Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] There is no age to start structure!
Alan & Brenda Leonard
2/1/03 05:10:
No structure, all fun. You don't have to make learning fun, learning IS
fun. If you had the flu for 2 days and lay on the sofa just watching them,
they would still learn. They've learned how to walk and talk. You didn't
sit down and try to teach them that, did you? I sure hope not! But you did
cheer their efforts, and talk with them and around them.
Forget structure when they reach 6 or 7. Forget structure forever. You'll
do different things at 6 or 7, different than at 4, different than at 16.
But you don't need structure to do that.
Think about the things you enjoy doing, and how you'd like your friends to
encourage you to try their favorite things. You might like them to point
out that they saw a lecture at the public library on Peace in the Middle
East, if they knew you were interested in that sort of thing. You
definitely would NOT want them to sign you up and make you go to it.
And if your best friend loves art, maybe she'd try to get you to accompany
her to the opening of a new show at her favorite gallery. But she wouldn't
announce that you had to come, like it or not, because it's good for you.
Treat your kids with the same respect. If they're interested in bugs, help
them find books at the library that might interest them, and offer to read
them if they're in the mood. Leave them lying around where they can flip
through and look at the pictures. Find a time when they would like to go
outside and bring a shovel to turn over dirt, move rocks, and bug hunt.
Suggest that you know how to make a bug house out of tuna cans and wire if
anybody would like to make one. Be prepared to take no for an answer.
Show your children the things you're interested it. Take them to the zoo if
you love looking at the animals, not because zoos are good for them. Play
your favorite music and dance around to it. Bet they'll join you. Get out
the craft supplies and start making things. Maybe they'll join you. Maybe
they won't. Either way, you'll have fun because you'd be doing things YOU
enjoy.
My son reads quite well. Some days he chooses to read an entire book. Some
days he only reads things he needs to read -- like street signs. By giving
him the freedom to choose to read, and to choose what to read, he
voluntarily reads many things. But if I required that he read a book a day
or a chapter a day, reading would be like chores are for many kids. Just
another thing to check off the list. He wouldn't see books the same way.
This sounds like it may be a major paradigm shift from where you are.
Please ask more questions if it doesn't make sense.
brenda
> I am thinkin the less structure and the moreWell, Dawna, how about:
> fun you can make learning the better. Maybe a little more structure when the
> reach 6 or 7. Am I on the right track.
No structure, all fun. You don't have to make learning fun, learning IS
fun. If you had the flu for 2 days and lay on the sofa just watching them,
they would still learn. They've learned how to walk and talk. You didn't
sit down and try to teach them that, did you? I sure hope not! But you did
cheer their efforts, and talk with them and around them.
Forget structure when they reach 6 or 7. Forget structure forever. You'll
do different things at 6 or 7, different than at 4, different than at 16.
But you don't need structure to do that.
Think about the things you enjoy doing, and how you'd like your friends to
encourage you to try their favorite things. You might like them to point
out that they saw a lecture at the public library on Peace in the Middle
East, if they knew you were interested in that sort of thing. You
definitely would NOT want them to sign you up and make you go to it.
And if your best friend loves art, maybe she'd try to get you to accompany
her to the opening of a new show at her favorite gallery. But she wouldn't
announce that you had to come, like it or not, because it's good for you.
Treat your kids with the same respect. If they're interested in bugs, help
them find books at the library that might interest them, and offer to read
them if they're in the mood. Leave them lying around where they can flip
through and look at the pictures. Find a time when they would like to go
outside and bring a shovel to turn over dirt, move rocks, and bug hunt.
Suggest that you know how to make a bug house out of tuna cans and wire if
anybody would like to make one. Be prepared to take no for an answer.
Show your children the things you're interested it. Take them to the zoo if
you love looking at the animals, not because zoos are good for them. Play
your favorite music and dance around to it. Bet they'll join you. Get out
the craft supplies and start making things. Maybe they'll join you. Maybe
they won't. Either way, you'll have fun because you'd be doing things YOU
enjoy.
My son reads quite well. Some days he chooses to read an entire book. Some
days he only reads things he needs to read -- like street signs. By giving
him the freedom to choose to read, and to choose what to read, he
voluntarily reads many things. But if I required that he read a book a day
or a chapter a day, reading would be like chores are for many kids. Just
another thing to check off the list. He wouldn't see books the same way.
This sounds like it may be a major paradigm shift from where you are.
Please ask more questions if it doesn't make sense.
brenda
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/1/03 4:34:29 AM Eastern Standard Time,
abtleo@... writes:
learning". Don't do that. Just live your life and help them live theirs at
whatever age they are at. They will learn. You can't make them learn and
you can't stop them.
Pam G.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
abtleo@... writes:
> Forget structure when they reach 6 or 7. Forget structure forever. You'llI like that. I think it is easy to get stuck in "making sure they are
> do different things at 6 or 7, different than at 4, different than at 16.
> But you don't need structure to do that.
>
>
learning". Don't do that. Just live your life and help them live theirs at
whatever age they are at. They will learn. You can't make them learn and
you can't stop them.
Pam G.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
ed hodgins
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan & Brenda Leonard" <abtleo@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2003 4:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] There is no age to start structure!
> 2/1/03 05:10:
>
> > I am thinkin the less structure and the more
> > fun you can make learning the better. Maybe a little more structure when
the
> > reach 6 or 7. Am I on the right track.
>
> Well, Dawna, how about:
>
> No structure, all fun. You don't have to make learning fun, learning IS
> fun. If you had the flu for 2 days and lay on the sofa just watching
them,
> they would still learn. They've learned how to walk and talk. You didn't
> sit down and try to teach them that, did you? I sure hope not! But you
did
> cheer their efforts, and talk with them and around them.
>
> Forget structure when they reach 6 or 7. Forget structure forever.
You'll
> do different things at 6 or 7, different than at 4, different than at 16.
> But you don't need structure to do that.
>
> Think about the things you enjoy doing, and how you'd like your friends to
> encourage you to try their favorite things. You might like them to point
> out that they saw a lecture at the public library on Peace in the Middle
> East, if they knew you were interested in that sort of thing. You
> definitely would NOT want them to sign you up and make you go to it.
>
> And if your best friend loves art, maybe she'd try to get you to accompany
> her to the opening of a new show at her favorite gallery. But she
wouldn't
> announce that you had to come, like it or not, because it's good for you.
>
> Treat your kids with the same respect. If they're interested in bugs,
help
> them find books at the library that might interest them, and offer to read
> them if they're in the mood. Leave them lying around where they can flip
> through and look at the pictures. Find a time when they would like to go
> outside and bring a shovel to turn over dirt, move rocks, and bug hunt.
> Suggest that you know how to make a bug house out of tuna cans and wire if
> anybody would like to make one. Be prepared to take no for an answer.
>
> Show your children the things you're interested it. Take them to the zoo
if
> you love looking at the animals, not because zoos are good for them. Play
> your favorite music and dance around to it. Bet they'll join you. Get
out
> the craft supplies and start making things. Maybe they'll join you.
Maybe
> they won't. Either way, you'll have fun because you'd be doing things YOU
> enjoy.
>
> My son reads quite well. Some days he chooses to read an entire book.
Some
> days he only reads things he needs to read -- like street signs. By
giving
> him the freedom to choose to read, and to choose what to read, he
> voluntarily reads many things. But if I required that he read a book a
day
> or a chapter a day, reading would be like chores are for many kids. Just
> another thing to check off the list. He wouldn't see books the same way.
>
> This sounds like it may be a major paradigm shift from where you are.
> Please ask more questions if it doesn't make sense.
>
> brenda
>
>
> ~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
>
> If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email
the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner,
Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an
email to:
> [email protected]
>
> Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
> It sounds like I 'm doing a lot of this already. Thanks for your thoughts.
I just wondered if I would have to be more structure and what is required
legally.
Kristen seitz
Dawna,
(I hope I have the right person)...
Can you please put your posts at the *top* of the messages and not the
bottom.
I have a terrible time scrolling through everything to find what you've
written.
Thanks a bunch!
Kristen
(I hope I have the right person)...
Can you please put your posts at the *top* of the messages and not the
bottom.
I have a terrible time scrolling through everything to find what you've
written.
Thanks a bunch!
Kristen
----- Original Message -----
From: Kristen seitz <litlrooh@...>
Date: Saturday, February 1, 2003 10:19 pm
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Unbelief
> <span><p><span><p>
>
>
> <tt>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "Alan & Brenda Leonard" <abtleo@...>
>
> To: <[email protected]>
>
> Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2003 4:38 AM
>
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] There is no age to start structure!
>
>
>
>
>
> > 2/1/03 05:10:
>
> >
>
> > > I am thinkin the less structure and the more
>
> > > fun you can make learning the better. Maybe a little
> more structure when
>
> the
>
> > > reach 6 or 7. Am I on the right track.
>
> >
>
> > Well, Dawna, how about:
>
> >
>
> > No structure, all fun. You don't have to make learning fun,
> learning IS
>
> > fun. If you had the flu for 2 days and lay on the sofa just
> watching
> them,
>
> > they would still learn. They've learned how to walk and
> talk. You didn't
>
> > sit down and try to teach them that, did you? I sure hope
> not! But you
>
> did
>
> > cheer their efforts, and talk with them and around them.
>
> >
>
> > Forget structure when they reach 6 or 7. Forget structure
> forever.
> You'll
>
> > do different things at 6 or 7, different than at 4, different
> than at 16.
>
> > But you don't need structure to do that.
>
> >
>
> > Think about the things you enjoy doing, and how you'd like
> your friends to
>
> > encourage you to try their favorite things. You might like
> them to point
>
> > out that they saw a lecture at the public library on Peace in
> the Middle
>
> > East, if they knew you were interested in that sort of thing.
> You
>
> > definitely would NOT want them to sign you up and make you go
> to it.
>
> >
>
> > And if your best friend loves art, maybe she'd try to get you
> to accompany
>
> > her to the opening of a new show at her favorite gallery.
> But she
>
> wouldn't
>
> > announce that you had to come, like it or not, because it's
> good for you.
>
> >
>
> > Treat your kids with the same respect. If they're interested
> in bugs,
>
> help
>
> > them find books at the library that might interest them, and
> offer to read
>
> > them if they're in the mood. Leave them lying around where
> they can flip
>
> > through and look at the pictures. Find a time when they
> would like to go
>
> > outside and bring a shovel to turn over dirt, move rocks, and
> bug hunt.
>
> > Suggest that you know how to make a bug house out of tuna
> cans and wire if
>
> > anybody would like to make one. Be prepared to take no for
> an answer.
>
> >
>
> > Show your children the things you're interested it. Take
> them to the zoo
>
> if
>
> > you love looking at the animals, not because zoos are good
> for them. Play
>
> > your favorite music and dance around to it. Bet they'll join
> you. Get
>
> out
>
> > the craft supplies and start making things. Maybe they'll
> join you.
>
> Maybe
>
> > they won't. Either way, you'll have fun because you'd be
> doing things YOU
>
> > enjoy.
>
> >
>
> > My son reads quite well. Some days he chooses to read an
> entire book.
>
> Some
>
> > days he only reads things he needs to read -- like street
> signs. By
>
> giving
>
> > him the freedom to choose to read, and to choose what to
> read, he
>
> > voluntarily reads many things. But if I required that he
> read a book a
>
> day
>
> > or a chapter a day, reading would be like chores are for many
> kids. Just
>
> > another thing to check off the list. He wouldn't see books
> the same way.
>
> >
>
> > This sounds like it may be a major paradigm shift from where
> you are.
>
> > Please ask more questions if it doesn't make sense.
>
> >
>
> > brenda
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > ~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject
> line! ~~~~
>
> >
>
> > If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list,
> please email
>
> the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the
> list owner,
>
> Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
>
> >
>
> > To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link
> or address an
>
> email to:
>
> > [email protected]
>
> >
>
> > Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> >
>
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
>
> >
>
> > It sounds like I 'm doing a lot of this already. Thanks for
> your thoughts.
>
> I just wondered if I would have to be more structure and what is
> required
> legally.
>
>
>
>
>
> </tt>
>
>
>
>
> <tt>
> ~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
>
>
>
> If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please
> email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or
> the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or
> address an email to:
>
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com</tt>
>
>
>
>
>
> <tt>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service.</tt></br>
>
> </span></span>
>
>
Fetteroll
on 2/1/03 10:19 PM, ed hodgins at ed.hodgins@... wrote:
in every state so none of them require structure. Sometimes the laws read as
though structure were required but it isn't.
A good place for laws is National Home Education Network.
(http://www.nhen.org)
Joyce
> It sounds like I 'm doing a lot of this already. Thanks for your thoughts.What you need to do depends what state you're in, but there are unschoolers
> I just wondered if I would have to be more structure and what is required
> legally.
in every state so none of them require structure. Sometimes the laws read as
though structure were required but it isn't.
A good place for laws is National Home Education Network.
(http://www.nhen.org)
Joyce