thoughts
Bonni Sollars
Today I thought about the possibility of stopping unschooling. Partly
because I've been under a lot of stress lately, thus am susceptible to
self doubt. Partly because I was thinking of how people should get along
with each other through compromise. My husband and father in law have
their own reasons for disagreeing with unschooling. I don't agree with
them. I thought perhaps eclectic homeschooling would be better for the
sake of getting along. But then when I thought it through, and mentioned
it to my son Caleb, who is finally starting to de-school after seven
months of unschooling, he said, "I like reading and writing, but I don't
care much for math." I realized that to appease someone else's worries,
I would be making my kids hate learning specific subjects. Then Caleb
told me how he learns math from monopoly. I decided I'm not going to go
there anymore. I don't want to ruin any future interests or cause total
disinterest in learning for my children. Let them play, I say.
Bonni
because I've been under a lot of stress lately, thus am susceptible to
self doubt. Partly because I was thinking of how people should get along
with each other through compromise. My husband and father in law have
their own reasons for disagreeing with unschooling. I don't agree with
them. I thought perhaps eclectic homeschooling would be better for the
sake of getting along. But then when I thought it through, and mentioned
it to my son Caleb, who is finally starting to de-school after seven
months of unschooling, he said, "I like reading and writing, but I don't
care much for math." I realized that to appease someone else's worries,
I would be making my kids hate learning specific subjects. Then Caleb
told me how he learns math from monopoly. I decided I'm not going to go
there anymore. I don't want to ruin any future interests or cause total
disinterest in learning for my children. Let them play, I say.
Bonni
Bonni Sollars
"Let your husband and his dad play with them!"
They do play cribbage together quite often. The main way my husband
disagrees with unschooling is he is stuck in some strange work ethic
mentality and will interrupt their play to say things like, "Have you
done your schoolwork yet today? Do your schoolwork before you play." It
sabotages everything practically for the whole day. I've talked to him
about not doing it, and he hasn't for a while, but he really doesn't
understand. He does have times now and then where he realizes
unschooling makes sense. His dad mainly objects saying they need to
learn from being around other kids all the time, and where are the tests
proving they are learning. Pretty silly for a man who had three out of
four kids drop out of school. Anyhow, thanks for your insights.
Bonni
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
They do play cribbage together quite often. The main way my husband
disagrees with unschooling is he is stuck in some strange work ethic
mentality and will interrupt their play to say things like, "Have you
done your schoolwork yet today? Do your schoolwork before you play." It
sabotages everything practically for the whole day. I've talked to him
about not doing it, and he hasn't for a while, but he really doesn't
understand. He does have times now and then where he realizes
unschooling makes sense. His dad mainly objects saying they need to
learn from being around other kids all the time, and where are the tests
proving they are learning. Pretty silly for a man who had three out of
four kids drop out of school. Anyhow, thanks for your insights.
Bonni
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/13/02 10:57:36 PM, BSOLLARS@... writes:
<< Let them play, I say. >>
Let your husband and his dad play with them! Yahtzee is great (looks
schoolish from the schoolish end of thinking, and doesn't to people who
haven't been to school). Mastermind for Kids is another good one. Heck,
have them teach him poker if it's not against their religion, and they can
talk about why drawing to an inside straight is not a good idea (although you
can get that from yahtzee too).
Sandra
<< Let them play, I say. >>
Let your husband and his dad play with them! Yahtzee is great (looks
schoolish from the schoolish end of thinking, and doesn't to people who
haven't been to school). Mastermind for Kids is another good one. Heck,
have them teach him poker if it's not against their religion, and they can
talk about why drawing to an inside straight is not a good idea (although you
can get that from yahtzee too).
Sandra
sharon childs
Bonni thank you for that post. You have just given me more insight than you
could imagine.
Please kiss your son for me.
I am going to buy some games and Chaelene is going to start having fun
learning.
So glad I joined this list!!
Sharon.
could imagine.
Please kiss your son for me.
I am going to buy some games and Chaelene is going to start having fun
learning.
So glad I joined this list!!
Sharon.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bonni Sollars" <BSOLLARS@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2002 6:52 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] thoughts
> Today I thought about the possibility of stopping unschooling. Partly
> because I've been under a lot of stress lately, thus am susceptible to
> self doubt. Partly because I was thinking of how people should get along
> with each other through compromise. My husband and father in law have
> their own reasons for disagreeing with unschooling. I don't agree with
> them. I thought perhaps eclectic homeschooling would be better for the
> sake of getting along. But then when I thought it through, and mentioned
> it to my son Caleb, who is finally starting to de-school after seven
> months of unschooling, he said, "I like reading and writing, but I don't
> care much for math." I realized that to appease someone else's worries,
> I would be making my kids hate learning specific subjects. Then Caleb
> told me how he learns math from monopoly. I decided I'm not going to go
> there anymore. I don't want to ruin any future interests or cause total
> disinterest in learning for my children. Let them play, I say.
> Bonni
>
>
> 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/
>
>
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/14/02 2:14:36 AM, BSOLLARS@... writes:
<< "Have you
done your schoolwork yet today? Do your schoolwork before you play." >>
Tell him to keep it to himself, but that cribbage is part of their learning.
<g> Then maybe he'll want to work at playing cribbage even longer before
they "go play."
Sandra
<< "Have you
done your schoolwork yet today? Do your schoolwork before you play." >>
Tell him to keep it to himself, but that cribbage is part of their learning.
<g> Then maybe he'll want to work at playing cribbage even longer before
they "go play."
Sandra
Lynda
If one needed a "proof" moment, youngest (9 yo) had a demonstratable "proof"
moment today. We've never sat her down and explained alphabetizing or done
the whole math thing.
I was fixing lunch when she came running in from the livingroom with a CD in
her hand and asked "Do you use Brian or Adams?" Well, I was clueless and
gave a real intelligent answer, "Huh?" Seems she had decided that our CD
collection was a mess (I agree) and that there should be some organization
to it (hard to do with a half-dozen or so folks rumaging through it <g>).
She pulled all the CDs, put them all the alpha order by singer/group and
then went back through each group and put their CDs in order by their
titles.
She then sat there looking and got a piece of paper. She counted all the
albums and then wrote down the names of artists that had more than one CD
and wrote the number next to their names.
After lunch she asked how to figure out percentages. We dug out her
calculator (she had to have one when the "big boys" decided they wanted to
do chemistry experiments) and the directions and spent a few minutes on
explaining how you do % both on the calculator and on a piece of paper (she
asked 'what if I don't have my calculator).
No coercion, no "stuff" to get her interested, just a trust in her curiosity
and imagination leading her to learn new things.
Lynda
moment today. We've never sat her down and explained alphabetizing or done
the whole math thing.
I was fixing lunch when she came running in from the livingroom with a CD in
her hand and asked "Do you use Brian or Adams?" Well, I was clueless and
gave a real intelligent answer, "Huh?" Seems she had decided that our CD
collection was a mess (I agree) and that there should be some organization
to it (hard to do with a half-dozen or so folks rumaging through it <g>).
She pulled all the CDs, put them all the alpha order by singer/group and
then went back through each group and put their CDs in order by their
titles.
She then sat there looking and got a piece of paper. She counted all the
albums and then wrote down the names of artists that had more than one CD
and wrote the number next to their names.
After lunch she asked how to figure out percentages. We dug out her
calculator (she had to have one when the "big boys" decided they wanted to
do chemistry experiments) and the directions and spent a few minutes on
explaining how you do % both on the calculator and on a piece of paper (she
asked 'what if I don't have my calculator).
No coercion, no "stuff" to get her interested, just a trust in her curiosity
and imagination leading her to learn new things.
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bonni Sollars" <BSOLLARS@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2002 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] thoughts
> "Let your husband and his dad play with them!"
> They do play cribbage together quite often. The main way my husband
> disagrees with unschooling is he is stuck in some strange work ethic
> mentality and will interrupt their play to say things like, "Have you
> done your schoolwork yet today? Do your schoolwork before you play." It
> sabotages everything practically for the whole day. I've talked to him
> about not doing it, and he hasn't for a while, but he really doesn't
> understand. He does have times now and then where he realizes
> unschooling makes sense. His dad mainly objects saying they need to
> learn from being around other kids all the time, and where are the tests
> proving they are learning. Pretty silly for a man who had three out of
> four kids drop out of school. Anyhow, thanks for your insights.
> Bonni
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> 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/
>
>
Tia Leschke
>Maybe at that point you could say something like, "They *are* doing their
>They do play cribbage together quite often. The main way my husband
>disagrees with unschooling is he is stuck in some strange work ethic
>mentality and will interrupt their play to say things like, "Have you
>done your schoolwork yet today? Do your schoolwork before you play."
schoolwork. Look at the things they're learning." And then translate what
they're doing into Educationese.
Playing with lego - learning about ratios and fractions and architecture
Or whatever they're doing. There's almost always some kind of Educationese
you can use to describe what they're doing.
It might help to keep a journal of their activities for a while. Just jot
down what they've been doing. You could even turn it into a "report card"
for him by translating it into . . . You guessed it. Educationese.
Tia
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
*********************************************
Tia Leschke
leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
Bonni Sollars
Thank you, Linda, for that wonderful story. I will certainly show it to
my husband!
Bonni
my husband!
Bonni
Bonni Sollars
It might help to keep a journal of their activities for a while. Just
jot
down what they've been doing. You could even turn it into a "report
card"
for him by translating it into . . . You guessed it. Educationese.
Tia
Tia, Thank you! That is a great idea !
Bonni
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
jot
down what they've been doing. You could even turn it into a "report
card"
for him by translating it into . . . You guessed it. Educationese.
Tia
Tia, Thank you! That is a great idea !
Bonni
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Lynda
Youngest kidlet is a journal "nut." All the kidlets have daytimers. they
jot all kinds of things in them that can be used as "proof" that they are
learning things if it were ever to become necessary. Back in the dark ages
when the mil from h*ll was around and homeschooling was done underground, we
did "cya" by using a calendar to translate stuff/things/activities into
schooleze. Also, all the kidlets each had a bankbox that they kept their
"save zees" in.
Not too long ago we went through some of the old boxes and they were even
amazed at the things they were doing and when.
and we had a fun day of "remember when" and "wow, I remember that" and even
a couple of "let's do that again."
Lynda
jot all kinds of things in them that can be used as "proof" that they are
learning things if it were ever to become necessary. Back in the dark ages
when the mil from h*ll was around and homeschooling was done underground, we
did "cya" by using a calendar to translate stuff/things/activities into
schooleze. Also, all the kidlets each had a bankbox that they kept their
"save zees" in.
Not too long ago we went through some of the old boxes and they were even
amazed at the things they were doing and when.
and we had a fun day of "remember when" and "wow, I remember that" and even
a couple of "let's do that again."
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bonni Sollars" <BSOLLARS@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 3:57 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] thoughts
> It might help to keep a journal of their activities for a while. Just
> jot
> down what they've been doing. You could even turn it into a "report
> card"
> for him by translating it into . . . You guessed it. Educationese.
> Tia
> Tia, Thank you! That is a great idea !
> Bonni
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> 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/
>
>
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/14/2002 7:19:16 PM Central Daylight Time,
lurine@... writes:
too.
My six yo is constantly asking us to spell things out for him wherever we go.
Well, last week he was intrigued by the tag on his shoes that told him where
they were made. So, he started looking for "Made In" tags on all kinds of
stuff around the house.
Before I knew it, he was writing down these names on a piece of paper. Names
that he couldn't even pronounce because he can't read. But, he knew they
were places in the world because someone had told him that.
After he had the names written out, he came to me and asked if I could show
him where all these places were, so we went to the world map and started
looking at all the different countries. He wanted to know what their flags
looked like, what the people ate, everything.
We also got into a deep and involved conversation with him and a few other
kids who were around about how many of these workers aren't paid fair wages
and what we can do to change this.
Then, yesterday, without even a prod, my other son (13) said, Hey Thomas, why
don't we make tags describing the product and strings down to the country
where they were made. So, they spent about four hours looking all over the
house for stuff and writing...shoes-China and putting these tags on the map.
Now, I know part of my pride here is that I'm still a very green unschooler
and I'm probably searching for the academics in all this. But, I was also
just really happy to see them having fun so naturally and getting enthused
about something that in school might be called "Geography" or "Economics" or
"Social Studies."
I'd love to hear other fun discovery stories. Some days all we do is lie
around and read RedWall. That's good, too, only my voice gets sore!
Caro
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
lurine@... writes:
> No coercion, no "stuff" to get her interested, just a trust in her curiosityThanks for sharing this, Lynda. I love hearing these stories. I have one,
> and <<imagination leading her to learn new things.>>
too.
My six yo is constantly asking us to spell things out for him wherever we go.
Well, last week he was intrigued by the tag on his shoes that told him where
they were made. So, he started looking for "Made In" tags on all kinds of
stuff around the house.
Before I knew it, he was writing down these names on a piece of paper. Names
that he couldn't even pronounce because he can't read. But, he knew they
were places in the world because someone had told him that.
After he had the names written out, he came to me and asked if I could show
him where all these places were, so we went to the world map and started
looking at all the different countries. He wanted to know what their flags
looked like, what the people ate, everything.
We also got into a deep and involved conversation with him and a few other
kids who were around about how many of these workers aren't paid fair wages
and what we can do to change this.
Then, yesterday, without even a prod, my other son (13) said, Hey Thomas, why
don't we make tags describing the product and strings down to the country
where they were made. So, they spent about four hours looking all over the
house for stuff and writing...shoes-China and putting these tags on the map.
Now, I know part of my pride here is that I'm still a very green unschooler
and I'm probably searching for the academics in all this. But, I was also
just really happy to see them having fun so naturally and getting enthused
about something that in school might be called "Geography" or "Economics" or
"Social Studies."
I'd love to hear other fun discovery stories. Some days all we do is lie
around and read RedWall. That's good, too, only my voice gets sore!
Caro
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Lynda
I sit back a lot and am totally amazed at how one simple little thing can
lead to such an amazing journey of discovery. No prodding, no "you have to
learn this by", just plain old joy of learning.
Lynda
lead to such an amazing journey of discovery. No prodding, no "you have to
learn this by", just plain old joy of learning.
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: <Burkfamily@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 9:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] thoughts
> In a message dated 4/14/2002 7:19:16 PM Central Daylight Time,
> lurine@... writes:
>
>
> > No coercion, no "stuff" to get her interested, just a trust in her
curiosity
> > and <<imagination leading her to learn new things.>>
>
> Thanks for sharing this, Lynda. I love hearing these stories. I have
one,
> too.
>
> My six yo is constantly asking us to spell things out for him wherever we
go.
> Well, last week he was intrigued by the tag on his shoes that told him
where
> they were made. So, he started looking for "Made In" tags on all kinds of
> stuff around the house.
>
> Before I knew it, he was writing down these names on a piece of paper.
Names
> that he couldn't even pronounce because he can't read. But, he knew they
> were places in the world because someone had told him that.
>
> After he had the names written out, he came to me and asked if I could
show
> him where all these places were, so we went to the world map and started
> looking at all the different countries. He wanted to know what their
flags
> looked like, what the people ate, everything.
>
> We also got into a deep and involved conversation with him and a few other
> kids who were around about how many of these workers aren't paid fair
wages
> and what we can do to change this.
>
> Then, yesterday, without even a prod, my other son (13) said, Hey Thomas,
why
> don't we make tags describing the product and strings down to the country
> where they were made. So, they spent about four hours looking all over
the
> house for stuff and writing...shoes-China and putting these tags on the
map.
>
> Now, I know part of my pride here is that I'm still a very green
unschooler
> and I'm probably searching for the academics in all this. But, I was also
> just really happy to see them having fun so naturally and getting enthused
> about something that in school might be called "Geography" or "Economics"
or
> "Social Studies."
>
> I'd love to hear other fun discovery stories. Some days all we do is lie
> around and read RedWall. That's good, too, only my voice gets sore!
>
> Caro
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> 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/
>
>
joanna514
>is lie
> I'd love to hear other fun discovery stories. Some days all we do
> around and read RedWall. That's good, too, only my voice gets sore!Well, since yours was about maps, it reminded me of my son being
>
> Caro
>
>
interested in all the flags at the bottom of our world map on the
wall. Under each was the country and the coordinates on the map to
locate it. We made up a describe the flag, find it and find the
country on the map game. It was fun, and I learned a lot about where
places are that I have heard of, and places I didn't know existed.
(ooops, this was suppose to be about *his* learning....;-) )
And ofcoarse it led to lots of conversations about places people we
know had been, things I knew about a place and things he knew about a
place. I know so much more about the world and where things are
since we started homeschooling. It's a BIG world!!!
Joanna
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/17/2002 8:29:59 AM Central Daylight Time,
Wilkinson6@... writes:
<<> (ooops, this was suppose to be about *his* learning....;-) >>
Wilkinson6@... writes:
<<> (ooops, this was suppose to be about *his* learning....;-) >>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> Oh no, it's not! That's what is so fun about it...my brain is discovering
> great new things through my kids. In fact, I'm so lucky to have them. I
> think my brain would atrophy without the stimulation they bring!
>
>
Julie Stauffer
<<I think its just part of being a team>>
Oh I agree completely. It is just that it has become a pattern for the kids
to get involved in things and then I remind them (we also checklist some)
and it just gets put off and put off.
I have realized while thinking about this that part of it is me. I have a
real hangup about responsibility. It drives me insane for people to say
"I'll do that" and then not do it and end up inconveniencing everyone. It
aggravates me with kids and drives me insane with adults. Perhaps a control
issue?
Julie--who doesn't work well in groups
Oh I agree completely. It is just that it has become a pattern for the kids
to get involved in things and then I remind them (we also checklist some)
and it just gets put off and put off.
I have realized while thinking about this that part of it is me. I have a
real hangup about responsibility. It drives me insane for people to say
"I'll do that" and then not do it and end up inconveniencing everyone. It
aggravates me with kids and drives me insane with adults. Perhaps a control
issue?
Julie--who doesn't work well in groups