Karin

Wonderful post, Ren!
I love all your ideas. They're so inspirational!
Hey, I think YOU should be speaking at the conference, too.
I always get a lot out of things you say.
I love your unschooling spirit - it's contagious! :o)

Karin



starsuncloud@... wrote:

> In a message dated 4/21/02 4:33:07 PM Central Daylight Time,
> [email protected] writes:
>
> << Could someone give examples of "offering" information in a non-lesson-y
> way?
> >>
>
> I think that this is a great question. And something I really struggled
with
> at first because my kids were so used to me trying to "teach" something
> ,instead of just offering, that they initially resisted. So part of this
> equation, and undoubtedly the most important one, is the issue of trust
> between parent and child.
> If the child knows that you trust them and they can trust you not to push
> something they don't want, they will be MUCH more willing to try.
>
> The other part of this equation is something that Sandra has dubbed
> "strewing". I love the picture of a parent liberally strewing a path
before a
> child, rather than following along behind prodding and poking.
> What does strewing consist of in this house?
> Here are a few ideas......If one of my children chooses not to check
anything
> out at the library, I might just grab (without saying anything) a few
books,
> cassettes or movies I think they'd like....or maybe just ones that
interest
> ME. I leave these in obvious places at home and quite often they get
picked
> up and used. I don't prod, I don't say demeaning things about they
"should"
> check something out. I just make things available.
> If it's something really interesting, I may bring it to their attention
and
> leave it at that.
> So there's one example of "strewing".
> Another is to leave interesting books you have at home, lying in an
unusual
> place where it might get noticed. The bathroom is ideal, as people are
> sometimes "hanging out' in there for a while. LOL
> Strewing can be casual, inviting. That's what you're doing...inviting. It
may
> be totally ignored, that's fine. It might be picked up....the point is
you're
> offering.
>
> Another thing I enjoy, is to pick up the listing of local events. I will
> peruse the paper for interesting events and activities and mention them. I
> also give them the paper and ask them to tell me if anything catches their
> eye.
>
> I think part of the key for me, is to offer the information in a
respectful
> method...just as I would to dh. "Hey, this sounds really cool, why don't
we
> go try this" is a lot more inviting than "you should really try this
class, I
> think you'd learn a lot".
> Although the wording is a very individual thing, I think the idea is to
> offer, but respect a "NO".....or a "maybe" as much as a "yes".
>
> Another part of this equation in my opinion is the level of interest for
the
> parent.
> If you get excited about something, it is very likely to spill over to
other
> individuals in the house....just as their excitement hopefully gets you
going.
> If you have varied interests that you're willing to explore, this really
sets
> the tone for the children.
> Show them the wide world of opportunities, offer up many options, but be
> respectful of them as individuals. Look at them as your companions in
> learning instead of a person that needs knowledge imparted to them and
you'll
> be well on your way to this concept of strewing!!
> If you'd like to read more about how other people "strew their paths"
there
> is a thread titled just that at unschooling.com message board, full of
> wonderful ideas.
> Ren
>