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I'm glad that the subject of unschooling and using workbooks came up
here. When deciding to homeschool, unschooling's definition seemed
to be our life philosophy for raising our kids just naturally. I am
amazed by how many "unschoolers" are using curriculums, textbooks or
testing their children.

I have doubts sometimes, as a parent, about not "doing enough" for my
children and their education, I understand that part. What I don't
understand is how you can unschool and force your children into doing
schoolwork that they don't want to do. I agree 100% with those who
say that workbooks are great for those who want them. I thought it
was wonderful to hear from an unschooler who happened to like explore
the world through literature and textbooks! But her experience was
based on, I believe, the essence of unschooling, meaning she chose it
and was not forced into it.

I have days that I am amazed by all of you that "do" so much to
educate your children, but when I try to "do" for them, they just
want to do their own thing. I've always respected that about them.
Taking that huge leap of faith that your children will learn what
they need as they need to know it can be sooo hard, but they really,
really do!

All of the wonderful suggested readings by John Holt come to mind,
and the freedom that comes with this kind of living! I hope that
more families that consider themselves "unschoolers" can truly
embrace this philosophy. Good luck to all!

Chris

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--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., cmas100@h... wrote:
> I'm glad that the subject of unschooling and using workbooks came
up
> here. When deciding to homeschool, unschooling's definition seemed
> to be our life philosophy for raising our kids just naturally. I
am
> amazed by how many "unschoolers" are using curriculums, textbooks
or
> testing their children.
>


Chris
Still being new to this,with my many moments of doubts, I am really
interested in what other unschoolers do all day. I have a dd 12yrs
old. We have only been out of ps for about 10 months. I find it hard
to get her motivated at all. This year is much better than last, but
that could be because I have mellowed!!
Would you mind sharing a day in your household with me.
Marianne

[email protected]

In a message dated 3/11/2001 11:43:55 AM Pacific Standard Time,
tonitoni@... writes:


Still being new to this,with my many moments of doubts, I am really
interested in what other unschoolers do all day.   


In the folders at www.unschooling.com there are lots of typical-day posts.

Don't forget the forum itself!

Sandra

[email protected]

Marianne,

What do we DO? That's always a hard question for us since every day
plays itself out differently. So let's take today as an example...

I have three children (8yo ds,6-1/2yo dd, 3-1/2 yo ds) and a baby
scheduled in 4 days. I'll say that this pregnancy has been very hard
on me, I've been sick throughout it, and that we live in Northern
Illinois and have had a loooong, winter, just to give you an idea of
where we are.

The children all wake up at different times and each does something
like watch tv, color or play gameboy. I'm a late riser and since we
have nowhere we have to go today, we are all doing our own things.
All three spent most of the morning playing with the clay we made
yesterday. We make A LOT of clay right now. We have to read a
recipe (reading), measure all of the ingredients (math), cook it
(science, we change it from one substance to another), color it (art
& science; you wouldn't believe how many colors red, green, blue, and
yellow food coloring can make!), then play with it, which involves
art, creativity, story-telling, designing things, working together,
etc. I believe that the clay-playing sparked another game for my two
oldest and they cleaned up and are playing that. My youngest is
playing Arthur's Reading Race on the PC.

I made the kids some breakfast and then they made lunch for
themselves and my 6 yo dd made lunch for the youngest, while I've
been on the PC reading my emails!!

Normally, I wouldn't look at my day in terms of what "branches of
learning" we are covering, but when you run down a day's worth of
living in our home, we cover what our state considers the eight
branches of learning. But what I think is the coolest part of what
we do is the same thing that so many others write about; that moment
of discovery and all of the "ah-ha's" that comprise our children's
lives and the fact the we get to be part of that with them day in and
day out!!!!

I usually can't motivate them to do "school things" that I may want
to see them do in my periods of doubt. I believe that we want the
best for our children and that it's reasonable to say that we all
should question our life choices. That's probably what led you to
homeschooling, then unschooling. The idea of child-led learning is
on the complete opposite of the spectrum compared to school-led
learning, and is so counter-culture and against what most of us were
taught our whole entire lives. I think it's safe to say that we are,
of course, going to doubt occasionally the less-travelled path that
we are all taking.

I'll stop my ramblings after I say this, while I've been typing this,
my 3yo son has asked me dozens of questions about the CD he's
playing, then my daughter came down and the two of them worked out
taking turns with the CD, then my 3yo came to me for some hugs and
kisses while he waits for his turn back, while my daughter is reading
the Arthur story.

And it's only 12:20 pm in a day in the life of....

Chris

--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., tonitoni@z... wrote:
> --- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., cmas100@h... wrote:
> > I'm glad that the subject of unschooling and using workbooks came
> up
> > here. When deciding to homeschool, unschooling's definition
seemed
> > to be our life philosophy for raising our kids just naturally. I
> am
> > amazed by how many "unschoolers" are using curriculums, textbooks
> or
> > testing their children.
> >
>
>
> Chris
> Still being new to this,with my many moments of doubts, I am really
> interested in what other unschoolers do all day. I have a dd
12yrs
> old. We have only been out of ps for about 10 months. I find it
hard
> to get her motivated at all. This year is much better than last,
but
> that could be because I have mellowed!!
> Would you mind sharing a day in your household with me.
> Marianne

Vaughnde L Edwards

On Mon, 12 Mar 2001 18:24:41 -0000 cmas100@... writes:
> Marianne,
>
> What do we DO? That's always a hard question for us since every day
>
> plays itself out differently. So let's take today as an example...
>
> I have three children (8yo ds,6-1/2yo dd, 3-1/2 yo ds) and a baby
> scheduled in 4 days. I'll say that this pregnancy has been very
> hard
> on me, I've been sick throughout it, and that we live in Northern
> Illinois and have had a loooong, winter, just to give you an idea of
>
> where we are.
>
> The children all wake up at different times and each does something
> like watch tv, color or play gameboy. I'm a late riser and since we
>
> have nowhere we have to go today, we are all doing our own things.
> All three spent most of the morning playing with the clay we made
> yesterday. We make A LOT of clay right now. We have to read a
> recipe (reading), measure all of the ingredients (math), cook it
> (science, we change it from one substance to another), color it (art
>
> & science; you wouldn't believe how many colors red, green, blue,
> and
> yellow food coloring can make!), then play with it, which involves
> art, creativity, story-telling, designing things, working together,
> etc. I believe that the clay-playing sparked another game for my
> two
> oldest and they cleaned up and are playing that. My youngest is
> playing Arthur's Reading Race on the PC.
>
> I made the kids some breakfast and then they made lunch for
> themselves and my 6 yo dd made lunch for the youngest, while I've
> been on the PC reading my emails!!
>
> Normally, I wouldn't look at my day in terms of what "branches of
> learning" we are covering, but when you run down a day's worth of
> living in our home, we cover what our state considers the eight
> branches of learning. But what I think is the coolest part of what
> we do is the same thing that so many others write about; that moment
>
> of discovery and all of the "ah-ha's" that comprise our children's
> lives and the fact the we get to be part of that with them day in
> and
> day out!!!!
>
> I usually can't motivate them to do "school things" that I may want
> to see them do in my periods of doubt. I believe that we want the
> best for our children and that it's reasonable to say that we all
> should question our life choices. That's probably what led you to
> homeschooling, then unschooling. The idea of child-led learning is
> on the complete opposite of the spectrum compared to school-led
> learning, and is so counter-culture and against what most of us were
>
> taught our whole entire lives. I think it's safe to say that we
> are,
> of course, going to doubt occasionally the less-travelled path that
> we are all taking.
>
> I'll stop my ramblings after I say this, while I've been typing
> this,
> my 3yo son has asked me dozens of questions about the CD he's
> playing, then my daughter came down and the two of them worked out
> taking turns with the CD, then my 3yo came to me for some hugs and
> kisses while he waits for his turn back, while my daughter is
> reading
> the Arthur story.
>
> And it's only 12:20 pm in a day in the life of....
>
> Chris

Chris,
almost sounds like ours. Naomi usually sleeps in to whatever. (usually up
around 10-11 am) and we have a late breakfast. Today she played waitress
and got me a bowl of cereal plus a refill on my coffee. She watches
disney television most of the time. But does play with paper, pen,
crayon..etc. Today we are going to meet other local
homeschoolers/unschoolers and I'm looking forward to it. It'll be a first
for us as we've only been doing this for 5 weeks.
Jessica

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--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., cmas100@h... wrote:
> Marianne,
>
> What do we DO? That's always a hard question for us since every
day
> plays itself out differently. So let's take today as an example...
>
> I have three children (8yo ds,6-1/2yo dd, 3-1/2 yo ds) and a baby
> scheduled in 4 days. I'll say that this pregnancy has been very
hard



Chris
First let me say I hope the baby arrives on time and all goes well.

Thank you for sharing your day. I try not to put things into
categories math/spelling/etc - but there are days when i still do.
These days are getting less and less - and unschooling is becoming a
more natural thing. How do you make clay?

Yesterday we got the sewing machine out. We onlt aquired this over
the weeekend, and we did have a go when we first got it - but dd was
too busy *hanging out* with ps friend. (dd doesnt 'play'anymore!)
Because we had no material we cut up an old sheet and dd made lots of
small /smaller and really small bags.......

Today she has gone to work with her dad - if she had her way she
would go everyday. I work 2 days a week. She can choose to go with
either me or her dad - dad wins every time. If I was to put working
with dad into lesson plans she would be covering :- math, PE.
writing and reading, map reading, people skills, work experience,
confidence building, and relationship skills.
My dh is a courier, and dd works when she goes with him, and gets
*paid* so we can add budgetting to that list as she has to buy her
own stuff with the money - including clothes.....

But of course i aren't going to look at it in school terms!!!!1

Marianne