Leslie and Parker

We are part of a small group of families who came together through
interest in natural childbirth and AP. We would like to grow a small
community that will keep us together through homeschooling. Many of us
are interested in learning more about UP and unschooling.

We have weekly access to a great facility and we have a ton of fun
stuff to do in our area, but we aren't sure what unschooling would look
like on the day we meet at the facility.

We have a nice supply closet at the facility and an agreement that we
leave everything absolutely spotless when we are done for the day. The
children are currently 6 mos-6 years and there are 10 of them in 5
families.

Could you guys give us some ideas we could try? We are considering
strewing or maybe a picture catalog the kids could browse.

Thank you,
Leslie

Leslie and Parker

I posted this a while back, but it got lost in the shuffle. I thought
I'd post it again and see if anyone had any ideas.

Thanks!
Leslie
(Andrew 4, Conrad 20 mos)

--- In [email protected], "Leslie and Parker"
<dontcall@...> wrote:
>
> We are part of a small group of families who came together through
> interest in natural childbirth and AP. We would like to grow a
small
> community that will keep us together through homeschooling. Many of
us
> are interested in learning more about UP and unschooling.
>
> We have weekly access to a great facility and we have a ton of fun
> stuff to do in our area, but we aren't sure what unschooling would
look
> like on the day we meet at the facility.
>
> We have a nice supply closet at the facility and an agreement that
we
> leave everything absolutely spotless when we are done for the day.
The
> children are currently 6 mos-6 years and there are 10 of them in 5
> families.
>
> Could you guys give us some ideas we could try? We are considering
> strewing or maybe a picture catalog the kids could browse.
>
> Thank you,
> Leslie
>

Kathleen Gehrke

Leslie,

Unschoolers go to planned events. You can plan a craft project, or a
tumbling activity, but the beauty of it is the kids can choose to not
participate or to participate.

I love to take adventures with other unschoolers. Go to museums,
farms, science centers. I love to hike or hang out at a lake with
unschooling families. My kids love it too.

I have met with an eclectic group of homeschoolers for organized
activites in a space. It helps to follow your kids and the groups
interests. Ask what other families kids are looking for. Some
projects and play are done far better and more enjoyably in a group.

Sometimes for us just wonderful play is enough. And for me it is a
gift to have time with other unschooling parents.

Kathleen


--- In [email protected], "Leslie and Parker"
<dontcall@...> wrote:
>
> I posted this a while back, but it got lost in the shuffle. I
thought
> I'd post it again and see if anyone had any ideas.
>
> Thanks!
> Leslie
> (Andrew 4, Conrad 20 mos)
>
> --- In [email protected], "Leslie and Parker"
> <dontcall@> wrote:
> >
> > We are part of a small group of families who came together
through
> > interest in natural childbirth and AP. We would like to grow a
> small
> > community that will keep us together through homeschooling. Many
of
> us
> > are interested in learning more about UP and unschooling.
> >
> > We have weekly access to a great facility and we have a ton of
fun
> > stuff to do in our area, but we aren't sure what unschooling
would
> look
> > like on the day we meet at the facility.
> >
> > We have a nice supply closet at the facility and an agreement
that
> we
> > leave everything absolutely spotless when we are done for the
day.
> The
> > children are currently 6 mos-6 years and there are 10 of them in
5
> > families.
> >
> > Could you guys give us some ideas we could try? We are
considering
> > strewing or maybe a picture catalog the kids could browse.
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Leslie
> >
>

k

What does UP stand for? Also I guess the rest of the post doesn't have much
detail. I took this to be a sort of advertisement for others to join rather
than a question. So I guess there's little enough to go on that may have
been why the response was no there.

~Katherine




On 6/27/08, Leslie and Parker <dontcall@...> wrote:
>
> I posted this a while back, but it got lost in the shuffle. I thought
> I'd post it again and see if anyone had any ideas.
>
> Thanks!
> Leslie
> (Andrew 4, Conrad 20 mos)
>
> --- In [email protected]<unschoolingbasics%40yahoogroups.com>,
> "Leslie and Parker"
> <dontcall@...> wrote:
> >
> > We are part of a small group of families who came together through
> > interest in natural childbirth and AP. We would like to grow a
> small
> > community that will keep us together through homeschooling. Many of
> us
> > are interested in learning more about UP and unschooling.
> >
> > We have weekly access to a great facility and we have a ton of fun
> > stuff to do in our area, but we aren't sure what unschooling would
> look
> > like on the day we meet at the facility.
> >
> > We have a nice supply closet at the facility and an agreement that
> we
> > leave everything absolutely spotless when we are done for the day.
> The
> > children are currently 6 mos-6 years and there are 10 of them in 5
> > families.
> >
> > Could you guys give us some ideas we could try? We are considering
> > strewing or maybe a picture catalog the kids could browse.
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Leslie
> >
>
>
>


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

Melissa Gray

I know I responded to this when you first posted, but I don't know
where that is. Maybe if you go to the group and search for your
original post, and follow the 'replies' at the bottom?

My general gist was the 'spotless' is unrealistic for kids.
Especially kids that age, they aren't going to be able to play or
craft in a manner that makes it easy to clean up. We have a similar
agreement for our usage of few facilities. We have a craft day,
cooking creations (wherein we make a snack and share), creative
movement. What usually happens is that the adults set up everything
while the children play, and then the adults facilitate the children.
About half an hour before our time is up, we give the kids a ten
minute reminder to finish what they are doing, then they play while
the adults clean up. The kids can help if they want, and some do.
Kids can choose to be involved or not. we have a yahoo group, and
there is a separate one for the kids (and all the kids have an
account, even the toddlers. the parents help them, of course) and on
that group we have polls about what kind of crafts and cooking they
want to do, the kids voices count equally.

the yahoo group for kids was the best thing that's happened for our
group, because every child can post, even the two year olds have had
their parents send emails for them. The oldest children 13/14, keep
it pretty clean, they're the moderators (along with the moderators
from the adult group)

Melissa
Mom to Joshua, Breanna, Emily, Rachel, Samuel, Daniel and Avari
Wife to Zane

blog me at
http://startlinglives.blogspot.com/
http://startlinglives365.blogspot.com




> --- In [email protected], "Leslie and Parker"
> <dontcall@...> wrote:
> >
> > I posted this a while back, but it got lost in the shuffle. I
> thought
> > I'd post it again and see if anyone had any ideas.
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Leslie
> > (Andrew 4, Conrad 20 mos)
> >
> > --- In [email protected], "Leslie and Parker"
> > <dontcall@> wrote:
> > >
> > > We are part of a small group of families who came together
> through
> > > interest in natural childbirth and AP. We would like to grow a
> > small
> > > community that will keep us together through homeschooling. Many
> of
> > us
> > > are interested in learning more about UP and unschooling.
> > >
> > > We have weekly access to a great facility and we have a ton of
> fun
> > > stuff to do in our area, but we aren't sure what unschooling
> would
> > look
> > > like on the day we meet at the facility.
> > >
> > > We have a nice supply closet at the facility and an agreement
> that
> > we
> > > leave everything absolutely spotless when we are done for the
> day.
> > The
> > > children are currently 6 mos-6 years and there are 10 of them in
> 5
> > > families.
> > >
> > > Could you guys give us some ideas we could try? We are
> considering
> > > strewing or maybe a picture catalog the kids could browse.
> > >
> > > Thank you,
> > > Leslie
> > >
> >
>
>
>



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

Leslie and Parker

You're right. It's nice to be with like-minded families.

This sounds about like what we are doing. The parents bring stuff
each week that their kid might be interested in. We keep stuff on
hand to do spontaneous things too. Mostly the kids play on the
playground. Everyone tries to meet up at parks, homes, and local
attractions duing the week. Every once in a while someone plans a
bigger trip.

One of the moms has taken an interesting idea from Waldorf and is
going to plan projects for the adults, and maybe the kids will want
to join in.



--- In [email protected], "Kathleen Gehrke"
<gehrkes@...> wrote:
>
> Leslie,
>
> Unschoolers go to planned events. You can plan a craft project, or
a
> tumbling activity, but the beauty of it is the kids can choose to
not
> participate or to participate.
>
> I love to take adventures with other unschoolers. Go to museums,
> farms, science centers. I love to hike or hang out at a lake with
> unschooling families. My kids love it too.
>
> I have met with an eclectic group of homeschoolers for organized
> activites in a space. It helps to follow your kids and the groups
> interests. Ask what other families kids are looking for. Some
> projects and play are done far better and more enjoyably in a
group.
>
> Sometimes for us just wonderful play is enough. And for me it is a
> gift to have time with other unschooling parents.
>
> Kathleen
>
>
> --- In [email protected], "Leslie and Parker"
> <dontcall@> wrote:
> >
> > I posted this a while back, but it got lost in the shuffle. I
> thought
> > I'd post it again and see if anyone had any ideas.
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Leslie
> > (Andrew 4, Conrad 20 mos)
> >
> > --- In [email protected], "Leslie and Parker"
> > <dontcall@> wrote:
> > >
> > > We are part of a small group of families who came together
> through
> > > interest in natural childbirth and AP. We would like to grow a
> > small
> > > community that will keep us together through homeschooling.
Many
> of
> > us
> > > are interested in learning more about UP and unschooling.
> > >
> > > We have weekly access to a great facility and we have a ton of
> fun
> > > stuff to do in our area, but we aren't sure what unschooling
> would
> > look
> > > like on the day we meet at the facility.
> > >
> > > We have a nice supply closet at the facility and an agreement
> that
> > we
> > > leave everything absolutely spotless when we are done for the
> day.
> > The
> > > children are currently 6 mos-6 years and there are 10 of them
in
> 5
> > > families.
> > >
> > > Could you guys give us some ideas we could try? We are
> considering
> > > strewing or maybe a picture catalog the kids could browse.
> > >
> > > Thank you,
> > > Leslie
> > >
> >
>

Leslie and Parker

Thank you for taking the time to respond again. I don't see an
earlier response, but that doesn't mean it's not somewhere- I'll keep
looking.

I love your idea about the Yahoo group for the kids!



--- In [email protected], Melissa Gray
<autismhelp@...> wrote:
>
> I know I responded to this when you first posted, but I don't know
> where that is. Maybe if you go to the group and search for your
> original post, and follow the 'replies' at the bottom?
>
> My general gist was the 'spotless' is unrealistic for kids.
> Especially kids that age, they aren't going to be able to play or
> craft in a manner that makes it easy to clean up. We have a
similar
> agreement for our usage of few facilities. We have a craft day,
> cooking creations (wherein we make a snack and share), creative
> movement. What usually happens is that the adults set up
everything
> while the children play, and then the adults facilitate the
children.
> About half an hour before our time is up, we give the kids a ten
> minute reminder to finish what they are doing, then they play
while
> the adults clean up. The kids can help if they want, and some do.
> Kids can choose to be involved or not. we have a yahoo group, and
> there is a separate one for the kids (and all the kids have an
> account, even the toddlers. the parents help them, of course) and
on
> that group we have polls about what kind of crafts and cooking
they
> want to do, the kids voices count equally.
>
> the yahoo group for kids was the best thing that's happened for
our
> group, because every child can post, even the two year olds have
had
> their parents send emails for them. The oldest children 13/14,
keep
> it pretty clean, they're the moderators (along with the moderators
> from the adult group)
>
> Melissa
> Mom to Joshua, Breanna, Emily, Rachel, Samuel, Daniel and Avari
> Wife to Zane
>
> blog me at
> http://startlinglives.blogspot.com/
> http://startlinglives365.blogspot.com
>
>
>
>
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Leslie and Parker

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I am really just looking for ideas of
unschooly stuff to do with a group of kids.

UP is Unconditional Parenting. You can learn more about it here-
http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.html



--- In [email protected], k <katherand@...> wrote:
>
> What does UP stand for? Also I guess the rest of the post doesn't
have much
> detail. I took this to be a sort of advertisement for others to
join rather
> than a question. So I guess there's little enough to go on that
may have
> been why the response was no there.
>
> ~Katherine
>
>
>
>
> On 6/27/08, Leslie and Parker <dontcall@...> wrote:
> >
> > I posted this a while back, but it got lost in the shuffle. I
thought
> > I'd post it again and see if anyone had any ideas.
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Leslie
> > (Andrew 4, Conrad 20 mos)
> >
> > --- In [email protected]<unschoolingbasics%
40yahoogroups.com>,
> > "Leslie and Parker"
> > <dontcall@> wrote:
> > >
> > > We are part of a small group of families who came together
through
> > > interest in natural childbirth and AP. We would like to grow a
> > small
> > > community that will keep us together through homeschooling.
Many of
> > us
> > > are interested in learning more about UP and unschooling.
> > >
> > > We have weekly access to a great facility and we have a ton of
fun
> > > stuff to do in our area, but we aren't sure what unschooling
would
> > look
> > > like on the day we meet at the facility.
> > >
> > > We have a nice supply closet at the facility and an agreement
that
> > we
> > > leave everything absolutely spotless when we are done for the
day.
> > The
> > > children are currently 6 mos-6 years and there are 10 of them
in 5
> > > families.
> > >
> > > Could you guys give us some ideas we could try? We are
considering
> > > strewing or maybe a picture catalog the kids could browse.
> > >
> > > Thank you,
> > > Leslie
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Therese

--- In [email protected], k <katherand@...> wrote:
>>> What does UP stand for?

I am guessing 'Unconditional Parenting'- Alfie Kohn?

I love your ideas. I wish we had a UP group around here. I help mod a
crunchy homeschooling group. (AP, but not many unschoolers
unfortunatley). Many times we bring tons of art/paint/chalk matierials
to the park and just let the kids go wild on the sidewalks with it.
Nothing is really structured, we just put it 'out there' for everyone
to use.

Therese

Kathleen Gehrke

Sounds Awesome!


--- In [email protected], "Leslie and Parker"
<dontcall@...> wrote:
>
> You're right. It's nice to be with like-minded families.
>
> This sounds about like what we are doing. The parents bring stuff
> each week that their kid might be interested in. We keep stuff on
> hand to do spontaneous things too. Mostly the kids play on the
> playground. Everyone tries to meet up at parks, homes, and local
> attractions duing the week. Every once in a while someone plans a
> bigger trip.
>
> One of the moms has taken an interesting idea from Waldorf and is
> going to plan projects for the adults, and maybe the kids will want
> to join in.
>
>
>
> --- In [email protected], "Kathleen Gehrke"
> <gehrkes@> wrote:
> >
> > Leslie,
> >
> > Unschoolers go to planned events. You can plan a craft project,
or
> a
> > tumbling activity, but the beauty of it is the kids can choose to
> not
> > participate or to participate.
> >
> > I love to take adventures with other unschoolers. Go to museums,
> > farms, science centers. I love to hike or hang out at a lake with
> > unschooling families. My kids love it too.
> >
> > I have met with an eclectic group of homeschoolers for organized
> > activites in a space. It helps to follow your kids and the groups
> > interests. Ask what other families kids are looking for. Some
> > projects and play are done far better and more enjoyably in a
> group.
> >
> > Sometimes for us just wonderful play is enough. And for me it is
a
> > gift to have time with other unschooling parents.
> >
> > Kathleen
> >
> >
> > --- In [email protected], "Leslie and Parker"
> > <dontcall@> wrote:
> > >
> > > I posted this a while back, but it got lost in the shuffle. I
> > thought
> > > I'd post it again and see if anyone had any ideas.
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > > Leslie
> > > (Andrew 4, Conrad 20 mos)
> > >
> > > --- In [email protected], "Leslie and Parker"
> > > <dontcall@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > We are part of a small group of families who came together
> > through
> > > > interest in natural childbirth and AP. We would like to grow
a
> > > small
> > > > community that will keep us together through homeschooling.
> Many
> > of
> > > us
> > > > are interested in learning more about UP and unschooling.
> > > >
> > > > We have weekly access to a great facility and we have a ton
of
> > fun
> > > > stuff to do in our area, but we aren't sure what unschooling
> > would
> > > look
> > > > like on the day we meet at the facility.
> > > >
> > > > We have a nice supply closet at the facility and an agreement
> > that
> > > we
> > > > leave everything absolutely spotless when we are done for the
> > day.
> > > The
> > > > children are currently 6 mos-6 years and there are 10 of them
> in
> > 5
> > > > families.
> > > >
> > > > Could you guys give us some ideas we could try? We are
> > considering
> > > > strewing or maybe a picture catalog the kids could browse.
> > > >
> > > > Thank you,
> > > > Leslie
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

hbmccarty

We belong to a learning center of all kinds of homeschooling families-
what works best for my unschooled kids is just to choose from lots of
offerings. Each family offers a "program" each season. We usually figure
out what to offer by thinking about what we like to do that would be
better with a group- certain games, sports, etc are a favorite. Arts and
crafts, too- my daughter likes best to teach things she knows.
Cooperative games, and other fun group games have been great- ideas
brought by kids and adults both. Also parents have brought lots of stuff
such as large cardboard blocks, scooters(we have use of a gym and a
playground), those folding tent-like structures on wire frames that
velcro together, hula hoops, balls, etc, etc. which have been used in
creative group play. Having a dedicated space(office suite)that is all
ours all the time has helped SO much with mess issues, though noise is
still a concern as we share walls with other offices. They tolerate us,
as they like the idea of having us there. We are looking for another space.

As the my kids get a little older it seems that "programs" that are
about a certain interest of theirs are most interesting- science,
creative writing, drawing, etc.

Heather