Want To Unschool In Ga
Maria
I have 2 daughters, one 7 and one 8. I started homeschooling them
last year, right at the last of the school year, because of several
factors.
My main factor was my 7 year old. The teachers have tried repeatedly
since she was in pre-school to get me to put her on ritalin and into
a "Special" school because "They" determined she had ADHD. I fought
long and hard, and finally found a child psychologist that changed
her diet when she was 5, and she's doing MUCH MUCH better. I will
not and do not want to drug her, nor put her in a "Special" school.
OK last year, the school started sending out "Evaluation" letters for
my 8 year old daughter who is NOT hyper, nor anything like my 7 year
old. These were the same forms they used on my 7 year old, before
they determined she had ADHD.
To make a long story short, my girls can't read, and it's not THEIR
FAULT. They are not dumb, nor retarded (sorry for the rude word but
that's what they try to say about my 7 year old). I finally got fed
up last year and pulled them otu, figuring I could teach them to read
one on one much better than the SORRY teachers could.
OK since then, the 8 year old has improved ALOT. She's a lil Math
genius, and can grasp math quicker than I can believe. So I can say
that homeschooling for her has gone GREAT except for the fact she
does not like doing seatwork.
My 7 year old, I'm about at my wits end now and can understand why
the teachers couldn't teach her. She is SMART but WILL NOT apply
herself. She knows how to tell time, but like this morning when I
gave her the clock worksheets, she wrote down random numbers just to
get it done, then stomped off when I printed her 2 new worksheets and
told her to do them right because I knew she could do it.
When we go our phonics flash cards, she won't even TRY to sound them
out, she just says whatever comes to mind first.
I am almost ready to give up, I'm near tears and I DO NOT want my
daughter in that "Special" school. I was looking for homeschooling
help resources trying to find a support group for children with ADHD
children when I stumbled across a site that mentioned unschooling.
So far I have read for 2 hours, and I think this may be what we
need!!! I know both my girls would LOVE to learn, by doing fun
things instead of seatwork and memorizing, but I don't know how to
begin and how to start unschooling them so they can learn to read.
(They can read a lil, but not on thier grade levels).
Any helpful tips and advice sure would be appreciated. Especially in
the reading area. Because they are both smart as a whip, if I teach
them somehting to do with Science, they remember it, and they catch
onto Math quick. But the not being able to read is killing me, and
frustrating them because they want to be able to read books alone
likethier big sister does (She's 13 and still in piblic school, she
is agifted child that taught herself to read and was reading on 4th
grade level by time she was 4, so I left her in publicschools so she
could participate in all the progras she'd already joined).
I think I let my oldest daughters succes blind me to how difficult it
is for a child to learn. Then I thought the school would have them
reading. Then I woke up and realized I best do something quick
because the blasted school system DOESN'T CARE if they can do
anything, all they care about is "Pass" or "Fail" and on to the next
student.
Also I wanted to try hooked on phonics, but that's too expensive for
our budget right now. So any helpful affordable advice woudl be
appreciated. And if they need a course or somethignt hat costs alot
of money, I am more than willing to sell my truck to get it for them,
but I need to know it's a course that will work.
OK I'm rambling, I'm going to go read more about this unschooling.
Maria
last year, right at the last of the school year, because of several
factors.
My main factor was my 7 year old. The teachers have tried repeatedly
since she was in pre-school to get me to put her on ritalin and into
a "Special" school because "They" determined she had ADHD. I fought
long and hard, and finally found a child psychologist that changed
her diet when she was 5, and she's doing MUCH MUCH better. I will
not and do not want to drug her, nor put her in a "Special" school.
OK last year, the school started sending out "Evaluation" letters for
my 8 year old daughter who is NOT hyper, nor anything like my 7 year
old. These were the same forms they used on my 7 year old, before
they determined she had ADHD.
To make a long story short, my girls can't read, and it's not THEIR
FAULT. They are not dumb, nor retarded (sorry for the rude word but
that's what they try to say about my 7 year old). I finally got fed
up last year and pulled them otu, figuring I could teach them to read
one on one much better than the SORRY teachers could.
OK since then, the 8 year old has improved ALOT. She's a lil Math
genius, and can grasp math quicker than I can believe. So I can say
that homeschooling for her has gone GREAT except for the fact she
does not like doing seatwork.
My 7 year old, I'm about at my wits end now and can understand why
the teachers couldn't teach her. She is SMART but WILL NOT apply
herself. She knows how to tell time, but like this morning when I
gave her the clock worksheets, she wrote down random numbers just to
get it done, then stomped off when I printed her 2 new worksheets and
told her to do them right because I knew she could do it.
When we go our phonics flash cards, she won't even TRY to sound them
out, she just says whatever comes to mind first.
I am almost ready to give up, I'm near tears and I DO NOT want my
daughter in that "Special" school. I was looking for homeschooling
help resources trying to find a support group for children with ADHD
children when I stumbled across a site that mentioned unschooling.
So far I have read for 2 hours, and I think this may be what we
need!!! I know both my girls would LOVE to learn, by doing fun
things instead of seatwork and memorizing, but I don't know how to
begin and how to start unschooling them so they can learn to read.
(They can read a lil, but not on thier grade levels).
Any helpful tips and advice sure would be appreciated. Especially in
the reading area. Because they are both smart as a whip, if I teach
them somehting to do with Science, they remember it, and they catch
onto Math quick. But the not being able to read is killing me, and
frustrating them because they want to be able to read books alone
likethier big sister does (She's 13 and still in piblic school, she
is agifted child that taught herself to read and was reading on 4th
grade level by time she was 4, so I left her in publicschools so she
could participate in all the progras she'd already joined).
I think I let my oldest daughters succes blind me to how difficult it
is for a child to learn. Then I thought the school would have them
reading. Then I woke up and realized I best do something quick
because the blasted school system DOESN'T CARE if they can do
anything, all they care about is "Pass" or "Fail" and on to the next
student.
Also I wanted to try hooked on phonics, but that's too expensive for
our budget right now. So any helpful affordable advice woudl be
appreciated. And if they need a course or somethignt hat costs alot
of money, I am more than willing to sell my truck to get it for them,
but I need to know it's a course that will work.
OK I'm rambling, I'm going to go read more about this unschooling.
Maria
Jennifer Green
Maria, welcome to the group. The first thing to do is to sit down and take a deep breath. :-) You may have found in your unschooling research that unschooling is letting the children be the leaders of their lives. It may take a while for them to deschool, but when they do you will find them bringing up subjects and asking you to help with whatever they are interested in. Don't worry, just trust they will know what they need at any given time. Good Luck!
Jen
www.heartlightdfw.com
Jen
www.heartlightdfw.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Maria
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 10:18 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Want To Unschool In Ga
I have 2 daughters, one 7 and one 8. I started homeschooling them
last year, right at the last of the school year, because of several
factors.
My main factor was my 7 year old. The teachers have tried repeatedly
since she was in pre-school to get me to put her on ritalin and into
a "Special" school because "They" determined she had ADHD. I fought
long and hard, and finally found a child psychologist that changed
her diet when she was 5, and she's doing MUCH MUCH better. I will
not and do not want to drug her, nor put her in a "Special" school.
OK last year, the school started sending out "Evaluation" letters for
my 8 year old daughter who is NOT hyper, nor anything like my 7 year
old. These were the same forms they used on my 7 year old, before
they determined she had ADHD.
To make a long story short, my girls can't read, and it's not THEIR
FAULT. They are not dumb, nor retarded (sorry for the rude word but
that's what they try to say about my 7 year old). I finally got fed
up last year and pulled them otu, figuring I could teach them to read
one on one much better than the SORRY teachers could.
OK since then, the 8 year old has improved ALOT. She's a lil Math
genius, and can grasp math quicker than I can believe. So I can say
that homeschooling for her has gone GREAT except for the fact she
does not like doing seatwork.
My 7 year old, I'm about at my wits end now and can understand why
the teachers couldn't teach her. She is SMART but WILL NOT apply
herself. She knows how to tell time, but like this morning when I
gave her the clock worksheets, she wrote down random numbers just to
get it done, then stomped off when I printed her 2 new worksheets and
told her to do them right because I knew she could do it.
When we go our phonics flash cards, she won't even TRY to sound them
out, she just says whatever comes to mind first.
I am almost ready to give up, I'm near tears and I DO NOT want my
daughter in that "Special" school. I was looking for homeschooling
help resources trying to find a support group for children with ADHD
children when I stumbled across a site that mentioned unschooling.
So far I have read for 2 hours, and I think this may be what we
need!!! I know both my girls would LOVE to learn, by doing fun
things instead of seatwork and memorizing, but I don't know how to
begin and how to start unschooling them so they can learn to read.
(They can read a lil, but not on thier grade levels).
Any helpful tips and advice sure would be appreciated. Especially in
the reading area. Because they are both smart as a whip, if I teach
them somehting to do with Science, they remember it, and they catch
onto Math quick. But the not being able to read is killing me, and
frustrating them because they want to be able to read books alone
likethier big sister does (She's 13 and still in piblic school, she
is agifted child that taught herself to read and was reading on 4th
grade level by time she was 4, so I left her in publicschools so she
could participate in all the progras she'd already joined).
I think I let my oldest daughters succes blind me to how difficult it
is for a child to learn. Then I thought the school would have them
reading. Then I woke up and realized I best do something quick
because the blasted school system DOESN'T CARE if they can do
anything, all they care about is "Pass" or "Fail" and on to the next
student.
Also I wanted to try hooked on phonics, but that's too expensive for
our budget right now. So any helpful affordable advice woudl be
appreciated. And if they need a course or somethignt hat costs alot
of money, I am more than willing to sell my truck to get it for them,
but I need to know it's a course that will work.
OK I'm rambling, I'm going to go read more about this unschooling.
Maria
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Mary Bianco
Maria,
Unschooling to us, (husband and myself) is child led learning. Meaning you
don't make them do worksheets and sit down and do seat work and so on. You
relax and let them stay home with you and go places with you and do what
they would like to do. And many many days it will seem like all they do is
play. And that's okay too because they also learn so much just by playing.
As parents we make sure that our children have all kinso f resources around
the house. Tons of books, which aren't all childrens books. And toys and fun
stuff like arts and crafts and building materials and animals and so on. We
provide all the "stuff" and just let them have at it. There are some things
that may go untouched for years, but then they will discover it.
My 6 and 7 year olds have taught themselves how to read just like they
learned to swim and walk. I was there watching of course, (well not all the
time with the walking and reading!) but they did it themselves when "they"
were ready regardless of what I thought.
My SIL told me about fantastic swim lessons for the kids. I asked them if
they wanted to go and they said no. Well she didn't think that was a good
idea here in FL. That I should have, for their own good, taken them. Why??
They didn't want to go. And now they swim like fish with no pushing and no
crying over lessons they didn't want. Same thing happened with the reading.
Why should I make them sit down and force them to do things they don't want
to do? When they are ready, they will get it on their own. Really they will.
Sounds like your daughter is trying to tell you that. If you know she knows
things and she's putting things down to get them over with, she's telling
you she doesn't like doing it. And if you keep making her, she will get
worse.
So just play with your kids and let them play and read to them a lot and
don't worry about them reading to themselves. It will all come. And just be
there for them to do things with and answer questions for them and help when
they ask for it. If you watch your kids they will give you all the signs of
what they need and want to do.
Mary B
_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
Unschooling to us, (husband and myself) is child led learning. Meaning you
don't make them do worksheets and sit down and do seat work and so on. You
relax and let them stay home with you and go places with you and do what
they would like to do. And many many days it will seem like all they do is
play. And that's okay too because they also learn so much just by playing.
As parents we make sure that our children have all kinso f resources around
the house. Tons of books, which aren't all childrens books. And toys and fun
stuff like arts and crafts and building materials and animals and so on. We
provide all the "stuff" and just let them have at it. There are some things
that may go untouched for years, but then they will discover it.
My 6 and 7 year olds have taught themselves how to read just like they
learned to swim and walk. I was there watching of course, (well not all the
time with the walking and reading!) but they did it themselves when "they"
were ready regardless of what I thought.
My SIL told me about fantastic swim lessons for the kids. I asked them if
they wanted to go and they said no. Well she didn't think that was a good
idea here in FL. That I should have, for their own good, taken them. Why??
They didn't want to go. And now they swim like fish with no pushing and no
crying over lessons they didn't want. Same thing happened with the reading.
Why should I make them sit down and force them to do things they don't want
to do? When they are ready, they will get it on their own. Really they will.
Sounds like your daughter is trying to tell you that. If you know she knows
things and she's putting things down to get them over with, she's telling
you she doesn't like doing it. And if you keep making her, she will get
worse.
So just play with your kids and let them play and read to them a lot and
don't worry about them reading to themselves. It will all come. And just be
there for them to do things with and answer questions for them and help when
they ask for it. If you watch your kids they will give you all the signs of
what they need and want to do.
Mary B
_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
Betsy
**
So far I have read for 2 hours, and I think this may be what we
need!!! I know both my girls would LOVE to learn, by doing fun
things instead of seatwork and memorizing, but I don't know how to
begin and how to start unschooling them so they can learn to read.
(They can read a lil, but not on thier grade levels).
Any helpful tips and advice sure would be appreciated.**
Hi, Maria --
Making the switch over to unschooling from a more "formal" kind of
learning with worksheets takes a big mental adjustment.
If you pick fun materials for learning, but still set times for your
kids to use the materials and make them "finish" when they don't want
to, that wouldn't be unschooling and you wouldn't see the same results
that we expect from unschooling. (The approach I'm describing could be
"eclectic homeschooling" or "unit-studies" or "relaxed homeschooling".)
Some people come into the unschooling forum just to find out about the
fun resources. Others come to change their way of life. We may TRY to
persuade you to "unschool all the way", but we can't actually force you.
<g>
I actually have a homeschooling mom friend who was on Ritalin herself as
a child. I think the school system just couldn't accomodate her
kinesthetic learning style. Her oldest daughter is also a kinesthetic
learner. I might be able to recruit her to talk to you if you have
specific issues you need reassurance about. You can email me privately
if you need to follow up on that.
I live in a big city and the libraries here carry Hooked on Phonics and
the Phonics Game. So check your library, if you haven't done that
already. Some of my homeschooled friends (who aren't unschooling)
recommend the book Reading Reflex, which I would guess only costs about
$20. My son (now 8) really learned a lot about reading from watching
the PBS show, Between the Lions. He liked it because it's funny.
(Resources at my house have to be more than fun -- they have to be
funny, or my son won't touch them.)
When kids aren't early readers, they can learn a lot from books that mom
reads to them, audio books on tape (especially in the car) and videos.
And, of course, they can learn from hands-on experience. Science and
history videos are popular at my house. I've been taping the new
revolutionary war cartoon, Liberty's Kids, on PBS. My son likes it
because it has lively music AND gun fighting.
It's hard, but I think you have to let go of anxiety about kid's reading
so that they can relax enough to do it. It may take time. I hope Sandra
will post the links to the articles she has about kids learning to read
in their own time. The articles will help you feel better.
Betsy
So far I have read for 2 hours, and I think this may be what we
need!!! I know both my girls would LOVE to learn, by doing fun
things instead of seatwork and memorizing, but I don't know how to
begin and how to start unschooling them so they can learn to read.
(They can read a lil, but not on thier grade levels).
Any helpful tips and advice sure would be appreciated.**
Hi, Maria --
Making the switch over to unschooling from a more "formal" kind of
learning with worksheets takes a big mental adjustment.
If you pick fun materials for learning, but still set times for your
kids to use the materials and make them "finish" when they don't want
to, that wouldn't be unschooling and you wouldn't see the same results
that we expect from unschooling. (The approach I'm describing could be
"eclectic homeschooling" or "unit-studies" or "relaxed homeschooling".)
Some people come into the unschooling forum just to find out about the
fun resources. Others come to change their way of life. We may TRY to
persuade you to "unschool all the way", but we can't actually force you.
<g>
I actually have a homeschooling mom friend who was on Ritalin herself as
a child. I think the school system just couldn't accomodate her
kinesthetic learning style. Her oldest daughter is also a kinesthetic
learner. I might be able to recruit her to talk to you if you have
specific issues you need reassurance about. You can email me privately
if you need to follow up on that.
I live in a big city and the libraries here carry Hooked on Phonics and
the Phonics Game. So check your library, if you haven't done that
already. Some of my homeschooled friends (who aren't unschooling)
recommend the book Reading Reflex, which I would guess only costs about
$20. My son (now 8) really learned a lot about reading from watching
the PBS show, Between the Lions. He liked it because it's funny.
(Resources at my house have to be more than fun -- they have to be
funny, or my son won't touch them.)
When kids aren't early readers, they can learn a lot from books that mom
reads to them, audio books on tape (especially in the car) and videos.
And, of course, they can learn from hands-on experience. Science and
history videos are popular at my house. I've been taping the new
revolutionary war cartoon, Liberty's Kids, on PBS. My son likes it
because it has lively music AND gun fighting.
It's hard, but I think you have to let go of anxiety about kid's reading
so that they can relax enough to do it. It may take time. I hope Sandra
will post the links to the articles she has about kids learning to read
in their own time. The articles will help you feel better.
Betsy
MO Milligans
At 03:18 PM 9/12/02 +0000, you wrote:
For the LONGEST time I thought my daughter would never read on her own. We
just kept reading TO her (still do). Oh, when she was like 5,6 I would
*try* unsuccessfully to *teach* her to read. Then like a couple of years
later we would catch her reading books to her younger brother, who is 2
yrs. younger. And that was when she would refuse to read out loud to us <g>
and we were a little concerned about her reading level. Then one day she
was reading a book, and someone gave us a link to a site that said what
grade-levels different books were. And to our ecstatic surprise, she was
reading a 6TH GRADE LEVEL book at 8 yrs. old :) Ever since then, we've
stopped worrying about it. We tried to teach our son (now 7) to read a
couple of years ago, but he just was NOT interested. He was perfectly happy
reading road-signs, captioning on TV, video game 'talking', and computer
games. So basically, he taught himself to read.<g>
Advice? Oh, maybe just trying to relax, take them to the library and let
*them* pick out (or not) books (no matter what the "grade level" is). How
about comic books? Or magazines?
http://rambleman.tripod.com/magazines.html
Todd
Our HOME page
http://rambleman.tripod.com/index.html
>I know both my girls would LOVE to learn, by doing fun==
>things instead of seatwork and memorizing, but I don't know how to
>begin and how to start unschooling them so they can learn to read.
>(They can read a lil, but not on thier grade levels).
For the LONGEST time I thought my daughter would never read on her own. We
just kept reading TO her (still do). Oh, when she was like 5,6 I would
*try* unsuccessfully to *teach* her to read. Then like a couple of years
later we would catch her reading books to her younger brother, who is 2
yrs. younger. And that was when she would refuse to read out loud to us <g>
and we were a little concerned about her reading level. Then one day she
was reading a book, and someone gave us a link to a site that said what
grade-levels different books were. And to our ecstatic surprise, she was
reading a 6TH GRADE LEVEL book at 8 yrs. old :) Ever since then, we've
stopped worrying about it. We tried to teach our son (now 7) to read a
couple of years ago, but he just was NOT interested. He was perfectly happy
reading road-signs, captioning on TV, video game 'talking', and computer
games. So basically, he taught himself to read.<g>
Advice? Oh, maybe just trying to relax, take them to the library and let
*them* pick out (or not) books (no matter what the "grade level" is). How
about comic books? Or magazines?
http://rambleman.tripod.com/magazines.html
Todd
Our HOME page
http://rambleman.tripod.com/index.html
Maria
Mary,
You make it sound so EASY.
So far, I have already given one lesson, and the next starts
tomorrow. My dryer broke so I went to hang clothes out on the line.
My 8 year old daughter (Mariah) followed me and asked how they got
dry like that (She's so used to the dryer doing the work) so I turned
that into a lesson where I explained about evaporation, clouds and
rain. We're fixing to go let her boil a small pot of water so she
can watch it disappear, and freeze a soap mold full of water so she
can make a cube of ice that looks like a butterfly.
I also asked if they wanted to make birdhouses so I'm going to look
for a simple birdhouse to make, and let them measure it and build it
themselves tomorrow. We'll probably use wood glue instead of nails,
but I think that'll be fun and they both jumped up and down excited
when I asked if they would like to make one. Maybe that can turn into
a lesson on birds.
Right now they are watching rat race with the closed captioning
turned on, I saw that at another unschooling site, about if they want
to watch TV let them, just turn the captions on so they can be
learning word recognition without even realizing it. (Oh I was so
happy to find that tip) and rat race is a pretty clean movie,
suitable for their age.
Unschooling sounds like so much fun, for both me and the girls. And
I never realized that maybe Mirial (the 7 year old) was trying to
tell me something, by refusing to do her seatwork.
Mariah asks alot of questions, so it'll be easy to seek opportunities
to teach when she asks (like she did with the clothes) but Mirial is,
well like she's in her own little world. When I was hanging clothes,
Mariah stood right by me and hung onto every word. Whereas Mirial
took off to the other end of the clothesline and tried to swing on
it, then started digging in the grass, then went towards the creek,
then went and jumped off the porch, then tried to swing her lil
sister off the porch (Baby is 1 1/2 and I also have a son that's 4),
then went and threw some wood off the porch, then tried to roll the
trash can through the backyard. That resulted in as much excersise
for me, chasing her, as it did with her running around.
She's very active, and I still haven't found any unschooling ideas
for a child that doesn't want to sit still for more than aminute, she
always has to gogogogogo. Like right now, she's not paying rat race
any attention, she's got her hands and feet between the door posts
and is climbing up the doorway like a lil spidergirl. PE will be no
problem for her, but I don't know if she can actually learn if she
can't even stay still long enough to listen to one sentence. I can't
even read to her, because we'll be reading a book, and she'll look at
the pictures and get to wanting to go see a bird, or ride a bike, or
do anythign that is realted to the picture. BUT for the rare times
she does sit still, I can tell her something ONE time, and she
remembers it. Like telling time, it took two days for mariah to
grasp it, but Mirial took to it the first time I told her. So i know
she's not dumb. The not wanting to sit still is why they wanted to
put her on ritalin, I can handle it, it doesn't bother me a bit,but
when I need her to learn it does make me wonder if I can do the job
of teaching her properly.
I have even taken them to the park, thinking a few hours of HARD play
would help her calm down a bit to learn. No luck, that child can go
for hours on end and not get the least bit tired. When we get home,
the other kids will go right off to sleep because they are so tired,
whereas Mirial just wants to jump on the bed.
Sorry for the long post, but you'd have to understand Mirial, in
order to understand why i'm having doubts about whether I can do this.
Maria
You make it sound so EASY.
So far, I have already given one lesson, and the next starts
tomorrow. My dryer broke so I went to hang clothes out on the line.
My 8 year old daughter (Mariah) followed me and asked how they got
dry like that (She's so used to the dryer doing the work) so I turned
that into a lesson where I explained about evaporation, clouds and
rain. We're fixing to go let her boil a small pot of water so she
can watch it disappear, and freeze a soap mold full of water so she
can make a cube of ice that looks like a butterfly.
I also asked if they wanted to make birdhouses so I'm going to look
for a simple birdhouse to make, and let them measure it and build it
themselves tomorrow. We'll probably use wood glue instead of nails,
but I think that'll be fun and they both jumped up and down excited
when I asked if they would like to make one. Maybe that can turn into
a lesson on birds.
Right now they are watching rat race with the closed captioning
turned on, I saw that at another unschooling site, about if they want
to watch TV let them, just turn the captions on so they can be
learning word recognition without even realizing it. (Oh I was so
happy to find that tip) and rat race is a pretty clean movie,
suitable for their age.
Unschooling sounds like so much fun, for both me and the girls. And
I never realized that maybe Mirial (the 7 year old) was trying to
tell me something, by refusing to do her seatwork.
Mariah asks alot of questions, so it'll be easy to seek opportunities
to teach when she asks (like she did with the clothes) but Mirial is,
well like she's in her own little world. When I was hanging clothes,
Mariah stood right by me and hung onto every word. Whereas Mirial
took off to the other end of the clothesline and tried to swing on
it, then started digging in the grass, then went towards the creek,
then went and jumped off the porch, then tried to swing her lil
sister off the porch (Baby is 1 1/2 and I also have a son that's 4),
then went and threw some wood off the porch, then tried to roll the
trash can through the backyard. That resulted in as much excersise
for me, chasing her, as it did with her running around.
She's very active, and I still haven't found any unschooling ideas
for a child that doesn't want to sit still for more than aminute, she
always has to gogogogogo. Like right now, she's not paying rat race
any attention, she's got her hands and feet between the door posts
and is climbing up the doorway like a lil spidergirl. PE will be no
problem for her, but I don't know if she can actually learn if she
can't even stay still long enough to listen to one sentence. I can't
even read to her, because we'll be reading a book, and she'll look at
the pictures and get to wanting to go see a bird, or ride a bike, or
do anythign that is realted to the picture. BUT for the rare times
she does sit still, I can tell her something ONE time, and she
remembers it. Like telling time, it took two days for mariah to
grasp it, but Mirial took to it the first time I told her. So i know
she's not dumb. The not wanting to sit still is why they wanted to
put her on ritalin, I can handle it, it doesn't bother me a bit,but
when I need her to learn it does make me wonder if I can do the job
of teaching her properly.
I have even taken them to the park, thinking a few hours of HARD play
would help her calm down a bit to learn. No luck, that child can go
for hours on end and not get the least bit tired. When we get home,
the other kids will go right off to sleep because they are so tired,
whereas Mirial just wants to jump on the bed.
Sorry for the long post, but you'd have to understand Mirial, in
order to understand why i'm having doubts about whether I can do this.
Maria
Maria
Hey,
I'm going to do just that, take a deep breath that is. No more
lessons for them today other than playing with water. They need a
break and I sure need one bad...lol
I'm also going to spend some time today looking for lessons for hyper
children, hoping to find something that can help my 7 year old Mirial.
Thank you, it's nice to know that there are alot of parents that are
unschooling, that I can ask advice from.
Maria
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "Jennifer Green" <heartlightdfw@k...>
wrote:
research that unschooling is letting the children be the leaders of
their lives. It may take a while for them to deschool, but when they
do you will find them bringing up subjects and asking you to help
with whatever they are interested in. Don't worry, just trust they
will know what they need at any given time. Good Luck!
list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@h...).
I'm going to do just that, take a deep breath that is. No more
lessons for them today other than playing with water. They need a
break and I sure need one bad...lol
I'm also going to spend some time today looking for lessons for hyper
children, hoping to find something that can help my 7 year old Mirial.
Thank you, it's nice to know that there are alot of parents that are
unschooling, that I can ask advice from.
Maria
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "Jennifer Green" <heartlightdfw@k...>
wrote:
> Maria, welcome to the group. The first thing to do is to sit downand take a deep breath. :-) You may have found in your unschooling
research that unschooling is letting the children be the leaders of
their lives. It may take a while for them to deschool, but when they
do you will find them bringing up subjects and asking you to help
with whatever they are interested in. Don't worry, just trust they
will know what they need at any given time. Good Luck!
>them
> Jen
> www.heartlightdfw.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Maria
> To: Unschooling-dotcom@y...
> Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 10:18 AM
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Want To Unschool In Ga
>
>
> I have 2 daughters, one 7 and one 8. I started homeschooling
> last year, right at the last of the school year, because ofseveral
> factors.repeatedly
>
> My main factor was my 7 year old. The teachers have tried
> since she was in pre-school to get me to put her on ritalin andinto
> a "Special" school because "They" determined she had ADHD. Ifought
> long and hard, and finally found a child psychologist thatchanged
> her diet when she was 5, and she's doing MUCH MUCH better. Iwill
> not and do not want to drug her, nor put her in a "Special"school.
>for
> OK last year, the school started sending out "Evaluation" letters
> my 8 year old daughter who is NOT hyper, nor anything like my 7year
> old. These were the same forms they used on my 7 year old,before
> they determined she had ADHD.THEIR
>
> To make a long story short, my girls can't read, and it's not
> FAULT. They are not dumb, nor retarded (sorry for the rude wordbut
> that's what they try to say about my 7 year old). I finally gotfed
> up last year and pulled them otu, figuring I could teach them toread
> one on one much better than the SORRY teachers could.Math
>
> OK since then, the 8 year old has improved ALOT. She's a lil
> genius, and can grasp math quicker than I can believe. So I cansay
> that homeschooling for her has gone GREAT except for the fact shewhy
> does not like doing seatwork.
>
> My 7 year old, I'm about at my wits end now and can understand
> the teachers couldn't teach her. She is SMART but WILL NOT applyI
> herself. She knows how to tell time, but like this morning when
> gave her the clock worksheets, she wrote down random numbers justto
> get it done, then stomped off when I printed her 2 new worksheetsand
> told her to do them right because I knew she could do it.them
>
> When we go our phonics flash cards, she won't even TRY to sound
> out, she just says whatever comes to mind first.homeschooling
>
> I am almost ready to give up, I'm near tears and I DO NOT want my
> daughter in that "Special" school. I was looking for
> help resources trying to find a support group for children withADHD
> children when I stumbled across a site that mentioned unschooling.to
>
> So far I have read for 2 hours, and I think this may be what we
> need!!! I know both my girls would LOVE to learn, by doing fun
> things instead of seatwork and memorizing, but I don't know how
> begin and how to start unschooling them so they can learn toread.
> (They can read a lil, but not on thier grade levels).Especially in
>
> Any helpful tips and advice sure would be appreciated.
> the reading area. Because they are both smart as a whip, if Iteach
> them somehting to do with Science, they remember it, and theycatch
> onto Math quick. But the not being able to read is killing me,and
> frustrating them because they want to be able to read books aloneshe
> likethier big sister does (She's 13 and still in piblic school,
> is agifted child that taught herself to read and was reading on4th
> grade level by time she was 4, so I left her in publicschools soshe
> could participate in all the progras she'd already joined).difficult it
>
> I think I let my oldest daughters succes blind me to how
> is for a child to learn. Then I thought the school would havethem
> reading. Then I woke up and realized I best do something quicknext
> because the blasted school system DOESN'T CARE if they can do
> anything, all they care about is "Pass" or "Fail" and on to the
> student.for
>
> Also I wanted to try hooked on phonics, but that's too expensive
> our budget right now. So any helpful affordable advice woudl bealot
> appreciated. And if they need a course or somethignt hat costs
> of money, I am more than willing to sell my truck to get it forthem,
> but I need to know it's a course that will work.~~~~
>
> OK I'm rambling, I'm going to go read more about this unschooling.
>
> Maria
>
>
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>
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>
>
> ~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line!
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>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Leslie Avery
Maria,
I use to live in Lawrenceville, GA but now live in
California, we all miss it so much. That is where I
first started homeschooling. A book I find that is
really good no matter how you homeschool, is Awakening
Your Child's Genius by Thomas Armstrong. Good Luck.
Leslie
--- Maria <lyciall@...> wrote:
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! News - Today's headlines
http://news.yahoo.com
I use to live in Lawrenceville, GA but now live in
California, we all miss it so much. That is where I
first started homeschooling. A book I find that is
really good no matter how you homeschool, is Awakening
Your Child's Genius by Thomas Armstrong. Good Luck.
Leslie
--- Maria <lyciall@...> wrote:
> I have 2 daughters, one 7 and one 8. I started__________________________________________________
> homeschooling them
> last year, right at the last of the school year,
> because of several
> factors.
>
> My main factor was my 7 year old. The teachers have
> tried repeatedly
> since she was in pre-school to get me to put her on
> ritalin and into
> a "Special" school because "They" determined she had
> ADHD. I fought
> long and hard, and finally found a child
> psychologist that changed
> her diet when she was 5, and she's doing MUCH MUCH
> better. I will
> not and do not want to drug her, nor put her in a
> "Special" school.
>
> OK last year, the school started sending out
> "Evaluation" letters for
> my 8 year old daughter who is NOT hyper, nor
> anything like my 7 year
> old. These were the same forms they used on my 7
> year old, before
> they determined she had ADHD.
>
> To make a long story short, my girls can't read, and
> it's not THEIR
> FAULT. They are not dumb, nor retarded (sorry for
> the rude word but
> that's what they try to say about my 7 year old). I
> finally got fed
> up last year and pulled them otu, figuring I could
> teach them to read
> one on one much better than the SORRY teachers
> could.
>
> OK since then, the 8 year old has improved ALOT.
> She's a lil Math
> genius, and can grasp math quicker than I can
> believe. So I can say
> that homeschooling for her has gone GREAT except for
> the fact she
> does not like doing seatwork.
>
> My 7 year old, I'm about at my wits end now and can
> understand why
> the teachers couldn't teach her. She is SMART but
> WILL NOT apply
> herself. She knows how to tell time, but like this
> morning when I
> gave her the clock worksheets, she wrote down random
> numbers just to
> get it done, then stomped off when I printed her 2
> new worksheets and
> told her to do them right because I knew she could
> do it.
>
> When we go our phonics flash cards, she won't even
> TRY to sound them
> out, she just says whatever comes to mind first.
>
> I am almost ready to give up, I'm near tears and I
> DO NOT want my
> daughter in that "Special" school. I was looking
> for homeschooling
> help resources trying to find a support group for
> children with ADHD
> children when I stumbled across a site that
> mentioned unschooling.
>
> So far I have read for 2 hours, and I think this may
> be what we
> need!!! I know both my girls would LOVE to learn,
> by doing fun
> things instead of seatwork and memorizing, but I
> don't know how to
> begin and how to start unschooling them so they can
> learn to read.
> (They can read a lil, but not on thier grade
> levels).
>
> Any helpful tips and advice sure would be
> appreciated. Especially in
> the reading area. Because they are both smart as a
> whip, if I teach
> them somehting to do with Science, they remember it,
> and they catch
> onto Math quick. But the not being able to read is
> killing me, and
> frustrating them because they want to be able to
> read books alone
> likethier big sister does (She's 13 and still in
> piblic school, she
> is agifted child that taught herself to read and was
> reading on 4th
> grade level by time she was 4, so I left her in
> publicschools so she
> could participate in all the progras she'd already
> joined).
>
> I think I let my oldest daughters succes blind me to
> how difficult it
> is for a child to learn. Then I thought the school
> would have them
> reading. Then I woke up and realized I best do
> something quick
> because the blasted school system DOESN'T CARE if
> they can do
> anything, all they care about is "Pass" or "Fail"
> and on to the next
> student.
>
> Also I wanted to try hooked on phonics, but that's
> too expensive for
> our budget right now. So any helpful affordable
> advice woudl be
> appreciated. And if they need a course or
> somethignt hat costs alot
> of money, I am more than willing to sell my truck to
> get it for them,
> but I need to know it's a course that will work.
>
> OK I'm rambling, I'm going to go read more about
> this unschooling.
>
> Maria
>
>
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! News - Today's headlines
http://news.yahoo.com
Mary Bianco
>From: "Maria" <lyciall@...>The not wanting to sit still is why they wanted to
>Mary,
>You make it sound so EASY.
>
>So far, I have already given one lesson, and the next starts
>tomorrow. My dryer broke so I went to hang clothes out on the line.
>My 8 year old daughter (Mariah) followed me and asked how they got
>dry like that (She's so used to the dryer doing the work) so I turned
>that into a lesson where I explained about evaporation, clouds and
>rain. We're fixing to go let her boil a small pot of water so she
>can watch it disappear, and freeze a soap mold full of water so she
>can make a cube of ice that looks like a butterfly.
>
>I also asked if they wanted to make birdhouses so I'm going to look
>for a simple birdhouse to make, and let them measure it and build it
>themselves tomorrow. We'll probably use wood glue instead of nails,
>but I think that'll be fun and they both jumped up and down excited
>when I asked if they would like to make one. Maybe that can turn into
>a lesson on birds.
>put her on ritalin, I can handle it, it doesn't bother me a bit,butWell Maria, it probaly is easier for me because I've been doing this since
>when I need her to learn it does make me wonder if I can do the job
>of teaching her properly.>>
my 7 year old was born. And I've never had to deal with them being in school
at all so there was no deschooling to be done. And from what I understand,
most kids from school need to have their time to deschool. I've heard people
say it can actually take a year or more.
The whole thing with the dryer and the birdhouses are great. You can see how
something so simple about the dryer breaking (sorry to hear that!) can be a
learning experience. Just make sure you don't force too much info if they
seem to be zoning out. I sometimes get so eager when they ask a question I
get way too involved and I start to see that glassy look in their eyes.
That's when I have to remember not to go into overkill!!! Of course my son
will just tell me that's enough he does't want to know anymore!!
And as far as your 7 old goes, I can see where you have your hands full. But
why is it that you need her to learn when you want her too? Let her go, she
may take much longer than the older one to get into the swing of
unschooling. But my suspicion is she'll do it before you do!
Mary B
_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
Mary Bianco
>From: "Maria" <lyciall@...>How about and no more lessons tomorrow and the next day and the next!!!
>I'm going to do just that, take a deep breath that is. No more
>lessons for them today other than playing with water. They need a
>break and I sure need one bad...lol
Mary B
_________________________________________________________________
Join the world�s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.
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MO Milligans
At 03:18 PM 9/12/02 +0000, you wrote:
Hi, Maria!
Our son didn't want to learn to read and would put his unhappy face on
whenever we tried. However, he got tired of waiting for someone to read
his Nintendo games (Mario) to him and started reading. Now he can read
quite well. Sometimes kids who have been in the public school system need
more time to de-school before they are ready to try things on their own.
The other Ren
Our HOME page
http://rambleman.tripod.com/index.html
>To make a long story short, my girls can't read, and it's not THEIR============
>FAULT. They are not dumb, nor retarded (sorry for the rude word but
>that's what they try to say about my 7 year old). I finally got fed
>up last year and pulled them otu, figuring I could teach them to read
>one on one much better than the SORRY teachers could.
Hi, Maria!
Our son didn't want to learn to read and would put his unhappy face on
whenever we tried. However, he got tired of waiting for someone to read
his Nintendo games (Mario) to him and started reading. Now he can read
quite well. Sometimes kids who have been in the public school system need
more time to de-school before they are ready to try things on their own.
The other Ren
Our HOME page
http://rambleman.tripod.com/index.html
Maria
A book I find that is
one for me. I sure appreciate it!!!
Maria
> really good no matter how you homeschool, is AwakeningThank you Leslie, I'll call the bookstore up and have them order this
> Your Child's Genius by Thomas Armstrong. Good Luck.
>
> Leslie
one for me. I sure appreciate it!!!
Maria
Maria
> most kids from school need to have their time to deschool. I'veheard people
> say it can actually take a year or more.What is deschool?
> The whole thing with the dryer and the birdhouses are great. Youcan see how
> something so simple about the dryer breaking (sorry to hear that!)can be a
> learning experience. Just make sure you don't force too much infoif they
> seem to be zoning out.Thank you for pointing that out to me, I'll make a mental note, "When
they ask, pay attention, and don't push the subject if they loose
interest"
> And as far as your 7 old goes, I can see where you have your handsfull. But
> why is it that you need her to learn when you want her too? Let hergo, she
> may take much longer than the older one to get into the swing ofThat just hit me when I read that article on ADHD children and
> unschooling. But my suspicion is she'll do it before you do!
unschooling. I'm going to just sit back and watch Mirial, and see
what exactly it is besides bugs and climbing that's she's interested
in, and then move on form there. In the meantime, I think we may
schedule a time to go to a bug farm, or find somewhere she can go to
look at a bunch of bugs, because she sure loves them and is all the
time bringing them into the house. I wonder if we can get her
something that she can raise butterflies in? If not, at least we can
build an ant farm together, I bet that's something she WOULD love.
Thank you Mary
Maria
Maria
Sometimes kids who have been in the public school system need
What exactly is deschool and how do I teach them that?
Also thank you for your help.
Maria
> more time to de-school before they are ready to try things on theirown.
What exactly is deschool and how do I teach them that?
Also thank you for your help.
Maria
Mary Bianco
>From: "Maria" <lyciall@...>Deschooling. This a quote from Mary Griffith who wrote the Unschooling
>What is deschool?
Handbook which is a very good reference book for those starting out.
"It can take time, weeks, months, sometimes even years, for children to
rediscover their natural curiosity, to adapt to the concept that what and
how they learn is up to them, to believe enough in their own abilities to
let themselves care deeply about what they do."
And if it's butterflies you're looking for, try the naturestore.com. Every
year we order butterflies from there as soon as our weather cools down. It's
getting to be around that time again.
Mary B
_________________________________________________________________
MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:
http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
Mary Bianco
>From: "Maria" <lyciall@...>Kind of left something out before. Deschooling is just letting them be. And
>
>What exactly is deschool and how do I teach them that?
you have to rid yourself of that "teaching" them mentality. You don't have
to teach them anything. Just let them vedge out from all the school stuff.
Let them do whatever they want to do. If it's watch TV all day, that's okay.
They will get to the point where they will start to learn, and want to on
their own. That's where the quote comes in at.
Mary B.
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most!
_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/12/2002 1:19:32 PM Eastern Standard Time,
lyciall@... writes:
leave them around or provide her with a magnifying glass and a "bug catcher".
Check out insectlore.com for lots of great buggy stuff!
Amy Kagey
<A HREF="http://www.ubah.com/ecommerce/default.asp?sid=Z0939&gid=462366"> </A>U<A HREF="http://www.ubah.com/ecommerce/default.asp?sid=Z0939&gid=462366">sborne Books Online Catalog</A>
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where
there is no path and leave a trail."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
lyciall@... writes:
> I'm going to just sit back and watch Mirial, and seeYep, follow her interests. Get out books from the library about bugs and
> what exactly it is besides bugs and climbing that's she's interested
> in, and then move on form there. In the meantime, I think we may
> schedule a time to go to a bug farm, or find somewhere she can go to
> look at a bunch of bugs, because she sure loves them and is all the
> time bringing them into the house. I wonder if we can get her
> something that she can raise butterflies in? If not, at least we can
> build an ant farm together, I bet that's something she WOULD love
leave them around or provide her with a magnifying glass and a "bug catcher".
Check out insectlore.com for lots of great buggy stuff!
Amy Kagey
<A HREF="http://www.ubah.com/ecommerce/default.asp?sid=Z0939&gid=462366"> </A>U<A HREF="http://www.ubah.com/ecommerce/default.asp?sid=Z0939&gid=462366">sborne Books Online Catalog</A>
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where
there is no path and leave a trail."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Hi Maria, Welcome to the list!
My first advice to you about unschooling is, stop doing lessons! Think about
how you and all the adults around you learn new things. I do it by reading
interesting books (sometimes from the kids section of the store) looking for
TV programs that talk aboutthe topic, talking to others with experiences,
and actually DOing. All of this becasue it is something I am interested in.
Nobody makes up a leesson plan, nobody sets up a table ful of manipulatives
or asks me to write a report. I find the info **because I want to know
more**. I'm curious and I actively seek out the info on my own. Sometimes
DH will mention he met someone who does what I m learning about. Sometimes
Emily (dd)will point out a TV show, but for the most part, it's all from me.
Here's the hard part to believe when first finding unschooling. Your
daughters will do this too. When something is interesting, they will not
leave it alone until all their curiosity is satisfied. Sometimes that will
be one questioned answered, sometimes it will turn into a lifelong passion,
but mostly their interest level will fall somewhere between those two
levels.
We son't have to get in their way and set up unit studies, or write learning
objectives or set up hands on projects, in order to get them to learn. We
need to act as facilitators, rather than teachers. *offering* resources to
them but not requiring that they take them. Think about how you would let a
friend know you saw something related to a hobby they may have. Casually
mentioning it in passing or giving something as a gift. That's how we
unschoolers help our kids learn. And we do this because we love and care
about them, not because we feel that they "should" learn, they "need to know
this" or any of that school based nonsense.
Start allowing them (and YOU) to "de-school" let all those years of forced
learning be shed. Allow their natural curiosity and desire to learn shine
forth again. Spend the next couple of months playing with them, while you
learn how to see *natural* learning rather than forced temporary
memorization that is part of school and school at home.
Read lots of unschooling books and websites.
www.sandradodd.com/unschooling
www.unschooling.com
The Unschooling Handbook by Mary Griffith
Home Education Magazine
Borrow or beg some old issues of Growing without Schooling mag
Read at the message boards on unschooling.com and you'll have almost all
your current questions answered, and keep a pen to jot down those new
questions you'll think of while reading, then ask away here or on those
message boards.
Joyful reading!!
~Elissa Cleaveland
An unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractic'd;
Happy in this, she is not so old
But she may learn.
W.S. The Merchant of Venice III, ii, 160
My first advice to you about unschooling is, stop doing lessons! Think about
how you and all the adults around you learn new things. I do it by reading
interesting books (sometimes from the kids section of the store) looking for
TV programs that talk aboutthe topic, talking to others with experiences,
and actually DOing. All of this becasue it is something I am interested in.
Nobody makes up a leesson plan, nobody sets up a table ful of manipulatives
or asks me to write a report. I find the info **because I want to know
more**. I'm curious and I actively seek out the info on my own. Sometimes
DH will mention he met someone who does what I m learning about. Sometimes
Emily (dd)will point out a TV show, but for the most part, it's all from me.
Here's the hard part to believe when first finding unschooling. Your
daughters will do this too. When something is interesting, they will not
leave it alone until all their curiosity is satisfied. Sometimes that will
be one questioned answered, sometimes it will turn into a lifelong passion,
but mostly their interest level will fall somewhere between those two
levels.
We son't have to get in their way and set up unit studies, or write learning
objectives or set up hands on projects, in order to get them to learn. We
need to act as facilitators, rather than teachers. *offering* resources to
them but not requiring that they take them. Think about how you would let a
friend know you saw something related to a hobby they may have. Casually
mentioning it in passing or giving something as a gift. That's how we
unschoolers help our kids learn. And we do this because we love and care
about them, not because we feel that they "should" learn, they "need to know
this" or any of that school based nonsense.
Start allowing them (and YOU) to "de-school" let all those years of forced
learning be shed. Allow their natural curiosity and desire to learn shine
forth again. Spend the next couple of months playing with them, while you
learn how to see *natural* learning rather than forced temporary
memorization that is part of school and school at home.
Read lots of unschooling books and websites.
www.sandradodd.com/unschooling
www.unschooling.com
The Unschooling Handbook by Mary Griffith
Home Education Magazine
Borrow or beg some old issues of Growing without Schooling mag
Read at the message boards on unschooling.com and you'll have almost all
your current questions answered, and keep a pen to jot down those new
questions you'll think of while reading, then ask away here or on those
message boards.
Joyful reading!!
~Elissa Cleaveland
An unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractic'd;
Happy in this, she is not so old
But she may learn.
W.S. The Merchant of Venice III, ii, 160
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/12/02 12:01:06 PM Central Daylight Time,
lyciall@... writes:
I wanted to say something. <g> I noticed you tend to use the words *lessons*
and *teach* and others like them a lot. With unschooling, you don't have to
use those words. You don't use lessons for hyper children or any children for
that matter. There are some really great books out there for you to read on
unschooling. Check some of them out from your library. Some other great
sources for information are places and people right here. Go to
unschooling.com and check out the library there! Tons of great articles to
read. The message boards are easy to navigate there as well. Go to
sandradodd.com/unschooling Sandra has lots of her articles posted. But above
all else, remember to let your kids play and have fun! You don't have to
worry about lessons!
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
lyciall@... writes:
> Hey,Hi Maria! Welcome to the list! :o)
>
> I'm going to do just that, take a deep breath that is. No more
> lessons for them today other than playing with water. They need a
> break and I sure need one bad...lol
>
> I'm also going to spend some time today looking for lessons for hyper
> children, hoping to find something that can help my 7 year old Mirial.
>
>
> Thank you, it's nice to know that there are alot of parents that are
> unschooling, that I can ask advice from.
>
>
> Maria
I wanted to say something. <g> I noticed you tend to use the words *lessons*
and *teach* and others like them a lot. With unschooling, you don't have to
use those words. You don't use lessons for hyper children or any children for
that matter. There are some really great books out there for you to read on
unschooling. Check some of them out from your library. Some other great
sources for information are places and people right here. Go to
unschooling.com and check out the library there! Tons of great articles to
read. The message boards are easy to navigate there as well. Go to
sandradodd.com/unschooling Sandra has lots of her articles posted. But above
all else, remember to let your kids play and have fun! You don't have to
worry about lessons!
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Betsy
**I think I let my oldest daughters succes blind me to how difficult it
is for a child to learn. Then I thought the school would have them
reading. Then I woke up and realized I best do something quick
because the blasted school system DOESN'T CARE if they can do
anything, all they care about is "Pass" or "Fail" and on to the next
student. **
Different kids can have really different ways that their brains work.
One book that I like is _How Your Child Is Smart_, which is by Dawna
Markova. Howard Gardener and Thomas Armstrong (and someone else I
forget) have also written good books about the idea of "multiple intelligences".
If you want to persue this idea, you could go to Google.com and put in
"multiple intelligences" as a search phrase.
And maybe someone else on the list here can remember the titles of other
books about learning styles. (Is one of the other author's Sheila Tobias?)
(from a different post)
**
She's very active, and I still haven't found any unschooling ideas
for a child that doesn't want to sit still for more than aminute, she
always has to gogogogogo. Like right now, she's not paying rat race
any attention, she's got her hands and feet between the door posts
and is climbing up the doorway like a lil spidergirl. PE will be no
problem for her, but I don't know if she can actually learn if she
can't even stay still long enough to listen to one sentence. I can't
even read to her, because we'll be reading a book, and she'll look at
the pictures and get to wanting to go see a bird, or ride a bike, or
do anythign that is realted to the picture.**
Your daughter does sound really kinesthetic. Some kids like this can
listen fine if they are moving. I've heard of kids that listen to
stories while bouncing on a mini trampoline or spinning or swinging or
rocking in a rocking chair.
Oh! In my husband's English textbooks that he taught from last year
there were always suggestions for letting kinesthetic learners get up
and do an interpretive dance as a book report. I *really* didn't think
this was going to fly in a junior high school classroom, but maybe your
daughter would like to mime or dance a story as you read it?
Betsy
is for a child to learn. Then I thought the school would have them
reading. Then I woke up and realized I best do something quick
because the blasted school system DOESN'T CARE if they can do
anything, all they care about is "Pass" or "Fail" and on to the next
student. **
Different kids can have really different ways that their brains work.
One book that I like is _How Your Child Is Smart_, which is by Dawna
Markova. Howard Gardener and Thomas Armstrong (and someone else I
forget) have also written good books about the idea of "multiple intelligences".
If you want to persue this idea, you could go to Google.com and put in
"multiple intelligences" as a search phrase.
And maybe someone else on the list here can remember the titles of other
books about learning styles. (Is one of the other author's Sheila Tobias?)
(from a different post)
**
She's very active, and I still haven't found any unschooling ideas
for a child that doesn't want to sit still for more than aminute, she
always has to gogogogogo. Like right now, she's not paying rat race
any attention, she's got her hands and feet between the door posts
and is climbing up the doorway like a lil spidergirl. PE will be no
problem for her, but I don't know if she can actually learn if she
can't even stay still long enough to listen to one sentence. I can't
even read to her, because we'll be reading a book, and she'll look at
the pictures and get to wanting to go see a bird, or ride a bike, or
do anythign that is realted to the picture.**
Your daughter does sound really kinesthetic. Some kids like this can
listen fine if they are moving. I've heard of kids that listen to
stories while bouncing on a mini trampoline or spinning or swinging or
rocking in a rocking chair.
Oh! In my husband's English textbooks that he taught from last year
there were always suggestions for letting kinesthetic learners get up
and do an interpretive dance as a book report. I *really* didn't think
this was going to fly in a junior high school classroom, but maybe your
daughter would like to mime or dance a story as you read it?
Betsy
Robyn Coburn
>What is deschool?Some people use the word "decompress" from public school - it evokes the
gradual release of the pent up tensions and conflicts and ways of doing
things that have to be let go of. It's like dropping all the baggage you
are carrying before you can then run and jump and dance on your journey.
It seems like you have to decompress from your PS experience, just as
much as your delightful sounding kids.
Remember, there is no hurry - once you are homeschooling, and especially
unschooling, the timetables of public school and society at large are
totally meaningless.
Best wishes,
Robyn Coburn
MO Milligans
At 05:18 PM 9/12/02 +0000, you wrote:
DETOX
by Barbara Frederick
Someone once said that beginning to homeschool was like moving to another
country. In many ways, they were right. When traveling to another country,
it is important for all new citizens to take inoculations. When traveling
to Homeschooolland, it is necessary for all new citizens to "detox"--to rid
themselves of the deleterious effects that Publicschoolland has had on
their education.
Before beginning this "detox" process, one must carefully analyze the
Learning environment that exists in Publicschoolland and take note of it's
inherent qualities. In Publicschoolland all of the citizens are carefully
controlled. All movement occurs at the sound of a bell. Performing
necessary bodily functions is discouraged, and access to the bathroom is
monitored by a teacher. The citizens are told what to learn, when to begin
learning, and when to stop learning. Failure to learn at the proscribed
pace (be it too slow or too fast) is punishable with failing grades and/or
sheer boredom. Citizens are not permitted to leave Publischoolland for 12
years, unless they obtain an exit visa and travel to Homeschoolland. Once
Public- schoolland citizens obtain their exit visa, they will need help
acclimating themselves to the new learning environment of Homeschoolland.
These new citizens will need the following things from The Homeschoolland
"Consulate General" (the parent) to aid in this "detox" process:
1. Freedom. The freedom to move about during the day from one subject area
to another according to the citizen's own interests.
2. Faith. Faith in the fact that human curiosity and intelligence need not
be "stimulated" in order for learning to take place.
3. Patience. Patience during the entire "detox" time.
4. Time. Time to distress from the regimented learning process. (This time
period can last anywhere from one month to one year).
Upon arriving in Homeschoolland, new citizens often feel a little
disoriented and confused. In this first phase of "detox", they will expect
a teacher to tell them everything that they need to know about a subject.
They may not know where to look to obtain knowledge for themselves. While
textbooks are familiar, the new citizen will, most likely, hold them in
contempt. Stay as far away from textbooks as possible during the "detox"
time. Allow the new citizens to fill their first days in Homeschoolland
with unstructured playtime and healthy, positive, social interaction with
siblings.
When the new citizens express an interest in "doing something" or "learning
about something", phase two of the "detox" process has already begun.
Respond gently and slowly to the citizens first tentative steps into
Homeschoolland. Share in their sense of wonder, as they begin to see all of
the learning possibilities that exist in Homeschoolland. The Consulate
General must reassure the citizens that he/she is "here for them" and will
help them find the information they need; without giving it to them. The
tricky part of phase two is keeping a clear head. The Consulate General
must resist all urges to "teach" or to make the new citizens "get something
out of" a teaching moment. The Consulate General may guide, encourage, and
cheer, but they should not contrive "learning experiences" or "lesson
plans". Soon enough, the new citizens will be so "stimulated" by the
learning environment in Homeschoolland, that the Consulate General will
find it hard to keep up with them. When this happens, the citizens have
entered phase three of the "detox" process.
Though the Consulate General will be tempted, he/she must not rush the new
citizens through phase three. This phase is the most important phase of the
"detox" and transition process. During this time, the citizens will be
rebuilding their fragile sense of self-esteem as well as relearning how to
learn. They may revert to easier tasks or simpler reading books, but do not
be alarmed. They are simply rediscovering the thirst for knowledge that
they had at a younger age--but were forbidden to quench in
Publicschoolland. Be Patient! Some citizens require more time than others
to "detox" and adjust to Homeschoolland.
The Consulate General should use this "detox" time period to decide which
learning method, materials and approach will be most effective for the new
citizens. In the near future, the citizens will be willing and able to
offer input into this decision making process. When this happens, the
Consulate General will know that the "detox" process is complete.
Now, the new citizens can relax and enjoy all of the educational
opportunities that Homeschoolland has to offer. Remember, Homeschoolland is
much more than a nice place to visit, it is a GREAT place to live!
>What is deschool?==
DETOX
by Barbara Frederick
Someone once said that beginning to homeschool was like moving to another
country. In many ways, they were right. When traveling to another country,
it is important for all new citizens to take inoculations. When traveling
to Homeschooolland, it is necessary for all new citizens to "detox"--to rid
themselves of the deleterious effects that Publicschoolland has had on
their education.
Before beginning this "detox" process, one must carefully analyze the
Learning environment that exists in Publicschoolland and take note of it's
inherent qualities. In Publicschoolland all of the citizens are carefully
controlled. All movement occurs at the sound of a bell. Performing
necessary bodily functions is discouraged, and access to the bathroom is
monitored by a teacher. The citizens are told what to learn, when to begin
learning, and when to stop learning. Failure to learn at the proscribed
pace (be it too slow or too fast) is punishable with failing grades and/or
sheer boredom. Citizens are not permitted to leave Publischoolland for 12
years, unless they obtain an exit visa and travel to Homeschoolland. Once
Public- schoolland citizens obtain their exit visa, they will need help
acclimating themselves to the new learning environment of Homeschoolland.
These new citizens will need the following things from The Homeschoolland
"Consulate General" (the parent) to aid in this "detox" process:
1. Freedom. The freedom to move about during the day from one subject area
to another according to the citizen's own interests.
2. Faith. Faith in the fact that human curiosity and intelligence need not
be "stimulated" in order for learning to take place.
3. Patience. Patience during the entire "detox" time.
4. Time. Time to distress from the regimented learning process. (This time
period can last anywhere from one month to one year).
Upon arriving in Homeschoolland, new citizens often feel a little
disoriented and confused. In this first phase of "detox", they will expect
a teacher to tell them everything that they need to know about a subject.
They may not know where to look to obtain knowledge for themselves. While
textbooks are familiar, the new citizen will, most likely, hold them in
contempt. Stay as far away from textbooks as possible during the "detox"
time. Allow the new citizens to fill their first days in Homeschoolland
with unstructured playtime and healthy, positive, social interaction with
siblings.
When the new citizens express an interest in "doing something" or "learning
about something", phase two of the "detox" process has already begun.
Respond gently and slowly to the citizens first tentative steps into
Homeschoolland. Share in their sense of wonder, as they begin to see all of
the learning possibilities that exist in Homeschoolland. The Consulate
General must reassure the citizens that he/she is "here for them" and will
help them find the information they need; without giving it to them. The
tricky part of phase two is keeping a clear head. The Consulate General
must resist all urges to "teach" or to make the new citizens "get something
out of" a teaching moment. The Consulate General may guide, encourage, and
cheer, but they should not contrive "learning experiences" or "lesson
plans". Soon enough, the new citizens will be so "stimulated" by the
learning environment in Homeschoolland, that the Consulate General will
find it hard to keep up with them. When this happens, the citizens have
entered phase three of the "detox" process.
Though the Consulate General will be tempted, he/she must not rush the new
citizens through phase three. This phase is the most important phase of the
"detox" and transition process. During this time, the citizens will be
rebuilding their fragile sense of self-esteem as well as relearning how to
learn. They may revert to easier tasks or simpler reading books, but do not
be alarmed. They are simply rediscovering the thirst for knowledge that
they had at a younger age--but were forbidden to quench in
Publicschoolland. Be Patient! Some citizens require more time than others
to "detox" and adjust to Homeschoolland.
The Consulate General should use this "detox" time period to decide which
learning method, materials and approach will be most effective for the new
citizens. In the near future, the citizens will be willing and able to
offer input into this decision making process. When this happens, the
Consulate General will know that the "detox" process is complete.
Now, the new citizens can relax and enjoy all of the educational
opportunities that Homeschoolland has to offer. Remember, Homeschoolland is
much more than a nice place to visit, it is a GREAT place to live!
Valerie
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "Maria" <lyciall@y...> wrote:
always unschooled. She never did any schoolwork of any kind until she
started college (her choice). Just let go of the school way of
thinking and trust your children to get what they need from life.
Laurie detested math and ended up taking three senior level
Statistics courses in college, just because she loved it. All A's.
She didn't need Statistics for her major. Oh, she also spent eight
years "playing" on the computer. She did nothing else but the
computer, even putting her obsession with books aside during those
years. When they decide they need to know something for their own
purposes, they'll learn it. And they'll learn it at an amazing speed.
And you get to do anything you want to do! No more manipulating the
children to do what you think they need to do. Just let them be. It's
phenomenal. And giving them total trust will make them trust you,
which will be very helpful when they hit their teen years. Laurie and
I have always been best of friends.
love, Valerie
> Mary,Maria.. it's just as easy as Mary said it is. Laurie is 22 and was
>
>
> You make it sound so EASY.
>
>>
> Maria
always unschooled. She never did any schoolwork of any kind until she
started college (her choice). Just let go of the school way of
thinking and trust your children to get what they need from life.
Laurie detested math and ended up taking three senior level
Statistics courses in college, just because she loved it. All A's.
She didn't need Statistics for her major. Oh, she also spent eight
years "playing" on the computer. She did nothing else but the
computer, even putting her obsession with books aside during those
years. When they decide they need to know something for their own
purposes, they'll learn it. And they'll learn it at an amazing speed.
And you get to do anything you want to do! No more manipulating the
children to do what you think they need to do. Just let them be. It's
phenomenal. And giving them total trust will make them trust you,
which will be very helpful when they hit their teen years. Laurie and
I have always been best of friends.
love, Valerie
Valerie
> Advice? Oh, maybe just trying to relax, take them to the libraryand let
> *them* pick out (or not) books (no matter what the "grade level"is). How
> about comic books? Or magazines?Grade Level... Laurie started reading all of her old books from when
> http://rambleman.tripod.com/magazines.html
>
> Todd
>
> Our HOME page
> http://rambleman.tripod.com/index.html
she was a kid a few months ago. She taught herself to speedread when
she was in her teens, so she grabs a handful of the books and sits
down for a few hours and reads them. Funny watching her zoom through
the Laura Ingalls Wilder books in one day. Those are the books she
learned to read with.
love, Valerie
Valerie
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "Maria" <lyciall@y...> wrote:
you want to call it.. getting rid of the school mentality. It takes a
long time for some to get it out of their systems that they can do as
they please and no longer have to worry about the school
requirements. Freedom doesn't come easy for children (or adults) who
have never had it. It's hard to trust in something you've never
experienced.
love, Valerie
> Sometimes kids who have been in the public school system needtheir
> > more time to de-school before they are ready to try things on
> own.Hi Maria.. deschooling is deprogramming... debrainwashing.. whatever
>
>
> What exactly is deschool and how do I teach them that?
>
> Also thank you for your help.
>
> Maria
you want to call it.. getting rid of the school mentality. It takes a
long time for some to get it out of their systems that they can do as
they please and no longer have to worry about the school
requirements. Freedom doesn't come easy for children (or adults) who
have never had it. It's hard to trust in something you've never
experienced.
love, Valerie
luv2unskool
Valerie,
I'm 6 months into unschooling & LOVE it! My daughter is 8. I'm
curious how your daughter went from no math (Other than "life" math)
to senior level statistics courses? I'm led to believe that she
would first need algebra, trig, calc, etc. before that. Also, (I kno
this is premature) did your daughter get a "diploma" or complete her
GED before going onto college?
My daughter is asking to do math out of books, she wants to keep up
with her school-age friends.
Thanks so much!
I'm 6 months into unschooling & LOVE it! My daughter is 8. I'm
curious how your daughter went from no math (Other than "life" math)
to senior level statistics courses? I'm led to believe that she
would first need algebra, trig, calc, etc. before that. Also, (I kno
this is premature) did your daughter get a "diploma" or complete her
GED before going onto college?
My daughter is asking to do math out of books, she wants to keep up
with her school-age friends.
Thanks so much!
>she
> Maria.. it's just as easy as Mary said it is. Laurie is 22 and was
> always unschooled. She never did any schoolwork of any kind until
> started college (her choice). Just let go of the school way ofspeed.
> thinking and trust your children to get what they need from life.
> Laurie detested math and ended up taking three senior level
> Statistics courses in college, just because she loved it. All A's.
> She didn't need Statistics for her major. Oh, she also spent eight
> years "playing" on the computer. She did nothing else but the
> computer, even putting her obsession with books aside during those
> years. When they decide they need to know something for their own
> purposes, they'll learn it. And they'll learn it at an amazing
>It's
> And you get to do anything you want to do! No more manipulating the
> children to do what you think they need to do. Just let them be.
> phenomenal. And giving them total trust will make them trust you,and
> which will be very helpful when they hit their teen years. Laurie
> I have always been best of friends.
>
> love, Valerie
Valerie
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "luv2unskool" <cmr0523@h...> wrote:
want to feel dumb. But she didn't want to know it bad enough to study
it. She asked my sister (a school teacher) to show her how to
understand Algebra when she was in her late teens. That lasted an
entire hour, I think. After a few tries, she quit trying and
concentrated on the computer. Then when she decided to go to college,
she knew that algebra was one of the subjects she would have to take.
She has no GED, no diploma. She took the college entrance exam and
scored high on the average. Top scores in English, Comprehension,
etc.. and barely scraping by in Math. So she took remedial math
classes (in college) and made all 100's. She found college to be so
easy that she made all A's. But she wasn't bored with the classes
like all the other students seemed to be. (I started college at the
same time and we had some classes together). She truly enjoys
learning. She had no preset notion of making all A's. She seldom even
thought about the grades, she just loved all topics, rarely studying.
She'd hear it once and remember it. So, after the first semester when
she found she had all A's, she decided to try to keep the A average.
She went on to make an A in college algebra. Then she decided to try
Statistics because her remedial math professor was teaching it, and
she loved her remedial math professor. They are still close friends.
Anyway, she fell in love with statistics and just kept taking more.
I say if your daughter wants to do math, then let her. That's what
unschooling is all about.. letting them do what they want to do when
they want to do it. No manipulation required.
I hope that helped.
Love, Valerie
> Valerie,math)
> I'm 6 months into unschooling & LOVE it! My daughter is 8. I'm
> curious how your daughter went from no math (Other than "life"
> to senior level statistics courses? I'm led to believe that shekno
> would first need algebra, trig, calc, etc. before that. Also, (I
> this is premature) did your daughter get a "diploma" or completeher
> GED before going onto college?Her entire life, she wanted to know how to do math because she didn't
>
> My daughter is asking to do math out of books, she wants to keep up
> with her school-age friends.
>
> Thanks so much!
> >
want to feel dumb. But she didn't want to know it bad enough to study
it. She asked my sister (a school teacher) to show her how to
understand Algebra when she was in her late teens. That lasted an
entire hour, I think. After a few tries, she quit trying and
concentrated on the computer. Then when she decided to go to college,
she knew that algebra was one of the subjects she would have to take.
She has no GED, no diploma. She took the college entrance exam and
scored high on the average. Top scores in English, Comprehension,
etc.. and barely scraping by in Math. So she took remedial math
classes (in college) and made all 100's. She found college to be so
easy that she made all A's. But she wasn't bored with the classes
like all the other students seemed to be. (I started college at the
same time and we had some classes together). She truly enjoys
learning. She had no preset notion of making all A's. She seldom even
thought about the grades, she just loved all topics, rarely studying.
She'd hear it once and remember it. So, after the first semester when
she found she had all A's, she decided to try to keep the A average.
She went on to make an A in college algebra. Then she decided to try
Statistics because her remedial math professor was teaching it, and
she loved her remedial math professor. They are still close friends.
Anyway, she fell in love with statistics and just kept taking more.
I say if your daughter wants to do math, then let her. That's what
unschooling is all about.. letting them do what they want to do when
they want to do it. No manipulation required.
I hope that helped.
Love, Valerie
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/12/02 9:12:02 PM Central Daylight Time,
valfitz@... writes:
child! <g> I make a *date* with all my LIW books every year. I usually sit
down sometime after Christmas, when it is good and cold out and I want
nothing more than to curl up on the couch under my feather comforter. I read
through all the LIW books in a day or two. There is nothing I like better. I
even tried making those little cakes Laura described her mother making for
the *Country Party* <g> Mine were like doughnuts. Maybe someday I will get
that cookbook I see when I go to the book store. :o)
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
valfitz@... writes:
> Grade Level... Laurie started reading all of her old books from whenI am glad to see someone else who likes to read the books they read as a
> she was a kid a few months ago. She taught herself to speedread when
> she was in her teens, so she grabs a handful of the books and sits
> down for a few hours and reads them. Funny watching her zoom through
> the Laura Ingalls Wilder books in one day. Those are the books she
> learned to read with.
>
> love, Valerie
child! <g> I make a *date* with all my LIW books every year. I usually sit
down sometime after Christmas, when it is good and cold out and I want
nothing more than to curl up on the couch under my feather comforter. I read
through all the LIW books in a day or two. There is nothing I like better. I
even tried making those little cakes Laura described her mother making for
the *Country Party* <g> Mine were like doughnuts. Maybe someday I will get
that cookbook I see when I go to the book store. :o)
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
achisms5
>The teachers wanted her to apply herself in a school setting. She
> My 7 year old, I'm about at my wits end now and can understand why
> the teachers couldn't teach her. She is SMART but WILL NOT apply
> herself.
doesn't have to do that anymore. She will "apply" herself when she
is ready. And the way she applies herself may look very different;
and it may come and go in spurts.
My son has loved dinasaurs since he was a toddler. Since that time,
he has gone through phases of being into them intensley, moving on
to other things, and coming back. And he remembers all kinds of
things about them that I forgot, even though I read him tons of books
on dinasaurs.
Read up on deschooling, if you haven't already. There is some great
stuff about it on www.unschooling.com message boards.
She knows how to tell time, but like this morning when I
> gave her the clock worksheets, she wrote down random numbers justto
> get it done, then stomped off when I printed her 2 new worksheetsand
> told her to do them rightShe has no need to write down the time. She can *tell* time--that's
all she needs right now. Can you think of a *real* reason she has to
do that? I don't know if she learned to tell time "formally" but I'm
guessing maybe she did. Unschooling is about trusting she'll learn
to tell time because she wants to know what time Daddy gets home or
what time her favorite show is on, or on and on.
She already made it clear she did not want to do it. In what way is
asking her to do two more of them going to help? If it were my dd,
I couldn't imagine how it could helpful in any way. I would fear,
however, that she would learn that it is not ok to expresss
herslef or her true feelings--especially to me. And this learning
will transfer to all things; from not wanting to share an interest
with me for fear that I would turn it into a unit study, to concerns
about her emerging sexuality. And even if she does go ahead and do
the worksheets and "learns" what I think she should, that other
learning is still happening--and *that* is the learning that will
stick.
Examining these kinds of questions constantly--trying to live
mindfully--has helped me tremendously and, for me,is the key to
unschooling.
My focus would be to help her say she didn't want to do it in a more
respectful way--but first she has to *truly trust* that it is ok to
do that. A common phrase of unschoolers is to "Trust the Child." For
me is also very much about fostering their trust in you. Building
that trust is my main goal of unschooling; but more than that, it is
my main goal of parenting--of building a relationship with my
children based on love and mutual trust and respect.
-=-because I knew she could do it.-=
Knowing how to tell time and how to write time are two very different
things. It doesn't follow that because she can tell time, she can
write it. Even if she *can* do it, it may be a struggle for her and
one that is especially unpleasant because she doesn't have a need to
do it. When she does--filling out party invitations, or keeping a
journal--she will. Trust.
>them
> When we go our phonics flash cards, she won't even TRY to sound
> out, she just says whatever comes to mind first.She doesn't want to and she will likely never want to. That doesn't
mean in any way that she won't learn to read. She will learn to read
when she has a reason to, using the tools that will help *her*. And
if you persist, she may learn to read in spite of or because of them,
but it is may very likely also learn that reading is no fun.
>I think you should give up the school at home and she doesn't have to
> I am almost ready to give up, I'm near tears and I DO NOT want my
> daughter in that "Special" school.
ever go to that "Special" school.
> (They can read a lil, but not on thier grade levels).There are no more grade levels. They are not in school.
>it
> I think I let my oldest daughters succes blind me to how difficult
> is for a child to learn.It's not. It's just that people learn in different ways. It's
interesting that if you look at program recommendations for
both "challenged" children and "gifted" children, they both emphasize
letting them follow their interests and learn in their own way. It
seems to me pretty obviously to folllow that it's a good idea for all
children. Read up on Howard Gardner's (It might be Gardener)
multiple
intelligences and on emotional intelligence.
>And if they need a course or somethignt hat costsalot
> of money, I am more than willing to sell my truck to get it forthem,
Keep the truck and take them places they want to go--the park, on
hikes, to visit grandma.
> but I need to know it's a course that will work.It's called life and you're already enrolled. You set the course
fees!
>Good idea! It may take a while to shift paradigms so completely but
>
>I'm going to go read more about this unschooling.
it is so freeing so worth it. Good luck!
Mary
Valerie
>as a
> I am glad to see someone else who likes to read the books they read
> child! <g> I make a *date* with all my LIW books every year. Iusually sit
> down sometime after Christmas, when it is good and cold out and Iwant
> nothing more than to curl up on the couch under my feathercomforter. I read
> through all the LIW books in a day or two. There is nothing I likebetter. I
> even tried making those little cakes Laura described her mothermaking for
> the *Country Party* <g> Mine were like doughnuts. Maybe someday Iwill get
> that cookbook I see when I go to the book store. :o)We have the cookbook and we made a few things when she was younger. I
> ~Nancy
>
>
was "Ma" for years and she was "Laura" instead of Laurie. Twenty-four
hours a day.. lol We visited Laura and Almanzo's home in Missouri -
saw Pa's fiddle, Ma's sewing machine, etc Then we visited Almanzo's
childhood home in Malone, NY. We were obsessed!
love, Valerie