Introduction...
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Hi, I'm new here and pretty new to unschooling. Well, really I've
probably should really label what I do as Relaxed schooling instead
of unschooling. I have to boys who are almost 7 and almost 3 1/2. I
started hsing when my oldest was still in preschool. I just about
worked him to death that yr. The next yr. was Kindergarten and I
relaxed a little more. This yr. he is registered as 1st gr. and
about 2 1/2 months into the "school yr." we threw out all the
workbooks and formal schooling. I really want to unschool TOTALLY,
but I'm finding that it is taking ME time to let TOTALLY go. My ds
learned to read at an early age and so he is now reading well above
grade level, so I feel the "need" to make sure he reads everyday. I
let him choose what he reads, but I do require it. Most days I see
him with books that he has picked up on his own and he will just read
a page or two(these are usually books that I've already read to
him). Why do I think that is not reading? Why do I think he has to
finish the book or chapter????? I want to get past this!! Math is
another area. After I threw out the workbooks we started playing
math games. I've purchased some "number" games and some "strategy
and logic" games. He likes a few of the "number" games(loves Phase
10 dice game), but he REALLY enjoys the strategy and logic type games
the best. I'm wanting to purchase more games, so what do you all
think, should I purchase an equal amount of both type games(since he
does like both). What do you TOTALLY unschoolers think about these
math games?
I would also like any ideas or advice on how I can let go that last
little bit and TOTALLY unschool.
Thanks,
Lea
probably should really label what I do as Relaxed schooling instead
of unschooling. I have to boys who are almost 7 and almost 3 1/2. I
started hsing when my oldest was still in preschool. I just about
worked him to death that yr. The next yr. was Kindergarten and I
relaxed a little more. This yr. he is registered as 1st gr. and
about 2 1/2 months into the "school yr." we threw out all the
workbooks and formal schooling. I really want to unschool TOTALLY,
but I'm finding that it is taking ME time to let TOTALLY go. My ds
learned to read at an early age and so he is now reading well above
grade level, so I feel the "need" to make sure he reads everyday. I
let him choose what he reads, but I do require it. Most days I see
him with books that he has picked up on his own and he will just read
a page or two(these are usually books that I've already read to
him). Why do I think that is not reading? Why do I think he has to
finish the book or chapter????? I want to get past this!! Math is
another area. After I threw out the workbooks we started playing
math games. I've purchased some "number" games and some "strategy
and logic" games. He likes a few of the "number" games(loves Phase
10 dice game), but he REALLY enjoys the strategy and logic type games
the best. I'm wanting to purchase more games, so what do you all
think, should I purchase an equal amount of both type games(since he
does like both). What do you TOTALLY unschoolers think about these
math games?
I would also like any ideas or advice on how I can let go that last
little bit and TOTALLY unschool.
Thanks,
Lea
Bobbie
Ok, well, I am by no means an expert, but I do tend to
have "control issues" and have to stop and remind
myself not to try and control the way they learn. The
only thing that works for me totally without fail is
to really put myself in their shoes. Try to remember
back to when you were your sons ages and how proud of
yourself and happy you would be if you were just
reading a book along all by yourself and then maybe
something you read reminded you of something else that
reminded you of something else that you wanted to go
check out or learn about or pretend about, and you
knew, since you had the power of knowing how to read
on your own, that you could come back to your book at
any time and pick it back up, thanks your mom teaching
you and instilling that love in you, and how it would
make you feel if your mom came and made sure you
finished the chapter, and threw off your groove.
Being a kid with definitely a mind of my own, I know I
would've decided I just wasn't going to finish the
chapter, especially if I HAD to. Our kids tend to be
alot like we were when we were young and if we try to
mentally go back there, it makes it a little easier to
let go and really want to just let them be and learn
on their own, as opposed to doing it just cuz as
adults it makes sense to us as being what's best for
them. When I don't do this (thinking like them) I hear
myself -to my horror- telling them they "HAVE to" sit
down and finish whatever it is I was hoping they'd
finish on their own, but maybe their minds have moved
on. (No! No! That means I'm not in control, darn it!)
Since we all are surrounded by supportive voices here
on this list we tend to make it sound "easy", but
speaking for myself at least, and I'm sure some others
out there, it takes ALOT of effort to let go and
really have faith in our kids own built-in learning
abilities and intuitions.
It kind of reminds me of one time when I asked this
really awesome lady (after overhearing a conversation
of hers) if she was a Buddhist. She kind of chuckled
and said "Well... I try to be." I thought that was an
awesome answer. I don't think I'm a TOTALLY
unschooler, even though I am TOTALLY into it, and
believe in it in all wayz. All I do is TRY. I really
think that's all any of us do, as parents, which is
still way more than alot of kids out there get. Bravo
to you for caring enough to try, and I'm sure your
kids are and will be grateful for it for the rest of
their lives.
-Bobbie
--- toshad@... wrote:
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have "control issues" and have to stop and remind
myself not to try and control the way they learn. The
only thing that works for me totally without fail is
to really put myself in their shoes. Try to remember
back to when you were your sons ages and how proud of
yourself and happy you would be if you were just
reading a book along all by yourself and then maybe
something you read reminded you of something else that
reminded you of something else that you wanted to go
check out or learn about or pretend about, and you
knew, since you had the power of knowing how to read
on your own, that you could come back to your book at
any time and pick it back up, thanks your mom teaching
you and instilling that love in you, and how it would
make you feel if your mom came and made sure you
finished the chapter, and threw off your groove.
Being a kid with definitely a mind of my own, I know I
would've decided I just wasn't going to finish the
chapter, especially if I HAD to. Our kids tend to be
alot like we were when we were young and if we try to
mentally go back there, it makes it a little easier to
let go and really want to just let them be and learn
on their own, as opposed to doing it just cuz as
adults it makes sense to us as being what's best for
them. When I don't do this (thinking like them) I hear
myself -to my horror- telling them they "HAVE to" sit
down and finish whatever it is I was hoping they'd
finish on their own, but maybe their minds have moved
on. (No! No! That means I'm not in control, darn it!)
Since we all are surrounded by supportive voices here
on this list we tend to make it sound "easy", but
speaking for myself at least, and I'm sure some others
out there, it takes ALOT of effort to let go and
really have faith in our kids own built-in learning
abilities and intuitions.
It kind of reminds me of one time when I asked this
really awesome lady (after overhearing a conversation
of hers) if she was a Buddhist. She kind of chuckled
and said "Well... I try to be." I thought that was an
awesome answer. I don't think I'm a TOTALLY
unschooler, even though I am TOTALLY into it, and
believe in it in all wayz. All I do is TRY. I really
think that's all any of us do, as parents, which is
still way more than alot of kids out there get. Bravo
to you for caring enough to try, and I'm sure your
kids are and will be grateful for it for the rest of
their lives.
-Bobbie
--- toshad@... wrote:
> Hi, I'm new here and pretty new to unschooling.__________________________________________________
> Well, really I've
> probably should really label what I do as Relaxed
> schooling instead
> of unschooling. I have to boys who are almost 7 and
> almost 3 1/2. I
> started hsing when my oldest was still in preschool.
> I just about
> worked him to death that yr. The next yr. was
> Kindergarten and I
> relaxed a little more. This yr. he is registered as
> 1st gr. and
> about 2 1/2 months into the "school yr." we threw
> out all the
> workbooks and formal schooling. I really want to
> unschool TOTALLY,
> but I'm finding that it is taking ME time to let
> TOTALLY go. My ds
> learned to read at an early age and so he is now
> reading well above
> grade level, so I feel the "need" to make sure he
> reads everyday. I
> let him choose what he reads, but I do require it.
> Most days I see
> him with books that he has picked up on his own and
> he will just read
> a page or two(these are usually books that I've
> already read to
> him). Why do I think that is not reading? Why do I
> think he has to
> finish the book or chapter????? I want to get past
> this!!
> I would also like any ideas or advice on how I can
> let go that last
> little bit and TOTALLY unschool.
> Thanks,
> Lea
>
>
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Yahoo! Auctions - Buy the things you want at great prices.
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