I need help explaining unschooling concepts
my3sonsinva
Changes are occuring in some of our clubs, co-ops, etc. and I can't
seem to explain that why I don't want my children "forced" to fill
out worksheets or do art.
Example:
"COOL" science co-op (started by an unschooler)
Children are doing experiments. My children are told to stop, when
they don't want to and fill out a worksheet. Most members don't
understand why I don't want to continue with co-op if they are
forced to write.
In our robotics club. I RUN THIS but did ask for Moms to sign up
for fundraising, tshirts, etc.
Art teacher mom wants all kids to draw art work together for t-
shirts. I said, why not ask the kids "who wants to create the art
work for the t-shirts. She wants to make all kids to draw
something, even a scribble so they can have "ownership" of the
artwork.
HELP!!
Barb in VA
seem to explain that why I don't want my children "forced" to fill
out worksheets or do art.
Example:
"COOL" science co-op (started by an unschooler)
Children are doing experiments. My children are told to stop, when
they don't want to and fill out a worksheet. Most members don't
understand why I don't want to continue with co-op if they are
forced to write.
In our robotics club. I RUN THIS but did ask for Moms to sign up
for fundraising, tshirts, etc.
Art teacher mom wants all kids to draw art work together for t-
shirts. I said, why not ask the kids "who wants to create the art
work for the t-shirts. She wants to make all kids to draw
something, even a scribble so they can have "ownership" of the
artwork.
HELP!!
Barb in VA
[email protected]
Children are doing experiments. My children are told to stop, when
they don't want to and fill out a worksheet. Most members don't
understand why I don't want to continue with co-op if they are
forced to write.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I would probably ask them to stop the experiment and wait for
the others to finish their paperwork. I don't think I would
quit the co op if the kids were enjoying themselves.
for fundraising, tshirts, etc.
were on the same page with me, letting the kids work at their
own pace and not to interfere (tell them what and how to do it
or argue with the children) and two of the parents had way
too much involvement with the other kids. I had to tell them
to stop it more than once (the two over controlling parents).
The other kids did not like these two controlling parents and
I have decided that I will not invite them back this year (their
children don't want to do it anyhow--its not fun for them as
their parents have put too much pressure on them to perform).
Yes I expect to have some problems with this but I don't
know what else to do because talking to the parents didn't seem
to help--ps. one of those parents calls herself an unschooler!
shirts. I said, why not ask the kids "who wants to create the art
work for the t-shirts. She wants to make all kids to draw
something, even a scribble so they can have "ownership" of the
artwork.
artwork and t-shirt design. We encouraged the kids to do draw,
design, computer generate something about themself. They didn't
have to though. The one who didn't want to his mom forced him
and then practically did it herself. For the group drawing
the kids who wanted to took turns. We had one member who is
a good artist drew the t-shirt design which everyone voted on.
We were big on voting--I say we, but the kids did the voting.
We parents just tried to facilitate and line up mentors and
(sorta) keep them on track for their competition.
Don't know if you can explain unschooling concepts to these folks.
Its hard in "class" or group situations. I tend to organize
things for myself because that is what I want for my children-
an unschooling atmosphere where no one is forced to do anything
they don't want to. The best I can do in any class situation
is to tell my children they don't have to do X which is usually
fine in a homeschool situation. If we are involved in something
non-homeschool or if there are some very specific rules for
a group then I will tell my kids going in you have to do X if
you want to participate. Or sometimes if the situation seems
flexible enough I would ask that my children not be forced to
do X. Hope this helps some.
Kathy
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards: http://www.unschooling.com
Yahoo! Groups Links
they don't want to and fill out a worksheet. Most members don't
understand why I don't want to continue with co-op if they are
forced to write.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I would tell my kids they don't have to fill out the worksheet.
I would probably ask them to stop the experiment and wait for
the others to finish their paperwork. I don't think I would
quit the co op if the kids were enjoying themselves.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>In our robotics club. I RUN THIS but did ask for Moms to sign up
for fundraising, tshirts, etc.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I started a robotics team last year and three of the parents
were on the same page with me, letting the kids work at their
own pace and not to interfere (tell them what and how to do it
or argue with the children) and two of the parents had way
too much involvement with the other kids. I had to tell them
to stop it more than once (the two over controlling parents).
The other kids did not like these two controlling parents and
I have decided that I will not invite them back this year (their
children don't want to do it anyhow--its not fun for them as
their parents have put too much pressure on them to perform).
Yes I expect to have some problems with this but I don't
know what else to do because talking to the parents didn't seem
to help--ps. one of those parents calls herself an unschooler!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Art teacher mom wants all kids to draw art work together for t-
shirts. I said, why not ask the kids "who wants to create the art
work for the t-shirts. She wants to make all kids to draw
something, even a scribble so they can have "ownership" of the
artwork.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>During our robotics team competition we did have some call for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
artwork and t-shirt design. We encouraged the kids to do draw,
design, computer generate something about themself. They didn't
have to though. The one who didn't want to his mom forced him
and then practically did it herself. For the group drawing
the kids who wanted to took turns. We had one member who is
a good artist drew the t-shirt design which everyone voted on.
We were big on voting--I say we, but the kids did the voting.
We parents just tried to facilitate and line up mentors and
(sorta) keep them on track for their competition.
Don't know if you can explain unschooling concepts to these folks.
Its hard in "class" or group situations. I tend to organize
things for myself because that is what I want for my children-
an unschooling atmosphere where no one is forced to do anything
they don't want to. The best I can do in any class situation
is to tell my children they don't have to do X which is usually
fine in a homeschool situation. If we are involved in something
non-homeschool or if there are some very specific rules for
a group then I will tell my kids going in you have to do X if
you want to participate. Or sometimes if the situation seems
flexible enough I would ask that my children not be forced to
do X. Hope this helps some.
Kathy
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards: http://www.unschooling.com
Yahoo! Groups Links
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/6/2005 11:36:48 PM Mountain Daylight Time,
kaculwell@... writes:
Don't know if you can explain unschooling concepts to these folks.
Its hard in "class" or group situations.
-------------------
Once you get into a class or group situation it's all over anyway.
I think unschoolers should go at LEAST halfway if they're going to be in
group situations. It's totally unreasonable to expect mainstream people to
change their ways to unschooling just because there's an unschooler there.
If an unschooler wants to run a situation, don't fool yourself into thinking
it's natural learning if others have been called to a certain place at a
certain time to do something together.
Yes, it's better if they want to be there and yes, it's better if they have
a choice not to participate once they're there, but it's still "a class" or "a
project."
-=-If we are involved in something
non-homeschool or if there are some very specific rules for
a group then I will tell my kids going in you have to do X if
you want to participate. Or sometimes if the situation seems
flexible enough I would ask that my children not be forced to
do X. -=-
I've dealt with coordinators directly. The most structured thing any of my
kids has done so far was the junior police academy Marty attended when he was
14. I told the organizers that he doesn't write very well, and please to
give him a break on that. On the videotape they made for the kids afterwards,
one of the shots is of Marty taking notes, but I think the deal was that
Marty was popular with them there, and he was INTENTLY taking notes. He brought
those notes home and re-wrote them, and still to this day could probably tell
you the rules for safe handling of firearms. (And btw to this day he still
hasn't actually handled a real firearm, though he's had opportunities and he
was the best marksman of that week-long intensive academy, with simulators
and paintball guns.)
When Holly was doing acting and modelling classes, she was VERY into
following the dress code and was miffed when others failed to do so. She studied
her scripts HARD before class (partly because she wasn't reading yet, and
partly because she really liked the classes and wanted to do her best).
The fact that unschoolers might choose to do a structured activity doesn't
change the activity, but it can gradually and slightly (sometimes radically)
change other parents involved, if the other parents aren't totally oblivious.
<g> I know that at the dojo where Kirby is still involved, the owner backed
off from the driving emphasis on school and grades, and it had to be largely
because of Kirby, who had neither and yet was the most dedicated of the
kid-students.
A couple of times I've photocopied the interview Emily Subler did with me in
Home Education Magazine years back. It was easier for me because I could
point and say "There's Holly."
One way I have used other times is to say to the other person, "Have you
read much John Holt?" If they say no, I say well if you had... or "When you
do..." and because I hang around with teacher-types in hippieville, sometimes
they HAVE read Holt. <g> If you're in Republican red-neck land, maybe you
could just excitedly give them a website to read.
Here's one now! _http://sandradodd.com/holt/teachyourown_
(http://sandradodd.com/holt/teachyourown)
(Thank you Deb Lewis!)
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
kaculwell@... writes:
Don't know if you can explain unschooling concepts to these folks.
Its hard in "class" or group situations.
-------------------
Once you get into a class or group situation it's all over anyway.
I think unschoolers should go at LEAST halfway if they're going to be in
group situations. It's totally unreasonable to expect mainstream people to
change their ways to unschooling just because there's an unschooler there.
If an unschooler wants to run a situation, don't fool yourself into thinking
it's natural learning if others have been called to a certain place at a
certain time to do something together.
Yes, it's better if they want to be there and yes, it's better if they have
a choice not to participate once they're there, but it's still "a class" or "a
project."
-=-If we are involved in something
non-homeschool or if there are some very specific rules for
a group then I will tell my kids going in you have to do X if
you want to participate. Or sometimes if the situation seems
flexible enough I would ask that my children not be forced to
do X. -=-
I've dealt with coordinators directly. The most structured thing any of my
kids has done so far was the junior police academy Marty attended when he was
14. I told the organizers that he doesn't write very well, and please to
give him a break on that. On the videotape they made for the kids afterwards,
one of the shots is of Marty taking notes, but I think the deal was that
Marty was popular with them there, and he was INTENTLY taking notes. He brought
those notes home and re-wrote them, and still to this day could probably tell
you the rules for safe handling of firearms. (And btw to this day he still
hasn't actually handled a real firearm, though he's had opportunities and he
was the best marksman of that week-long intensive academy, with simulators
and paintball guns.)
When Holly was doing acting and modelling classes, she was VERY into
following the dress code and was miffed when others failed to do so. She studied
her scripts HARD before class (partly because she wasn't reading yet, and
partly because she really liked the classes and wanted to do her best).
The fact that unschoolers might choose to do a structured activity doesn't
change the activity, but it can gradually and slightly (sometimes radically)
change other parents involved, if the other parents aren't totally oblivious.
<g> I know that at the dojo where Kirby is still involved, the owner backed
off from the driving emphasis on school and grades, and it had to be largely
because of Kirby, who had neither and yet was the most dedicated of the
kid-students.
A couple of times I've photocopied the interview Emily Subler did with me in
Home Education Magazine years back. It was easier for me because I could
point and say "There's Holly."
One way I have used other times is to say to the other person, "Have you
read much John Holt?" If they say no, I say well if you had... or "When you
do..." and because I hang around with teacher-types in hippieville, sometimes
they HAVE read Holt. <g> If you're in Republican red-neck land, maybe you
could just excitedly give them a website to read.
Here's one now! _http://sandradodd.com/holt/teachyourown_
(http://sandradodd.com/holt/teachyourown)
(Thank you Deb Lewis!)
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
my3sonsinva
> During our robotics team competition we did have some call forThis is exactly what I even told the kids would happen. When I
> artwork and t-shirt design. We encouraged the kids to do draw,
> design, computer generate something about themself. They didn't
> have to though. The one who didn't want to his mom forced him
> and then practically did it herself. For the group drawing
> the kids who wanted to took turns. We had one member who is
> a good artist drew the t-shirt design which everyone voted on.
> We were big on voting--I say we, but the kids did the voting.
> We parents just tried to facilitate and line up mentors and
> (sorta) keep them on track for their competition.
>
explained the art work, one child had a sparkle in his eye. I know
he is a budding artist. If no one else wants to do the design, why
not let him? This could be his moment to shine. I told the kids
whoever WANTS to draw a design to do so and the kids will vote.
When I asked the moms to pick such tasks as t-shirts, I meant
whether to order the shirts, print out and iron on the designs
ourselves, etc.
> Don't know if you can explain unschooling concepts to these folks.Thanks so much. This helps a lot.
> Its hard in "class" or group situations. I tend to organize
> things for myself because that is what I want for my children-
> an unschooling atmosphere where no one is forced to do anything
> they don't want to. The best I can do in any class situation
> is to tell my children they don't have to do X which is usually
> fine in a homeschool situation. If we are involved in something
> non-homeschool or if there are some very specific rules for
> a group then I will tell my kids going in you have to do X if
> you want to participate. Or sometimes if the situation seems
> flexible enough I would ask that my children not be forced to
> do X. Hope this helps some.
>
> Kathy
Barb
my3sonsinva
"One way I have used other times is to say to the other
person, "Have you
read much John Holt?" If they say no, I say well if you had...
or "When you
do..." and because I hang around with teacher-types in hippieville,
sometimes
they HAVE read Holt. <g> If you're in Republican red-neck land,
maybe you
could just excitedly give them a website to read."
Not only am I in red-neck land, I'm in 700 club land. Not kidding
you, I've met many homeschoolers that either worked with good ol Pat
or have lived in his neighborhood. Obviously I'm glad to be with
these mostly democrat and of various or no religion at all
families. The science co-op worked so well for us for two years.
My children don't want to go anymore and I can't beleive none of
these moms understand unschooling concepts at all. Thanks for your
help.
Blessings,
Barb
person, "Have you
read much John Holt?" If they say no, I say well if you had...
or "When you
do..." and because I hang around with teacher-types in hippieville,
sometimes
they HAVE read Holt. <g> If you're in Republican red-neck land,
maybe you
could just excitedly give them a website to read."
Not only am I in red-neck land, I'm in 700 club land. Not kidding
you, I've met many homeschoolers that either worked with good ol Pat
or have lived in his neighborhood. Obviously I'm glad to be with
these mostly democrat and of various or no religion at all
families. The science co-op worked so well for us for two years.
My children don't want to go anymore and I can't beleive none of
these moms understand unschooling concepts at all. Thanks for your
help.
Blessings,
Barb