sahm2cody

This may seem like a stupid question, but honestly, I don't know what
to call us. There even seems to be some debate among the other
homeschoolers/unschoolers in the area. I'll admit that it's taken us
a few years to get to this relaxed point (all my fault, really, my
son doesn't have a problem with it at all ;) Now that we've arrived
to this point, I don't know what to say when people ask what we are.
The "regular" homeschoolers in the area consider us unschoolers - the
unschoolers can't seem to decide if we're eclectic, relaxed, or one
of them (it all depends on who you're talking to). The "regular
homeschoolers make no distinction between "relaxed homeschooling"
and "unschooling".

Some don't view me as an unschooler because my son has a general
bedtime, has household chores, etc.

Some don't view us as unschoolers because I'll choose some things to
introduce my son to. Ex: I LOVED to read Sherlock Holmes as a child.
I thought my 10 y/o son would enjoy it, and since he is dyslexic and
reading is still a struggle for him, I found a Sherlock Holmes audio
book for him to listen to (which he absolutely LOVED!) Or, another
example, my son told me he wanted to learn about Russia, so we went
to the library and I helped him pick out books on the subject,
videos, and a Russian language tape so he could hear what the
language sounds like. Whether he uses some, or all of it is entirely
up to him. Anyway, several of the locals say I'm not an unschooler
because only the child should be allowed to choose what to learn, or
should choose the materials to learn with. (I should include that if
my son doesn't like something I've introduced him to, I don't make
him continue it).

The only textbook that we own is a math one, because we like it. We
don't have desks, chalkboards, or a schedule. We spend much of our
day learning about whatever is of interest to my son, doing projects,
and generally living our lives.

There may even be some general debate among you all as to what we
are, but any help would sure be appreciated!

Carri Ann

Annas Mum

Why limit yourself to someone else's definition.
You are who you are.
You live the way you want to live,
the way that best suits your family,
and that's the most important thing of all!
BeDamn the labels!
You're perfectly educating your family!

--- sahm2cody <CXFiles@...> wrote:

> This may seem like a stupid question, but honestly,
> I don't know what
> to call us. There even seems to be some debate among
> the other
> homeschoolers/unschoolers in the area. I'll admit
> that it's taken us
> a few years to get to this relaxed point (all my
> fault, really, my
> son doesn't have a problem with it at all ;) Now
> that we've arrived
> to this point, I don't know what to say when people
> ask what we are.
> The "regular" homeschoolers in the area consider us
> unschoolers - the
> unschoolers can't seem to decide if we're eclectic,
> relaxed, or one
> of them (it all depends on who you're talking to).
> The "regular
> homeschoolers make no distinction between "relaxed
> homeschooling"
> and "unschooling".
>
> Some don't view me as an unschooler because my son
> has a general
> bedtime, has household chores, etc.
>
> Some don't view us as unschoolers because I'll
> choose some things to
> introduce my son to. Ex: I LOVED to read Sherlock
> Holmes as a child.
> I thought my 10 y/o son would enjoy it, and since he
> is dyslexic and
> reading is still a struggle for him, I found a
> Sherlock Holmes audio
> book for him to listen to (which he absolutely
> LOVED!) Or, another
> example, my son told me he wanted to learn about
> Russia, so we went
> to the library and I helped him pick out books on
> the subject,
> videos, and a Russian language tape so he could hear
> what the
> language sounds like. Whether he uses some, or all
> of it is entirely
> up to him. Anyway, several of the locals say I'm not
> an unschooler
> because only the child should be allowed to choose
> what to learn, or
> should choose the materials to learn with. (I should
> include that if
> my son doesn't like something I've introduced him
> to, I don't make
> him continue it).
>
> The only textbook that we own is a math one, because
> we like it. We
> don't have desks, chalkboards, or a schedule. We
> spend much of our
> day learning about whatever is of interest to my
> son, doing projects,
> and generally living our lives.
>
> There may even be some general debate among you all
> as to what we
> are, but any help would sure be appreciated!
>
> Carri Ann
>
>
>
>
>
>




__________________________________________
Yahoo! DSL – Something to write home about.
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Dixie

Ok THIS is where we are too! We are pretty much stuck and I have no idea what "group" we are considered to be in.

I've been told I'm a relaxed schooler, unschooler, nonschooler. I really do not know. :(

Maybe someone out there can answer for you and me so atleast know.

Dixie

sahm2cody <CXFiles@...> wrote: This may seem like a stupid question, but honestly, I don't know what
to call us. There even seems to be some debate among the other
homeschoolers/unschoolers in the area. I'll admit that it's taken us
a few years to get to this relaxed point (all my fault, really, my
son doesn't have a problem with it at all ;) Now that we've arrived
to this point, I don't know what to say when people ask what we are.
The "regular" homeschoolers in the area consider us unschoolers - the
unschoolers can't seem to decide if we're eclectic, relaxed, or one
of them (it all depends on who you're talking to). The "regular
homeschoolers make no distinction between "relaxed homeschooling"
and "unschooling".

Some don't view me as an unschooler because my son has a general
bedtime, has household chores, etc.

Some don't view us as unschoolers because I'll choose some things to
introduce my son to. Ex: I LOVED to read Sherlock Holmes as a child.
I thought my 10 y/o son would enjoy it, and since he is dyslexic and
reading is still a struggle for him, I found a Sherlock Holmes audio
book for him to listen to (which he absolutely LOVED!) Or, another
example, my son told me he wanted to learn about Russia, so we went
to the library and I helped him pick out books on the subject,
videos, and a Russian language tape so he could hear what the
language sounds like. Whether he uses some, or all of it is entirely
up to him. Anyway, several of the locals say I'm not an unschooler
because only the child should be allowed to choose what to learn, or
should choose the materials to learn with. (I should include that if
my son doesn't like something I've introduced him to, I don't make
him continue it).

The only textbook that we own is a math one, because we like it. We
don't have desks, chalkboards, or a schedule. We spend much of our
day learning about whatever is of interest to my son, doing projects,
and generally living our lives.

There may even be some general debate among you all as to what we
are, but any help would sure be appreciated!

Carri Ann







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

Joanne

Hi Carri Ann...

I'm curious...who are all these people that are wondering what type
of homeschooler you are??? Why do they care? Seems kinda nosey to
me.

~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (7), Shawna (10) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 30, 2003
http://anunschoolinglife.blogspot.com/



--- In [email protected], "sahm2cody" <CXFiles@a...>
wrote:
>
> This may seem like a stupid question, but honestly, I don't know
what
> to call us. There even seems to be some debate among the other
> homeschoolers/unschoolers in the area. I'll admit that it's taken
us
> a few years to get to this relaxed point (all my fault, really, my
> son doesn't have a problem with it at all ;) Now that we've
arrived
> to this point, I don't know what to say when people ask what we
are.
> The "regular" homeschoolers in the area consider us unschoolers -
the
> unschoolers can't seem to decide if we're eclectic, relaxed, or
one
> of them (it all depends on who you're talking to). The "regular
> homeschoolers make no distinction between "relaxed homeschooling"
> and "unschooling".
>
> Some don't view me as an unschooler because my son has a general
> bedtime, has household chores, etc.
>
> Some don't view us as unschoolers because I'll choose some things
to
> introduce my son to. Ex: I LOVED to read Sherlock Holmes as a
child.
> I thought my 10 y/o son would enjoy it, and since he is dyslexic
and
> reading is still a struggle for him, I found a Sherlock Holmes
audio
> book for him to listen to (which he absolutely LOVED!) Or, another
> example, my son told me he wanted to learn about Russia, so we
went
> to the library and I helped him pick out books on the subject,
> videos, and a Russian language tape so he could hear what the
> language sounds like. Whether he uses some, or all of it is
entirely
> up to him. Anyway, several of the locals say I'm not an unschooler
> because only the child should be allowed to choose what to learn,
or
> should choose the materials to learn with. (I should include that
if
> my son doesn't like something I've introduced him to, I don't make
> him continue it).
>
> The only textbook that we own is a math one, because we like it.
We
> don't have desks, chalkboards, or a schedule. We spend much of our
> day learning about whatever is of interest to my son, doing
projects,
> and generally living our lives.
>
> There may even be some general debate among you all as to what we
> are, but any help would sure be appreciated!
>
> Carri Ann
>

Lesa McMahon-Lowe

I wouldn't worry so much. Seems to me that you're happy. Labels are so
limiting (even for unschoolers). Isn't that what we're trying to get away
from anyway.

I'd just tell people that you're happy homeschoolers and leave it at that.
:)

Lesa

-------Original Message-------

From: sahm2cody
Date: 01/04/06 14:34:19
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Am I an unschooler?

This may seem like a stupid question, but honestly, I don't know what
to call us. There even seems to be some debate among the other
homeschoolers/unschoolers in the area. I'll admit that it's taken us
a few years to get to this relaxed point (all my fault, really, my
son doesn't have a problem with it at all ;) Now that we've arrived
to this point, I don't know what to say when people ask what we are.
The "regular" homeschoolers in the area consider us unschoolers - the
unschoolers can't seem to decide if we're eclectic, relaxed, or one
of them (it all depends on who you're talking to). The "regular
homeschoolers make no distinction between "relaxed homeschooling"
and "unschooling".

Some don't view me as an unschooler because my son has a general
bedtime, has household chores, etc.

Some don't view us as unschoolers because I'll choose some things to
introduce my son to. Ex: I LOVED to read Sherlock Holmes as a child.
I thought my 10 y/o son would enjoy it, and since he is dyslexic and
reading is still a struggle for him, I found a Sherlock Holmes audio
book for him to listen to (which he absolutely LOVED!) Or, another
example, my son told me he wanted to learn about Russia, so we went
to the library and I helped him pick out books on the subject,
videos, and a Russian language tape so he could hear what the
language sounds like. Whether he uses some, or all of it is entirely
up to him. Anyway, several of the locals say I'm not an unschooler
because only the child should be allowed to choose what to learn, or
should choose the materials to learn with. (I should include that if
my son doesn't like something I've introduced him to, I don't make
him continue it).

The only textbook that we own is a math one, because we like it. We
don't have desks, chalkboards, or a schedule. We spend much of our
day learning about whatever is of interest to my son, doing projects,
and generally living our lives.

There may even be some general debate among you all as to what we
are, but any help would sure be appreciated!

Carri Ann

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

Ren Allen

"Anyway, several of the locals say I'm not an unschooler
because only the child should be allowed to choose what to learn, or
should choose the materials to learn with."

I agree with that part, but not the part about a parent never having
influencce.
You know, I've heard about this attitude, but never encountered it in
real life. Are you saying that you've MET real live families that
argue this? Really?

I find it a bit shocking, because children don't come into this world
knowing what is available, and if we just sit around waiting for them
to show an interest in something BEFORE we do anything, there'd be an
awful lot of being at home I suppose.
I don't know anyone in real life that actually believes this, nor have
I encountered anyone online that truly believes it.

I DO believe a child should choose exactly what to learn and the
materials to learn with, but I don't think that excludes a parent from
introducing ideas or offering options!!

Anyhoo, my definition of unschooling is learning from life. If you're
doing that, and not making your child do any lessons or forced
anything (as far as "education") then I'd call you an unschooler.

But if you hang out here for very long, you might hear some really
great arguements from those of us that have dropped required chores
and bedtimes.:)

As far as labels, they aren't for putting yourself in a box, but they
ARE useful. If labels weren't useful, we might as well call a dog a
fish or flower or whatever we felt like, because heaven knows that dog
doesn't need a label!! Gasp, horrors.;)

Labels are for identifying things and for understanding in a
conversation. The label unschooler doesn't really tell us much, but it
IS a useful tool for discussion. I do use the term homeschooler in the
general public, but with homeschoolers, I WANT them to know we don't
do school, so I prefer the term unschooler at that point.
Useful for conversation, those labels.

Ren

Brandie

>>>This may seem like a stupid question,
>>>but honestly, I don't know what
>>>to call us.

I know that there are some that would say the label isn't important. Maybe it truly isn't -- I don't know -- but when I was in the beginning of the journey, it sure did help to know where we fit in with various groups and for use in conversations with homeschoolers.

So, with that said, I would say that you sound like an unschooler to me. Perhaps not a radical one, but still an unschooler. Introducing things to your son is great -- this is why so many unschoolers don't like the term child-led because it leads you to believe that a child must do all the discovering on his/her own without any influence from his parents. You will find many unschoolers here who often share great things with their children because they think they will enjoy it -- this is called strewing:
http://sandradodd.com/strewing




Brandie

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein







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

Pamela Sorooshian

On Jan 4, 2006, at 6:10 PM, Brandie wrote:

>>>> This may seem like a stupid question,
>>>> but honestly, I don't know what
>>>> to call us.


I used to say we were "unschoolish," just in order to avoid the
question and so that I wouldn't have to go around and apologize and
clear things up if, by some chance, I decided to change my mind and
suddenly start MAKING my kids do some sort of school work.

Once we got to the point where it was clear THAT was never going to
happen, I called us unschoolers loud and clear. I honestly do not
think that unschooling or not depends on bedtimes, chores, food
restrictions, etc. I think that unschoolers WILL tend to loosen up on
those things IF they ever give those things serious thought. But,
lots of people never do - I've known lots of unschoolers who don't
allow tv, require kids to be vegetarian, etc.

If you're not giving assignments, grading, testing, and doing all
those other school things and if you ARE supporting kids interests,
providing a rich learning environment, facilitating kids pursuing
their own passions -- then you're unschooling.

-pam






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

Paige Parr

Pamela Sorooshian <pamsoroosh@...> wrote:
On Jan 4, 2006, at 6:10 PM, Brandie wrote:

>>>> This may seem like a stupid question,
>>>> but honestly, I don't know what
>>>> to call us.


>I used to say we were "unschoolish," just in order to avoid the
>question
>I called us unschoolers loud and clear. I honestly do not
think that unschooling or not depends on bedtimes, chores, food
restrictions, etc. I think that unschoolers WILL tend to loosen up on
those things IF they ever give those things serious thought. But,
lots of people never do - I've known lots of unschoolers who don't
>allow tv, require kids to be vegetarian, etc.

===========================================================

Interesting thread. I'm wondering about families who DO "let go" of restrictions on food, bedtimes, TV and video games...wouldn't they be "radical" unschoolers? And isn't THAT the difference? That "unschooling" is a style of *homeschooling*, and "radical unschooling" is a whole way of life?

Either way, I think it's silly that people are debating your "unschooly-ness" (I know...no way *that* is a word)! It's not really anyone else's business, is it? As far as getting together with other families, you mightfeel more comfortable with other families who take a relaxed approach to homeschooling, or who are eclectic, or who are out and proud unschoolers, etc. But I don't see how it matters IRL. What are they gonna do...ban you from co-op? Pin a scarlet letter on ya if they find that you ordered from a homeschool supply company? :-)

I'm not trying to belittle your situation, obviously ...I just think our kids are often more "with it" than us adults, who can act pretty silly sometimes!

Paige in VA...who's pretty sure we're radical unschoolers! <BEG>




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

[email protected]

I have found a good "self test" <grin>, is to ask yourself how you would feel if your son spent 2 weeks pretty much playing video games during all his waking hours. What if he spent a year and never opened the math book?

I think unschooling is difficult to define based on "what you do" because each child and family is so different with so many different interests. My kids have a lot of "chores" but they chose to take them on themselves when they wanted to raise livestock for stockshows. They could choose not to do shows tomorrow and the "chores" would stop, but as long as we have animals, they must be fed, groomed, pens cleaned, etc.. (These were family decisions made prior to ever getting animals, not some mandate by parents.)

Unschooling has much more to do with attitudes toward what you do. What if your son rolled his eyes at Sherlock Holmes? Are you invested in your son being "exposed" to that? If my kids wanted to get rid of the animals and spend all day playing video games, I would have no problem (to be honest, some days I long for that.)

Julie S.

----- Original Message -----
From: sahm2cody <CXFiles@...>
Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2006 12:23 pm
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Am I an unschooler?

> This may seem like a stupid question, but honestly, I don't know
> what
> to call us. There even seems to be some debate among the other
> homeschoolers/unschoolers in the area. I'll admit that it's taken
> us
> a few years to get to this relaxed point (all my fault, really, my
> son doesn't have a problem with it at all ;) Now that we've
> arrived
> to this point, I don't know what to say when people ask what we
> are.
> The "regular" homeschoolers in the area consider us unschoolers -
> the
> unschoolers can't seem to decide if we're eclectic, relaxed, or
> one
> of them (it all depends on who you're talking to). The "regular
> homeschoolers make no distinction between "relaxed homeschooling"
> and "unschooling".
>
> Some don't view me as an unschooler because my son has a general
> bedtime, has household chores, etc.
>
> Some don't view us as unschoolers because I'll choose some things
> to
> introduce my son to. Ex: I LOVED to read Sherlock Holmes as a
> child.
> I thought my 10 y/o son would enjoy it, and since he is dyslexic
> and
> reading is still a struggle for him, I found a Sherlock Holmes
> audio
> book for him to listen to (which he absolutely LOVED!) Or, another
> example, my son told me he wanted to learn about Russia, so we
> went
> to the library and I helped him pick out books on the subject,
> videos, and a Russian language tape so he could hear what the
> language sounds like. Whether he uses some, or all of it is
> entirely
> up to him. Anyway, several of the locals say I'm not an unschooler
> because only the child should be allowed to choose what to learn,
> or
> should choose the materials to learn with. (I should include that
> if
> my son doesn't like something I've introduced him to, I don't make
> him continue it).
>
> The only textbook that we own is a math one, because we like it.
> We
> don't have desks, chalkboards, or a schedule. We spend much of our
> day learning about whatever is of interest to my son, doing
> projects,
> and generally living our lives.
>
> There may even be some general debate among you all as to what we
> are, but any help would sure be appreciated!
>
> Carri Ann
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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