Questions on unschooling
[email protected]
I received this by e-mail and wrote and said I preferred to answer questions
for large groups rather than individuals. Also, I think people benefit from a
variety of responses. I asked the mom to join this group and so I hope she
will, and see the responses. I'll forward the first few to her just in case it
takes a while for her to be established on the group.
I'll respond too, in another e-mail.
=======
Hi Sandra,
I'm interested in unschooling and have read some of your posts on the
board. If you're not too busy, could you help me with the transition.
This is what I'm dealing with. I've tried just about every curriculum
that's out there. I'm fed up with curriculum. Right now, I have my
12yodd reading A History of the US, any Science book from the library of
her choosing, Sonlight's Tom Sawyer and a literature guide for Reading,
Spelling Power, Key to Decimals and a grammar workbook. She just doesn't
get grammar and never has. She hates to read. If I will leave her
alone, she will read other stuff, but not what I would like for her to
read. When we go to the library, she picks out books on softball,
snakes, etc. She will read those with no problems. Should I just let
her read her own thing and still have her do spelling, grammar and math
or what? I really need your advice. My 8yodd is doing Explode the
Code, but gets very frustrated when she can't read the words. I don't
press her to read, but she will on her own, maybe once every two weeks.
I don't push her to do math, but she likes to do a math program on the
computer, along with other games. I do have her write a sentence every
day. I'm not really sure why I do this. She seems to be a perfect
candidate for unschooling. My 6yodd is not interested in learning to
read or anything else right now. She likes to do worksheets though. I
hate them. I have a hard time finding the sheets, when she can't read.
She just doesn't get phonics, so I figured that she just wasn't ready.
She also likes to do computer games. I like to do unit studies, but
there's so much work involved in these, that I just don't want to take
the time to do them. I really want to do unschooling, but I'm so afraid
that the girls won't be learning anything or will want to watch tv all
day. Only the oldest one does that the most. She is interested in
beauty school and can start this when she is 16, but what do I do in the
meantime? I just need some help. Please give me some advice. Am I
doing something wrong?
Thanks,
[end of quote]
for large groups rather than individuals. Also, I think people benefit from a
variety of responses. I asked the mom to join this group and so I hope she
will, and see the responses. I'll forward the first few to her just in case it
takes a while for her to be established on the group.
I'll respond too, in another e-mail.
=======
Hi Sandra,
I'm interested in unschooling and have read some of your posts on the
board. If you're not too busy, could you help me with the transition.
This is what I'm dealing with. I've tried just about every curriculum
that's out there. I'm fed up with curriculum. Right now, I have my
12yodd reading A History of the US, any Science book from the library of
her choosing, Sonlight's Tom Sawyer and a literature guide for Reading,
Spelling Power, Key to Decimals and a grammar workbook. She just doesn't
get grammar and never has. She hates to read. If I will leave her
alone, she will read other stuff, but not what I would like for her to
read. When we go to the library, she picks out books on softball,
snakes, etc. She will read those with no problems. Should I just let
her read her own thing and still have her do spelling, grammar and math
or what? I really need your advice. My 8yodd is doing Explode the
Code, but gets very frustrated when she can't read the words. I don't
press her to read, but she will on her own, maybe once every two weeks.
I don't push her to do math, but she likes to do a math program on the
computer, along with other games. I do have her write a sentence every
day. I'm not really sure why I do this. She seems to be a perfect
candidate for unschooling. My 6yodd is not interested in learning to
read or anything else right now. She likes to do worksheets though. I
hate them. I have a hard time finding the sheets, when she can't read.
She just doesn't get phonics, so I figured that she just wasn't ready.
She also likes to do computer games. I like to do unit studies, but
there's so much work involved in these, that I just don't want to take
the time to do them. I really want to do unschooling, but I'm so afraid
that the girls won't be learning anything or will want to watch tv all
day. Only the oldest one does that the most. She is interested in
beauty school and can start this when she is 16, but what do I do in the
meantime? I just need some help. Please give me some advice. Am I
doing something wrong?
Thanks,
[end of quote]
[email protected]
I'm going to start at the bottom of the questions:
-=-Am I doing something wrong?-=-
This kind of question is unanswerable out of the context of "if I want X
result..."
There's nothing illegal about the kinds of teaching and management outlined
in the post.
There are millions of people who would say "Exactly right!" and that many
more who would say "No, just put them in school."
So I'm going to assume the question meant "If I want to move toward workable
unschooling, what should I change?"
These things struck me as the most counterproductive:
-=-Right now, I have my
12yodd reading A History of the US, any Science book from the library of
her choosing, Sonlight's Tom Sawyer and a literature guide for Reading,
Spelling Power, Key to Decimals and a grammar workbook. -=-
-=If I will leave her alone, she will read other stuff, but not what I would
like for her to
read. -=-
-= My 8yodd is doing Explode the
Code, but gets very frustrated when she can't read the words.-=-
-=I do have her write a sentence every
day. I'm not really sure why I do this. -=-
-=-My 6yodd is not interested in learning to
read or anything else right now. She likes to do worksheets though. -=-
-=-She just doesn't get phonics, so I figured that she just wasn't ready. -=-
-=-I like to do unit studies, but
there's so much work involved in these, that I just don't want to take
the time to do them. I really want to do unschooling, . . .-=-
-=I really want to do unschooling, but I'm so afraid
that the girls won't be learning anything or will want to watch tv all
day. -=-
And this could be a topic all on its own, but -=- I really need your advice.
-=-
I advise people who want to know about unschooling to stop doing any
schooling and start listening quietly for real natural learning. It can't happen
along with the noise of assignments and programs and limitations on which books to
read and how much time not to watch TV.
The first change has to come in the parent.
-=-Right now, I have my
12yodd reading A History of the US, any Science book from the library of
her choosing, Sonlight's Tom Sawyer and a literature guide for Reading,
Spelling Power, Key to Decimals and a grammar workbook. -=-
This is parent directed. It's school at home. My only comment is "don't."
Or if you want to, do. But don't expect ANY unschooling to take hold in your
mind or her life what that "having" is going on.
Maybe read this:
http://sandradodd.com/unschool/haveto
To say "I have my 12 year old doing X" is another step beyond even thinking
YOU have to do something. Someone else is living under your "have to." Look
for choices.
-=If I will leave her alone, she will read other stuff, but not what I would
like for her to
read. -=-
If she reads what she wants to read and what she likes to read, that will be
reading.
If you want her to read what you wuold like for her to read, then unschooling
won't work for you, *UNLESS* you can be so persuasive and inspiring that you
make those readings seem so alluring and sparkly that she wants to read it
because it's wonderful and YOU like it and you can share the reading together and
have lovely bonding moments. But that would still change the focus of your
desires and satisfactions from her doing what you would like, to the two of you
doing something together.
-= My 8yodd is doing Explode the
Code, but gets very frustrated when she can't read the words.-=-
"Doing" meaning going there and being frustrated?
Think about what "doing" means to you.
And why is she "doing" what frustrates her? And why aren't you reading the
words to her? (Don't answer those questions here, just in your head.)
-=I do have her write a sentence every
day. I'm not really sure why I do this. -=-
Don't do things that don't make sense to you.
-=-My 6yodd is not interested in learning to
read or anything else right now. She likes to do worksheets though. -=-
How about puzzle books, mazes, pattern books, tricky math games with patterns?
-=-She just doesn't get phonics, so I figured that she just wasn't ready. -=-
Phonics hardly helps anyone read English anyway. Talk about frustration...
Start with the word "phonics" itself. Should be foniks, if phonics were
worth a damn.
Read http://sandradodd.com/r/persephonics
-=-I like to do unit studies, but
there's so much work involved in these, that I just don't want to take
the time to do them. I really want to do unschooling, . . .-=-
I hope you don't want to unschool ust to save yourself time and effort. It
takes as much time and effort, and at first it takes LOTS of time and effort on
the part of the parent to learn how to see the whole world differently.
-=I really want to do unschooling, but I'm so afraid that the girls won't be
learning anything or will want to watch tv all day. -=-
http://sandradodd.com/seeingit
http://sandradodd.com/tv
Sandra
-=-Am I doing something wrong?-=-
This kind of question is unanswerable out of the context of "if I want X
result..."
There's nothing illegal about the kinds of teaching and management outlined
in the post.
There are millions of people who would say "Exactly right!" and that many
more who would say "No, just put them in school."
So I'm going to assume the question meant "If I want to move toward workable
unschooling, what should I change?"
These things struck me as the most counterproductive:
-=-Right now, I have my
12yodd reading A History of the US, any Science book from the library of
her choosing, Sonlight's Tom Sawyer and a literature guide for Reading,
Spelling Power, Key to Decimals and a grammar workbook. -=-
-=If I will leave her alone, she will read other stuff, but not what I would
like for her to
read. -=-
-= My 8yodd is doing Explode the
Code, but gets very frustrated when she can't read the words.-=-
-=I do have her write a sentence every
day. I'm not really sure why I do this. -=-
-=-My 6yodd is not interested in learning to
read or anything else right now. She likes to do worksheets though. -=-
-=-She just doesn't get phonics, so I figured that she just wasn't ready. -=-
-=-I like to do unit studies, but
there's so much work involved in these, that I just don't want to take
the time to do them. I really want to do unschooling, . . .-=-
-=I really want to do unschooling, but I'm so afraid
that the girls won't be learning anything or will want to watch tv all
day. -=-
And this could be a topic all on its own, but -=- I really need your advice.
-=-
I advise people who want to know about unschooling to stop doing any
schooling and start listening quietly for real natural learning. It can't happen
along with the noise of assignments and programs and limitations on which books to
read and how much time not to watch TV.
The first change has to come in the parent.
-=-Right now, I have my
12yodd reading A History of the US, any Science book from the library of
her choosing, Sonlight's Tom Sawyer and a literature guide for Reading,
Spelling Power, Key to Decimals and a grammar workbook. -=-
This is parent directed. It's school at home. My only comment is "don't."
Or if you want to, do. But don't expect ANY unschooling to take hold in your
mind or her life what that "having" is going on.
Maybe read this:
http://sandradodd.com/unschool/haveto
To say "I have my 12 year old doing X" is another step beyond even thinking
YOU have to do something. Someone else is living under your "have to." Look
for choices.
-=If I will leave her alone, she will read other stuff, but not what I would
like for her to
read. -=-
If she reads what she wants to read and what she likes to read, that will be
reading.
If you want her to read what you wuold like for her to read, then unschooling
won't work for you, *UNLESS* you can be so persuasive and inspiring that you
make those readings seem so alluring and sparkly that she wants to read it
because it's wonderful and YOU like it and you can share the reading together and
have lovely bonding moments. But that would still change the focus of your
desires and satisfactions from her doing what you would like, to the two of you
doing something together.
-= My 8yodd is doing Explode the
Code, but gets very frustrated when she can't read the words.-=-
"Doing" meaning going there and being frustrated?
Think about what "doing" means to you.
And why is she "doing" what frustrates her? And why aren't you reading the
words to her? (Don't answer those questions here, just in your head.)
-=I do have her write a sentence every
day. I'm not really sure why I do this. -=-
Don't do things that don't make sense to you.
-=-My 6yodd is not interested in learning to
read or anything else right now. She likes to do worksheets though. -=-
How about puzzle books, mazes, pattern books, tricky math games with patterns?
-=-She just doesn't get phonics, so I figured that she just wasn't ready. -=-
Phonics hardly helps anyone read English anyway. Talk about frustration...
Start with the word "phonics" itself. Should be foniks, if phonics were
worth a damn.
Read http://sandradodd.com/r/persephonics
-=-I like to do unit studies, but
there's so much work involved in these, that I just don't want to take
the time to do them. I really want to do unschooling, . . .-=-
I hope you don't want to unschool ust to save yourself time and effort. It
takes as much time and effort, and at first it takes LOTS of time and effort on
the part of the parent to learn how to see the whole world differently.
-=I really want to do unschooling, but I'm so afraid that the girls won't be
learning anything or will want to watch tv all day. -=-
http://sandradodd.com/seeingit
http://sandradodd.com/tv
Sandra
cslkll
---
Should I just let
happens, when they pick out their own
interests and read about, watch on tv about, or pursue those however
they choose. It's
what they choose to bring into their lives that they will remember.
In our experience, anyway. If you let go and let it happen, you can
look for the "learning" if you need to...it will be there. You may
have to shift your perception of what learning is though and how it
really happens, in the way that it will stay with them. It comes in
many different forms :0) If you need to look at it in
school subjects, then reading about snakes falls
under "science"...right? Plain old speaking in full sentences can
fall under "grammar", etc.
~~~~~~~~~~and still have her do spelling, grammar and math
Welcome to the world of unschooling....it's a wild ride and
can take you to places you'd never guess it would :0) krista
Should I just let
> her read her own thing ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Yes, this is a great place to start. This is when the real learning
happens, when they pick out their own
interests and read about, watch on tv about, or pursue those however
they choose. It's
what they choose to bring into their lives that they will remember.
In our experience, anyway. If you let go and let it happen, you can
look for the "learning" if you need to...it will be there. You may
have to shift your perception of what learning is though and how it
really happens, in the way that it will stay with them. It comes in
many different forms :0) If you need to look at it in
school subjects, then reading about snakes falls
under "science"...right? Plain old speaking in full sentences can
fall under "grammar", etc.
~~~~~~~~~~and still have her do spelling, grammar and math
> or what? ~~~~~~~~No, don't do that :0) Not for unschooling.
Welcome to the world of unschooling....it's a wild ride and
can take you to places you'd never guess it would :0) krista