[email protected]
Dawn,
I, too, sometimes have self-doubt about what my children know or
don't know. My 8yo son just last week announced that he wanted to go
to 3rd grade ps. I was shocked to here this (but kept it to myself)
and went on to discuss with him why he wants to go. He stated a
couple of things like, "I'm not sure I'm learning what I'm supposed
to." and "The teachers at school make you do your work and don't help
you; you try to help me."
We talked about what he does know, how he's learned it, compared that
to grade levels and the pace of a classroom and he walked away
apparently convinced that he's doing well. His love for math sounds
much like your son's and he continuously astounds us at his growing
knowledge (I believe he was 5 when he started saying things like, "9
nine times is 81" or when he asks to be "challenged" by me into
figuring out "the biggest math problems I can think of". He is also
a self-taught reader and has the freedom to read what he wants when
he wants (oh my, Pokemon has a huge role in his love of reading and
this really isn't open for comments!!).
I watch a 10yo 4th grader after school a couple days a week and
occassionally, I find myself looking in her workbooks to see what she
is working on. Not only do I find that simple things like the 3 R's
are made into very complicated subjects, but that through our
everyday life and the natural loves & curiousities of my children,
they are getting everything they need academically.
My 6-1/2yo daughter is learning how to read and often wants my help.
I can see with her what a challenge 1st grade would of been and
probably would have diminished her desire to read. We have to step
back from certain parts of it to avoid aggrevation on both of our
parts. I have found that, given a couple of weeks, she always
revisits the stuff that originally stumped her. Then she comes to me
and shows me (because she wants to) that she gets it now and we can
go on to other parts of reading or spelling.
My 3-1/2 yo is being asked by everyone we know if he's going to pre-
school in the fall. What a question! I'm not sure, my 8yo didn't
and my 6yo did, and the baby is due in March. I'm not sure that I
want to put him into preschool or that I can even afford it. He's
also a little math whiz and he has the benefit of older siblings who
engage and challenge him all day long, so I'm not sure that preschool
would be beneficial. I also dread all of the illness that comes from
preschool and exposing the baby and the older children to that.
Last week the subject of Jesus came up here and I had remarked that
maybe there was a better place for these discussions. Most people
seemed to reply to the fact that unschooling covers all aspects of
our lives and we should have a free message board. Then the dogs and
abortion came up. Personally, I am pleased to see the diversity of
this unschooling group and do agree that unschooling pretty much
covers all aspects of life. I was very hurt and disappointed when
personal attacks were started because we don't all believe in the
same things. It seems as though, with a new day started, that the
opinions and comments keep coming in but that the attacks have
stopped, which I am grateful for.
To those who have expressed pro-life support and to those who have
expressed pro-choice support, I applaud and respect you all, our
beliefs shape every aspect of our lives. To those who responded with
the intent to offend, I hope, that in the future, we can express our
opinions and leave out the hurtful attacks to those who don't share
the same belief as you.
Peace to you and all...
Chris
Mommy to Jason (8), Angela (6-1/2), Daniel (3-1/2) and baby due in
March!!!
I, too, sometimes have self-doubt about what my children know or
don't know. My 8yo son just last week announced that he wanted to go
to 3rd grade ps. I was shocked to here this (but kept it to myself)
and went on to discuss with him why he wants to go. He stated a
couple of things like, "I'm not sure I'm learning what I'm supposed
to." and "The teachers at school make you do your work and don't help
you; you try to help me."
We talked about what he does know, how he's learned it, compared that
to grade levels and the pace of a classroom and he walked away
apparently convinced that he's doing well. His love for math sounds
much like your son's and he continuously astounds us at his growing
knowledge (I believe he was 5 when he started saying things like, "9
nine times is 81" or when he asks to be "challenged" by me into
figuring out "the biggest math problems I can think of". He is also
a self-taught reader and has the freedom to read what he wants when
he wants (oh my, Pokemon has a huge role in his love of reading and
this really isn't open for comments!!).
I watch a 10yo 4th grader after school a couple days a week and
occassionally, I find myself looking in her workbooks to see what she
is working on. Not only do I find that simple things like the 3 R's
are made into very complicated subjects, but that through our
everyday life and the natural loves & curiousities of my children,
they are getting everything they need academically.
My 6-1/2yo daughter is learning how to read and often wants my help.
I can see with her what a challenge 1st grade would of been and
probably would have diminished her desire to read. We have to step
back from certain parts of it to avoid aggrevation on both of our
parts. I have found that, given a couple of weeks, she always
revisits the stuff that originally stumped her. Then she comes to me
and shows me (because she wants to) that she gets it now and we can
go on to other parts of reading or spelling.
My 3-1/2 yo is being asked by everyone we know if he's going to pre-
school in the fall. What a question! I'm not sure, my 8yo didn't
and my 6yo did, and the baby is due in March. I'm not sure that I
want to put him into preschool or that I can even afford it. He's
also a little math whiz and he has the benefit of older siblings who
engage and challenge him all day long, so I'm not sure that preschool
would be beneficial. I also dread all of the illness that comes from
preschool and exposing the baby and the older children to that.
Last week the subject of Jesus came up here and I had remarked that
maybe there was a better place for these discussions. Most people
seemed to reply to the fact that unschooling covers all aspects of
our lives and we should have a free message board. Then the dogs and
abortion came up. Personally, I am pleased to see the diversity of
this unschooling group and do agree that unschooling pretty much
covers all aspects of life. I was very hurt and disappointed when
personal attacks were started because we don't all believe in the
same things. It seems as though, with a new day started, that the
opinions and comments keep coming in but that the attacks have
stopped, which I am grateful for.
To those who have expressed pro-life support and to those who have
expressed pro-choice support, I applaud and respect you all, our
beliefs shape every aspect of our lives. To those who responded with
the intent to offend, I hope, that in the future, we can express our
opinions and leave out the hurtful attacks to those who don't share
the same belief as you.
Peace to you and all...
Chris
Mommy to Jason (8), Angela (6-1/2), Daniel (3-1/2) and baby due in
March!!!