mommasgoodiesandgifts

I have heard of some unschoolers doing like lesson plans in reverse..
instead of sitting down to plan the week in advance - they sit down at
the end of the week (or the end of the day) and write out what the
child learned/accomplished/did.. could anyone help me (by either
showing me a sample) or perhaps explaining how that you decide what to
write down in the plan for that day.. I kinda have mental block as to
where to begin with this..

Courtney Short-Prudhomme

Visual Artist, unschooling teacher, wife, and mom

Homeschool Blog: http://www.iveseenthevillage.blogspot.com
Craft Blog: http://www.mommasgoodies.blogspot.com
Online Store: http://www.mommasgoodies.etsy.com

~~~I've SEEN the village, and I don't want it raising MY children.~~~

k

Why do you want to do lessons plans? I'm assuming this activity is meant to
fulfill a state requirement. Is that why? Does your state (if you're in
the US) require lesson plans?

~Katherine




On 8/18/08, mommasgoodiesandgifts <cty70667@...> wrote:
>
> I have heard of some unschoolers doing like lesson plans in reverse..
> instead of sitting down to plan the week in advance - they sit down at
> the end of the week (or the end of the day) and write out what the
> child learned/accomplished/did.. could anyone help me (by either
> showing me a sample) or perhaps explaining how that you decide what to
> write down in the plan for that day.. I kinda have mental block as to
> where to begin with this..
>
> Courtney Short-Prudhomme
>
> Visual Artist, unschooling teacher, wife, and mom
>
> Homeschool Blog: http://www.iveseenthevillage.blogspot.com
> Craft Blog: http://www.mommasgoodies.blogspot.com
> Online Store: http://www.mommasgoodies.etsy.com
>
> ~~~I've SEEN the village, and I don't want it raising MY children.~~~
>
>
>


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

Pamela Sorooshian

Constantly thinking about school subjects will hinder your unschooling
lives. But, I created a form that might help if you have a need to
keep records. It is in the files area of this list at the following
link:

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingbasics/files/>


It is designed to allow you to keep notes on what is "going on" in
your kids' lives, to some degree at least <G>, while NOT forcing you
into thinking in terms of school subjects.

For those who need or want to keep records, it can help a lot if you
aren't constantly having to think about what your kids are doing in
terms of what school subject it satisfies. With this simple record
keeping form, you can think in terms of what they are really doing,
and only later, maybe once a month or once a year, translate that into
school subjects IF you have to do it for some reason.

-pam

On Aug 18, 2008, at 3:31 PM, mommasgoodiesandgifts wrote:

> I have heard of some unschoolers doing like lesson plans in reverse..
> instead of sitting down to plan the week in advance - they sit down at
> the end of the week (or the end of the day) and write out what the
> child learned/accomplished/did.. could anyone help me (by either
> showing me a sample) or perhaps explaining how that you decide what to
> write down in the plan for that day.. I kinda have mental block as to
> where to begin with this..

Debra Rossing

Start with just a calendar or day planner to jot notes "went to the
park", "talked about South Park episode", "watched episode one of season
4 of Dr. Who" so you'll remember by the end of the week what happened on
Monday :-) Then, whether weekly or monthly or quarterly or whatever, you
go back and 'translate' the everyday "ordinary" stuff into
"educationese" - went to the park is physical education, perhaps a
little science ('what kind of flower is that?'); South Park can be
culture, current events, literature, social studies, etc; Dr. Who
history, culture, science (physics, is time travel possible, what would
be involved, etc), and so on.

You'd also need to know what exactly is required by law - do they
require lesson plans that get turned in? do they just require that you
have them in case someone asks to see them? Do you just need a
portfolio? Do you need to show that you've "covered" the requisite
subject areas in some manner? Do you need a "narrative" summary of what
has been touched on? The laws in each state are different (up here in CT
we don't have to deal with the school district at all ever)

Deb


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Faith Void

I am not good at translating our lives into "school speak" so I found this
http://www.fun-books.com/homeschooling.htm#Learning_Guides*

*It really helped me when I needed to communicate about that kind of stuff.
I don't know the laws where you are so this may or may not be usable to you.
Faith *
*
On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 11:37 AM, Debra Rossing <debra.rossing@...
> wrote:

> Start with just a calendar or day planner to jot notes "went to the
> park", "talked about South Park episode", "watched episode one of season
> 4 of Dr. Who" so you'll remember by the end of the week what happened on
> Monday :-) Then, whether weekly or monthly or quarterly or whatever, you
> go back and 'translate' the everyday "ordinary" stuff into
> "educationese" - went to the park is physical education, perhaps a
> little science ('what kind of flower is that?'); South Park can be
> culture, current events, literature, social studies, etc; Dr. Who
> history, culture, science (physics, is time travel possible, what would
> be involved, etc), and so on.
>
> You'd also need to know what exactly is required by law - do they
> require lesson plans that get turned in? do they just require that you
> have them in case someone asks to see them? Do you just need a
> portfolio? Do you need to show that you've "covered" the requisite
> subject areas in some manner? Do you need a "narrative" summary of what
> has been touched on? The laws in each state are different (up here in CT
> we don't have to deal with the school district at all ever)
>
> Deb
>
> **********************************************************************
> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
> intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
> are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
> the system manager.
>
> This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
> MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.
>
> CNC Software, Inc.
> www.mastercam.com
> **********************************************************************
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



--
www.bearthmama.com


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

nani

Hi,
I'm new in this group and I have two girls, they are almost 4 yo and
16 mo. Is there a website or a pdf somewhere that could point me in
the direction of what the different states require regarding proof of
lesson plans, etc.?
Also, has anyone ever seen a documentary that covers unschooling? I'm
possibly planning on making a documentary as we embark upon this
adventure.
Thanks,
Natalie

mommasgoodiesandgifts

thanks to everyone that has responded.. I printed that file on the
group.. it's goign to help a lot.. and I am in the process of ordering
these other books on amazon.com.. especially the John Holt Book
(Learning all the time).. I want to read it but to also let the hubs
read it.. I am not required by law to provide lesson plans - by chosing
a "private" homeschool designation.. but I want to learn now how to
build my daughter's portfolio for college rather than waiting until
Middle or highschool age to start. Also I would like something to show
my husband as to how what we do thru life learning translates into the
subjects she would get in public school..

Courtney P.
http://iveseenthevillage.blogspot.com

Debra Rossing

Hi Natalie

Just google <your state> homeschooling and you'll find the laws for your
state. Or, are you looking to find someplace to move that has no
regulations? Tops for no regulation include (in no particular order) CT,
TX, OK, NJ, AK, ID, IL, IN, MI. Then there are some that require that
you keep records and/or take tests BUT you never show them to anyone
UNLESS they formally, in writing, request you to present the material
(pretty silly). And, there are places like FL where you can use a cover
or "umbrella" school - enroll with the umbrella school (usually a
nominal fee) and email them your 'attendance' each the month and that's
it.

Deb


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are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Ren Allen

> Also, has anyone ever seen a documentary that covers unschooling? I'm
> possibly planning on making a documentary as we embark upon this
> adventure.
> Thanks,
> Natalie


There is one being worked on right now. I say, the more the better
though!:)

Ren
learninginfreedom.com

hbmccarty

There is this one about grown unschoolers:

http://www.grownwithoutschooling.com/

Heather (in NY)


Ren Allen wrote:
>
>
> > Also, has anyone ever seen a documentary that covers unschooling? I'm
> > possibly planning on making a documentary as we embark upon this
> > adventure.
> > Thanks,
> > Natalie
>

[email protected]

-----Original Message-----
From: hbmccarty <hbmccarty@...>


There is this one about grown unschoolers:

http://www.grownwithoutschooling.com/

-=-=-=-

I hate to be a real party-pooper about this film. I'm sure Peter is a
wonderful man, and I admire that he made the effort.

But if you are looking for inspiration? Please don't watch this!

Several of the young adults (they are pretty old now, I'd think)
are..."dull"---for lack of a more exciting word. The more "academic"
teens seem at least..."sparkly"---but still....

It's not something a reluctant parent/spouse/grandparent would find
"comforting." I would never recommend showing this to someone "on the
fence."

It's poorly edited. And waaay too long. And a couple of the kids seem
really, really sad.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming documentary. There's no doubt we
need one. But I'd really warn you OFF Grown Without Schooling. I'm glad
I didn't see it before I was hooked on unschooling. I probably would
have had second thoughts about it.

The teens/young adults *I* am used to seeing at the conferences just
REEK of confidence and excitement and joy and adventure and interests
and a unique sense of living in the moment. These attributes seemed
lacking in Grown Without Schooling. I just don't think it's
representable of the teens/young adults *I* know. And consequently the
*unschooling* that I know.


~Kelly

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

k

I looked at the previews and what I came away thinking is it didn't sound
much like unschooling. There was one fellow who looked pretty confident who
appeared twice and I liked what he said. But yeah... I guess in the
interest of balance, there seemed to be way more "negative" than I was
expecting. I thought I would wait to see what kind of documentary the new
one mentioned is going to be.

~Katherine



On 8/21/08, kbcdlovejo@... <kbcdlovejo@...> wrote:
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: hbmccarty <hbmccarty@... <hbmccarty%40twcny.rr.com>>
>
> There is this one about grown unschoolers:
>
> http://www.grownwithoutschooling.com/
>
> -=-=-=-
>
> I hate to be a real party-pooper about this film. I'm sure Peter is a
> wonderful man, and I admire that he made the effort.
>
> But if you are looking for inspiration? Please don't watch this!
>
> Several of the young adults (they are pretty old now, I'd think)
> are..."dull"---for lack of a more exciting word. The more "academic"
> teens seem at least..."sparkly"---but still....
>
> It's not something a reluctant parent/spouse/grandparent would find
> "comforting." I would never recommend showing this to someone "on the
> fence."
>
> It's poorly edited. And waaay too long. And a couple of the kids seem
> really, really sad.
>
> I'm looking forward to the upcoming documentary. There's no doubt we
> need one. But I'd really warn you OFF Grown Without Schooling. I'm glad
> I didn't see it before I was hooked on unschooling. I probably would
> have had second thoughts about it.
>
> The teens/young adults *I* am used to seeing at the conferences just
> REEK of confidence and excitement and joy and adventure and interests
> and a unique sense of living in the moment. These attributes seemed
> lacking in Grown Without Schooling. I just don't think it's
> representable of the teens/young adults *I* know. And consequently the
> *unschooling* that I know.
>
> ~Kelly
>
> Kelly Lovejoy
> Conference Coordinator
> Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
> http://www.LiveandLearnConference.org
>
>


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

nani

Thanks for your insights, Kelli! I just watched the trailer and I felt
the same way. I would want to show the inspiration and enthusiasm that
children can feel when they learn about life and how the world works.
"Inspiration" is the key here for me, breathing spirit into life...
also exploring what kills enthusiasm for learning and what happens to
kids in a rigid school environment.
My kids are quite young, almost 4 and 16 months and I'm just learning
about unschooling myself. I wish I could come to the conference in
Sept., but it's pretty far, we are in SF.
Natalie

dana_burdick

--- In [email protected], kbcdlovejo@... wrote:
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: hbmccarty <hbmccarty@...>
>
>
> There is this one about grown unschoolers:
>
> http://www.grownwithoutschooling.com/
>
> -=-=-=-
> But if you are looking for inspiration? Please don't watch this!

I felt pretty much the same when I watched it. I too, thought that
some of them appeared sad. I was very new to unschooling at the
time, so it had quite an impact on me. I felt pretty depressed for
awhile, actually. I finally concluded that the filmmaker was perhaps
a bit down himself and chose to edit the film with that slant. So, I
chose to ignore it and hold onto unchooling for a little bit longer,
even if it required some blind faith. I reasoned that my kids were
already bubbly and interesting, so why should I fear that unschooling
would somehow suck them dry and make them dull or depressed.
Luckily, my DH would neither read nor watch anything about
unschooling when we first started. Otherwise, we may easily have
been doing something else entirely.

As a side note (I just love to tell this story), my DH may not have
been willing to read or listen to anything about unschooling when we
first started, but he was willing to take precious vacation time to
fly and participate in an unschooling conference. In the middle of
the conference at some point he said, "Well, I'm pretty much
convinced about this unschooling thing." Amazing!

The rest, as they say, is history. <g>

-Dana

Adrean Clark

The trailer isn't subtitled so I'm reallly curious. Why did the
unschoolers seem sad?



On 8/23/08, dana_burdick <DanaBurdick@...> wrote:
> --- In [email protected], kbcdlovejo@... wrote:
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: hbmccarty <hbmccarty@...>
>>
>>
>> There is this one about grown unschoolers:
>>
>> http://www.grownwithoutschooling.com/
>>
>> -=-=-=-
>> But if you are looking for inspiration? Please don't watch this!
>
> I felt pretty much the same when I watched it. I too, thought that
> some of them appeared sad. I was very new to unschooling at the
> time, so it had quite an impact on me. I felt pretty depressed for
> awhile, actually. I finally concluded that the filmmaker was perhaps
> a bit down himself and chose to edit the film with that slant. So, I
> chose to ignore it and hold onto unchooling for a little bit longer,
> even if it required some blind faith. I reasoned that my kids were
> already bubbly and interesting, so why should I fear that unschooling
> would somehow suck them dry and make them dull or depressed.
> Luckily, my DH would neither read nor watch anything about
> unschooling when we first started. Otherwise, we may easily have
> been doing something else entirely.
>
> As a side note (I just love to tell this story), my DH may not have
> been willing to read or listen to anything about unschooling when we
> first started, but he was willing to take precious vacation time to
> fly and participate in an unschooling conference. In the middle of
> the conference at some point he said, "Well, I'm pretty much
> convinced about this unschooling thing." Amazing!
>
> The rest, as they say, is history. <g>
>
> -Dana
>
>
>

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

k

I had the same problem.. couldn't hear the content. But from what I could
gather, the reason they seemed sad is because they doubted their ability to
make it in the work place. ?? Maybe there was more to it than that. I
didn't get it either.

~Katherine



On 8/23/08, Adrean Clark <adreanaline@...> wrote:
>
> The trailer isn't subtitled so I'm reallly curious. Why did the
> unschoolers seem sad?
>
>
> On 8/23/08, dana_burdick <DanaBurdick@...<DanaBurdick%40comcast.net>>
> wrote:
> > --- In [email protected]<unschoolingbasics%40yahoogroups.com>,
> kbcdlovejo@... wrote:
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: hbmccarty <hbmccarty@...>
> >>
> >>
> >> There is this one about grown unschoolers:
> >>
> >> http://www.grownwithoutschooling.com/
> >>
> >> -=-=-=-
> >> But if you are looking for inspiration? Please don't watch this!
> >
> > I felt pretty much the same when I watched it. I too, thought that
> > some of them appeared sad. I was very new to unschooling at the
> > time, so it had quite an impact on me. I felt pretty depressed for
> > awhile, actually. I finally concluded that the filmmaker was perhaps
> > a bit down himself and chose to edit the film with that slant. So, I
> > chose to ignore it and hold onto unchooling for a little bit longer,
> > even if it required some blind faith. I reasoned that my kids were
> > already bubbly and interesting, so why should I fear that unschooling
> > would somehow suck them dry and make them dull or depressed.
> > Luckily, my DH would neither read nor watch anything about
> > unschooling when we first started. Otherwise, we may easily have
> > been doing something else entirely.
> >
> > As a side note (I just love to tell this story), my DH may not have
> > been willing to read or listen to anything about unschooling when we
> > first started, but he was willing to take precious vacation time to
> > fly and participate in an unschooling conference. In the middle of
> > the conference at some point he said, "Well, I'm pretty much
> > convinced about this unschooling thing." Amazing!
> >
> > The rest, as they say, is history. <g>
> >
> > -Dana
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com
>
>
>


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

[email protected]

-----Original Message-----
From: Adrean Clark <adreanaline@...>

The trailer isn't subtitled so I'm reallly curious. Why did the
unschoolers seem sad?

-=-=-=-

I don't know. Just what they said and how they acted.

Uninspired. Dull. Uninterested.

Just not my children's reality.



~Kelly

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

[email protected]

-----Original Message-----
From: k <katherand@...>


I had the same problem.. couldn't hear the content. But from what I
could
gather, the reason they seemed sad is because they doubted their
ability to
make it in the work place. ?? Maybe there was more to it than that. I
didn't get it either.

-=-=-=-

One of the differences is that several of these young adults didn't
have parental support or encouragement when they were teens. The two
"academic" types *were* supported, but they were..."academic." The poor
cyclist was NOT at ALL! His story was sooo depressing to me.

There's a couple (maybe they're married, I can't remember), but they
didn't seem to have any "oomph" at all. Then there's one girl who lives
in a tiny house on her parents' land and grows plants and never does
much else---and she seems very depressed.

It's just not a joyful, inspirational view of unschooled adults. The
teens/young adults *I* know are articulate, interested, interesting,
engaged in life, adventurous, philosophical---just AMAZING!

Ruthless editing *might* have helped this documentary, but sparkly
subjects would have helped more!



~Kelly, party pooper

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

k

Well Kelly I'm glad to get your party pooper comments. I have been feeling
like the only party pooper amongst many who don't understand my poopin'
ideas. ;) In cocoon mode for the moment and doing a lot of organizing with
crappy encouragement but such is life at times. Karl comes first, and in
order for that to happen first I gotta get things lined up and arranged for
happier times. Winter is on the way for pity's sake and I want to be
prepared for it. The last thing I want is a droopy sad cold dull
sparkle-less winter.

~Katherine



On 8/28/08, kbcdlovejo@... <kbcdlovejo@...> wrote:
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: k <katherand@... <katherand%40gmail.com>>
>
> I had the same problem.. couldn't hear the content. But from what I
> could
> gather, the reason they seemed sad is because they doubted their
> ability to
> make it in the work place. ?? Maybe there was more to it than that. I
> didn't get it either.
>
> -=-=-=-
>
> One of the differences is that several of these young adults didn't
> have parental support or encouragement when they were teens. The two
> "academic" types *were* supported, but they were..."academic." The poor
> cyclist was NOT at ALL! His story was sooo depressing to me.
>
> There's a couple (maybe they're married, I can't remember), but they
> didn't seem to have any "oomph" at all. Then there's one girl who lives
> in a tiny house on her parents' land and grows plants and never does
> much else---and she seems very depressed.
>
> It's just not a joyful, inspirational view of unschooled adults. The
> teens/young adults *I* know are articulate, interested, interesting,
> engaged in life, adventurous, philosophical---just AMAZING!
>
> Ruthless editing *might* have helped this documentary, but sparkly
> subjects would have helped more!
>
> ~Kelly, party pooper
>
> Kelly Lovejoy
> Conference Coordinator
> Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
> http://www.LiveandLearnConference.org
>
>


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

olearydeborah

Courtney, I usually sit down at the end of the day and type a
narrative of what Connor does each day. I print it out and place it
in a binder. It usually takes me about ten minutes a day. It also
serves as our "attendance record". We have our own little discussion
of what he feels he accomplished and, he rates himself. We do set
weekly "goals" but they are his own and are project-oriented.

Deb Mom to Connor 13, and his educational facilitator

--- In [email protected], "mommasgoodiesandgifts"
<cty70667@...> wrote:
>
> I have heard of some unschoolers doing like lesson plans in
reverse..
> instead of sitting down to plan the week in advance - they sit down
at
> the end of the week (or the end of the day) and write out what the
> child learned/accomplished/did.. could anyone help me (by either
> showing me a sample) or perhaps explaining how that you decide what
to
> write down in the plan for that day.. I kinda have mental block as
to
> where to begin with this..
>
> Courtney Short-Prudhomme
>
> Visual Artist, unschooling teacher, wife, and mom
>
> Homeschool Blog: http://www.iveseenthevillage.blogspot.com
> Craft Blog: http://www.mommasgoodies.blogspot.com
> Online Store: http://www.mommasgoodies.etsy.com
>
> ~~~I've SEEN the village, and I don't want it raising MY
children.~~~
>