Karin

>
> Actually, that's why I put quotes around the word "curriculum" - because
it
> really isn't a curriculum per se, but a plan of action. It's parental
> guidance for child-led activities. In other words, we want to do a
thematic
> child-led program but I feel there needs to be some parental guidance for
> logistics sake. So, the plan right now (and like I said, I'm just
learning
> all this, so I'd love feedback from you!) is to sit down with my daughter
> before our "nonschool" year starts and talk about themes she'd like to
> pursue next year. She's already told me she's interested in endangered
> species, so we'll probably start there. Then, if we have any activities
> that need special materials or advanced notice (like a trip to the
Aquarium,
> you have to buy your tickets in advance, etc.) then we'll plan those
first.
> Having a plan of action is more what I meant. I guess I should've been
more
> clear - my apologies!!
>
> Jo Anna


Hi Jo Anna,

How about having no plan of action? I know that can sound scary, especially
to someone who is new to homeschooling or especially unschooling. But
honestly, in our house, we have no plan of action, we have no "school year",
we have no themes or child-led activities that are being planned that my 2
kids want to pursue next year.

However, since your daughter has expressed an interest in edangered species,
it's great to pursue that interest. How about starting today or tomorrow
instead of waiting for the "appropriate time" to begin? Forgive me if I'm
not accurately understanding your plans for unschooling your daughter, but
this is just my impression from what you've written.

The reason I love unschooling is because we are so free to learn about
whatever we want to, on any given day, at any given moment. There are no
plans in place to restrict us. One interest effortlessly leads into another
linked interest, and that is how we learn about things every day, all year.
It is also so natural to learn in this manner! I homeschooled my 2 boys for
5 years before unschooling, and everytime I asked my kids "what would you
like to learn about?", first they would say "I don't know", then I would
press and they would give me some answer like "airplanes" and I tried to
follow through with some contrived thematic unit about "airplanes", and it
all seemed so false and unnatural! The kids weren't really interested in it
and were quick to let me know that.

So, I think it is good to help your child learn about what interests them,
but when they start resisting and saying they don't want to do a certain
scheduled activity, it's time to back off because the learning isn't
happening anymore, IMO. And I know that's true about how *I* learn things,
too. When my DH starts talking to me about JAVA programming, my eyes glaze
over and I want to run out of the room! But when I want to learn something
specific to help myself on the computer, I ask him about it and I learn it
immediately, and retain it.

Well, that's how we do unschooling at our house. What has your experience
been with your children?

Karin

gruvystarchild

So, the plan right now (and like I said, I'm just
learning
> all this, so I'd love feedback from you!) is to sit down with my
daughter
> before our "nonschool" year starts and talk about themes she'd like
to
> pursue next year. She's already told me she's interested in
endangered
> species, so we'll probably start there. Then, if we have any
activities
> that need special materials or advanced notice (like a trip to the
Aquarium,
> you have to buy your tickets in advance, etc.) then we'll plan those
first.

This sounds very much like the way I did things prior to total
unschooling. We had a lot of fun, but I do see now how I was keeping
us "boxed in" so to speak.
I was sending the message that learning happened at a certain time
and place and that we should plan for it.
I'm not disparaging having a "plan" as far as working out what
tickets you need and all....but it's the same type of planning I do
with dh really.
If it helps people transition into unschooling and if your child is
happy doing things that way, then great! I know it really helped my
transition, and the kids had fun with the things I planned based on
their interests.
I think of unschooling as very serendipitous.....moments seem to find
their way to us as we open ourselves to possibilities and seeing the
entire world as our playground!!
Ren