Tracy

We are transitioning to the unschooling lifestyle, but my husband is
not fully on board. He wants me to cover at least the basics with the
kids - reading, writing, and math.

I'm thinking that if I can translate their interests into
educationese, then it may help to change his mind; to see that they
are learning simply by pursuing their interests & passions. He never
asks to see any kind of bookwork anyway....he occasionally asks what
they did in "school" today. :(

Kendall is 15. He loves Music! He plays electric guitar (self-taught)
& loves to discover new bands to listen to.

He is big into Fitness & Nutrition. He has started working out; is
reading about bodybuilding, and wants to eat healthier. He also wants
to learn to cook & bake.

He likes to draw, IM'ing friends on MySpace, changing his layout
frequently, skateboarding, has a part-time job, wants to start saving
his money (he has a savings account), and I'm sure there is probably
tons more I'm forgetting!

We also have 2 daughters: Kayla is 11 and Kenzie just turned 8.

Any ideas on translating his interests & activities would be greatly
appreciated!

~ Tracy

Meredith

--- In [email protected], "Tracy"
<rosehavencottage@...> wrote:
>> Kendall is 15. He loves Music! He plays electric guitar (self-
taught)
> & loves to discover new bands to listen to.
>
> He is big into Fitness & Nutrition. He has started working out; is
> reading about bodybuilding, and wants to eat healthier. He also
wants
> to learn to cook & bake.
>
> He likes to draw, IM'ing friends on MySpace, changing his layout
> frequently, skateboarding, has a part-time job, wants to start
saving
> his money (he has a savings account), and I'm sure there is
probably
> tons more I'm forgetting!

Well, he's certainly got "the basics" covered! He's reading about
bodybuilding and on MySpace, writing on MySpace. Writing for
communication purposes definately "counts"! didn't you have to read
a zillion old letters in literature classes? I sure did - deadly
dull, imo to read someone elses old letters. Today's chitchat and
gossip is tomorrow's lit 101. Is he reading about new bands? Does he
read the liner notes? Some of those are very well written short
essays. Plus, song lyrics are the poetry of our time. If he's on the
computer, looking things up, he's learning how to research - a very
important "language art".

Math, good grief, he's doing math all the time! the exercise (ratios
and fractions - what's his bmi? - tables and charts), the music (of
course), the layout changes (geometry, logic), the drawing (more
geometry, proportion, symetry, perspective), money (econmomics)....
Lots of math.

Skateboarding is physics - objects in motion. Velocity, force,
momentum, vectors, centrifigal vs centripedal forces... it doesn't
matter if he's connecting any of those words with what he's doing
irl - he's learning more about Real physics on that skateboard than
most kids ever learn in school.

>He never
> asks to see any kind of bookwork anyway....he occasionally asks
what
> they did in "school" today. :(

To some extent, your dh is just trying to connect with you and the
kids in the way he knows - its what *everyone* asks kids, right? He
needs new conversation starters ;) Is there some way you can help
him connect? Can you start a blog or send him daily emails? Tell him
lots of fun stories so that he knows all his hard work is going
to "a good cause".

Help him see a larger picture than "today" too - talk about ways you
see your kids really shine so your dh can share that joy and
know "the kids will be okay".

---Meredith (Mo 6, Ray 14)

Bea

--- In [email protected], "Meredith" <meredith@...> wrote:


> Well, he's certainly got "the basics" covered! He's reading about
> bodybuilding and on MySpace, writing on MySpace. Writing for
> communication purposes definately "counts"! didn't you have to read
> a zillion old letters in literature classes? I sure did - deadly
> dull, imo to read someone elses old letters. Today's chitchat and
> gossip is tomorrow's lit 101.



oooh, there is a great article about that here:
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/03/14/kids_and_internet/

(it was posted on another list a while back... maybe on this one too,
I don't remember.)



Bea

Tracy

--- In [email protected], "Meredith" <meredith@...> wrote:
> Is he reading about new bands? Does he
> read the liner notes? Some of those are very well written short
> essays. Plus, song lyrics are the poetry of our time. If he's on the
> computer, looking things up, he's learning how to research - a very
> important "language art".

****Oh yes, he loves discovering new bands - some are even foreign
groups that are not played on the radio here in the States. He has
written to a few on MySpace & they've actually written him back - very
exciting for a teen fan. :)

I never thought of using song lyrics as poetry, but that's exactly
what it is. How cool is that! Thanks for the idea!!

> >He never
> > asks to see any kind of bookwork anyway....he occasionally asks
> what
> > they did in "school" today. :(
>
> To some extent, your dh is just trying to connect with you and the
> kids in the way he knows - its what *everyone* asks kids, right? He
> needs new conversation starters ;) Is there some way you can help
> him connect? Can you start a blog or send him daily emails? Tell him
> lots of fun stories so that he knows all his hard work is going
> to "a good cause".
>
> Help him see a larger picture than "today" too - talk about ways you
> see your kids really shine so your dh can share that joy and
> know "the kids will be okay".

****Yes, I can create a blog and I will talk more with him about what
they are doing, learning, creating.

I have 3 children - do you write down everything that each are doing
or just the highlights of the day?

~ Tracy

Shannon

My suggestion is to keep a journal. I do this simply by writing a few lines
about what the kids did today. If you would like tell me what they have done
today and I can put it in schoolese for your hubby. I think that is one of
the reasons I have never had any problems with my family or friends. Those
that don't get un/homeschooling I just translate for them. Son played clay
all day. He is working his creativity, art and small motor skills. I have a
degree in child development and my mother and sister are high school
teachers. All of my mom and sis's teacher friends are impressed with my kids
after they get over that they don't go to school.



I remember being around the dinner table and Dad asking what did we do today
or at school and giving a shrug or small response even into high school.
Even when my kids give little response to their Dad, I can remind them what
they did today and help add to the conversation. Our dinners are much more
animated.



Shannon



_____

From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tracy
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:34 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Help Needed



We are transitioning to the unschooling lifestyle, but my husband is
not fully on board. He wants me to cover at least the basics with the
kids - reading, writing, and math.

I'm thinking that if I can translate their interests into
educationese, then it may help to change his mind; to see that they
are learning simply by pursuing their interests & passions. He never
asks to see any kind of bookwork anyway....he occasionally asks what
they did in "school" today. :(

Kendall is 15. He loves Music! He plays electric guitar (self-taught)
& loves to discover new bands to listen to.

He is big into Fitness & Nutrition. He has started working out; is
reading about bodybuilding, and wants to eat healthier. He also wants
to learn to cook & bake.

He likes to draw, IM'ing friends on MySpace, changing his layout
frequently, skateboarding, has a part-time job, wants to start saving
his money (he has a savings account), and I'm sure there is probably
tons more I'm forgetting!

We also have 2 daughters: Kayla is 11 and Kenzie just turned 8.

Any ideas on translating his interests & activities would be greatly
appreciated!

~ Tracy





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

Tracy

Hi Shannon - we're not doing much today. We had a family reunion to
attend at a local park. My kids are still there....I had to come home
due to panic attacks - yuck!

Once they get home we'll just hang out here at home watching tv or
movies in the A/C until their dad gets home. He's been away for 2
weeks of camp with the Army National Guard. We may bake an angel food
cake, too.

~ Tracy

--- In [email protected], "Shannon" <dragteine76@...>
wrote:
>
> My suggestion is to keep a journal. I do this simply by writing a
few lines
> about what the kids did today. If you would like tell me what they
have done
> today and I can put it in schoolese for your hubby.

Shannon

We watched telly all day today. first we had to discuss and compromise on
the movie selection (communication and interpersonal skills). We watched a
lot of Sci-Fi which included MIB 1 and 2 which lead to conversations with
Quentin, 7, about space travel and the existence of life on other planets,
theories about galaxies and solar systems (for time sake we will lump that
into science). Xan, 3, went to the grocery store with the hubby and after
dinner played with water in the bathroom sink and cleaned the sink and the
floor (water play and practical skills). Quentin did language arts his
time4learning online skipped two sections but read the decoder book (his
goal - not mine) and learned about zero as a place holder for math then
played Danger Zone with hubby. (Education wise this PC board game has lots -
it is from Jurassic Park. There is everything from audio patterns to quick
trivia all having to do with dinosaurs.) I played Alphabet Park learning
adventure with Xan. I probably could list at least half a dozen more like
breaks down to the basement to do laundry or the leaps and bounds that
Logan, 6 months is making.



I imagine if it was a typical family reunion there were family stories
(interpersonal relationship). oh a park (that falls under physical ed),
depending on what you watched or conversations it evoked, baking can fall
under science, math and practical skills, one that I must say my son is
better me at.



Nothing much when you change you POV can change to a lot education wise. Of
course I don't point these things out to my kids. I only save it for my
schooly family and my review sheet for my umbrella school.



Shannon



_____

From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tracy
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 1:41 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Re: Help Needed



Hi Shannon - we're not doing much today. We had a family reunion to
attend at a local park. My kids are still there....I had to come home
due to panic attacks - yuck!

Once they get home we'll just hang out here at home watching tv or
movies in the A/C until their dad gets home. He's been away for 2
weeks of camp with the Army National Guard. We may bake an angel food
cake, too.

~ Tracy

--- In unschoolingbasics@ <mailto:unschoolingbasics%40yahoogroups.com>
yahoogroups.com, "Shannon" <dragteine76@...>
wrote:
>
> My suggestion is to keep a journal. I do this simply by writing a
few lines
> about what the kids did today. If you would like tell me what they
have done
> today and I can put it in schoolese for your hubby.





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

[email protected]

-----Original Message-----
From: Tracy <rosehavencottage@...>

Kendall is 15. He loves Music! He plays electric guitar (self-taught)
& loves to discover new bands to listen to.

He is big into Fitness & Nutrition. He has started working out; is
reading about bodybuilding, and wants to eat healthier. He also wants
to learn to cook & bake.

He likes to draw, IM'ing friends on MySpace, changing his layout
frequently, skateboarding, has a part-time job, wants to start saving
his money (he has a savings account), and I'm sure there is probably
tons more I'm forgetting!

Any ideas on translating his interests & activities would be greatly
appreciated!

-=-=-=-=-=-

Hmmmm....are you sure this ISN'T Cameron??? <BWG>

Add magic, filmmaking, and traveling---and change guitar to drums---and
I'd think you were talking about Cam!


Guitar: music, history, reading, writing, math, geography, social
studies, technology, art, poetry, physics.

Fitness & Nutrition: physical education, reading, nutrition, social
studies, physics, health, chemistry, history, art.

Drawing & IMing: art, history, science, technology, reading, writing,
social studies, computer science.

Skateboarding: physics, art, music, technology, reading, social studies.

Part-time job & saving money: financing/banking, social studies,
whatever work he does....

I'm sure others can add to that. But it's a small start.

You can't live without learning. Seriously. But sometimes it's tough to
translate. Think about what you're *learning* and how it can help you
in the future. You'll see the benefits after analyzing it a bit.



~Kelly

Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://www.LiveandLearnConference.org

Meredith

--- In [email protected], "Tracy"
<rosehavencottage@...> wrote:
>> I have 3 children - do you write down everything that each are
doing
> or just the highlights of the day?

Is this for your dh? I'd write down anything that made you smile or
think "oooooh organic learning! its really happening!". It doesn't
matter if there's more to say about one kid than another on any
given day - some people naturally flit around while others focus.
You can check out my blog if you like - but I warn you its more
friendly and newsy than... "educational":
http://the-dismal-life.blogspot.com

> I never thought of using song lyrics as poetry, but that's exactly
> what it is. How cool is that! Thanks for the idea!!

Keep in mind that *you* don't have to "use" them for anything! If
he's listening to or reading the words he's *experiencing* poetry.
You might mention that to your dh or if you have to do a portfolio
review or something, but I wouldn't bring it up with your ds unless
it comes up organically in conversation.

---Meredith (Mo 6, Ray 14)

Tracy

Hey Kelly - thank you for replying. I always look for posts by you.
You inspire me! :)

~ Tracy

--- In [email protected], kbcdlovejo@... wrote:
> -=-=-=-=-=-
>
> Hmmmm....are you sure this ISN'T Cameron??? <BWG>
>
> Add magic, filmmaking, and traveling---and change guitar to drums---and
> I'd think you were talking about Cam!
>
>
> Guitar: music, history, reading, writing, math, geography, social
> studies, technology, art, poetry, physics.
>
> Fitness & Nutrition: physical education, reading, nutrition, social
> studies, physics, health, chemistry, history, art.
>
> Drawing & IMing: art, history, science, technology, reading, writing,
> social studies, computer science.
>
> Skateboarding: physics, art, music, technology, reading, social studies.
>
> Part-time job & saving money: financing/banking, social studies,
> whatever work he does....
>
> I'm sure others can add to that. But it's a small start.
>
> You can't live without learning. Seriously. But sometimes it's tough to
> translate. Think about what you're *learning* and how it can help you
> in the future. You'll see the benefits after analyzing it a bit.
>
>
>
> ~Kelly

Tracy

Hi Meredith - It would be mostly for when DH asks what the kids did in
school today...I can show him or tell him.

I'll check out your blog link. Thanks!

Oh and I won't mention to Kendall that the lyrics are poetry. I'm sure
he probably already realizes it - I was just surprised because I
hadn't made the connection myself. :)

~ Tracy

--- In [email protected], "Meredith" <meredith@...> wrote:
>
> --- In [email protected], "Tracy"
> <rosehavencottage@> wrote:
> >> I have 3 children - do you write down everything that each are
> doing
> > or just the highlights of the day?
>
> Is this for your dh? I'd write down anything that made you smile or
> think "oooooh organic learning! its really happening!". It doesn't
> matter if there's more to say about one kid than another on any
> given day - some people naturally flit around while others focus.
> You can check out my blog if you like - but I warn you its more
> friendly and newsy than... "educational":
> http://the-dismal-life.blogspot.com
>