forumtate

>>>TUCK wrote: "What if your child's teacher didn't know about the
Cuban missile crisis? Or didn't
think it important enough to spend the requisite amount of time on?
Unlikely for a historical event like that, but possible. To me, it
just points out the need for parents to always question their
assumptions and
keep on learning."

Funny thing: as I posted, that very point occurred to me. I taught
high school English for 4 yrs, and of COURSE students asked me things
I did not know the answers to… But I'm still curious as to what
others will say!

>>>MARY wrote: "One of the best parts of unschooling is learning
right along with my kids. I am NOT their only learning source…"
Ok, here's my next issue: will I be a poor unschooler if I just don't
FEEL like learning right along with my kids? It seems like you all
are just OUT THERE all the time, learning, volunteering,
researching. If that's not one's personality, wouldn't it be better
to just homeschool or even *gasp* P/S? Part of me loves learning and
researching, but then there are times when I get SO TIRED and don't
feel like doing much besides lurking on computer websites ;) and
watching tv. I don't sew, do crafts, or take classes on my own. I
just cook regular dinners, nothing fancy or gourmet. Sometimes
listening in on you guys makes it seem like you all are constantly
going to museums and fairs and volunteering and making tents (!) and
stuff! Very intimidating to think about!
>>>SHEILA answered much the same way, "gee now you've got me
curious…" what if you just DON'T CARE what the difference is between
a grasshopper and a cricket, for example? I can already feel the
guilt!! ;)

Of course, this may be because I just had my second baby in May and
I'm thinking if I'm this tired now, what will I feel like if I have 4
or 5 kids?? *LOL*

TATE
=o)

zenmomma *

>>Ok, here's my next issue: will I be a poor unschooler if I just don't FEEL
>>like learning right along with my kids?>>

Unschooling will be better, and you will have a better time, if you do get
into the learning with them. But for me it didn't happen all at once. The
joy of learning and doing is contagious. I myself was completely damamged as
a recovering "A" student and college graduate. I had all the love of inquiry
sucked right out of me. My kids brought it back.

>>It seems like you all are just OUT THERE all the time, learning,
>>volunteering, researching.>>

Not always. We all have our down times, it's just more fun to share the up
times I guess. Want to hear about last week when I was so fatigued that I
stayed in bed for 48 hours? ;-) There's also those weeks where no one seems
to have any cool ideas and so we just veg a lot with TV and movies. It comes
in cycles. It's part of life.

>>If that's not one's personality, wouldn't it be better to just homeschool
>>or even *gasp* P/S?>>

No. Even in school they're only going 6 hours a day, 180 days a year. That's
NOT 24/7. And we all know how much wasted time there is in a supposed school
day anyway. And parading homeschooling materials in front of them might make
you feel beter for awhile, but wait until you feel like you have to force
them to come to the table and "do this work!" Talk about exhausting! How
much easier and productive to visit the library and bring home 20 cool new
books plus 3 new interesting videos, or to take a leisurely look through a
museum or botanical garden, or to bake a cake....

>>Of course, this may be because I just had my second baby in May and
I'm thinking if I'm this tired now, what will I feel like if I have 4
or 5 kids?? *LOL*>>

You have your hands full! Give yourself a break. My kids are 8 and 13. I
assure you my posts would be much different if the kids were still babies.
You'd hear a lot more stories about blowing bubbles, sidewalk chalk,
painting with water and SLEEPING. :o)

Life is good.
~Mary

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