Sunday SCHOOL
Bill and Diane
Last Sunday I took Brian and Katherine to Sunday school (Brian's
request--he said he wanted to know what they taught in the 4-year-old
class). Luckily for me, it was a 3/4 class, so I got them both in
without a fight and stayed with them.
Step one was everyone sit down on your mat with your legs folded. Do not
speak until recognized (this is before the CLASS started). I was not
surprised to hear that the TEACHER was also a preschool TEACHER the rest
of the week, too.
The story is told and played out with little wooden characters. Then the
kids have a few minutes to choose a free-choice activity (Brian's? draw
a train! big surprise there!) Then they re-form in their circle on mats,
with legs folded (very important) to have snack/fake communion. Then as
parents arrive to pick up kids each may get up when their name is called
and get a sticker, their art, and go. There is no minute allowed for
conversation at all.
BLEAH!
They wanted to go back this week, and did, but I haven't had the heart
to ask if they're planning to do so again. BLEAH!
:-) Diane
request--he said he wanted to know what they taught in the 4-year-old
class). Luckily for me, it was a 3/4 class, so I got them both in
without a fight and stayed with them.
Step one was everyone sit down on your mat with your legs folded. Do not
speak until recognized (this is before the CLASS started). I was not
surprised to hear that the TEACHER was also a preschool TEACHER the rest
of the week, too.
The story is told and played out with little wooden characters. Then the
kids have a few minutes to choose a free-choice activity (Brian's? draw
a train! big surprise there!) Then they re-form in their circle on mats,
with legs folded (very important) to have snack/fake communion. Then as
parents arrive to pick up kids each may get up when their name is called
and get a sticker, their art, and go. There is no minute allowed for
conversation at all.
BLEAH!
They wanted to go back this week, and did, but I haven't had the heart
to ask if they're planning to do so again. BLEAH!
:-) Diane
[email protected]
We've had the same problem with our ds Liam, 14. He was liberated (yeah!)
from school only a year and a half ago, and we've been unschooling (as best I
could) from the very beginning. As active Lutherans, Sunday School and
Confirmation classes became a real problem -- especially when I decided that
it would be hypocritical of me to affirm his independence from the oppression
of the classroom only to make him endure the same thing in the name of God.
What kind of a message does THAT send, exactly? We solved the problem by
talking to the pastor and arranging for conversations between the two of them
for Confirmation. He just doesn't go to Sunday School. The conversations
are initiated by Liam when he has a question or a theological idea -- and he
has many. It's been hit and miss, I guess you could say, and I know the
pastor isn't terribly happy (we won't even discuss my mother), but Liam is
and that's what's important to me. I don't want to force-feed him religion
any more than I want to shove education down his throat. We also watch
movies and documentaries and talk a lot. He's pretty skeptical right now,
but I think that's a healthy thing. At least he's thinking. When he comes
to a place of decision making, it will be on his own terms. Meanwhile, the
family still goes to church on a regular basis, and he sees us living what we
believe. I figure it's the best we can do.
Laura B.
from school only a year and a half ago, and we've been unschooling (as best I
could) from the very beginning. As active Lutherans, Sunday School and
Confirmation classes became a real problem -- especially when I decided that
it would be hypocritical of me to affirm his independence from the oppression
of the classroom only to make him endure the same thing in the name of God.
What kind of a message does THAT send, exactly? We solved the problem by
talking to the pastor and arranging for conversations between the two of them
for Confirmation. He just doesn't go to Sunday School. The conversations
are initiated by Liam when he has a question or a theological idea -- and he
has many. It's been hit and miss, I guess you could say, and I know the
pastor isn't terribly happy (we won't even discuss my mother), but Liam is
and that's what's important to me. I don't want to force-feed him religion
any more than I want to shove education down his throat. We also watch
movies and documentaries and talk a lot. He's pretty skeptical right now,
but I think that's a healthy thing. At least he's thinking. When he comes
to a place of decision making, it will be on his own terms. Meanwhile, the
family still goes to church on a regular basis, and he sees us living what we
believe. I figure it's the best we can do.
Laura B.
Angela
When my kids were preschoolers, I taught the Sunday school (every other
week) at a small laid back church where there were only a half dozen
kids on a busy day. I read them a story, and did a craft with them,
and played games with them. It was fun and laid back. The kids and I
liked going and the kids that were there, wanted to be there and enjoyed
it too. I stopped teaching it when too many kids joined that didn't
want to be there. (mixed age class goes up to about age 12) They never
paid attention, they wound everyone up, they were mouthy and rude. It
was just another place there parents dumped them to get rid of them for
awhile. It made me so mad that they ruined a nice little set up we had.
I refused to be a disciplinarian while I was there. I made it through
the rest of that year, but didn't go back.
Recently, the kids wanted to go try it out again. (They wanted to go do
a craft with the other kids.) So, off we went. (my kids like me to stay
in class with them.) It seems the class is now being taught (at least
the week we were there, they rotate weeks) by a ps teacher. It was so
awful! There were worksheets and a condescending tone. The one thing
she was good at though, was keeping the kids who obviously didn't want
to be there, in line. She even threatened one little boy with a time
out. The whole experience was awful.
At the end of the the class, she said she heard I was homeschooling and
wanted to know if I taught based on the Maine Learning Results. (not
sure how she worded it) I misunderstood her to be asking if I would be
making my kids take the MEA (Maine assessment test.) I told her no, we
don't test and we don't teach to the test. We follow the children's
lead. I could see the gears going. Se explained how the learning
results show where Mainer children are weak in certain areas and how if
we focus on those points, we can do better on the Maine Assessment Test.
Like, how would that apply to us?
Well, that was a little glimpse into public school and it was enough for
me. I am staying far far away from both Sunday school and public school.
Kids don't learn their morals from Sunday school anyway, they learn them
from watching their parents.
Angela in Maine
BLEAH!
They wanted to go back this week, and did, but I haven't had the heart
to ask if they're planning to do so again. BLEAH!
:-) Diane
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
week) at a small laid back church where there were only a half dozen
kids on a busy day. I read them a story, and did a craft with them,
and played games with them. It was fun and laid back. The kids and I
liked going and the kids that were there, wanted to be there and enjoyed
it too. I stopped teaching it when too many kids joined that didn't
want to be there. (mixed age class goes up to about age 12) They never
paid attention, they wound everyone up, they were mouthy and rude. It
was just another place there parents dumped them to get rid of them for
awhile. It made me so mad that they ruined a nice little set up we had.
I refused to be a disciplinarian while I was there. I made it through
the rest of that year, but didn't go back.
Recently, the kids wanted to go try it out again. (They wanted to go do
a craft with the other kids.) So, off we went. (my kids like me to stay
in class with them.) It seems the class is now being taught (at least
the week we were there, they rotate weeks) by a ps teacher. It was so
awful! There were worksheets and a condescending tone. The one thing
she was good at though, was keeping the kids who obviously didn't want
to be there, in line. She even threatened one little boy with a time
out. The whole experience was awful.
At the end of the the class, she said she heard I was homeschooling and
wanted to know if I taught based on the Maine Learning Results. (not
sure how she worded it) I misunderstood her to be asking if I would be
making my kids take the MEA (Maine assessment test.) I told her no, we
don't test and we don't teach to the test. We follow the children's
lead. I could see the gears going. Se explained how the learning
results show where Mainer children are weak in certain areas and how if
we focus on those points, we can do better on the Maine Assessment Test.
Like, how would that apply to us?
Well, that was a little glimpse into public school and it was enough for
me. I am staying far far away from both Sunday school and public school.
Kids don't learn their morals from Sunday school anyway, they learn them
from watching their parents.
Angela in Maine
BLEAH!
They wanted to go back this week, and did, but I haven't had the heart
to ask if they're planning to do so again. BLEAH!
:-) Diane
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Kelli Traaseth
Bill and Diane <cen46624@...> wrote:
**Last Sunday I took Brian and Katherine to Sunday school (Brian's
request--**
I can relate to this. I have one of my 3 children that likes to go to Sunday School. My 5 yr old. I think its kind-of a novelty thing. My 8 and 10, don't want to go. And I am having issues with church right now, so I am not going.
I try not to influence her decision. I know she has fun, so if she wants to go that's fine. She also gets to see alot of her friends there, so its very social. Talks all the time and does crafts.
She also dresses up, puts on a dress and fancy shoes. Which is one of my issues with church; I won't go into that, too long of story.
It was funny tho' because for a couple of weeks she said, "Mom, I don't have to go to Sunday School, we do crafts and stuff here!" So not sure how much biblical learning is going on. Which is fine with me. <g>
Kelli
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
**Last Sunday I took Brian and Katherine to Sunday school (Brian's
request--**
I can relate to this. I have one of my 3 children that likes to go to Sunday School. My 5 yr old. I think its kind-of a novelty thing. My 8 and 10, don't want to go. And I am having issues with church right now, so I am not going.
I try not to influence her decision. I know she has fun, so if she wants to go that's fine. She also gets to see alot of her friends there, so its very social. Talks all the time and does crafts.
She also dresses up, puts on a dress and fancy shoes. Which is one of my issues with church; I won't go into that, too long of story.
It was funny tho' because for a couple of weeks she said, "Mom, I don't have to go to Sunday School, we do crafts and stuff here!" So not sure how much biblical learning is going on. Which is fine with me. <g>
Kelli
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~~~~ 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 the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nellebelle
As a family, we didn't go to church after my parents divorced. I lived with
my mom; I believe that my father continued to attend. We did go with him a
few times before he moved far, far away.
I started attending a neighborhood church when I was around 9 or 10. I
loved memorizing bible verses and singing the songs. I went to a church
sponsored summer camp a couple of times. One of my neighborhood friends was
doing this too.
I attended for a few years, then stopped.
The difference was that I went on my own. I could walk to the church. So
it didn't involve my mom, except for the preaching I brought home with me.
Mary Ellen
my mom; I believe that my father continued to attend. We did go with him a
few times before he moved far, far away.
I started attending a neighborhood church when I was around 9 or 10. I
loved memorizing bible verses and singing the songs. I went to a church
sponsored summer camp a couple of times. One of my neighborhood friends was
doing this too.
I attended for a few years, then stopped.
The difference was that I went on my own. I could walk to the church. So
it didn't involve my mom, except for the preaching I brought home with me.
Mary Ellen
[email protected]
In a message dated 3/24/03 12:35:22 AM Eastern Standard Time,
cen46624@... writes:
to start a book club for boys to try to help her son with his reading. They
decided it would be for boys only and the books would be "Magic Tree House"
books. My boys were reading those and wanted to try the group. It turned
out to be basically a unit study on whatever topic the book was about. The
Mom turned out to be the "teacher", and directed all the group activities.
One art thing, a spelling thing, a science thing etc. For an hour. My boys
hated it. They didn't get even one chance to talk about the book, like a
real book club, what they liked and didn't. There was no conversations
between the boys. They never went back. She spoiled it.
Pam G.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
cen46624@... writes:
> Then asIn the homeschooling support group I am involved with here, one Mom decided
> parents arrive to pick up kids each may get up when their name is called
> and get a sticker, their art, and go. There is no minute allowed for
> conversation at all.
>
>
to start a book club for boys to try to help her son with his reading. They
decided it would be for boys only and the books would be "Magic Tree House"
books. My boys were reading those and wanted to try the group. It turned
out to be basically a unit study on whatever topic the book was about. The
Mom turned out to be the "teacher", and directed all the group activities.
One art thing, a spelling thing, a science thing etc. For an hour. My boys
hated it. They didn't get even one chance to talk about the book, like a
real book club, what they liked and didn't. There was no conversations
between the boys. They never went back. She spoiled it.
Pam G.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
kayb85
I'm a Christian unschooler. I love Jesus with all of my heart, but
I can't stomach institutional church and we don't do Sunday School.
I did by Group's 5 year old Sunday school curriculum and we found a
lot of fun things to do with that. We don't "have sunday school" at
home, but we treat it like a fun craft/activity pack that we go to
sometimes when we want something fun to do.
My daughter does enjoy Bible School at my mil's church, though. My
son enjoyed it two years ago (he was 4 then, and I stayed with him
in the pre-k class. But last year when I tried to take him again (I
had registered both him and his 3 year old brother for the pre-k
class again), they said that this year they have a "no parents"
rule. He wouldn't stay, and one of the staff people were trying to
talk him into it, telling him about all the fun things they were
going to do. I thought it was very cruel to tell him all of the fun
things that he was missing out on because he was uncomfortable
leaving his mommy. :(
Sheila
--- In [email protected], Bill and Diane
<cen46624@v...> wrote:
I can't stomach institutional church and we don't do Sunday School.
I did by Group's 5 year old Sunday school curriculum and we found a
lot of fun things to do with that. We don't "have sunday school" at
home, but we treat it like a fun craft/activity pack that we go to
sometimes when we want something fun to do.
My daughter does enjoy Bible School at my mil's church, though. My
son enjoyed it two years ago (he was 4 then, and I stayed with him
in the pre-k class. But last year when I tried to take him again (I
had registered both him and his 3 year old brother for the pre-k
class again), they said that this year they have a "no parents"
rule. He wouldn't stay, and one of the staff people were trying to
talk him into it, telling him about all the fun things they were
going to do. I thought it was very cruel to tell him all of the fun
things that he was missing out on because he was uncomfortable
leaving his mommy. :(
Sheila
--- In [email protected], Bill and Diane
<cen46624@v...> wrote:
> Last Sunday I took Brian and Katherine to Sunday school (Brian'sold
> request--he said he wanted to know what they taught in the 4-year-
> class). Luckily for me, it was a 3/4 class, so I got them both inDo not
> without a fight and stayed with them.
>
> Step one was everyone sit down on your mat with your legs folded.
> speak until recognized (this is before the CLASS started). I wasnot
> surprised to hear that the TEACHER was also a preschool TEACHERthe rest
> of the week, too.Then the
>
> The story is told and played out with little wooden characters.
> kids have a few minutes to choose a free-choice activity (Brian's?draw
> a train! big surprise there!) Then they re-form in their circle onmats,
> with legs folded (very important) to have snack/fake communion.Then as
> parents arrive to pick up kids each may get up when their name iscalled
> and get a sticker, their art, and go. There is no minute allowedfor
> conversation at all.heart
>
> BLEAH!
>
> They wanted to go back this week, and did, but I haven't had the
> to ask if they're planning to do so again. BLEAH!
>
> :-) Diane
Jodi
When I teach Children's Church I've made my class very "unschoolish". Though
they use a curriculum during sunday school there is not one for the second
class during Church. So when it's your turn to teach you're supposed to make
up your own lesson. This past week we did a quick handprint craft and then
made up stories about plastic dinosaurs in the playdoh (LOL) plus I brought
them dunkin donuts. I asked the kids what they want to do next Sunday since
I'm on again and they want to make flashlights and have pizza! OK we can do
that after a quick trip to radio shack and an early call to the pizza place
:-). I want them to have fun, they are there for a long time 3-4 hours
Sunday mornings. I know my kids get hungry and bored so I figured they all
must.
Jodi in NH- aim: catsndogs4us
they use a curriculum during sunday school there is not one for the second
class during Church. So when it's your turn to teach you're supposed to make
up your own lesson. This past week we did a quick handprint craft and then
made up stories about plastic dinosaurs in the playdoh (LOL) plus I brought
them dunkin donuts. I asked the kids what they want to do next Sunday since
I'm on again and they want to make flashlights and have pizza! OK we can do
that after a quick trip to radio shack and an early call to the pizza place
:-). I want them to have fun, they are there for a long time 3-4 hours
Sunday mornings. I know my kids get hungry and bored so I figured they all
must.
Jodi in NH- aim: catsndogs4us
kayb85
I used to teach junior church, Sunday School classes, mid-week kids
clubs, youth group, you name it. I always was causing friction
because they thought that when I taught the kids were too loud and
made too much of a mess. I think they thought the main purpose of a
teacher was to keep the kids quiet during the service.
They really didn't like when I turned Bible memory verses into jump
rope rhymes and gave them all jump ropes.
Sheila
--- In [email protected], "Angela"
<unschooling@p...> wrote:
clubs, youth group, you name it. I always was causing friction
because they thought that when I taught the kids were too loud and
made too much of a mess. I think they thought the main purpose of a
teacher was to keep the kids quiet during the service.
They really didn't like when I turned Bible memory verses into jump
rope rhymes and gave them all jump ropes.
Sheila
--- In [email protected], "Angela"
<unschooling@p...> wrote:
> When my kids were preschoolers, I taught the Sunday school (everyother
> week) at a small laid back church where there were only a halfdozen
> kids on a busy day. I read them a story, and did a craft withthem,
> and played games with them. It was fun and laid back.
kayb85
I asked the kids what they want to do next Sunday since
Sheila
> I'm on again and they want to make flashlights and have pizza! OKwe can do
> that after a quick trip to radio shack and an early call to thepizza place
> :-).How do you make flashlights?
Sheila