Kim Crump

Hello,
I have an 8 yr. old dd who is in first grade,and two other children at
home,13 yr. old ds(dyslexic,never been in government school)and ds
almost 7.
I need to clarify dd is in government school. She had been literally
begging me to let her "try" school so I did. I just cannot let her go
back next year,it's against everything I believe in concerning
learning/education.Here is where I need the encouragement. We have
always been *unschoolers* and I don't think dd is bent that way. She
loves workbooks and seatwork. She was literally driving me crazy the
past couple of years getting *bored* every time I turned around. Almost
like she couldn't entertain herself but was expecting me to. Constantly.
I can accommodate her with workbooks and such,but what about the
*bored* times?
Suffice it to say I've experienced burnout just not knowing what to do
with her all day,every day. Do I need to add that she is very social?
The reason she likes gov. school so much is because of the
socialization issue.
I think I'm starting to ramble now,so Ill sign off for now.
Blessings,
Kim

Sandra Dodd

On Mar 17, 2006, at 3:02 PM, Kim Crump wrote. . . .


First, because of the workbook mention, I'm wondering whether you're
familiar with unschooling. And you only joined the list this
afternoon, and probably posted without reading the welcome e-mail
that asks that new members wait a couple of weeks. So please read
this and other responses you get, read links, and hang out on the
list a while before posting more.

> She had been literally
> begging me to let her "try" school so I did. I just cannot let her go
> back next year,it's against everything I believe in concerning
> learning/education.

Why would she have to literally beg to do something?
Why is she just "trying" school?

It seems if she wanted to go to school, she shouldn't have to beg,
and if she's going to school she's really going.

If you make home more interesting than school and make sure she has
opportunities to be around other kids (which WILL be work for you,
but unschooling is work), maybe she'll stay home. If you simply make
her stay home because of what YOU believe, that seems problematical
to me.

The worst thing about school is when students have no option or choice.
Some families make homeschooling just as bad, by giving their
children no option or choice.

If home isn't a more attractive choice, your daughter is making a
good choice by going to school. She SHOULD do what's interesting to
her. People learn when they're doing interesting things!

Here are some ideas for making things more interesting:

http://sandradodd.com/nest
http://sandradodd.com/BoredNoMore
http://sandradodd.com/checklists
http://sandradodd.com/help

-=-Suffice it to say I've experienced burnout just not knowing what
to do
with her all day,every day.-=-

Burnout is usually a symptom of trying to do school at home. If you
move more toward unschooling you'll all be having more fun!


Sandra