questions from family
Cheryl Morkan
Hi everyone. I have 2 sons 12 and 4. We have been unschooling for
almost a year now and just today my mother asked my if ds12 was doing
any "work". I had hinted to her last year that if I had the courage
we would drop all the "school work" completely but that seemed to be
too much for her to digest. When she asked me that question today I
vaguely answered "Oh yeah, all the time". "Well," she replies, "i
hadn't heard you talk about it lately." I would like to give her a
nutshell explaination of unschooling, something I can print or send
her in email. If I try to discuss it with her I think we will get
off on too many tangents. I want her to have to read through a basic
description without having me there to grill. Can someone point me
in the right direction? I feel like trying to explain unschooling to
someone for the first time is like trying to explain ice to someone
who saw water.
Cheryl
almost a year now and just today my mother asked my if ds12 was doing
any "work". I had hinted to her last year that if I had the courage
we would drop all the "school work" completely but that seemed to be
too much for her to digest. When she asked me that question today I
vaguely answered "Oh yeah, all the time". "Well," she replies, "i
hadn't heard you talk about it lately." I would like to give her a
nutshell explaination of unschooling, something I can print or send
her in email. If I try to discuss it with her I think we will get
off on too many tangents. I want her to have to read through a basic
description without having me there to grill. Can someone point me
in the right direction? I feel like trying to explain unschooling to
someone for the first time is like trying to explain ice to someone
who saw water.
Cheryl
Syndi
Wow, I wish I could help with this one, but the above conversation
now has my own head spinning. Just when I THOUGHT I knew what I was
doing.
When anyone ask about my kids and their "schooling" (ha) I simply
reply that they are learning new things every day. And I leave it at
that. So far no one has taken it any farther, but I do understand
how moms can be ;)
syndi
now has my own head spinning. Just when I THOUGHT I knew what I was
doing.
When anyone ask about my kids and their "schooling" (ha) I simply
reply that they are learning new things every day. And I leave it at
that. So far no one has taken it any farther, but I do understand
how moms can be ;)
syndi
[email protected]
I got your reply while reading this
_http://sandradodd.com/TinyMonsters_ (http://sandradodd.com/TinyMonsters)
I hope I didn't create any tiny monsters.
Cheryl
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
_http://sandradodd.com/TinyMonsters_ (http://sandradodd.com/TinyMonsters)
I hope I didn't create any tiny monsters.
Cheryl
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Fetteroll
on 12/17/04 11:43 PM, Cheryl Morkan at Luckiebyrd@... wrote:
better to give her what she expects to hear by talking about the things the
kids are doing. Overwhelm her with what's going on: places you've been,
things kids have talked about, things they've figured out on their own that
surprise you. Keep a notebook open on the kitchen counter and jot things
down.
Joyce
> "Well," she replies, "iRather than trying to convince her that unschooling will work it might be
> hadn't heard you talk about it lately." I would like to give her a
> nutshell explaination of unschooling, something I can print or send
> her in email.
better to give her what she expects to hear by talking about the things the
kids are doing. Overwhelm her with what's going on: places you've been,
things kids have talked about, things they've figured out on their own that
surprise you. Keep a notebook open on the kitchen counter and jot things
down.
Joyce
J. Stauffer
<<<I feel like trying to explain unschooling to
someone for the first time is like trying to explain ice to someone
who saw water.>>>>
I use references that they know. We talk to family and friends about projects the kids are involved in....gymnastics, 4-H, helping in the garden. I spice it up with things the kids are learning doing those things, how math is everywhere, the responsibility they are taking for themselves, etc.
I have found that people either kind of automatically understand unschooling or think you are a nut. <grin>
Julie S.
someone for the first time is like trying to explain ice to someone
who saw water.>>>>
I use references that they know. We talk to family and friends about projects the kids are involved in....gymnastics, 4-H, helping in the garden. I spice it up with things the kids are learning doing those things, how math is everywhere, the responsibility they are taking for themselves, etc.
I have found that people either kind of automatically understand unschooling or think you are a nut. <grin>
Julie S.
----- Original Message -----
From: Cheryl Morkan
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 10:43 PM
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] questions from family
Hi everyone. I have 2 sons 12 and 4. We have been unschooling for
almost a year now and just today my mother asked my if ds12 was doing
any "work". I had hinted to her last year that if I had the courage
we would drop all the "school work" completely but that seemed to be
too much for her to digest. When she asked me that question today I
vaguely answered "Oh yeah, all the time". "Well," she replies, "i
hadn't heard you talk about it lately." I would like to give her a
nutshell explaination of unschooling, something I can print or send
her in email. If I try to discuss it with her I think we will get
off on too many tangents. I want her to have to read through a basic
description without having me there to grill. Can someone point me
in the right direction? I feel like trying to explain unschooling to
someone for the first time is like trying to explain ice to someone
who saw water.
Cheryl
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Jessie
This is where an online BLOG comes in handy!! You can write about your
days, take pics, etc and send the link to all those doubting relatives!
That's what I did ( http://learninfreedom.blogspot.com/ ) and its
working! One of my "teacher" relatives even commented on what a cool
thing we were doing (with the unschooling) and how school is not the
greatest place to be these days...
Good luck!
Jessie
days, take pics, etc and send the link to all those doubting relatives!
That's what I did ( http://learninfreedom.blogspot.com/ ) and its
working! One of my "teacher" relatives even commented on what a cool
thing we were doing (with the unschooling) and how school is not the
greatest place to be these days...
Good luck!
Jessie
On Dec 18, 2004, at 8:59 AM, [email protected] wrote:
>> "Well," she replies, "i
>> hadn't heard you talk about it lately." I would like to give her a
>> nutshell explaination of unschooling, something I can print or send
>> her in email.
[email protected]
In a message dated 12/18/2004 9:14:33 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
jnjstau@... writes:
I have found that people either kind of automatically understand unschooling
or think you are a nut. <grin><<<
And both are fine! <G>
The proof is in the pudding. It may take YEARS for them to get it, but if
you keep plugging along, true to what you believe----the kids will be
fine----well, MORE Than fine! Your kids will be GREAT, and *they* will be all the
proof you need to skeptics.
Time. Patience.
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
jnjstau@... writes:
I have found that people either kind of automatically understand unschooling
or think you are a nut. <grin><<<
And both are fine! <G>
The proof is in the pudding. It may take YEARS for them to get it, but if
you keep plugging along, true to what you believe----the kids will be
fine----well, MORE Than fine! Your kids will be GREAT, and *they* will be all the
proof you need to skeptics.
Time. Patience.
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
pam sorooshian
On Dec 18, 2004, at 6:04 AM, J. Stauffer wrote:
80's, early 90's - "integrated curriculum" meant that subjects were not
separated - they didn't have separated reading, writing, social
studies, science, etc. They didn't have tests or grades, they used
"authentic assessment" which literally meant that the teacher watched
them working on stuff, talked to them, and observed things they
created.
So I'll say - it is sort of like an "integrated curriculum" with
"authentic assessment." That usually convinces them that I have some
clue what I'm doing and it sounds like "something," at least. So after
that I just talk about whatever the kids are doing - places we've gone,
whatever. I go on about those enough that people have heard enough of
it and don't ask what they're doing with the rest of their time <g>.
-pam
> I use references that they know. We talk to family and friends aboutI also use educational jargon that was used in schools in the late
> projects the kids are involved in....gymnastics, 4-H, helping in the
> garden. I spice it up with things the kids are learning doing those
> things, how math is everywhere, the responsibility they are taking for
> themselves, etc.
80's, early 90's - "integrated curriculum" meant that subjects were not
separated - they didn't have separated reading, writing, social
studies, science, etc. They didn't have tests or grades, they used
"authentic assessment" which literally meant that the teacher watched
them working on stuff, talked to them, and observed things they
created.
So I'll say - it is sort of like an "integrated curriculum" with
"authentic assessment." That usually convinces them that I have some
clue what I'm doing and it sounds like "something," at least. So after
that I just talk about whatever the kids are doing - places we've gone,
whatever. I go on about those enough that people have heard enough of
it and don't ask what they're doing with the rest of their time <g>.
-pam
Jessie
On Dec 18, 2004, at 4:09 PM, [email protected] wrote:
Thanks! I'll look into it! My dh just picked her up some Gameboy
headphones tonight as that noise was driving ME crazy! LOL!
:)
Jessie
>>GREAT IDEA!!!!!!
>
> Wireless headphones!!!
>
> Radio Shack!
>
> -pam
>
Thanks! I'll look into it! My dh just picked her up some Gameboy
headphones tonight as that noise was driving ME crazy! LOL!
:)
Jessie
pam sorooshian
On Dec 18, 2004, at 2:31 PM, Jessie wrote:
packages of them. I use them - at first I didn't like the feeling, but
I got used to it. I use them at unusual times, I guess - like in the
bathtub <G>. My kids are REALLY noisy - they all sing ALL the time. And
my husband has the tv on a lot of the time and always wants music on if
the tv isn't on. I just crave QUIET!!!
-pam
> Thanks! I'll look into it! My dh just picked her up some GameboyI absolutely KNOW what you mean, Jessie. I also keep earplugs around -
> headphones tonight as that noise was driving ME crazy! LOL!
packages of them. I use them - at first I didn't like the feeling, but
I got used to it. I use them at unusual times, I guess - like in the
bathtub <G>. My kids are REALLY noisy - they all sing ALL the time. And
my husband has the tv on a lot of the time and always wants music on if
the tv isn't on. I just crave QUIET!!!
-pam