workbooks
[email protected]
ok, now i'm new to a lot of this, sort of, but the workbook talk is giving me
grief.
it was nice to read someone (sandra?) talk of unschooling themselves, i've
been doing that for myself for awhile now. it was a major awakening to find
that i actually like learning, now i *love* it and can't get enough.
but what about workbooks, i agree that they shouldn't be pushed, but how
necessary are they? i love learning about religions, but sitting down in
front of a multiple choice questionnaire, which i recently did, causes me
stress and i feel limited.
i've been of the opinion that 'doing' math can be done with grocery play,
cooking, etc. do i need to be providing my son of 3 yr with workbooks for
this?
he likes to learn to drraw letters and numbers off and on, is a structured
workbook necessary for this?
i guess i hadn't really given much thought to buying specifically written
textbooks or workbooks, we have and keep getting or borrowing so many books
on so many different topics, and educational tv shows, and computer stuff,
and just daily life...
am i biased in thinking that most textbooks and workbooks are geared toward a
scheduled curriculum?
brenda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
grief.
it was nice to read someone (sandra?) talk of unschooling themselves, i've
been doing that for myself for awhile now. it was a major awakening to find
that i actually like learning, now i *love* it and can't get enough.
but what about workbooks, i agree that they shouldn't be pushed, but how
necessary are they? i love learning about religions, but sitting down in
front of a multiple choice questionnaire, which i recently did, causes me
stress and i feel limited.
i've been of the opinion that 'doing' math can be done with grocery play,
cooking, etc. do i need to be providing my son of 3 yr with workbooks for
this?
he likes to learn to drraw letters and numbers off and on, is a structured
workbook necessary for this?
i guess i hadn't really given much thought to buying specifically written
textbooks or workbooks, we have and keep getting or borrowing so many books
on so many different topics, and educational tv shows, and computer stuff,
and just daily life...
am i biased in thinking that most textbooks and workbooks are geared toward a
scheduled curriculum?
brenda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/12/01 9:24:53 PM, brendaclaspell@... writes:
<< but what about workbooks, i agree that they shouldn't be pushed, but how
necessary are they? >>
Not necessary at all.
My 2nd and 3rd kids liked math puzzles, and sometimes we've bought a workbook
at the grocery store or toy store--like an Animaniacs math thing--the same
way we might buy a magazine or coloring book. Those we have are in with
coloring books. Nobody's expected to finish them or do them right or
anything.
We had homeschooling company once years ago, and Marty brought me a workbook
and asked what the directions said. I read whatever it was, "Put a red
circle around the picture that..." (whatever it was, some phonics thing).
He said "Do I have to use red?" I told him it didn't matter what color, it
didn't matter if he drew a circle, he could do whatever he wanted to do with
it. The other mom stiffened up in her chair and said in a very
stiffened-up voice, "At our house we think it's important for our kids to le
arn to follow direction." I said I was sure when it was important my kids
would be able to follow directions.
My kids are rules lawyers extrordinaire when it comes to stuff like Magic
cards and Disc Wars and Mage Knights. They can absolutely follow directions.
<g>
I don't think people were recommending text books or workbooks, Brenda, just
discussing what they did or didn't do with the ones they had, and suggesting
devaluing those already in the situation.
Some people like word search puzzles. Nobody at my house likes them. But
they do like matching and sorting games (GeoSafari kind of stuff, or computer
games that involve matching stuff up, like Zoombinis) and sometimes workbook
pages are that way too.
Sandra
Sandra
"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd
<< but what about workbooks, i agree that they shouldn't be pushed, but how
necessary are they? >>
Not necessary at all.
My 2nd and 3rd kids liked math puzzles, and sometimes we've bought a workbook
at the grocery store or toy store--like an Animaniacs math thing--the same
way we might buy a magazine or coloring book. Those we have are in with
coloring books. Nobody's expected to finish them or do them right or
anything.
We had homeschooling company once years ago, and Marty brought me a workbook
and asked what the directions said. I read whatever it was, "Put a red
circle around the picture that..." (whatever it was, some phonics thing).
He said "Do I have to use red?" I told him it didn't matter what color, it
didn't matter if he drew a circle, he could do whatever he wanted to do with
it. The other mom stiffened up in her chair and said in a very
stiffened-up voice, "At our house we think it's important for our kids to le
arn to follow direction." I said I was sure when it was important my kids
would be able to follow directions.
My kids are rules lawyers extrordinaire when it comes to stuff like Magic
cards and Disc Wars and Mage Knights. They can absolutely follow directions.
<g>
I don't think people were recommending text books or workbooks, Brenda, just
discussing what they did or didn't do with the ones they had, and suggesting
devaluing those already in the situation.
Some people like word search puzzles. Nobody at my house likes them. But
they do like matching and sorting games (GeoSafari kind of stuff, or computer
games that involve matching stuff up, like Zoombinis) and sometimes workbook
pages are that way too.
Sandra
Sandra
"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd
marianne
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., brendaclaspell@a... wrote:
give workbooks. If they dont want workbooks, dont give them
workbooks. I dont think there is any right or wrong in workbooks,
only in * making* a child use them........
Marianne -
yes the same marianne who asked the same questions 12 months
ago!!!!!!!
> ok, now i'm new to a lot of this, sort of, but the workbook talk isgiving me
> grief.Unschooling is Child led learning (?) If a child wants workbooks,
>
give workbooks. If they dont want workbooks, dont give them
workbooks. I dont think there is any right or wrong in workbooks,
only in * making* a child use them........
Marianne -
yes the same marianne who asked the same questions 12 months
ago!!!!!!!
[email protected]
**i've been of the opinion that 'doing' math can be done with grocery play,
cooking, etc. do i need to be providing my son of 3 yr with workbooks for
this?**
No, no, no, no.
My fault, sorry, I muddied the waters by saying we own more textbooks and
workbooks than most schoolathomes.
My kids (and me) are the kind who like puzzles and mazes and games. So we've
collected workbooks that are full of things to think about, problems to
solve, puzzles. Math is a tool, and math is a puzzle, too.
And we've got a collection of upper level textbooks for reference starting
spots. We're book addicts, what can I say. :) Almost no elementary level
textbooks though, as we've run across very few worth giving even pile space,
let alone shelf space. :)
None of that is necessary, nor is it where learning happens. They're
diversions more than anything else.
Deborah
cooking, etc. do i need to be providing my son of 3 yr with workbooks for
this?**
No, no, no, no.
My fault, sorry, I muddied the waters by saying we own more textbooks and
workbooks than most schoolathomes.
My kids (and me) are the kind who like puzzles and mazes and games. So we've
collected workbooks that are full of things to think about, problems to
solve, puzzles. Math is a tool, and math is a puzzle, too.
And we've got a collection of upper level textbooks for reference starting
spots. We're book addicts, what can I say. :) Almost no elementary level
textbooks though, as we've run across very few worth giving even pile space,
let alone shelf space. :)
None of that is necessary, nor is it where learning happens. They're
diversions more than anything else.
Deborah
Alan & Brenda Leonard
> I have a saxon book but it is so repetitive. I'm thinking Key To might be aMy son has schooled friends, and school-at-home friends (and a new, very
> good one to have around, because that way if someone is interested in learning
> fractions the way their friends do, they could just pick it up. Key to is
> pretty self explanatory.
>
> But again, it would be their choice to use it, not use it, or just use a
> little of it.
exciting unschooled pen pal -- the first unschooler he's ever known; Thanks,
Kelli!). We keep workbooks around. Can't say they get a lot of use, but
sometimes he'll pull one out if somebody has been talking a lot about "what
grade are you in" stuff.
Here's my take on workboooks: buy the cheapest ones you can stand. I figure
they've all been written and published by at least minimally capable people
(we hope!). They're not likely to see lots of use, so why invest a bunch of
money? And if the instructions are less than clear, you can help your child
yourself, find a friend or neighbor who remembers the stuff, or go to the
library and track down a book that's clearer, right?
My son just finished another math workbook. He did 3 pages of it, announced
he knew how to do everything in it, and declared it done. Seems fair to me!
brenda