RE: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 2169
AAge & Josie Gribskov
Hello, I mostly lurk and gain inspiration which I need a lot of. As far as
unschooling goes my gut says yes let them be but my upbringing (music
prodigy, swim team, early reader, ivy league parents etc.) keeps getting in
the way. This is my current struggle my daughter 8 loves to play the piano.
She has been tinkering for several years and plays for hours. She is mostly
self taught I have helped her read music when she asked or showed her what
little I know when she said ok. Any way for the last year she has been
playing the same little homemade ditties and her playing hasn't really
changed. She still plays a lot but she does ist in a mor perfunctory way and
doesn't seem to enjoy it as much. I asked if she would like to take lessons
to learn some new things. She said very adamently NO. It is very hard for me
to watch her once joyful playing become stale. I have met a teacher who
seems very open, pleasant and gifted at teaching composition. I think My dd
would enjoy doing some new things but she seems to feel that lessons of
anysort are icky. I couldn't school her if I wanted to. SHe really goes her
own way on everything. Does any one have any suggestions for me. Maybe I
just need some hand holding. Thank you all you are an ongoing inspiration.
Josie
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 7:12 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 2169
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the
Moderator, Joyce Fetteroll, at fetteroll@...
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: unschooling theory
From: Alan & Brenda Leonard <abtleo@...>
2. how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: Jeff & Kate Kerr <windystreet@...>
3. RE: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: "Lewis" <lapin@...>
4. Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: Leslie Avery <ljbakavery@...>
5. Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: Dnowens@...
6. Re: unschooling theory
From: PSoroosh@...
7. Can I use a quote
From: TheFadels@...
8. Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: SandraDodd@...
9. Re: Can I use a quote
From: SandraDodd@...
10. Re: unschooling theory
From: <llindsey@...>
11. Re: unschooling theory
From: "Louise Rynkewicz" <lrynkewicz@...>
12. RE: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: "Lewis" <lapin@...>
13. Intro and math question
From: "Louise Rynkewicz" <lrynkewicz@...>
14. Re: unschooling theory
From: <llindsey@...>
15. Re: Intro and math question
From: Tia Leschke <leschke@...>
16. Re: Intro and math question
From: SandraDodd@...
17. Froguts.com was Re: unschooling theory
From: "zenmomma *" <zenmomma@...>
18. Re: unschooling theory
From: AlmondJoy721@...
19. RE: vision therapy
From: "Lewis" <lapin@...>
20. vision
From: David and Bonnie Altman <altman@...>
21. Re: Froguts.com was Re: unschooling theory
From: <llindsey@...>
22. Re: unschooling theory
From: <llindsey@...>
23. Re: vision therapy
From: "NessaPower" <nessapower@...>
24. RE: vision therapy
From: David and Bonnie Altman <altman@...>
25. Re: vision therapy
From: "NessaPower" <nessapower@...>
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 15:35:00 +0200
From: Alan & Brenda Leonard <abtleo@...>
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
much you are including in the term 'guidance'.
A couple of months ago, I showed my son the moves for chess. He's learned a
lot of theory since then, and I've guided his learning by helping him find
some chess books that are at his playing level, and spending time playing
'talking-games' with him (where we discuss why we'd make the move we're
going to make). I would also say that I've guided his Opa recently in
selecting birthday gifts for my son that would be appreciated. I reminded
him of Tim's recent interests, told him what book series Tim is currently
working his way through, and advised on what lego sets we already own.
In neither case did I require anything. I never told Tim that his chess
game would improve greatly if he spent a certain amount of time each day
playing, and it never, ever goes over well with grandparents if I tell them
they need to buy THIS gift. I guide. I don't direct.
To me, that's unschooling. Now, for me, it was easy to get used to not
asking that my son do certain things each day. I just stopped asking and
that was that. It's taken longer for me to become accustomed to not
thinking in terms of what is educational and what isn't. It's just legos,
and if I think about it, I can easily find what's educational about playing
legos. But I no longer do, I have become comfortable with everything being
part of my son's education.
brenda
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:59:00 -0700
From: Jeff & Kate Kerr <windystreet@...>
Subject: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
We've been unschoolers for a few years now, it's a philosophy I have
embraced since before I had children and my husband joined me in this
attitude with very little persuasion. Our oldest child is also a dedicated
unschooler, he can't imagine having to sit in
a classroom and do what is told, no time for spontaneous reading or cookie
baking or trips to the beach.
The problem we are having is our youngest, who sees her friends (all ages)
getting ready to go back to school and going for the first time. She wants
to be just like them, she loves to sit at the table with assignments and
wants to be a part of the lunch box
carrying crowd. I've tried to handle some of this by supplying her with
"school type" books (she loves them and does them with no prompting from me
although she really wants me to say "ok, now it's time for...") and when
school starts again in this area I want
to do something with her (and older son) to help take the sting out of her
friends not being around much anymore. (Even the ones who homeschool are
"going back to school.") Maybe a trip to the dinosaur exhibit at the
Natural History Museum?
Anyway the point of this is to ask: What do you do when the whole family is
unschooling and one doesn't want to?
Kate
to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day
to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any human
being can fight and never stop fighting. e.e.cummings
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:30:13 -0700
From: "Lewis" <lapin@...>
Subject: RE: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
I may be totally off line here, keep in mind we are very new to unschooling.
However, wouldn't letting her go to school, be child lead learning, and
letting her follow her own path?
I have always thought that if one of my sons actually wanted to go to
school, that I should just let them go, but also if they wanted to come back
home, they could do that also.
All the friends my boys have, go to public school, and my boys have no
desire whatsoever to go to school with them, so far, but I have always
envisioned that one of them may want to just try it out and see what it is
like.
Chances are your daughter, if allowed to just try it out would not like it
anyway. Maybe ask her what she thinks it would be like, so you know EXACTLY
what it is she thinks she is missing by not going to school. Is it the
clothes shopping before hand, the new notebook, etc..?? Is it the
socialization, because there would not be as much as she probably thinks
there is, with her coming from an unschooling family. Maybe she wants a
"desk" of her own, for "school". Is she involved in any extra-curricular
activities with her friends, like gymnastics, sports, or dance, etc...??
Just my meanderings for the morning........mind you I am barely awake......
Debbie
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:56:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: Leslie Avery <ljbakavery@...>
Subject: Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
My daughter was like that after having been in school
for two years. It was hard for her to break away.
She felt that she was missing something. I tried to
fight her and insist on unschooling, but she wouldn't
do it. So I gave her what she wanted. I would take
her in September and do the school shopping thing.
She loved it. I even bought her a new lunch box and
made her lunch. I gave her assignments and graded her
(of course she always got A's). I got already made up
worksheets on enchantedlearning.com and would give
those to her. Every year when it came time for school
to start she would go through this, than one year she
said I feel sorry for kids who are in school and I am
glad I am home. But she had to come to it in her own
time. One thing I have learned, just because I
believe something and have believed it from the start
does not necessarily mean my children will. They also
need to be given time to process things in life and
come to terms with it at their own time. Even though
our kids are home with us society still influences
them a bit. So homeschool her where she is at.
Leslie
--- Jeff & Kate Kerr <windystreet@...>
wrote:
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better
http://health.yahoo.com
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 12:36:50 EDT
From: Dnowens@...
Subject: Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
In a message dated 7/24/02 10:08:16 AM Central Daylight Time,
windystreet@... writes:
kindergarten. He came home one day all excited and informed me that school
was starting soon and didn't I think it was about time to take him? He was
actually shocked when I told him that no, I didn't think it was time, nor
did
I plan on ever taking him. (Needless to say, Jack went to school last year!)
He begged, he pleaded, he told us exactly why he wanted to go to school and
Darin and I finally agreed that he would go, so he did. School wasn't all
Jack thought it would be, he had to get up early (Jack likes his sleep) he
had to go on days Moly and I were doing things he would rather be doing...
By
Christmas time, Jack was beginning to do the *I don't wanna* thing every
morning. Don't get me wrong, he loved being in school, he just hated the
hours. After a year of it, he was glad to be done. He realizes he plays with
his friends more after school than during school, he doesn't have to miss
out
on what Moly and I are doing, and he can get those much needed zzz's that he
loves so much.
I don't recommend school, but it wasn't the worst experience of our lives.
He
didn't come out damaged, he wasn't labeled... (although I was sure he would
be) I don't know if he learned anything he wasn't already learning here at
home but he took from it what it offered and thankfully left the rest. It
wasn't unschooling, but it certainly wasn't forced either.
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 12:54:07 EDT
From: PSoroosh@...
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
In a message dated 7/24/2002 6:23:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
abtleo@... writes:
bother stopping to convince yourself that whatever the kid is doing is
worthwhile. And when that step is reached, it is very liberating.
I still sometimes do think about it - just because it is INTERESTING to
think
about what the child is getting out of whatever she is doing. But, with no
anxiety attached to the thoughts, no judgement, it is very different than
when just starting out unschooling.
--pam
National Home Education Network
http://www.NHEN.org
Changing the Way the World Sees Homeschooling!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:28:03 EDT
From: TheFadels@...
Subject: Can I use a quote
there have been some great quotes lately about unschooling on the e-mail
loop, would it be appropriate to use a quote or two in our groups unschool
newsletter??
please let me know
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:50:01 EDT
From: SandraDodd@...
Subject: Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
In a message dated 7/24/02 9:16:19 AM, lapin@... writes:
<< However, wouldn't letting her go to school, be child lead learning, and
letting her follow her own path? >>
Yes.
I would let my kids go to school if they really wanted to.
But while they were in school I wouldn't consider them to be unschooling.
I don't personally equte "child led learning" and "unschooling" straight
across.
Sandra
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 14:08:34 EDT
From: SandraDodd@...
Subject: Re: Can I use a quote
In a message dated 7/24/02 11:29:47 AM, TheFadels@... writes:
<< there have been some great quotes lately about unschooling on the e-mail
loop, would it be appropriate to use a quote or two in our groups unschool
newsletter??
please let me know >>
If you do it in way of a review, meaning you then tell people how they can
join this e-mail loop, then nobody can say a thing!
And even if you didn't, there are over 800 people on this list and I'm
pretty
sure that the law says what arrives in your mailbox (real mail or virtual)
is
yours to share. Doesn't mean to swipe (which is not what you had in mind
anyway!), but to say "So'n'so said this in public: 'blah--------' " is
wholly legal and pretty cool!
People who don't want to be quoted shouldn't say anything in public.
Sandra
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:48:51 -0500
From: <llindsey@...>
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
oh. i am so proud..
my eight year old is in the back patio dismembering and eviscerating a dead
anole lizard....
Linda LL
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 14:28:39 -0500
From: "Louise Rynkewicz" <lrynkewicz@...>
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
Linda,
for days when there are no obliging lizards I bet he would enjoy
www.froguts.com where he can do a virtual dissection of a frog. My 7yr old
son loved it!
Louise
--
On Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:48:51
llindsey wrote:
Supercharge your e-mail with a 25MB Inbox, POP3 Access, No Ads
and NoTaglines --> LYCOS MAIL PLUS.
http://www.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:29:04 -0700
From: "Lewis" <lapin@...>
Subject: RE: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
Yes Sandra, I agree with what you said.
Another point that leads to the fears of unschooling, is the HUGE amount of
curriculum suppliers, and "Hooked on Phonics", Sylvan Learning Center, and
others, that tend to make parents feel like they are never doing "enough"
for their children.
I at first felt this pressure. I would scour the net and catalogs for this
and that, and always thought I had found something better. We are in the
process of moving AGAIN, and AGAIN, I am packing up all this stuff we paid
so much money for that either hardly or never was used, or was a total waste
of time or money. They have to be making so much money off all these
homeschool curriculum materials, really.
Of course one of the first questions of other homeschoolers, when I began to
homeschool was "oh, what curriculum are you using?".
Debbie
-----Original Message-----
From: SandraDodd@... [mailto:SandraDodd@...]
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 10:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] how to unschool when your child wants
to go to school
In a message dated 7/24/02 9:16:19 AM, lapin@... writes:
<< However, wouldn't letting her go to school, be child lead learning, and
letting her follow her own path? >>
Yes.
I would let my kids go to school if they really wanted to.
But while they were in school I wouldn't consider them to be unschooling.
I don't personally equte "child led learning" and "unschooling" straight
across.
Sandra
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the
Moderator, Joyce Fetteroll, at fetteroll@...
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/
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 15:17:41 -0500
From: "Louise Rynkewicz" <lrynkewicz@...>
Subject: Intro and math question
Hi everybody,
I've lurked enough and have thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue.
I joined this list after 1.5yrs of homeschooling my 8yr old ds. I took him
out of school half way through 1st grade when he was showing signs of
depression. He was unstimulated and frustrated. He has huge frustrations
with reading and writing (we are looking into vision testing)but is
conceptually advanced in most areas. The crunch came when the school
principal refused to accept his giftedness and stated "I will not rearrange
MY school for your child".
We have been feeling our way through homeschooling ever since. I have now
come to the conclusion that I have been trying to "school" too much. I need
to find a way to get him excited about learning again. I will go along with
any interests he has but he is not very self led. He seems to need quite
alot of guidance.
I'm not sure that total "unschooling" is our destination but I know that
finding the right balance for my son (and his siblings) IS my destination. I
am also sure that a large degree of unschooling has got to be the answer.
Hence my plea to everyone out there! With all your experiences I hoping you
can give me some guidance. I'm someone who likes to see something produced
on paper (workbooks look great to me although I've never considered using a
curriculum - he may as well be in school!!) but I know they are not for him.
I want to inspire him again. I can see ways and means of unschooling most
subjects (art, history, science,geography etc)since it seems to me that they
are things we talk about and do as a family anyway. You've probably guessed
my problem; MATH. I can see introducing concepts while cooking and crafting
and in general everyday life but how do you unschool the formulas for
calculating the circumference of a circle, Pythagoras and higher Trig functi
ons, calculus, physics functions etc? Do I just have to leave this until he
picks them up himself - I think I'm scared to do that. He likes math and
science and these higher functions are going to be important to be able to
manipulate the
concepts that he already understands.
I would appreciate any help. Please be gentle with me, I'm new to this ;.)
Thanks for listening,
Louise
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Supercharge your e-mail with a 25MB Inbox, POP3 Access, No Ads
and NoTaglines --> LYCOS MAIL PLUS.
http://www.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 15:25:40 -0500
From: <llindsey@...>
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
i will tell him about that.. but the YUCK factor might not be high enuf for
him.. lol..
Linda
unschooling goes my gut says yes let them be but my upbringing (music
prodigy, swim team, early reader, ivy league parents etc.) keeps getting in
the way. This is my current struggle my daughter 8 loves to play the piano.
She has been tinkering for several years and plays for hours. She is mostly
self taught I have helped her read music when she asked or showed her what
little I know when she said ok. Any way for the last year she has been
playing the same little homemade ditties and her playing hasn't really
changed. She still plays a lot but she does ist in a mor perfunctory way and
doesn't seem to enjoy it as much. I asked if she would like to take lessons
to learn some new things. She said very adamently NO. It is very hard for me
to watch her once joyful playing become stale. I have met a teacher who
seems very open, pleasant and gifted at teaching composition. I think My dd
would enjoy doing some new things but she seems to feel that lessons of
anysort are icky. I couldn't school her if I wanted to. SHe really goes her
own way on everything. Does any one have any suggestions for me. Maybe I
just need some hand holding. Thank you all you are an ongoing inspiration.
Josie
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 7:12 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 2169
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the
Moderator, Joyce Fetteroll, at fetteroll@...
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: unschooling theory
From: Alan & Brenda Leonard <abtleo@...>
2. how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: Jeff & Kate Kerr <windystreet@...>
3. RE: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: "Lewis" <lapin@...>
4. Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: Leslie Avery <ljbakavery@...>
5. Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: Dnowens@...
6. Re: unschooling theory
From: PSoroosh@...
7. Can I use a quote
From: TheFadels@...
8. Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: SandraDodd@...
9. Re: Can I use a quote
From: SandraDodd@...
10. Re: unschooling theory
From: <llindsey@...>
11. Re: unschooling theory
From: "Louise Rynkewicz" <lrynkewicz@...>
12. RE: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
From: "Lewis" <lapin@...>
13. Intro and math question
From: "Louise Rynkewicz" <lrynkewicz@...>
14. Re: unschooling theory
From: <llindsey@...>
15. Re: Intro and math question
From: Tia Leschke <leschke@...>
16. Re: Intro and math question
From: SandraDodd@...
17. Froguts.com was Re: unschooling theory
From: "zenmomma *" <zenmomma@...>
18. Re: unschooling theory
From: AlmondJoy721@...
19. RE: vision therapy
From: "Lewis" <lapin@...>
20. vision
From: David and Bonnie Altman <altman@...>
21. Re: Froguts.com was Re: unschooling theory
From: <llindsey@...>
22. Re: unschooling theory
From: <llindsey@...>
23. Re: vision therapy
From: "NessaPower" <nessapower@...>
24. RE: vision therapy
From: David and Bonnie Altman <altman@...>
25. Re: vision therapy
From: "NessaPower" <nessapower@...>
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 15:35:00 +0200
From: Alan & Brenda Leonard <abtleo@...>
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
>>> My question is this...how much 'guidance' are parents allowed beforewe're
>>> not really considered 'unschoolers?'>>Unschooling parents definitely guide. But perhaps you might consider how
much you are including in the term 'guidance'.
A couple of months ago, I showed my son the moves for chess. He's learned a
lot of theory since then, and I've guided his learning by helping him find
some chess books that are at his playing level, and spending time playing
'talking-games' with him (where we discuss why we'd make the move we're
going to make). I would also say that I've guided his Opa recently in
selecting birthday gifts for my son that would be appreciated. I reminded
him of Tim's recent interests, told him what book series Tim is currently
working his way through, and advised on what lego sets we already own.
In neither case did I require anything. I never told Tim that his chess
game would improve greatly if he spent a certain amount of time each day
playing, and it never, ever goes over well with grandparents if I tell them
they need to buy THIS gift. I guide. I don't direct.
To me, that's unschooling. Now, for me, it was easy to get used to not
asking that my son do certain things each day. I just stopped asking and
that was that. It's taken longer for me to become accustomed to not
thinking in terms of what is educational and what isn't. It's just legos,
and if I think about it, I can easily find what's educational about playing
legos. But I no longer do, I have become comfortable with everything being
part of my son's education.
brenda
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:59:00 -0700
From: Jeff & Kate Kerr <windystreet@...>
Subject: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
We've been unschoolers for a few years now, it's a philosophy I have
embraced since before I had children and my husband joined me in this
attitude with very little persuasion. Our oldest child is also a dedicated
unschooler, he can't imagine having to sit in
a classroom and do what is told, no time for spontaneous reading or cookie
baking or trips to the beach.
The problem we are having is our youngest, who sees her friends (all ages)
getting ready to go back to school and going for the first time. She wants
to be just like them, she loves to sit at the table with assignments and
wants to be a part of the lunch box
carrying crowd. I've tried to handle some of this by supplying her with
"school type" books (she loves them and does them with no prompting from me
although she really wants me to say "ok, now it's time for...") and when
school starts again in this area I want
to do something with her (and older son) to help take the sting out of her
friends not being around much anymore. (Even the ones who homeschool are
"going back to school.") Maybe a trip to the dinosaur exhibit at the
Natural History Museum?
Anyway the point of this is to ask: What do you do when the whole family is
unschooling and one doesn't want to?
Kate
to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day
to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any human
being can fight and never stop fighting. e.e.cummings
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:30:13 -0700
From: "Lewis" <lapin@...>
Subject: RE: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
I may be totally off line here, keep in mind we are very new to unschooling.
However, wouldn't letting her go to school, be child lead learning, and
letting her follow her own path?
I have always thought that if one of my sons actually wanted to go to
school, that I should just let them go, but also if they wanted to come back
home, they could do that also.
All the friends my boys have, go to public school, and my boys have no
desire whatsoever to go to school with them, so far, but I have always
envisioned that one of them may want to just try it out and see what it is
like.
Chances are your daughter, if allowed to just try it out would not like it
anyway. Maybe ask her what she thinks it would be like, so you know EXACTLY
what it is she thinks she is missing by not going to school. Is it the
clothes shopping before hand, the new notebook, etc..?? Is it the
socialization, because there would not be as much as she probably thinks
there is, with her coming from an unschooling family. Maybe she wants a
"desk" of her own, for "school". Is she involved in any extra-curricular
activities with her friends, like gymnastics, sports, or dance, etc...??
Just my meanderings for the morning........mind you I am barely awake......
Debbie
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:56:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: Leslie Avery <ljbakavery@...>
Subject: Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
My daughter was like that after having been in school
for two years. It was hard for her to break away.
She felt that she was missing something. I tried to
fight her and insist on unschooling, but she wouldn't
do it. So I gave her what she wanted. I would take
her in September and do the school shopping thing.
She loved it. I even bought her a new lunch box and
made her lunch. I gave her assignments and graded her
(of course she always got A's). I got already made up
worksheets on enchantedlearning.com and would give
those to her. Every year when it came time for school
to start she would go through this, than one year she
said I feel sorry for kids who are in school and I am
glad I am home. But she had to come to it in her own
time. One thing I have learned, just because I
believe something and have believed it from the start
does not necessarily mean my children will. They also
need to be given time to process things in life and
come to terms with it at their own time. Even though
our kids are home with us society still influences
them a bit. So homeschool her where she is at.
Leslie
--- Jeff & Kate Kerr <windystreet@...>
wrote:
> We've been unschoolers for a few years now, it's a__________________________________________________
> philosophy I have embraced since before I had
> children and my husband joined me in this attitude
> with very little persuasion. Our oldest child is
> also a dedicated unschooler, he can't imagine having
> to sit in
> a classroom and do what is told, no time for
> spontaneous reading or cookie baking or trips to the
> beach.
> The problem we are having is our youngest, who sees
> her friends (all ages) getting ready to go back to
> school and going for the first time. She wants to
> be just like them, she loves to sit at the table
> with assignments and wants to be a part of the lunch
> box
> carrying crowd. I've tried to handle some of this
> by supplying her with "school type" books (she loves
> them and does them with no prompting from me
> although she really wants me to say "ok, now it's
> time for...") and when school starts again in this
> area I want
> to do something with her (and older son) to help
> take the sting out of her friends not being around
> much anymore. (Even the ones who homeschool are
> "going back to school.") Maybe a trip to the
> dinosaur exhibit at the Natural History Museum?
> Anyway the point of this is to ask: What do you do
> when the whole family is unschooling and one doesn't
> want to?
>
> Kate
> to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing
> its best night and day to make you like everybody
> else means to fight the hardest battle any human
> being can fight and never stop fighting.
> e.e.cummings
>
>
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better
http://health.yahoo.com
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 12:36:50 EDT
From: Dnowens@...
Subject: Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
In a message dated 7/24/02 10:08:16 AM Central Daylight Time,
windystreet@... writes:
> Anyway the point of this is to ask: What do you do when the whole familyis
> unschooling and one doesn't want to?This time last year, Jack saw all his neighborhood friends getting ready for
>
> Kate
>
kindergarten. He came home one day all excited and informed me that school
was starting soon and didn't I think it was about time to take him? He was
actually shocked when I told him that no, I didn't think it was time, nor
did
I plan on ever taking him. (Needless to say, Jack went to school last year!)
He begged, he pleaded, he told us exactly why he wanted to go to school and
Darin and I finally agreed that he would go, so he did. School wasn't all
Jack thought it would be, he had to get up early (Jack likes his sleep) he
had to go on days Moly and I were doing things he would rather be doing...
By
Christmas time, Jack was beginning to do the *I don't wanna* thing every
morning. Don't get me wrong, he loved being in school, he just hated the
hours. After a year of it, he was glad to be done. He realizes he plays with
his friends more after school than during school, he doesn't have to miss
out
on what Moly and I are doing, and he can get those much needed zzz's that he
loves so much.
I don't recommend school, but it wasn't the worst experience of our lives.
He
didn't come out damaged, he wasn't labeled... (although I was sure he would
be) I don't know if he learned anything he wasn't already learning here at
home but he took from it what it offered and thankfully left the rest. It
wasn't unschooling, but it certainly wasn't forced either.
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 12:54:07 EDT
From: PSoroosh@...
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
In a message dated 7/24/2002 6:23:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
abtleo@... writes:
> It's taken longer for me to become accustomed to notplaying
> thinking in terms of what is educational and what isn't. It's just legos,
> and if I think about it, I can easily find what's educational about
> legos. But I no longer do, I have become comfortable with everythingbeing
> part of my son's education.After a while, you've done it so many times that you just don't need to
>
bother stopping to convince yourself that whatever the kid is doing is
worthwhile. And when that step is reached, it is very liberating.
I still sometimes do think about it - just because it is INTERESTING to
think
about what the child is getting out of whatever she is doing. But, with no
anxiety attached to the thoughts, no judgement, it is very different than
when just starting out unschooling.
--pam
National Home Education Network
http://www.NHEN.org
Changing the Way the World Sees Homeschooling!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:28:03 EDT
From: TheFadels@...
Subject: Can I use a quote
there have been some great quotes lately about unschooling on the e-mail
loop, would it be appropriate to use a quote or two in our groups unschool
newsletter??
please let me know
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:50:01 EDT
From: SandraDodd@...
Subject: Re: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
In a message dated 7/24/02 9:16:19 AM, lapin@... writes:
<< However, wouldn't letting her go to school, be child lead learning, and
letting her follow her own path? >>
Yes.
I would let my kids go to school if they really wanted to.
But while they were in school I wouldn't consider them to be unschooling.
I don't personally equte "child led learning" and "unschooling" straight
across.
Sandra
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 14:08:34 EDT
From: SandraDodd@...
Subject: Re: Can I use a quote
In a message dated 7/24/02 11:29:47 AM, TheFadels@... writes:
<< there have been some great quotes lately about unschooling on the e-mail
loop, would it be appropriate to use a quote or two in our groups unschool
newsletter??
please let me know >>
If you do it in way of a review, meaning you then tell people how they can
join this e-mail loop, then nobody can say a thing!
And even if you didn't, there are over 800 people on this list and I'm
pretty
sure that the law says what arrives in your mailbox (real mail or virtual)
is
yours to share. Doesn't mean to swipe (which is not what you had in mind
anyway!), but to say "So'n'so said this in public: 'blah--------' " is
wholly legal and pretty cool!
People who don't want to be quoted shouldn't say anything in public.
Sandra
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:48:51 -0500
From: <llindsey@...>
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
oh. i am so proud..
my eight year old is in the back patio dismembering and eviscerating a dead
anole lizard....
Linda LL
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 14:28:39 -0500
From: "Louise Rynkewicz" <lrynkewicz@...>
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
Linda,
for days when there are no obliging lizards I bet he would enjoy
www.froguts.com where he can do a virtual dissection of a frog. My 7yr old
son loved it!
Louise
--
On Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:48:51
llindsey wrote:
>oh. i am so proud..anole lizard....
>my eight year old is in the back patio dismembering and eviscerating a dead
>_____________________________________________________
>Linda LL
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
Supercharge your e-mail with a 25MB Inbox, POP3 Access, No Ads
and NoTaglines --> LYCOS MAIL PLUS.
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:29:04 -0700
From: "Lewis" <lapin@...>
Subject: RE: how to unschool when your child wants to go to school
Yes Sandra, I agree with what you said.
Another point that leads to the fears of unschooling, is the HUGE amount of
curriculum suppliers, and "Hooked on Phonics", Sylvan Learning Center, and
others, that tend to make parents feel like they are never doing "enough"
for their children.
I at first felt this pressure. I would scour the net and catalogs for this
and that, and always thought I had found something better. We are in the
process of moving AGAIN, and AGAIN, I am packing up all this stuff we paid
so much money for that either hardly or never was used, or was a total waste
of time or money. They have to be making so much money off all these
homeschool curriculum materials, really.
Of course one of the first questions of other homeschoolers, when I began to
homeschool was "oh, what curriculum are you using?".
Debbie
-----Original Message-----
From: SandraDodd@... [mailto:SandraDodd@...]
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 10:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] how to unschool when your child wants
to go to school
In a message dated 7/24/02 9:16:19 AM, lapin@... writes:
<< However, wouldn't letting her go to school, be child lead learning, and
letting her follow her own path? >>
Yes.
I would let my kids go to school if they really wanted to.
But while they were in school I wouldn't consider them to be unschooling.
I don't personally equte "child led learning" and "unschooling" straight
across.
Sandra
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 15:17:41 -0500
From: "Louise Rynkewicz" <lrynkewicz@...>
Subject: Intro and math question
Hi everybody,
I've lurked enough and have thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue.
I joined this list after 1.5yrs of homeschooling my 8yr old ds. I took him
out of school half way through 1st grade when he was showing signs of
depression. He was unstimulated and frustrated. He has huge frustrations
with reading and writing (we are looking into vision testing)but is
conceptually advanced in most areas. The crunch came when the school
principal refused to accept his giftedness and stated "I will not rearrange
MY school for your child".
We have been feeling our way through homeschooling ever since. I have now
come to the conclusion that I have been trying to "school" too much. I need
to find a way to get him excited about learning again. I will go along with
any interests he has but he is not very self led. He seems to need quite
alot of guidance.
I'm not sure that total "unschooling" is our destination but I know that
finding the right balance for my son (and his siblings) IS my destination. I
am also sure that a large degree of unschooling has got to be the answer.
Hence my plea to everyone out there! With all your experiences I hoping you
can give me some guidance. I'm someone who likes to see something produced
on paper (workbooks look great to me although I've never considered using a
curriculum - he may as well be in school!!) but I know they are not for him.
I want to inspire him again. I can see ways and means of unschooling most
subjects (art, history, science,geography etc)since it seems to me that they
are things we talk about and do as a family anyway. You've probably guessed
my problem; MATH. I can see introducing concepts while cooking and crafting
and in general everyday life but how do you unschool the formulas for
calculating the circumference of a circle, Pythagoras and higher Trig functi
ons, calculus, physics functions etc? Do I just have to leave this until he
picks them up himself - I think I'm scared to do that. He likes math and
science and these higher functions are going to be important to be able to
manipulate the
concepts that he already understands.
I would appreciate any help. Please be gentle with me, I'm new to this ;.)
Thanks for listening,
Louise
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 15:25:40 -0500
From: <llindsey@...>
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
i will tell him about that.. but the YUCK factor might not be high enuf for
him.. lol..
Linda
----- Original Message -----
From: Louise Rynkewicz
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 2:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] unschooling theory
Linda,
for days when there are no obliging lizards I bet he would enjoy
www.froguts.com where he can do a virtual dissection of a frog. My 7yr old
son loved it!
Louise
--
On Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:48:51
llindsey wrote:
>oh. i am so proud..
>my eight year old is in the back patio dismembering and eviscerating a
dead anole lizard....
>
>Linda LL
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
_____________________________________________________
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:47:20 -0700
From: Tia Leschke <leschke@...>
Subject: Re: Intro and math question
>
>
>Hence my plea to everyone out there! With all your experiences I hoping
>you can give me some guidance. I'm someone who likes to see something
>produced on paper (workbooks look great to me although I've never
>considered using a curriculum - he may as well be in school!!) but I know
>they are not for him. I want to inspire him again. I can see ways and
>means of unschooling most subjects (art, history, science,geography
>etc)since it seems to me that they are things we talk about and do as a
>family anyway. You've probably guessed my problem; MATH. I can see
>introducing concepts while cooking and crafting and in general everyday
>life but how do you unschool the formulas for calculating the
>circumference of a circle, Pythagoras and higher Trig functions, calculus,
>physics functions etc? Do I just have to leave this until he picks them up
>himself - I think I'm scared to do that. He likes math and science and
>these higher functions are going to be important to be able to manipulate
the
> concepts that he already understands.
You may well find that unschooling is not for you and your family, but you
won't *really* know unless you jump in with both feet. To do that, you
need to stop thinking in terms of school subjects at all, and start
thinking in terms of what will help your son explore the things he's
interested in. If he's really interested in science and math, he's going
to be asking questions about those things. You can help him go from one
question to the next and show him how they all connect. If he really needs
calculus and physics, etc. to do what he wants to do, then you can help him
find ways to learn those things. But start with where he is now and where
he wants to go now.
Part of the reason I'm jumping in here is that thinking in terms of school
subjects really got in the way of my own understanding of unschooling, and
I started out thinking I was a radical unschooler. <g>
Tia, who hopes that was both gentle and clear
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
*********************************************
Tia Leschke
leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 17:08:18 EDT
From: SandraDodd@...
Subject: Re: Intro and math question
In a message dated 7/24/02 2:19:23 PM, lrynkewicz@... writes:
<< I can see introducing concepts while cooking and crafting and in general
everyday life but how do you unschool the formulas for calculating the
circumference of a circle, Pythagoras and higher Trig functions, calculus,
physics functions etc? Do I just have to leave this until he picks them up
himself - I think I'm scared to do that. >>
He's eight.
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 15:09:11 -0600
From: "zenmomma *" <zenmomma@...>
Subject: Froguts.com was Re: unschooling theory
>> Linda,
> for days when there are no obliging lizards I bet he would enjoy
>www.froguts.com where he can do a virtual dissection of a frog. My 7yr old
>son loved it!>>
Oh this site is very cool! Thanks for posting it. Casey has a friend over
today and we all looked at it together. We got as far as opening up the
heart. There were lots of "yucks!" and "Ewwwws" and "Gross!", as well as a
good deal of peeking through fingers. As grossed out as they were, they were
also fascinated. We stopped when Casey's friend (who's only 6) started
looking like she'd rather be doing something else. We moved on to playing
around with solargraphic paper.
Life is good.
~Mary
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Message: 18
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 17:13:18 EDT
From: AlmondJoy721@...
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
In a message dated 7/24/02 12:30:21 PM, lrynkewicz@... writes:
<< Linda,
for days when there are no obliging lizards I bet he would enjoy
www.froguts.com where he can do a virtual dissection of a frog. My 7yr old
son loved it!
Louise >>
Wow...that site is so cool. Thanks "How stuff works" looks pretty great
too, which I found a link to on froguts.com. I hope my son likes it as much
as I do.
Jessica
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Message: 19
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 16:33:37 -0700
From: "Lewis" <lapin@...>
Subject: RE: vision therapy
Louise,
Our family is too new to unschooling to give any advice.
However, regarding vision, we are quite well informed. Our three sons all
have glasses for varying reasons. Our younges is legally blind without
glasses, and 20/60 with them, he has extreme astigmatism and a crossed eye
and wears thick bi-focal glasses. Our middle guy is not so bad, and our
oldest has bi-focals with a very weak prescription.
Anyway, we have discovered Vision Therapy, and it has done wonders for our
children. Vision Therapy is not only for children with extreme vision
problems such as our youngest two. They use VT to treat ADD, and similar
problems. There is great information on the internet.
One good source is www.alderwoodvisiontherapy.com and www.visiontherapy.org.
There are other great sites as well. www.children-special-needs.org.
You may or may not be interested in the subject, but since you mentioned it,
I thought I would share.
Debbie
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Message: 20
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 19:11:13 -0500
From: David and Bonnie Altman <altman@...>
Subject: vision
Our child was diagnosed with ADD and learning disabilities. We have spent
hours and hours tutoring him and working with him individually. After
three years of special help, he still can't spell to save his life. Well,
I finally got smart. After being reassured by learning specialists umpteen
times that he was not dyslexic, I decided to take him for an eye exam at
the University of Houston Eye Institute, despite the fact he'd had previous
eye exams in school.
Lo and behold, he is very far sighted. He's been struggling to compensate
for years, and eeked by. Had we known three years ago, he'd have had quite
a different experience in school, and probably would have been reading
quite well by now, and his whole attitude toward school would have been
quite different.
Before you accept any learning disability diagnosis, get the vision and
neurology checked.
Bonnie
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Message: 21
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 19:08:51 -0500
From: <llindsey@...>
Subject: Re: Froguts.com was Re: unschooling theory
yes.. we, too loved the frog guts site..it was just gross enuf for my son to
enjoy it.. but i'm not as flexible as some;... i called his attention back
to it when he drifted to cartoons.. (Yes.. tv in same room.. me and my kids
tend to multi.. uh.. view? .. a lot .. ) dont think it hurt him too much..
and got him to the puzzle of the skeleton.. now there was something he could
WIN.. this is very important to him.. must WIN.. so what the hell.. it got
him to put the entire skeleton together.. et voila.. learned more in ten
minutes than an entire day of boring school..
LLL
----- Original Message -----
From: zenmomma *
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 4:09 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Froguts.com was Re: unschooling theory
>> Linda,
> for days when there are no obliging lizards I bet he would enjoy
>www.froguts.com where he can do a virtual dissection of a frog. My 7yr
old
>son loved it!>>
Oh this site is very cool! Thanks for posting it. Casey has a friend over
today and we all looked at it together. We got as far as opening up the
heart. There were lots of "yucks!" and "Ewwwws" and "Gross!", as well as a
good deal of peeking through fingers. As grossed out as they were, they
were
also fascinated. We stopped when Casey's friend (who's only 6) started
looking like she'd rather be doing something else. We moved on to playing
around with solargraphic paper.
Life is good.
~Mary
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Message: 22
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 19:10:56 -0500
From: <llindsey@...>
Subject: Re: unschooling theory
oh cool.. must check out links.. and see 'how stuff works'
LLL
----- Original Message -----
From: AlmondJoy721@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 4:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] unschooling theory
In a message dated 7/24/02 12:30:21 PM, lrynkewicz@... writes:
<< Linda,
for days when there are no obliging lizards I bet he would enjoy
www.froguts.com where he can do a virtual dissection of a frog. My 7yr old
son loved it!
Louise >>
Wow...that site is so cool. Thanks "How stuff works" looks pretty great
too, which I found a link to on froguts.com. I hope my son likes it as
much
as I do.
Jessica
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Message: 23
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 20:41:18 -0500
From: "NessaPower" <nessapower@...>
Subject: Re: vision therapy
Is there a way to do vision therapy on your own? It will be so costly to
take our daughter, esp. if there isn't a guarantee for end results. She's 6
1/2, and we found out too late with eyes also.
Vanessa
Our lil' sweeties:
Victoria Rose, Madison Grace, and
David Kent
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 24
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 20:55:10 -0500
From: David and Bonnie Altman <altman@...>
Subject: RE: vision therapy
I don't think 6 1/2 is "too late" by any means. Most children don't read
well until they're seven anyway.
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Message: 25
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 21:16:13 -0500
From: "NessaPower" <nessapower@...>
Subject: Re: vision therapy
Oh, I don't really mean "too late" for reading and such. But after
researching on the net and such on her condition(ambloypia), its best to
diagnois in the early years to improve your chances on better eyesight.
Wasn't until 6 months ago, that the school caught it, when the pediatrician
all these years has said nothing was wrong.
Hopefully she will do better with mom and learning one on one, then she
would have in school... I just hope I have the patience I need, she is an
extreme hyper child...but that's what makes her special!
Vanessa
Our lil' sweeties:
Victoria Rose, Madison Grace, and
David Kent
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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[email protected]
In a message dated 7/28/02 11:05:29 PM, gribskov@... writes:
<< I think My dd
would enjoy doing some new things but she seems to feel that lessons of
anysort are icky. I couldn't school her if I wanted to. SHe really goes her
own way on everything. Does any one have any suggestions for me. >>
I best idea is for YOU to play more. Play various little things for just a
few minutes a day. Brush up on some of your old favorite easy-stuff (not
some zoomy thing she couldn't begin to comprehend). Or just go in and do
scales and the kind of vocal-exercise scale things (cdefgfedc-c'-c) and
change keys and go up by halfsteps.
When she hears other tricks and trills she might add some to her own mix, or
she might watch you and ask how you did that.
I see lots of parents who can play an instrument and never, ever do.
My husband was playing recorder last night on the deck while he was grilling
dinner. Today at noon we have two friends (men in their 30's) coming over
to practice some Renaissance stuff--dance pieces and some combo reed
organ/cello/recorder/vocal. We have an SCA-event target, vaguely--to be able
to play at a couple of local winter events, just as background music. My
personal goal is to find enough two and three part stuff that any combination
of us could pick up this little set of music and play for 20 minutes.
Preferably a set of us not including ME.
But my point is, we're doing it for our own enjoyment, and the kids will be
in the house to hear it, but we won't say "Come and sit and listen."
We won't have to. They'll pass through. They'll listen outside, and they'll
have half a dozen other friends here because it's Kirby's 16th birthday!
If music is just for kids, kids won't want it as much as if it's a living,
vital thing for PEOPLE.
Sandra
<< I think My dd
would enjoy doing some new things but she seems to feel that lessons of
anysort are icky. I couldn't school her if I wanted to. SHe really goes her
own way on everything. Does any one have any suggestions for me. >>
I best idea is for YOU to play more. Play various little things for just a
few minutes a day. Brush up on some of your old favorite easy-stuff (not
some zoomy thing she couldn't begin to comprehend). Or just go in and do
scales and the kind of vocal-exercise scale things (cdefgfedc-c'-c) and
change keys and go up by halfsteps.
When she hears other tricks and trills she might add some to her own mix, or
she might watch you and ask how you did that.
I see lots of parents who can play an instrument and never, ever do.
My husband was playing recorder last night on the deck while he was grilling
dinner. Today at noon we have two friends (men in their 30's) coming over
to practice some Renaissance stuff--dance pieces and some combo reed
organ/cello/recorder/vocal. We have an SCA-event target, vaguely--to be able
to play at a couple of local winter events, just as background music. My
personal goal is to find enough two and three part stuff that any combination
of us could pick up this little set of music and play for 20 minutes.
Preferably a set of us not including ME.
But my point is, we're doing it for our own enjoyment, and the kids will be
in the house to hear it, but we won't say "Come and sit and listen."
We won't have to. They'll pass through. They'll listen outside, and they'll
have half a dozen other friends here because it's Kirby's 16th birthday!
If music is just for kids, kids won't want it as much as if it's a living,
vital thing for PEOPLE.
Sandra
KT
>My 8 year old boy is the exact same way about art. He's been drawing
>
>Any way for the last year she has been
>playing the same little homemade ditties and her playing hasn't really
>changed. She still plays a lot but she does ist in a mor perfunctory way and
>doesn't seem to enjoy it as much. I asked if she would like to take lessons
>to learn some new things. She said very adamently NO.
>
since he could hold a pencil almost, and used to admire art wherever we
went and called himself an artist and wanted to be an artist when he
grows up. He would draw for hours and hours on long car trips, and
spent a lot of time drawing in front of the TV and watching Pappyland.
<g> But I haven't seen him draw much in the last year, and his drawings
are perfunctory stick figures, mostly.
I think it's a creative break. I think drawing was his "life's work"
for at least 5 years, and he's learned all he can from it for now, and
is just not interested. He sucked the experience dry. He may never
draw like that again, but he might move on to painting, or clay or tile
mosaics someday.
What do I do about it? Be thankful that all my new notepads are no
longer filled up with drawings before I can use them (and cherish the
old ones that are), and keep him supplied in baseballs. Because now his
all-time consuming passion is baseball, which co-existed with drawing
all these years, but has come to the forefront in a big way in the last
few. He even begged me to re-do his room in a baseball theme (instead
of nicely drawn lighthouses <g>).
The great thing about baseball is he will actually read books about it! :)
Tuck
Tia Leschke
>Hello, I mostly lurk and gain inspiration which I need a lot of. As far asSandra had some good suggestions. Another possibility would be for *you*
>unschooling goes my gut says yes let them be but my upbringing (music
>prodigy, swim team, early reader, ivy league parents etc.) keeps getting in
>the way. This is my current struggle my daughter 8 loves to play the piano.
>She has been tinkering for several years and plays for hours. She is mostly
>self taught I have helped her read music when she asked or showed her what
>little I know when she said ok. Any way for the last year she has been
>playing the same little homemade ditties and her playing hasn't really
>changed. She still plays a lot but she does ist in a mor perfunctory way and
>doesn't seem to enjoy it as much. I asked if she would like to take lessons
>to learn some new things. She said very adamently NO. It is very hard for me
>to watch her once joyful playing become stale. I have met a teacher who
>seems very open, pleasant and gifted at teaching composition. I think My dd
>would enjoy doing some new things but she seems to feel that lessons of
>anysort are icky. I couldn't school her if I wanted to. SHe really goes her
>own way on everything. Does any one have any suggestions for me. Maybe I
>just need some hand holding. Thank you all you are an ongoing inspiration.
to take a few lessons with this teacher, not inviting her to listen but
scheduling the lesson for when she'll be around. Or, she might just not be
ready for lessons.
A young friend of mine was kind of like this. He was offered lessons and
didn't want them. Then at one point (age 9) he went along to his sister's
lessons and then came home and played everything she had been taught. His
parents offered again, and he just took off. After a couple of years, he
started on violin. He progressed rapidly and then his teacher said he
should play viola because we needed them in our orchestra. It took him
about a week to get good enough to join us. Before that, I used to take
him with me to orchestra rehersals, and he would follow the scores and
watch the conductor. He was also composing during this time. I always
assumed he would either become a concert pianist, an orchestral violinist,
a conductor, or a composer. Then he discovered fiddle music. At age 15,
he was making good money fiddling and also accompanying fiddlers on the
keyboard. Now at 18, he's in a very good fiddle band, touring, making CDs,
and making a living. And he *still* could go back and do any of those
other things I mentioned at some point.
All this to say once again that they'll do it when they're ready. <g>
Oh, and please remember to highlight and delete everything in the digest
*except* what you're actually replying to. Thanks.
Tia
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
*********************************************
Tia Leschke
leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
Tia Leschke
>Some unschooling friends of mine got so far into baseball that they started
>
>The great thing about baseball is he will actually read books about it! :)
making to-scale models of famous baseball stadiums. Wonder if he'd enjoy that.
Tia
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
*********************************************
Tia Leschke
leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
KT
I am absolutely certain he would enjoy that. But where would I put
them? lol.
He's started a collection of McFarlane baseball figures (famous
players). They're mostly limited editions, so he's got a catcher, a
batter, and a pitcher. We have a homemade Lego table that just happens
to have a green felt floor. As soon as he gets his room cleaned up
today, we're digging that out and are going to paint a diamond on it.
I'm sure he will spend hours dreaming up baseball scenarios with those
three players, until they come out with a few fielders and shortstop.
He and his father took a baseball trip to St. Louis last year, and I'm
planning one for them on the sly for opening day next year. He's been
in quite a few major league parks. Way more than I or his brothers had
ever been to before they were 9.
We just spent about 2 hours in the JC Penney outlet looking for a
baseball (only) blanket/comforter/duvet to go with the Arizona
Diamondbacks sheets he found on clearance. At Wal-Mart after that, he
spent 15 minutes talking to the guy with the airbrush t-shirt stand how
much it would cost to airbrush a giant baseball on a comforter, because
we couldn't find anything appropriate to fit his bed.
His oldest brother helped him paint real infield lines on the grass in
the front yard, and since I mowed it all off, it's time to repaint.
This time, he says, they won't forget the batters box! Our new
lanscaping even has a dugout (a bench) along the 3rd base line!
As you can see, he doesn't really *need* another outlet for this
baseball obsession, but I'll keep the models in mind in case he runs out
of ideas! lol. Thanks. :)
Tuck
Tia Leschke wrote:
them? lol.
He's started a collection of McFarlane baseball figures (famous
players). They're mostly limited editions, so he's got a catcher, a
batter, and a pitcher. We have a homemade Lego table that just happens
to have a green felt floor. As soon as he gets his room cleaned up
today, we're digging that out and are going to paint a diamond on it.
I'm sure he will spend hours dreaming up baseball scenarios with those
three players, until they come out with a few fielders and shortstop.
He and his father took a baseball trip to St. Louis last year, and I'm
planning one for them on the sly for opening day next year. He's been
in quite a few major league parks. Way more than I or his brothers had
ever been to before they were 9.
We just spent about 2 hours in the JC Penney outlet looking for a
baseball (only) blanket/comforter/duvet to go with the Arizona
Diamondbacks sheets he found on clearance. At Wal-Mart after that, he
spent 15 minutes talking to the guy with the airbrush t-shirt stand how
much it would cost to airbrush a giant baseball on a comforter, because
we couldn't find anything appropriate to fit his bed.
His oldest brother helped him paint real infield lines on the grass in
the front yard, and since I mowed it all off, it's time to repaint.
This time, he says, they won't forget the batters box! Our new
lanscaping even has a dugout (a bench) along the 3rd base line!
As you can see, he doesn't really *need* another outlet for this
baseball obsession, but I'll keep the models in mind in case he runs out
of ideas! lol. Thanks. :)
Tuck
Tia Leschke wrote:
>>
>>The great thing about baseball is he will actually read books about it! :)
>>
>
>Some unschooling friends of mine got so far into baseball that they started
>making to-scale models of famous baseball stadiums. Wonder if he'd enjoy that.
>Tia
>
>No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
>Eleanor Roosevelt
>*********************************************
>Tia Leschke
>leschke@...
>On Vancouver Island
>
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