uebinger robyn

Hello to everyone out there. I was so happy to find your group and know
I wasn't alone. I am a mother of four, ages 10,7,3, and 11 weeks. My
children have never attended school. We have always followed a pretty
traditional approach to schooling and have just recently tried to embrace
the philosophy of unschooling. I was so excited when I began reading about
unschooling. Traditional homeschooling was not working. I didn't know what
else to do. It seemed to be bringing more tears and frustration than
anything else. Unschooling has given me hope and inspiration that we can
continue.
I have several questions that I am sure you have answered before and I
appreciate your patience. What about reading? My 7 year old is not reading
and trying to teach him is like pulling hair. I have backed off and am
trying to understand that he will read in his own time and his own way. But
I am so nervous. How is he going to learn if he doesn't know how to read?
Can anyone give me advice or comfort? I guess I am just having trouble
backing off. I understand the philosophy but am having trouble implementing
it. Is it really good to let my 10 year old lie around 24 hours a day,
reading Harry Potter over and over again?
Does anyone out there have a son or daughter who would like to
communicate with my ten year old son? He needs to feel that there other
people out there like him too. We live in a very small community and don't
know anyone with even similar philosophies as us.
Thanks to everyone. It means so much.

Sincerely,
Robyn
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com

Sonia Ulan

Hi Robyn!

Congratulations on the new baby!!! Who wouldn't be "needy" with all
that you have on your plate right now? I'd like to offer some support
if I may. Have absolutely NO FEAR about your 7 year old not reading.
My 8 year old is only just beginning the basics and I have at least 3
other homeschooler friends with kids who are taking their sweet time at
the reading trick too (one boy is 10 and can barely read a word but he
is nonetheless an alert, aware, interested-in-learning child and is
doing well). It will come, I can assure you! I just read something
recently about the ideal age for reading being 11 years! So you've got
a way to go...I'd think one of the best possible homeschooling
experiences for a family would be what you've just been through and will
continue with over the next year or so. What a phenomenal opportunity
for your children to have shared in your pregnancy, the fetal
development and now study of the newly arrived infant! When my then 9
and 6 year old children immersed themselves in my last pregnancy, (my
baby turns 2 tomorrow...) the euphoria lasted to this day. We got every
book and video the library had on pregnancy, fetal development and
birth. My children have become completely engrossed and amazed with the
growth and moulding of a fellow human being. What they would've missed
had they been away all of every day at a public school is enough to
depress anyone. What an amazing opportunity your family has right now!
And if your 10 year old would rather read Harry Potter all day I'm sure
the day will come when inevitably he will grow tired of it and be ready
for something new. "Don't sweat the small stuff" and just enjoy the
rare and precious moments with the newborn and the unification of your 4
children into a new family dynamic.

If your ten year old is looking for penpals, I'm sure my now 11 year old
son would be most pleased to reciprocate!

Congratulations again and my very best wishes,

Sonia in Saskatoon



uebinger robyn wrote:
>
>
> Hello to everyone out there. I was so happy to find your group and know
> I wasn't alone. I am a mother of four, ages 10,7,3, and 11 weeks. My
> children have never attended school. We have always followed a pretty
> traditional approach to schooling and have just recently tried to embrace
> the philosophy of unschooling. I was so excited when I began reading about
> unschooling. Traditional homeschooling was not working. I didn't know what
> else to do. It seemed to be bringing more tears and frustration than
> anything else. Unschooling has given me hope and inspiration that we can
> continue.
> I have several questions that I am sure you have answered before and I
> appreciate your patience. What about reading? My 7 year old is not reading
> and trying to teach him is like pulling hair. I have backed off and am
> trying to understand that he will read in his own time and his own way. But
> I am so nervous. How is he going to learn if he doesn't know how to read?
> Can anyone give me advice or comfort? I guess I am just having trouble
> backing off. I understand the philosophy but am having trouble implementing
> it. Is it really good to let my 10 year old lie around 24 hours a day,
> reading Harry Potter over and over again?
> Does anyone out there have a son or daughter who would like to
> communicate with my ten year old son? He needs to feel that there other
> people out there like him too. We live in a very small community and don't
> know anyone with even similar philosophies as us.
> Thanks to everyone. It means so much.
>
> Sincerely,
> Robyn
> _________________________________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
>
> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
> http://profiles.msn.com
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> Addresses:
> Post message: [email protected]
> Unsubscribe: [email protected]
> List owner: [email protected]
> List settings page: http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom

Susan (mother to 5 in Fla)

Robyn,

You need to read "Better Late Than Early" by the Moore's. Some children,
especially boys, aren't ready to read until around 10.

LisaKK

> I have several questions that I am sure you have answered before and
I
> appreciate your patience. What about reading? My 7 year old is not reading
> and trying to teach him is like pulling hair. I have backed off and am
> trying to understand that he will read in his own time and his own way.
But
> I am so nervous. How is he going to learn if he doesn't know how to read?
> Can anyone give me advice or comfort? I guess I am just having trouble
> backing off. I understand the philosophy but am having trouble
implementing
> it. Is it really good to let my 10 year old lie around 24 hours a day,
> reading Harry Potter over and over again?

How did your children learn to walk? Or talk?? How did they learn to
program the VCR? or know when their favoriate TV show comes on?

Your 7 year old will read on his own timetable, but only if you don't pull
all of his hair out. <VBG>

Were you and the 10 year old fighting over schooling before? Does it make a
difference what a child is reading, as long as they are reading and
thinking? And are you sure that's all that's being done? No food is being
eaten, no trips to the bathroom, no fighting between siblings?

One of the best ways to help the nervousness is to write down eveyrthing the
kids do during the day. Everything. Then after a week or so, take a look
at what has been done. This might not be the thing to do during intense
deschooling, where everyone is getting their bearings back, but for a little
later.

> Does anyone out there have a son or daughter who would like to
> communicate with my ten year old son? He needs to feel that there other
> people out there like him too. We live in a very small community and don't
> know anyone with even similar philosophies as us.

I'll ask my 10 year old. He's reading fluently now, but still not writing
much as he does not spell yet.... he might love the chance to talk to
another 10 year old. :)

LisaKK

Stephanie Currier

>>One of the best ways to help the nervousness is to write down eveyrthing
the
kids do during the day. Everything. Then after a week or so, take a look
at what has been done. This might not be the thing to do during intense
deschooling, where everyone is getting their bearings back, but for a little
later.<<

This is SO true.
I still do it, on days when I feel I've let too much slip. Last week, on a
day that felt as though pieces were missing, I wrote down what the girls had
worked on. Puzzles. I calculated that they spent roughly 4 hours that day
just doing puzzles.
This was a big deal for me, because I have bought and left puzzles around
for years, and no one has been interested in them ... ever. Then there was
the day that my 8yo disapeared upstairs while I was reading with the 4yo,
and didn't come down until much later. She had been playing Chessmaster on
the Nintendo...a game that I bought and that had laid there for months
without any interest whatsoever.

Those "Oh No, What did we DO today?!" days, are sometimes the best.

Steph