learning to be seekers to learn
viszlawoman
Hi this is my first post. I am struggling with a core question
perhaps related to the teaching vs learning topic. I chose to
homeschool because I do not like the paradigm of school where
children wait to be taught rather than to go and find. Alas one year
of unschooling was frustrating for me because my children did very
little but listen ot tapes, read so so books and argue. And chores. I
tried being inspiring by doing projects myself but the 10 year old
especially just did his own thing of reading and going out after 3 to
be with his buddies. I am not sure I want to start another year of
watching them around and listen/read or bicker. I also do not look
forward to MAking them sit down and do "school". I don't think I
could be very convincing anyway because I abhore doing unasked for
busy work. My 10 year old acts as if he is allergic to work. The 8
year old has asked for a curriculum this year the 10 says he will not
do anything that comes from a curriculum. I am considering using
loosely oak meadow for the third grader. I would love some advise or
just discussion that could help me illuminate my next steps. I am
learning to be a better write on email but I hope you can work with
the disjointed quality of my posts. Thank you. This looks like an
interesting discussion group. Josie
perhaps related to the teaching vs learning topic. I chose to
homeschool because I do not like the paradigm of school where
children wait to be taught rather than to go and find. Alas one year
of unschooling was frustrating for me because my children did very
little but listen ot tapes, read so so books and argue. And chores. I
tried being inspiring by doing projects myself but the 10 year old
especially just did his own thing of reading and going out after 3 to
be with his buddies. I am not sure I want to start another year of
watching them around and listen/read or bicker. I also do not look
forward to MAking them sit down and do "school". I don't think I
could be very convincing anyway because I abhore doing unasked for
busy work. My 10 year old acts as if he is allergic to work. The 8
year old has asked for a curriculum this year the 10 says he will not
do anything that comes from a curriculum. I am considering using
loosely oak meadow for the third grader. I would love some advise or
just discussion that could help me illuminate my next steps. I am
learning to be a better write on email but I hope you can work with
the disjointed quality of my posts. Thank you. This looks like an
interesting discussion group. Josie
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/7/02 8:03:08 AM, gribskov@... writes:
<< I am not sure I want to start another year of
watching them around and listen/read or bicker. I also do not look
forward to MAking them sit down and do "school". >>
I've never done either one.
Get out and do things with them. REAL things. Outside your house. And when
you get used to the learning that happens in the presence of new stimuli, you
can more easily create new-stimuli situations inside your home.
<<My 10 year old acts as if he is allergic to work. >>
I bet he's not allergic to fun. Make work fun.
I bet he IS allergic to insult. Don't suggest to him that you think he's
allergic to work.
If they're learning AND having fun, why would one want a curriculum?
Your job as an unschooling parent is to find or create adventure. Don't sit
and wait for an exciting life to materialize. Instigate it!
Sandra
<< I am not sure I want to start another year of
watching them around and listen/read or bicker. I also do not look
forward to MAking them sit down and do "school". >>
I've never done either one.
Get out and do things with them. REAL things. Outside your house. And when
you get used to the learning that happens in the presence of new stimuli, you
can more easily create new-stimuli situations inside your home.
<<My 10 year old acts as if he is allergic to work. >>
I bet he's not allergic to fun. Make work fun.
I bet he IS allergic to insult. Don't suggest to him that you think he's
allergic to work.
If they're learning AND having fun, why would one want a curriculum?
Your job as an unschooling parent is to find or create adventure. Don't sit
and wait for an exciting life to materialize. Instigate it!
Sandra
Fetteroll
on 7/7/02 10:02 AM, viszlawoman at gribskov@... wrote:
want them to go. That will be frustrating for all of you!
Maybe look at unschooling as finding a special tree in the forest and
creating the environment it needs to grow. You don't need to do anything to
the tree itself. It already knows how to be and grow into a tree. All it
needs is the environment to do what it know hows to do.
So unschooling is akin to making sure the tree has access to what that
particular tree needs in order to be that particular tree.
you'd all enjoy. Have a picnic. Explore a place you've never been to. Eat at
an ethnic restaurant.
(But let them do home things too! Watch TV. Play video games. Bake cookies.)
If *you* aren't learning for pure enjoyment, is it reasonable to expect that
they will? If your purpose of doing a project is to inspire them to do the
project, you're going to be disappointed. Do things *you* want to do without
the agenda. Go places you want to that you think they might enjoy
accompanying you. Offer to take them places to further their own interests.
When you come across something that connects with an interest they have or
that you think is cool and fun to play with bring it home and leave it
laying around.
Foster in *yourself* a need to explore, to notice the coolness in things, to
be curious. Do this *for yourself* not as a method to get the kids to be
more the way you'd like them to be. (If you aren't honestly and sincerely
curious about life and exploring for yourself, then it isn't fair to expect
them to be.)
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0380799006/qid=984825970/sr=1-1/ref=s
c_b_2/102-3006399-8134511
It's a *very* easy read with cartoon and dialog standard scenarios that
we've all experienced and how the standard response leads down the path
we're trying to avoid and a number of ways to approach it differently. Their
"How To Talk So Kids Will Listen" book really helped me to see things from
my daughter's point of view.
about and getting some books and taking him places. And keep checking
because he may not want to go much into depth. Be flexible. I'd also finds
some great books on tape that might appeal to both of them and listen to
them in the car. (Ask here. And check http://www.chinaberry.com). Share your
favorite old movies with them. Talk about your childhood in relation to the
movies. Look at albums of your childhood and theirs. (It's history to them!)
It's not that a curriculum would be bad, but his asking may not be because
he loves structure but because he's felt at loose ends and needs a fellow
explorer to accompany him on his journey :-)
Joyce
> I amYou came through very clear :-)
> learning to be a better write on email but I hope you can work with
> the disjointed quality of my posts.
> II think you're seeing unschooling as a path that will lead them where you
> tried being inspiring by doing projects myself but the 10 year old
> especially just did his own thing of reading and going out after 3 to
> be with his buddies.
want them to go. That will be frustrating for all of you!
Maybe look at unschooling as finding a special tree in the forest and
creating the environment it needs to grow. You don't need to do anything to
the tree itself. It already knows how to be and grow into a tree. All it
needs is the environment to do what it know hows to do.
So unschooling is akin to making sure the tree has access to what that
particular tree needs in order to be that particular tree.
> Alas one yearGet out and do things. Don't worry about educational. Do things you think
> of unschooling was frustrating for me because my children did very
> little but listen ot tapes, read so so books and argue.
you'd all enjoy. Have a picnic. Explore a place you've never been to. Eat at
an ethnic restaurant.
(But let them do home things too! Watch TV. Play video games. Bake cookies.)
If *you* aren't learning for pure enjoyment, is it reasonable to expect that
they will? If your purpose of doing a project is to inspire them to do the
project, you're going to be disappointed. Do things *you* want to do without
the agenda. Go places you want to that you think they might enjoy
accompanying you. Offer to take them places to further their own interests.
When you come across something that connects with an interest they have or
that you think is cool and fun to play with bring it home and leave it
laying around.
Foster in *yourself* a need to explore, to notice the coolness in things, to
be curious. Do this *for yourself* not as a method to get the kids to be
more the way you'd like them to be. (If you aren't honestly and sincerely
curious about life and exploring for yourself, then it isn't fair to expect
them to be.)
> and argue.A book that many people have found very helpful is Siblings Without Rivarly
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0380799006/qid=984825970/sr=1-1/ref=s
c_b_2/102-3006399-8134511
It's a *very* easy read with cartoon and dialog standard scenarios that
we've all experienced and how the standard response leads down the path
we're trying to avoid and a number of ways to approach it differently. Their
"How To Talk So Kids Will Listen" book really helped me to see things from
my daughter's point of view.
> I am considering usingI would considering asking your younger son what he'd like to know more
> loosely oak meadow for the third grader.
about and getting some books and taking him places. And keep checking
because he may not want to go much into depth. Be flexible. I'd also finds
some great books on tape that might appeal to both of them and listen to
them in the car. (Ask here. And check http://www.chinaberry.com). Share your
favorite old movies with them. Talk about your childhood in relation to the
movies. Look at albums of your childhood and theirs. (It's history to them!)
It's not that a curriculum would be bad, but his asking may not be because
he loves structure but because he's felt at loose ends and needs a fellow
explorer to accompany him on his journey :-)
Joyce