Addicted to curriculum!
Campbell & Wyman
Dear Laura...
How refreshing to hear these words from you ...I must say that I 'sing from
the same songbook' as you. I , too, long for the curriculum that embraces a
period of history or a set of biographies.
I too...loved school. And your words in brackets were mine as well. (that
is why we do what we do....right!)
I don't think that it is a "bizarre addiction" just a natural feeling that
some of the learning you did in an organized setting was extememly
positive. Isn't homelearning all about acceptance of ourselves AND our
children...about our different learning times together? Accept your
gut-feeling and try a Sonlight Curriculum. Variety is the spice of life.
Brooke
How refreshing to hear these words from you ...I must say that I 'sing from
the same songbook' as you. I , too, long for the curriculum that embraces a
period of history or a set of biographies.
I too...loved school. And your words in brackets were mine as well. (that
is why we do what we do....right!)
I don't think that it is a "bizarre addiction" just a natural feeling that
some of the learning you did in an organized setting was extememly
positive. Isn't homelearning all about acceptance of ourselves AND our
children...about our different learning times together? Accept your
gut-feeling and try a Sonlight Curriculum. Variety is the spice of life.
Brooke
>bliss. I loved school, and I want to do it all over with my kids. I can seebrynlee@...
>the damage school did to me (I was the A student who desperately feared to
>fail, who learned for the test and then forgot, who excelled in pleasing
>diverse teachers to the detriment of my actual education). But still, I
>loved school.
>
>Am I the only unschooler who secretly drools over the Sonlight catalog? And
>how can I loose myself from this bizarre addiction to learning plans?
>
>Any thoughts?
>
>Laura Bush
Peter Kowalke
Dear Laura,
I agree with your DH--give yourself the gift of the curriculum if it means
that much to you.
The other option, if you are willing to spend the money, is to buy all of
the supplies with no expectations. I know that my mother bought truckloads
of "learning tools" that neither my brother nor I ever touched. We would
pick up some of the material and I do admit that my mother had a great and
subtle influence over what we focused upon (I mean, if Mom's interested in
doing something with you, why not give it a look-see?), but a lot of the
books and the like went to relative waste. She might have had a form of the
same problem you face.
Don't be married to anything. You can and--I would argue--should bring
educational material into the house. You can even heavily push for certain
texts or material and be well within the bounds of "unschooling", I think.
To me, at least, unschooling is the freedom to follow your passions. If the
kids are interested in Sonlight, that's awesome. If not, there will be other
cool things out there. As a lifelong unschooler (now 20), to me unschooling
is not anti curriculum. It is just anti forced-curriculum.
-Peter Kowalke
--
Peter Kowalke
P.O. Box 772
Mentor, OH 44061
pkowalke@...
I agree with your DH--give yourself the gift of the curriculum if it means
that much to you.
The other option, if you are willing to spend the money, is to buy all of
the supplies with no expectations. I know that my mother bought truckloads
of "learning tools" that neither my brother nor I ever touched. We would
pick up some of the material and I do admit that my mother had a great and
subtle influence over what we focused upon (I mean, if Mom's interested in
doing something with you, why not give it a look-see?), but a lot of the
books and the like went to relative waste. She might have had a form of the
same problem you face.
Don't be married to anything. You can and--I would argue--should bring
educational material into the house. You can even heavily push for certain
texts or material and be well within the bounds of "unschooling", I think.
To me, at least, unschooling is the freedom to follow your passions. If the
kids are interested in Sonlight, that's awesome. If not, there will be other
cool things out there. As a lifelong unschooler (now 20), to me unschooling
is not anti curriculum. It is just anti forced-curriculum.
-Peter Kowalke
--
Peter Kowalke
P.O. Box 772
Mentor, OH 44061
pkowalke@...
[email protected]
To Peter K,
Well put! I'm so excited to see a real, live, unschooling success
story come online with us. Lynnie
Well put! I'm so excited to see a real, live, unschooling success
story come online with us. Lynnie
Campbell & Wyman
I think that it also depends on the child... whether or not to use
curriculum.
I have one dd (10 years old) who loves workbooks and Five in a Row type
programs. She goes through the catalogues and picks out things she enjoys.
It works for her.
My other dd (8 yrs. old) HATES anything that is organized by ME. However,
she will organize all sorts of amazing things on her own. She despises
workbooks...and , silly me, (I should know better after 5 years of learning
with them) I ordered her workbooks because her sister loved them. I soon
learned that I had wasted money...her eyeroll gave it away and the big
sigh, too.
The workbooks got tossed or sold at a used curriculum sale.
Allowing the children to choose is not a bad idea. Viva la difference!!!
Brooke
who lives in southern British COlumbia
PS> I am really enjoying this list. I have been looking for ages for such
discussions. :)
brynlee@...
curriculum.
I have one dd (10 years old) who loves workbooks and Five in a Row type
programs. She goes through the catalogues and picks out things she enjoys.
It works for her.
My other dd (8 yrs. old) HATES anything that is organized by ME. However,
she will organize all sorts of amazing things on her own. She despises
workbooks...and , silly me, (I should know better after 5 years of learning
with them) I ordered her workbooks because her sister loved them. I soon
learned that I had wasted money...her eyeroll gave it away and the big
sigh, too.
The workbooks got tossed or sold at a used curriculum sale.
Allowing the children to choose is not a bad idea. Viva la difference!!!
Brooke
who lives in southern British COlumbia
PS> I am really enjoying this list. I have been looking for ages for such
discussions. :)
brynlee@...
Lisa Bugg
. I know that my mother bought truckloads
Sometimes it's rather difficult to admit you've bought all this neato
cool---to mom--looking stuff and the kids aren't even interested in seeing
it come out of the box.
I have tons of things in the house, but dh made me admit early on that it's
really stuff for me. Yes, the kids use some of it and a few things have been
absolutely magical for a child or two, but all in all we have lots of unused
stuff too. But hey, some of my kids are still little so who knows what
they'll use.
Lisa
> of "learning tools" that neither my brother nor I ever touched. We wouldPeter, you've just made every mother on this list breathe deeply again. <G>
> pick up some of the material and I do admit that my mother had a great and
> subtle influence over what we focused upon (I mean, if Mom's interested in
> doing something with you, why not give it a look-see?), but a lot of the
> books and the like went to relative waste.
Sometimes it's rather difficult to admit you've bought all this neato
cool---to mom--looking stuff and the kids aren't even interested in seeing
it come out of the box.
I have tons of things in the house, but dh made me admit early on that it's
really stuff for me. Yes, the kids use some of it and a few things have been
absolutely magical for a child or two, but all in all we have lots of unused
stuff too. But hey, some of my kids are still little so who knows what
they'll use.
Lisa