Stupid question
diamond_h2o
Hi I am new here I have 2 boys 7 and 3 and after the older one
suffered thru 2 years of public school I just started homeschool. I
am trying to unschool and I found the kids do great at it and learn
alot. The only subject I can't think of how to do is math. When the
kids are interested we measure in different ways and the money thing
is on going but how will my kids learn multiplication and division
and such?
suffered thru 2 years of public school I just started homeschool. I
am trying to unschool and I found the kids do great at it and learn
alot. The only subject I can't think of how to do is math. When the
kids are interested we measure in different ways and the money thing
is on going but how will my kids learn multiplication and division
and such?
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/7/02 5:00:47 PM, diamond_h2o@... writes:
<< The only subject I can't think of how to do is math. When the
kids are interested we measure in different ways and the money thing
is on going but how will my kids learn multiplication and division
and such? >>
It's not a stupid question, but don't worry. it happens.
My kids divide in their heads. They don't write down the problems they way
they looked when I went to school, but they understand it better and can do
it better than I could. When/if they really need some long division with
decimals and there's no calculator at hand (because that's what they do now
with bigger problems than they can handle), they'll ask and someone will show
them. But until then, they're doing two and three digit stuff mentally,
however they figured it out.
Yesterday Holly and I were looking at a site of school-year stuff because a
friend's husband is going crazy about unschooling and we're trying to find
her some stuff to keep him shushed. Holly asked what prime numbers were.
(That was listed as a fourth grade thing.) I showed her the first few, and
she said "Don't show me any more, I want to figure it out myself." So she
went off and was going through the numbers finding more primes. She came and
asked me questions after a while, twice, and then went back to it. She'll
think of it off and on for the rest of her life. There's not going to be a
test, or a report. She gets it already.
We have games that use mathematical principles and some of the best don't
even have numbers involved. A board game called "Bazaar" (look at thrift
stores, because it's out of print). Computer games:
The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis
Math Arena (general concepts, not all low level, very cool, some numbers)
Treasure Math Storm (some numbers)
Treasure Mountain (patterns)
Third Grade Adventure
If you go to www.unschooling.com and look for math topics you'll find lots of
ideas.
And I'm guessing that www.google.com might cough up some good stuff if you
enter math and unschooling. And you might find ten references to people
asking how they will learn math, but it does work, it just works differently.
They learn the language and manner of mathematical thinking first and THEN
factoids.
Sandra
<< The only subject I can't think of how to do is math. When the
kids are interested we measure in different ways and the money thing
is on going but how will my kids learn multiplication and division
and such? >>
It's not a stupid question, but don't worry. it happens.
My kids divide in their heads. They don't write down the problems they way
they looked when I went to school, but they understand it better and can do
it better than I could. When/if they really need some long division with
decimals and there's no calculator at hand (because that's what they do now
with bigger problems than they can handle), they'll ask and someone will show
them. But until then, they're doing two and three digit stuff mentally,
however they figured it out.
Yesterday Holly and I were looking at a site of school-year stuff because a
friend's husband is going crazy about unschooling and we're trying to find
her some stuff to keep him shushed. Holly asked what prime numbers were.
(That was listed as a fourth grade thing.) I showed her the first few, and
she said "Don't show me any more, I want to figure it out myself." So she
went off and was going through the numbers finding more primes. She came and
asked me questions after a while, twice, and then went back to it. She'll
think of it off and on for the rest of her life. There's not going to be a
test, or a report. She gets it already.
We have games that use mathematical principles and some of the best don't
even have numbers involved. A board game called "Bazaar" (look at thrift
stores, because it's out of print). Computer games:
The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis
Math Arena (general concepts, not all low level, very cool, some numbers)
Treasure Math Storm (some numbers)
Treasure Mountain (patterns)
Third Grade Adventure
If you go to www.unschooling.com and look for math topics you'll find lots of
ideas.
And I'm guessing that www.google.com might cough up some good stuff if you
enter math and unschooling. And you might find ten references to people
asking how they will learn math, but it does work, it just works differently.
They learn the language and manner of mathematical thinking first and THEN
factoids.
Sandra
Shelly G
--- SandraDodd@... wrote:
want to read "Learning all the Time" by John Holt. I
found it was very helpful in building the faith in me
that children really to have the capacity to learn
what they need, when they need, how they need. (And
without being "taught" ... wow!)
Shelly
=====
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does." -- Margaret Mead
__________________________________________________
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http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
>> It's not a stupid question, but don't worry. itI would add to Sandra's suggestions that you might
> happens.
>
want to read "Learning all the Time" by John Holt. I
found it was very helpful in building the faith in me
that children really to have the capacity to learn
what they need, when they need, how they need. (And
without being "taught" ... wow!)
Shelly
=====
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does." -- Margaret Mead
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/7/02 5:36:32 PM, shellyrae00@... writes:
<< I would add to Sandra's suggestions that you might
want to read "Learning all the Time" by John Holt. >>
Oh yes. It's sitting right here on my desk. <g>
Read all the Holt you can find and it will fill you with confidence.
Sandra
<< I would add to Sandra's suggestions that you might
want to read "Learning all the Time" by John Holt. >>
Oh yes. It's sitting right here on my desk. <g>
Read all the Holt you can find and it will fill you with confidence.
Sandra
Amy Thomlinson
Thank you so much. I know that my kids learn best
with unschooling because they tend to be a bit
stubborn about things and I am alot stubborn about
things and curriculum based homeschooling would amount
to us sitting at the table yelling at each other all
day whereas when they see something that interests
them they want to learn all about it and there are no
problems. That is impressive about the prime numbers
thing. Her finding out on her own means she will
always remember...very cool.
--- SandraDodd@... wrote:
If God meant for us to go around naked we would be born that way!
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
with unschooling because they tend to be a bit
stubborn about things and I am alot stubborn about
things and curriculum based homeschooling would amount
to us sitting at the table yelling at each other all
day whereas when they see something that interests
them they want to learn all about it and there are no
problems. That is impressive about the prime numbers
thing. Her finding out on her own means she will
always remember...very cool.
--- SandraDodd@... wrote:
>=====
> In a message dated 6/7/02 5:00:47 PM,
> diamond_h2o@... writes:
>
> << The only subject I can't think of how to do is
> math. When the
> kids are interested we measure in different ways and
> the money thing
> is on going but how will my kids learn
> multiplication and division
> and such? >>
>
> It's not a stupid question, but don't worry. it
> happens.
>
> My kids divide in their heads. They don't write
> down the problems they way
> they looked when I went to school, but they
> understand it better and can do
> it better than I could. When/if they really need
> some long division with
> decimals and there's no calculator at hand (because
> that's what they do now
> with bigger problems than they can handle), they'll
> ask and someone will show
> them. But until then, they're doing two and three
> digit stuff mentally,
> however they figured it out.
>
> Yesterday Holly and I were looking at a site of
> school-year stuff because a
> friend's husband is going crazy about unschooling
> and we're trying to find
> her some stuff to keep him shushed. Holly asked
> what prime numbers were.
> (That was listed as a fourth grade thing.) I showed
> her the first few, and
> she said "Don't show me any more, I want to figure
> it out myself." So she
> went off and was going through the numbers finding
> more primes. She came and
> asked me questions after a while, twice, and then
> went back to it. She'll
> think of it off and on for the rest of her life.
> There's not going to be a
> test, or a report. She gets it already.
>
> We have games that use mathematical principles and
> some of the best don't
> even have numbers involved. A board game called
> "Bazaar" (look at thrift
> stores, because it's out of print). Computer
> games:
> The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis
> Math Arena (general concepts, not all low level,
> very cool, some numbers)
> Treasure Math Storm (some numbers)
> Treasure Mountain (patterns)
> Third Grade Adventure
>
> If you go to www.unschooling.com and look for math
> topics you'll find lots of
> ideas.
>
> And I'm guessing that www.google.com might cough up
> some good stuff if you
> enter math and unschooling. And you might find ten
> references to people
> asking how they will learn math, but it does work,
> it just works differently.
> They learn the language and manner of mathematical
> thinking first and THEN
> factoids.
>
> Sandra
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
> ~~~ Don't forget! If you change the topic, change
> the subject line! ~~~
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> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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>
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>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
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>
>
If God meant for us to go around naked we would be born that way!
__________________________________________________
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Fetteroll
on 6/7/02 6:59 PM, diamond_h2o at diamond_h2o@... wrote:
counterpart than any other "subject". Because real life math is about
discovering how numbers work rather than memorizing formulas to impose on
numbers.
Real life math is, as an example, casually encountering percentages in a
dozen different contexts and therefore slowly building up an idea of what
percentages are and how they're used.
It's similar to the process of how we acquire new words. Usually when we're
reading or listening to conversations we don't run and get the dictionary to
look up a word we don't know. Generally we can get a good enough idea of its
meaning from the context. And the next time we encounter it we add another
facet to our understanding and the fuzzy impression of what the word means
gets a bit more clear. And so on. The process probably accounts for our
often not being able to define a word for someone else that we've not only
read and heard dozens of times but even used.
For some reason people think multiplication and division are such difficult
subjects that, after algebra, that's the one thing they question under "how
will they learn?" But once a child realizes that multiplication is just a
fast way to do repeated addition and that division is just a fast way to do
repeated subtraction, a great deal of what causes math phobia in adults
disappears. Multiplication and division aren't mysterious at all. They're
just computation short cuts.
One thing I've found helpful is expressing things in a couple of different
ways. When we've come across percents, I've said "17% or 17 out of every
100," or "25% is the same as a quarter."
Another thing is solving problems out loud without pencil and paper so they
can see how numbers can be manipulated. So for instance to add 138 + 53.
(Hmm, a bit tougher than I normally pull off the top of my head! ;-) but
kids *do* pick up on the process when they hear similar processes dozens of
times.) 39 is almost 40 and 53 is almost 50. 40+50 is 90. But we added 2 to
the 38 so we need to take away 2 from 90. And we subtracted 3 from the 53 so
we need to add 3. That brings us up to 91. Then just add 100. So 191.
Joyce
> The only subject I can't think of how to do is math. When theReal life math probably bears the least resemblance to it's schoolish
> kids are interested we measure in different ways and the money thing
> is on going but how will my kids learn multiplication and division
> and such?
counterpart than any other "subject". Because real life math is about
discovering how numbers work rather than memorizing formulas to impose on
numbers.
Real life math is, as an example, casually encountering percentages in a
dozen different contexts and therefore slowly building up an idea of what
percentages are and how they're used.
It's similar to the process of how we acquire new words. Usually when we're
reading or listening to conversations we don't run and get the dictionary to
look up a word we don't know. Generally we can get a good enough idea of its
meaning from the context. And the next time we encounter it we add another
facet to our understanding and the fuzzy impression of what the word means
gets a bit more clear. And so on. The process probably accounts for our
often not being able to define a word for someone else that we've not only
read and heard dozens of times but even used.
For some reason people think multiplication and division are such difficult
subjects that, after algebra, that's the one thing they question under "how
will they learn?" But once a child realizes that multiplication is just a
fast way to do repeated addition and that division is just a fast way to do
repeated subtraction, a great deal of what causes math phobia in adults
disappears. Multiplication and division aren't mysterious at all. They're
just computation short cuts.
One thing I've found helpful is expressing things in a couple of different
ways. When we've come across percents, I've said "17% or 17 out of every
100," or "25% is the same as a quarter."
Another thing is solving problems out loud without pencil and paper so they
can see how numbers can be manipulated. So for instance to add 138 + 53.
(Hmm, a bit tougher than I normally pull off the top of my head! ;-) but
kids *do* pick up on the process when they hear similar processes dozens of
times.) 39 is almost 40 and 53 is almost 50. 40+50 is 90. But we added 2 to
the 38 so we need to take away 2 from 90. And we subtracted 3 from the 53 so
we need to add 3. That brings us up to 91. Then just add 100. So 191.
Joyce
j. p. canouse
From: jpcc@...
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 12:20 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Stupid question
subtraction are the same thing backwards...multiplication and division same
thing in reverse.
With the fingers of both hands you can teach a lot of ASMD. With your palms
facing you, you count starting with the thumb of the right hand as1, the
forefinger 2, middle 3, pinky 5. The pinky of the left hand is 6, and the
left thumb is 10. Your boys will read it going from their left to
right...you, right to left---this is necessary to avoid any dyslexia
problem. We've been conditioned to be embarrassed using fingers to count,
but it's natural to kids and they grow out of the habit. Tell your kids that
the word digits or digital comes from the word finger.
Your boys learned all by themselves " how to do talk " - arithmetic is just
as natural and much easier than learning a language. The biggest mistake
most new unschoolers make is trying to teach "math" as a monumental task.
Teach arithmetic and it becomes as simple as 1,2,3!!!
To multiply by tens, open and close both hands rapidly {palms facing you}
saying 10, 20, 30,----up to 100. Do this as a play thing NOT INSTRUCTION,
and they will catch on quickly and begin mimicking you.
Show division by opening up both hands fully, close one hand and take it out
of sight as you say "half of ten is five", etc..
J. P.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/ehaLqB/Fg5DAA/Ey.GAA/0xXolB/TM
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 12:20 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Stupid question
> The only subject I can't think of how to do is math.Forget "math" it's a "scare" word. Do plain old arithmetic - addition and
> but how will my kids learn multiplication and division
> and such
subtraction are the same thing backwards...multiplication and division same
thing in reverse.
With the fingers of both hands you can teach a lot of ASMD. With your palms
facing you, you count starting with the thumb of the right hand as1, the
forefinger 2, middle 3, pinky 5. The pinky of the left hand is 6, and the
left thumb is 10. Your boys will read it going from their left to
right...you, right to left---this is necessary to avoid any dyslexia
problem. We've been conditioned to be embarrassed using fingers to count,
but it's natural to kids and they grow out of the habit. Tell your kids that
the word digits or digital comes from the word finger.
Your boys learned all by themselves " how to do talk " - arithmetic is just
as natural and much easier than learning a language. The biggest mistake
most new unschoolers make is trying to teach "math" as a monumental task.
Teach arithmetic and it becomes as simple as 1,2,3!!!
To multiply by tens, open and close both hands rapidly {palms facing you}
saying 10, 20, 30,----up to 100. Do this as a play thing NOT INSTRUCTION,
and they will catch on quickly and begin mimicking you.
Show division by opening up both hands fully, close one hand and take it out
of sight as you say "half of ten is five", etc..
J. P.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/ehaLqB/Fg5DAA/Ey.GAA/0xXolB/TM
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
>
> ~~~ Don't forget! If you change the topic, change the subject line! ~~~
>
> 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 6/10/02 2:55:31 PM, jpcc@... writes:
<< The biggest mistake
most new unschoolers make is trying to teach "math" as a monumental task.
Teach arithmetic and it becomes as simple as 1,2,3!!! >>
But truly you don't have to "teach" either one. They will figure it out, and
the more actual reason there is to count, add, subtract, measure, wonder, the
easier it will be for them to discover it.
<<To multiply by tens, open and close both hands rapidly {palms facing you}
saying 10, 20, 30,----up to 100. Do this as a play thing NOT INSTRUCTION,
and they will catch on quickly and begin mimicking you.>>
There's no big rush, though. If they're young enough not to know what the
words mean without finger play, there's REALLY no rush.
There's a going-to-sleep tape called "Sounds Like Fun" that my kids listened
to a lot that had a counting-by-tens. If they hadn't cared it would have
been just another song, and since they did care, they learned it without
discussion or teaching.
Sandra
<< The biggest mistake
most new unschoolers make is trying to teach "math" as a monumental task.
Teach arithmetic and it becomes as simple as 1,2,3!!! >>
But truly you don't have to "teach" either one. They will figure it out, and
the more actual reason there is to count, add, subtract, measure, wonder, the
easier it will be for them to discover it.
<<To multiply by tens, open and close both hands rapidly {palms facing you}
saying 10, 20, 30,----up to 100. Do this as a play thing NOT INSTRUCTION,
and they will catch on quickly and begin mimicking you.>>
There's no big rush, though. If they're young enough not to know what the
words mean without finger play, there's REALLY no rush.
There's a going-to-sleep tape called "Sounds Like Fun" that my kids listened
to a lot that had a counting-by-tens. If they hadn't cared it would have
been just another song, and since they did care, they learned it without
discussion or teaching.
Sandra
Amy Thomlinson
I still count on my fingers and I am trying to teach
my oldest son to do this...he used to but 2 years of
public school taught him isn't allowed to and
unteaching that is hard. I am going to get an
abacus for him to play with, but they have to be
ordered because places around me dont sell those
anymore. My older son loved math until school and
after 2 years of saxon math where he was only
expected to do only addition and subtraction he
thinks math is stupid. But i majored in math and
counted on my fingers and do math faster with my
fingers than most people can with calculators
--- "j. p. canouse" <jpcc@...> wrote:
If God meant for us to go around naked we would be born that way!
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
my oldest son to do this...he used to but 2 years of
public school taught him isn't allowed to and
unteaching that is hard. I am going to get an
abacus for him to play with, but they have to be
ordered because places around me dont sell those
anymore. My older son loved math until school and
after 2 years of saxon math where he was only
expected to do only addition and subtraction he
thinks math is stupid. But i majored in math and
counted on my fingers and do math faster with my
fingers than most people can with calculators
--- "j. p. canouse" <jpcc@...> wrote:
>http://us.click.yahoo.com/ehaLqB/Fg5DAA/Ey.GAA/0xXolB/TM
> From: jpcc@...
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 12:20 AM
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Stupid question
>
>
> > The only subject I can't think of how to do is
> math.
> > but how will my kids learn multiplication and
> division
> > and such
> Forget "math" it's a "scare" word. Do plain old
> arithmetic - addition and
> subtraction are the same thing
> backwards...multiplication and division same
> thing in reverse.
>
> With the fingers of both hands you can teach a lot
> of ASMD. With your palms
> facing you, you count starting with the thumb of the
> right hand as1, the
> forefinger 2, middle 3, pinky 5. The pinky of the
> left hand is 6, and the
> left thumb is 10. Your boys will read it going from
> their left to
> right...you, right to left---this is necessary to
> avoid any dyslexia
> problem. We've been conditioned to be embarrassed
> using fingers to count,
> but it's natural to kids and they grow out of the
> habit. Tell your kids that
> the word digits or digital comes from the word
> finger.
>
> Your boys learned all by themselves " how to do talk
> " - arithmetic is just
> as natural and much easier than learning a language.
> The biggest mistake
> most new unschoolers make is trying to teach "math"
> as a monumental task.
> Teach arithmetic and it becomes as simple as
> 1,2,3!!!
>
> To multiply by tens, open and close both hands
> rapidly {palms facing you}
> saying 10, 20, 30,----up to 100. Do this as a play
> thing NOT INSTRUCTION,
> and they will catch on quickly and begin mimicking
> you.
>
> Show division by opening up both hands fully, close
> one hand and take it out
> of sight as you say "half of ten is five", etc..
>
> J. P.
>
>
>
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
>
> >=====
> > ~~~ Don't forget! If you change the topic, change
> the subject line! ~~~
> >
> > 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/
> >
> >
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
> ~~~ Don't forget! If you change the topic, change
> the subject line! ~~~
>
> 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/
>
>
If God meant for us to go around naked we would be born that way!
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/10/02 4:08:53 PM, diamond_h2o@... writes:
<< I am going to get an
abacus for him to play with, but they have to be
ordered because places around me dont sell those
anymore. >>
Asian markets.
If there's an Asian grocery store of gift shop they'll probably have one.
<< I am going to get an
abacus for him to play with, but they have to be
ordered because places around me dont sell those
anymore. >>
Asian markets.
If there's an Asian grocery store of gift shop they'll probably have one.
Caroline
Hi guys...I'm relatively new here and have been reading most of the posts
coming through (I say most because you guys post a whole lot and I don't
have time to read it all lol).
Anyway, I wanted to make a little remark about the whole math/life
thing. I agree completely that math is one of the most confusing things to
realize that you actually are teaching, but one of the easiest things to
teach!!
I have been homeschooling my son for about two years now. He just turned
9. We are pretty much unschoolers, unless he goes to his grandparents
where they request that I send school work, which he is just fine with! He
thinks it is kind of fun to do with his grandma, so I send stuff they can
do together.
Anyway, just to share a little story:
We were at our Friday night open gym at the gymnastics place when my son
came running up to me and asked, "Mom, do I know fractions?" I told him
yes, fractions are like the 1/4, 1/2 stuff we always mess around with. He
was satisfied with that answer and ran back off again to play. Later on I
asked him why he asked me that. He told me that one of the little girls
that was there had learned he was homeschooled and was trying to figure out
if he learned the same kinds of things she did in school. I personally
thought that was quite comical! Especially when my son is always asking to
learn stuff about math. He started asking me about multiplication when he
was about 6...then wanted to learn division right away. So we talked about
it, worked out a few little problems, and he just keeps plugging away at
asking his questions. He has no idea how much he actually knows and this
question really struck me funny, because even in our conversations of how
things work, he now knows how to add fractions, so I know he is figuring
something out here!!
I also wanted to say that I too have a great challenge in getting my family
to understand why I am homeschooling and that I plan on doing this until
the end! My mother is a Kindergarten teacher, and insists that when he
gets to middle school I will have to send him back to school. I tell her
"whatever" my most favoritist word. LOL The thing is, I honestly don't
know what grade my son is in. He works at all different levels at
different things, as he likes. People don't really get that and always ask
"what grade is he in". My son always looks at me with a look of "HELP!"
when someone asks because we don't really know the answer. So we tell them
he is whatever grade he wants to be in! lol He reads wonderfully, loves
books, and reads whatever he can get his hands on. Presently is reading
The Hobbit, cause I told him he couldn't read The Lord of the Rings until
he read The Hobbit! LOL He is on his computer all the time, programming,
making games, playing games, whatever. His passion is to make a new,
unique video game, one that Nintendo or Sony will buy for the game
systems...or both!! lol So I let him! It really is funny how people don't
understand the concept of unschooling at all...sometimes very frustrating.
Although, okay, here is another story. I have another friend who unschools
as well, and being that all of us unschoolers do it differently and all of
our kids learn at different ages, he started talking about how his 10 year
old boy had just learned how to read on his own and how proud he was of him
for that! He was delighted that he had read a book all the way through the
previous night, some Mrs. Piggly Wiggly book or something that I wasn't
familiar with. Well, he then turns and asks me when Ronnie learned to
read. I really didn't want to tell him because I didn't want to make him
feel bad. I wanted him to continue to be proud of his son and let it stand
at that! But he persisted, so I told him...he started to read at the age
of 4. He was writing and telling me his letters and numbers by the time he
was 2. My mother used to show him off at her school when he was 2 or
3...asking him to tell the other teachers the letters cause no one believed
he knew that stuff. I thought it was pretty funny, considering the child
is the one who drove me nuts all the time asking me to do this with
him! Anyway, then he asks me what he is reading right now. Ugh...not a
question I wanted to answer either! He was in the midst of reading Mary
Shelley's Frankenstein. The man just kind of looked at me as if I had
three heads and said "OH!" That was the end of THAT conversation! LOL
So, that is my story, and I'm sticking to it! My son and I live in SW
Florida. My husband was killed in an accident almost three years ago, so
it is just the two of us. WE have a ton of family here, so we have a lot
of support and love. I hope I will be posting agian some time soon, but
with me and my life, you just never know!!
Caroline
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
coming through (I say most because you guys post a whole lot and I don't
have time to read it all lol).
Anyway, I wanted to make a little remark about the whole math/life
thing. I agree completely that math is one of the most confusing things to
realize that you actually are teaching, but one of the easiest things to
teach!!
I have been homeschooling my son for about two years now. He just turned
9. We are pretty much unschoolers, unless he goes to his grandparents
where they request that I send school work, which he is just fine with! He
thinks it is kind of fun to do with his grandma, so I send stuff they can
do together.
Anyway, just to share a little story:
We were at our Friday night open gym at the gymnastics place when my son
came running up to me and asked, "Mom, do I know fractions?" I told him
yes, fractions are like the 1/4, 1/2 stuff we always mess around with. He
was satisfied with that answer and ran back off again to play. Later on I
asked him why he asked me that. He told me that one of the little girls
that was there had learned he was homeschooled and was trying to figure out
if he learned the same kinds of things she did in school. I personally
thought that was quite comical! Especially when my son is always asking to
learn stuff about math. He started asking me about multiplication when he
was about 6...then wanted to learn division right away. So we talked about
it, worked out a few little problems, and he just keeps plugging away at
asking his questions. He has no idea how much he actually knows and this
question really struck me funny, because even in our conversations of how
things work, he now knows how to add fractions, so I know he is figuring
something out here!!
I also wanted to say that I too have a great challenge in getting my family
to understand why I am homeschooling and that I plan on doing this until
the end! My mother is a Kindergarten teacher, and insists that when he
gets to middle school I will have to send him back to school. I tell her
"whatever" my most favoritist word. LOL The thing is, I honestly don't
know what grade my son is in. He works at all different levels at
different things, as he likes. People don't really get that and always ask
"what grade is he in". My son always looks at me with a look of "HELP!"
when someone asks because we don't really know the answer. So we tell them
he is whatever grade he wants to be in! lol He reads wonderfully, loves
books, and reads whatever he can get his hands on. Presently is reading
The Hobbit, cause I told him he couldn't read The Lord of the Rings until
he read The Hobbit! LOL He is on his computer all the time, programming,
making games, playing games, whatever. His passion is to make a new,
unique video game, one that Nintendo or Sony will buy for the game
systems...or both!! lol So I let him! It really is funny how people don't
understand the concept of unschooling at all...sometimes very frustrating.
Although, okay, here is another story. I have another friend who unschools
as well, and being that all of us unschoolers do it differently and all of
our kids learn at different ages, he started talking about how his 10 year
old boy had just learned how to read on his own and how proud he was of him
for that! He was delighted that he had read a book all the way through the
previous night, some Mrs. Piggly Wiggly book or something that I wasn't
familiar with. Well, he then turns and asks me when Ronnie learned to
read. I really didn't want to tell him because I didn't want to make him
feel bad. I wanted him to continue to be proud of his son and let it stand
at that! But he persisted, so I told him...he started to read at the age
of 4. He was writing and telling me his letters and numbers by the time he
was 2. My mother used to show him off at her school when he was 2 or
3...asking him to tell the other teachers the letters cause no one believed
he knew that stuff. I thought it was pretty funny, considering the child
is the one who drove me nuts all the time asking me to do this with
him! Anyway, then he asks me what he is reading right now. Ugh...not a
question I wanted to answer either! He was in the midst of reading Mary
Shelley's Frankenstein. The man just kind of looked at me as if I had
three heads and said "OH!" That was the end of THAT conversation! LOL
So, that is my story, and I'm sticking to it! My son and I live in SW
Florida. My husband was killed in an accident almost three years ago, so
it is just the two of us. WE have a ton of family here, so we have a lot
of support and love. I hope I will be posting agian some time soon, but
with me and my life, you just never know!!
Caroline
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Amy Thomlinson
I am Amy (2 sons 7 and 3) and I wish I had
homeschooled from the start (oldest went to ps for k
and 1) my son was a math geek from the age of 3 ps
ruined him because they didn't think 5&6 yo could
know multiplication and division (just simple stuff)
and all that sort of thing so my son was stuck doing
simple addition and subtraction for 2 years and now
hates math. He never learned to read in school
because first of all he had a problem with the eye
muscles and couldn't focus downward and then the
school taught memorizing whole words and when I
started him on hooked on phonics he started reading
1st real book was Harry Potter (I helped with the big
words)
It is so impressive that your son wants to make video
games using the computer to do that takes alot of
talent plus math skills! Thanks for writing it
inspired me as I have only been homeschooling since
june 1, 2002
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
homeschooled from the start (oldest went to ps for k
and 1) my son was a math geek from the age of 3 ps
ruined him because they didn't think 5&6 yo could
know multiplication and division (just simple stuff)
and all that sort of thing so my son was stuck doing
simple addition and subtraction for 2 years and now
hates math. He never learned to read in school
because first of all he had a problem with the eye
muscles and couldn't focus downward and then the
school taught memorizing whole words and when I
started him on hooked on phonics he started reading
1st real book was Harry Potter (I helped with the big
words)
It is so impressive that your son wants to make video
games using the computer to do that takes alot of
talent plus math skills! Thanks for writing it
inspired me as I have only been homeschooling since
june 1, 2002
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
Heather Woodward
Caroline,
Your post was so familiar. My daughter started to read at about 3 1/2 and she reads very well - and most anything she gets her hands on. Most people feel I am doing this fabulous job homeschooling her - because she is "excelling" - However, my little ones 3, &4 have absolutey on interest in reading - other than being read to. This is fine with me. Although I do sometimes wonder if her early reading had a lot to do with the fact that it was just her in the beginning. My husband used to work 2nd shift and in the morning they would do puzzles and read together all the time - because that was what she wanted to do. Her favorite puzzle was the alphabet puzzle. The other two don't touch it with a ten foot pole! They play all kinds of things together - digging in the dirt, etc. yet it's my older daughter that always wants to read with me - or go to the library.
We just started unschooling this past December - and I am still unsure of myself. Reading here helps quite a bit - especially when I tend to stress about the days when we all seem to not "do" much. And sometimes it takes listening to everyone else describe different aspects of unschooling, and I will think - Hey we worked in the garden - that's science. We tried to find and catch frogs...or made cookies ( those fractions!)
In any case, Welcome - I am sure you will find some useful posts here.
Heather
From: Caroline
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 5:38 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Stupid question
Hi guys...I'm relatively new here and have been reading most of the posts
coming through (I say most because you guys post a whole lot and I don't
have time to read it all lol).
Anyway, I wanted to make a little remark about the whole math/life
thing. I agree completely that math is one of the most confusing things to
realize that you actually are teaching, but one of the easiest things to
teach!!
I have been homeschooling my son for about two years now. He just turned
9. We are pretty much unschoolers, unless he goes to his grandparents
where they request that I send school work, which he is just fine with! He
thinks it is kind of fun to do with his grandma, so I send stuff they can
do together.
Anyway, just to share a little story:
We were at our Friday night open gym at the gymnastics place when my son
came running up to me and asked, "Mom, do I know fractions?" I told him
yes, fractions are like the 1/4, 1/2 stuff we always mess around with. He
was satisfied with that answer and ran back off again to play. Later on I
asked him why he asked me that. He told me that one of the little girls
that was there had learned he was homeschooled and was trying to figure out
if he learned the same kinds of things she did in school. I personally
thought that was quite comical! Especially when my son is always asking to
learn stuff about math. He started asking me about multiplication when he
was about 6...then wanted to learn division right away. So we talked about
it, worked out a few little problems, and he just keeps plugging away at
asking his questions. He has no idea how much he actually knows and this
question really struck me funny, because even in our conversations of how
things work, he now knows how to add fractions, so I know he is figuring
something out here!!
I also wanted to say that I too have a great challenge in getting my family
to understand why I am homeschooling and that I plan on doing this until
the end! My mother is a Kindergarten teacher, and insists that when he
gets to middle school I will have to send him back to school. I tell her
"whatever" my most favoritist word. LOL The thing is, I honestly don't
know what grade my son is in. He works at all different levels at
different things, as he likes. People don't really get that and always ask
"what grade is he in". My son always looks at me with a look of "HELP!"
when someone asks because we don't really know the answer. So we tell them
he is whatever grade he wants to be in! lol He reads wonderfully, loves
books, and reads whatever he can get his hands on. Presently is reading
The Hobbit, cause I told him he couldn't read The Lord of the Rings until
he read The Hobbit! LOL He is on his computer all the time, programming,
making games, playing games, whatever. His passion is to make a new,
unique video game, one that Nintendo or Sony will buy for the game
systems...or both!! lol So I let him! It really is funny how people don't
understand the concept of unschooling at all...sometimes very frustrating.
Although, okay, here is another story. I have another friend who unschools
as well, and being that all of us unschoolers do it differently and all of
our kids learn at different ages, he started talking about how his 10 year
old boy had just learned how to read on his own and how proud he was of him
for that! He was delighted that he had read a book all the way through the
previous night, some Mrs. Piggly Wiggly book or something that I wasn't
familiar with. Well, he then turns and asks me when Ronnie learned to
read. I really didn't want to tell him because I didn't want to make him
feel bad. I wanted him to continue to be proud of his son and let it stand
at that! But he persisted, so I told him...he started to read at the age
of 4. He was writing and telling me his letters and numbers by the time he
was 2. My mother used to show him off at her school when he was 2 or
3...asking him to tell the other teachers the letters cause no one believed
he knew that stuff. I thought it was pretty funny, considering the child
is the one who drove me nuts all the time asking me to do this with
him! Anyway, then he asks me what he is reading right now. Ugh...not a
question I wanted to answer either! He was in the midst of reading Mary
Shelley's Frankenstein. The man just kind of looked at me as if I had
three heads and said "OH!" That was the end of THAT conversation! LOL
So, that is my story, and I'm sticking to it! My son and I live in SW
Florida. My husband was killed in an accident almost three years ago, so
it is just the two of us. WE have a ton of family here, so we have a lot
of support and love. I hope I will be posting agian some time soon, but
with me and my life, you just never know!!
Caroline
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
~~~ Don't forget! If you change the topic, change the subject line! ~~~
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 the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Your post was so familiar. My daughter started to read at about 3 1/2 and she reads very well - and most anything she gets her hands on. Most people feel I am doing this fabulous job homeschooling her - because she is "excelling" - However, my little ones 3, &4 have absolutey on interest in reading - other than being read to. This is fine with me. Although I do sometimes wonder if her early reading had a lot to do with the fact that it was just her in the beginning. My husband used to work 2nd shift and in the morning they would do puzzles and read together all the time - because that was what she wanted to do. Her favorite puzzle was the alphabet puzzle. The other two don't touch it with a ten foot pole! They play all kinds of things together - digging in the dirt, etc. yet it's my older daughter that always wants to read with me - or go to the library.
We just started unschooling this past December - and I am still unsure of myself. Reading here helps quite a bit - especially when I tend to stress about the days when we all seem to not "do" much. And sometimes it takes listening to everyone else describe different aspects of unschooling, and I will think - Hey we worked in the garden - that's science. We tried to find and catch frogs...or made cookies ( those fractions!)
In any case, Welcome - I am sure you will find some useful posts here.
Heather
From: Caroline
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 5:38 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Stupid question
Hi guys...I'm relatively new here and have been reading most of the posts
coming through (I say most because you guys post a whole lot and I don't
have time to read it all lol).
Anyway, I wanted to make a little remark about the whole math/life
thing. I agree completely that math is one of the most confusing things to
realize that you actually are teaching, but one of the easiest things to
teach!!
I have been homeschooling my son for about two years now. He just turned
9. We are pretty much unschoolers, unless he goes to his grandparents
where they request that I send school work, which he is just fine with! He
thinks it is kind of fun to do with his grandma, so I send stuff they can
do together.
Anyway, just to share a little story:
We were at our Friday night open gym at the gymnastics place when my son
came running up to me and asked, "Mom, do I know fractions?" I told him
yes, fractions are like the 1/4, 1/2 stuff we always mess around with. He
was satisfied with that answer and ran back off again to play. Later on I
asked him why he asked me that. He told me that one of the little girls
that was there had learned he was homeschooled and was trying to figure out
if he learned the same kinds of things she did in school. I personally
thought that was quite comical! Especially when my son is always asking to
learn stuff about math. He started asking me about multiplication when he
was about 6...then wanted to learn division right away. So we talked about
it, worked out a few little problems, and he just keeps plugging away at
asking his questions. He has no idea how much he actually knows and this
question really struck me funny, because even in our conversations of how
things work, he now knows how to add fractions, so I know he is figuring
something out here!!
I also wanted to say that I too have a great challenge in getting my family
to understand why I am homeschooling and that I plan on doing this until
the end! My mother is a Kindergarten teacher, and insists that when he
gets to middle school I will have to send him back to school. I tell her
"whatever" my most favoritist word. LOL The thing is, I honestly don't
know what grade my son is in. He works at all different levels at
different things, as he likes. People don't really get that and always ask
"what grade is he in". My son always looks at me with a look of "HELP!"
when someone asks because we don't really know the answer. So we tell them
he is whatever grade he wants to be in! lol He reads wonderfully, loves
books, and reads whatever he can get his hands on. Presently is reading
The Hobbit, cause I told him he couldn't read The Lord of the Rings until
he read The Hobbit! LOL He is on his computer all the time, programming,
making games, playing games, whatever. His passion is to make a new,
unique video game, one that Nintendo or Sony will buy for the game
systems...or both!! lol So I let him! It really is funny how people don't
understand the concept of unschooling at all...sometimes very frustrating.
Although, okay, here is another story. I have another friend who unschools
as well, and being that all of us unschoolers do it differently and all of
our kids learn at different ages, he started talking about how his 10 year
old boy had just learned how to read on his own and how proud he was of him
for that! He was delighted that he had read a book all the way through the
previous night, some Mrs. Piggly Wiggly book or something that I wasn't
familiar with. Well, he then turns and asks me when Ronnie learned to
read. I really didn't want to tell him because I didn't want to make him
feel bad. I wanted him to continue to be proud of his son and let it stand
at that! But he persisted, so I told him...he started to read at the age
of 4. He was writing and telling me his letters and numbers by the time he
was 2. My mother used to show him off at her school when he was 2 or
3...asking him to tell the other teachers the letters cause no one believed
he knew that stuff. I thought it was pretty funny, considering the child
is the one who drove me nuts all the time asking me to do this with
him! Anyway, then he asks me what he is reading right now. Ugh...not a
question I wanted to answer either! He was in the midst of reading Mary
Shelley's Frankenstein. The man just kind of looked at me as if I had
three heads and said "OH!" That was the end of THAT conversation! LOL
So, that is my story, and I'm sticking to it! My son and I live in SW
Florida. My husband was killed in an accident almost three years ago, so
it is just the two of us. WE have a ton of family here, so we have a lot
of support and love. I hope I will be posting agian some time soon, but
with me and my life, you just never know!!
Caroline
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
~~~ Don't forget! If you change the topic, change the subject line! ~~~
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 the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tia Leschke
>The thing is, I honestly don'tThat one works, but might bring more unwanted questions. What we've always
>know what grade my son is in. He works at all different levels at
>different things, as he likes. People don't really get that and always ask
>"what grade is he in". My son always looks at me with a look of "HELP!"
>when someone asks because we don't really know the answer. So we tell them
>he is whatever grade he wants to be in! lol
done is tell the person that we don't believe in grades but that he'd be in
x grade if he were in school. And at least around here that would be
true. They don't fail kids and rarely double-promote. They just keep them
in with their age group. So a six year old would be in grade one. A
twelve year old would be in grade seven, etc.
Tia
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
*********************************************
Tia Leschke
leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
tamlvee
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., Caroline <ladyguinevere@e...> wrote:
Well, he then turns and asks me when Ronnie learned to
> read. I really didn't want to tell him because I didn't want to
make him
> feel bad. I wanted him to continue to be proud of his son and let
it stand
> at that! But he persisted, so I told him...he started to read at
the age
> of 4. He was writing and telling me his letters and numbers by the
time he
> was 2.
Hi Caroline,
I can very much relate to what you wrote. My daughter could write
her name at 2 1/2, which I thought was because her name is Emma and
easy to write. However, over the next few months she could write the
whole alphabet and write simple words. Reading soon followed and by 4
she was a fluent reader. People ask me those questions too, about
when she learned to read, what she's reading, or worse, they ask her
what she's reading and don't believe her. Then they want to know how
I taught her to read so young and I try (unsucessfully) to say I
didn't do anything. It was all Emma's work. From the time she was 2
1/2 until she was 4 she was determined and tenacious. She wanted to
make the connection between the words I was reading to her and the
letters that made up those words. She practiced for hours writing.
I didn't drill her, it was what she wanted to do. When I read out
loud to her she stopped me all the time to ask about the words,
what's this word, where's that word. I always stopped to tell her.
There are people who dont pay attention to what their children are
learning and would consider a question during a story very rude, but
my thinking was the more questions the more learning.
Her Kindergarten teacher made her the "class helper" which created
conflict with some of the other kids. When they were writing Emma
would go around and show the kids the "proper" way to write. This is
what the teacher wanted her to do. She thought it helped everyone,
but it just made some of the children resentful of Emma. Emma didn't
care, she loved being the teacher and to this day is a boss hog,
lol. I'm laughing in jest, because it now causes conflict at home
where I operated a home day care. I have to explain that the
children are learning through practicing and getting it wrong and she
did the same thing. In school they do not let children do that and
Emma spent a whole school year correcting children.
I can sure relate to what you are going through and hope to hear more
from you.
Tammy