Unschooling Questions
em 1267
Cathy,
Let's start with what drew you to find out about unschooling. Have
you been homeshooling very long?
LisaKK
-----Original Message-----
From: Cathy Henderson <cathen@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, July 17, 2000 7:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Definitions
Let's start with what drew you to find out about unschooling. Have
you been homeshooling very long?
LisaKK
-----Original Message-----
From: Cathy Henderson <cathen@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, July 17, 2000 7:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Definitions
>Charles, or anyone else who might could help...
>
>Do you know of any lists where unschooling is discussed? Can you please
>send the url's?
>
>I joined this list to learn something about unschooling, a concept that is
>fairly new to me. I do not feel I can direct the conversation that way (as
M & J Welch
>>>what drew you to unschooling?<<<My son-a very active learner. He's unable to tolerate sitting still for very
long. Over the last year of schooling, the lessons he remembers best are
the ones in which we just talked-he asked tons of questions and I answered
them, or, if I couldn't, we looked it up together. Usually while we talked,
he ran circles around the house, careened across the kitchen floor on our
wheeled desk chair, or rolled on the carpet.
I'd like to know from people who began as homeschoolers and "morphed" into
unschoolers: what was the toughest thing about changing?
I'm ending my second year of homeschooling, and Seamus (7yob) has let me
know in no uncertain terms :-) he prefers unschooling. He is an extremely
high energy child and reenergizes by interacting with others. Questions non
stop, always bouncing around and moving. Sit still and "do homework"!?
Nearly impossible, and quickly becoming unthinkable.
I have a hard time keeping up with his energy levels. Regular homeschooling
is easier for me-but Seamus rarely gets fully engaged with this sort of
learning, so I've been changing to meet his needs. It's tiring, but the
desire in me is there. I'm motivated to change every time I see him get
engaged in a sloppy unstructured "lesson". It's like a moment of zen, or an
epiphany, or the first time I ever ate Butter Toffee ice cream (mmm mmm mmm
good!).
So for me, the hardest thing to overcome during my transition from
homeschooling to unschooling is constant drain on my energy level.
What was the hardest thing for you-or was it a snap? And do you have any
suggestions for me to get reenergized? (It doesn't help that my son is an
extrovert and I'm an introvert.)
Lee
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/19/00 6:48:06 PM Central Daylight Time,
seamus@... writes:
<< So for me, the hardest thing to overcome during my transition from
homeschooling to unschooling is constant drain on my energy level.
actually less draining than structured homeschooling. You will not need to
adhere to a stricter schedule, and you will not have to battle through a
purchased curriculum that may have topics uninteresting to your child. For
example, a commercial reading series may have stories that bore your child,
but letting him help select books geared to his interest level will help to
hold his attention. Also, you will not need to create a schedule where you
accomplish academics from 8 am to noon or whatever, each day. You and your
child may find you function better and relate better when working on things
from , say, noon till 2:00, then break, then work on something later in the
day or evenings. The point is that you have an abundance of freedom to make
your unique situation work for you and your family, and that it just takes
some time to find the "right" method and schedule that suits you best. I
think, too, that young children need lots of outdoor physical play. My
oldest son will soon be 6, and he benefits from a lot of play in the
mornings. We seem better suited, right now, to pursuing academic activities
later in the day; --right now, he is too busy doing his own personal thing in
the morning. It suits me well, as I have 2 younger ones to keep up with ,
too, and I am not usually just extremely energetic first thing in the
morning! :) I'm sure things will fall into place for you; just give it some
time. ~Karen
seamus@... writes:
<< So for me, the hardest thing to overcome during my transition from
homeschooling to unschooling is constant drain on my energy level.
>>It may be, given more time to adjust to unschooling, that you will find it
actually less draining than structured homeschooling. You will not need to
adhere to a stricter schedule, and you will not have to battle through a
purchased curriculum that may have topics uninteresting to your child. For
example, a commercial reading series may have stories that bore your child,
but letting him help select books geared to his interest level will help to
hold his attention. Also, you will not need to create a schedule where you
accomplish academics from 8 am to noon or whatever, each day. You and your
child may find you function better and relate better when working on things
from , say, noon till 2:00, then break, then work on something later in the
day or evenings. The point is that you have an abundance of freedom to make
your unique situation work for you and your family, and that it just takes
some time to find the "right" method and schedule that suits you best. I
think, too, that young children need lots of outdoor physical play. My
oldest son will soon be 6, and he benefits from a lot of play in the
mornings. We seem better suited, right now, to pursuing academic activities
later in the day; --right now, he is too busy doing his own personal thing in
the morning. It suits me well, as I have 2 younger ones to keep up with ,
too, and I am not usually just extremely energetic first thing in the
morning! :) I'm sure things will fall into place for you; just give it some
time. ~Karen
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/20/00 10:10:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
HPaulson5@... writes:
<< It may be, given more time to adjust to unschooling, that you will find it
actually less draining than structured homeschooling. >>
i'm looking forward to unschooling my daughter this coming year... the only
apprehension that i have is that ****if**** she decides to go back for 8th
grade, that she won't be prepared... she has had no algebra to speak of and
her math skills are probably below average...
jeanne
HPaulson5@... writes:
<< It may be, given more time to adjust to unschooling, that you will find it
actually less draining than structured homeschooling. >>
i'm looking forward to unschooling my daughter this coming year... the only
apprehension that i have is that ****if**** she decides to go back for 8th
grade, that she won't be prepared... she has had no algebra to speak of and
her math skills are probably below average...
jeanne
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/20/00 10:09:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
HPaulson5@... writes:
<< My
oldest son will soon be 6, and he benefits from a lot of play in the
mornings. We seem better suited, right now, to pursuing academic activities
later in the day; --right now, he is too busy doing his own personal thing
in
the morning. It suits me well, as I have 2 younger ones to keep up with ,
too, and I am not usually just extremely energetic first thing in the
morning! :) >>
Karen and others,
What do you do when the temp. is set at extremely hot? My little ones need
some physical activitiy but it is already too hot by 8am here in Flordia.
any ideas would be helpful.
Julie
HPaulson5@... writes:
<< My
oldest son will soon be 6, and he benefits from a lot of play in the
mornings. We seem better suited, right now, to pursuing academic activities
later in the day; --right now, he is too busy doing his own personal thing
in
the morning. It suits me well, as I have 2 younger ones to keep up with ,
too, and I am not usually just extremely energetic first thing in the
morning! :) >>
Karen and others,
What do you do when the temp. is set at extremely hot? My little ones need
some physical activitiy but it is already too hot by 8am here in Flordia.
any ideas would be helpful.
Julie
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/20/00 10:04:11 AM Central Daylight Time, Whyner@...
writes:
<< i'm looking forward to unschooling my daughter this coming year... the
only
apprehension that i have is that ****if**** she decides to go back for 8th
grade, that she won't be prepared... she has had no algebra to speak of and
her math skills are probably below average...
jeanne
grade, there will undoubtedly be other kids that have always been in ps, and
will have below average math skills. While that may not make you feel
better, at least she would not be isolated in this, and chances are, too, she
could surprise you. She could do better than you think at this time. :)
~Karen
writes:
<< i'm looking forward to unschooling my daughter this coming year... the
only
apprehension that i have is that ****if**** she decides to go back for 8th
grade, that she won't be prepared... she has had no algebra to speak of and
her math skills are probably below average...
jeanne
>>Hi Jeanne, if it is any consolation, IF she decides to go back for 8th
grade, there will undoubtedly be other kids that have always been in ps, and
will have below average math skills. While that may not make you feel
better, at least she would not be isolated in this, and chances are, too, she
could surprise you. She could do better than you think at this time. :)
~Karen
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/20/2000 7:10:37 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
HPaulson5@... writes:
Or an answer key with totally ridiculous answers! I hate this. Those fill
in the blank work books. I find that I have to be right there explaining the
answer that the book wants because the obvious answer is not given as an
option. Then when we look and see what answer the 'experts' were after it
makes no sense at all! Not only does it drive me nuts, but my kid hates it
too...so, very few workbooks for us. LOL Talk about teaching to a test.
geeze. Can't even get the homework/practice exercises right if you can't
figure out what the author was thinking when they put that exercise together.
My 2 cents worth...considering inflation, it may not be much! BG
Eiraul
HPaulson5@... writes:
> Forchild,
> example, a commercial reading series may have stories that bore your
Or an answer key with totally ridiculous answers! I hate this. Those fill
in the blank work books. I find that I have to be right there explaining the
answer that the book wants because the obvious answer is not given as an
option. Then when we look and see what answer the 'experts' were after it
makes no sense at all! Not only does it drive me nuts, but my kid hates it
too...so, very few workbooks for us. LOL Talk about teaching to a test.
geeze. Can't even get the homework/practice exercises right if you can't
figure out what the author was thinking when they put that exercise together.
My 2 cents worth...considering inflation, it may not be much! BG
Eiraul
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/20/2000 8:04:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Whyner@...
writes:
the ps system to assist her in matching the beat of the ps drum. Don't
worry about it. Be ready to assist when/if the time comes and there will be
adjustments. But she will NOT be the only child in school that is 'behind'
schedule.
Eiraul
writes:
> the onlyand
> apprehension that i have is that ****if**** she decides to go back for 8th
> grade, that she won't be prepared... she has had no algebra to speak of
> her math skills are probably below average...IF this becomes an issue, there are plenty of programs already in place in
the ps system to assist her in matching the beat of the ps drum. Don't
worry about it. Be ready to assist when/if the time comes and there will be
adjustments. But she will NOT be the only child in school that is 'behind'
schedule.
Eiraul
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/20/00 8:13:16 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Jaam1224@...
writes:
<< What do you do when the temp. is set at extremely hot? My little ones
need
some physical activitiy but it is already too hot by 8am here in Flordia.
any ideas would be helpful. >>
When we lived in Florida we did a lot of water play outside - water gun and
ballon fights and pool time were big winners. We also danced to fun music
while enjoying the air conditioning. We learned new dances or just fooled
around. We also played balloon tennis with toy store rackets and a blown up
balloon, in a fairly empty room.
candice
writes:
<< What do you do when the temp. is set at extremely hot? My little ones
need
some physical activitiy but it is already too hot by 8am here in Flordia.
any ideas would be helpful. >>
When we lived in Florida we did a lot of water play outside - water gun and
ballon fights and pool time were big winners. We also danced to fun music
while enjoying the air conditioning. We learned new dances or just fooled
around. We also played balloon tennis with toy store rackets and a blown up
balloon, in a fairly empty room.
candice
Cathie _
>You may want to check out Barrons Guide to Arithmetic. Barnes and Noble has
><< i'm looking forward to unschooling my daughter this coming year... the
>only
> apprehension that i have is that ****if**** she decides to go back for
>8th
> grade, that she won't be prepared... she has had no algebra to speak of
>and
> her math skills are probably below average...
>
> jeanne
it for around 15.00, I think (and they also give a 20% discount to hsers) It
goes from the very basics of addition and subtraction right on up. I like it
cause it has a pretest at the beginning of each chapter. If you ace it, then
you skip the chapter. If there is one section that you did poorly on, then
you just go over that part of the chapter. It makes it fairly easy to find
out where your child really is in math.
Cathie
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[email protected]
In a message dated 7/20/00 4:08:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
cathie_98@... writes:
<< It makes it fairly easy to find
out where your child really is in math.
Cathie >>
that sounds interesting... i'll check it out, thanks... does it include
algebra?
cathie_98@... writes:
<< It makes it fairly easy to find
out where your child really is in math.
Cathie >>
that sounds interesting... i'll check it out, thanks... does it include
algebra?
Cathie _
>No, but they have one for algebra too-it is different. I looked at it but
>that sounds interesting... i'll check it out, thanks... does it include
>algebra?
didn't buy it-it has a story approach, which I thought would be an
interesting way to teach it to those of us who are better with words than
numbers, but Megan chose a different book to try right before she left on
this last trip. If it works out I will let you all know. We have alot of
trouble with algebra here.
Cathie
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