?'s from new homeschooler
Kim Fehring
I have been homeschooling my sons since this past November. We have been doing "school" at home and while it is better than ps I still feel like it is not exactly what they need. I love the idea of unschooling, but I am very nervous that they will not learn everything they need to be happy and self-confident if we don't have some type of curriculum. Can you give me any ideas of things to have around that might spark interest in learning? Right now my ds that is 6 only wants to watch videos and my ds that is 8 only wants to play video games. Also, if we decide to unschool what do I tell my dh when he asks me what we did today? Thanks,Kim
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Heidi
Hi Kim
I'm pretty newly committed to unschooling myself, but I can give you
advice that I always give parents who ask me (been homeschooling for
eight years) That advice is: take a whole entire year to just be with
your kids. Don't make them do any academics at all, but answer any
questions they have and do things with them. Don't worry whether
they're learning anything or not. Just be with them. With regular
homeschooling, the first year after they come home, playing with
them, hanging out with them, doing stuff together, or letting them do
their own thing, re-establishes your relationship with them. That is
the MOST important thing. MUCH MORE important than academics.
Others on this list will have advice for you, I know it ;) Read! John
Holt! unschooling.com articles! and let your kids do their thing,
enjoying them, pulling them into your world, dwelling in their world
with them. I would say this to you even if you weren't thinking of
unschooling. It's an important first step.
peace, HeidiC
--- In [email protected], Kim Fehring
<kcfehring@y...> wrote:
still feel like it is not exactly what they need. I love the idea of
unschooling, but I am very nervous that they will not learn
everything they need to be happy and self-confident if we don't have
some type of curriculum. Can you give me any ideas of things to have
around that might spark interest in learning? Right now my ds that
is 6 only wants to watch videos and my ds that is 8 only wants to
play video games. Also, if we decide to unschool what do I tell my
dh when he asks me what we did today? Thanks,Kim
I'm pretty newly committed to unschooling myself, but I can give you
advice that I always give parents who ask me (been homeschooling for
eight years) That advice is: take a whole entire year to just be with
your kids. Don't make them do any academics at all, but answer any
questions they have and do things with them. Don't worry whether
they're learning anything or not. Just be with them. With regular
homeschooling, the first year after they come home, playing with
them, hanging out with them, doing stuff together, or letting them do
their own thing, re-establishes your relationship with them. That is
the MOST important thing. MUCH MORE important than academics.
Others on this list will have advice for you, I know it ;) Read! John
Holt! unschooling.com articles! and let your kids do their thing,
enjoying them, pulling them into your world, dwelling in their world
with them. I would say this to you even if you weren't thinking of
unschooling. It's an important first step.
peace, HeidiC
--- In [email protected], Kim Fehring
<kcfehring@y...> wrote:
> I have been homeschooling my sons since this past November. Wehave been doing "school" at home and while it is better than ps I
still feel like it is not exactly what they need. I love the idea of
unschooling, but I am very nervous that they will not learn
everything they need to be happy and self-confident if we don't have
some type of curriculum. Can you give me any ideas of things to have
around that might spark interest in learning? Right now my ds that
is 6 only wants to watch videos and my ds that is 8 only wants to
play video games. Also, if we decide to unschool what do I tell my
dh when he asks me what we did today? Thanks,Kim
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
jmcseals SEALS
First, read everything on Sandra's site. www.sandradodd.com
Next, read everything at www.unschooling.com
THose two should answer just about every questions you have or might have.
When we first started our unschooling process I was a little sneaky in my
answers to my husband. He's not all that thrilled with the idea of
homeschooling but he lets me make those decisions because he trusts me. Now
UNschooling? He'd flip before I'd ever even get a chance to explain, so I'm
draggin him to the conference in SC and THEN I'll really let him in on it.
<BG>
Today, my 4, 5 and 6 yr olds played the games on the Harry Potter DVD. One
game is all comprehension questions from the movie. If you get them right,
you open the chamber of secrets, in a nutshell. When he asked what they
did, I said they worked on their comprehension skills.
We also went grocery shopping and they helped me find the price per ounce on
many items so we could save a buck. I told him they worked on math and
consumer skills.
We read several books including one about the Amazon and one about Chris
Columbus. History and science.
It's there, you just have to look to see it. None of those things were
'intentional', they just naturally happened. My 5 yr old picked the Amazon
book because the pictures were cool. I'm sure I don't have to explain the
video games...:)
Just keep erading and absorbing and watching your kids. Relax, go to the
park, bake, read together. You will be amazed!
Jennifer
Can you give me any ideas of things to have around that might spark interest
in learning? Right now my ds that is 6 only wants to watch videos and my ds
that is 8 only wants to play video games. Also, if we decide to unschool
what do I tell my dh when he asks me what we did today? Thanks,Kim
_________________________________________________________________
Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Next, read everything at www.unschooling.com
THose two should answer just about every questions you have or might have.
When we first started our unschooling process I was a little sneaky in my
answers to my husband. He's not all that thrilled with the idea of
homeschooling but he lets me make those decisions because he trusts me. Now
UNschooling? He'd flip before I'd ever even get a chance to explain, so I'm
draggin him to the conference in SC and THEN I'll really let him in on it.
<BG>
Today, my 4, 5 and 6 yr olds played the games on the Harry Potter DVD. One
game is all comprehension questions from the movie. If you get them right,
you open the chamber of secrets, in a nutshell. When he asked what they
did, I said they worked on their comprehension skills.
We also went grocery shopping and they helped me find the price per ounce on
many items so we could save a buck. I told him they worked on math and
consumer skills.
We read several books including one about the Amazon and one about Chris
Columbus. History and science.
It's there, you just have to look to see it. None of those things were
'intentional', they just naturally happened. My 5 yr old picked the Amazon
book because the pictures were cool. I'm sure I don't have to explain the
video games...:)
Just keep erading and absorbing and watching your kids. Relax, go to the
park, bake, read together. You will be amazed!
Jennifer
Can you give me any ideas of things to have around that might spark interest
in learning? Right now my ds that is 6 only wants to watch videos and my ds
that is 8 only wants to play video games. Also, if we decide to unschool
what do I tell my dh when he asks me what we did today? Thanks,Kim
_________________________________________________________________
Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Kim,
Before we began each step I would read snips from the Internet that explained
what I felt he needed to know. My husband doesn't listen long and often has
one eye on the TV so I read and hopped he herd something I said. He did.
Every one thought we HS'ed but really we deschooled and then Unschooled. Not
many people know what Unschooling is here so I never botherd to explaine
unless someone asked what we do all day. I will not tell them we work in
workbooks I refuse to lie to satisfy someone else's thoughts for what are
"saposta be doing" in their little world.
So far when people ask they are actually impressed and say wow I wish I could
have done that. They look at my son and say gee your a lucky boy.
Let them deschool if dh asks tell him that you read that deschooling will
help them in the process. Once you are done deschooling he will be relaxed
also and you should be able to move right into Unschooling. That's how I did
it.
Laura D
Can you give me any ideas of things to have around that might spark interest
in learning? Right now my ds that is 6 only wants to watch videos and my ds
that is 8 only wants to play video games. Also, if we decide to unschool
what do I tell my dh when he asks me what we did today? Thanks,Kim
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Before we began each step I would read snips from the Internet that explained
what I felt he needed to know. My husband doesn't listen long and often has
one eye on the TV so I read and hopped he herd something I said. He did.
Every one thought we HS'ed but really we deschooled and then Unschooled. Not
many people know what Unschooling is here so I never botherd to explaine
unless someone asked what we do all day. I will not tell them we work in
workbooks I refuse to lie to satisfy someone else's thoughts for what are
"saposta be doing" in their little world.
So far when people ask they are actually impressed and say wow I wish I could
have done that. They look at my son and say gee your a lucky boy.
Let them deschool if dh asks tell him that you read that deschooling will
help them in the process. Once you are done deschooling he will be relaxed
also and you should be able to move right into Unschooling. That's how I did
it.
Laura D
Can you give me any ideas of things to have around that might spark interest
in learning? Right now my ds that is 6 only wants to watch videos and my ds
that is 8 only wants to play video games. Also, if we decide to unschool
what do I tell my dh when he asks me what we did today? Thanks,Kim
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/29/03 7:35:42 PM, kcfehring@... writes:
<< Also, if we decide to unschool what do I tell my dh when he asks me what
we did today? >>
"Learned in peace."
<< Can you give me any ideas of things to have around that might spark
interest in learning? >>
Go here:
http://sandradodd.com/articles
<A HREF="http://sandradodd.com/articles">http://sandradodd.com/articles</A>
and read especially
disposable checklists
deschooling
house as a museum
leaning on a truck
late-night learning
and then go to
http://sandradodd.com/games/page
<A HREF="http://sandradodd.com/games/page">Benefits of Video Games</A>
And if that doesn't convince you, go to www.unschooling.com and read
everything!
Sandra
<< Also, if we decide to unschool what do I tell my dh when he asks me what
we did today? >>
"Learned in peace."
<< Can you give me any ideas of things to have around that might spark
interest in learning? >>
Go here:
http://sandradodd.com/articles
<A HREF="http://sandradodd.com/articles">http://sandradodd.com/articles</A>
and read especially
disposable checklists
deschooling
house as a museum
leaning on a truck
late-night learning
and then go to
http://sandradodd.com/games/page
<A HREF="http://sandradodd.com/games/page">Benefits of Video Games</A>
And if that doesn't convince you, go to www.unschooling.com and read
everything!
Sandra