Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Questions about unschooling
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/24/2002 4:57:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
need to be NOW. Of course, your kids are probably way ahead of their
public-schooled friends in emotional well-being. Have a preference? <g>
If she wants medicine/military, help her research what they require. She can
work towards those requirements or pass on it if it doesn't suit. Same with
college: if the school requires SAT's she MIGHT need to get the books/'puter
games about studying for the SAT.
Curious, though? Why does she want to join the military? What's the draw?
Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected] writes:
> None of them are anywhere near their publicWe don't compare our children to other children. They are right where they
> school counterparts in math and some other subjects
> like spelling. My oldest dd wants to go to the
> military and college for the medical field
need to be NOW. Of course, your kids are probably way ahead of their
public-schooled friends in emotional well-being. Have a preference? <g>
If she wants medicine/military, help her research what they require. She can
work towards those requirements or pass on it if it doesn't suit. Same with
college: if the school requires SAT's she MIGHT need to get the books/'puter
games about studying for the SAT.
Curious, though? Why does she want to join the military? What's the draw?
Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Joyce,
What a wonderful well thought out response. I am going to use some of your
language to explain unschooling to some in our life who still don't get it.
Thanks for trying to share the joy.
Beth
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
What a wonderful well thought out response. I am going to use some of your
language to explain unschooling to some in our life who still don't get it.
Thanks for trying to share the joy.
Beth
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/1/03 2:31:38 AM, cdgni@... writes:
<< I believe that math teaches logicalness >>
Logic.
<<W/out math, I am condemning my child to poor wages.
No matter what I end up choosing for school, I will hire a math
teacher.>>
It's not logical to assume that a child can't learn math without a tutor.
Unschooling is about creating such a rich life for your child that all kinds
of learning happens without the traditional methods, and it DOES work if the
parents are willing to help it work.
<<Can someone explain a bit more about unschooling? I've been reading the
group- but I'm not getting a feel for it. >>
Also read here:
www.unschooling.com
and
sandradodd.com/unschooling
if you want to get a clearer picture.
<<How do you ensure the child is meeting the criteria for a given year?
What happens if your weak in a subject? >>
"you're"
I wouldn't correct it, except to show that you're probably doing really well
at what you do, and yet there's an error in your writing. The writing still
works, but you got married, reproduced and are going to Europe, so perfect
strength in all areas isn't a prerequisite for a successful life.
No one has perfect strength in all areas. It would be great for your
daughter if you would look into Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences.
<<What does a
typical day look like for you? >>
I've collected some here:
http://sandradodd.com/typical
They're not my family's days, they're lots of peoples.
The days look like the best summer vacation days or the finest Saturdays you
ever remember as a child. Some are leisurely, and some are full of surprises
and projects, visits and visitors.
<<What is being taught at home that isn't
being done in the school? Are the children learning more at home? >>
It's a whole different model.
Sandra
<< I believe that math teaches logicalness >>
Logic.
<<W/out math, I am condemning my child to poor wages.
No matter what I end up choosing for school, I will hire a math
teacher.>>
It's not logical to assume that a child can't learn math without a tutor.
Unschooling is about creating such a rich life for your child that all kinds
of learning happens without the traditional methods, and it DOES work if the
parents are willing to help it work.
<<Can someone explain a bit more about unschooling? I've been reading the
group- but I'm not getting a feel for it. >>
Also read here:
www.unschooling.com
and
sandradodd.com/unschooling
if you want to get a clearer picture.
<<How do you ensure the child is meeting the criteria for a given year?
What happens if your weak in a subject? >>
"you're"
I wouldn't correct it, except to show that you're probably doing really well
at what you do, and yet there's an error in your writing. The writing still
works, but you got married, reproduced and are going to Europe, so perfect
strength in all areas isn't a prerequisite for a successful life.
No one has perfect strength in all areas. It would be great for your
daughter if you would look into Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences.
<<What does a
typical day look like for you? >>
I've collected some here:
http://sandradodd.com/typical
They're not my family's days, they're lots of peoples.
The days look like the best summer vacation days or the finest Saturdays you
ever remember as a child. Some are leisurely, and some are full of surprises
and projects, visits and visitors.
<<What is being taught at home that isn't
being done in the school? Are the children learning more at home? >>
It's a whole different model.
Sandra
[email protected]
These are reinforcing comments on things Joyce said because she brought up
some good points.
<< Unschooling children will take the paths that will get where *they* want to
go, which might be through a top universtiy. But the unschooling path
doesn't lead to top universities. If you can see the distinction. >>
Lots of unschooled kid are in college. Some go part time when they're 14 or
15. Some wait until they're 19. Some go a while and then travel.
It's kind of like whether SCHOOLED kids are in college, only these kids are
freer, more mature, and more realistic. They enjoy what they're doing, or they
don't do it.
That's a foreign concept to most schooled folk.
What gets a person into college is a desire to be there and the test scores
or whatever required. When a test score shows up, nobody can tell unless they
know whether the person filling in O's with a pencil went to school or not.
<<> What is being taught at home that isn't
Had the original question been this:
"What is being learned at home that isn't being taught at school?" the
answer could have been "If you can imagine it, someone's probably learning it."
The measured, linear, lockstep nature of school's curriculum is not
"natural." It has to do with units of time, hours, weeks, semesters, tests, and
scores.
Once something is understood, it can be connected to all kinds of other
things. In school, cross-connections are not encouraged at all. History has
nothing to do with language, or music. Science isn't history. But in the real
world they can't be separated.
Sandra
some good points.
<< Unschooling children will take the paths that will get where *they* want to
go, which might be through a top universtiy. But the unschooling path
doesn't lead to top universities. If you can see the distinction. >>
Lots of unschooled kid are in college. Some go part time when they're 14 or
15. Some wait until they're 19. Some go a while and then travel.
It's kind of like whether SCHOOLED kids are in college, only these kids are
freer, more mature, and more realistic. They enjoy what they're doing, or they
don't do it.
That's a foreign concept to most schooled folk.
What gets a person into college is a desire to be there and the test scores
or whatever required. When a test score shows up, nobody can tell unless they
know whether the person filling in O's with a pencil went to school or not.
<<> What is being taught at home that isn't
> being done in the school?Joyce responded: <<No teaching involved. It's all learning.>>
Had the original question been this:
"What is being learned at home that isn't being taught at school?" the
answer could have been "If you can imagine it, someone's probably learning it."
The measured, linear, lockstep nature of school's curriculum is not
"natural." It has to do with units of time, hours, weeks, semesters, tests, and
scores.
Once something is understood, it can be connected to all kinds of other
things. In school, cross-connections are not encouraged at all. History has
nothing to do with language, or music. Science isn't history. But in the real
world they can't be separated.
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/1/03 4:31:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time, cdgni@...
writes:
to meet. My boys may have specific goals for themselves just as I might but
they look nothing like criteria for school.
weak in. There are just interests.
probably answer that better than I.
the mountains to meet up with other unschoolers and had just a fantastic day.
Today was an early day for us. We had our first "Free Day" with our
homeschool group. No free as in money free but free as in curriculum free. We went
to the local boys and girls club and the kids had a gym, pool tables, table
hockey tables, board games, and beading if they chose. The kids went from one
thing to another and had a great time being together. Needless to say there
were only a few of us there. The rest of the homeschoolers were at home doing
"school work". (yuck). Then we went to A C Moore to look at all the craft stuff
and get the boys some more drawing tablets. Then back home where we are
putting in a new hot water heater, (fun). LOL.
the way.
learning more about life and their interests and passions. But life isn't
divided up into separate subjects like in school.
Just a couple of my thoughts.
Pam G
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
writes:
> >>How do you ensure the child is meeting the criteria for a given year?<<There is no "grade" or "year" and there is no "criteria" so there is nothing
to meet. My boys may have specific goals for themselves just as I might but
they look nothing like criteria for school.
> >>What happens if your weak in a subject? <<There are no separated "subjects" like in school so there is nothing to be
weak in. There are just interests.
>>Does the unschooling method > result in children being accepted at topYes, although there are several that have children in college that could
> universities?<<
probably answer that better than I.
>> What does a > typical day look like for you? <<There is no typical day for us but yesterday was especially fun. We went to
the mountains to meet up with other unschoolers and had just a fantastic day.
Today was an early day for us. We had our first "Free Day" with our
homeschool group. No free as in money free but free as in curriculum free. We went
to the local boys and girls club and the kids had a gym, pool tables, table
hockey tables, board games, and beading if they chose. The kids went from one
thing to another and had a great time being together. Needless to say there
were only a few of us there. The rest of the homeschoolers were at home doing
"school work". (yuck). Then we went to A C Moore to look at all the craft stuff
and get the boys some more drawing tablets. Then back home where we are
putting in a new hot water heater, (fun). LOL.
>>What is being taught at home that isn't > being done in the school? <<Nothing, there is no teaching going on here. We live life and learn along
the way.
>>Are the children learning more at home?<<Maybe yes, maybe no...that depends on the child. I believe that my boys are
learning more about life and their interests and passions. But life isn't
divided up into separate subjects like in school.
Just a couple of my thoughts.
Pam G
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Fetteroll
on 10/1/03 9:43 AM, Quiltsixer@... at Quiltsixer@... wrote:
(And please feel free to correct my typos and half revised sentences in your
explanations ;-) Sheesh. I didn't have time to reread it as thoroughly as I
should have.)
Joyce
> What a wonderful well thought out response. I am going to use some of yourThank you :-)
> language to explain unschooling to some in our life who still don't get it.
(And please feel free to correct my typos and half revised sentences in your
explanations ;-) Sheesh. I didn't have time to reread it as thoroughly as I
should have.)
Joyce
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/2/03 4:34:04 AM, dezigna@... writes:
<< One thing that Unschoolers are able to
simply renounce is the need to deconstruct every experience into
academic study terms. (eg Chemistry for the tanning chemicals, Math for
the measuring, History, Anthropology, Biology of the animal). >>
I loved what Robyn wrote, but this part is definitely the writing of an
established, comfortable unschoolers.
Unschoolers who are established and comfortable are able to simply renounce
the need to deconstruct.
The way most people get the comfortable place is to deconstruct and analyze
and hunt for the language and math and science and history in the everyday
world around them. If they're lucky, they do it in the company and hearing (or
view) of more experienced unschoolers who point out some things they might have
missed. The most common thing to point out is that they're hyperventilating
with joy because their child is catching and measuring lizards or something
(it's SCIENCE!), but they forgot to even notice the potential in the child
lining rocks up by color and shape, or in the child who is looking out the window
for half an hour, humming to himself happily and rocking.
So first they hunt it down and sort it, and then they see how much they
missed, and how silly the sorting really was in the greater scheme of life and
learning, and THEN they easily renounce it. After a while. <g>
Sandra
<< One thing that Unschoolers are able to
simply renounce is the need to deconstruct every experience into
academic study terms. (eg Chemistry for the tanning chemicals, Math for
the measuring, History, Anthropology, Biology of the animal). >>
I loved what Robyn wrote, but this part is definitely the writing of an
established, comfortable unschoolers.
Unschoolers who are established and comfortable are able to simply renounce
the need to deconstruct.
The way most people get the comfortable place is to deconstruct and analyze
and hunt for the language and math and science and history in the everyday
world around them. If they're lucky, they do it in the company and hearing (or
view) of more experienced unschoolers who point out some things they might have
missed. The most common thing to point out is that they're hyperventilating
with joy because their child is catching and measuring lizards or something
(it's SCIENCE!), but they forgot to even notice the potential in the child
lining rocks up by color and shape, or in the child who is looking out the window
for half an hour, humming to himself happily and rocking.
So first they hunt it down and sort it, and then they see how much they
missed, and how silly the sorting really was in the greater scheme of life and
learning, and THEN they easily renounce it. After a while. <g>
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/2/03 10:27:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:
necklaces and bracelets. I have been so amazed at some of the lovely patterns
Anna comes up with so easily. The first necklace she made, she labored over
chosing the beads and trying to get the pattern just right. She was hesitant to
just go with the flow and pick the beads she likes. Her first necklace
turned out beautifully , and fortunately, she also gained a lot of confidence and
stopped stressing over "doing it right" Now, she just effortlessly comes up
with beautiful patterns without much thought.
A couple of days ago, my dad was ragging us about not doing anything except
making jewelry ( which was entirely incorrect, it just happened to be what we
were doing while I done my laundry at thier house) We took his lecture in
stride and laughed about it. Then Anna said, "you know, I haven't learned
anything while making this jewelry, it's just all for fun" I said "Anna, you
have learned a lot about patterns and colors and aesthetics" She said" "Huh?
it's just a necklace, how does that relate to anything else" I said.. " There
are patterns in everything, every kind of design, man made and natural.
Think about clothing, fashions, buildings... Having a good eye for patterns and
design is one of the most important things in many many jobs... Fashion
designer, architect, landscaper, engineer... We went on to talk about how patterns
are really everywhere. How creating patterns is in cake decorating and
food presentation. How folks study patterns in animals, and lots of other stuff
I can't remember now.. lol. We were just sitting and talking and making
necklaces. We didn't start doing beads in order to learn about patterns and
design and aesthetics, we do it because we enjoy it. But it was really
interesting to discuss how far reaching making a beaded necklace is in relation to
patterns and thier impact on our world. And Anna realized she HAD learned
something :-)
Teresa
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
SandraDodd@... writes:
> but they forgot to even notice the potential in the childAnna and I have been in a "beading mood" lately, making lots of beaded
> lining rocks up by color and shape, or in the child who is looking out the
> window
> for half an hour, humming to himself happily and rocking.
>
necklaces and bracelets. I have been so amazed at some of the lovely patterns
Anna comes up with so easily. The first necklace she made, she labored over
chosing the beads and trying to get the pattern just right. She was hesitant to
just go with the flow and pick the beads she likes. Her first necklace
turned out beautifully , and fortunately, she also gained a lot of confidence and
stopped stressing over "doing it right" Now, she just effortlessly comes up
with beautiful patterns without much thought.
A couple of days ago, my dad was ragging us about not doing anything except
making jewelry ( which was entirely incorrect, it just happened to be what we
were doing while I done my laundry at thier house) We took his lecture in
stride and laughed about it. Then Anna said, "you know, I haven't learned
anything while making this jewelry, it's just all for fun" I said "Anna, you
have learned a lot about patterns and colors and aesthetics" She said" "Huh?
it's just a necklace, how does that relate to anything else" I said.. " There
are patterns in everything, every kind of design, man made and natural.
Think about clothing, fashions, buildings... Having a good eye for patterns and
design is one of the most important things in many many jobs... Fashion
designer, architect, landscaper, engineer... We went on to talk about how patterns
are really everywhere. How creating patterns is in cake decorating and
food presentation. How folks study patterns in animals, and lots of other stuff
I can't remember now.. lol. We were just sitting and talking and making
necklaces. We didn't start doing beads in order to learn about patterns and
design and aesthetics, we do it because we enjoy it. But it was really
interesting to discuss how far reaching making a beaded necklace is in relation to
patterns and thier impact on our world. And Anna realized she HAD learned
something :-)
Teresa
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Teresa.
And, LOL, you could have added the "math" part of it; how to know how many
you will need to make the necklace, the Science of it; the History (why & when
ppl started making jewelry) and ALL IN THE NAME OF FUN!
Tracy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
And, LOL, you could have added the "math" part of it; how to know how many
you will need to make the necklace, the Science of it; the History (why & when
ppl started making jewelry) and ALL IN THE NAME OF FUN!
Tracy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Robyn Coburn
<<The way most people get the comfortable place is to deconstruct and
analyze
and hunt for the language and math and science and history in the
everyday
world around them. If they're lucky, they do it in the company and
hearing (or
view) of more experienced unschoolers who point out some things they
might have
missed. The most common thing to point out is that they're
hyperventilating
with joy because their child is catching and measuring lizards or
something
(it's SCIENCE!), but they forgot to even notice the potential in the
child
lining rocks up by color and shape, or in the child who is looking out
the window
for half an hour, humming to himself happily and rocking.>>
Thinking on this further..
Sometimes when I am explaining to other parents, in the most
introductory and superficial manner, about how we Unschool rather than
Homeschool, I find to demonstrate that Jayn is learning regardless of my
lack of teaching, I have to deconstruct in this way. I try to
concentrate on things she does, rather than how it would be categorized
into a subject, although I suspect that the other parent is sometimes
turning these things into "so that would be (insert subject)".
The desperate desire to teach math has probably done more harm to the
noble art of baking than any packet mix ever did. We make cookies for
the sake of making cookies, but other people may feel very relieved that
we are doing painless math.
One of my biggest challenges is trying to get my mother to stop
saying/believing, "But you taught her that" on every occasion.
Robyn Coburn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
analyze
and hunt for the language and math and science and history in the
everyday
world around them. If they're lucky, they do it in the company and
hearing (or
view) of more experienced unschoolers who point out some things they
might have
missed. The most common thing to point out is that they're
hyperventilating
with joy because their child is catching and measuring lizards or
something
(it's SCIENCE!), but they forgot to even notice the potential in the
child
lining rocks up by color and shape, or in the child who is looking out
the window
for half an hour, humming to himself happily and rocking.>>
Thinking on this further..
Sometimes when I am explaining to other parents, in the most
introductory and superficial manner, about how we Unschool rather than
Homeschool, I find to demonstrate that Jayn is learning regardless of my
lack of teaching, I have to deconstruct in this way. I try to
concentrate on things she does, rather than how it would be categorized
into a subject, although I suspect that the other parent is sometimes
turning these things into "so that would be (insert subject)".
The desperate desire to teach math has probably done more harm to the
noble art of baking than any packet mix ever did. We make cookies for
the sake of making cookies, but other people may feel very relieved that
we are doing painless math.
One of my biggest challenges is trying to get my mother to stop
saying/believing, "But you taught her that" on every occasion.
Robyn Coburn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
<< you could have added the "math" part of it; how to know how many
you will need to make the necklace >>
But the patterns of size and color are math too. The relationships are
mathematical.
Math is much more than just counting and calculating numbers.
Sandra
you will need to make the necklace >>
But the patterns of size and color are math too. The relationships are
mathematical.
Math is much more than just counting and calculating numbers.
Sandra