learning.
*schooling.* An unschooler is learning every moment that s/he is
awake. I learn new things all the time. I can't go for 4 hours
without learning something new, whether it is in a book I read, a tv
program I watched, reading something on the internet, watching the
news, or listening to someone else talk about something. I can get in
4 hours of "learning" before my local public radio station switches
over to classical music!
> he totally leaves the school work up to me. butBook work does not equal learning! One need not keep one's nose in a
> lately has been questioning the girls and me if they have done enough
> book work.
book to learn!
> when i have spoke with him of unschooling , he only hears the un part.Try interest lead learning until he gets more comfortable with where
you are going. Some people can't get past the UN part because the
equate unSCHOOLing with unLEARNing and that isn't the case!
> she is good at math but does not choose to do it.I'm pretty good at math as well, but I choose not to do it as well.
And what part of her math workbooks equates to the math that we
*really* do in real life?
You have a rich and active life it sounds like. Farm, home building
(gee there's some education for you - involve them in that as you
go!), 4H, GS, homeschool group, etc. Search your area for other
unschoolers - that will really help. Even if it is just e-mail
contact in your state. Until your dh gets comfortable with
unschooling, point out to him all the things the girls ARE doing, not
what they AREN'T! Read and learn yourself from other unschoolers.
I'm presuming you have found the links section at the yahoogroup.
That's a great jumping off place!
Michelle
jen mobley
hi buffie! wow, i can really relate to your struggles with homeschooling ,
or I guess in this case, unschooling. I am brand new, less that a month, at
unschooling and I think I feel as though I am not doing enough perhaps
because of the schooling that I received growing up. My kids are 3 and 5. We
just moved into our house less than a month ago...an 80 year old house that
needs a lot of fixing up. My daughter,much to my surprise, stated that she
would rather be homeschooled as opposed to going to school. She really does
miss the interaction though with her friends in Kindergarten. I feel so
guilty about this. I have just signed her up for Girl Scouts and I have
joined the Circle of Friends homeschool group (Yahoo groups). Circle HS is
great because they have a calendar of events (field trips and such) that
they do on a regular basis. I went out and bought textbooks but my daughter
doesn't want to use them. Sometimes it even seems like she's regressing and
"acting like a baby". I don't know why. She's very bright for her age and
remembers everything. What area do you live in? Would you like to meet up
for a playdate? You can give me a call at 443-480-4910. thanks so much!- Jen
Mobley (we live in Baltimore near Johns Hopkins University)
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or I guess in this case, unschooling. I am brand new, less that a month, at
unschooling and I think I feel as though I am not doing enough perhaps
because of the schooling that I received growing up. My kids are 3 and 5. We
just moved into our house less than a month ago...an 80 year old house that
needs a lot of fixing up. My daughter,much to my surprise, stated that she
would rather be homeschooled as opposed to going to school. She really does
miss the interaction though with her friends in Kindergarten. I feel so
guilty about this. I have just signed her up for Girl Scouts and I have
joined the Circle of Friends homeschool group (Yahoo groups). Circle HS is
great because they have a calendar of events (field trips and such) that
they do on a regular basis. I went out and bought textbooks but my daughter
doesn't want to use them. Sometimes it even seems like she's regressing and
"acting like a baby". I don't know why. She's very bright for her age and
remembers everything. What area do you live in? Would you like to meet up
for a playdate? You can give me a call at 443-480-4910. thanks so much!- Jen
Mobley (we live in Baltimore near Johns Hopkins University)
>From: "Buffie Kidwell Fox" <chewie1973@...>_________________________________________________________________
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [unschoolingbasics] ? about unschooling ?
>Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 03:45:54 -0000
>
>Hello all,
>I am new to the group and have been reading many of the past post. I
>find many of your post very helpful to me and my situation.
> I am not sure where to start. I dont want to bore you to death but I
>know you cant help me with your thought and opinions if you dont know
>where I am coming from.
>Lets see we started homeschooling 4 years ago . We have 3 girls, 11, 8,
>and 6. We have a small farm and raise chickens, goats and dogs. Also a
>good size garen and what ever other animals the girls can find to raise.
> We are also very active in church, 4H, Girl Scouts, and a local home
>school support group that a friend and I started a year ago. Did I
>mention we are in the process of building a new home, so for now we are
>in a large 5th wheel camper.
> The girls range in ability from one with a high IQ to one with reading
>disablities. I have tried many different curriculums and have only
>found that the younger 2 like Horizons for math. We try to do hooked on
>phonics but the middle child hates to read. The oldest finds most work
>boring. But she will read any animal science book she can get her hands
>on.
> I have struggled each year to get the 4 hours of book work in each day
>that my stated requires. Actually it does require book work just that
>you spend 4 hours a day learning.
> I have been researching unschooling for at least the last year or so.
>I think this is us. I at times am very confused and worried about what
>i am doing. the girls do work the farm everyday. they all go to 4h even
>though it is for 4h or higher. we do the home school group and then a
>lot of extra ag groups. they all do to scouts. and we all do church.
>then there are field trips that we go on. there is at least 2 a week we
>could do but we dont.
>we play board games , card games and more all the time.
>my issue is my husband. he totally leaves the school work up to me. but
>lately has been questioning the girls and me if they have done enough
>book work.
>when i have spoke with him of unschooling , he only hears the un part.
>i see the girls learning everyday in many different ways. i think he is
>blinded to it. i am at a loss of what to do.
>should i just jump with both feet in and unschool all the way. from
>what i have read up on each family is different. my younest child loves
>her math book but no other books. well she loves fun pads. middle
>daugher loves to write , she can not spell but she loves to copy words
>out of books. she is good at math but does not choose to do it. unless
>it is while playing store. oldest daughter loves animals and trys to
>learn as much as possible by reading. i try to cater to that , this is
>one reason we are very active in 4H.
>
>I am sorry to ramble. i guess i dont have anyone to talk to around her
>that could maybe understand where i am coming from.
>
>I am hoping that someone out there has some helpful hints for me. I am
>at the stage where i feel something needs to change. I have prayed and
>prayed about it and i truly feel the Lord lead me here to this group
>and to unschooling.
>
>Thanks for listening
>Buffie
>
>
>
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plaidpanties666
--- In [email protected], "Michelle Leifur Reid"
<pamperedmichelle@...> wrote:
various things my dd was learning or working on every day. It was
useful for my partner, so he could see what she was doing, and for
me, too, to be able to really see learning in everything. Here's one
tiny sample:
Throwing rocks in creek = gross motor skills, physics, counting,
problem solving, language experience, wet-vs-dry, life skills
(laundry), weather.
After a couple weeks of doing that for a dozen things every day,
George asked me to stop - said it made his brain hurt ;)
---Meredith
<pamperedmichelle@...> wrote:
>>Until your dh gets comfortable withFor a short time when I was starting to unschool I kept a log of
> unschooling, point out to him all the things the girls ARE doing,
>not what they AREN'T!
various things my dd was learning or working on every day. It was
useful for my partner, so he could see what she was doing, and for
me, too, to be able to really see learning in everything. Here's one
tiny sample:
Throwing rocks in creek = gross motor skills, physics, counting,
problem solving, language experience, wet-vs-dry, life skills
(laundry), weather.
After a couple weeks of doing that for a dozen things every day,
George asked me to stop - said it made his brain hurt ;)
---Meredith
jlh44music
"plaidpanties666" <plaidpanties666@...> wrote:
(laundry), weather.
LOL!
I found it helpful to write things down too, but more so because I
have to do an annual progress report for my state (MA). Here's a
list of "educationese" type words and phrases that you might find
helpful if you decide to do this to help your dh see their learning
in a different light:
Examples of Daily Activities Translated into Educationese:
Speaking Educationese
Here are a few daily activities translated into educationese.
*Trip to the library: Research Instruction; Silent, Sustained
Reading; Resource Identification
*Field Trip to Store:{depending grocery, building supply,Walmart}
Consumer Math; Health & Hygiene Instruction, Geography, Consumer
Education, Time and Money
Gardening: Science
*Trip to the Homeschool Support Group: Socializational Development.
*Playing Outside: Low-Organized Physical Education
*Interesting Family Outing: {even if it's on the weekend, call it a
school day if there's enough time spent)- Educational Field Trip;
Resource Field Trip in conjunction with _____ (name of subject)
*Arts & Crafts: in relation to any subject- Manipulative
Construction relating to ____ (name of subject)
*Chores along with the family: Manual Arts; Home Economics; Time-on-
Task development
*Child Learning to be helpful: Values Education
*Child Learning to be Brave: Independent, Resourceful People-
Quantitive, Contributive Sociological Development
*Field Trip to Dentist: Geography, Health, Occupational Education
*Legos, K'nex or Blocks- Building Critical Thinking, Small Motor
Skills, Design
*Kicking Around a Soccer Ball: PE, Angles, Critical Thinking, Large
Motor Skills
*Field Trip to Zoo: Reading(zoo map}, P.E.(walking all day) reading
and narrating(read and observe-tell about what you saw and read
about)
*Nature Walk:{collecting while on the walk} PE,and if look up the
care and kind of critters, Reading and Science
*Reading the Daily Paper: Social Studies
*Drawing: Art
*4-H Activities: Social Studies/Science/Language Arts
*Bicycling: PE
*Talking with Grandma About Her Life and Experiences: History
*Playing Monopoly: Math
*TV Documentaries/Movies: History, Geography, Science
*Channels Like TLC, History, National Geographic,Animal Planet, PBS,
and The Health Channel: {Depending on Subject} History, Science,
Social Studies, Geography
*Painting a room: Math and PE
*Pet care: PE and Science
*Volunteering at the Library: Language Arts
*E-mailing friends/Writing a Pen Pal: Language Arts
*Guitar/Piano lessons: Fine Arts
*Volunteering with a community drama group: Fine Arts and English
*Red Cross First Aid Class: Science
*Travel: Geography, social studies
Jann (dd 14)
> Throwing rocks in creek = gross motor skills, physics, counting,problem solving, language experience, wet-vs-dry, life skills
(laundry), weather.
> After a couple weeks of doing that for a dozen things every day,George asked me to stop - said it made his brain hurt ;) >>
LOL!
I found it helpful to write things down too, but more so because I
have to do an annual progress report for my state (MA). Here's a
list of "educationese" type words and phrases that you might find
helpful if you decide to do this to help your dh see their learning
in a different light:
Examples of Daily Activities Translated into Educationese:
Speaking Educationese
Here are a few daily activities translated into educationese.
*Trip to the library: Research Instruction; Silent, Sustained
Reading; Resource Identification
*Field Trip to Store:{depending grocery, building supply,Walmart}
Consumer Math; Health & Hygiene Instruction, Geography, Consumer
Education, Time and Money
Gardening: Science
*Trip to the Homeschool Support Group: Socializational Development.
*Playing Outside: Low-Organized Physical Education
*Interesting Family Outing: {even if it's on the weekend, call it a
school day if there's enough time spent)- Educational Field Trip;
Resource Field Trip in conjunction with _____ (name of subject)
*Arts & Crafts: in relation to any subject- Manipulative
Construction relating to ____ (name of subject)
*Chores along with the family: Manual Arts; Home Economics; Time-on-
Task development
*Child Learning to be helpful: Values Education
*Child Learning to be Brave: Independent, Resourceful People-
Quantitive, Contributive Sociological Development
*Field Trip to Dentist: Geography, Health, Occupational Education
*Legos, K'nex or Blocks- Building Critical Thinking, Small Motor
Skills, Design
*Kicking Around a Soccer Ball: PE, Angles, Critical Thinking, Large
Motor Skills
*Field Trip to Zoo: Reading(zoo map}, P.E.(walking all day) reading
and narrating(read and observe-tell about what you saw and read
about)
*Nature Walk:{collecting while on the walk} PE,and if look up the
care and kind of critters, Reading and Science
*Reading the Daily Paper: Social Studies
*Drawing: Art
*4-H Activities: Social Studies/Science/Language Arts
*Bicycling: PE
*Talking with Grandma About Her Life and Experiences: History
*Playing Monopoly: Math
*TV Documentaries/Movies: History, Geography, Science
*Channels Like TLC, History, National Geographic,Animal Planet, PBS,
and The Health Channel: {Depending on Subject} History, Science,
Social Studies, Geography
*Painting a room: Math and PE
*Pet care: PE and Science
*Volunteering at the Library: Language Arts
*E-mailing friends/Writing a Pen Pal: Language Arts
*Guitar/Piano lessons: Fine Arts
*Volunteering with a community drama group: Fine Arts and English
*Red Cross First Aid Class: Science
*Travel: Geography, social studies
Jann (dd 14)
Chris and Kelli Bailey
hi all,
we are considering a relocation to the huntsville, AL
area. any unschooling listers in that area? feel free
to e-mail off-list! :)
tia,
kelli
____________________________________________________________________________________
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we are considering a relocation to the huntsville, AL
area. any unschooling listers in that area? feel free
to e-mail off-list! :)
tia,
kelli
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sponsored Link
Mortgage rates near 39yr lows.
$510k for $1,698/mo. Calculate new payment!
www.LowerMyBills.com/lre
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: chewie1973@...
I have struggled each year to get the 4 hours of book work in each day
that my stated requires. Actually it does require book work just that
you spend 4 hours a day learning.
-=-=-=-=-
I don't think any state requires "book work" at all. I don't any
require a certain number of hours "learning" either. In my state, it's
called "instruction." <g>
-=-=-=-=-=-
my issue is my husband. he totally leaves the school work up to me. but
lately has been questioning the girls and me if they have done enough
book work. when i have spoke with him of unschooling , he only hears
the un part.
i see the girls learning everyday in many different ways. i think he is
blinded to it. i am at a loss of what to do.
-=-=-=-
Homeschooling. Life learning. Interest-driven learning. Child-led
learning. You don't have to use UNschooling at all. Just describe what
all they DO.
-=-=-=-=-
should i just jump with both feet in and unschool all the way. from
what i have read up on each family is different.
-=-=--=-=-=
I'll always suggest jumping in with both feet. It's hard to do half-way.
Because unschooling is built on Trust, wavering back and forth or
stopping and starting or "unschooling except for math" doesn't allow
trust to take hold---the children (and *you*) are never sure where you
stand.
-=-=-=-
I am sorry to ramble. i guess i dont have anyone to talk to around her
that could maybe understand where i am coming from.
=-=-=-=
Where are you? We might just know someone in your neighborhood.
~Kelly
________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and
security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from
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From: chewie1973@...
I have struggled each year to get the 4 hours of book work in each day
that my stated requires. Actually it does require book work just that
you spend 4 hours a day learning.
-=-=-=-=-
I don't think any state requires "book work" at all. I don't any
require a certain number of hours "learning" either. In my state, it's
called "instruction." <g>
-=-=-=-=-=-
my issue is my husband. he totally leaves the school work up to me. but
lately has been questioning the girls and me if they have done enough
book work. when i have spoke with him of unschooling , he only hears
the un part.
i see the girls learning everyday in many different ways. i think he is
blinded to it. i am at a loss of what to do.
-=-=-=-
Homeschooling. Life learning. Interest-driven learning. Child-led
learning. You don't have to use UNschooling at all. Just describe what
all they DO.
-=-=-=-=-
should i just jump with both feet in and unschool all the way. from
what i have read up on each family is different.
-=-=--=-=-=
I'll always suggest jumping in with both feet. It's hard to do half-way.
Because unschooling is built on Trust, wavering back and forth or
stopping and starting or "unschooling except for math" doesn't allow
trust to take hold---the children (and *you*) are never sure where you
stand.
-=-=-=-
I am sorry to ramble. i guess i dont have anyone to talk to around her
that could maybe understand where i am coming from.
=-=-=-=
Where are you? We might just know someone in your neighborhood.
~Kelly
________________________________________________________________________
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.