Erica W

Hi, I am new to this list. I have 2 daughters Jessie 9 and Sara 6. My
good friend Rachel (who is on this list) has planted the seed of
unschooling. I have used Oak Meadow for 4 years. Here is the problem I
have been in a puplic school ISP for 3 of the 4 years we homeschooled. Next
year we will be in a private ISP. I need some ideas on how to make our
homeschool more relaxed. I know this sounds silly but I feel that I need to
detox myself. I feel they have brainwashed me lol... into thinking things
need to be taught a certain way in order for my girls to learn. I would
really like to know how you conduct your weeks of learning? Please!! :o) I
need some help relaxing my homeschool I am to structured in everything I do
(I am working on it lol...) Thanks in advance Erica

[email protected]

Do you even need the private ISP?

Go to www.unschooling.com and read everything.

Sandra

Erica W

Thank you I will :o).  Erica
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 7:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] new to Unschooling and need ideas Please :o)

Do you even need the private ISP?

Go to www.unschooling.com and read everything.

Sandra


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A

Sandra... something just occurred to me....
I don't remember you ever mentioning doubts...have you had them like the rest of us??
I go through cycles...
Just wondering.
Ann

SandraDodd@... wrote:

> Do you even need the private ISP?
>
> Go to www.unschooling.com and read everything.
>
> Sandra

[email protected]

In a message dated 4/22/01 9:04:37 AM, hooperck@... writes:

<< Sandra... something just occurred to me....
I don't remember you ever mentioning doubts...have you had them like the rest
of us?? >>

I have never had a stomach-wrenching, sleep-loss look-for-a-curriculum attack
of doubt.

I have had the thoughts-flit-through doubts.

Of course with Kirby it was worst, as he was the oldest. I was afraid the
inlaws would call the county because he was eight and not reading fluently.
No matter that half or more of the third graders at school weren't either,
Kirby was in a one-on-one situation with a trained teacher. When Kirby
started reading well and quickly (kind of all of a sudden, which probably
happens with schoolkids too but it doesn't show because it's all charted and
credited differently) I calmed down enough to last through two other kids.

The other two both read later than Kirby did.

If I could take anything back at this point the first to go would be that
there were two and a half reading lessons with Kirby, where I sat and had him
read through books aloud with my help. HORROR. I wish I could roll it back.

The third time I quit and never ever did that again.

Marty's eleven and can read just about anything he picks up. He doesn't pick
up novels.

Holly is nine and a half. She is on the brink. Sometimes she will read a
whole phrase or sentence at a glance and say "I READ IT!" She doesn't really
count sounding out phonetically. Neither do I. I can do that with French
and German and Spanish, but I cannot *read* (fluently, for meaning) those
languages. I can sludge through some Spanish or French enough to get the
gist (sometimes wrong) and to ask a reader to read the passage I've found to
me (like in reference books when I'm looking for a piece of information on
something medieval, has been the experience; it happened yesterday).

When she can look at written English and it gives her information, as spoken
English does, she'll be reading. I have not the slightest doubt that this
will happen within a year. If I'm wrong and it takes a year and a half, I
will still go to sleep happy every night, because the things she thinks
about, her logic, her awareness, are past sufficient to impress me or anyone.
I know kids her age who are reading Harry Potter all by themselves who
wouldn't be able to discuss it, find England on a globe, or connect it with
any other literature. It's not a crime nor a horror, until they or their
parents start to criticize me or my kids for their late reading.

Yesterday we were talking about the words and phrases she didn't understand
in "Little Shop of Horrors."
"Though they're sloppin' the trough for you."
We discussed what it meant literally and figuratively.

She can discuss the complicated rhyme scheme in "Downtown" on that.

"purified" in "Suddenly Seymore, he purified me."

"condescend"

We discussed why "a fence of real chain link" would appeal to Audrey, and it
had to do with Skid Row, urban realities, the new-then suburbs and what
having a fenced yard meant. Holly was surprised that chain link was cool
then. I remember. Chain link replaced wooden posts and hogwire (or more
expensive wooden fences) in the fencing of yards in the 1960's and it was
cool!

We talked about "rationale" and justifications.

We talked about "reservations" and "mutilations."

"Rationale" and "reservations" aren't easy to define, to a kid, in a car,
with rock'n'roll playing. <g> But she got it.

Mutilation can range from a really bad facial scar to being chopped up beyond
recognition. I hadn't thought about that until Holly asked.

Things like that kill my little doubts two to one.

I worry (not much) that Marty will resent not being at school to do sports,
someday in retrospect. But when he played ice hockey one year he didn't
like the competition or the locker room. I ask him from time to time if he's
interested in any of the city league stuff, soccer or football. He says no.

I sometimes think Kirby might not get a good job. Then I remember he HAS a
job (part time, but still) which was offered to him, at a place where two men
with a wife and a child each work.

With Holly the doubts are the least. She's sweet and personable, and in her
I see the greatest advantages to the sheltering from cruelty and the
comparisons that go on at school.

The answer is yes about doubts but "like other people," maybe no.

Having taught and having been trained to open classroom help.
Involvement in the SCA where people learn master's degree amounts of stuff
"for nothing" (maybe an award or a prize once in a while) helps.
Having read TONS of Growing Without Schooling, John Holt, Home Education
Magazine, the old Prodigy homeschooling forum, the AOL homeschooling forum
when it was in its glorious prime, and unschooling.com help.
Having been to conferences and seen and talked to unschooled teens helps.

Sandra

April

Sandra,
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
I haven't always unschooled, but I've always leaned toward waiting until the kids we're 'ready' before going ahead.  In our family, this has meant late readers.  When we 'did curriculum' I read everything to them. The oldest, didn't read until about 8 1/2.  She went from not reading  to reading at 'grade level' in one week. Now at 14, she reads anything and everything all the time. The next was also a late reader but with some learning problems thrown in. She never had that 'taking off' experience.  She's 12 and can read well enough to get the info she wants but rarely reads for pleasure. My 9, almost 10 year old son is just starting to read.  No problems with him, he just doesn't want to.  He despises books written for beginning readers.  We have always read what he is interested in which is way beyond most kids his age.  His vocabulary is incredably high.  I know that when he has a real reason, his reading will 'take off'. My 5 yos is begging to read, and has figured a lot of it out.  At his request we are loosely going through "Teach your child to read in 100 lessons". It is so encouraging for me hear of late readers.  I don't know many unschoolers, and even less who have late readers.  I know people question the 'wisdom' of my choices and occasionally, so do I. Please keep sharing this sort of thing, especially the ordinary achievements of kids.  In my heart, I know that unschooling is best for my kids but there is so much emphasis on the high achieving homeschoolers that my average kids start to look 'behind'.  And I know, I know...I'm not supposed to compare but there are those days of doubting....
April
-----Original Message-----
From: SandraDodd@... [mailto:SandraDodd@...]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 12:32 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] new to Unschooling and need ideas Please :o)


In a message dated 4/22/01 9:04:37 AM, hooperck@... writes:

<< Sandra... something just occurred to me....
I don't remember you ever mentioning doubts...have you had them like the rest
of us?? >>

I have never had a stomach-wrenching, sleep-loss look-for-a-curriculum attack
of doubt.

I have had the thoughts-flit-through doubts.

Of course with Kirby it was worst, as he was the oldest.  I was afraid the
inlaws would call the county because he was eight and not reading fluently. 
No matter that half or more of the third graders at school weren't either,
Kirby was in a one-on-one situation with a trained teacher.  When Kirby
started reading well and quickly (kind of all of a sudden, which probably
happens with schoolkids too but it doesn't show because it's all charted and
credited differently) I calmed down enough to last through two other kids.

The other two both read later than Kirby did.

If I could take anything back at this point the first to go would be that
there were two and a half reading lessons with Kirby, where I sat and had him
read through books aloud with my help.  HORROR.  I wish I could roll it back.

The third time I quit and never ever did that again.

Marty's eleven and can read just about anything he picks up.  He doesn't pick
up novels.

Holly is nine and a half.  She is on the brink.  Sometimes she will read a
whole phrase or sentence at a glance and say "I READ IT!"  She doesn't really
count sounding out phonetically.  Neither do I.  I can do that with French
and German and Spanish, but I cannot *read* (fluently, for meaning) those
languages.  I can sludge through some Spanish or French enough to get the
gist (sometimes wrong) and to ask a reader to read the passage I've found to
me (like in reference books when I'm looking for a piece of information on
something medieval, has been the experience; it happened yesterday). 

When she can look at written English and it gives her information, as spoken
English does, she'll be reading.  I have not the slightest doubt that this
will happen within a year.  If I'm wrong and it takes a year and a half, I
will still go to sleep happy every night, because the things she thinks
about, her logic, her awareness, are past sufficient to impress me or anyone.
  I know kids her age who are reading Harry Potter all by themselves who
wouldn't be able to discuss it, find England on a globe, or connect it with
any other literature.  It's not a crime nor a horror, until they or their
parents start to criticize me or my kids for their late reading.

Yesterday we were talking about the words and phrases she didn't understand
in "Little Shop of Horrors." 
"Though they're sloppin' the trough for you."
We discussed what it meant literally and figuratively.

She can discuss the complicated rhyme scheme in "Downtown" on that.

"purified" in "Suddenly Seymore, he purified me."

"condescend"

We discussed why "a fence of real chain link" would appeal to Audrey, and it
had to do with Skid Row, urban realities, the new-then suburbs and what
having a fenced yard meant.  Holly was surprised that chain link was cool
then.  I remember.  Chain link replaced wooden posts and hogwire (or more
expensive wooden fences) in the fencing of yards in the 1960's and it was
cool!

We talked about "rationale" and justifications.

We talked about "reservations" and "mutilations."  

"Rationale" and "reservations" aren't easy to define, to a kid, in a car,
with rock'n'roll playing. <g>   But she got it.

Mutilation can range from a really bad facial scar to being chopped up beyond
recognition.  I hadn't thought about that until Holly asked.

Things like that kill my little doubts two to one.

I worry (not much) that Marty will resent not being at school to do sports,
someday in retrospect.  But when  he played ice hockey one year he didn't
like the competition or the locker room.  I ask him from time to time if he's
interested in any of the city league stuff, soccer or football.  He says no. 

I sometimes think Kirby might not get a good job.  Then I remember he HAS a
job (part time, but still) which was offered to him, at a place where two men
with a wife and a child each work. 

With Holly the doubts are the least.  She's sweet and personable, and in her
I see the greatest advantages to the sheltering from cruelty and the
comparisons that go on at school.

The answer is yes about doubts but "like other people," maybe no.

Having taught and having been trained to open classroom help.
Involvement in the SCA where people learn master's degree amounts of stuff
"for nothing" (maybe an award or a prize once in a while) helps.
Having read TONS of Growing Without Schooling, John Holt, Home Education
Magazine, the old Prodigy homeschooling forum, the AOL homeschooling forum
when it was in its glorious prime, and unschooling.com help.
Having been to conferences and seen and talked to unschooled teens helps.

Sandra





Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com

To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom

Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

[email protected]

In a message dated 4/22/01 11:35:24 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
abmorris@... writes:

<< Please keep sharing this sort of thing, especially
the ordinary achievements of kids. In my heart, I know that unschooling is
best for my kids but there is so much emphasis on the high achieving
homeschoolers that my average kids start to look 'behind'. >>

I feel this way, too. My just turned 9 yr old has trouble with a lot of
basic reasoning/logic and his ability to hold a pen/pencil/crayon and write
anything (a shape, a letter) is really weak. My other kids (3 older and 1
younger) are really different, more intellectual I guess (I know it's not
good to compare; I'm just telling the truth about my feelings right now), and
I feel like it's harder for me to relate to him, which makes me feel guilty.
For the last three years, most of what we've done with him is definitely an
unschooling approach but sometimes I worry if I should do more and lately I
have tried the having him read out loud with me filling in words from a book
that Sandra talked about. We also did some of that Teach Your CHild to Read
in 100 Easy Lessons but he didn't like it and never really grasped it. He
seems to do a lot better with memorizing words and likes it more.
Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for this situation. I
know if he was in school, they'd have him in special ed., which is one of the
many reasons I'm so glad he's never been there. He is a happy kid who loves
to run around, ride his bike, and watch movies (he'd watch them one after
another if I let him but I did start limiting him to one a day on most days
because it seemed like he became more creative about how to spend his time).
He has a lot of trouble with the fine motor skills as well as the logic of
things like Legos, Lincoln Logs, even Brios. Anyone's ideas would be
welcome...

Lucy

[email protected]

I still have a lot of deschooling to do myself. I do have lots of things
laying around that I got because they were "educational" and looked like
fun to me. I strive to let the kids use them in any way they wish.
Tonight, Lisa (8) got out the cuisenaire rods and I thought (oh, good!)
but managed to keep my mouth shut. When I asked her to put them away for
dinner (because they were on the kitchen table) she offered to tell me
what she'd been doing. She was rolling a die, then taking that number of
cubes. Then she found the rod that was that same length, and used it in
her pattern. She told me that she had to use the number that came up,
and figure out a way to make it fit. This was the first time that she
had used the rods in any number representation. She loves to just make
designs with them.

Mary Ellen
Changing the status of mothers,
by gaining real recognition for their work,
is the great unfinished business of the women's movement.

[email protected]

In a message dated 4/22/01 3:47:49 PM, LASaliger@... writes:

<< and lately I
have tried the having him read out loud with me filling in words from a book
that Sandra talked about. >>

Lest anyone read just this and think I was recommending it, I wasn't; I was
lamenting having done it with Kirby, in a horrible lapse of sense, years ago.

<<and watch movies (he'd watch them one after
another if I let him but I did start limiting him to one a day on most days
because it seemed like he became more creative about how to spend his time).
>>

If ANY suggestions are welcom, let him watch all the movies he wants, and
have things in the room for him to do at the same time (art stuff, or
building blocks or something so he can do two things at once).

Sandra

Juli

I think I agree with this. Because when I first joined
this group, I was asking about limiting computer time.
If anyone remembers? And people said a lot of things,
but basically I didn't limit anything available in our
house. And now, my son who was playing this pharaoh
game all day, has branched out into other areas of
ancient egyptian culture. And so it was only a short
while that he was obsessed with this game, while it
was still new. Juli

> If ANY suggestions are welcom, let him watch all the
> movies he wants, and
> have things in the room for him to do at the same
> time (art stuff, or
> building blocks or something so he can do two things
> at once).
>
> Sandra
>


=====
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself --Galileo

My online homeschooling diary:http://www.opendiary.com/entrylist.asp?authorcode=A359957

__________________________________________________
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Juli

How do we conduct our weeks, someone asked (sorry,
deleted it when I meant to quote it).

Our week is structured by my son's paper route and my
husband's job. The paper route is always the same time
and dh's work is flexible, but fairly regular. We also
have two days we call library days, which are Monday
and Friday. We sometimes miss those and sometimes we
go more often. We have homeschool group on Tuesdays.
We grocery shop on Tuesdays, though that can be
flexible, too. Piano lessons on Wednesdays, dd's art
group on Thursdays. My book group on Fridays.

I guess what I'm getting at is it's our activities we
choose, the ones that have regular times to them, that
lend structure to our days. We don't have getting up
and going to bed times. We eat at BASICALLY the same
time of day. But we don't plan units or study hours or
any of that stuff.

Hope that helps some... Juli

=====
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself --Galileo

My online homeschooling diary:http://www.opendiary.com/entrylist.asp?authorcode=A359957

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/

LisaBugg

> I would
> really like to know how you conduct your weeks of learning?

We don't conduct our weeks of learning. We just live our lives. ;)

Some weeks are lives are busy, full of other people, things to do and places
to go. Other weeks we vegetate at home, eat a great deal, sleep a great
deal. There is a rhythm to our lives. There is a rhythm to the children's,
tied mainly to their internal growth spurts.

If I conduct anything, it's more an attempt to harmonize than anything else.
I buy materials; i.e., glue, clay, paper, pens, computer programs,
computers, bikes, hammers, books, Dr. Pepper, video games. With some cycles
I drive a great deal. Some weeks my boys build a great deal, other weeks
they are tied to their computers. My youngest should have been named Pooh,
for she just asks questions.

Here is the problem I
> have been in a puplic school ISP for 3 of the 4 years we homeschooled.
Next
> year we will be in a private ISP.

Are you in California?

I need some ideas on how to make our
> homeschool more relaxed. I know this sounds silly but I feel that I need
to
> detox myself. I feel they have brainwashed me lol... into thinking things
> need to be taught a certain way in order for my girls to learn.

Not at all silly. You HAVE been brainwashed. By people who earn their
living selling you the priviledge of being brainwahsed. Take a minute to
think about how your girls learn about your religious beliefs... not the
doctrine of the church you belong to (or do not belong to) but rather your
personal take on things? Before the invention of the modern high school how
did girls learn to cook? keep house? sew? run their own side businesses?
How did anyone learn to drive a car? A tractor? Why on earth would
learning the *facts* of history or science or reading good books need what
we have created?

Learning and Teaching have been going on since time began. The current
public set up, as a billion dollar a year industry, is not about Teaching
and Learning, it's about economics and fear.


Please!! :o) I
> need some help relaxing my homeschool I am to structured in everything I
do
> (I am working on it lol...) Thanks in advance Erica
>

Here are some questions. Why are you structured in everything you do? Is
this just you innate nature? Or are you living in a state of fear and guilt,
where you need to "prove" productivity? Do you have children that are just
like you, or are they very different?

I used to be an US Army paratrooper. I still roll my socks. <G> But my
ability to function in that way doesn't mesh too well with my children. I
also had 3 children in 4 years. It was apparent very quickly that I wasn't
going to be able to keep up with the mess.. Strangely enough, I'm
struggling with returning to my old ways now that the children are older.
There is a way to structure *yourself*, without it bleeding onto the
children and their education.

One of the best things you can do is to begin or return to a hobby that is
all yours. Keep yourself busy and leanring, the children will learn by your
example.

Lisa

Erica W

Thank you Julie.  :o) Erica
----- Original Message -----
From: Juli
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 10:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] new to Unschooling and need ideas Please :o)

How do we conduct our weeks, someone asked (sorry,
deleted it when I meant to quote it).

Our week is structured by my son's paper route and my
husband's job. The paper route is always the same time
and dh's work is flexible, but fairly regular. We also
have two days we call library days, which are Monday
and Friday. We sometimes miss those and sometimes we
go more often. We have homeschool group on Tuesdays.
We grocery shop on Tuesdays, though that can be
flexible, too. Piano lessons on Wednesdays, dd's art
group on Thursdays. My book group on Fridays.

I guess what I'm getting at is it's our activities we
choose, the ones that have regular times to them, that
lend structure to our days. We don't have getting up
and going to bed times. We eat at BASICALLY the same
time of day. But we don't plan units or study hours or
any of that stuff.

Hope that helps some... Juli

=====
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself --Galileo

My online homeschooling diary:http://www.opendiary.com/entrylist.asp?authorcode=A359957

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/


Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com

To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom

Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Erica W

Thank you for your reply.  I am just that way.  Thank goodness only one of my girls tends to be like me.  We are kind of hippy waldorfy people (I guess).  We are Methodist so our church live is laid back also.  I have always done natural parenting.  Yes we are in Calif.  The private ISP we choose is very flexible.  I just felt I would have a little trouble pulling them out of the puplic ISP and going straight to an R-4.  I guess it is me who needs to relax and enjoy more and quit worrying about making sure they learn. They seem to do it anyway :).  I am really looking forward to the summer so I can take the time off and really refocus of what we want for next year (sorry about adding to this messege)  I do not know much about computers and I have not learned how to quote)  Help Rachel!! <G>  Thanks again Erica
----- Original Message -----
From: LisaBugg
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 10:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] new to Unschooling and need ideas Please :o)

> I would
> really like to know how you conduct your weeks of learning?

We don't conduct our weeks of learning. We just live our lives. ;)

Some weeks are lives are busy, full of other people, things to do and places
to go. Other weeks we vegetate at home, eat a great deal, sleep a great
deal.  There is a rhythm to our lives. There is a  rhythm to the children's,
tied mainly to their internal growth spurts.

If I conduct anything, it's more an attempt to harmonize than anything else.
I buy materials; i.e., glue, clay, paper, pens, computer programs,
computers, bikes, hammers, books, Dr. Pepper, video games.  With some cycles
I drive a great deal.  Some weeks my boys build a great deal, other weeks
they are tied to their computers. My youngest should have been named Pooh,
for she just asks questions.

Here is the problem I
> have been in a puplic school ISP for 3 of the 4 years we homeschooled.
Next
> year we will be in a private ISP.

Are you in California?

I need some ideas on how to make our
> homeschool more relaxed.  I know this sounds silly but I feel that I need
to
> detox myself.  I feel they have brainwashed me lol... into thinking things
> need to be taught a certain way in order for my girls to learn.

Not at all silly.  You HAVE been brainwashed.  By people who earn their
living selling you the priviledge of being brainwahsed.   Take a minute to
think about how your girls learn about your religious beliefs... not the
doctrine of the church you belong to (or do not belong to) but rather your
personal take on things?  Before the invention of the modern high school how
did girls learn to cook? keep house?  sew?  run their own side businesses?
How did anyone learn to drive a car? A tractor?   Why on earth would
learning the *facts* of history or science or reading good books need what
we have created?

Learning and Teaching have been going on since time began.  The current
public set up, as a billion dollar a year industry, is not about Teaching
and Learning, it's about economics and fear.


Please!! :o)  I
> need some help relaxing my homeschool I am to structured in everything I
do
> (I am working on it lol...)  Thanks in advance Erica
>

Here are some questions. Why are you structured in everything you do? Is
this just you innate nature? Or are you living in a state of fear and guilt,
where you need to "prove" productivity?  Do you have children that are just
like you, or are they very different?

I used to be an US Army paratrooper. I still roll my socks. <G>  But my
ability to function in that way doesn't mesh too well with my children.  I
also had 3 children in 4 years. It was apparent very quickly that I wasn't
going to be able to keep up with the mess..  Strangely enough, I'm
struggling with returning to my old ways now that the children are older.
There is a way to structure *yourself*, without it bleeding onto the
children and their education.

One of the best things you can do is to begin or return to a hobby that is
all yours. Keep yourself busy and leanring, the children will learn by your
example.

Lisa




Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com

To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom

Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

LisaBugg

----- . I just felt I would have a little trouble pulling them out of the
puplic ISP and going straight to an R-4.

This is giving the public system too much power. You're leaving it, they
don't care where you are going to. They just want somwhere to send the
records.

>>> I guess it is me who needs to relax and enjoy more and quit worrying
about making sure they learn

It takes a long time to realize how deeply ingrained the programming
actually is. As an aware parent you want to stay connected with them and
help them grow and mature, but the schools have us convinced without some
sort of intervention we'll miss everything. It's like saying you'd never
notice if your child didn't walk by 6. If they aren't learning something
that impacts their lives, being the aware parent you are, you'll notice.
;)

Lisa

Erica W

Thanks Lisa :o).  Erica
----- Original Message -----
From: LisaBugg
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 6:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] new to Unschooling and need ideas Please :o)


----- .  I just felt I would have a little trouble pulling them out of the
puplic ISP and going straight to an R-4.

This is giving the public system too much power.  You're leaving it, they
don't care where you are going to. They just want somwhere to send the
records.

>>>  I guess it is me who needs to relax and enjoy more and quit worrying
about making sure they learn

It takes a long time to realize how deeply ingrained the programming
actually is.  As an aware parent you want to stay connected with them and
help them grow and mature, but the schools have us convinced without some
sort of intervention we'll miss everything. It's like saying you'd never
notice if your child didn't walk by 6.  If they aren't learning something
that impacts their lives,  being the aware parent you are, you'll notice.
;)

Lisa



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In a message dated 4/22/01 11:37:50 PM, LisaBugg@... writes:

<< If I conduct anything, it's more an attempt to harmonize than anything
else.
I buy materials; i.e., glue, clay, paper, pens, computer programs,
computers, bikes, hammers, books, Dr. Pepper, video games. >>

Hammers and Dr Pepper--

sounds like my kid Marty! (Not that he doesn't use the other stuff, though
he prefers roller blades to a bike...)

Sandra

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In a message dated 4/22/01 9:29:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:

<< Lest anyone read just this and think I was recommending it, I wasn't; I
was
lamenting having done it with Kirby, in a horrible lapse of sense, years ago.
>>

Didn't mean to imply that...sorry if it gave that impression. I wrote
about it as something I am trying to figure out myself.
Well, after writing about his logic problems with Legos and all that in
the other post, Sean shocked me this morning by coming over to me with these
really cool things he made with Legos. He has never made anything with them;
he always bugged his older brother to make things for him. At least that's
what I had always seen. He came over with a helicoptor and a rocket! So
strike another point for unschooling! Maybe I just need to stop worrying
about him and keep letting him learn at his own pace, in his own ways.
It's strange; I know these things and I believe in them, yet because
Sean has been different than what I was used to with my other kids, I allowed
myself to wonder if the principles somehow didn't apply completely. I feel
like I should know better but it seems like we're always growing, and never
just "there."

Lucy

Eileen M.

An excellent bit of advice! Thank you for the
reminder...


> One of the best things you can do is to begin or
> return to a hobby that is
> all yours. Keep yourself busy and leanring, the
> children will learn by your
> example.
>
> Lisa
>
>
>


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