Sharon Rudd

Dear Unschoolers

Thanks for the warm welcome(s). It is reassuring to
know you are all there.....albeit in cyber space!

Some comments and questions came to mind as I read the
postings.
1. Two years off....? I don't understand. How can
teaching be separated from mothering? They seem
basically the same to me. Do others have differing
outlook?
2. It is WONDERFUL to see the diversity of ages!
reassuring to me to know cyber(netically?) some other
mothers near my own age, and therefore some of the
same experiences. But to know that some of the things
that my generation pioneered (sort of) are being
continued.....some of the good things......is truly
lovely. I don't have any daughters....but each of you
is truly a blessing to your own mother. I'm kind of
like the old man in the Millions and Millions of Cats
book! I did have the opportunity to have custody of
my sister when she was 11 until she married and my
niece as a toddler for a summer. How different is the
relationship of mother to daughter or little girl or
young woman than to boys. I have 4 boys.....3 are
young men. And a lovely daughter-in-law.And a step
daughter with 2 toddlers. She became my family, too,
when she was already an adult.
3. My own mother was an alcholholic. And I suppose I
must be and abstaining one. Basically though, at 51 I
seem to be fine.....have some unrelated health
problems....but I just wanted to reassure those of you
with the less than perfect parents that it isn't
necessarily a sentence of birth defects, hidden or
otherwise. My own children are all healthy, gifted,
and beautiful as are my nieces and nephews. I just
wanted those of you strong beautiful mothers who
DECIDED to break the cycle that your courage does
manifest in the next generation as pure beauty. And I
thank you. You have bettered the world just by
existing!
4. I live in Florida. Florida laws do required that
"homeschooled" children be tested with the same
standardized tests as the ps children. If the hs
child is found to be "behind" there is one year to do
remediation. Then the child is forced to enter ps at
whatever level they tested. Records and samples of
work indicating progression are to be reviewed by
school approved whoevers and are to be produced on
request....within a few days or so. That basically is
it. Enough though. No escape from the standardized
norm. Which I don't anticipate being a problem, but
it must be awfull for some families. Oh, and the state
wants a list of ALL the books and authors which are
used in the learning process. Ha!! Wonder if we can
download the card catolgue at the library? Expect we
have lots of books that they don't!!
5. The high level of spirituality which is exhibited
though the manner in which all of you express
yourselves is SO uplifting. Thank you.
6 THANK YOU LIST MOM AND MODERATOR!!!!!!!

I'm looking forward to reading your posts as
frequently as I can get to it. But now it is bedtime
story time. A sacred ritual.

Love and Prayers
Sharon

oh yes and #7 Are there any Papa's working with or
directing the education of their children? Is this
considered to be a mothering task exclusively?






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

[email protected]

In a message dated 5/12/2001 8:27:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
bearspawprint@... writes:


> How can
> teaching be separated from mothering? They seem
> basically the same to me. Do others have differing
> outlook?
>

For me personally, I don't teach anything, nor do I want to anymore. To me,
mothering is being the best that I can be in every given moment. Children do
or learn what is modeled for them. If I strive to be learning in every
moment, then so will they.

<<<oh yes and #7 Are there any Papa's working with or
directing the education of their children? Is this
considered to be a mothering task exclusively?  >>>

We try not to direct anything in our house. Papa has been working at home,
will soon be working at the office, but hopefully back at home sometime soon.
He is in the process of "deschooling" himself, as his parents are long term
educators, and so has been indoctrinated in that system. The more he is
exposed to unschooling and sees how it works in real life, the easier it
becomes for him. His "education" is occuring at the same time as the rest of
us. :)



lovemary
If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then
make a change.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Johanna

Is your two years off question in regards to my post? I was talking about a year or two off from studying math for my daughter, not me taking two years off.
Johanna
Life is the ultimate learning experience!
----- Original Message -----
From: Sharon Rudd
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 7:26 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Thank you for warm welcomes


Dear Unschoolers

Thanks for the warm welcome(s). It is reassuring to
know you are all there.....albeit in cyber space!

Some comments and questions came to mind as I read the
postings.
1. Two years off....? I don't understand. How can
teaching be separated from mothering? They seem
basically the same to me. Do others have differing
outlook?



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sharon Rudd

--- Johanna <saninocencio1@...> wrote:
> Is your two years off question in regards to my
> post? I was talking about a year or two off from
> studying math for my daughter, not me taking two
> years off.
> Johanna
> Life is the ultimate learning experience!


Dear Johanna...Thank you. Sharon

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

[email protected]

Sharon -

I'm a little late on this one.... I was out of town - sorry! Haven't
read through the 12 Unschooling-dotcom digests that were awaiting me
upon my return yet, so I'm not sure if this was addressed yet - sorry
if it's redundant!

You wrote:
> 4. I live in Florida. Florida laws do require that
> "homeschooled" children be tested with the same
> standardized tests as the ps children.
Actually in Florida there are a few options, only one of which
requires testing with the public school children. The options are 1)
administer any standardized test or a state student assessment test;
must be given by a certified teacher, or 2) have child evaluated by a
certified teacher, or 3) be evaluated by a licensed psychologist, or
4) have child evaluated by another valid tool that is mutually agreed
upon. We chose the portfolio/evaluator method, and our evaluator is
wonderfully receptive to our unschooling. We live in Orlando - let me
know if you'd like her name (she lives in Oviedo)!

You also wrote:
> Oh, and the state
> wants a list of ALL the books and authors which are
> used in the learning process.
In my portfolio, I keep a weekly log of our activities, to which I
attach field trip brochures, photos of projects, artwork, worksheets
or written work (which is done only by the children's choosing), and
trip journals. On the back, I keep a list of the books we have read
that week.

Hope that helps!
Robin
Orlando, FL
:-)

Sharon Rudd

Dear Robin Thanks. I have recieved several
suggestions of exactly the same thing. So it must
work!
Sharon

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