sjulian60504

My son and daughter asked to join a class, arranged by our local
homeschool support group at a nearby college, on "Microscopes". They
were able to use the college-quality microscopes once a week for six
weeks ($80 per child) to check out all kinds of "stuff". They
learned how to use the microscopes, and were very excited about
seeing "stuff" they had gathered at home (our dog's hair, etc.).

To my horror, one day they came home quite upset because they had
been told that their drawings of what they had seen under the
microscope weren't good enough. Four of the children (my two, and
two friends we carpool with) were asked to draw their pictures over
and over again (five-seven times) before they were aloud to "view"
the next item.

I audibly sucked in air when they told me they had been tested on the
last day of class. I thought I would pass out when they started to
compare scores, "How many did you get right?". So, yes I learned my
lesson........ BUT, as for the kids....... they were excited
because the teacher gave them the same identification test as she
gives her college students, and as a group they performed better
(elementary-aged kids). They stated that she apologized for her
tough drawing standards in the previous sessions, and now my son
wants to take her next "science class".

So what would a true unschooler do? Do I go with the idea that he
understands what kind of teacher she is, and must really be
interested, so let him take the class? Or he's young and forgiving
and doesn't realize she'll probably revert to her usual teaching
style & he'll come home crying again, so he shouldn't take the class?

Thanks!

Shelly
A mom who loves reading Holt, and is trying to put it into practice
despite various insecurities which flare up from time to time!

Lynda

Have "you" talked to the teacher and explained what your children's
expectations were from this class? Is your local "home" schooling group
just that or an UNschooling group?

If it is being set up by a "home"schooling group, then their expectations
from the class may be very different from yours and that may be where the
confusion comes into play.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "sjulian60504" <jsjulian@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 8:57 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Teachers w/ Non-unschooling Style


> My son and daughter asked to join a class, arranged by our local
> homeschool support group at a nearby college, on "Microscopes". They
> were able to use the college-quality microscopes once a week for six
> weeks ($80 per child) to check out all kinds of "stuff". They
> learned how to use the microscopes, and were very excited about
> seeing "stuff" they had gathered at home (our dog's hair, etc.).
>
> To my horror, one day they came home quite upset because they had
> been told that their drawings of what they had seen under the
> microscope weren't good enough. Four of the children (my two, and
> two friends we carpool with) were asked to draw their pictures over
> and over again (five-seven times) before they were aloud to "view"
> the next item.
>
> I audibly sucked in air when they told me they had been tested on the
> last day of class. I thought I would pass out when they started to
> compare scores, "How many did you get right?". So, yes I learned my
> lesson........ BUT, as for the kids....... they were excited
> because the teacher gave them the same identification test as she
> gives her college students, and as a group they performed better
> (elementary-aged kids). They stated that she apologized for her
> tough drawing standards in the previous sessions, and now my son
> wants to take her next "science class".
>
> So what would a true unschooler do? Do I go with the idea that he
> understands what kind of teacher she is, and must really be
> interested, so let him take the class? Or he's young and forgiving
> and doesn't realize she'll probably revert to her usual teaching
> style & he'll come home crying again, so he shouldn't take the class?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Shelly
> A mom who loves reading Holt, and is trying to put it into practice
> despite various insecurities which flare up from time to time!
>
>
>
> 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

Shelly,
I would let your children take any class that is within your means, as
long as you don't think it will damage them to do so. I would encourage
them to express their feelings to the teacher if they think the teacher
is wrong. You might even accompany them to observe.
Bonni

rumpleteasermom

My girls take a chem class that was set up in a very similar way. The
teacher was told at the biginning that these people were not to be
'tested'. She understands that they are learning and lets them at it.
Do the other parents feel as you do? Could you speak to the teacher?

Bridget

--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "sjulian60504" <jsjulian@e...> wrote:

>
> So what would a true unschooler do? Do I go with the idea that he
> understands what kind of teacher she is, and must really be
> interested, so let him take the class? Or he's young and forgiving
> and doesn't realize she'll probably revert to her usual teaching
> style & he'll come home crying again, so he shouldn't take the
class?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Shelly

sjulian60504

Yes Lynda - I think this was definitely the problem - next time I
will need to speak directly with the teacher to try and figure out
how the class will be taught / and what her/his expectations are.

This has also been an opportunity to talk to the kids about different
teaching styles, and how to decide what they're willing to experience
if they really want to learn in a particular class environment.

As an unschooler, would you let a child take part, if they wanted to,
knowing the teacher's style, despite possible harm to self-image?

Thanks!

Shelly


--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "Lynda" <lurine@s...> wrote:
> Have "you" talked to the teacher and explained what your children's
> expectations were from this class? Is your local "home" schooling
group
> just that or an UNschooling group?
>
> If it is being set up by a "home"schooling group, then their
expectations
> from the class may be very different from yours and that may be
where the
> confusion comes into play.
>
> Lynda
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "sjulian60504" <jsjulian@e...>
> To: <Unschooling-dotcom@y...>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 8:57 PM
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Teachers w/ Non-unschooling Style
>
>
> > My son and daughter asked to join a class, arranged by our local
> > homeschool support group at a nearby college, on "Microscopes".
They
> > were able to use the college-quality microscopes once a week for
six
> > weeks ($80 per child) to check out all kinds of "stuff". They
> > learned how to use the microscopes, and were very excited about
> > seeing "stuff" they had gathered at home (our dog's hair, etc.).
> >
> > To my horror, one day they came home quite upset because they had
> > been told that their drawings of what they had seen under the
> > microscope weren't good enough. Four of the children (my two, and
> > two friends we carpool with) were asked to draw their pictures
over
> > and over again (five-seven times) before they were aloud to "view"
> > the next item.
> >
> > I audibly sucked in air when they told me they had been tested on
the
> > last day of class. I thought I would pass out when they started
to
> > compare scores, "How many did you get right?". So, yes I learned
my
> > lesson........ BUT, as for the kids....... they were excited
> > because the teacher gave them the same identification test as she
> > gives her college students, and as a group they performed better
> > (elementary-aged kids). They stated that she apologized for her
> > tough drawing standards in the previous sessions, and now my son
> > wants to take her next "science class".
> >
> > So what would a true unschooler do? Do I go with the idea that he
> > understands what kind of teacher she is, and must really be
> > interested, so let him take the class? Or he's young and
forgiving
> > and doesn't realize she'll probably revert to her usual teaching
> > style & he'll come home crying again, so he shouldn't take the
class?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Shelly
> > A mom who loves reading Holt, and is trying to put it into
practice
> > despite various insecurities which flare up from time to time!
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > Unschooling-dotcom-unsubscribe@y...
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >

sjulian60504

Yes Lynda - I think this was definitely the problem - next time I
will need to speak directly with the teacher to try and figure out
how the class will be taught / and what her/his expectations are.

This has also been an opportunity to talk to the kids about different
teaching styles, and how to decide what they're willing to experience
if they really want to learn in a particular class environment.

As an unschooler, would you let a child take part, if they wanted to,
knowing the teacher's style, despite possible harm to self-image?

Thanks!

Shelly


--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "Lynda" <lurine@s...> wrote:
> Have "you" talked to the teacher and explained what your children's
> expectations were from this class? Is your local "home" schooling
group
> just that or an UNschooling group?
>
> If it is being set up by a "home"schooling group, then their
expectations
> from the class may be very different from yours and that may be
where the
> confusion comes into play.
>
> Lynda
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "sjulian60504" <jsjulian@e...>
> To: <Unschooling-dotcom@y...>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 8:57 PM
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Teachers w/ Non-unschooling Style
>
>
> > My son and daughter asked to join a class, arranged by our local
> > homeschool support group at a nearby college, on "Microscopes".
They
> > were able to use the college-quality microscopes once a week for
six
> > weeks ($80 per child) to check out all kinds of "stuff". They
> > learned how to use the microscopes, and were very excited about
> > seeing "stuff" they had gathered at home (our dog's hair, etc.).
> >
> > To my horror, one day they came home quite upset because they had
> > been told that their drawings of what they had seen under the
> > microscope weren't good enough. Four of the children (my two, and
> > two friends we carpool with) were asked to draw their pictures
over
> > and over again (five-seven times) before they were aloud to "view"
> > the next item.
> >
> > I audibly sucked in air when they told me they had been tested on
the
> > last day of class. I thought I would pass out when they started
to
> > compare scores, "How many did you get right?". So, yes I learned
my
> > lesson........ BUT, as for the kids....... they were excited
> > because the teacher gave them the same identification test as she
> > gives her college students, and as a group they performed better
> > (elementary-aged kids). They stated that she apologized for her
> > tough drawing standards in the previous sessions, and now my son
> > wants to take her next "science class".
> >
> > So what would a true unschooler do? Do I go with the idea that he
> > understands what kind of teacher she is, and must really be
> > interested, so let him take the class? Or he's young and
forgiving
> > and doesn't realize she'll probably revert to her usual teaching
> > style & he'll come home crying again, so he shouldn't take the
class?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Shelly
> > A mom who loves reading Holt, and is trying to put it into
practice
> > despite various insecurities which flare up from time to time!
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > Unschooling-dotcom-unsubscribe@y...
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >

sjulian60504

Everyone's responses are helping me to see that I need to speak with
the teacher, then relay that information to Gino, and let him choose
if he wants to take the next class. As far as the other parents are
concerned - many of them discontinued classes with other teachers who
were not "child friendly", but I have not touched base with all of
them.

Thanks!

Shelly

--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "rumpleteasermom"
<rumpleteasermom@j...> wrote:
> My girls take a chem class that was set up in a very similar way.
The
> teacher was told at the biginning that these people were not to be
> 'tested'. She understands that they are learning and lets them at
it.
> Do the other parents feel as you do? Could you speak to the
teacher?
>
> Bridget
>
> --- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "sjulian60504" <jsjulian@e...>
wrote:
>
> >
> > So what would a true unschooler do? Do I go with the idea that
he
> > understands what kind of teacher she is, and must really be
> > interested, so let him take the class? Or he's young and
forgiving
> > and doesn't realize she'll probably revert to her usual teaching
> > style & he'll come home crying again, so he shouldn't take the
> class?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Shelly

Lynda

I don't think there would be harm to their self-image if they know what they
are going to experience before they get there. If they are aware of the
"teacher's" style and that it is all about the teacher, not about them as
far as grades and doing things a certain way, they should be fine.

None of the kidlets have suffered from attending various classes but they
always know going in that ps is all about competition and, as far as we (the
kidlets and our family) are concerned, a false set a parameters to determine
the worth (did you or didn't you learn) of a class. They feel sorry for
kids that have to attend these classes and that don't have any choices. In
fact, a couple of the kidlets have expressed sorrow for the teachers because
they don't "get" real learning (which we define and as wanting to know
something, finding the answers and enjoying the process).

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "sjulian60504" <jsjulian@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 11:30 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Teachers w/ Non-unschooling Style


> Yes Lynda - I think this was definitely the problem - next time I
> will need to speak directly with the teacher to try and figure out
> how the class will be taught / and what her/his expectations are.
>
> This has also been an opportunity to talk to the kids about different
> teaching styles, and how to decide what they're willing to experience
> if they really want to learn in a particular class environment.
>
> As an unschooler, would you let a child take part, if they wanted to,
> knowing the teacher's style, despite possible harm to self-image?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Shelly
>
>
> --- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "Lynda" <lurine@s...> wrote:
> > Have "you" talked to the teacher and explained what your children's
> > expectations were from this class? Is your local "home" schooling
> group
> > just that or an UNschooling group?
> >
> > If it is being set up by a "home"schooling group, then their
> expectations
> > from the class may be very different from yours and that may be
> where the
> > confusion comes into play.
> >
> > Lynda
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "sjulian60504" <jsjulian@e...>
> > To: <Unschooling-dotcom@y...>
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 8:57 PM
> > Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Teachers w/ Non-unschooling Style
> >
> >
> > > My son and daughter asked to join a class, arranged by our local
> > > homeschool support group at a nearby college, on "Microscopes".
> They
> > > were able to use the college-quality microscopes once a week for
> six
> > > weeks ($80 per child) to check out all kinds of "stuff". They
> > > learned how to use the microscopes, and were very excited about
> > > seeing "stuff" they had gathered at home (our dog's hair, etc.).
> > >
> > > To my horror, one day they came home quite upset because they had
> > > been told that their drawings of what they had seen under the
> > > microscope weren't good enough. Four of the children (my two, and
> > > two friends we carpool with) were asked to draw their pictures
> over
> > > and over again (five-seven times) before they were aloud to "view"
> > > the next item.
> > >
> > > I audibly sucked in air when they told me they had been tested on
> the
> > > last day of class. I thought I would pass out when they started
> to
> > > compare scores, "How many did you get right?". So, yes I learned
> my
> > > lesson........ BUT, as for the kids....... they were excited
> > > because the teacher gave them the same identification test as she
> > > gives her college students, and as a group they performed better
> > > (elementary-aged kids). They stated that she apologized for her
> > > tough drawing standards in the previous sessions, and now my son
> > > wants to take her next "science class".
> > >
> > > So what would a true unschooler do? Do I go with the idea that he
> > > understands what kind of teacher she is, and must really be
> > > interested, so let him take the class? Or he's young and
> forgiving
> > > and doesn't realize she'll probably revert to her usual teaching
> > > style & he'll come home crying again, so he shouldn't take the
> class?
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > Shelly
> > > A mom who loves reading Holt, and is trying to put it into
> practice
> > > despite various insecurities which flare up from time to time!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > Unschooling-dotcom-unsubscribe@y...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
> Visit the Unschooling website:
> http://www.unschooling.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>