jlh44music

I know a lot of people are off to L&L, and I've got great
inspirational several posts saved from a lot of the experienced
unschoolers on this site, but I also wanted to ask if anyone could
help me with some words of wisdom.

This is our first year homeschooling (unschooling!) and I'm still not
in a place where I can "spout off" easily about unschooling. The
local homeschooling group I belong to is having a homeschooling info
night next week and I've volunteered to be on the panel
of "homeschoolers". I'd like to share our story of how we came,
first, to homeschooling and then discovered unschooling. I want to
keep it short, and positive (not slam the public schools, you never
know who's in the audience). I can certainly talk about our own
experience as a family who pulled a child from public school in
middle school, but was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how I
can "gently" introduce unschooling, from the point of view of someone
who "gets it" but is still new to the concept, so as to "open the
door" and encourage those who are considering homeschooling and may
be where I was, less than 2 years ago, being drawn to unschooling.

Thanks for indulging me!
Jann

Angela

<<I can certainly talk about our own
experience as a family who pulled a child from public school in middle
school, but was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how I can "gently"
introduce unschooling, from the point of view of someone who "gets it" but
is still new to the concept, so as to "open the door" and encourage those
who are considering homeschooling and may be where I was, less than 2 years
ago, being drawn to unschooling.>>>

One thing I did when I explained to my dad about unschooling was to draw on
his own experiences and use them as an example of how unschooling works.
You won't be able to do this personally with an audience, but you could give
examples, maybe. I pointed out in all the following examples how he was
self motivated to learn about something and how he followed through and
studied something because he wanted to, because he was interested in it.
Kids are no different.

For instance, my dad is a self-taught computer guy. He learned all about
computers from messing around with them. He is also a wonderful woodworker.
He makes hardwood furniture of a high quality and sometimes sells pieces.
He taught himself that too. Over the years he has had different interests,
like Ham Radio and GPSing etc. and he learned about them because he had an
interest in them. Some of the people who are best in their field are people
who didn't go to school for something, but who found something that
interested them and they followed their passion.

We went to a fair in NY when we were visiting and the guy who was working in
one of the demonstration areas was so much fun to listen to and watch. He
was using tool from the 1700 and 1800's to make furniture and he shared a
vast amount of knowledge about them as he worked. He also had a great sense
of humor. He didn't go to school to learn about all those tools and how
they were used. He learned about them because it interested him and now he
shares that knowledge with others who are interested. (And people pay him
to do it.)

That said, I've been unschooling my kids since they became school aged (6
years) and I still have a hard time explaining things to some people. (But
you still need to make them memorize their times tables don't you?) It
seems to be worse for me when the person I am explaining to doesn't seem
very open to it.

Good Luck!



Angela
game-enthusiast@...

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jlh44music

> One thing I did when I explained to my dad about unschooling was to
draw on his own experiences and use them as an example of how
unschooling works.>>>>>

My dad bought his first computer less than 10 years ago and he'll be
81 this year! He does woodworking too, but he's done it all his
life (he was a draftman when he was in the workforce, mostly
designing "things" before the age of computers that do it now with
software), built his house, built a boat, builds furniture, makes
wooden bowls and other turned wood items, but in actuality he
probably taught himself to do these things because he was interested
in doing them). Just wanted to comment on the connection, I
haven't said anything to my dad about unschooling, he's not saying
much about homeschooling except 'do you know what she needs to learn'
and I just reassure him I'm well prepared and leave it at that.

> You won't be able to do this personally with an audience, but you
could give examples, maybe.>>>>>

That's a good idea. When I read about it it shake my head and
go "yes, yes! that makes so much sense!" but find it difficult to
talk about it in a confident and experienced way because we're so new
to it and are just beginning to live this way. But I CAN talk about
THAT, because it is our reality. I don't expect to sound like an
expert on unschooling, so I think if I focus on the fact that we are
just beginning to embrace unschooling while homeschooling, maybe that
will be a better way to approach it.

>>I pointed out in all the following examples how he was self
motivated to learn about something and how he followed through and
studied something because he wanted to, because he was interested in
it. Kids are no different.>>>>

I like this and will work it in!

> like Ham Radio and GPSing etc. and he learned about them because he
had an interest in them. Some of the people who are best in their
field are people who didn't go to school for something, but who found
something that interested them and they followed their passion.>>>>>

Funny, you could be describing my dh! He's got his ham license,
loves GPS and also has become a wiz about computers, because he was
interested in them (he's now working on his degree in IT, only
because he wants to, but he is a "success" in his job without it). I
HAVE talked to him about these things when describing unschooling
(he's totally supportive of homeschooling, he had problems fitting
into school and always felt "stupid"), he doesn't quite get it
(unschooling, child led learning etc) but at least he "gets" when I
relate it personally to him in these areas.

> That said, I've been unschooling my kids since they became school
aged (6 years) and I still have a hard time explaining things to some
people. (But you still need to make them memorize their times tables
don't you?) It seems to be worse for me when the person I am
explaining to doesn't seem very open to it.>>>>>

Yes, I get that too or "but if she decides to go back to school,
won't she be behind" or "what about a high school diploma" and I
start talking about not really needing one to get into college,
taking community college courses as a teen etc etc and I usually get
blank looks (that's if they're genuinly interested, if they're NOT
open to it, as you put it, I get the look like I have 3 heads LOL!)

Thanks for your input Angela! You've given me some good points.
Jann

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/3/2005 11:52:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
jlh44music@... writes:

My dad bought his first computer less than 10 years ago and he'll be
81 this year! He does woodworking too, but he's done it all his
life (he was a draftman when he was in the workforce, mostly
designing "things" before the age of computers that do it now with
software), built his house, built a boat, builds furniture, makes
wooden bowls and other turned wood items, but in actuality he
probably taught himself to do these things because he was interested
in doing them).


That's exactly MY father! He'll be 64 in 2 days and is a also a drafter.
He's itching to retire now because of the use of "computers", which he just
doesn't "get" lol... He's not even a telephone person. But, he has learned enough
of the computer to be able to play games and to surf the net for stuff he's
interested in. He also is a woodworker, built their house (which is
unfinished... he ALSO has a habit of starting 101 projects and NOT finishing them). He
has made furniture of excellent quality, as well as some toys for the kids.
He has an Associate's Degree in Tool Design, but that's not what got him his
nice, cushy job. He taught himself how to use his CAD program that he was
"forced" to use.

Funny enough, he's never given a thought about his feelings about us
homeschooling. My mom is on board with us, as is my mother-in-law, so I thankfully
have family support. They see the kids learning and growing, and that's good
enough for them. My son is learning to read right now, and watching him do
this is fascinating. Well, this morning was funny... "P-O-O-P spells poop,
right?" @@ Yes, Dan... LOL

Jenny
Homeschooling in Greenfield
Danny (12-1-99), Kelsey (11-1-01) and Evelyn (5-19-04)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Education is not filling a pail but the lighting of a fire. ~William Butler
Yeats



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