Robin Norell

Lhiza -

You mentioned looking for books that are good learning books, but not
textbooks... I have a huge collection of books from Dorling-Kindersley (DK).
You might not recognize the name, but you'd recognize the books in the
store. They are filled with wonderful photographs, lots of facts, and are
very interesting! As for "quick question answers" - I have their
encyclopedia. I own Encarta on CD, and always said I'd never purchase an
encyclopedia in print after they came out with update-able CDs, but I bought
this one - it has so many great photographs, and whenever we look something
up, we end up stopping at another dozen pages along the way.

Anyway, books I am reading myself - I have always been a big Michael
Crichton fan, and after finishing "Timeline" earlier than expected on a
recent trip, I picked up a book of his called "Travels" - stories about the
places he has traveled. Very interesting and well written! I just started
John Grisham's "Brethren" too. I am also reading "Seasons of a Mother's
Heart," by Sally Clarkson (great book for anyone who is a mother, a
Christian and/or a homeschooler). I'm about to read "Carolinas & Georgia"
by Frommer's, since I'm going to Myrtle Beach for a week on Feb. 19. Next
on my list are "Honey, Are You Listening? - How Attention Deficit Disorder
Could Be Affecting Your Marriage," by Dr. Rick Fowler & Jerilyn Fowler, and
"Watch It Made in the USA - a Visitor's Guide to the Companies That Make
Your Favorite Products," by Bruce Brumberg & Karen Axelrod. My daughter and
I are also reading the second Harry Potter book together (by J.K. Rowling).

One last item - my family and I just got back from a 2-week trip to Arizona.
I always keep a travel journal when we travel, for family memories, as well
as our homeschooling portfolio. It's 44 pages in Microsoft Word - if you're
interested, I could either post it to the whole group, or email it to
individuals. Let me know if you'd like to read it!

Robin
Orlando, FL
:-)


"A room without books is like a body without a soul." -Cicero
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2000 6:26 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 404


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> There are 23 messages in this issue.
>
> Topics in today's digest:
>
> 1. Re: Concerned about property values?
> From: "John O. Andersen" <andersen@...>
> 2. Re: running pneumonia
> From: Natrlmama@...
> 3. Re: attachment parenting
> From: "Tracy Oldfield" <Tracy@...-online.co.uk>
> 4. Re: Gardening Zones
> From: Natrlmama@...
> 5. Re: KnoK NEWS for 5 Feb. 2000
> From: "A. Yates" <hooperck@...>
> 6. Moving house, was Re: old timers
> From: "Tracy Oldfield" <Tracy@...-online.co.uk>
> 7. Re: Books
> From: "Tracy Oldfield" <Tracy@...-online.co.uk>
> 8. Re: Books
> From: "Tracy Oldfield" <Tracy@...-online.co.uk>
> 9. Re: Books
> From: "Tracy Oldfield" <Tracy@...-online.co.uk>
> 10. Does our society overvalue socialization?
> From: "Beth Burnham" <beth2002@...>
> 11. Re: Does our society overvalue socialization?
> From: "deejay" <deejay@...>
> 12. Re: Does our society overvalue socialization?
> From: Marbleface@...
> 13. Re: Books
> From: Tom & Nanci Kuykendall <tn-k4of5@...>
> 14. Re:blue ribbon schools/social conformity
> From: Thad Martin <tmartin@...>
> 15. Re: Re:blue ribbon schools/social conformity
> From: "Beth Burnham" <beth2002@...>
> 16. Joshua
> From: heathfam@...
> 17. Joshua
> From: heathfam@...
> 18. Re: Joshua
> From: Hsmotgo@...
> 19. RE: Gardening Zones
> From: "Brynn" <panchot@...>
> 20. We Want Our Children to Be Suckers!
> From: "John O. Andersen" <andersen@...>
> 21. Re: Gardening Zones
> From: Natrlmama@...
> 22. thanks for the warm welcome
> From: Androdite@...
> 23. Re: We Want Our Children to Be Suckers!
> From: JENNIFE30@...
>
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
___
>
____________________________________________________________________________
___
>
> Message: 1
> Date: 5 Feb 2000 05:52:33 -0800
> From: "John O. Andersen" <andersen@...>
> Subject: Re: Concerned about property values?
>
> Beth,
>
> Thanks for the response.
>
> > I agree totally about joining a museum did that out west in AZ and had
> > learning adventures no amount of money could replace!
>
> Volunteering is really the untapped education resource. Many people after
> tiring of extortionate tuition bills may find their way to this free and
> amazing resource which in some cases may be superior to sitting in class
and
> taking tests.
>
> John Andersen
> http://www.spiritone.com/~andersen
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 12:26:29 EST
> From: Natrlmama@...
> Subject: Re: running pneumonia
>
> In a message dated 02/04/2000 9:57:49 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> Monkeycoop@... writes:
>
> << She said, "Do you mean walking pneumonia?", and he said,
> "No, evidently she's immune to that."
>
> **** Kim ****
> runs with scissors >>
>
> Oh, Kim, I really like you <gg>
>
> Kathy
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2000 01:16:42 -0000
> From: "Tracy Oldfield" <Tracy@...-online.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: attachment parenting
>
> me too, that's where I'm coming from :-)
>
> Tracy
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Natrlmama@...
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 7:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] attachment parenting
>
>
> From: Natrlmama@...
>
> In a message dated 02/03/2000 9:55:12 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> jazballard@... writes:
>
> << So IS this what "we" are doing? Keeping the needs
> of our children upfront and foremost..allowing them
> to develop at their pace...providing quidance, love
> support...I understand that some parents don't take
> the role of a parent as seriously as I/we do..so does
> that make me someone who can be labeled as one who
> believes in "attachment parenting"? >>
>
> Yes these all sound good! Most people when they speak
> of attachment parenting, they are talking about a lifestyle term that
> was coined by Dr. Bill and Martha Sears, pediatrician, La Leche
> League Leader and parents to eight children. Many people think
> of AP (attachment parenting) as natural parenting, and often this
> type of parenting can be found in non-industrialized cultures and
> considered the norm. Most Americans practicing AP start from
> birth, looking to birth their children in the gentle environment,
> breastfeeding and sleep sharing, and carrying your baby/child in
> a sling or in arms. Crying it out and physical punishment
> are not considered AP. You do not have to have done all of the
> above practices to be AP I believe, (example; some women may not have
had
> all the correct information or support to breastfeed their child, but
practice
> other attachment/bonding practices). In turn these practices help you
and
> your child become in tune with each other, so you can better parent etc.
> There are tons of sites on the
> web where you can learn more about this. Hope this helps! ps. I think
that
> homeschooling/unschooling is a very natural progression from and early
> APing lifestyle.
> Kathy
>
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>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 12:55:34 EST
> From: Natrlmama@...
> Subject: Re: Gardening Zones
>
> In a message dated 02/03/2000 10:31:39 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> hooperck@... writes:
>
> <<
> All you gardening people, I stumbled into a great newsletter from
> Organic Gardening. It is a newsletter for your zone. It's great. If
> your interested, go to
> http://www.OrganicGardening.com >>
> Thank you for the info. I subscribed, but looking at the zone map, I had
> a difficult time telling if I am in zone 8 or 9. I am in southern
California,
> Riverside county/Corona specifically. Is anyone in this area who knows
> there gardening zones? thanks!
>
> Kathy
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2000 13:48:18 -0500
> From: "A. Yates" <hooperck@...>
> Subject: Re: KnoK NEWS for 5 Feb. 2000
>
> Covert Family,
> Our homeschool group in NC, USA, is looking for some pen pals. Are you
> interested? If you are, I'll send more details.
> Thanks,
> Ann
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 6
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 18:38:45 -0000
> From: "Tracy Oldfield" <Tracy@...-online.co.uk>
> Subject: Moving house, was Re: old timers
>
> I had to blink and read again when I saw this, cos I've gone through this
last year, I think I'm on the way over it, but it remains to be seem :-) I
knew moving would be difficult, since the house was not my choice and would
not have been my choice, but I was not prepared for the depths of depression
I went in last year, mostly, if not all, house-related. Took me a while to
figure out that I was grieving! Thanks for affirming my self-diagnosis!!
>
> Tracy
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Brown
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2000 8:40 PM
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] old timers
>
>
> From: Brown <mjcmbrwn@...>
>
> Hi Sandi
>
>
> > <cut> everyone seemed fine. Our discussions over the
> > years have shown that it was much more traumatic than I realized for
them
> > even though they adjusted okay.
>
> Yes, already I have become faintly aware of this. Our 12yo who has
wanted for
> always to move to the country, started exhibiting strange behaviour, and
it
> emerged that although he loves living here, he was still going through a
major
> grieving for all that has been his life until now, and has been left
behind. The
> 2 that weren't that keen on moving seem almost to be handling it
better -
> perhaps their low expectations enabled them to be pleasantly surprised!
>
> > I had tried to keep them aware of all
> > plans, choices, etc during the change, but they still felt they had no
> > choice.
>
> I do feel bad about this - children have so little choice really, in so
many
> areas of their lives. Even when we, as individual families, allow our
children
> choice, they soon become aware that other families don't work like that,
and
> that their choice is only theirs by virtue of our choice to allow it.
>
> > I always found life in general to be a balancing act. Home birth,
> > attachment parenting, homeschooling, all of these things that grow
children
> > so well, and have the potential to grow parents well, too, can also be
> > draining if you don't find the balance that you need.
>
> Yeah, and I've never been to good at balancing - I always did choose the
swing
> rather than the seesaw at the playground <g>
>
> Carol
>
>
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>
> Message: 7
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 18:55:17 -0000
> From: "Tracy Oldfield" <Tracy@...-online.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: Books
>
> I have an Iain M Banks novel sitting on the office windowsill waiting to
be read :-) I bought it for Father's Day (or birthday, can't remember which
:-) ) last year, and dh loved it, but I've yet to read it :-) I need to
start reading breastfeeding and ap-type books again, since my LLL
application is getting a kick up the bottom now <g> I have a second-hand
copy of a book on gardening with mulch, rather than compost, which I like, I
think it's called the No Work Garden, or something like that! (On the side
topic of gardening, I got the phone number today of someone local who
supplies mushroom compost for gardens, will be phoning them on Monday...)
The last book I read was A Little Princess, I think, oh, hang on, no it was
a Terry Pratchett Discworld novel from the library! Anything else? Don't
think so! 99.9% of our books are packed up in boxes in the garage or at my
mother's since moving last year, so when I get them out again, I may be
reading some more. Will probably re-read Lord of the Rings before the first
film comes out. OK, that's me done (for now <g>)
>
> Tracy
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: A. Yates
> To: Unschooling
> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 4:28 AM
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Books
>
>
> From: "A. Yates" <hooperck@...>
>
> I'm willing to bet that another thing we all have in common, is that we
> are all avid readers. After the discussion of Amelia Peabody, I'd like
> to hear more. What else do you like to read? Favorite authors ect..
> I'm reading my first Amelia Peabody. Just started it. I can tell I'll
> like it already.
> Here are some of my favorites.
> For mystery (my favorite) I love Ruth Rendell. She has an Inspector
> Wexford series as well as others. I also like Martha Grimes. She too
> has a series with the same characters. I also love to read the Emily
> Pollifax series. Why can't I think of the author??
> I think outside of mystery I really love May Sarton. I think she has
> one called "Full Circle".
> Right now I'm reading a book by the Dali Lama or rather a phd and him
> called "The Art of Happiness". It is wonderful. I love his philosophy.
>
> So, what are all of you reading?
> Ann
>
>
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>
> Message: 8
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 19:03:14 -0000
> From: "Tracy Oldfield" <Tracy@...-online.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: Books
>
> Another Anne McCaffrey fan! I have all the books on Pern, and a couple
of the Rowan series, can't remember the exact titles right now. I like
David Eddings' stuff too. Not a fantasy nut at all!!
>
> Tracy
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tom & Nanci Kuykendall
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 5:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Books
>
>
> From: Tom & Nanci Kuykendall <tn-k4of5@...>
>
>
> >>I'm willing to bet that another thing we all have in common, is that
we
> >>are all avid readers. After the discussion of Amelia Peabody, I'd
like
> >>to hear more. What else do you like to read?
> >>Right now I'm reading a book by the Dali Lama or rather a phd and him
> >>called "The Art of Happiness". It is wonderful. I love his
philosophy.
> >>
> >>So, what are all of you reading?
> >>Ann
> >
> >I LOOOOOOVE that book! DH and I read it together. I have the utmost
> respect for him. I was fortunate enough to meet him in person and talk
> with him, and he exudes such a magical aura. He has a presence that can
be
> felt and really affects you when you are near him. He truly is "an
> elightened being."
> >
> >Nanci K.
>
> Oops! and I forgot! What books do I like to read. I really enjoy
fiction
> as a way to de-stress and escape for me. I love Anne McCaffrey, David
> Brin, Orson Scott Card, Anne Rice, Jean M. Auel, and R. A. Salvatore for
> starters. Of course I am always Unschooling, so I read any number of
other
> spiritual, parenting, psychology, comparative religious, and adoption
books
> (just right now.)
>
>
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>
> Message: 9
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 19:05:17 -0000
> From: "Tracy Oldfield" <Tracy@...-online.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: Books
>
> I'd like to, but it's not big enough really. I'd like a bathroom big
enough to put an armchair in, too! I do like reading in the bath, but ours
isn't comfy enough :-(
>
> Tracy
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: FUN (Billy & Nancy)
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 3:01 PM
> Subject: RE: [Unschooling-dotcom] Books
>
>
> From: "FUN (Billy & Nancy)" <FUNLists@...>
>
> Okay, how many of you read in the bathroom? We've got a book shelf in
both
> of our bathrooms! (I know it's not supposed to be the best thing to do,
but
> the bathroom sure is a nice quiet reading placing!)
>
> Nancy G.
>
> Visit our Web Site!
> http://www.FUN-Books.com
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tom & Nanci Kuykendall [mailto:tn-k4of5@...]
> > Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 12:28 PM
> > To: [email protected]
> > Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Books
> >
> >
> > From: Tom & Nanci Kuykendall <tn-k4of5@...>
> >
> >
> > >>I'm willing to bet that another thing we all have in common, is that
we
> > >>are all avid readers. After the discussion of Amelia Peabody, I'd
like
> > >>to hear more. What else do you like to read?
> >
>
>
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>
> Message: 10
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 14:11:49 -0500
> From: "Beth Burnham" <beth2002@...>
> Subject: Does our society overvalue socialization?
>
> I am on an anthropological quest as I am dealing with those negative folks
who worry about my kids missing out on all that "socialization" they get in
school.
> Do you guys feel that our society over values or emphasizes this value to
an extreme degree not natural for all esp. in an institutional setting?
> Up here in New England they are penalized for even being a minute late
getting in the classroom. I think we may always be late to things we just
don't enjoy but even getting to work on time is not something my DH is good
at even though he likes going to work most days. I look forward to not
having to be on time for school every morning. Am I teaching negative values
or just that being on time isn't as important as sense of self? Socializing
by being silent and still in a group setting as in the military is also
against my core beliefs. I am sure all cultures have their peer pressures. I
am happy that in this day and age we don't have to give in to any peer
pressure of any kind and really know freedom is there something wrong with
this that I am missing?
> Beth
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 11
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 14:54:54 -0500
> From: "deejay" <deejay@...>
> Subject: Re: Does our society overvalue socialization?
>
> The type of socialization you mentioned is valuable in my opinion,
especially if the following are all you want your kids to be about: being
popular, egotisical, getting into the right college, driving an expensive
car, getting a high paying yes man job, marrying into the right family,
knowing all the right people, avoiding the wrong people like the plague,
keeping up with the Joneses and so on and so on until they retire right
before they die from the stress and then realize they don't have a clue who
they are and just spend the rest of their days in front of the TV set.
>
> Not me, and not you guys, or you probably wouldn't be on this list :)
>
> Sorry, it just came out! LOL
>
> Betsy Wright
>
> The Wright Way To Homeschool
> http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/homeschoolingwrights/
>
> Send email to: deejay@...
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Beth Burnham
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2000 2:11 PM
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Does our society overvalue socialization?
>
>
> From: "Beth Burnham" <beth2002@...>
>
>
> I am on an anthropological quest as I am dealing with those negative
folks who worry about my kids missing out on all that "socialization" they
get in school.
> Do you guys feel that our society over values or emphasizes this value
to an extreme degree not natural for all esp. in an institutional setting?
> Up here in New England they are penalized for even being a minute late
getting in the classroom. I think we may always be late to things we just
don't enjoy but even getting to work on time is not something my DH is good
at even though he likes going to work most days. I look forward to not
having to be on time for school every morning. Am I teaching negative values
or just that being on time isn't as important as sense of self? Socializing
by being silent and still in a group setting as in the military is also
against my core beliefs. I am sure all cultures have their peer pressures. I
am happy that in this day and age we don't have to give in to any peer
pressure of any kind and really know freedom is there something wrong with
this that I am missing?
> Beth
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
>
> Please click above to support our sponsor
>
>
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>
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>
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>
> Message: 12
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 17:04:03 EST
> From: Marbleface@...
> Subject: Re: Does our society overvalue socialization?
>
> In a message dated 02/05/2000 7:14:29 PM !!!First Boot!!!,
beth2002@...
> writes:
>
> << I am on an anthropological quest as I am dealing with those negative
folks
> who worry about my kids missing out on all that "socialization" they get
in
> school.
> Do you guys feel that our society over values or emphasizes this value
to
> an extreme degree not natural for all esp. in an institutional setting? >>
>
>
> I feel that this study would be severely biased if you are planning to
survey
> this group. Like "preaching to the choir." Of course, most of us are
going
> to agree with you.
>
> Nance
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 13
> Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2000 16:29:21 -0700
> From: Tom & Nanci Kuykendall <tn-k4of5@...>
> Subject: Re: Books
>
> >Will probably re-read Lord of the Rings before the first film comes out.
> OK, that's me done (for now <g>)
>
> Tracy
>
> Movie!?!?!
>
> Nanci K.
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 14
> Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2000 18:07:13 +0000
> From: Thad Martin <tmartin@...>
> Subject: Re:blue ribbon schools/social conformity
>
> megates@... wrote:
>
> > From: megates@...
> >
> > It seems a lot of people think a better school is more strict, "has
> > higher standards". I met a mom who is very proud that her kids
> > kindergarten class is so strict bc the children know what the rules
> > are????
>
> hi,
>
> i went to a b-day party for a 4 yo recently, all the other kids there met
in
> daycare, we were the only homeschoolers. i found the dynamic between the
> parents and kids really distant, not without love but without closeness.
the
> parent would stand back and say things like 'now uses your words' and the
> kids would be fighting over the toys. it was odd to me (not the fighting
> part:), the kids do their thing and the parents do theirs and 'never the
> 'twain shall meet' just bridged by a bit of vocalization. it made me
think
> that people keep themselves so busy so they don't have to see what's
really
> happening and if something bad happens they have a good excuse - they were
> too busy.
>
> i have a thing about controlling kids. boundaries are great but control
is a
> different story. i didn't give birth to prove to the world i can spawn
the
> greatest person that ever lived (though rene' (4) informed me last night
that
> he wants to become 'a legend' -i'm not completely convinced he clearly
> understands what that is <lol>) or the most obedient or the kid with the
best
> manners or any other of their silly accolades. i did gave birth to
> experience the joy of watching a person develop and find happiness in
their
> everyday life and to be of whatever assistance i am able. i believe
> compassion and good manners are very helpful but only if it is done with
> sincerity not coercion. this is my problem with schools.
>
> i would be interested in how others step out of the way of their kids and
not
> pass on all the issue based in social conformity. from what i've seen
some
> of the greatest injustices perpetrated against kids is in the name of
social
> conformity. my son is out spoken - for the good or the bad - i make sure
he
> knows his voice carries weight. i also let him know when he's driving me
> nuts with his incessant talking. i do not use the word 'incessant'
lightly
> - he will talk to anyone anytime for as long as they will sit there. i
can
> not even count the number of picnics of total strangers (more often than
not
> adult only) he has invited himself to. he just parks himself without ever
> questioning whether he would be wanted, in his mind of course they would
want
> to hear what he has to say:)
>
> i am not embarrassed by anything he does. at first i was tempted to feel
he
> was a reflection of me and i would be judged by other because of his
> behavior, but you know so what. i know people judge, their thoughts are
> so 'loud' you can't help but know. what i've found is, trying to control
> (the use of rules) kids or anyone, sets you up for a power struggle then
you
> have to ask yourself 'is this really the kind of relationship i want?' and
'
> isn't this just what i have with my parents (or any other person trying to
> have power of you)?' for me the answers are no and yes respectively. so
i
> accept that i'm breaking with all my 'role models' and that leaves me with
> always (at least for now:) having to know why i do what i do and making
> conscious choices so i don't fall back into repeating what was done to me
and
> i must afford this right to my kids. now that i've been able to make the
> transition i feel life doesn't need to be scheduled or planned or have a
> curriculum to succeed and prosper and be happy but just conscious and
sincere
> involvement is needed.
>
> the other thing i wanted to touch on is that there has been a lot of
> discussion about waldorf, which to be honest i only lightly touched on as
far
> as reading the emails. it's not a big interest of mine though they do
> provide nice products albeit a bit expensive but very good quality. i
> looked into becoming a waldorf teacher when i lived in northern cal. but
> backed away. for me it's too structured and imposes a reality on to the
> environment rather than allowing one to develop of it's own accord. i'm
not
> as well read on the specific differences between these philosophies
because i
> make mine up as i go and find i'm much happier doing it that way. it's
hard
> for me to conform to even the alternative methods and this is why i'm on
this
> list because for me unschooling is more of a philosophical base and
methods
> such as waldorf are more of a structure you 'live' in. just some thoughts
>
>
> <<
> I also know two hs families who live right next to a school. They use
> the playground after school hours. >>
>
> LOL--same here!
>
> Marcie
>
> not only do we live across the street for an elementary school but beside
and
> behind us is a daycare. funny how things happen :)
>
> -susan
>
> ps. someone was talking about other unschooling lists and said they
missed
> the philosophical topics found there. personal i would love to see those
> kinds of topics grow here. so if anyone is so inclined i would join in
> though i must admit i do get behind in the messages presently i've got
nearly
> 200 just from this group to read:0
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 15
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 20:02:21 -0500
> From: "Beth Burnham" <beth2002@...>
> Subject: Re: Re:blue ribbon schools/social conformity
>
> i looked into becoming a waldorf teacher when i lived in northern cal.
but backed away. for me it's too structured and imposes a reality on to the
environment rather than allowing one to develop of it's own accord. i'm
not as well read on the specific differences between these philosophies
because i make mine up as i go and find i'm much happier doing it that way.
it's hard for me to conform to even the alternative methods and this is why
i'm on this list because for me unschooling is more of a philosophical base
and methods such as waldorf are more of a structure you 'live' in. just
some thoughts
>
> Susan I am in agreement with you too about the structure of the Waldorf
way I just like to borrow from what I have appreciated about them esp. their
books and art. I would have preferred to become a Waldorf teacher as opposed
to a regular elem. teacher in the olden days because I would have liked to
further develop that artist that I was ( I realize I still can blossom at
home along side my own children) I think lots of parents have trouble out
there in Waldorf land and still have to worry about the "waldorf police" who
have in some cases literally gone after them! I had a bad experience looking
into being a teacher at Antioch was totally dissed by the woman who ran the
program and I was over the age of 35 at the time I looked into it.
> I have also gone to Hampshire College a great place for nonconforming
'unschoolers" if you can afford it. I think they give scholarships nowadays.
I had trouble with the drug culture that was there but hopefully those days
are gone.
> Tell us more about your son he sounds so vibrant and full of self esteem!
> Beth
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 16
> Date: 6 Feb 2000 01:31:58 -0000
> From: heathfam@...
> Subject: Joshua
>
> Hi all....
>
> ( hey Lyn ;-))
> I just want to introduce myself here....
> My name is Joshua and I have two boys going on 6 and 8 who "unschool"
> as near as I can tell. I am the "stay at home parent", as my wife works
full time. We withdrew our boys form school over the Christmas break, so we
are only a month into this.
> Of course I have been going through questions about to what extent to
utilize curriculum materials etc. and how to structure our "schooldays". My
wife would be much happier I think if we created an in home replica of a
school classroom and followed a good curriculum, but it is just what I
desire for us. Intuitively I have always known learning didnt need to be
confined to "school."
> I didn't know it was called "unschooling", but I am happy to find lots of
other people "out there" educationg their children at home by just living
full inquisitive lives.
> I look forward to having such a lorge list of experienced people to glean
wisdome from through this list.
> Cheers,
>
> Joshua
>
> Oh, are there any other stay-home dad's out there??
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 17
> Date: 6 Feb 2000 01:33:32 -0000
> From: heathfam@...
> Subject: Joshua
>
> Hi all....
>
> ( hey Lyn ;-))
> I just want to introduce myself here....
> My name is Joshua and I have two boys going on 6 and 8 who "unschool"
> as near as I can tell. I am the "stay at home parent", as my wife works
full time. We withdrew our boys form school over the Christmas break, so we
are only a month into this.
> Of course I have been going through questions about to what extent to
utilize curriculum materials etc. and how to structure our "schooldays". My
wife would be much happier I think if we created an in home replica of a
school classroom and followed a good curriculum, but it is just what I
desire for us. Intuitively I have always known learning didnt need to be
confined to "school."
> I didn't know it was called "unschooling", but I am happy to find lots of
other people "out there" educationg their children at home by just living
full inquisitive lives.
> I look forward to having such a lorge list of experienced people to glean
wisdome from through this list.
> Cheers,
>
> Joshua
>
> Oh, are there any other stay-home dad's out there??
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 18
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 20:58:35 EST
> From: Hsmotgo@...
> Subject: Re: Joshua
>
> Josh,
> Welcome, and don't worry if there aren't any other stay home dads, this
list
> will support you to the max! take care and go for it!
> Teresa
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 19
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 23:00:49 -0800
> From: "Brynn" <panchot@...>
> Subject: RE: Gardening Zones
>
> I cannot find the newsletter........help?
>
> Brynn~
> "To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and
day
> to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any
human
> being can fight and never stop fighting."
> --e.e. cummings
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Natrlmama@... [mailto:Natrlmama@...]
> Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2000 9:56 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Gardening Zones
>
>
> From: Natrlmama@...
>
> In a message dated 02/03/2000 10:31:39 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> hooperck@... writes:
>
> <<
> All you gardening people, I stumbled into a great newsletter from
> Organic Gardening. It is a newsletter for your zone. It's great. If
> your interested, go to
> http://www.OrganicGardening.com >>
> Thank you for the info. I subscribed, but looking at the zone map, I had
> a difficult time telling if I am in zone 8 or 9. I am in southern
> California,
> Riverside county/Corona specifically. Is anyone in this area who knows
> there gardening zones? thanks!
>
> Kathy
>
> --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>
> Body Paint, Chocolates, & Roses Oh My.
> <a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/SparksValentine8 ">Click Here</a>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 20
> Date: 5 Feb 2000 23:06:06 -0800
> From: "John O. Andersen" <andersen@...>
> Subject: We Want Our Children to Be Suckers!
>
> We Want Our Children to Be Suckers!
>
>
> Yes. That's right. We hope our children become real suckers. And we
also
> want them to be suck-sessful adults.
>
> We derived our non-traditional definition of sucker from Henry David
Thoreau
> 's words in his classic Walden. He wrote that he "...went to the woods to
> live deliberately...to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life."
>
> A sucker single-mindedly goes after that marrow. A sucker hungers for
> knowledge. A sucker notes the changes of seasons, the migration of birds,
> the budding of flowers, the artistry of the morning dew. A sucker is as
> comfortable with the technology of the present as the wisdom of the ages.
A
> sucker is deeply moved in the face of human triumph or tragedy. A sucker
is
> all there, fully awake, completely embracing all that life has to offer.
>
> Sound like a worthy goal for children? We think so. Here are three steps
> to help children learn to be suckers:
>
>
> Be a sucker yourself
>
> Model a passion for learning. Be open-minded. Try new things all of the
> time. Focus on stockpiling experiences rather than material objects.
> Travel slowly, stopping and lingering along the way. Chat with the people
> you meet. Savor your food. Don't jump to conclusions. Pick the minds of
> people who know the ropes. Enjoy sunrises and sunsets. Become adept at
> looking through telescopes, microscopes, and just under your nose. When
> your children see how much fun you're having, nothing will stop them from
> joining in.
>
>
> Give children time and space
>
> Overscheduling our children's lives may make them into "successes" in the
> eyes of the world, but it won't help them to be suckers. For that you've
got
> to leave them alone. Let them build their play forts, play their street
> games, and experiment in the kitchen. Encourage creativity. Expose them
to
> the very best in life and let them choose what they want. Give them the
> tinder and matches, but let them light their own fires of passion. The
> ability to suck the marrow out of life comes slowly over many years. So
don
> 't expect immediate, quantifiable results.
>
>
> Seek inspiration from other suckers
>
> Mandy and I place our faith in the premise that "a sucker is born every
> minute." We believe that everyone can be a sucker, but too many get lured
> away from that. They may be led to believe that happiness has to do with
> money, status, or position. Far too often those pursuits engulf lives,
and
> distract would-be suckers from the path.
>
> On a positive note, you can find real suckers everywhere. They are the
ones
> who are involved and active. They are multi-faceted people, always
> learning, always growing, always changing. Such people need to be your
> lifelines. You can also read about great suckers in history; people who
did
> extraordinary things, who were committed to living each day to the
fullest.
>
>
> The lifelong quest
>
> Suck-sess has to do with cutting through the veneer of life and getting at
> its essence. It has to do with throwing out agendas and living
> spontaneously. It's about bringing our exterior world in harmony with
our
> interior. It's about reducing our baggage. It's about getting wrapped up
> in the ecstasy of the moment rather than postponing happiness for a later
> date.
>
> In a nutshell, suck-sess is the nectar of life. That's why we're so
intent
> on teaching our children how to be real suckers.
>
>
>
> John Andersen is a professional "rug sucker" (carpet cleaner) in Portland,
> Oregon. He writes, travels, assists his wife Mandy with the homeschooling
> of their two children, and volunteers as a tour guide on a submarine at
the
> Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
>
> Copyright � 2000 John O. Andersen. All rights reserved.
>
> For more essays along this line of thinking, go to:
> http://www.spiritone.com/~andersen
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 21
> Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2000 03:06:42 EST
> From: Natrlmama@...
> Subject: Re: Gardening Zones
>
> In a message dated 02/05/2000 10:59:41 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> panchot@... writes:
>
> << I cannot find the newsletter........help? >>
>
> ha ha I clicked on all the links read a bunch of articles until I finally
saw
> the
> one that said almanac 2000 with the pic of the (duh) United States on it!!
LOL
> Took me quite a while, almost gave up.
> Kathy
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 22
> Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2000 04:05:16 EST
> From: Androdite@...
> Subject: thanks for the warm welcome
>
> Let's see...
>
> Once I read about unschooling in the "Homeschooling book of Answers"...I
knew
> that was the route for us...It was kinda hard to imagine exactly what or
how
> to teach my children...in fact when I looked at the home idea of home
> schooling, choosing curriculums, setting up 'academic learning' time...I
felt
> kida overwhelmed...
>
> Then I got into the Unschooling Handbook...what the author said makes so
much
> sense...I already instill alot of trust in my boys to figure things out on
> their own and to be able to make choices that further thier own
interests...
>
> Also I experienced a sense of relief with the idea that I didn't have to
go
> and buy a curriculum...I have made some plans to create a more learning
> encouraged environment in my den/home office space...I keep my sewing
machine
> there but soon that will be moved to my bedroom...(it was in my bedroom
when
> I lived in a two bedroom apt...) I am moving a sofa and loveseat to the
den
> and adding some bookshelves...and I wanted to get some books that are more
> like reference books rite now...such as a basic math book...that can help
me
> and the boys understand what we are learning...not so much a text
book...but
> like a how to book...if that makes sense and I also want to get a book on
> grammar that explains all the 'rules' so that we can understand them...I
had
> one a while back when I did alot of writing and aspired to be a sci fi and
> fantasy author (I have some great ideas)...now I got the APA manual on how
to
> write journal articles related to the medical and nursing fields (a
> requirement for college) now I just want something basic that is easy to
> understand that can answer on the spot questions...as for science and
social
> studies and other educational 'requirements'...well I don't feel that
there
> is any one book we should have so I plan on acquiring whatever seems
> interesting at the time...there are some field trips planned in the near
> future (especially around paydays) to several of the local bookstores...(w
ink)
>
> So far the hardest thing has been sharing my computer with the boys...but
> since I have a laptop as well as a pc...that isn't as hard as I thought it
> would be...
>
> I am having fun and wish that I had gotten the inspiration for this
desision
> a year or so ago...but as I place my faith in God...God brings into our
life
> what we need when we need it...
>
> This afternoon...the boys again asked..."When does homeschool start?" so
I
> asked
> what is homeschool and we talked about all the things we did in the last
few
> days that helped us to learn something new and exciting...I happened to
pick
> up a couple of grade appropriate 'curriculum' work books at costco and let
> them know that anytime they felt a need to sit down and do 'class work'
they
> were welcome to...we laughed at that...then they promptly went outside to
> play with friends...it is so nice to have the wieght of ps off our
> shoulders...and I feel like I am getting some quality time with them...I
> always felt that I was competing with ps for thier time...
>
>
> This letter must be all over the place...I am just excited about
unschooling
> and having a forum to share our experiences!!!
>
> Lhiza
>
>
>
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>
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>
> Message: 23
> Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2000 04:50:21 EST
> From: JENNIFE30@...
> Subject: Re: We Want Our Children to Be Suckers!
>
> John,,,,
> that was great,,,a wonderful twist on 'sucker', and very true to what a
'true
> sucker' is--one who puts the emphasis on what can i get out of this
> experience, but not in a superficial way,,or in a me thing,,,,but in a
very
> deep need to know for the sake of knowing and nothing else kind of way. I
> loved it. Thanks for touching that part.
>
> Jennifer in calif
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
>