New to the list
[email protected]
Hi everyone,
I am new to the list so I'll introduce myself some. I live in Southern
California, the desert portion and oh is it ever hot today! I am 31 yrs old,
mom of three kids ages 6, almost 9 and a 10 yr old. I'm seriously looking to
home school the 8 yr old who is behind in school and can't seem to catch up.
He is a visual learner which isn't always the way teachers teach in schools.
The year has just begun and already I'm at wits end. I talked to his teacher
last week and voiced my concerns and her comments were "Well, he isn't the
lowest in the class and you can always retain him next year." Sheesh, that
didn't fill me with a lot of hope. The school has decided he compensates so
qualifies for no extra help though he is 2 grade levels behind. I guess you
have to be 3 or 4 grade levels behind to get help around there which just
does not make sense to me. So last week I started making calls for
information on homeschooling. Our little ol' district has no Independent
Study Program unless the kdis are sick and that only lasts for 6 weeks max so
I have to declare my home as a private school. I am waiting for the R4 to be
mailed and that's where I am now. My other two kids are doing good in school
so I will leave them there for this year but my daughter has told me that
she'd like to be homeschooled next year.
Already I have some people telling me how they'll miss out on the social
aspect of school and how tough it will be for me to do this. I doubt my son
will miss much socially since he plays sports thru the city programs and goes
to the recreation center too. That hardly worries me. I'm not worried about
"teaching" them because once I sat down to think about lessons I realized
that there are a lot of lessons just waiting to be taught right here around
the house. He'll have opportunities right here that the school could never
provide. So I am optimistic. I'm going to hang around here for bit, if you
all don't mind, and learn from you too.
My dad always hollered after me every morning on my way out to school,
"Learn things!" It became a joke and I'd tell him the same thing when he
went to school for work. Now it has become a motto of sorts... we never stop
learning. I enjoy learning and want my son to enjoy it too, not dread it.
Well that was a little longer than I expected it to be. :-) I look
forward to getting know everyone.
Smiles,
Chelle
I am new to the list so I'll introduce myself some. I live in Southern
California, the desert portion and oh is it ever hot today! I am 31 yrs old,
mom of three kids ages 6, almost 9 and a 10 yr old. I'm seriously looking to
home school the 8 yr old who is behind in school and can't seem to catch up.
He is a visual learner which isn't always the way teachers teach in schools.
The year has just begun and already I'm at wits end. I talked to his teacher
last week and voiced my concerns and her comments were "Well, he isn't the
lowest in the class and you can always retain him next year." Sheesh, that
didn't fill me with a lot of hope. The school has decided he compensates so
qualifies for no extra help though he is 2 grade levels behind. I guess you
have to be 3 or 4 grade levels behind to get help around there which just
does not make sense to me. So last week I started making calls for
information on homeschooling. Our little ol' district has no Independent
Study Program unless the kdis are sick and that only lasts for 6 weeks max so
I have to declare my home as a private school. I am waiting for the R4 to be
mailed and that's where I am now. My other two kids are doing good in school
so I will leave them there for this year but my daughter has told me that
she'd like to be homeschooled next year.
Already I have some people telling me how they'll miss out on the social
aspect of school and how tough it will be for me to do this. I doubt my son
will miss much socially since he plays sports thru the city programs and goes
to the recreation center too. That hardly worries me. I'm not worried about
"teaching" them because once I sat down to think about lessons I realized
that there are a lot of lessons just waiting to be taught right here around
the house. He'll have opportunities right here that the school could never
provide. So I am optimistic. I'm going to hang around here for bit, if you
all don't mind, and learn from you too.
My dad always hollered after me every morning on my way out to school,
"Learn things!" It became a joke and I'd tell him the same thing when he
went to school for work. Now it has become a motto of sorts... we never stop
learning. I enjoy learning and want my son to enjoy it too, not dread it.
Well that was a little longer than I expected it to be. :-) I look
forward to getting know everyone.
Smiles,
Chelle
Diana Asberry
Welcome Chelle!
Sound like you're on the right track!!! btw: I like your "motto"
Diana A.
"the world is our classroom"
----Original Message Follows----
He'll have opportunities right here that the school could never
provide. So I am optimistic. I'm going to hang around here for bit, if you
all don't mind, and learn from you too.
My dad always hollered after me every morning on my way out to school,
"Learn things!" It became a joke and I'd tell him the same thing when he
went to school for work. Now it has become a motto of sorts... we never
stop
learning. Chelle
Sound like you're on the right track!!! btw: I like your "motto"
Diana A.
"the world is our classroom"
----Original Message Follows----
He'll have opportunities right here that the school could never
provide. So I am optimistic. I'm going to hang around here for bit, if you
all don't mind, and learn from you too.
My dad always hollered after me every morning on my way out to school,
"Learn things!" It became a joke and I'd tell him the same thing when he
went to school for work. Now it has become a motto of sorts... we never
stop
learning. Chelle
David Albert
> I'm seriously looking toHe is behind in school. Maybe, just maybe, the school is not "ahead" of
> home school the 8 yr old who is behind in school and can't seem to
> catch up.
> He is a visual learner which isn't always the way teachers teach in
> schools.
> The year has just begun and already I'm at wits end.
him, but simply on a different track altogether! Remember (as I think
you already know), this "behind/ahead" stuff is artificially created to
begin with; it has absolutely nothing to do with who your son, and your
family, really are!
> I talked to his teacherSo what else is new? (sorry, but comes from the recognition that so
> last week and voiced my concerns and her comments were "Well, he isn't
> the
> lowest in the class and you can always retain him next year." Sheesh,
> that
> didn't fill me with a lot of hope. The school has decided he
> compensates so
> qualifies for no extra help though he is 2 grade levels behind. I
> guess you
> have to be 3 or 4 grade levels behind to get help around there which
> just
> does not make sense to me.
many of us have had that the school is not -- and doesn't envision
itself as -- a helping organization. And there are so many teachers who
go into the system thinking they are there to help and just get ground
up...)
> So last week I started making calls forBeware! Those who do "well" in school are those most likely to become
> information on homeschooling. Our little ol' district has no
> Independent
> Study Program unless the kdis are sick and that only lasts for 6 weeks
> max so
> I have to declare my home as a private school. I am waiting for the
> R4 to be
> mailed and that's where I am now. My other two kids are doing good in
> school
> so I will leave them there for this year but my daughter has told me
> that
> she'd like to be homeschooled next year.
learning dependent -- in my experience, it is the so-called "good
student" who gets damaged most (and don't realize it until it is too
late.)
> Already I have some people telling me how they'll miss out on theYES!
> social
> aspect of school and how tough it will be for me to do this. I doubt
> my son
> will miss much socially since he plays sports thru the city programs
> and goes
> to the recreation center too. That hardly worries me. I'm not
> worried about
> "teaching" them because once I sat down to think about lessons I
> realized
> that there are a lot of lessons just waiting to be taught right here
> around
> the house. He'll have opportunities right here that the school could
> never
> provide.
> My dad always hollered after me every morning on my way out toBless you on your new adventure together! and let us know how we can
> school,
> "Learn things!" It became a joke and I'd tell him the same thing when
> he
> went to school for work. Now it has become a motto of sorts... we
> never stop
> learning. I enjoy learning and want my son to enjoy it too, not dread
> it.
> Well that was a little longer than I expected it to be. :-) I
> look
> forward to getting know everyone.
help!
David
-
My book "And the Skylark Sings with Me: Adventures in Homeschooling and
Community-Based Education" will be off the press around September 20.
To read a sample chapter, reviewers' comments, or the foreword, visit my
website at http://www.skylarksings.com
[email protected]
Chelle,
Welcome to the list and to homeschooling. I live in South Fla. &
I have two boys, 8 1/2 and 10 1/2. You are looking at lots of fun! Enjoy.
Teresa
Welcome to the list and to homeschooling. I live in South Fla. &
I have two boys, 8 1/2 and 10 1/2. You are looking at lots of fun! Enjoy.
Teresa
Kalman Szalay
Hi everybody, I am new to the list we just started home schooling (unschooling) our two boys. We are right now going through the stage called de-schooling. I would like to know from experiences how long could it last till the natural curiosity is awakened again?
thank you advance.
Timea
Mom of 3 boys: Daniel (8), Christian (8), Thomas (2).
There is only one beautiful child on the world and every mother has it.
--Stephen Leacock (I've got three)
kszalay@...
http://www.angelfire.com/ks/kszalay/index.html (still under construction)
thank you advance.
Timea
Mom of 3 boys: Daniel (8), Christian (8), Thomas (2).
There is only one beautiful child on the world and every mother has it.
--Stephen Leacock (I've got three)
kszalay@...
http://www.angelfire.com/ks/kszalay/index.html (still under construction)
Jeff & Diane Gwirtz
> Hi everybody, I am new to the list we just started home schooling =Hi Timea,
> (unschooling) our two boys. We are right now going through the stage =
> called de-schooling. I would like to know from experiences how long =
> could it last till the natural curiosity is awakened again?
> thank you advance.
>
I bet it's not going to take your kids too long to deschool. They're
young and haven't been in ps very long. The figure I hear the most
often is 1 month for every year in school. Of course, even after
deschooling, there are always periods where it looks like nothing is
happening. In reality, information that has been learned is usually
being processed. My son (now 13) has been out since he was 10 and
I'd say the 1 month for every year was about right. I often had to
reassure him during those times that this would work. Good luck!
Diane from KS
jagwirtz@...
The O'Donnells
At 01:07 AM 9/16/99 -0400, you wrote:
year it took until March for me to see the very first thing she actually
did on
her own because she wanted to. Now it is September and just in the last
couple
of weeks has she actually picked up a book to read for the enjoyment of
reading! Hang in there, be patient and do your best to relax. It takes a
while, some say 1 year for every year of ps. I'm counting on that being much
much less - well I can hope anyway!
In His Service,
Laraine
praxis@...
>Well last year was our first year hsing after ps. My dd is 10 now and last
> Hi everybody, I am new to the list we just started home schooling
> (unschooling) our two boys. We are right now going through the stage called
> de-schooling. I would like to know from experiences how long could it last
> till the natural curiosity is awakened again?
> thank you advance.
> Timea
> �
year it took until March for me to see the very first thing she actually
did on
her own because she wanted to. Now it is September and just in the last
couple
of weeks has she actually picked up a book to read for the enjoyment of
reading! Hang in there, be patient and do your best to relax. It takes a
while, some say 1 year for every year of ps. I'm counting on that being much
much less - well I can hope anyway!
In His Service,
Laraine
praxis@...
Diana Asberry
Welcome Timea!
don't know about deschooling--mine never have gone to ps
But I like your quote...hmmm; I thought i had two!!
Diana A.
"the world is our classroom"
----Original Message Follows----
Timea
Mom of 3 boys: Daniel (8), Christian (8), Thomas (2).
There is only one beautiful child on the world and every mother has it.
--Stephen Leacock (I've got three)
don't know about deschooling--mine never have gone to ps
But I like your quote...hmmm; I thought i had two!!
Diana A.
"the world is our classroom"
----Original Message Follows----
Timea
Mom of 3 boys: Daniel (8), Christian (8), Thomas (2).
There is only one beautiful child on the world and every mother has it.
--Stephen Leacock (I've got three)
Jeff & Diane Gwirtz
> Hi everyone, I am new to this list.I think deschooling from structured homeschooling is very similar to
> I am wondering how long it takes to deschool after two years of
> **HOMESCHOOLING** We have just begun to unschool as we have experienced
> bunout (both 6yrg and Mum)
>
deschooling from ps. It depends on how rigid the structure has been.
I bet your 6 year old will be excited about learning again in no time.
Diane from KS
jagwirtz@...
madklausen
Jeff & Diane Gwirtz wrote:
I am wondering how long it takes to deschool after two years of
**HOMESCHOOLING** We have just begun to unschool as we have experienced
bunout (both 6yrg and Mum)
Can anyone answer my question???? We are very concerned!!
From Michele in NewZealand :-)
>Hi everyone, I am new to this list.
> From: "Jeff & Diane Gwirtz" <jagwirtz@...>
>
> > Hi everybody, I am new to the list we just started home schooling =
> > (unschooling) our two boys. We are right now going through the stage =
> > called de-schooling. I would like to know from experiences how long =
> > could it last till the natural curiosity is awakened again?
> > thank you advance.
> >
> Hi Timea,
>
> I bet it's not going to take your kids too long to deschool. They're
> young and haven't been in ps very long. The figure I hear the most
> often is 1 month for every year in school. Of course, even after
> deschooling, there are always periods where it looks like nothing is
> happening. In reality, information that has been learned is usually
> being processed. My son (now 13) has been out since he was 10 and
> I'd say the 1 month for every year was about right. I often had to
> reassure him during those times that this would work. Good luck!
>
> Diane from KS
> jagwirtz@...
>
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> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Check it out!
> http://www.unschooling.com
I am wondering how long it takes to deschool after two years of
**HOMESCHOOLING** We have just begun to unschool as we have experienced
bunout (both 6yrg and Mum)
Can anyone answer my question???? We are very concerned!!
From Michele in NewZealand :-)
Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall
>Timea boys: Daniel (8), Christian (8), Thomas (2).How funny! I have a two year old named Thomas as well!
Nanci K. in Idaho
Beth Burnham
Hi I am happy to be part of such an active list. I am actually an unschooler
wannabe and a former first grade ps teacher. I actually think I was an
unschooler as a ps teacher as I always threw away the lesson plans and let
the kids guide the day based on their interests. I am not worried about
doing that part of the unschooling with my own children who are now 7 my son
Kyle and soon to be 8 daughter Melissa. I gave my kids the choice as we live
in rural America to go to ps school and after carefully observing my
limited choices I chose a few good teachers and still have had many bad
days where I write long letters to the principle and superintendent and then
scrap them after I have written them as I realize I really don't want to
change the system (I want to just be a homeschooler and be with my kids). I
did need the time away from my kids for personal time as their birth
experiences were so traumatic and their early years were hard for a variety
of reasons can barely speak about it suffice it to say that they are both
lucky to be alive and my first pregnancy was identical twins and my first
born died at birth, so I decided from that experience that staying home and
raising my babies was the most important thing I could do and had no desire
to return to teaching. I live in New Hampshire whose motto"live free or die"
applies to everyone (it seems) but homeschoolers although it is much more
common here.
parents do have to write a yearly curriculum and have it approved by the
Superintendent. If anyone else here is from NH please let me know I am
interested in how you did it. Because these authority figures represent my
boss and all the narrow minded politicians in the world I am scared to death
of the homeschooling process as well as taking the kids out of school. I
know I can do this (I am and was a teacher) but I don't want to be a slave
or live in fear that they will give me a hard time taking the kids out of
school next year. Lately, I have entertained the idea of just lying and
saying we are moving but it is too small a town. I read some posts of
someone who wants to move back to City life ( I can relate) and I've also
been the mom who went to the library story times in more than one town. Of
course I hated some of them but now and then the librarian would take off
her shoes put on her guitar and we'd all go outside and sing. The other town
library was so laid back they would also have an art activity and a snack
time and all the moms hung out. I didn't go too much just when I needed a
break from out tiny apt. now we also live in a bigger space and none of the
neighbors here home school. I realize being a teacher is politically correct
for doing it (it is just I am so against those curricula I'd have to create
which I'd be so good at if I didn't feel so afraid.) I think my biggest fear
is that my kids will hate being home with me and beg me to send them back to
school! It hasn't happened to me over the summer or when they are on
vacation
or when they are home sick. Anyway, I know I am rambling but did want to let
you all know my fears and that I am also happy to be here seeing how you all
are doing it and enjoying reading your topics and honesty about the
prejudice you encounter.And what to say on the playground I really got a
kick out of the one about taking a recess it is so true all kids need a good
long recess outside at a playground! Even though moving near a city is
tempting I think the prejudice is even greater there as people near cities
tend to think their ps district is the best and up here no one blames you!
I'd sure love to hear from anyone who has taken their kids out of school and
how hard it was and any thing you'd like to share and if they have more than
one child how they can afford to have the adventures and stuff that keep
life from getting too boring. My dream is to take a cross country trip with
the kids and study nature and different coastal environments travel the
entire Atlantic seaboard and end up in the Florida Keys . I think I'd have
to sell my house first and am not quite ready to do that yet. I was lucky
enough to go to a High school that did have a program like that. I learned
to ski and camp (things my parents never did). I know my good educational
experiences can help my hs experience with my kids and I know I will also
relax once I have taken the plunge and this getting ready to do it is the
hardest part of all. I am meeting a hs mom up here whose son is my
daughter's age and never been to ps school. I imagine it is easier if you've
never gone but I may be wrong!
Beth
wannabe and a former first grade ps teacher. I actually think I was an
unschooler as a ps teacher as I always threw away the lesson plans and let
the kids guide the day based on their interests. I am not worried about
doing that part of the unschooling with my own children who are now 7 my son
Kyle and soon to be 8 daughter Melissa. I gave my kids the choice as we live
in rural America to go to ps school and after carefully observing my
limited choices I chose a few good teachers and still have had many bad
days where I write long letters to the principle and superintendent and then
scrap them after I have written them as I realize I really don't want to
change the system (I want to just be a homeschooler and be with my kids). I
did need the time away from my kids for personal time as their birth
experiences were so traumatic and their early years were hard for a variety
of reasons can barely speak about it suffice it to say that they are both
lucky to be alive and my first pregnancy was identical twins and my first
born died at birth, so I decided from that experience that staying home and
raising my babies was the most important thing I could do and had no desire
to return to teaching. I live in New Hampshire whose motto"live free or die"
applies to everyone (it seems) but homeschoolers although it is much more
common here.
parents do have to write a yearly curriculum and have it approved by the
Superintendent. If anyone else here is from NH please let me know I am
interested in how you did it. Because these authority figures represent my
boss and all the narrow minded politicians in the world I am scared to death
of the homeschooling process as well as taking the kids out of school. I
know I can do this (I am and was a teacher) but I don't want to be a slave
or live in fear that they will give me a hard time taking the kids out of
school next year. Lately, I have entertained the idea of just lying and
saying we are moving but it is too small a town. I read some posts of
someone who wants to move back to City life ( I can relate) and I've also
been the mom who went to the library story times in more than one town. Of
course I hated some of them but now and then the librarian would take off
her shoes put on her guitar and we'd all go outside and sing. The other town
library was so laid back they would also have an art activity and a snack
time and all the moms hung out. I didn't go too much just when I needed a
break from out tiny apt. now we also live in a bigger space and none of the
neighbors here home school. I realize being a teacher is politically correct
for doing it (it is just I am so against those curricula I'd have to create
which I'd be so good at if I didn't feel so afraid.) I think my biggest fear
is that my kids will hate being home with me and beg me to send them back to
school! It hasn't happened to me over the summer or when they are on
vacation
or when they are home sick. Anyway, I know I am rambling but did want to let
you all know my fears and that I am also happy to be here seeing how you all
are doing it and enjoying reading your topics and honesty about the
prejudice you encounter.And what to say on the playground I really got a
kick out of the one about taking a recess it is so true all kids need a good
long recess outside at a playground! Even though moving near a city is
tempting I think the prejudice is even greater there as people near cities
tend to think their ps district is the best and up here no one blames you!
I'd sure love to hear from anyone who has taken their kids out of school and
how hard it was and any thing you'd like to share and if they have more than
one child how they can afford to have the adventures and stuff that keep
life from getting too boring. My dream is to take a cross country trip with
the kids and study nature and different coastal environments travel the
entire Atlantic seaboard and end up in the Florida Keys . I think I'd have
to sell my house first and am not quite ready to do that yet. I was lucky
enough to go to a High school that did have a program like that. I learned
to ski and camp (things my parents never did). I know my good educational
experiences can help my hs experience with my kids and I know I will also
relax once I have taken the plunge and this getting ready to do it is the
hardest part of all. I am meeting a hs mom up here whose son is my
daughter's age and never been to ps school. I imagine it is easier if you've
never gone but I may be wrong!
Beth
Have a Nice Day
Hi,
I'm not totally new, I was on this list before, but after a
year of homeschooling, I'm taking a nother look at unschooling.
I'm just wondering, have you ever known anyone whom
unschooling did not work for?? Are there any tales of tradgedy? I'm
sure there are tales like that no matter what educational method you choose, I'm
just wondering how one prevents such a tragedy with unschooling.
Thanks for enlightening me.
Kristen
Brown
Hi Kristen
You will always hear stories about unschooling not working. I have one that I know from personal experience, where the 3 kids have turned out variously illiterate, totally lacking in self esteem, a bully and a thief. Their mother was into John Holt and unschooling from the time the eldest was a baby.
But you see it's all a matter of definition, and IMO she didn't understand what unschooling was all about. For example, when her daughter wanted to attend a gym class instead of just the play-around-with-the-equipment session, because she wanted to learn how to do things properly, she was told no. When one wanted to learn to read it was told no. And so on. This woman thought unschooling was taking your kids to lots of places, having lots of toys, books, etc - offering an enriched environment - but NEVER teaching them anything, because teaching is the root of all evil. And to her, responding to a child asking 'what does this word say?', was teaching, so she wouldn't do it. IMO this was neglect, not unschooling.
In my experience, some kids thrive on structure - I have one like that. I am trying to help him find his own ways of structuring his life. He loves workbooks - discovered them through another homeschooler and begged for them for his birthday! He likes to have a schedule printed up of all our commitments, so he can work out times to do his maths, music practise etc. My husband taught him to use MS Projects or some such thing so he could timetable his day! But this isn't forcing anything on him, it's enabling him to live how he likes, within a disorganised family <g> Others thrive on serendipity, and going with the flow.
On a more subtle level, and this is the level I'm still at :-( if you don't believe in unschooling in your gut and in your head and in your whole being you will run into some problems. The kids will sense that you don't totally trust them, that you have things you believe are more important than what they want to do, that you have expectations.
The more you can trust them, the more successful unschooling will be. If you can't trust totally, then I think that the next best thing is to be honest with your kids about what is happening - at the same time as striving towards fixing up your own head! That's where I'm at: I keep trying, but I'm open with the kids about why I appear contradictory - it's because of my past, not because of their present and future.
Unschooling is to do with the environment the kids live in. You can't unschool successfully as a method. You need to provide an environment rich in opportunity, experiences and, most essentially, trust.
Carol
in New Zealand
I'm just wondering, have you ever known anyone whom unschooling did not work for?? Are there any tales of tradgedy? I'm sure there are tales like that no matter what educational method you choose, I'm just wondering how one prevents such a tragedy with unschooling.
Brown
Hi Kim
the older they get! I'm sad to say that few people learn from being told, and you
really, eventually, have to allow them to suffer their own stomach ache - and in
fact, let them suffer several or even lots of stomach aches before they learn.
And you know, in my own life, I sometimes value something so much, I decide that
it is worth the (perhaps metaphorical) stomach ache!
Carol
> I admit to someYes, it is a tough call, Kim. And I'm sorry to tell you this, but it gets harder
> guilt in this - it's okay if I choose to have more cookies than are good for
> me with my morning coffee, but I don't let the kids make the same choice. I
> guess we have some responsibility to shelter them by guiding their choices.
> I KNOW how many cookies it takes to give me a stomachache ( a LOT! LOL) but
> the kids don't. Where do we draw the line between completely trusting them
> and protecting them because we're the parents? It's a tough call.
the older they get! I'm sad to say that few people learn from being told, and you
really, eventually, have to allow them to suffer their own stomach ache - and in
fact, let them suffer several or even lots of stomach aches before they learn.
And you know, in my own life, I sometimes value something so much, I decide that
it is worth the (perhaps metaphorical) stomach ache!
Carol
Brown
Hi there Brooke
Carol
libbygirl wrote:
Carol
libbygirl wrote:
> Hi Carol,
> ROFLMAO!! Just read your post about unschooling vs neglect and thought how
> concise and articulate you were then realised I "know" you - Same Carol as I
> admire on the RUA list!!!
>
> Still chuckling
> Brooke
> Regards,
> Brooke
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Colette
Hello,
I am brand new to
this list and am already enjoying the support that is shown for list
members! That is very heart-warming. My name is Colette, I live in
Washington state and have one child. Travis who is 10. I began
schooling him at home about 2 years ago when he was having troubles with his
teacher in public school. We took the relaxed appraoch to
home-schooling then and I have just learned about Un-schooling and come to find
out, that is exactly what I've been doing without knowing it! Anyway, just
wanted to say "Hi" and that I am looking forward to being a part of this list
and hope to make some new friends as well.
Blessings,
Colette
Tracy Oldfield
Hi, Colette, welcome to this very supportive group! Hope you like it,
and we don't stray too far 'off-topic' for you (is there a smiley for
'tongue in cheek'?)
I'm Tracy, I live in Yorkshire, England with my 2 daughters,
unschoolers from birth, *smile*
Glad to have you on board!
Tracy
and we don't stray too far 'off-topic' for you (is there a smiley for
'tongue in cheek'?)
I'm Tracy, I live in Yorkshire, England with my 2 daughters,
unschoolers from birth, *smile*
Glad to have you on board!
Tracy
On 28 Jul 2000, at 17:07, Colette wrote:
> Hello,
> I am brand new to this list and am already enjoying the support
> that is shown for list members! That is very heart-warming. My
> name is Colette, I live in Washington state and have one child.
> Travis who is 10. I began schooling him at home about 2 years
> ago when he was having troubles with his teacher in public
> school. We took the relaxed appraoch to home-schooling then and
> I have just learned about Un-schooling and come to find out, that
> is exactly what I've been doing without knowing it! Anyway, just
> wanted to say "Hi" and that I am looking forward to being a part
> of this list and hope to make some new friends as well.
>
> Blessings,
> Colette
>
Tami Labig-Duquette
Hi Emily :) Welcome to the list. Hope you enjoy your stay :)
Indiana Tami
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
~Ghandi
Networking for Central Indiana unschoolers :)
http://communities.msn.com/ChildLedLearninginIndiana
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
Indiana Tami
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
~Ghandi
Networking for Central Indiana unschoolers :)
http://communities.msn.com/ChildLedLearninginIndiana
Try out this fun site!
http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=angel1bunny
>From: e.a.hupe@..._________________________________________________________________
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] New to the list
>Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2001 01:10:31 -0000
>
>Hello: I am a new mmember of the list, and 3 years "new" to teaching
>at home. I am in a total state of nerves! My heart tells me what I am
>doing is right yet so many people seem to tell me what I am doing
>will not work. I have 5 children 8,6,4,2,1. Ever since they were born
>I have let my heart lead the way. With breastfeeding, sleeping
>raising, everything. I knew our "school" would be like that as well.
>I am so glad to have found this place to share ideas and thoughts
>with like minded people. I love to watch the freedom of my children
>in play, not laboring over their workbooks, yet I feel somehow I am
>being negligent as a parent. Thank You for this place and your kind
>ears.
>Emily
>
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
rhonda_burkhardt <[email protected]>
Hi, my name is Rhonda. I very recently decided to unschool my 16
(almost 17) yr old son. Although I think this is a terrific concept,
I do wonder how he will do later in life when trying to get a job,
especially if he chooses not to pursue college (which I do not think
he plans to do at this point). My hope is that he will break out on
his own and start his own thing, but if he doesn't... Anyone have
adult children who were unschooled? Also, is there anyone in the
Dallas/Fort Worth area? Thanks.
(almost 17) yr old son. Although I think this is a terrific concept,
I do wonder how he will do later in life when trying to get a job,
especially if he chooses not to pursue college (which I do not think
he plans to do at this point). My hope is that he will break out on
his own and start his own thing, but if he doesn't... Anyone have
adult children who were unschooled? Also, is there anyone in the
Dallas/Fort Worth area? Thanks.
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/5/2003 11:10:41 AM Central Standard Time,
rhonda_b66@... writes:
We started homeschooling when my middle son was 11. We quickly grew into
unschooling. He deschooled for a couple of years, but he was never inactive.
He played a lot of video and computer games, learned some programming, built
stuff with Legos and Mindstorms, and enjoyed the internet. At 14 he learned
to drive and also took philosophy at the local vo-tech college. At 15 we
moved to a location where he could more easily get to work without a car, and
he began working. First in fast food restaurants, becoming a shift leader
and getting lots of hours, and then at 17 he went to work full-time at an
adult-type job, building electrical panels. While he was doing that, he got
a car and a part-time job in a retail clothing store.
Somewhere in there he moved in with his dad and went back to public school.
Sometimes it is hard to find other homeschooled teenagers who won't be more
worried about what church you attend than what kind of person you are. So,
he needed some friends and he got a lot of them. I posted on his experiences
there just yesterday, so I won't go into it. But he came home again for the
same reasons he left the first time. It's *school*. @@
Anyway, he quit his full-time job last August because he realized he was only
17 and working two jobs and he felt he was wasting his "childhood". Since
then he has pursued his dream of becoming a rock star, and actually is in a
band that has concerts and a website and recently recorded a demo. ( <A HREF="http://www.essex.cjb.net">
http://www.essex.cjb.net</A> That's him on the opening screen with the pink hair
and orange shirt.) He's 18, now.
Maybe this is not what I would have envisioned for him when he was 11. But
unschooling taught me to see that what I want for him is not important. I
shudder to think what things might have been like if he had been further
repressed in school like he was. I was taking him to therapy for depression
when he was SEVEN, for cryin-out-loud. Directly related to school.
Your son *will* break out on his own, but it is very likely it won't look
like anything you could have imagined. You will do much better just being in
the relationship with him, and knowing him and loving him as he changes, and
he knowing you and loving you as you change. Relationship is the thing many
people discount or leave out of unschooling when they describe it. But to
me, it's the one necessary element.
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
rhonda_b66@... writes:
> Hi, my name is Rhonda. I very recently decided to unschool my 16Hey, Rhonda. Welcome to the list.
> (almost 17) yr old son. Although I think this is a terrific concept,
> I do wonder how he will do later in life when trying to get a job,
> especially if he chooses not to pursue college (which I do not think
> he plans to do at this point). My hope is that he will break out on
> his own and start his own thing, but if he doesn't... Anyone have
> adult children who were unschooled?
>
We started homeschooling when my middle son was 11. We quickly grew into
unschooling. He deschooled for a couple of years, but he was never inactive.
He played a lot of video and computer games, learned some programming, built
stuff with Legos and Mindstorms, and enjoyed the internet. At 14 he learned
to drive and also took philosophy at the local vo-tech college. At 15 we
moved to a location where he could more easily get to work without a car, and
he began working. First in fast food restaurants, becoming a shift leader
and getting lots of hours, and then at 17 he went to work full-time at an
adult-type job, building electrical panels. While he was doing that, he got
a car and a part-time job in a retail clothing store.
Somewhere in there he moved in with his dad and went back to public school.
Sometimes it is hard to find other homeschooled teenagers who won't be more
worried about what church you attend than what kind of person you are. So,
he needed some friends and he got a lot of them. I posted on his experiences
there just yesterday, so I won't go into it. But he came home again for the
same reasons he left the first time. It's *school*. @@
Anyway, he quit his full-time job last August because he realized he was only
17 and working two jobs and he felt he was wasting his "childhood". Since
then he has pursued his dream of becoming a rock star, and actually is in a
band that has concerts and a website and recently recorded a demo. ( <A HREF="http://www.essex.cjb.net">
http://www.essex.cjb.net</A> That's him on the opening screen with the pink hair
and orange shirt.) He's 18, now.
Maybe this is not what I would have envisioned for him when he was 11. But
unschooling taught me to see that what I want for him is not important. I
shudder to think what things might have been like if he had been further
repressed in school like he was. I was taking him to therapy for depression
when he was SEVEN, for cryin-out-loud. Directly related to school.
Your son *will* break out on his own, but it is very likely it won't look
like anything you could have imagined. You will do much better just being in
the relationship with him, and knowing him and loving him as he changes, and
he knowing you and loving you as you change. Relationship is the thing many
people discount or leave out of unschooling when they describe it. But to
me, it's the one necessary element.
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tia Leschke
> Hi, my name is Rhonda. I very recently decided to unschool my 16I did the same at about the same age. This was in the late 60's and no one
> (almost 17) yr old son. Although I think this is a terrific concept,
> I do wonder how he will do later in life when trying to get a job,
> especially if he chooses not to pursue college (which I do not think
> he plans to do at this point). My hope is that he will break out on
> his own and start his own thing, but if he doesn't... Anyone have
> adult children who were unschooled?
had even heard of homeschooling, let alone unschooling, so it helped that I
did some college (starting with a community college) later, in terms of
getting jobs. Now most people have heard of homeschooling, so he could
probably put that on a job application.
Tia
Fetteroll
I'm looking for good examples of java menus. You know the kind where you
roll the mouse over a menu item and a submenu pops out or click on it and a
submenu drops down.
So far my searching has yielded hours of nothing. :-/ Can anyone direct me
to some sites that stick in your mind as having well functioning menus?
You can email the links to me at:
fetteroll@...
Thanks! I *really* appreciate any help I can get!
Joyce
roll the mouse over a menu item and a submenu pops out or click on it and a
submenu drops down.
So far my searching has yielded hours of nothing. :-/ Can anyone direct me
to some sites that stick in your mind as having well functioning menus?
You can email the links to me at:
fetteroll@...
Thanks! I *really* appreciate any help I can get!
Joyce
Helen Hegener
At 5:09 PM +0000 1/5/03, rhonda_burkhardt <rhonda_b66@...> wrote:
in the middle. None of them has ever been interested in playing the
college game - as our worldly-wise 22 yo daughter puts it: "Why
should I strap myself to tens of thousands of dollars in college
bills when I could be learning pretty much the same kinds of things
but letting someone else pay *me* for it?" <g>
Between them, the kids have done quite a few different kinds of jobs,
from waitressing at a ski resort to driving a tow truck in Alaska to
being an industrial electrician to being a foreman in charge of
constructing commercial steel-frame buildings. They've all learned
their skills on the job, getting paid as they went, and whenever one
has decided to try something new they've been enticed to stay on with
raises in pay and other perks and promised a job there again if they
ever want to return. Sometimes they've taken a drop in pay to follow
an interest, like our 26 yo son Jim, who decided he was tired of
being an electrician for high $$ and wanted to see some more of the
country... So he took a six-week course in truck driving (while
working as an electrician) and has been trucking all across the
western states since last September, driving an 18-wheeler and just
loving it! He'll have enough experience by next month to be able to
take his wife and two little girls with him - I can just hear the
excitement in their voices when we talk on the phone these days.
I think that's something unschooling does for kids - it allows them
to look at things a little differently and not be afraid to change
something that's not necessarily working for them. It was a serious
switch for Jim to leave his high-paying electrician's job, because
they'd just bought ten acres with a house and barn last summer. But
he'd always dreamed of driving big rigs, and his wife encouraged him
to follow his dream, taking a job to help make ends meet until Jim
got his first trucking checks.
Most of our kids have said they're just collecting skills, exploring
avenues, figuring some day they'll start their own businesses and run
things their own way. They see jobs as pretty much a means to an end,
paying the bills while learning things and meeting people, while
running one's own business (as they've always seen their parents do)
is the best way to really get ahead. But they're all aware that
running one's own business is a *major* commitment, so none of them
are ready to take that leap just yet. They're all still exploring the
options, checking out the territory, unschooling (unjobbing?)
themselves. (Is this the list we discussed the unjobbing book on a
couple of weeks ago, or was that our other unschooling list?)
In contrast, several of the kids our kids grew up with are taking the
college route, and our kids are appalled at the financial burdens
they're starting out with. When they come to visit it's usually a
primary topic of conversation: "Well, I'm almost through school and
now I need to find a good job to start paying off the debt..." One
girl says she's planning to just stay in college forever because she
doesn't think she could ever pay off the bills if she left. I'm not
sure how that works - you don't start paying 'til you get out? Some
of the kids' friends have received scholarships, but as one friend of
our daughter said recently - if I'd known how little that big
fancy-sounding scholarship would really cover I'd have run the other
direction!
And of course yours truly was unschooled, but that's a whole 'nother
story, which is probably somewhere in this list's archives anyway. <g>
Helen
> Anyone haveWe have five, now ages 17, 21, 22, 26, and 28; four boys and a girl
>adult children who were unschooled?
in the middle. None of them has ever been interested in playing the
college game - as our worldly-wise 22 yo daughter puts it: "Why
should I strap myself to tens of thousands of dollars in college
bills when I could be learning pretty much the same kinds of things
but letting someone else pay *me* for it?" <g>
Between them, the kids have done quite a few different kinds of jobs,
from waitressing at a ski resort to driving a tow truck in Alaska to
being an industrial electrician to being a foreman in charge of
constructing commercial steel-frame buildings. They've all learned
their skills on the job, getting paid as they went, and whenever one
has decided to try something new they've been enticed to stay on with
raises in pay and other perks and promised a job there again if they
ever want to return. Sometimes they've taken a drop in pay to follow
an interest, like our 26 yo son Jim, who decided he was tired of
being an electrician for high $$ and wanted to see some more of the
country... So he took a six-week course in truck driving (while
working as an electrician) and has been trucking all across the
western states since last September, driving an 18-wheeler and just
loving it! He'll have enough experience by next month to be able to
take his wife and two little girls with him - I can just hear the
excitement in their voices when we talk on the phone these days.
I think that's something unschooling does for kids - it allows them
to look at things a little differently and not be afraid to change
something that's not necessarily working for them. It was a serious
switch for Jim to leave his high-paying electrician's job, because
they'd just bought ten acres with a house and barn last summer. But
he'd always dreamed of driving big rigs, and his wife encouraged him
to follow his dream, taking a job to help make ends meet until Jim
got his first trucking checks.
Most of our kids have said they're just collecting skills, exploring
avenues, figuring some day they'll start their own businesses and run
things their own way. They see jobs as pretty much a means to an end,
paying the bills while learning things and meeting people, while
running one's own business (as they've always seen their parents do)
is the best way to really get ahead. But they're all aware that
running one's own business is a *major* commitment, so none of them
are ready to take that leap just yet. They're all still exploring the
options, checking out the territory, unschooling (unjobbing?)
themselves. (Is this the list we discussed the unjobbing book on a
couple of weeks ago, or was that our other unschooling list?)
In contrast, several of the kids our kids grew up with are taking the
college route, and our kids are appalled at the financial burdens
they're starting out with. When they come to visit it's usually a
primary topic of conversation: "Well, I'm almost through school and
now I need to find a good job to start paying off the debt..." One
girl says she's planning to just stay in college forever because she
doesn't think she could ever pay off the bills if she left. I'm not
sure how that works - you don't start paying 'til you get out? Some
of the kids' friends have received scholarships, but as one friend of
our daughter said recently - if I'd known how little that big
fancy-sounding scholarship would really cover I'd have run the other
direction!
And of course yours truly was unschooled, but that's a whole 'nother
story, which is probably somewhere in this list's archives anyway. <g>
Helen
Helen Hegener
At 12:42 PM -0500 1/5/03, tuckervill@... wrote:
school for a few weeks (senior year). Primarily for the socializing
(his girlfriend - now wife - was there). He aced everything and said
it was mostly silly game-playing, a big waste of time for anyone
really wanting to learn anything.
we have with our kids, and they all have with each other. They do
annoy each other from time to time - that's life - but the current
flowing under it all is a deep, abiding love for one another.
Helen
>Somewhere in there he moved in with his dad and went back to public school.Oh, yeah. I keep forgetting that our oldest also decided to try
>Sometimes it is hard to find other homeschooled teenagers who won't be more
>worried about what church you attend than what kind of person you are. So,
>he needed some friends and he got a lot of them. I posted on his experiences
>there just yesterday, so I won't go into it. But he came home again for the
>same reasons he left the first time. It's *school*. @@
school for a few weeks (senior year). Primarily for the socializing
(his girlfriend - now wife - was there). He aced everything and said
it was mostly silly game-playing, a big waste of time for anyone
really wanting to learn anything.
> That's him on the opening screen with the pink hairTook a peek - too cool, Tuck!
>and orange shirt.) He's 18, now.
> Relationship is the thing manyAbsolutely! My greatest treasure is the warm and loving relationship
>people discount or leave out of unschooling when they describe it. But to
>me, it's the one necessary element.
we have with our kids, and they all have with each other. They do
annoy each other from time to time - that's life - but the current
flowing under it all is a deep, abiding love for one another.
Helen
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/5/03 1:23:10 PM Pacific Standard Time,
HEM-Editor@... writes:
Heidi
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
HEM-Editor@... writes:
> We have five, now ages 17, 21, 22, 26, and 28; four boys and a girlWow thanks for sharing that story!
> in the middle. None of them has ever been interested in playing the
> college game - as our worldly-wise 22 yo daughter puts it: "Why
> should I strap myself to tens of thousands of dollars in college
> bills when I could be learning pretty much the same kinds of things
> but letting someone else pay *me* for it?" <g>
>
Heidi
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Jim Selvage
Helen,
"And of course yours truly was unschooled, but that's a whole 'nother
the archives?
thanks,
erin
"And of course yours truly was unschooled, but that's a whole 'nother
> story, which is probably somewhere in this list's archives anyway. <g>"I would like to read that, can you give me a hint at where it would be in
the archives?
thanks,
erin
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/5/03 2:02:52 PM Pacific Standard Time, jselvage@...
writes:
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
writes:
> I would like to read that, can you give me a hint at where it would be inMe too!!!
> the archives?
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Helen Hegener
At 5:25 PM -0500 1/6/03, hmsclmyboy@... wrote:
but forgot. I'll see what I can find...
Wow. It seems there are now over 50,000 posts to this list, and the
YahooGroups search function only lets you search a couple thousand of
them at a time. I clicked back through about 25,000 of the posts with
a couple of keywords I thought might work, but nothing came up. It's
after 3 am here and I need some sleep. Will try another route in the
morning - or just rewrite something when I can.
Helen
> > I would like to read that, can you give me a hint at where it would be inI meant to reply to this the other day (was that just yesterday?),
>> the archives?
>>
>
>Me too!!!
but forgot. I'll see what I can find...
Wow. It seems there are now over 50,000 posts to this list, and the
YahooGroups search function only lets you search a couple thousand of
them at a time. I clicked back through about 25,000 of the posts with
a couple of keywords I thought might work, but nothing came up. It's
after 3 am here and I need some sleep. Will try another route in the
morning - or just rewrite something when I can.
Helen
Gary & Lisa Williams
> > Don't yell at me, but probably our first year will be 20% teaching (fromMath,
> > Bible readers, and English text) and 80% unschooling.Hi!,
>
> I don't yell on-line. <g> But, you can't really do that, either.
> Unschooling is, well, unschooling. If you're using a curriculum for math,
> Bible and English, you're using an eclectic form of homeschooling. That's
> your choice, but you can't unschool without letting go. Really, truly,
> letting go.
I'm new to the list also. I have enjoyed reading your posts and am really
excited about all of you and your thoughts and unschooling. I feel like I
was a great unschooling mom until my daughter turned 4 and I had to put her
in a "really good" preschool so she could learn "real" stuff! Then after
she was mostly changed into a different person than I was and she was prior
to her "really good" schools, I took her out abruptly 4 weeks into 3rd
grade. Now 3 years later of home "schooling", neither one of us can stand
it. The first year we did school at home and the second year, I told her
mom had to do research and find a different way and I made announcements
every day to her that she was going to get soooo far behind her friends.
Now this year we are much more relaxed but still trying to follow a schedule
and (you will all love this), I tell her she can't read the books she's
dying to get into because we have to read the assigned books first!!
So now my soul, and I know her soul, is crying out to be different or free
or something!! So I'm going to keep reading unschooling stuff but I want to
know what do to with her. Do I say, "well, now you can the books you always
wanted to?" <g> Do I just stop the scope and sequence stuff? COLD TURKEY?!
I hope to join in your writings more often now and will be asking you more
questions!
Thanks, Lisa (mom to Megan (10) and Nathan (5, who is unschooled so far
because I am beginning to see the light!)