Erica

Hi,
My family has been hsing for 9 years. I'm transitioning into unschooling this summer. I tried to do this before but my daughter freaked a little. I didn't tell the kids we were changing our way of schooling. I just gradually stopped assigning things to do. My son (9) happily moved on with his life but my daughter(13) was concerned about her education and asked for the schedule back. I don't think she really likes the schedule. It often takes her 3 weeks to complete a week of assignments. I obviously don't enforce the schedule. Have I ruined her?!

I read Teenage Liberation HB and have ordered a copy for her. Any ideas on how to transition her this summer without saying"unschool".

Background: I always loved unschooling. My husband required us to have structure. I've moved from school district independent study to charter to R4 (CA private school) over the years. Upgrading our independence over the years. I know now he trusts me enough to do my own thing or let the kids do their own thing.

I have a million other things to say but I'll go slow :)
Erica

Sandra Dodd

-=-It often takes her 3 weeks to complete a week of assignments. I
obviously don't enforce the schedule. Have I ruined her?!-=-

Whether people here say yes or no doesn't change whatever damage has
been done. There are other factors about your relationship we can't
know, and about her own personality and natural traits. "Ruined" is
a harsh word, but it's not a yes or no question. Harmed, maybe, but
harmed what? Harm to the ability to relax into natural learning was
harm done to most of us by school. School at home can cause that
harm, too.

-=- Any ideas on how to transition her this summer without
saying"unschool".-=-

Kids who have been doing lessons or being schooled have earned the
summer off. There shouldn't be anything about school or unschool in
summer, should there?

July 24 is Learn Nothing Day. Maybe you could talk to her about
that. Maybe if she can think about a way of life in which it's
impossible to have a day without learning she will start to understand
it.

http://sandradodd.com/learnnothingday

-=- I know now he trusts me enough to do my own thing or let the kids
do their own thing.-=-

Rather than having granulated "own things," find family things. Find
things in dyads, or things that change the environment of the house in
ways that facilitate learning.

Sandra

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