Is this unschooling?
Bonni Sollars
If I had shelves in my livingroom with all sorts of books and games about
various subjects displayed in children's reach, would it still be called
unschooling?
Bonni
various subjects displayed in children's reach, would it still be called
unschooling?
Bonni
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/10/01 1:51:04 PM, BSOLLARS@... writes:
<< If I had shelves in my livingroom with all sorts of books and games about
various subjects displayed in children's reach, would it still be called
unschooling? >>
Where else would you PUT the books and games?
They have to go somewhere.
Sandra
"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd
<< If I had shelves in my livingroom with all sorts of books and games about
various subjects displayed in children's reach, would it still be called
unschooling? >>
Where else would you PUT the books and games?
They have to go somewhere.
Sandra
"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd
[email protected]
Kimberly U
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Fetteroll
on 9/10/01 3:51 PM, Bonni Sollars <BSOLLARS@...> wrote:
If they're older I'd call it part of a rich environment.
But an even more important part is you and your attitude towards life and
learning. If you embrace life, if you're interested in learning new things,
if you're steering new things through their lives so they have opportunities
to develop new interests, if you respect, encourage and facilitate their
explorations as important regardless of whether they bear any resemblance to
academics, then I'd call that unschooling.
Joyce
> If I had shelves in my livingroom with all sorts of books and games aboutWell if they're real young I'd call it an invitation to chaos. ;-)
> various subjects displayed in children's reach, would it still be called
> unschooling?
If they're older I'd call it part of a rich environment.
But an even more important part is you and your attitude towards life and
learning. If you embrace life, if you're interested in learning new things,
if you're steering new things through their lives so they have opportunities
to develop new interests, if you respect, encourage and facilitate their
explorations as important regardless of whether they bear any resemblance to
academics, then I'd call that unschooling.
Joyce
[email protected]
Sounds like my house, we have 2 book shelves and a kinda linnen closet full
of art supplies, various books we've aquired over the years, board games,
construction toys, binoculars, jars, etc etc etc. We also have a toy room
full of ... well ... toys, and everything else that isn't a "toy". I think of
it as having kids. I'm sure there are non-homeschooling families with his
setup. I think it's what you do with it, or don't do with it is more like it.
Our "stuff closet" is always a disaster because the children come and go in
and out of it as they please. If you have a clean stuff closet, I'd probably
say it's not unschooling, unless of course your kids just aren't in a stuff
closet phase, or you or your kids are neat freaks (not that there's anything
wrong with being a neat freak. If you are send a pinch of it my way).
Awaiting the responses to this thread.
Kimberly U
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
of art supplies, various books we've aquired over the years, board games,
construction toys, binoculars, jars, etc etc etc. We also have a toy room
full of ... well ... toys, and everything else that isn't a "toy". I think of
it as having kids. I'm sure there are non-homeschooling families with his
setup. I think it's what you do with it, or don't do with it is more like it.
Our "stuff closet" is always a disaster because the children come and go in
and out of it as they please. If you have a clean stuff closet, I'd probably
say it's not unschooling, unless of course your kids just aren't in a stuff
closet phase, or you or your kids are neat freaks (not that there's anything
wrong with being a neat freak. If you are send a pinch of it my way).
Awaiting the responses to this thread.
Kimberly U
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tami Labig-Duquette
We do :) Plus, stacks and stacks of books, all kinds of craft supplies,
puzzles, maps, encyclopedias and etc. We also have guitars and amps and
speakers in the so called living room :) I have yet to see another house
even remotely like ours, for instance, eat here, play here, read here, sleep
here, we do all of it everywhere :)
Indiana Tami
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
~Ghandi
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puzzles, maps, encyclopedias and etc. We also have guitars and amps and
speakers in the so called living room :) I have yet to see another house
even remotely like ours, for instance, eat here, play here, read here, sleep
here, we do all of it everywhere :)
Indiana Tami
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
~Ghandi
Try out this fun site!
http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=angel1bunny
>From: Bonni Sollars <BSOLLARS@...>_________________________________________________________________
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Is this unschooling?
>Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 12:16:10 -0400
>
>If I had shelves in my livingroom with all sorts of books and games about
>various subjects displayed in children's reach, would it still be called
>unschooling?
>Bonni
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
[email protected]
<< I have yet to see another house
even remotely like ours, for instance, eat here, play here, read here, sleep
here, we do all of it everywhere :) >>
If you're passing through Albuquerque, come on over!
We can't name our rooms and make a name stick. Holly's in the third room
now. "The living room" is now where we eat, but that can't be the dining
room, because that name is stuck to where the other computer is...
Sandra
"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd
even remotely like ours, for instance, eat here, play here, read here, sleep
here, we do all of it everywhere :) >>
If you're passing through Albuquerque, come on over!
We can't name our rooms and make a name stick. Holly's in the third room
now. "The living room" is now where we eat, but that can't be the dining
room, because that name is stuck to where the other computer is...
Sandra
"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/10/2001 6:23:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
labigduquette@... writes:
didn't have to move a book or some art supplies out of the way first! :)
Nance
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
labigduquette@... writes:
> I have yet to see another houseOurs would come close. DH claims he wouldn't know how to eat dinner if he
> even remotely like ours, for instance, eat here, play here, read here,
> sleep
> here, we do all of it everywhere :)
> Indiana Tami
>
didn't have to move a book or some art supplies out of the way first! :)
Nance
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Lynda
That sounds like our diningroom <g> Floor to ceiling amps, half a dozen
guitars, old player piano (some meanie took the player part out of it,
drat), a violin my uncle made in the late 1800s, keyboards, synthesizers,
drum machine, and then another wall with computers and "stuff" and a wall
with crafts and sewing machines, etc.
Hmmmm, I know there is a diningroom table under all the stuff somewhere. Oh
well, around the holidays we'll find it again <g>
Lynda
guitars, old player piano (some meanie took the player part out of it,
drat), a violin my uncle made in the late 1800s, keyboards, synthesizers,
drum machine, and then another wall with computers and "stuff" and a wall
with crafts and sewing machines, etc.
Hmmmm, I know there is a diningroom table under all the stuff somewhere. Oh
well, around the holidays we'll find it again <g>
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: Tami Labig-Duquette <labigduquette@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Is this unschooling?
> We do :) Plus, stacks and stacks of books, all kinds of craft supplies,
> puzzles, maps, encyclopedias and etc. We also have guitars and amps and
> speakers in the so called living room :) I have yet to see another house
> even remotely like ours, for instance, eat here, play here, read here,
sleep
> here, we do all of it everywhere :)
> Indiana Tami
>
> "You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
> ~Ghandi
>
> Try out this fun site!
> http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=angel1bunny
>
>
>
>
> >From: Bonni Sollars <BSOLLARS@...>
> >Reply-To: [email protected]
> >To: [email protected]
> >Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Is this unschooling?
> >Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 12:16:10 -0400
> >
> >If I had shelves in my livingroom with all sorts of books and games about
> >various subjects displayed in children's reach, would it still be called
> >unschooling?
> >Bonni
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
>
>
>
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Sharon Rudd
I've seen quite a few homes of similar usage. The
residents of these other multi-purpose, all purpose
indoor areas seemed to think I had an unusually
organized home. But only becuase I skim off the
laundry and compostable materials daily. One Old
Friend allowed her chickens in the main food area
(kitchen). She said they kept down the bugs. The
lines between indoors and outdoors where more blurred
at that home.....
Sharon
Do You Yahoo!?
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residents of these other multi-purpose, all purpose
indoor areas seemed to think I had an unusually
organized home. But only becuase I skim off the
laundry and compostable materials daily. One Old
Friend allowed her chickens in the main food area
(kitchen). She said they kept down the bugs. The
lines between indoors and outdoors where more blurred
at that home.....
Sharon
> << I have yet to see another house__________________________________________________
> even remotely like ours, for instance, eat here,
> play here, read here, sleep
> here, we do all of it everywhere :) >>
> Indiana Tami
>
> We can't name our rooms and make a name stick.
> Holly's in the third room
> now. "The living room" is now where we eat, but
> that can't be the dining
> room, because that name is stuck to where the other
> computer is...>
> Sandra
> "Everything counts."
>
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger
http://im.yahoo.com
scrunchy
I sure hope so. We have an assortment of books, toys and games
scattered all over this house at any given moment. They are within a
child's reach. Some aren't, but only because we need living and moving
space, otherwise known here as not too much clutter.
Norma
Bonni Sollars wrote:
[Click Here!]
scattered all over this house at any given moment. They are within a
child's reach. Some aren't, but only because we need living and moving
space, otherwise known here as not too much clutter.
Norma
Bonni Sollars wrote:
> If I had shelves in my livingroom with all sorts of books and gamesADVERTISEMENT
> about
> various subjects displayed in children's reach, would it still be
> called
> unschooling?
> Bonni
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
[Click Here!]
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 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.
Tami Labig-Duquette
Sandra,
Thats how it is here! My Mom says I need to keep a proper house :) proper to
whom? We do what we want, pretty much in whatever room we can :) right now
we have a serious paper mache' thing going on, and man we need room for
everything to dry :) Rain forest in middle room, with rain forest posters in
bathroom. PS kids LOVE our house :)
Indiana Tami
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
~Ghandi
Try out this fun site!
http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=angel1bunny
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
Thats how it is here! My Mom says I need to keep a proper house :) proper to
whom? We do what we want, pretty much in whatever room we can :) right now
we have a serious paper mache' thing going on, and man we need room for
everything to dry :) Rain forest in middle room, with rain forest posters in
bathroom. PS kids LOVE our house :)
Indiana Tami
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
~Ghandi
Try out this fun site!
http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=angel1bunny
>From: SandraDodd@..._________________________________________________________________
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Is this unschooling?
>Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 18:31:31 EDT
>
>
><< I have yet to see another house
>even remotely like ours, for instance, eat here, play here, read here,
>sleep
>here, we do all of it everywhere :) >>
>
>If you're passing through Albuquerque, come on over!
>
>We can't name our rooms and make a name stick. Holly's in the third room
>now. "The living room" is now where we eat, but that can't be the dining
>room, because that name is stuck to where the other computer is...
>
>
>Sandra
>
>"Everything counts."
>http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
>http://expage.com/SandraDodd
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
jefferson academy
>My dh wants to know why we have 'rooms'. He says we
> > I have yet to see another house
> > even remotely like ours, for instance, eat here,
> play here, read here,
> > sleep
> > here, we do all of it everywhere :)
> > Indiana Tami
> >
>
>
> Ours would come close. DH claims he wouldn't know
> how to eat dinner if he
> didn't have to move a book or some art supplies out
> of the way first! :)
might as well build a new house with just one big room!:)
=====
Michele
(mom of 5dd: Justice 22, Felicity 20, Christian 18, Grace 13, Elysian (Mia)2)
__________________________________________________
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Bonni Sollars
were there ever a neat freak in me, she died long ago
Bonni
Bonni
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/28/02 2:08:12 AM Central Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
<< "Hey, thanks for the writing box suggestion, but we don't
believe in forced learning. BTW, the kids don't use a curriculum, we do
what's called unschooling or child-led learning, we let them pick and choose
freely from all the world and this just doesn't fit our ideal. How about I
give you a book on unschooling? >>
I wouldn't.
I would however, give her some literature to read about homeschooling and
unschooling. But I wouldn't try to explain anything in detail.
The reason is that it probaby won't drastically change her mind, it may set
off warning bells for her that you're being neglectful in some way and cause
even more problems at this point.
She may come around. But some people never do get it. My Grandmother is one.
Every year I think she's secretly (and sometimes not so secretly) hoping my
kids will end up in school. I've explained to her that we believe by
homeschooling our children they can learn at their own pace, but a couple
days ago I get this handwritten letter listing all of MY responsiblities.
They are well off financially and she was offering to pay for a tutor to
"bring them up to grade level" by next fall. She feels that after listing all
my responsibilites, I just have too much to deal with.
Initially I was appalled. How does she know if they are at "grade level" or
not anyway?
But it is totally pointless to sit down and explain unschooling to her.
She will just get more worried and stressed out.
Often the best approach with these type of relatives is to be vague.
"Well, they're doing really well right now, they can always go to school if
this doesn't work out" or saying that you prefer to teach them with your own
curriculum (which is basically true) can be better than telling them you
don't do school.
It will freak her out and make your life harder possibly.
Be vague is my advice. Accept her gift of cards, it's not invasive....but
leave them sitting and let your kids decide if they'll ever touch them or not.
If they never look at the cards and she wonders about it, you can just say
that they're doing other projects they like better right now.
Ren
[email protected] writes:
<< "Hey, thanks for the writing box suggestion, but we don't
believe in forced learning. BTW, the kids don't use a curriculum, we do
what's called unschooling or child-led learning, we let them pick and choose
freely from all the world and this just doesn't fit our ideal. How about I
give you a book on unschooling? >>
I wouldn't.
I would however, give her some literature to read about homeschooling and
unschooling. But I wouldn't try to explain anything in detail.
The reason is that it probaby won't drastically change her mind, it may set
off warning bells for her that you're being neglectful in some way and cause
even more problems at this point.
She may come around. But some people never do get it. My Grandmother is one.
Every year I think she's secretly (and sometimes not so secretly) hoping my
kids will end up in school. I've explained to her that we believe by
homeschooling our children they can learn at their own pace, but a couple
days ago I get this handwritten letter listing all of MY responsiblities.
They are well off financially and she was offering to pay for a tutor to
"bring them up to grade level" by next fall. She feels that after listing all
my responsibilites, I just have too much to deal with.
Initially I was appalled. How does she know if they are at "grade level" or
not anyway?
But it is totally pointless to sit down and explain unschooling to her.
She will just get more worried and stressed out.
Often the best approach with these type of relatives is to be vague.
"Well, they're doing really well right now, they can always go to school if
this doesn't work out" or saying that you prefer to teach them with your own
curriculum (which is basically true) can be better than telling them you
don't do school.
It will freak her out and make your life harder possibly.
Be vague is my advice. Accept her gift of cards, it's not invasive....but
leave them sitting and let your kids decide if they'll ever touch them or not.
If they never look at the cards and she wonders about it, you can just say
that they're doing other projects they like better right now.
Ren
michelle_3kds
I totally agree with you Ren, being vague with my Mom (and others)
works best for us. This is the conclusion I've come to after years
of trying to explain and get my family to read more about it... it
helps that we've moved over a couple thousand miles away though <G>
My stand-by response to most people is something like: "Oh the
internet has such a ton of information on homeschooling now, and you
can buy any number of curriculums (I neglect to say we haven't
purchased one), there are books that tell you what your kids need to
know at each grade level (I leave out the fact that I don't use them
for that purpose), and I mostly put it together myself (stretching it
there, the kids really are the ones that do that!).
"Bring them up to grade level".... yikes, that would get my dander
up... I forget what grade they're supposed to be in!
Michelle H
works best for us. This is the conclusion I've come to after years
of trying to explain and get my family to read more about it... it
helps that we've moved over a couple thousand miles away though <G>
My stand-by response to most people is something like: "Oh the
internet has such a ton of information on homeschooling now, and you
can buy any number of curriculums (I neglect to say we haven't
purchased one), there are books that tell you what your kids need to
know at each grade level (I leave out the fact that I don't use them
for that purpose), and I mostly put it together myself (stretching it
there, the kids really are the ones that do that!).
"Bring them up to grade level".... yikes, that would get my dander
up... I forget what grade they're supposed to be in!
Michelle H
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., starsuncloud@c... wrote:
> In a message dated 5/28/02 2:08:12 AM Central Daylight Time,
> Unschooling-dotcom@y... writes:
>
> She may come around. But some people never do get it. My
Grandmother is one.
> Every year I think she's secretly (and sometimes not so secretly)
hoping my
> kids will end up in school. I've explained to her that we believe
by
> homeschooling our children they can learn at their own pace, but a
couple
> days ago I get this handwritten letter listing all of MY
responsiblities.
> They are well off financially and she was offering to pay for a
tutor to
> "bring them up to grade level" by next fall. She feels that after
listing all
> my responsibilites, I just have too much to deal with.
> Initially I was appalled. How does she know if they are at "grade
level" or
> not anyway?
> But it is totally pointless to sit down and explain unschooling to
her.
> She will just get more worried and stressed out.
> Often the best approach with these type of relatives is to be vague.
> Ren
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/28/02 10:49:42 AM Central Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
<< I forget what grade they're supposed to be in! >>
Same here!! 12 y.o. ds and I sat down and figured it out the other day
because we couldn't remember. We had to go forward from the one year he spent
in Kindergarten because I honestly couldn't tell him, and he wanted to know.
Ren
[email protected] writes:
<< I forget what grade they're supposed to be in! >>
Same here!! 12 y.o. ds and I sat down and figured it out the other day
because we couldn't remember. We had to go forward from the one year he spent
in Kindergarten because I honestly couldn't tell him, and he wanted to know.
Ren