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I've been back and forth with the unschooling/preschool
unschooling/kindergarten thing. Zak has been to 7 different preschools (1 of
which is a Kindergarten) and one of those schools he's been too twice. You
would have thought that by now I would have made the decision that
unschooling him is the best way to go.

I'm reading Linda Dobson's "The First Year of Homeschooling" and it's been so
much help to me in making me look at myself and what I'm expecting of me.
I've made a list of pro's and cons for unschooling (I can't imagine doing
anything formal) and there are only 2 cons and they both have to do with me.
One is that I won't be able to work on my business during the day because
I'll have both kids and the second is that if I send him to school I won't
have find kids for Zak to socialize with.. All of the pros had to do with the
kids. So far I've come up with 7 reasons to unschool Zak and eventually Max
(2) next month....I'll get there completely soon.

Last night Zak and I talked for half an hour about smoke detectors, fire,
smoke, what to do in the event of a fire, why he was scared of smoke
detectors. He stayed up till 9:30pm (normally goes to bed at 7:30pm) and he
also came into our bed and then talked about a different subject. It was
wonderful. Some of the best conversations I have with Zak are late at night
where I'm just answering his many, many questions. He's more of a night
person with his questions.

I'm wondering if you every "really" know for sure you are doing the "right"
thing by unschooling?

Just some thoughts.
Dawn
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dawn Falbe
Personal Development Coach
Relocational Astrologer
(520) 579-2646
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Path of Least Resistance is Inside of You
www.astrologerdawn.com
Enlightening women on how to live their Soul Purpose

"The people who get on in this world
are people who get up and look for the
circumstances they want, and,
if they can't find them, make them." - George Bernard Shaw

"The only time my education was interrupted was when I was in school."-George
Bernard Shaw





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

simpsons

>>>(I'm just answering his many, many questions. He's more of a night
person with his questions.

>>>I'm wondering if you every "really" >>>know for sure you are doing the "right"
>>thing by unschooling?


Dawn, when I get stressed about it I take a journal or calendar and just write down what they did all day like you talked about smoke detectors then the next day I write down what they did all day, ( allie made dinner, morgan played math blasters, alex built a house with legos )I also put in what books they looked at or read , where we went, what they were doing like outside stuff then when I feel like I am not doing anything for them I read it and find out that infact they are doing waaaaay more than what I realized and then I can break that down into neat little subjects if I am still feeling weary but most of the time I really don't need to its right there in front of me ( I just needed it spelled out!)
my kids also ask the bulk of their questions at night! therefore we no longer have a set bedtime!
Tanya





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

[email protected]

<< I'm wondering if you every "really" know for sure you are doing the
"right"
thing by unschooling? >>

You will get more sure as time goes on.

You can work on your home business at other times of the week. Finding
playmates IS part of the job of an unschooling mom, but the greatest benefit
will be that as you yourself meet other homeschooling families you'll see
more clearly what the range of kid-knowledge is, and you'll get to see how
what those families are or aren't doing affects their
peace/progress/learning. It will be strengthening for you to be around other
homeschoolers (and unschoolers if you can find them).

Having the kids be home alone with mom all day every day isn't the ideal way
to make them think unschooling is their whole future. Get them out. Get
other kids/families in. Mix it up. Carschooling and worldschooling might be
better terms for you to think about at first. <g>

Sandra

"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd

Luanne Riley

>
>I'm wondering if you every "really" know for sure you are doing the "right"
>thing by unschooling?

Does any parent ever 'know' until it's all over? And even then you wonder if
you could have done better!

Luanne

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jefferson academy

Does anyone know of any resources for parents just
starting unschooling? I've read all the general stuff
but now need specifics how to get dd involved. The
best example I can think of is the cooking example I
always read: you use math and science in cooking.
Well, when dd cooks, gets 1/3 cup butter by looking at
the markings on the wrapper, and 2&3/4 cup flour by
looking at the numbers on the measuring cup - not much
thought or learning here. And even if I were to
mention 'I've noticed that if you add an extra egg to
brownies, they're not as chewy - sort of more cake
like...wonder why?' she'd still have no interest in
finding out. Can all kids (even though public
schooled though 6th grade) be unschooled? I feel I
really need some real explicit directions and
suggestions - any books or *anything* that might help
me to do what I need to do - or, at least to know
*exactly* what that should be? Have any unschoolers
written books *DETAILED* books about *exactly* the
type of things they did, the questions they asked
etc.?
Again, any and all advice and info. greatly appreciated!!

=====
Michele
(mom of 5dd: Justice 22, Felicity 20, Christian 18, Grace 13, Elysian (Mia)2)

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[email protected]

-=-
Does anyone know of any resources for parents just
starting unschooling?-=-

Ther is nothing better than to read everything at www.unschooling.com, and if
your answers aren't there, ask more questions.


<< And even if I were to
mention 'I've noticed that if you add an extra egg to
brownies, they're not as chewy - sort of more cake
like...wonder why?' she'd still have no interest in
finding out. >>

It's too schooly.
Let her find out by making them both ways, not from being told in words.

<<Can all kids (even though public
schooled though 6th grade) be unschooled?>>

All humans, no matter what age, can learn on their own unless it is trained
out of them. And it can be recovered.

But it's more important for the parents to understand it than for the kids to.

-=- Have any unschoolers
written books *DETAILED* books about *exactly* the
type of things they did, the questions they asked
etc.?-=-

I think we're saying go into the yard and see what bugs are there, and you're
wanting someone to send you a dead butterfly with a pin through it.

We can't tell you want to say because we can't know what you will see or hear
or touch today. Just have conversations with your kids as you would with
interesting/interested adult friends, and see where life leads you. But keep
things interesting. Go to museums, construction sites, tool stores, seed
shops, look at neat Christmas decorations for a long, long time even if you
don't need any.

Sandra

"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd

[email protected]

On Wed, 5 Sep 2001 08:27:18 -0700 (PDT) jefferson academy
<jeffersonacademy@...> writes:
>
> Does anyone know of any resources for parents just
> starting unschooling? I've read all the general stuff
> but now need specifics how to get dd involved. The
> best example I can think of is the cooking example I
> always read: you use math and science in cooking.
> Well, when dd cooks, gets 1/3 cup butter by looking at
> the markings on the wrapper, and 2&3/4 cup flour by
> looking at the numbers on the measuring cup - not much
> thought or learning here.

I have noticed recently that many people think of unschooling as
"sneaking in learning" to what the kids are doing. I don't see this as
unschooling. I'm not sure I even see that as honest. I dobn't know oif
that's what you're talking about, but it's something I've seen coming up
a lot lately in a few different places.

I don't see it as your job to get your daughter "involved", if that means
to push her into being curious about brownie recipes or other ways to
measure stuff. I imagine that someday this stuff will come up - I
remember that we've had to halve recipes sometimes because we run out of
eggs, stuff like that, but it's not something I would plan. I'm just not
the director here, so I don't need any specific resources besides the
ones my kid asks for.

As I was sitting here writing this, Cacie bounded up to me holding the
comics from tody's paper, very excited because they've finally opened the
voting on whether or not to keep the comic Preteena, which she really
likes. She had read that you could vote by email and wanted to make sure
she got her vote in, so I saved a draft of this message and typed her
email vote in to the newspaper as she dictated. I put that in my outbox
and she danced away again and I went back to email. That's how it works.
I think she's now practicing her lines for her part as Br�unhilde in Die
Walk�re, either that or continuing her most recent playmobil setup, which
is about a talent show. I can hear her voice but not what she's saying...
if she asks me to do lines with her, I will, but it's her play so I'm not
going to go tell her it's time to practice. She's doing what she loves
and wants to do...

And we both have the flu today, so technically I guess she's "home sick".

Daron

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/5/2001 10:35:48 AM Central Daylight Time,
luanneriley@... writes:

<< >I'm wondering if you every "really" know for sure you are doing the
"right"
>thing by unschooling?

Does any parent ever 'know' until it's all over? And even then you wonder if
you could have done better! >>

I agree with this but don't worry. When I start to wonder or worry I look at
my kids and think about what they are doing or have done and it really is
quite remarkable. A friend of mine called me last spring to say that his 3rd
grader had tested at public school to have the abilities in most subjects of
a 6th grader. He was not calling me to "shove it in my face" type of thing,
he was just proud and we always tell each other what our kids are doing.
Anyway I could have felt anxious that my kids were "missing out" somehow but
I knew it wasn't true. I see my children's accomplishments and to me they are
astounding. My girls (17 & 15) are now teaching some classes and the boys are
building things that passed my husband's and my abilities long ago. I just
let them do what they love and it turns out that their zest to learn grows
and grows. Whenever I become worried I just remind myself that I was a public
school student who really learned very little.

Candace

Elizabeth Hill

> Have any unschoolers
> written books *DETAILED* books about *exactly* the
> type of things they did, the questions they asked
> etc.?
> Again, any and all advice and info. greatly appreciated!!
>

I haven't read it, but what about Grace Llewellyn's other book, Real Lives,
about 11 teenagers who don't go to school. That might go into some detail about
how they spend their time. Anyone know more about the contents of this book.

Of course, the pursuits that are right for one person are not necessarily
interesting for or useful to another person.

Betsy

another Philosypher

> Well, when dd cooks, gets 1/3 cup butter by
> looking at
> > the markings on the wrapper, and 2&3/4 cup flour
> by
> > looking at the numbers on the measuring cup - not
> much
> > thought or learning here. >>
There's all kinds of learning going on there. It's
just something she's mastered so you don't see it as
still learning.
If she can measure 1/3 cup butter by looking at the
markings she can also find the 9/16 wrench by looking
at the markings. And the D encyclopedia by looking at
the markings and what type of bird by looking at
markings in a feild guide.
Then she can use her 1/3 cup of butter to make cookies
and a pie and beef stew and pumpkin butter. Or some of
those strange combinations that take three days of
soaking to get the pan clean that Kenna does.

<Does anyone know of any resources for parents just
> > starting unschooling? <
Take yourself over to unschooling.com and read. Don't
post any questions until you've read through at least
4-5 subjects. My library carries Home Education
Magazine, if yours does read it there or buy it at a
book store. Between those two things, this list and
getting valuable tips from Sandra you should have a
strong foundation to go out and unschool yourself.

Tomorrow take a trip to some place you've always
wanted to go but haven't. Write down on a piece of
paper all the neat things you learned, not your
daughter but you. This is your resource. and Have fun
Joy



=====
Learn from others, but go to your own school

Joy in NM
Homeschooling mom of two
Michael Alexander 16 yo
Kenna Rose 13 yo
Married 17 years to Scott

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[email protected]

<< I imagine that someday this stuff will come up - I
remember that we've had to halve recipes sometimes because we run out of
eggs, stuff like that, but it's not something I would plan. I'm just not
the director here, so I don't need any specific resources besides the
ones my kid asks for. >>

We do DOUBLE recipes a lot--not as a learning opportunity, but so we don't
have to ration stuff out! <g>

Sandra

Lynda

----- Original Message -----
>
>I'm wondering if you every "really" know for sure you are doing the "right"
>thing by unschooling?
>
The only difference between ps, homeschooling and unschooling as to "knowing
for sure" is that there is plenty of pr out there about ps.

Each child is an individual and the only way to know for sure is to be able
to see into the future. Do the best you can and trust your personal
knowledge of your child. Only *you* know your child best, not the ps
system, not your neighbors, not your friends and relatives, not the
newspapers, not magazine articles or even books by *experts."

By unschooling you are giving your child an opportunity to actually live
learning and an opportunity to develope into the person they want to be, not
some pigeon hole that some *expert* decided would be best for him/her.

Trust yourself!

Lynda

M and L Hand

Have her make instant mashed potatoes, using the measurements for a single serving, but making enough for your family. Double some recipe, or cut it in half. Cut a pie or cake into slices - more or less than you need, and discuss the relative size of each piece as you have more or less pieces. Use a smaller measuring spoon than required, and figure out how many of them you should use now. (like using a half-teaspoon spoon to measure 1 tablespoon's worth). Use the 1/4 cup measure to get your 2.75 cups of flour. I'd advise letting them mark down how many they've already put in, or you're likely to end up with very interesting creations!

Does this help?

Rather than asking her questions, like the egg thing (that is too much like "school"), concentrate on hearing hers, and ANSWER them, or look them up together until they learn to find out on their own.
Laurie


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

jefferson academy

But keep
> things interesting. Go to museums, construction
> sites, tool stores, seed
> shops, look at neat Christmas decorations for a
> long, long time even if you
> don't need any.


What if 13yo isn't interested in the above? (I'd
*love* to do all those things with her!) What if she
is only interested in 'hanging out' with her sisters
(when any of them will have her-and about all they do,
when they're not working, is go to the mall or hang
out at another older teen's house or the Dunkin Donuts
parking lot!)She also enjoys playing solitaire &
visiting web-sites of obscure rock bands on the
computer, going to the mall with her friends, watching
talk shows & Lifetime movies, and doing art (all kinds
including video & photography) & occasionally poetry?
And that pretty much is it. I plan to go somewhere I
find interesting every week (with 2yo) museums, zoos,
cultural festivals, etc. Grace (13) may go to humor
me, or sometimes she may even give me a hard time
about it (and I will let her stay home.)
*Question*: What is my responsibility- what is the
best thing I can do for her under the above circumstances??

=====
Michele
(mom of 5dd: Justice 22, Felicity 20, Christian 18, Grace 13, Elysian (Mia)2)

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> > Have any unschoolers
> > written books *DETAILED* books about *exactly* the
> > type of things they did, the questions they asked
> > etc.?
> > Again, any and all advice and info. greatly
> appreciated!!
> >

Just ordered (half.com) a patchwork of days! It sounds great!

=====
Michele
(mom of 5dd: Justice 22, Felicity 20, Christian 18, Grace 13, Elysian (Mia)2)

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> Take yourself over to unschooling.com and read.
> Don't
> post any questions until you've read through at
> least
> 4-5 subjects.

I've been at least 6 months reading everything (well
maybe not everything!) at unschooling.com and have
probably read everything John Holt wrote. I've found
that much of what I read applies to younger children
&/or there is conflict about what is best &/or it is
difficult to remember everything you've read when it
come time to apply it.

=====
Michele
(mom of 5dd: Justice 22, Felicity 20, Christian 18, Grace 13, Elysian (Mia)2)

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In a message dated 9/6/01 4:40:07 AM, jeffersonacademy@... writes:

<< What if 13yo isn't interested in the above? (I'd
*love* to do all those things with her!) >>

Did she want to homeschool?

-=- I plan to go somewhere I
find interesting every week (with 2yo) museums, zoos,
cultural festivals, etc. Grace (13) may go to humor
me, or sometimes she may even give me a hard time
about it (and I will let her stay home.)-=-

Will it help to have her pick some places? And you could go some places that
are for Grace's benefit, not the 2 year old's.

If she's new to homeschooling, she probably has the school-trained habit of
being embarrassed to be with her mom, and it might take a while to get over
it.

Puberty does change what kids are willing to do. Even trip to the mall
during school hours (so she won't see other school-age girls there without
moms) with the baby in a stroller so she might fall asleep and give you more
time with the older girl might be good for some conversation and some calming.

Being out breaks the patterns which develop at home, though.

Sandra, just brainstorming

[email protected]

<< I've found
that much of what I read applies to younger children
&/or there is conflict about what is best &/or it is
difficult to remember everything you've read when it
come time to apply it.
>>

Maybe you've spent too much time reading and not enough time just being with
your daughter!!

Unschooling is a being, not a doing.

It is making your decisions from the place of trust that children will learn
if the environment is rich.

Maybe you're looking for how to instead of why to?

Sandra

"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd

jefferson academy

>
> << What if 13yo isn't interested in the above? (I'd
> *love* to do all those things with her!) >>
>
> Did she want to homeschool?

Grace did not do well in ps. She did great in a few of
te things she liked (ie: art & videography) and bad in
somethings she started school likeing (liked &
excelled in math, but began to hate it - won awards
for writing (not pennmanship)in 2nd/3rd grade, began
to hate & fail it by 6th grade - she's very athletic,
but failed gymn for talking, etc.) She prefers
homeschooling to ps (she says she may want to return
next year for hs - this is another concern, if she
didn't think of returning it would not matter where
she was in relation to peers - but if she plans to
return she'll need to be at their level in order to go
into that grade. They do test returning homeschoolers
for proper placement.)


> Will it help to have her pick some places? And you
> could go some places that
> are for Grace's benefit, not the 2 year old's.

None of them are really for the 2yo benefit yet.
They're just places that are within my commuting
distance. Grace may be interested in going to NYC
museums. I don't go to NYC, although I suppose we
could figure out some way (I don't like public
transportation and I won't drive it either.) Most of
the things I offer will seem boring to her because
I've made the mistake? of allowing her to visit her
sister in Manhattan quite frequently over the summer.
(I don't think her sister would take her to museums
-she would say she would, but it would never get
done.)

>
> Sandra, just brainstorming

Thank you!!
>


=====
Michele
(mom of 5dd: Justice 22, Felicity 20, Christian 18, Grace 13, Elysian (Mia)2)

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jefferson academy

>
> Our family's in there.
>
> It's mostly very structured school-at-home Christian
> families who milk the
> goats before Bible study, though. It's not a great
> unschooling resource,
> unfortunately.

Now you tell me! <g>
(And I think I've already read just about everything
you've ever written (ok not everything-but almost.)

=====
Michele
(mom of 5dd: Justice 22, Felicity 20, Christian 18, Grace 13, Elysian (Mia)2)

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jefferson academy

> Maybe you've spent too much time reading and not
> enough time just being with
> your daughter!!
>
> Unschooling is a being, not a doing.
>
> It is making your decisions from the place of trust
> that children will learn
> if the environment is rich.
>
> Maybe you're looking for how to instead of why to?


My food for thought for the day (month?)

=====
Michele
(mom of 5dd: Justice 22, Felicity 20, Christian 18, Grace 13, Elysian (Mia)2)

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On Thu, 6 Sep 2001 15:04:03 +1000 "M and L Hand" <mandlhand@...>
writes:
> Have her make instant mashed potatoes, using the measurements for a
> single serving, but making enough for your family. Double some
> recipe, or cut it in half. Cut a pie or cake into slices - more or
> less than you need, and discuss the relative size of each piece as
> you have more or less pieces. Use a smaller measuring spoon than
> required, and figure out how many of them you should use now. (like
> using a half-teaspoon spoon to measure 1 tablespoon's worth). Use
> the 1/4 cup measure to get your 2.75 cups of flour. I'd advise
> letting them mark down how many they've already put in, or you're
> likely to end up with very interesting creations!

To me, this is just like school - it's creating false problems for the
sole purpose of "teaching". Why would anyone use the measurements for a
single serving and adjust to make potatoes for a crowd, when the
measurements for 4 and 6 servings are right on the box? I suppose a kid
might be interested in it as sort of a puzzle - "Are the proporions
constant?"- but generally my kid would consider it a waste of time.

We have used a 1/4 cup measure to measure 2.75 cups of flour, but only
when all of the other cup measures were greasy and buried under a load of
dirty dishes. I can't see doing it on purpose, it was pretty inefficient.
When you cook by yourself, do you measure that way?

Daron

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/6/01 11:14:49 AM, freeform@... writes:

<< We have used a 1/4 cup measure to measure 2.75 cups of flour, but only
when all of the other cup measures were greasy and buried under a load of
dirty dishes. I can't see doing it on purpose, it was pretty inefficient.
When you cook by yourself, do you measure that way? >>

I use a 1/4 cup sugar scoop for my pots of tea, but for a while it was lost,
so I had a 1/3 cup measure in there. I'm in my 40's. I thought really hard
(by visuals, not by forumals to think how much of 1/3 was 1/4, and figured
out it must be 2/3 of 1/3, so there it is. <g>

When I measure cups of flour I count backwards, because counting forward I
lose track. So I'll count 6, 5, 4, etc. I do that dealing cards, too.

Sandra

"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd

Julie Stauffer

<<what is the best thing I can do for her>>

She likes art.....how about a gallery opening, pottery classes, a mentor,
etc..

She likes poetry....how about a poetry reading, road trip to homes of
favorite poets, get her a book of poetry you love, ask her to share with you
about poetry she loves

She likes fringe type music....help her explore it in any way she will let
you.

Sounds like your dd is working hard to express herself, art, poetry,
music.....can someone say liberal arts?

Julie

Ann

Maybe a poetry reading? A photography showing? Any art showing or class or
museum? Don't know if these were suggested, but thought I'd offer.
Maybe some concerts of local bands with you and siblings?
Ann

[email protected]

There's a line in the editorial of the new LINK newspaper that came yesterday
that struck me in light of this conversation:

"Homeschooling is not a verb."

I think that applies even more to "unschooling". It's not something you do,
or that someone else can tell you step by step how to do.

Bummer, huh? :)

In the specific, 13 is a hard time for a lot of kids. Big scary world out
there that they're just dying to get into, except when they're not. Flip flop
emotions. Who the heck am I anyway? Some might just jump right into a "new
way" of living their lives, most probably won't.

Deborah in IL

jefferson academy

> She likes art.....how about a gallery opening,
> pottery classes, a mentor,
> etc..

> Sounds like your dd is working hard to express
> herself, art, poetry,
> music.....can someone say liberal arts?

Thanks. I think we will look for a pottery class, sort
of fleeting thought about it before. (Reading the
suggestion again now, I remembered that there is a
village of artists in residence not far from here.
There is a potter and I think they give classes
sometimes!)
Being new to unschooling, I was just concerned about
the scope of what she'd be learning. Something Sandra
wrote yesterday made me realize that, in spite of all
I've read, there is a difference between reading and
really believing - really owning all you have read.
The problem is me. I need to work on getting to that
point and may have taken the first *real* steps
yesterday. The 'talk to dd' was finally repeated
enough for me to really *hear* it. Grace knew she was
being homeschooled, and I gave her the Teenage
Liberation Handbook - which she didn't even look at,
she knew there was a Saxon math book in the house
(even when considering unschooling I was still hung up
on 'well, she'll at least need a math curriculum and
maybe grammar too') Anyway, yesterday was the first
time we talked about unschooling and what it means.
For about the first 5 minutes she was saying things
like "We can't do that. I won't learn anything - I
don't want to be stupid." But by the end of the
conversation she was saying things like "I already
know how to read, how to get information I want, and I
looked at that math book and I can definitely go all
the way through that by myself if I want to. It's
actually easy." I reminded her that she didn't have to
do things herself - I'd be happy to help her with
whatever she was interested in doing. She was actually
quite excited and went on to consider things like: "I
have some really cool black &white pictures I took of
Chinatown. I think I can do something with them - and
will you pick me up some water colors and oil pastels
next time you go out?" Now I know there will be down
days too, but I really wish they could *all* be like
yesterday!


=====
Michele
(mom of 5dd: Justice 22, Felicity 20, Christian 18, Grace 13, Elysian (Mia)2)

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Johanna SanInocencio

yes, but we all have our down days even as adults. enjoy the jem days. there
will be many more.
Johanna
Life is the ultimate learning experience!
----- Original Message -----
From: "jefferson academy" <jeffersonacademy@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2001 5:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] question: parent resources


>
> > She likes art.....how about a gallery opening,
> > pottery classes, a mentor,
> > etc..
>
> > Sounds like your dd is working hard to express
> > herself, art, poetry,
> > music.....can someone say liberal arts?
>
> Thanks. I think we will look for a pottery class, sort
> of fleeting thought about it before. (Reading the
> suggestion again now, I remembered that there is a
> village of artists in residence not far from here.
> There is a potter and I think they give classes
> sometimes!)
> Being new to unschooling, I was just concerned about
> the scope of what she'd be learning. Something Sandra
> wrote yesterday made me realize that, in spite of all
> I've read, there is a difference between reading and
> really believing - really owning all you have read.
> The problem is me. I need to work on getting to that
> point and may have taken the first *real* steps
> yesterday. The 'talk to dd' was finally repeated
> enough for me to really *hear* it. Grace knew she was
> being homeschooled, and I gave her the Teenage
> Liberation Handbook - which she didn't even look at,
> she knew there was a Saxon math book in the house
> (even when considering unschooling I was still hung up
> on 'well, she'll at least need a math curriculum and
> maybe grammar too') Anyway, yesterday was the first
> time we talked about unschooling and what it means.
> For about the first 5 minutes she was saying things
> like "We can't do that. I won't learn anything - I
> don't want to be stupid." But by the end of the
> conversation she was saying things like "I already
> know how to read, how to get information I want, and I
> looked at that math book and I can definitely go all
> the way through that by myself if I want to. It's
> actually easy." I reminded her that she didn't have to
> do things herself - I'd be happy to help her with
> whatever she was interested in doing. She was actually
> quite excited and went on to consider things like: "I
> have some really cool black &white pictures I took of
> Chinatown. I think I can do something with them - and
> will you pick me up some water colors and oil pastels
> next time you go out?" Now I know there will be down
> days too, but I really wish they could *all* be like
> yesterday!
>
>
> =====
> Michele
> (mom of 5dd: Justice 22, Felicity 20, Christian 18, Grace 13, Elysian
(Mia)2)
>
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Bonni Sollars

how awesome