Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 2288
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/26/2002 6:29:57 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
unschooling because I was always so boiling over with excitement and
enthusiasm for what the kids were doing.
I took every question, like the one above, as a chance to brag up whatever
the kids were into at the time. I didn't take it as an academic question,
necessarily, but as just a way for a caring relative to ask me to open a
window into their beloved grandchild or niece's life.
It helps to be nondefensive -- I really WAS so genuinely thrilled and
facinated by the learning that my little ones were doing that I didn't have
to fake it. That's where having really thought a lot about learning and what
is important and isn't and child development and what leads to what -- etc.
-- comes in handy.
What I mean is that when my 4 yo spent the day and night and days and nights
playing with stuffed animals --- that looked like "real" and important
learning to me and I translated it as that to questioning relatives. "Rosie
has been spending just hours and hours and hours in dramatic play -- she's
really developing her ability to create dialog and develop characters and
learning all about plot lines." <BEG> You know - I never really said that,
exactly, but I KNEW that was what she was doing - along with a b'zillion
other "developments" such as practicing conflict resolution skills (by acting
out with the stuffed animals) and trying on adult situations and roles and
all kinds of other things.
I never ever thought of what the kids were doing when they were little as
"just" playing -- even if all they were doing was sticking their fingers into
a hole in the couch/sofa/davenport and feeling the stuffing, I saw that as an
exploration of the tactile properties of upholstery materials. I might notice
that the same kid who was doing that also liked to run her hands across the
wall as she walked through a room. I guess I might say to Grandma, "She's
really interested right now in how things feel - in their tactile qualities."
(I have a friend who is an architect and she says that she touched everything
- was always interested in how things felt - and that she had a professor in
her university in Naples, Italy, who said that he was the same way - that his
parents despaired because he always had dirty hands and was always touching
everything. So - there. Who the heck knows what something might lead to?)
--pamS
National Home Education Network
http://www.NHEN.org
Changing the Way the World Sees Homeschooling!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected] writes:
> This time she asked me what he was learning.Looking back, I realize that nobody in my family ever DARED to question our
unschooling because I was always so boiling over with excitement and
enthusiasm for what the kids were doing.
I took every question, like the one above, as a chance to brag up whatever
the kids were into at the time. I didn't take it as an academic question,
necessarily, but as just a way for a caring relative to ask me to open a
window into their beloved grandchild or niece's life.
It helps to be nondefensive -- I really WAS so genuinely thrilled and
facinated by the learning that my little ones were doing that I didn't have
to fake it. That's where having really thought a lot about learning and what
is important and isn't and child development and what leads to what -- etc.
-- comes in handy.
What I mean is that when my 4 yo spent the day and night and days and nights
playing with stuffed animals --- that looked like "real" and important
learning to me and I translated it as that to questioning relatives. "Rosie
has been spending just hours and hours and hours in dramatic play -- she's
really developing her ability to create dialog and develop characters and
learning all about plot lines." <BEG> You know - I never really said that,
exactly, but I KNEW that was what she was doing - along with a b'zillion
other "developments" such as practicing conflict resolution skills (by acting
out with the stuffed animals) and trying on adult situations and roles and
all kinds of other things.
I never ever thought of what the kids were doing when they were little as
"just" playing -- even if all they were doing was sticking their fingers into
a hole in the couch/sofa/davenport and feeling the stuffing, I saw that as an
exploration of the tactile properties of upholstery materials. I might notice
that the same kid who was doing that also liked to run her hands across the
wall as she walked through a room. I guess I might say to Grandma, "She's
really interested right now in how things feel - in their tactile qualities."
(I have a friend who is an architect and she says that she touched everything
- was always interested in how things felt - and that she had a professor in
her university in Naples, Italy, who said that he was the same way - that his
parents despaired because he always had dirty hands and was always touching
everything. So - there. Who the heck knows what something might lead to?)
--pamS
National Home Education Network
http://www.NHEN.org
Changing the Way the World Sees Homeschooling!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/26/2002 6:29:57 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
education-related politics - sounds like you are. I'd like to suggest the
NHEN legislative list for that purpose.
([email protected])
I believe that it is accurate to say that this list is not really just a list
for unschoolers to talk and debate about absolutely anything -- it is a list
that is actually ABOUT unschooling. Although, yes, our kids can learn from
anything and everything, this list isn't about anything and everything - it
isn't about abortion or immigration policies or tax reform or immunizations
or lots of other things that could EASILY swamp the list and ruin it for any
good discussion and learning about unschooling. Maybe there is a place for
such a list -- a list where unschoolers go to talk about anything and
everything and political debates would be appropriate.
Some people aren't actually all that interested in talking about and
learning about and getting support for unschooling their kids --- but they
have other agendas that they'd like to convince us of. This really isn't the
place for that. The list is SO big and so active - it is very tempting for
people to take us as a captive audience and draw us into political
discussions. And there are people who don't mind and would enjoy those
discussions. But that really isn't fair to the rest of us who just want to be
on a list to talk about unschooling our kids.
I love discussion lists and have been on this list from its very early
beginnings, but I can't keep up here and a big reason for that is all the
controversial and hostile debate stuff that is really not relevant. I do like
the NHEN legislative list -- on that list there is an attempt to shed light -
even when hostilities do flare up (and they do) -- there are lots of
interested people there and they go out and investigate the topics and they
really help each other get to the truth, as much as possible. We aren't here
to do that - not when it comes to government school financing or other
political or off-topic discussions. It means that on this list, where the
vast majority of us are here to talk about unschooling, a few people post
their political opinions, a few people are drawn into debating them, hardly
anybody has any evidence or in-depth information to rebutt what anybody else
proclaims, and most people are just either yawning and signing off the list
or wading through the stuff while frustratedly trying to get other topics
going.
I do my political discussions on a list that was created for that purpose and
where all the other people on the list are there for that purpose. But I
refuse to do it here because I know, for a fact, that there are people who
comehere who are REALLY wanting to learn about unschooling (sometimes
DESPERATELY wanting to learn about it or get support for it or figure out if
it might rescue their child in some way) and wading through all the other
stuff (including the extreme heat and hostility that politics always
generates) makes it really hard for them to get what they need from this
list.
--pamS
National Home Education Network
http://www.NHEN.org
Changing the Way the World Sees Homeschooling!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected] writes:
> My point is, and I do have one, why exactly do we keep jumping onYou may be interested in a list that discusses homeschooling and
> Ned and Bob and anyone else who seems to have very strong feelings
> one way or the other on subjects that seem to me to fit very neatly
> into an unschooling discussion?
education-related politics - sounds like you are. I'd like to suggest the
NHEN legislative list for that purpose.
([email protected])
I believe that it is accurate to say that this list is not really just a list
for unschoolers to talk and debate about absolutely anything -- it is a list
that is actually ABOUT unschooling. Although, yes, our kids can learn from
anything and everything, this list isn't about anything and everything - it
isn't about abortion or immigration policies or tax reform or immunizations
or lots of other things that could EASILY swamp the list and ruin it for any
good discussion and learning about unschooling. Maybe there is a place for
such a list -- a list where unschoolers go to talk about anything and
everything and political debates would be appropriate.
Some people aren't actually all that interested in talking about and
learning about and getting support for unschooling their kids --- but they
have other agendas that they'd like to convince us of. This really isn't the
place for that. The list is SO big and so active - it is very tempting for
people to take us as a captive audience and draw us into political
discussions. And there are people who don't mind and would enjoy those
discussions. But that really isn't fair to the rest of us who just want to be
on a list to talk about unschooling our kids.
I love discussion lists and have been on this list from its very early
beginnings, but I can't keep up here and a big reason for that is all the
controversial and hostile debate stuff that is really not relevant. I do like
the NHEN legislative list -- on that list there is an attempt to shed light -
even when hostilities do flare up (and they do) -- there are lots of
interested people there and they go out and investigate the topics and they
really help each other get to the truth, as much as possible. We aren't here
to do that - not when it comes to government school financing or other
political or off-topic discussions. It means that on this list, where the
vast majority of us are here to talk about unschooling, a few people post
their political opinions, a few people are drawn into debating them, hardly
anybody has any evidence or in-depth information to rebutt what anybody else
proclaims, and most people are just either yawning and signing off the list
or wading through the stuff while frustratedly trying to get other topics
going.
I do my political discussions on a list that was created for that purpose and
where all the other people on the list are there for that purpose. But I
refuse to do it here because I know, for a fact, that there are people who
comehere who are REALLY wanting to learn about unschooling (sometimes
DESPERATELY wanting to learn about it or get support for it or figure out if
it might rescue their child in some way) and wading through all the other
stuff (including the extreme heat and hostility that politics always
generates) makes it really hard for them to get what they need from this
list.
--pamS
National Home Education Network
http://www.NHEN.org
Changing the Way the World Sees Homeschooling!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Betsy
**
Looking back, I realize that nobody in my family ever DARED to question
our
unschooling because I was always so boiling over with excitement and
enthusiasm for what the kids were doing.**
I agree, Pam. I think the best answer to casual critics is a blinding
smile and vigorous, Tigger-like enthusiasm for unschooling.
(Eeyore-like outbursts won't make any friends. <g>)
I'm glad I started unschooling at the preschool age, because my
confidence has grown over the years. Now that my son is big enough for
store clerks to ask us why he is "AWOL" from school, I have no trouble
facing them down. When people ask me why he's not in school at that
minute I give them a big, fat satisfied smile and tell them "We
homeschool!" If I get any follow up about being at the store instead of
at the kitchen table, I just gush that we have a very flexible schedule.
I try to leave the impression that I'm thrilled with homeschooling
(unschooling) and that it's working great for us. I want people to
shake their heads when I leave and wonder "what drugs is that lady on?" <eg>
Life is good,
Betsy
P.S. (While I was having a great time at the Sac. conference, my s-i-l
was apparently plying my husband with skeptical questions about
homeschooling. My smile may be blinding, but it apparently can't be
seen from 30 miles away.) (And I think, based on her behind-the-back
timing, that my s-i-l has learned to fear my Tigger-like enthusiasm. Go figure!)
Looking back, I realize that nobody in my family ever DARED to question
our
unschooling because I was always so boiling over with excitement and
enthusiasm for what the kids were doing.**
I agree, Pam. I think the best answer to casual critics is a blinding
smile and vigorous, Tigger-like enthusiasm for unschooling.
(Eeyore-like outbursts won't make any friends. <g>)
I'm glad I started unschooling at the preschool age, because my
confidence has grown over the years. Now that my son is big enough for
store clerks to ask us why he is "AWOL" from school, I have no trouble
facing them down. When people ask me why he's not in school at that
minute I give them a big, fat satisfied smile and tell them "We
homeschool!" If I get any follow up about being at the store instead of
at the kitchen table, I just gush that we have a very flexible schedule.
I try to leave the impression that I'm thrilled with homeschooling
(unschooling) and that it's working great for us. I want people to
shake their heads when I leave and wonder "what drugs is that lady on?" <eg>
Life is good,
Betsy
P.S. (While I was having a great time at the Sac. conference, my s-i-l
was apparently plying my husband with skeptical questions about
homeschooling. My smile may be blinding, but it apparently can't be
seen from 30 miles away.) (And I think, based on her behind-the-back
timing, that my s-i-l has learned to fear my Tigger-like enthusiasm. Go figure!)
saka30080
My personality probably won't support this kind of cheerleading.
It's just not in my nature. I could give her some positive updates
on things he's doing though and leave it at that. Being non-
defensive ia the best advice. I don't have anything to defend so it
makes sense. I think she raises old fears and feelings I've been
trying to get past, so I get irritated after talking to her. But
irritated is better than angry, which is how I felt after her third
or fourth "toilet-train him so he can go to pre-school" speech.
Cherry
It's just not in my nature. I could give her some positive updates
on things he's doing though and leave it at that. Being non-
defensive ia the best advice. I don't have anything to defend so it
makes sense. I think she raises old fears and feelings I've been
trying to get past, so I get irritated after talking to her. But
irritated is better than angry, which is how I felt after her third
or fourth "toilet-train him so he can go to pre-school" speech.
Cherry
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., PSoroosh@a... wrote:
> In a message dated 8/26/2002 6:29:57 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> Unschooling-dotcom@y... writes:
>
>
> > This time she asked me what he was learning.
>
>
> Looking back, I realize that nobody in my family ever DARED to
question our
> unschooling because I was always so boiling over with excitement
and
> enthusiasm for what the kids were doing.
>
> I took every question, like the one above, as a chance to brag up
whatever
> the kids were into at the time. I didn't take it as an academic
question,
> necessarily, but as just a way for a caring relative to ask me to
open a
> window into their beloved grandchild or niece's life.
>
> It helps to be nondefensive -- I really WAS so genuinely thrilled
and
> facinated by the learning that my little ones were doing that I
didn't have
> to fake it. That's where having really thought a lot about learning
and what
> is important and isn't and child development and what leads to
what -- etc.
> -- comes in handy.
>
> What I mean is that when my 4 yo spent the day and night and days
and nights
> playing with stuffed animals --- that looked like "real" and
important
> learning to me and I translated it as that to questioning
relatives. "Rosie
> has been spending just hours and hours and hours in dramatic play --
she's
> really developing her ability to create dialog and develop
characters and
> learning all about plot lines." <BEG> You know - I never really
said that,
> exactly, but I KNEW that was what she was doing - along with a
b'zillion
> other "developments" such as practicing conflict resolution skills
(by acting
> out with the stuffed animals) and trying on adult situations and
roles and
> all kinds of other things.
>
> I never ever thought of what the kids were doing when they were
little as
> "just" playing -- even if all they were doing was sticking their
fingers into
> a hole in the couch/sofa/davenport and feeling the stuffing, I saw
that as an
> exploration of the tactile properties of upholstery materials. I
might notice
> that the same kid who was doing that also liked to run her hands
across the
> wall as she walked through a room. I guess I might say to
Grandma, "She's
> really interested right now in how things feel - in their tactile
qualities."
> (I have a friend who is an architect and she says that she touched
everything
> - was always interested in how things felt - and that she had a
professor in
> her university in Naples, Italy, who said that he was the same way -
that his
> parents despaired because he always had dirty hands and was always
touching
> everything. So - there. Who the heck knows what something might
lead to?)
>
> --pamS
> National Home Education Network
> http://www.NHEN.org
> Changing the Way the World Sees Homeschooling!
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]