Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] unschoolong days
Joseph Fuerst
I've really enjoyed the posts on what's happening in people's unschooled
lives.
In our recent days, oldest dd, Katy, has listened to Harriet the Spy on
tape. She's now into The Toothepaste Millionaire. And we're reading Nancy
Drew, Mystery at Lilac Inn together. Last week something (I can't
remember what - I think she found a partially melted crayon) prompted her to
ask what crayons are made of - I've <shamefully> been slow in helping her
find resources for this, though she's coming up with some of her own
'hypotheses'.
All four have been exploring the world of balance as they have been trying
out some roller skating - even the 16 month old wanted to do this. Abby,
7yo dd, wanted to move up to a in-line scooter. She has been saving her
spending money from her paper route and I noticed some Schwinn scooters at
Big Lots. (Of course, they sold out before we got there.....but since
she'd worked so hard for this, we drove aound to about four or five
toy/department stores and dound one on sale - though not as good as Big
Lots! Anyhow, I chpped in the difference for her.)
What's amazing to me is that the 16 month old wanted to ride that, too. SO
I pushed him around while he held one finger of mina anf held the steering
column with his other hand. None of my dd's have been this interested in
things with wheels at such an early age!
All of us have finally switched gears from playing computer games. Our
major collaborative effort has been Commander Keen: Episode four. (If
anyone can tell me where to get other episodes, we'd love to see something
else.) We think we've explored most everything there - except we can't find
the secret entrance to the Pyramid of the Forbidden. We know it's under the
Pyramid of the Moons.....just can't seem to get there.) It's amazing that
even our three yr old has managed to find several secret passages and new
moves to get past some of the creatures!
The 3 yo and 7yo have asked about the proper way to shut down the computer,
and I have complete confidence they can do it. Unfortunately, Simon, the
toddler, has discovered the CD-rom open close button.....he has tried
putting in a diskette, and some kleenex so far, my to my chagrin :-)
The kids are exploring lots of music. Monster Mash is a favorite these
days. And Katy likes some of the Moulin Rouge music.
lives.
In our recent days, oldest dd, Katy, has listened to Harriet the Spy on
tape. She's now into The Toothepaste Millionaire. And we're reading Nancy
Drew, Mystery at Lilac Inn together. Last week something (I can't
remember what - I think she found a partially melted crayon) prompted her to
ask what crayons are made of - I've <shamefully> been slow in helping her
find resources for this, though she's coming up with some of her own
'hypotheses'.
All four have been exploring the world of balance as they have been trying
out some roller skating - even the 16 month old wanted to do this. Abby,
7yo dd, wanted to move up to a in-line scooter. She has been saving her
spending money from her paper route and I noticed some Schwinn scooters at
Big Lots. (Of course, they sold out before we got there.....but since
she'd worked so hard for this, we drove aound to about four or five
toy/department stores and dound one on sale - though not as good as Big
Lots! Anyhow, I chpped in the difference for her.)
What's amazing to me is that the 16 month old wanted to ride that, too. SO
I pushed him around while he held one finger of mina anf held the steering
column with his other hand. None of my dd's have been this interested in
things with wheels at such an early age!
All of us have finally switched gears from playing computer games. Our
major collaborative effort has been Commander Keen: Episode four. (If
anyone can tell me where to get other episodes, we'd love to see something
else.) We think we've explored most everything there - except we can't find
the secret entrance to the Pyramid of the Forbidden. We know it's under the
Pyramid of the Moons.....just can't seem to get there.) It's amazing that
even our three yr old has managed to find several secret passages and new
moves to get past some of the creatures!
The 3 yo and 7yo have asked about the proper way to shut down the computer,
and I have complete confidence they can do it. Unfortunately, Simon, the
toddler, has discovered the CD-rom open close button.....he has tried
putting in a diskette, and some kleenex so far, my to my chagrin :-)
The kids are exploring lots of music. Monster Mash is a favorite these
days. And Katy likes some of the Moulin Rouge music.
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/3/02 7:09:01 AM, fuerst@... writes:
<< Last week something (I can't
remember what - I think she found a partially melted crayon) prompted her to
ask what crayons are made of - I've <shamefully> been slow in helping her
find resources for this, though she's coming up with some of her own
'hypotheses'. >>
There was a little film on Mr. Rogers about the crayola factory and how they
make them and pour them and sort into boxes. And we have Scholastic
paperback book on crayons too.
But you have a resource we didn't have when my kids were younger, and here it
is!
http://www.crayola.com/factory/preview/factory_floor/crayon_mfg.htm
Sandra
<< Last week something (I can't
remember what - I think she found a partially melted crayon) prompted her to
ask what crayons are made of - I've <shamefully> been slow in helping her
find resources for this, though she's coming up with some of her own
'hypotheses'. >>
There was a little film on Mr. Rogers about the crayola factory and how they
make them and pour them and sort into boxes. And we have Scholastic
paperback book on crayons too.
But you have a resource we didn't have when my kids were younger, and here it
is!
http://www.crayola.com/factory/preview/factory_floor/crayon_mfg.htm
Sandra
Joseph Fuerst
Thanks Sandra!
I had heard of that, but didn't find it. And Crayola.com is mostly a
sales/marketing site.
Susan
I had heard of that, but didn't find it. And Crayola.com is mostly a
sales/marketing site.
Susan
>to
> In a message dated 4/3/02 7:09:01 AM, fuerst@... writes:
>
> << Last week something (I can't
> remember what - I think she found a partially melted crayon) prompted her
> ask what crayons are made of - I've <shamefully> been slow in helping herthey
> find resources for this, though she's coming up with some of her own
> 'hypotheses'. >>
>
> There was a little film on Mr. Rogers about the crayola factory and how
> make them and pour them and sort into boxes. And we have Scholasticit
> paperback book on crayons too.
>
> But you have a resource we didn't have when my kids were younger, and here
> is!
>
> http://www.crayola.com/factory/preview/factory_floor/crayon_mfg.htm
>
>
> Sandra
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
Tia Leschke
>It's a guy thing, needing wheels under them. Both my boys would go
>
>What's amazing to me is that the 16 month old wanted to ride that, too. SO
>I pushed him around while he held one finger of mina anf held the steering
>column with his other hand. None of my dd's have been this interested in
>things with wheels at such an early age!
anywhere if there were wheels under them but wouldn't walk unless they had
to. Both learned to ride two wheel bikes at a really young age. The girls
have been quite uninterested and learned to ride bikes much later.
Tia
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
*********************************************
Tia Leschke
leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
Joseph Fuerst
> It's a guy thing, needing wheels under them. Both my boys would gogirls
> anywhere if there were wheels under them but wouldn't walk unless they had
> to. Both learned to ride two wheel bikes at a really young age. The
> have been quite uninterested and learned to ride bikes much later.I guess it is a guy thing....I must say I'm grateful to have each gender,
> Tia
>
I'm really enjoying this so far! And my oldest didn't ride her two wheeler
w/out training wheels until she was eight. He may be doing it at .....too
soon for me!
Susan
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/3/02 10:07:48 AM, fuerst@... writes:
<< I had heard of that, but didn't find it. And Crayola.com is mostly a
sales/marketing site. >>
Yes, but it tells what crayons are made of and how.
<< I had heard of that, but didn't find it. And Crayola.com is mostly a
sales/marketing site. >>
Yes, but it tells what crayons are made of and how.
Joseph Fuerst
OK, I'm slow....I just *got* that your page was part of www.crayola.com,
which is where Katy and I looked, but we didn't take enough time exploring
to get to what we were looking for!
Score another point for collaboration.
Susan, who feels somewhat like a DBW, but guesses it's just part of how
life is with lots of young people around clamoring for attention!
which is where Katy and I looked, but we didn't take enough time exploring
to get to what we were looking for!
Score another point for collaboration.
Susan, who feels somewhat like a DBW, but guesses it's just part of how
life is with lots of young people around clamoring for attention!
Lynda
I don't think it is a gender thing. I think it is a hand/eye coordination
thing. My sister and I learned at different ages, not because we weren't
interested but because of daring and hand/foot/eye coordination. She was
much more daring and tried to learn earlier but it took her longer (many
bumps and scrapes!). I learned at about 5 and carefully learned first time
out.
Son #3 learned to ride at age 2, by himself, no training wheels to start.
Simpy on the bike and gone. Son #2 was a terror with one of those
low-riding 3 wheeled thing (I don't remember what they are called, was it
Big Wheels?) but it took him forever to learn on a bicycle. Son #1 was
another dare devil. Eldest daughter was always very careful and didn't show
any interest until she was older. Kidlet #4 has almost terminal
uncoordination and it took him almost a year to learn and not until he was
about 10. Kidlet #5 is our resident stubborn Taurus and she "decided" she
would learn to ride a bicycle when she was 5 and she kept at it one day
until she could do it. The same with roller blades.
And all of them played with cars and loved Tonka toys and loved going to the
races (both round and rounds and rails).
Lynda
thing. My sister and I learned at different ages, not because we weren't
interested but because of daring and hand/foot/eye coordination. She was
much more daring and tried to learn earlier but it took her longer (many
bumps and scrapes!). I learned at about 5 and carefully learned first time
out.
Son #3 learned to ride at age 2, by himself, no training wheels to start.
Simpy on the bike and gone. Son #2 was a terror with one of those
low-riding 3 wheeled thing (I don't remember what they are called, was it
Big Wheels?) but it took him forever to learn on a bicycle. Son #1 was
another dare devil. Eldest daughter was always very careful and didn't show
any interest until she was older. Kidlet #4 has almost terminal
uncoordination and it took him almost a year to learn and not until he was
about 10. Kidlet #5 is our resident stubborn Taurus and she "decided" she
would learn to ride a bicycle when she was 5 and she kept at it one day
until she could do it. The same with roller blades.
And all of them played with cars and loved Tonka toys and loved going to the
races (both round and rounds and rails).
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph Fuerst" <fuerst@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 10:42 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] unschoolong days
> > It's a guy thing, needing wheels under them. Both my boys would go
> > anywhere if there were wheels under them but wouldn't walk unless they
had
> > to. Both learned to ride two wheel bikes at a really young age. The
> girls
> > have been quite uninterested and learned to ride bikes much later.
> > Tia
> >
> I guess it is a guy thing....I must say I'm grateful to have each gender,
> I'm really enjoying this so far! And my oldest didn't ride her two
wheeler
> w/out training wheels until she was eight. He may be doing it at .....too
> soon for me!
> Susan
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/3/02 12:19:42 PM, fuerst@... writes:
<< I just *got* that your page was part of www.crayola.com,
which is where Katy and I looked, but we didn't take enough time exploring
to get to what we were looking for! >>
I found it by going to google.com and entering
how crayons are made
There were several references, but that was the first one, I clicked and it
opened!
Sandra
<< I just *got* that your page was part of www.crayola.com,
which is where Katy and I looked, but we didn't take enough time exploring
to get to what we were looking for! >>
I found it by going to google.com and entering
how crayons are made
There were several references, but that was the first one, I clicked and it
opened!
Sandra
vivrh
I have to chime in here to second that it is not a guy thing but rather a motor skill. My 19 month old loves wheels anything you can steer or ride on and she has for about 3 or so months. She even likes to try to ride the older two scooters and skateboards. And my 6 year old daughter was much the same. She has always been really good at large motor skills while her more refined motor skills -like typing- have come more difficult to her.
God bless
Vivian
Mom to three Happy little Monkeys
Austin 10/31/93 Sarah 8/28/95 Emmalee 8/15/00
And loving wife to Randy
**If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.
-Anatole France***
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
God bless
Vivian
Mom to three Happy little Monkeys
Austin 10/31/93 Sarah 8/28/95 Emmalee 8/15/00
And loving wife to Randy
**If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.
-Anatole France***
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Joseph Fuerst
Goodness knows what I fed Google, but the search was more convoluted than I
could cope with at the moment :-). I noticed the Crayola book about how
crayons are made on the website, too.
We'll see where it leads us......so far it's led us to look at how crayola
markers are made, and to see how far the Crayola factory is to determine
whether a trip is do-able.
Susan
could cope with at the moment :-). I noticed the Crayola book about how
crayons are made on the website, too.
We'll see where it leads us......so far it's led us to look at how crayola
markers are made, and to see how far the Crayola factory is to determine
whether a trip is do-able.
Susan
----- Original Message -----
From: <SandraDodd@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 3:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] unschoolong days
>
> In a message dated 4/3/02 12:19:42 PM, fuerst@... writes:
>
> << I just *got* that your page was part of www.crayola.com,
> which is where Katy and I looked, but we didn't take enough time
exploring
> to get to what we were looking for! >>
>
> I found it by going to google.com and entering
> how crayons are made
>
> There were several references, but that was the first one, I clicked and
it
> opened!
>
> Sandra
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
Joseph Fuerst
> And all of them played with cars and loved Tonka toys and loved going tothe
> races (both round and rounds and rails).I do think most boys have a tendency to be more physically ready to do those
>
> Lynda
type things ....riding, skating, jumping off high things :-/
My two oldest are fairly cautious and not adept in most
body-movement-awareness things (there's some medical word I'mthinking of
here...but I can't retrieve it. I read it first in Oliver Sacks, The Man
Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat)
Third child (dd) is quite physically daring. She's quick in running and
fearless in jumping. Speedy on her tricycle, trying scooters and skates
lately. Abby (7) still doesn't ride her two wheeler- no interest. She also
walks into walls occassionally, falls off chairs, twists her ankle....just
seems to have low awareness of her body in relation to her environment.
Susan
Joseph Fuerst
I just noticed my typo in the subject line.
It was not intentional......in fact, days and weeks seem to zoom by!!
Susan
It was not intentional......in fact, days and weeks seem to zoom by!!
Susan
Lynda
I didn't notice it, youngest did and asked if we were talking about
unschooling and tea <g>
Lynda
unschooling and tea <g>
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph Fuerst" <fuerst@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 2:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] unschoolong days
> I just noticed my typo in the subject line.
> It was not intentional......in fact, days and weeks seem to zoom by!!
> Susan
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
Bonni Sollars
I would also like to share about what we are doing in unschooling. 14
y.o. Rex is working on filling out applications and making a resume.
Went down to the state building and got a food handlers card and a form
for employers to send to the state so he is legal to work. Coloring a
coloring book about the human anatomy-he loves art. Studying body
building and wants to join the local gym when he gets a job. Studying
the drivers book for his permit next summer. Wrestling season and club
are over for now. Wants to go to wrestling camp in the summer. Has a
math book that he is studying. Still designing how he wants his room and
the dog house he is planning to build. Sort of took a break for spring
break since all his friends were out of school. Every night stays up
until about one oclock reading books. Right now reading Sherlock Holmes
stories. Discovered a talent for window painting/art. Wants to do that
when he gets a fast-food job for the restaurant he works at. Wants a job
so he can save ahead of time for college. Wants to be an architectural
engineer. Sometimes does drywall with his dad, but wants a steady wage.
We plan to do a lot of hiking this spring. Spring is finally here and it
is gorgeous. No more Oregon drizzle. My kids put together kites from
kits. They've been flying them every day. 11y.o. Caleb is very
interested in comedy and is always coming up with new ways to express
himself humorously. Is an observer of human nature. Saving up for a
video camera. Wants to be a movie producer. 9y.o. Seth is making
slushies and selling them to the landscapers who've been working in our
neighborhood. Was disappointed that they took his jobs away from
him-they outbid him. So making a profit off of them. Follows them
around the trailer park asking questions about why they do it this or
that way and how he thinks it might be done. Still wants to make a lot
of money and give to the poor. His 7y.o. sister, Phoebe, assists him in
his business venture. She is a little book-writer/illustrator. I am
thinking of scoring more paper at the labs and doctors offices I used to
work at. Maybe if I make my rounds I will save some money. I've been
babysitting to make money to spend on their interests. We will divide
that money evenly between the five of us, but I will be the treasurer,
for now. My daughter sticks like glue when the baby is around. She
loves helping me take care of him. She wants to be either an animal or a
people doctor some day, so she says. Lately, I've noticed that my
younger kids like to read what I read. I read a lot of psychology type
books. They ask me questions about them all the time.
Husband Kevin is coming around to all the unschooling business. He
acknowledges that the only things he remembers from school were art and
sports and shop, because those were what he was interested in.
My best friend's daughter may unschool with us next summer. But her dad
may require some sort of written proof of what she is learning. She
wants to be a doctor. I asked her what school she wanted to study to be
a doctor in. She didn't even know (parents didn't tell her) there is one
only two hours away. I told her how she could ask them to send her a
list of entry requirements. She wants to be an emergency room doc, or a
pediatrician.
Thanks for letting me share. What a blessing unschooling is to all of
us.
Bonni
y.o. Rex is working on filling out applications and making a resume.
Went down to the state building and got a food handlers card and a form
for employers to send to the state so he is legal to work. Coloring a
coloring book about the human anatomy-he loves art. Studying body
building and wants to join the local gym when he gets a job. Studying
the drivers book for his permit next summer. Wrestling season and club
are over for now. Wants to go to wrestling camp in the summer. Has a
math book that he is studying. Still designing how he wants his room and
the dog house he is planning to build. Sort of took a break for spring
break since all his friends were out of school. Every night stays up
until about one oclock reading books. Right now reading Sherlock Holmes
stories. Discovered a talent for window painting/art. Wants to do that
when he gets a fast-food job for the restaurant he works at. Wants a job
so he can save ahead of time for college. Wants to be an architectural
engineer. Sometimes does drywall with his dad, but wants a steady wage.
We plan to do a lot of hiking this spring. Spring is finally here and it
is gorgeous. No more Oregon drizzle. My kids put together kites from
kits. They've been flying them every day. 11y.o. Caleb is very
interested in comedy and is always coming up with new ways to express
himself humorously. Is an observer of human nature. Saving up for a
video camera. Wants to be a movie producer. 9y.o. Seth is making
slushies and selling them to the landscapers who've been working in our
neighborhood. Was disappointed that they took his jobs away from
him-they outbid him. So making a profit off of them. Follows them
around the trailer park asking questions about why they do it this or
that way and how he thinks it might be done. Still wants to make a lot
of money and give to the poor. His 7y.o. sister, Phoebe, assists him in
his business venture. She is a little book-writer/illustrator. I am
thinking of scoring more paper at the labs and doctors offices I used to
work at. Maybe if I make my rounds I will save some money. I've been
babysitting to make money to spend on their interests. We will divide
that money evenly between the five of us, but I will be the treasurer,
for now. My daughter sticks like glue when the baby is around. She
loves helping me take care of him. She wants to be either an animal or a
people doctor some day, so she says. Lately, I've noticed that my
younger kids like to read what I read. I read a lot of psychology type
books. They ask me questions about them all the time.
Husband Kevin is coming around to all the unschooling business. He
acknowledges that the only things he remembers from school were art and
sports and shop, because those were what he was interested in.
My best friend's daughter may unschool with us next summer. But her dad
may require some sort of written proof of what she is learning. She
wants to be a doctor. I asked her what school she wanted to study to be
a doctor in. She didn't even know (parents didn't tell her) there is one
only two hours away. I told her how she could ask them to send her a
list of entry requirements. She wants to be an emergency room doc, or a
pediatrician.
Thanks for letting me share. What a blessing unschooling is to all of
us.
Bonni
rumpleteasermom
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "Joseph Fuerst" <fuerst@f...> wrote:
second girl was middlin/fair at those kinds of things but has great
fine motor skills. Wyndham has practically NO inborn motor skills.
He is learning them from scratch.
I think it is an individual thing. Maybe a little slewed toward boy
but not by much.
Bridget
>do those
> I do think most boys have a tendency to be more physically ready to
> type things ....riding, skating, jumping off high things :-/Not mine. My first girl was the daredeveil and very coordinated. The
second girl was middlin/fair at those kinds of things but has great
fine motor skills. Wyndham has practically NO inborn motor skills.
He is learning them from scratch.
I think it is an individual thing. Maybe a little slewed toward boy
but not by much.
Bridget