Newbie---unschooling and parent direction?
Ren Allen
"
Unschoolers are particularly well-suited to facilitate this kind of
experience, and it's what will make the single biggest difference,
imnsho, whether on a college track or not."
Yes....and I think 11 is too young to worry about college requirements
unless she actually wants them. I know that when I had a serious
interest in Marine biology, and everyone told me all the math I
needed, I dropped that dream like a hot potato.
Waiting until college is actually an issue, is ok. If someone has to
take a couple remedial math or english courses, big deal. In the mean
time, letting her hang out with people that have a passion for the
same itnerests, volunteering etc... as Danielle suggested, are ways
for her to not only explore her interests, but find out just how far
she wants to take it.
What is an interest today, may not turn into a career, or it might.
Either way, keeping busy with the things you love is the way to go.
Trevor has an intense interest in computers and technology. We had a
fellow unschooling Dad hang out at our house a few times and show him
parts, programming etc.. and Trevor ended up building his own computer
out of freebie parts.
Jay also took him to work a couple times and had him help run
networking wires and simple stuff that helped him learn all sorts of
interesting things. Very cool.
I'm pretty sure he'll do something in the field of technology one day,
in the meantime he games and reads and surgs the net mostly.:)
Trevor is 16. When/if college is looming in the near future, we'll
help him deal with tests and requirements at that point.
Ren
Unschoolers are particularly well-suited to facilitate this kind of
experience, and it's what will make the single biggest difference,
imnsho, whether on a college track or not."
Yes....and I think 11 is too young to worry about college requirements
unless she actually wants them. I know that when I had a serious
interest in Marine biology, and everyone told me all the math I
needed, I dropped that dream like a hot potato.
Waiting until college is actually an issue, is ok. If someone has to
take a couple remedial math or english courses, big deal. In the mean
time, letting her hang out with people that have a passion for the
same itnerests, volunteering etc... as Danielle suggested, are ways
for her to not only explore her interests, but find out just how far
she wants to take it.
What is an interest today, may not turn into a career, or it might.
Either way, keeping busy with the things you love is the way to go.
Trevor has an intense interest in computers and technology. We had a
fellow unschooling Dad hang out at our house a few times and show him
parts, programming etc.. and Trevor ended up building his own computer
out of freebie parts.
Jay also took him to work a couple times and had him help run
networking wires and simple stuff that helped him learn all sorts of
interesting things. Very cool.
I'm pretty sure he'll do something in the field of technology one day,
in the meantime he games and reads and surgs the net mostly.:)
Trevor is 16. When/if college is looming in the near future, we'll
help him deal with tests and requirements at that point.
Ren
kkraczek1969
Thanks, Ren, I'm glad that you've shared your experience. I didn't
think about the fact that I could potentially turn her off to a life
choice by giving her "too much information!" (That's probably rooted
in MY desire to know EVERYTHING- that little controlling part of me!)
I truly am enjoying her blossoming interests and talents- she is a joy
to be around! If she chooses a path that requires college, we have a
community college 5 minutes up the road. I'll be happy as long as she
is happy. :)
Thanks!
Kristin
think about the fact that I could potentially turn her off to a life
choice by giving her "too much information!" (That's probably rooted
in MY desire to know EVERYTHING- that little controlling part of me!)
I truly am enjoying her blossoming interests and talents- she is a joy
to be around! If she chooses a path that requires college, we have a
community college 5 minutes up the road. I'll be happy as long as she
is happy. :)
Thanks!
Kristin
> "
> Unschoolers are particularly well-suited to facilitate this kind of
> experience, and it's what will make the single biggest difference,
> imnsho, whether on a college track or not."
>
> Yes....and I think 11 is too young to worry about college requirements
> unless she actually wants them. I know that when I had a serious
> interest in Marine biology, and everyone told me all the math I
> needed, I dropped that dream like a hot potato.
>
> Waiting until college is actually an issue, is ok. If someone has to
> take a couple remedial math or english courses, big deal. In the mean
> time, letting her hang out with people that have a passion for the
> same itnerests, volunteering etc... as Danielle suggested, are ways
> for her to not only explore her interests, but find out just how far
> she wants to take it.
>
> What is an interest today, may not turn into a career, or it might.
> Either way, keeping busy with the things you love is the way to go.
>
> Trevor has an intense interest in computers and technology. We had a
> fellow unschooling Dad hang out at our house a few times and show him
> parts, programming etc.. and Trevor ended up building his own computer
> out of freebie parts.
> Jay also took him to work a couple times and had him help run
> networking wires and simple stuff that helped him learn all sorts of
> interesting things. Very cool.
> I'm pretty sure he'll do something in the field of technology one day,
> in the meantime he games and reads and surgs the net mostly.:)
>
> Trevor is 16. When/if college is looming in the near future, we'll
> help him deal with tests and requirements at that point.
>
> Ren
>
Pamela Sorooshian
On Jan 6, 2006, at 3:57 PM, Ren Allen wrote:
unlikely to be ready to know all the requirements and it could be
really discouraging.
Support current interests. Childhood is not about preparation for
adulthood it is REAL LIFE right now. Treat it that way.
Luckily - supporting real life interests right now and providing for
a happy, rich, stimulating, supported interest-filled life, IS the
best way to prepare for the future because the characteristics that
are important for future success are: stamina, positive outlook,
confidence, enthusiasm, and JOY of living and learning. The academics
can ALWAYS be learned and amazingly quickly when the motivation is
there. But if a child grows up discouraged, believing learning is
"hard," pessimistic or even cynical, that's hard to overcome.
-pam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> I know that when I had a seriousYES - another reason to keep quiet about it. An 11 year old is very
> interest in Marine biology, and everyone told me all the math I
> needed, I dropped that dream like a hot potato.
unlikely to be ready to know all the requirements and it could be
really discouraging.
Support current interests. Childhood is not about preparation for
adulthood it is REAL LIFE right now. Treat it that way.
Luckily - supporting real life interests right now and providing for
a happy, rich, stimulating, supported interest-filled life, IS the
best way to prepare for the future because the characteristics that
are important for future success are: stamina, positive outlook,
confidence, enthusiasm, and JOY of living and learning. The academics
can ALWAYS be learned and amazingly quickly when the motivation is
there. But if a child grows up discouraged, believing learning is
"hard," pessimistic or even cynical, that's hard to overcome.
-pam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Ren Allen
"And Elizabeth will most likely change her mind about what career she
wants several times before she finally decides."
And maybe she won't choose A career, but several.:) The Renaissance
sect is highly underrated.
Most people in today's world are going to need the ability to adapt,
to be creative and make money in a variety of careers...I think
unschoolers are well suited for this adaptability! The thinking that
I needed to choose A SINGLE career path really inhibited me in many ways.
I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up (ooh, yuck..do I
even have to grow up?) and I LIKE that about me.
Ren
wants several times before she finally decides."
And maybe she won't choose A career, but several.:) The Renaissance
sect is highly underrated.
Most people in today's world are going to need the ability to adapt,
to be creative and make money in a variety of careers...I think
unschoolers are well suited for this adaptability! The thinking that
I needed to choose A SINGLE career path really inhibited me in many ways.
I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up (ooh, yuck..do I
even have to grow up?) and I LIKE that about me.
Ren
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/7/2006 2:19:39 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
starsuncloud@... writes:
And maybe she won't choose A career, but several.:) The Renaissance
sect is highly underrated.
Most people in today's world are going to need the ability to adapt,
to be creative and make money in a variety of careers...I think
unschoolers are well suited for this adaptability!
***********
True. I know very few people, all traditionally schooled and groomed for a
"career", that have stuck with one type of career, much less a job.
And while we are on this topic, something David Albert says that struck a
chord with me, you don't have to be good at something to choose to do it, hobby
or career. That was an eye-opener for me. I had pretty much based my whole
life on "good enough to do XXX."
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
starsuncloud@... writes:
And maybe she won't choose A career, but several.:) The Renaissance
sect is highly underrated.
Most people in today's world are going to need the ability to adapt,
to be creative and make money in a variety of careers...I think
unschoolers are well suited for this adaptability!
***********
True. I know very few people, all traditionally schooled and groomed for a
"career", that have stuck with one type of career, much less a job.
And while we are on this topic, something David Albert says that struck a
chord with me, you don't have to be good at something to choose to do it, hobby
or career. That was an eye-opener for me. I had pretty much based my whole
life on "good enough to do XXX."
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/7/2006 2:18:57 PM Eastern Standard Time,
starsuncloud@... writes:
I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up (ooh, yuck..do I
even have to grow up?) and I LIKE that about me.
Benefit of having kids (and unschooling!) is I never HAVE to grow up... I
love doing "kid" things on a whim... My kids just handed me a paper and wanted
me to draw a "house". So, I drew a house. And they said it needed curtains in
the windows. So, I drew curtains. A nice door. Flowers. Our van (mind you, I
draw stick figures LOL). We added gardens. Daddy was mowing the lawn, Danny
was walking the puppy, Kelsey was playing ball and Evelyn was "finding her
teddy bear". And Mommy? They decided I should be reading a book. In a hammock.
LOL! Love it! Oh, and all our cats were in the windows, including the one we
lost in 2004. Our little masterpiece.
Jenny
Unschooling in Greenfield, MA
Danny (12-1-99), Kelsey (11-1-01) and Evelyn (5-19-04)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as
that every child should be given the wish to learn. ~John Lubbock
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
starsuncloud@... writes:
I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up (ooh, yuck..do I
even have to grow up?) and I LIKE that about me.
Benefit of having kids (and unschooling!) is I never HAVE to grow up... I
love doing "kid" things on a whim... My kids just handed me a paper and wanted
me to draw a "house". So, I drew a house. And they said it needed curtains in
the windows. So, I drew curtains. A nice door. Flowers. Our van (mind you, I
draw stick figures LOL). We added gardens. Daddy was mowing the lawn, Danny
was walking the puppy, Kelsey was playing ball and Evelyn was "finding her
teddy bear". And Mommy? They decided I should be reading a book. In a hammock.
LOL! Love it! Oh, and all our cats were in the windows, including the one we
lost in 2004. Our little masterpiece.
Jenny
Unschooling in Greenfield, MA
Danny (12-1-99), Kelsey (11-1-01) and Evelyn (5-19-04)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as
that every child should be given the wish to learn. ~John Lubbock
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Deb
--- In [email protected], Leslie530@a... wrote:
touch at one point and that's it) but I have been in the same general
field (minus 2 years when DS was gestating and infant) since 1990. It
encompasses several companies but pretty much the same tasks/job -
software testing and support. I get to be a professional 'picky
person' LOL
--Deb
>Me - oh me! lol My schooling and my career are only tangential (they
> True. I know very few people, all traditionally schooled and
>groomed for a
> "career", that have stuck with one type of career, much less a
>job.
>
touch at one point and that's it) but I have been in the same general
field (minus 2 years when DS was gestating and infant) since 1990. It
encompasses several companies but pretty much the same tasks/job -
software testing and support. I get to be a professional 'picky
person' LOL
--Deb