Wendy Silver

Hello,

In response to Helen, I think that unschooling would work especially well
for you. Your children will have the opportunity to see first hand what you
do, and they may begin to have their own work that they want to do. I work
many hours throughout the day at home, and even though I don't get any cash
rewards, I have goals and work that I want to accomplish. I like that my
children, 5 and 8 create their own goals and work. I try to stay current on
their latest interests and keep pertinent things around. I have to watch
scheduling things with them, because they are so busy at home. My first year
of homeschooling, I felt the need to make sure they were being social and
had things to do, and I enrolled them in too many things. What I found was
they were more interested in staying home developing their own learning
strategies. We don't have a set schedule, but one of my children is a night
owl, so I spend an hour or so with her usually at night reading, listening,
singing whatever, and the same thing happens with my other daughter in the
morning while the night owl sleeps. Sometimes we are all on the same
schedule and that works out too. Just about every activity throughout the
day can be considered "school" time, because the learning never ceases. They
learn without my interference and despite my interfere. I treasure and guard
the days we can stay home, because we all piddle around doing our own thing,
but we are also together, and these are the days we all seem to be the most
contented. Also, we usually end up doing something's in common, eating,
singing, dancing, writing, drawing, cooking, brick laying, whatever.
Finally,to answer your question "Do I need to plan some specific time to be
available or is it just all day long as needed?"
You will have to try things to see what works best for your situation. You
may find, like me that you do both, because we do like to join others to go
on field trips, share projects, play games, a class here and there, so this
is time that has to be more scheduled.
Wendy wew99@...

Home is the dearest spot on earth, and it should be the center, though not
the boundary of the affections-Mary Baker Eddy

Helen wrote:
I'm still weighing whether unschooling will work for me because I work
full-time from home for an internet research publisher. I have a couple
questions - hope this is the right forum:

--How much time does the parent spend getting the kids set up each day if
any? Mine are 6 and 7 and so would be first & third grade in the fall. Do I
need to plan some specific time to be available or is it just all day long
as needed?

[email protected]

In a message dated 05/05/2001 4:48:04 AM !!!First Boot!!!, wew99@...
writes:


> You will have to try things to see what works best for your situation. You
> may find, like me that you do both, because we do like to join others to go
> on field trips, share projects, play games, a class here and there, so this
> is time that has to be more scheduled.
> Wendy wew99@...
>
>


Yes. And I think you have to realize that you will change your methods over
time and as new interests and needs arise. Trying to fit the kids and
yourself into some pre-designed system isn't any good. Set up something (and
change it!) that works for you and yours.

Have fun!

Nance


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