Ruth MacAlister

Thanks Susan and Debbie!

As for de-schooling yourself you need to read a book The Underground History
of American Education by John Taylor Gatto.

I keep hearing about this book as being a must-read, even from a non-h/s friend.  Thanks for the encouragement.  The more I look at ps the more I hate what I see.....still, I'm so stuck on the academic track I followed so well.  It's going to take time for me to loosen up.

    Wait a couple of weeks and then start bringing any books home from the
    library you think might even slightly interest them. ....Have a family reading
    time everyday where you read books aloud to them.......

Thanks for the suggestions.  We have always done the family reading time, so it's a natural for us.  It's the nitty-gritty that makes me nervous.  Will they ever learn the parts of speech if I don't teach them to diagram sentences?  Beyond multiplication and division, will they ever learn fractions (least common denominators, greatest common factors,etc.) and decimals (aside from money), to say nothing of algebra, geometry or trigonometry?  I realize that I must sound like an advertisement for your local ps district; I'm just trying to come to terms with this.  Thanks for your help and support.

Ruth
 
 

[email protected]

> Will they ever learn the parts of speech if I don't teach them to diagram
> sentences? Beyond multiplication and division, will they ever learn
> fractions (least common denominators, greatest common factors,etc.) and
> decimals (aside from money), to say nothing of algebra, geometry or
> trigonometry?

Do you use these things in real life? If so, your kids will probably learn
them. If not, will your children become interested in something that involves
these things?

As far as parts of speech and diagramming sentences I personally can't
imagine EVER using these things, but I suppose someone does.

If your kids decide to go into some technical field, they will be motivated
to learn higher maths (like my dh did), but if they have NO interest in those
things, they are unlikely to be interested in something that would require
them.

:-) Diane

Tracy Oldfield

> Thanks for the suggestions. We have always done the family reading
> time, so it's a natural for us. It's the nitty-gritty that makes me
> nervous. Will they ever learn the parts of speech if I don't teach
> them to diagram sentences? Beyond multiplication and division, will
> they ever learn fractions (least common denominators, greatest common
> factors,etc.) and decimals (aside from money), to say nothing of
> algebra, geometry or trigonometry? I realize that I must sound like
> an advertisement for your local ps district; I'm just trying to come
> to terms with this. Thanks for your help and support.
>
> Ruth
>
>
>
Ruth, one answer to your questions is another question. Will they
need to know it or be interested in it? If the answer is yes, they'll
learn it. If not, it doesn't matter. Many people can give you
examples of creative people, engineers, architects who have to use
calculators and spellcheckers to work, and have their reports
edited by staff or family before they use them. And why not? Must
have been awful before these things were invented...

This is the idea I'm trying to follow with mine. Atm, I'm being fairly
successful on the academic side of this, but not on other, more
vital sides, like will she stop acting like any boy who's running is
chasing her? Mine are younger, and have only been to 'preschool'
for a little while.

I'm still deschooling, to some degree, still trying to shake off the
shackles of upbringing and schooling. It takes time, and it makes
sense to give oneself that time, I'm sure you'll know yourself better,
if nothing else.

Best wishes
Tracy

Billy or Nancy

The Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto.
 
>Will they ever learn the parts of speech
if I don't teach them to diagram sentences? 
 
If you want them to learn parts of speech, have them do MadLibs, not diagramming sentences!
 
More than basic math? Only 10% of people use more than basic math on the job. Want to get them using more than basic math in real life? Get them involved in woodworking, sailing (navigation), sewing. You'd be surprised at how much math can be involved in calculating a compound miter joint for a picture frame! There are also lots of math materials that show how interesting and useful math can be, unlike the typical textbook.
 
Billy
Family Unschoolers Network
http://www.unschooling.org
FUN Books
http://www.FUN-Books.com
Featuring the new John Taylor Gatto book!
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Ruth MacAlister [mailto:ruthian@...]
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2000 7:46 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: deschooling (was Intro myself)

Thanks Susan and Debbie!

As for de-schooling yourself you need to read a book The Underground History
of American Education by John Taylor Gatto.

I keep hearing about this book as being a must-read, even from a non-h/s friend.  Thanks for the encouragement.  The more I look at ps the more I hate what I see.....still, I'm so stuck on the academic track I followed so well.  It's going to take time for me to loosen up.

    Wait a couple of weeks and then start bringing any books home from the
    library you think might even slightly interest them. ....Have a family reading
    time everyday where you read books aloud to them.......

Thanks for the suggestions.  We have always done the family reading time, so it's a natural for us.  It's the nitty-gritty that makes me nervous.  Will they ever learn the parts of speech if I don't teach them to diagram sentences?  Beyond multiplication and division, will they ever learn fractions (least common denominators, greatest common factors,etc.) and decimals (aside from money), to say nothing of algebra, geometry or trigonometry?  I realize that I must sound like an advertisement for your local ps district; I'm just trying to come to terms with this.  Thanks for your help and support.

Ruth 
  
 

Cathie _

>There are also lots of math materials that show how
>interesting and useful math can be, unlike the typical textbook.
>
>Billy

How about a list of those materials?

TIA
Cathie
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Billy or Nancy

Cathie,

Here's a list of some of our favorites:

http://www.fun-books.com/mathematics.htm

Also, "The Man Who Counted" can be found about half-way down the page at:

http://www.fun-books.com/specials.htm

If you don't have web access, let me know and I will e-mail the list to you
privately.

Billy
Family Unschoolers Network
http://www.unschooling.org
FUN Books
http://www.FUN-Books.com
Featuring the new John Taylor Gatto book!

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cathie _ [mailto:cathie_98@...]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2000 7:59 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: RE: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: deschooling (was Intro myself)
>
>
>
> >There are also lots of math materials that show how
> >interesting and useful math can be, unlike the typical textbook.
> >
> >Billy
>
> How about a list of those materials?
>
> TIA
> Cathie

Lynda

The kidlets (well, the youngest who is a workbook fanatic) liked the “Math
Is Everywhere” Series (Math about Me , Math with Games, Math at the Mall,
Math in the Kitchen, Math and Money Management, Math in Space, Math in
Geography, Math on a Trip). They cost between $3 and $6 for each book, or
did last time I looked.

Lynda


----------
> From: Cathie _ <cathie_98@...>
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: RE: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: deschooling (was Intro myself)
> Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2000 4:59 AM
>
>
> >There are also lots of math materials that show how
> >interesting and useful math can be, unlike the typical textbook.
> >
> >Billy
>
> How about a list of those materials?
>
> TIA
> Cathie
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