John & Melissa Morgan

Is this list *really* about unschooling? I am so confused! I came here trying to learn how to teach my 5 small children better, one with a disability, looking for encouragement.

All I have seen for days is a lot of childish bickering about Sandra and Helen or something. Who knows I have no clue who these people are. Whatever. But please can we get back to unschooling? I need HELP!

Thank you!
Melissa



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

rumpleteasermom

--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "John & Melissa Morgan"
<ourfivepack@h...> wrote:
> Is this list *really* about unschooling? I am so confused! I came
here trying to learn how to teach my 5 small children better, one
with a disability, looking for encouragement.
>
> All I have seen for days is a lot of childish bickering about
Sandra and Helen or something. Who knows I have no clue who these
people are. Whatever. But please can we get back to unschooling? I
need HELP!
>
> Thank you!
> Melissa
>
>

So, what do you need help with? How old are your kids? Mine are 16,
14 and almost 10. What kind of disability? Two of mine have
problems but I don't really consider either of them disabled. One,
the 16 yo, has depression problems - has been rolling out of bed at
3:00 lately (and not staying up all that late)- gotta check on her
meds again! The youngest has allergies and probably would be called
ADHD if he was at school but I know it is really allergy/sensitivity
stuff going on. He also has OCD tendencies but I'm not about to let
the medical establishment get hold of him yet - he is functional and
all he needs right now are reminders to curb the odder behaviours.
(One of which we call the scratch and sniff) Most of the time we let
it go but if it is starting to interfere with his life we remind him

We have been unschooling for almost 7 years now. (Okay honestly, I
don't consider my son unschooled, but the other two are.)
If you need reassurance, I'm the perfect example. I've had two major
illnesses since we started this venture and I've done nothing to
force knowledge into my kids. The girls know so much it scares me
sometimes! I have no idea where they learned some of it. So yes,
this can work.

So - Fire away with your questions and concerns.

Bridget

Fetteroll

on 12/6/01 3:59 PM, John & Melissa Morgan at ourfivepack@... wrote:

> Is this list *really* about unschooling? I am so confused! I came here trying
> to learn how to teach my 5 small children better, one with a disability,
> looking for encouragement.

The best way to get unschooling advice is to layout whatever current issue
has you stymied and wait for the discussion to start. :-) The bickering will
happen spontaneously but unschooling discussion waits for someone to bring
it up ;-)

Even at the best of times the list doesn't cover a broad range of topics.
The topics kind of bounce about, sort of like a game of hand ball ;-)

The message board at Unschooling.com are less frenetic. There's a folder
specifically for Unschooling and Special Needs.

Joyce


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

Diane

> Is this list *really* about unschooling? I am so confused! I came here trying to learn how to teach my 5 small children better, one with a disability, looking for encouragement.

Traditionally, this list has been about *everything* because everything in the world is the basis of unschooling.

> All I have seen for days is a lot of childish bickering about Sandra and Helen or something. Who knows I have no clue who these people are. Whatever. But please can we get back to unschooling? I need HELP!

Ask. There's probably someone here who's gone through whatever you're having right now. Many people don't speak up unless they have a question, or someone asks a question they can help with.

:-) Diane

groundhoggirl

If you need answers, ask questions.

Mimi


On Thursday, December 6, 2001, at 03:03 PM, rumpleteasermom wrote:

> --- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "John & Melissa Morgan"
> <ourfivepack@h...> wrote:
>> Is this list *really* about unschooling? I am so confused! I came
> here trying to learn how to teach my 5 small children better, one
> with a disability, looking for encouragement.
>>
>> All I have seen for days is a lot of childish bickering about
> Sandra and Helen or something. Who knows I have no clue who these
> people are. Whatever. But please can we get back to unschooling? I
> need HELP!
>>
>> Thank you!
>> Melissa
>>
>>
>
> So, what do you need help with? How old are your kids? Mine are 16,
> 14 and almost 10. What kind of disability? Two of mine have
> problems but I don't really consider either of them disabled. One,
> the 16 yo, has depression problems - has been rolling out of bed at
> 3:00 lately (and not staying up all that late)- gotta check on her
> meds again! The youngest has allergies and probably would be called
> ADHD if he was at school but I know it is really allergy/sensitivity
> stuff going on. He also has OCD tendencies but I'm not about to let
> the medical establishment get hold of him yet - he is functional and
> all he needs right now are reminders to curb the odder behaviours.
> (One of which we call the scratch and sniff) Most of the time we let
> it go but if it is starting to interfere with his life we remind him
>
> We have been unschooling for almost 7 years now. (Okay honestly, I
> don't consider my son unschooled, but the other two are.)
> If you need reassurance, I'm the perfect example. I've had two major
> illnesses since we started this venture and I've done nothing to
> force knowledge into my kids. The girls know so much it scares me
> sometimes! I have no idea where they learned some of it. So yes,
> this can work.
>
> So - Fire away with your questions and concerns.
>
> Bridget
>
>
>
>
>
> 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
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Tia Leschke

>
> All I have seen for days is a lot of childish bickering about Sandra
> and Helen or something. Who knows I have no clue who these people
> are. Whatever. But please can we get back to unschooling? I need HELP!

If you ask questions, you'll get answers. It might even take everyone's
mind off the ugliness. But it sure doesn't look like the ugliness is going
to stop. Your best bet is to ignore anything that isn't helpful to you.
Tia

Tia Leschke leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
********************************************************************************************
It is the answers which separate us, the questions which unite us. - Janice
Levy





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[email protected]

On Thu, 6 Dec 2001 15:59:18 -0500 "John & Melissa Morgan"
<ourfivepack@...> writes:
> Is this list *really* about unschooling? I am so confused! I came
> here trying to learn how to teach my 5 small children better, one
> with a disability, looking for encouragement.

This list is about life, and unschooling is life. Right now we're all
studying conflict resolution... ;-)

Teaching your children, however, is not necessarily unschooling... I
rarely do it

Dar


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groundhoggirl

Oh Dar. I wish I could say the same thing. But I've had to compromise
with my husband and, therefore, I "teach" them numbers and letters every
day for about 15 minutes. The boys and I hate it and I know in some way
it is hurting them, but at least my boys are not in school. My husband
has come a long way to the unschooling ways but he's still not all the
way there.

Mimi


On Thursday, December 6, 2001, at 07:06 PM, freeform@... wrote:

>
>
> On Thu, 6 Dec 2001 15:59:18 -0500 "John & Melissa Morgan"
> <ourfivepack@...> writes:
>> Is this list *really* about unschooling? I am so confused! I came
>> here trying to learn how to teach my 5 small children better, one
>> with a disability, looking for encouragement.
>
> This list is about life, and unschooling is life. Right now we're all
> studying conflict resolution... ;-)
>
> Teaching your children, however, is not necessarily unschooling... I
> rarely do it
>
> Dar
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
>
> 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
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Lynda

Mimi,

Do you actually have to sit down and "teach" them or could you use play as a
means of "teaching." Youngest learned the alphabet playing Wheel of Fortune
and using fridge magnets. She also had Hedgie alphabet sheet to color that
you can print out from the net.

There are lots of things they can play with that could be considered
educational and come under the heading of teaching without actually sitting
them down and forcing them to learn something.

I've always read to the kidlets, even when they were still nursing but when
they were older we would play a game that was similar to Where In The World
Is Carman whatshername and they would choose a word and see if they could
find it on each page. It wasn't something that was forced or taught but
rather just another game that was fun.

I paint and do pastels and they wanted to do the same so I had mini-easels
set up for them. They would want me to "help" or sometimes give them ideas
and I'd draw a letter of the alphabet and they would turn it into an animals
or plant or something that had that letter as the beginning of its name.

Or they would make draw a picture and I'd turn it into a dot to dot for
them. They loved having original works of art turned into things like that.

I have boxes full of this sort of thing and we go back in our year boxes and
they just about wet their pants looking at some of the alphanimals that they
invented. And, just incase you didn't know, "v" is for "vird" cause
vultures are too homely for the letter "v" <g>

These sorts of things might be fun for them and then at least they won't
hate the time they spend doing it.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: groundhoggirl <groundhoggirl@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 5:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] I am new and was just wondering


> Oh Dar. I wish I could say the same thing. But I've had to compromise
> with my husband and, therefore, I "teach" them numbers and letters every
> day for about 15 minutes. The boys and I hate it and I know in some way
> it is hurting them, but at least my boys are not in school. My husband
> has come a long way to the unschooling ways but he's still not all the
> way there.
>
> Mimi
>
>
> On Thursday, December 6, 2001, at 07:06 PM, freeform@... wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > On Thu, 6 Dec 2001 15:59:18 -0500 "John & Melissa Morgan"
> > <ourfivepack@...> writes:
> >> Is this list *really* about unschooling? I am so confused! I came
> >> here trying to learn how to teach my 5 small children better, one
> >> with a disability, looking for encouragement.
> >
> > This list is about life, and unschooling is life. Right now we're all
> > studying conflict resolution... ;-)
> >
> > Teaching your children, however, is not necessarily unschooling... I
> > rarely do it
> >
> > Dar
> >
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________
> > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
> >
> > 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
> > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
>
>
>
> 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 http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>

groundhoggirl

Hi Lynda,

Thanks for your input. Yes, we do lots of fun things where I know they
are learning about all sorts of things, including letters and numbers.
Both of my boys are continually asking questions and that's how they
seem to learn the most. They are very inquisitive.

We play games like Dominoes, Clue Jr., Scrabble Jr., My First Rummikub,
and other games like that. They enjoy it all. And, I know they are
learning from them. My husband, unfortunately, is still at the point
where he would like them to do some worksheets (ugh!!). So, we do
them. I don't know what else to say. I know this is an unschooling
group and I believe I know the unschooling philosophy inside out, but my
husband is part of this family too and I guess we are accommodating him.

I don't like confrontations or arguments.

Believe me, he has come a long way. I make the daily numbers and
letters routine as brief and painless as possible.

Mimi
(who's always trying to make everybody happy, including herself)

On Thursday, December 6, 2001, at 11:57 PM, Lynda wrote:

> Mimi,
>
> Do you actually have to sit down and "teach" them or could you use play
> as a
> means of "teaching." Youngest learned the alphabet playing Wheel of
> Fortune
> and using fridge magnets. She also had Hedgie alphabet sheet to color
> that
> you can print out from the net.
>
> There are lots of things they can play with that could be considered
> educational and come under the heading of teaching without actually
> sitting
> them down and forcing them to learn something.
>
> I've always read to the kidlets, even when they were still nursing but
> when
> they were older we would play a game that was similar to Where In The
> World
> Is Carman whatshername and they would choose a word and see if they
> could
> find it on each page. It wasn't something that was forced or taught but
> rather just another game that was fun.
>
> I paint and do pastels and they wanted to do the same so I had
> mini-easels
> set up for them. They would want me to "help" or sometimes give them
> ideas
> and I'd draw a letter of the alphabet and they would turn it into an
> animals
> or plant or something that had that letter as the beginning of its name.
>
> Or they would make draw a picture and I'd turn it into a dot to dot for
> them. They loved having original works of art turned into things like
> that.
>
> I have boxes full of this sort of thing and we go back in our year
> boxes and
> they just about wet their pants looking at some of the alphanimals that
> they
> invented. And, just incase you didn't know, "v" is for "vird" cause
> vultures are too homely for the letter "v" <g>
>
> These sorts of things might be fun for them and then at least they won't
> hate the time they spend doing it.
>
> Lynda
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: groundhoggirl <groundhoggirl@...>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 5:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] I am new and was just wondering
>
>
>> Oh Dar. I wish I could say the same thing. But I've had to compromise
>> with my husband and, therefore, I "teach" them numbers and letters
>> every
>> day for about 15 minutes. The boys and I hate it and I know in some
>> way
>> it is hurting them, but at least my boys are not in school. My husband
>> has come a long way to the unschooling ways but he's still not all the
>> way there.
>>
>> Mimi
>>
>>
>> On Thursday, December 6, 2001, at 07:06 PM, freeform@... wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, 6 Dec 2001 15:59:18 -0500 "John & Melissa Morgan"
>>> <ourfivepack@...> writes:
>>>> Is this list *really* about unschooling? I am so confused! I came
>>>> here trying to learn how to teach my 5 small children better, one
>>>> with a disability, looking for encouragement.
>>>
>>> This list is about life, and unschooling is life. Right now we're all
>>> studying conflict resolution... ;-)
>>>
>>> Teaching your children, however, is not necessarily unschooling... I
>>> rarely do it
>>>
>>> Dar
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________________________________________
>>> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
>>> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
>>> Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
>>> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
>>>
>>> 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
>>> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 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
>> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> 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
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Lynda

Hubby was anti when he first joined our little family. I mean, why am I not
surprised <g> He grew up in Mass where the public schools had uniforms back
in the 50s and 60s.

I've gradually worked it around to where he had a light bulb moment when one
night he was ranting about the kids not spending "x" amount of time at the
table "doing school work." I asked him how he learned to play the guitar
(grrrr, he hears a song once and he can play it) and he said "I taught
myself." I then asked how he learned to play the sax. He said at school.
I asked if he could still play the sax. He said "no." I asked if he had
ever played the sax after he had to take music in school. He said "no."

He was out doing a complete tune-up on my "baby" and I asked him if he had
ever taken auto mechanics in school. He answered "no, I taught myself."

Then one evening we were watching something on history and the kidlets were
spouting factoids right, left and inbetween and he asked them how they knew
"all that stuff" because it wouldn't be something that would be covered by
any "sit down and learn textbooks." They just look puzzled and kinda
shrugged their shoulders like, well doesn't everyone know that.

Well, I looked at him and said, remember the guitar and the auto mechanics
discussions we had? Well, that's unschooling and so is this. That was the
end of his demands that everyone sit down at a particular time and do
"school" type stuff.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: groundhoggirl <groundhoggirl@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2001 6:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] I am new and was just wondering


> Hi Lynda,
>
> Thanks for your input. Yes, we do lots of fun things where I know they
> are learning about all sorts of things, including letters and numbers.
> Both of my boys are continually asking questions and that's how they
> seem to learn the most. They are very inquisitive.
>
> We play games like Dominoes, Clue Jr., Scrabble Jr., My First Rummikub,
> and other games like that. They enjoy it all. And, I know they are
> learning from them. My husband, unfortunately, is still at the point
> where he would like them to do some worksheets (ugh!!). So, we do
> them. I don't know what else to say. I know this is an unschooling
> group and I believe I know the unschooling philosophy inside out, but my
> husband is part of this family too and I guess we are accommodating him.
>
> I don't like confrontations or arguments.
>
> Believe me, he has come a long way. I make the daily numbers and
> letters routine as brief and painless as possible.
>
> Mimi
> (who's always trying to make everybody happy, including herself)
>
> On Thursday, December 6, 2001, at 11:57 PM, Lynda wrote:
>
> > Mimi,
> >
> > Do you actually have to sit down and "teach" them or could you use play
> > as a
> > means of "teaching." Youngest learned the alphabet playing Wheel of
> > Fortune
> > and using fridge magnets. She also had Hedgie alphabet sheet to color
> > that
> > you can print out from the net.
> >
> > There are lots of things they can play with that could be considered
> > educational and come under the heading of teaching without actually
> > sitting
> > them down and forcing them to learn something.
> >
> > I've always read to the kidlets, even when they were still nursing but
> > when
> > they were older we would play a game that was similar to Where In The
> > World
> > Is Carman whatshername and they would choose a word and see if they
> > could
> > find it on each page. It wasn't something that was forced or taught but
> > rather just another game that was fun.
> >
> > I paint and do pastels and they wanted to do the same so I had
> > mini-easels
> > set up for them. They would want me to "help" or sometimes give them
> > ideas
> > and I'd draw a letter of the alphabet and they would turn it into an
> > animals
> > or plant or something that had that letter as the beginning of its name.
> >
> > Or they would make draw a picture and I'd turn it into a dot to dot for
> > them. They loved having original works of art turned into things like
> > that.
> >
> > I have boxes full of this sort of thing and we go back in our year
> > boxes and
> > they just about wet their pants looking at some of the alphanimals that
> > they
> > invented. And, just incase you didn't know, "v" is for "vird" cause
> > vultures are too homely for the letter "v" <g>
> >
> > These sorts of things might be fun for them and then at least they won't
> > hate the time they spend doing it.
> >
> > Lynda
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: groundhoggirl <groundhoggirl@...>
> > To: <[email protected]>
> > Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 5:43 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] I am new and was just wondering
> >
> >
> >> Oh Dar. I wish I could say the same thing. But I've had to compromise
> >> with my husband and, therefore, I "teach" them numbers and letters
> >> every
> >> day for about 15 minutes. The boys and I hate it and I know in some
> >> way
> >> it is hurting them, but at least my boys are not in school. My husband
> >> has come a long way to the unschooling ways but he's still not all the
> >> way there.
> >>
> >> Mimi
> >>
> >>
> >> On Thursday, December 6, 2001, at 07:06 PM, freeform@... wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Thu, 6 Dec 2001 15:59:18 -0500 "John & Melissa Morgan"
> >>> <ourfivepack@...> writes:
> >>>> Is this list *really* about unschooling? I am so confused! I came
> >>>> here trying to learn how to teach my 5 small children better, one
> >>>> with a disability, looking for encouragement.
> >>>
> >>> This list is about life, and unschooling is life. Right now we're all
> >>> studying conflict resolution... ;-)
> >>>
> >>> Teaching your children, however, is not necessarily unschooling... I
> >>> rarely do it
> >>>
> >>> Dar
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> ________________________________________________________________
> >>> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> >>> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> >>> Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> >>> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
> >>>
> >>> 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
> >>> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> 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
> >> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 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
> > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
>
>
>
> 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://groups.yahoo.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 http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>

groundhoggirl

Yes. I understand. My husband, as well, considers himself to be
self-educated in many ways. He's a brilliant chemist who designs and
machines his own reactors and produces new compounds. He credits his
hard work and love of chemistry for the knowledge he has, not, so much,
his college professors. His hero is Richard Feynman, a brilliant
physicist. He's read all of his books and all the books about Feynman.
He studies his lectures and is increasing his knowledge of Physics.
Feynman, also considered himself to be self-educated.

My husband is a true believer in self-education. I don't think he
understands, however, that this short period (15 min./day) of forced
learning/teaching of numbers and letters can have a detrimental effect
on the boys.

One of the problems is the neighbor across the street. I consider him
to be a negative influence on my husband when it comes to unschooling.
He's a really nice guy but he doesn't have a clue about unschooling. He
has a 10 yo daughter he is homeschooling. I know he loves her very
much, but I think he looks at her education as some sort of a project.
He has said: "I want her to be one of the few educated elite!" He
signed her up for something called CHILD U on the net. He makes her
work on various subjects for hours every day. She can't come and play
with my boys until she's done! Both my husband and I don't agree with
that.

The problem is that this guy is a linguist and he keeps talking about
these "windows of learning". How kids should learn how to read within
such and such a time-frame. And, how it's important they have to learn
addition by such and such an age, etc. This neighbor and my husband are
pretty good friends. They see each other and talk for at least a couple
of hours every day. So my husband hears stuff like this from him all
the time. I'm just thankful that my husband is not like him, but,
unfortunately, he is slightly influenced by him.

Mimi

On Saturday, December 8, 2001, at 01:27 AM, Lynda wrote:

> Hubby was anti when he first joined our little family. I mean, why am
> I not
> surprised <g> He grew up in Mass where the public schools had uniforms
> back
> in the 50s and 60s.
>
> I've gradually worked it around to where he had a light bulb moment
> when one
> night he was ranting about the kids not spending "x" amount of time at
> the
> table "doing school work." I asked him how he learned to play the
> guitar
> (grrrr, he hears a song once and he can play it) and he said "I taught
> myself." I then asked how he learned to play the sax. He said at
> school.
> I asked if he could still play the sax. He said "no." I asked if he
> had
> ever played the sax after he had to take music in school. He said "no."
>
> He was out doing a complete tune-up on my "baby" and I asked him if he
> had
> ever taken auto mechanics in school. He answered "no, I taught myself."
>
> Then one evening we were watching something on history and the kidlets
> were
> spouting factoids right, left and inbetween and he asked them how they
> knew
> "all that stuff" because it wouldn't be something that would be covered
> by
> any "sit down and learn textbooks." They just look puzzled and kinda
> shrugged their shoulders like, well doesn't everyone know that.
>
> Well, I looked at him and said, remember the guitar and the auto
> mechanics
> discussions we had? Well, that's unschooling and so is this. That was
> the
> end of his demands that everyone sit down at a particular time and do
> "school" type stuff.
>
> Lynda
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: groundhoggirl <groundhoggirl@...>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Friday, December 07, 2001 6:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] I am new and was just wondering
>
>
>> Hi Lynda,
>>
>> Thanks for your input. Yes, we do lots of fun things where I know they
>> are learning about all sorts of things, including letters and numbers.
>> Both of my boys are continually asking questions and that's how they
>> seem to learn the most. They are very inquisitive.
>>
>> We play games like Dominoes, Clue Jr., Scrabble Jr., My First Rummikub,
>> and other games like that. They enjoy it all. And, I know they are
>> learning from them. My husband, unfortunately, is still at the point
>> where he would like them to do some worksheets (ugh!!). So, we do
>> them. I don't know what else to say. I know this is an unschooling
>> group and I believe I know the unschooling philosophy inside out, but
>> my
>> husband is part of this family too and I guess we are accommodating
>> him.
>>
>> I don't like confrontations or arguments.
>>
>> Believe me, he has come a long way. I make the daily numbers and
>> letters routine as brief and painless as possible.
>>
>> Mimi
>> (who's always trying to make everybody happy, including herself)
>>
>> On Thursday, December 6, 2001, at 11:57 PM, Lynda wrote:
>>
>>> Mimi,
>>>
>>> Do you actually have to sit down and "teach" them or could you use
>>> play
>>> as a
>>> means of "teaching." Youngest learned the alphabet playing Wheel of
>>> Fortune
>>> and using fridge magnets. She also had Hedgie alphabet sheet to color
>>> that
>>> you can print out from the net.
>>>
>>> There are lots of things they can play with that could be considered
>>> educational and come under the heading of teaching without actually
>>> sitting
>>> them down and forcing them to learn something.
>>>
>>> I've always read to the kidlets, even when they were still nursing but
>>> when
>>> they were older we would play a game that was similar to Where In The
>>> World
>>> Is Carman whatshername and they would choose a word and see if they
>>> could
>>> find it on each page. It wasn't something that was forced or taught
>>> but
>>> rather just another game that was fun.
>>>
>>> I paint and do pastels and they wanted to do the same so I had
>>> mini-easels
>>> set up for them. They would want me to "help" or sometimes give them
>>> ideas
>>> and I'd draw a letter of the alphabet and they would turn it into an
>>> animals
>>> or plant or something that had that letter as the beginning of its
>>> name.
>>>
>>> Or they would make draw a picture and I'd turn it into a dot to dot
>>> for
>>> them. They loved having original works of art turned into things like
>>> that.
>>>
>>> I have boxes full of this sort of thing and we go back in our year
>>> boxes and
>>> they just about wet their pants looking at some of the alphanimals
>>> that
>>> they
>>> invented. And, just incase you didn't know, "v" is for "vird" cause
>>> vultures are too homely for the letter "v" <g>
>>>
>>> These sorts of things might be fun for them and then at least they
>>> won't
>>> hate the time they spend doing it.
>>>
>>> Lynda
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: groundhoggirl <groundhoggirl@...>
>>> To: <[email protected]>
>>> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 5:43 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] I am new and was just wondering
>>>
>>>
>>>> Oh Dar. I wish I could say the same thing. But I've had to
>>>> compromise
>>>> with my husband and, therefore, I "teach" them numbers and letters
>>>> every
>>>> day for about 15 minutes. The boys and I hate it and I know in some
>>>> way
>>>> it is hurting them, but at least my boys are not in school. My
>>>> husband
>>>> has come a long way to the unschooling ways but he's still not all
>>>> the
>>>> way there.
>>>>
>>>> Mimi
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Thursday, December 6, 2001, at 07:06 PM, freeform@... wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, 6 Dec 2001 15:59:18 -0500 "John & Melissa Morgan"
>>>>> <ourfivepack@...> writes:
>>>>>> Is this list *really* about unschooling? I am so confused! I came
>>>>>> here trying to learn how to teach my 5 small children better, one
>>>>>> with a disability, looking for encouragement.
>>>>>
>>>>> This list is about life, and unschooling is life. Right now we're
>>>>> all
>>>>> studying conflict resolution... ;-)
>>>>>
>>>>> Teaching your children, however, is not necessarily unschooling... I
>>>>> rarely do it
>>>>>
>>>>> Dar
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ________________________________________________________________
>>>>> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
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>>>>> Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
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>>>>>
>>>>> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
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>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
>>>>> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
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>>
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>> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>>
>>
>>
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>> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
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> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
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> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Tia Leschke

>
>My husband is a true believer in self-education. I don't think he
>understands, however, that this short period (15 min./day) of forced
>learning/teaching of numbers and letters can have a detrimental effect
>on the boys.

He seems to believe that self-education is only possible after reading and
basic arithmetic has been learned.



>The problem is that this guy is a linguist and he keeps talking about
>these "windows of learning". How kids should learn how to read within
>such and such a time-frame. And, how it's important they have to learn
>addition by such and such an age, etc.

Maybe you could ask him how children can possibly learn to talk without
being taught. My understanding of the windows of learning in regards to
talking is that they will have problems if they can't *hear* properly
during certain periods. I would think that a kid who had no exposure to
letters and words during a certain period might find it very hard to learn
to read, but that would only apply to a family that had no books,
magazines, or newspapers in the house, never read themselves, etc. Our
children are exposed to letters and words (and numbers) all the time.

Maybe you could also ask him to explain all those unschooled kids who
learned to read without instruction. Yes, there are a very few who have
trouble reading anyway. My son seems to be one of them. But I believe
those kids would be having much the same problems even in regular school or
using school-at-home type reading programs. (My son has a friend who has
always gone to school and reads only a little better than he does.)

As far as the damage goes, see another post I wrote today about kids
learning to read by being forced to, but choosing not to.
Tia

Tia Leschke leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
********************************************************************************************
It is the answers which separate us, the questions which unite us. - Janice
Levy





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groundhoggirl

On Saturday, December 8, 2001, at 11:43 AM, Tia Leschke wrote:

>
>> Mimi wrote:
>> My husband is a true believer in self-education. I don't think he
>> understands, however, that this short period (15 min./day) of forced
>> learning/teaching of numbers and letters can have a detrimental effect
>> on the boys.
>
Tia Wrote:
> He seems to believe that self-education is only possible after reading
> and
> basic arithmetic has been learned.

Mimi wrote:
Yes. I'm afraid you're right.
>
>
> Mimi Wrote:
>> The problem is that this guy, our neighbor, is a linguist and he
>> keeps talking about
>> these "windows of learning". How kids should learn how to read within
>> such and such a time-frame. And, how it's important they have to learn
>> addition by such and such an age, etc.
>
Tia wrote:
> Maybe you could ask him how children can possibly learn to talk without
> being taught. My understanding of the windows of learning in regards to
> talking is that they will have problems if they can't *hear* properly
> during certain periods. I would think that a kid who had no exposure to
> letters and words during a certain period might find it very hard to
> learn
> to read, but that would only apply to a family that had no books,
> magazines, or newspapers in the house, never read themselves, etc. Our
> children are exposed to letters and words (and numbers) all the time.
>
> Maybe you could also ask him to explain all those unschooled kids who
> learned to read without instruction. Yes, there are a very few who have
> trouble reading anyway. My son seems to be one of them. But I believe
> those kids would be having much the same problems even in regular
> school or
> using school-at-home type reading programs. (My son has a friend who
> has
> always gone to school and reads only a little better than he does.)

Mimi Wrote:
Oh, believe me. We have had many arguments about this. He refuses to
understand. I have pointed all of these things out to him. He's quite
stubborn and thinks I absolutely don't know what I am doing and that I
am hurting my children. He thinks that unschooling is wrong. I just
don't talk about it with him anymore.
>
Tia wrote:
> As far as the damage goes, see another post I wrote today about kids
> learning to read by being forced to, but choosing not to.
> Tia
>
Mimi wrote:
Thanks. I'll check it out. I appreciate your help and comments.

Mimi
> Tia Leschke leschke@...
> On Vancouver Island
> *************************************************************************
> *******************
> It is the answers which separate us, the questions which unite us. -
> Janice
> Levy
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
> [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://groups.yahoo.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
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> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
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> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Elsa Haas

Does your husband know that Alan Alda is playing Feynman in some kind of
off-Broadway monologue-type gig? I loved Surely You Must Be Joking Mr.
Feynman.

Elsa Haas


Mimi wrote:

<>
Yes. I understand. My husband, as well, considers himself to be
self-educated in many ways. He's a brilliant chemist who designs and
machines his own reactors and produces new compounds. He credits his
hard work and love of chemistry for the knowledge he has, not, so much,
his college professors. His hero is Richard Feynman, a brilliant
physicist. He's read all of his books and all the books about Feynman.
He studies his lectures and is increasing his knowledge of Physics.
Feynman, also considered himself to be self-educated.

<>


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

groundhoggirl

Yes. We do know about it. I really like Alan Alda, but my husband
doesn't at all. We are very different in many ways, but we are also
very much alike.

Did you see the movie "Infinity" with Matthew Broderick? We really
enjoyed it. It was kind of sad. Feynman had a very interesting life.

Mimi

On Saturday, December 8, 2001, at 09:35 PM, Elsa Haas wrote:

> Does your husband know that Alan Alda is playing Feynman in some kind of
> off-Broadway monologue-type gig? I loved Surely You Must Be Joking Mr.
> Feynman.
>
> Elsa Haas
>
>
> Mimi wrote:
>
> <>
> Yes. I understand. My husband, as well, considers himself to be
> self-educated in many ways. He's a brilliant chemist who designs and
> machines his own reactors and produces new compounds. He credits his
> hard work and love of chemistry for the knowledge he has, not, so much,
> his college professors. His hero is Richard Feynman, a brilliant
> physicist. He's read all of his books and all the books about Feynman.
> He studies his lectures and is increasing his knowledge of Physics.
> Feynman, also considered himself to be self-educated.
>
> <>
>
>
> [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://groups.yahoo.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
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Elsa Haas

Ooh, now I know what to snag at the video store next time I get the chance.
Thanks!

Elsa Haas



<> Did you see the movie "Infinity" with Matthew Broderick? We really
enjoyed it. It was kind of sad. Feynman had a very interesting life. <>

Mimi




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