Olga

Hi to all,

How much time do most of you spend actually doing specific activites
with your kids. I have this fear that if I just let them do what
they want, I will be missing out on all those teachable moments. I
am still having trouble translating all this into life. I always
feel like I should be reading to them, taking them places, playing
games? I am not sure how much *me* time or their *own* time they
need. My kids are pretty independent and play well together, so
sometimes I feel like it is too easy to not be an active *part* of
their day. Should I be making an effort to get more involved or let
them be??

Olga :)
Thanks

jmcseals SEALS

I don't really have an answer for the amount of time, per say. My kids do
the same thing and there are days when I feel like the only time I see them
is when they are hungry, dirty or sleepy. <g> Actually, there are a lot of
those days. Here's what works for us...

I try to pay attention to what they are interested in. My oldest loves
skater-type stuff, so I'll pick up the latest Transworld Skateboarding
magazine when I'm out. Without any further effort on my part, she learns so
much! She reads them cover to cover, tears the pictures out and makes
collages, asks for books and specialty magazines she's seen advertised
therein, surfs websites mentioned, etc. After seeing all the ramps and
various pipes they show, she begged us to build her a ramp and a half-pipe.
My husband told her he really needed her help figuring out how she wanted it
built, so she broke out her old math book to figure out demensions, etc.
She got a few shirts in the mail yesterday that she saw online and because
they were clearance shirts, they only had larges. So she asked me to make
them smaller. I told her it would be really cool if she would help me.
(I've been practically begging her to sew with me for years!) She was all
for it when I mentioned she could splice two together to make a block shirt.
(Half front of one, half front of another...same with the back.) She just
bought a shirt like that at a local skate shop and loves it so THAT idea was
just too cool for words! We sewed together for about three hours yesterday.
All because of a magazine!

Nicholette loves singing, so I bought her a karaoke (sp??) machine and tons
of blank tapes for her to play with. Her favorite show is American Idol, at
the moment anyway, so she wanted me to help her get online so she could look
at the website. We read the bios and she thought it was so cool that so
many of them loved singing at her age and even younger! I had to go in and
feed Chloe (our computer is in the garage for the time being) and she came
in screaming about 20 minutes later. She read an entire sentence to me! My
sweet girl sat there and sounded out every single letter because she wanted
to keep reading! So far, she's only read Bob Books. Today, she wants to
get back online and try PBSKids because she says it will be easier. She was
watching Between the Lions yesterday and heard they have reading games!
Yippee!!! LOL

The time with her online only amounted to about 45 minutes, if that. The
rest of the day, she just played with her sisters and brothers. But MAN!
In 20 minutes she went from reading Mat sat on Sam to reading a sentence off
American Idol! Pretty impressive!

When I ws in your place, it helped me to keep a very general notebook handy.
I went through intense guilt because I felt like I was neglecting my kids.
It really helped me to spend two whole days, documenting what we did all
day. Not necessarily breaking it down into 'subjects', just something to
let me know we actually did a LOT by doing 'nothing'. Does that make sense?
It might help you to see on paper that you actually spend a lot more time
with your kids than you realize. Not to mention that they ARE learning all
the time!

Let go of your fears. You are doing just fine!
Jennifer

_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Olga

Jennifer,

Thank you so much for the run down. I did start a little notebook,
and always forget things after a few days. I finally understood why
everyone complains about documentation..LOL!! But I think I will try
it again. Hearing what you do helps because my day is not so
different, just less kids running around!! So maybe, we are on the
right track. I am even letting Keiran watch Harry Potter again, and
than I realized he likes watching to act out the scenes. He keeps
coming up to us saying, "You want to see me act?" and lays the lines
on you accent and all. So maybe he is getting more than one would
think from the show. I don't really mind him watching, it is just
that inner voice saying he should be doing something better with his
time..you know..like learning to read..LOL!! Oh well, it is just me,
I know!

Olga :)



--- In [email protected], "jmcseals SEALS"
<jmcseals@m...> wrote:
> I don't really have an answer for the amount of time, per say. My
kids do
> the same thing and there are days when I feel like the only time I
see them
> is when they are hungry, dirty or sleepy. <g> Actually, there are
a lot of
> those days. Here's what works for us...
>
> I try to pay attention to what they are interested in. My oldest
loves
> skater-type stuff, so I'll pick up the latest Transworld
Skateboarding
> magazine when I'm out. Without any further effort on my part, she
learns so
> much! She reads them cover to cover, tears the pictures out and
makes
> collages, asks for books and specialty magazines she's seen
advertised
> therein, surfs websites mentioned, etc. After seeing all the ramps
and
> various pipes they show, she begged us to build her a ramp and a
half-pipe.
> My husband told her he really needed her help figuring out how she
wanted it
> built, so she broke out her old math book to figure out demensions,
etc.
> She got a few shirts in the mail yesterday that she saw online and
because
> they were clearance shirts, they only had larges. So she asked me
to make
> them smaller. I told her it would be really cool if she would help
me.
> (I've been practically begging her to sew with me for years!) She
was all
> for it when I mentioned she could splice two together to make a
block shirt.
> (Half front of one, half front of another...same with the back.)
She just
> bought a shirt like that at a local skate shop and loves it so THAT
idea was
> just too cool for words! We sewed together for about three hours
yesterday.
> All because of a magazine!
>
> Nicholette loves singing, so I bought her a karaoke (sp??) machine
and tons
> of blank tapes for her to play with. Her favorite show is American
Idol, at
> the moment anyway, so she wanted me to help her get online so she
could look
> at the website. We read the bios and she thought it was so cool
that so
> many of them loved singing at her age and even younger! I had to
go in and
> feed Chloe (our computer is in the garage for the time being) and
she came
> in screaming about 20 minutes later. She read an entire sentence
to me! My
> sweet girl sat there and sounded out every single letter because
she wanted
> to keep reading! So far, she's only read Bob Books. Today, she
wants to
> get back online and try PBSKids because she says it will be
easier. She was
> watching Between the Lions yesterday and heard they have reading
games!
> Yippee!!! LOL
>
> The time with her online only amounted to about 45 minutes, if
that. The
> rest of the day, she just played with her sisters and brothers.
But MAN!
> In 20 minutes she went from reading Mat sat on Sam to reading a
sentence off
> American Idol! Pretty impressive!
>
> When I ws in your place, it helped me to keep a very general
notebook handy.
> I went through intense guilt because I felt like I was neglecting
my kids.
> It really helped me to spend two whole days, documenting what we
did all
> day. Not necessarily breaking it down into 'subjects', just
something to
> let me know we actually did a LOT by doing 'nothing'. Does that
make sense?
> It might help you to see on paper that you actually spend a lot
more time
> with your kids than you realize. Not to mention that they ARE
learning all
> the time!
>
> Let go of your fears. You are doing just fine!
> Jennifer
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*.
> http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

jmcseals SEALS

<<Oh well, it is just me, I know!>>

Hey! Wanna hear some good news??? You're WRONG! It isn't just you! I
haven't heard a person here yet say they haven't had those days at some
point. Keep reading every little unschooling gem you can get your hands on.
One day, these moments will pass and you will get a hearty laugh out of
them!

Jennifer

_________________________________________________________________
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]

Geraldine Weis-Corbley

Hi all,

I am so new to the game of home unschooling as to be in the first
week of thinking of it.

... But our two, 8 and 10, are sold on the idea of saying adios to
the school system in June.

My first question is, how hard is unschooling with a Seventh grade
boy (very bright) who has been inculcated with trad. schooling since
beginning.

I saw a sample "curriculum " on the web that can be tweaked and
delivered to my VA school superintendent citing our intentions. What
have you submitted to officials asking for 'proof'?

Thanks for being you,

G.

[email protected]

In a message dated 5-10-2003 12:49:50 PM Mountain Daylight Time,
britcontoo@... writes:

> I don't really mind him watching, it is just
> that inner voice saying he should be doing something better with his
> time..you know..like learning to read..LOL!!

Turn on the captioning :) It relieves all guilt!! <BG>
diana,
The wackiest widow westriver...
“I'm just a human being trying to make it in a world that is very rapidly
losing it's understanding of being human" John Trudell


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Heidi Wordhouse-Dykema

>My first question is, how hard is unschooling with a Seventh grade
>boy (very bright) who has been inculcated with trad. schooling since
>beginning.

It'll probably be a pain for a while. Tell him you're both taking a year
or so off to 'deschool'. Just go and do 'fun stuff'. Maybe he'll work
through some of the brainwashing by then or forget that it's 'only' for a
year...

>I saw a sample "curriculum " on the web that can be tweaked and
>delivered to my VA school superintendent citing our intentions. What
>have you submitted to officials asking for 'proof'?

Nothing.
If they want proof that my kid/s are enrolled in a 'private school', I send
them a letter on our 'school' letterhead. (Calif.) If you have to, tell
them you're "currently evaluating the effectiveness of X and Y curriculums
and have not yet reached a final decision." After sending the letter, you
can decide to stop evaluating and start circular filing.
HeidiWD


"Self-reliance is the antidote to institutional stupidity." JTGatto,
Monarch Notes guide to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Olga

That is an excellent point!!!! LOL! I will definitely do that!!!

Olga

--- In [email protected], HaHaMommy@a... wrote:
> In a message dated 5-10-2003 12:49:50 PM Mountain Daylight Time,
> britcontoo@a... writes:
>
> > I don't really mind him watching, it is just
> > that inner voice saying he should be doing something better with
his
> > time..you know..like learning to read..LOL!!
>
> Turn on the captioning :) It relieves all guilt!! <BG>
> diana,
> The wackiest widow westriver...
> “I'm just a human being trying to make it in a world that is very
rapidly
> losing it's understanding of being human" John Trudell
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Heidi

Hi Olga

Right now, I'm not doing a lot with my kids. Robby surprised me by
making that gloppy recipe all by himself. Laid the book out on the
table, got all the equipment and ingredients organized. He had to
have read through the whole recipe before starting, because there are
two different solutions that must be mixed, before mixing them
together. Then carefully followed the instructions, and did his thing
without any help from me.

I am SO GLAD I wrote this out. Looking back, I see the level of
organization and foresight it took for Robby to tackle that glop his
own self. I'd like to SEE a curriculum that includes "self-
organization" and "careful reading of instructions." The only thing I
did was "Ewww" and "oooh!" at the stuff. It's very cool, and very
simple.

Katie has been listening to Chronicles of Narnia on tape and hanging
out in her room by herself. We made spritz cookies a few days ago,
with a cookie dough press/gun, but haven't done much since then.

And Abbie has been spending a lot of time on chat rooms and LOTR
discussion boards.

We're majorly deschooling here, though. I am glad I wrote that about
Robby's goop project, though. makes me feel good. I imagine, once we
get out of the "yippeee! as much TV and computer as I want!!!" stage,
all of them are going to find things that interest them, and that we
can do together. And they're going to be interested in the things I
eventually figure out that *I* want to do :\

HeidiC

--- In [email protected], "Olga" <britcontoo@a...>
wrote:
> Hi to all,
>
> How much time do most of you spend actually doing specific
activites
> with your kids. I have this fear that if I just let them do what
> they want, I will be missing out on all those teachable moments. I
> am still having trouble translating all this into life. I always
> feel like I should be reading to them, taking them places, playing
> games? I am not sure how much *me* time or their *own* time they
> need. My kids are pretty independent and play well together, so
> sometimes I feel like it is too easy to not be an active *part* of
> their day. Should I be making an effort to get more involved or
let
> them be??
>
> Olga :)
> Thanks

Olga

Heidi,

That great that he did that on his own. Whew. I was starting to
feel like *bad mommy* over here! Keiran (almost 5) pretty much can
spend his whole day playing with his action figures and play acting.

Olga :)

--- In [email protected], "Heidi"
<bunsofaluminum60@h...> wrote:
> Hi Olga
>
> Right now, I'm not doing a lot with my kids. Robby surprised me by
> making that gloppy recipe all by himself. Laid the book out on the
> table, got all the equipment and ingredients organized. He had to
> have read through the whole recipe before starting, because there
are
> two different solutions that must be mixed, before mixing them
> together. Then carefully followed the instructions, and did his
thing
> without any help from me.
>
> I am SO GLAD I wrote this out. Looking back, I see the level of
> organization and foresight it took for Robby to tackle that glop
his
> own self. I'd like to SEE a curriculum that includes "self-
> organization" and "careful reading of instructions." The only thing
I
> did was "Ewww" and "oooh!" at the stuff. It's very cool, and very
> simple.
>
> Katie has been listening to Chronicles of Narnia on tape and
hanging
> out in her room by herself. We made spritz cookies a few days ago,
> with a cookie dough press/gun, but haven't done much since then.
>
> And Abbie has been spending a lot of time on chat rooms and LOTR
> discussion boards.
>
> We're majorly deschooling here, though. I am glad I wrote that
about
> Robby's goop project, though. makes me feel good. I imagine, once
we
> get out of the "yippeee! as much TV and computer as I want!!!"
stage,
> all of them are going to find things that interest them, and that
we
> can do together. And they're going to be interested in the things I
> eventually figure out that *I* want to do :\
>
> HeidiC
>
> --- In [email protected], "Olga" <britcontoo@a...>
> wrote:
> > Hi to all,
> >
> > How much time do most of you spend actually doing specific
> activites
> > with your kids. I have this fear that if I just let them do what
> > they want, I will be missing out on all those teachable moments.
I
> > am still having trouble translating all this into life. I always
> > feel like I should be reading to them, taking them places,
playing
> > games? I am not sure how much *me* time or their *own* time they
> > need. My kids are pretty independent and play well together, so
> > sometimes I feel like it is too easy to not be an active *part*
of
> > their day. Should I be making an effort to get more involved or
> let
> > them be??
> >
> > Olga :)
> > Thanks

Tammy in MS

Hi. I'm not doing a whole lot with them right now either. I figured we/I
needed de-schooling for awhile also. We went to the library the other day
and Haley (10 end of the month) picked out some books on drawing animals,
people, etc. She's really been enjoying that. She like to illustrate
stories she makes up too. She's read Harry Potter twice and anxiously
awaiting the next book along with the million others (and me). lol She's
working on "A Series of Unfortunate Events" now too.

Kayla (8) asked me to help her set the alarm last night so she could get up
at 7 and watch Power Rangers. I didn't think she would but I asked her this
afternoon if she did and she said yes, she got up, watched it and went back
to bed..lol. She likes to count and counts everything, everywhere we go.
She also plays computer games from time to time but mostly is into TV right
now.

Katy(5) has been copying words wherever she can find them. Going through
tons of paper these days <bg>.

Denver (2) requires me the most. He likes to dance and run. <bg>

I have been having a real blast the last month or so watching things blossom
It's so much more fun to sit back and watch than it was to force it. I
notice so many more things than I ever did before with all the kids. It's
funny sometimes watching I can almost see their little wheels spinning.
Great fun. I've got all of you to thank for this too..for helping me to sit
down and get out of their way. :)

Joy,
Tammy Thompson

-------Original Message-------

From: [email protected]
Date: Saturday, May 10, 2003 21:47:03
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: How much interaction time with children?

Hi Olga

Right now, I'm not doing a lot with my kids. Robby surprised me by
making that gloppy recipe all by himself. Laid the book out on the
table, got all the equipment and ingredients organized. He had to
have read through the whole recipe before starting, because there are
two different solutions that must be mixed, before mixing them
together. Then carefully followed the instructions, and did his thing
without any help from me.

I am SO GLAD I wrote this out. Looking back, I see the level of
organization and foresight it took for Robby to tackle that glop his
own self. I'd like to SEE a curriculum that includes "self-
organization" and "careful reading of instructions." The only thing I
did was "Ewww" and "oooh!" at the stuff. It's very cool, and very
simple.

Katie has been listening to Chronicles of Narnia on tape and hanging
out in her room by herself. We made spritz cookies a few days ago,
with a cookie dough press/gun, but haven't done much since then.

And Abbie has been spending a lot of time on chat rooms and LOTR
discussion boards.

We're majorly deschooling here, though. I am glad I wrote that about
Robby's goop project, though. makes me feel good. I imagine, once we
get out of the "yippeee! as much TV and computer as I want!!!" stage,
all of them are going to find things that interest them, and that we
can do together. And they're going to be interested in the things I
eventually figure out that *I* want to do :\

HeidiC

--- In [email protected], "Olga" <britcontoo@a...>
wrote:
> Hi to all,
>
> How much time do most of you spend actually doing specific
activites
> with your kids. I have this fear that if I just let them do what
> they want, I will be missing out on all those teachable moments. I
> am still having trouble translating all this into life. I always
> feel like I should be reading to them, taking them places, playing
> games? I am not sure how much *me* time or their *own* time they
> need. My kids are pretty independent and play well together, so
> sometimes I feel like it is too easy to not be an active *part* of
> their day. Should I be making an effort to get more involved or
let
> them be??
>
> Olga :)
> Thanks


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

Our son Dustin does his own thing.
I do play Xbox with him, I sometimes read pages out of a book he is reading
cuz he wants me to. He likes to cook so he usually fixes his own Breakfast
and Lunch.
I told him a week or so ago when it was going through this list, that he no
longer has a cut off time for bed. It was really causing a rift between DH
and him. He was thrilled! He sets his timer in sixty minute increments so it
isn't on all night. Funny thing is he is going to sleep at the same time as
before and up by 8:00.

I do take him shopping when I go, he is always with me whenever I leave. He
has always wanted to go to the store even when its female stuff.

Tonight was great we left at 7 and went to Joo Ann Fabrics cuz I had a
coupon, then to Barnes N Noble. We where there for two hours it was heaven.
He picked up a couple books and I bought an older John Holt book because they
still do not have the new one. I told the guy at the store I said "ahh, you
may want to order a couple copies, there are over 2.8 million Hs in the US.
I would imagine it would be a good idea to stock it He just looked at me and
said ,"ok I'll order in a few" I felt like I had two heads, I still dont get
what his issue was with me saying that. Dahh, just order the stupid book you
might make some money if it is instock......
So then Dustin and I sat and had a capachino, it was so great that we could
just sit there and talk about our books.
We swung into the kids section and a lady that worked there was listening to
us and wanted to suggest a book. She said to Dustin "what grade are you in?"
Ahhh, Ahhh Ahh, he says. Im like Dustin 5th, I said to the lady "we Unschool
and dont really keep track of the Grade." That was the dumbest response I
have ever had. Geezzz DAH!
So that was our night minus a quick stop to Walmart.
I think the time I spend with him goes in spurts and also depends on the
weather.
Guess I could have just answered the question rather then write "a day in our
life."


Laura D


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Robyn Coburn

"Teachable moments" is a piece of school vocabulary/mentality that you
can probably afford to let go of. Children have "learning moments" every
waking moment, and this list has been full of people telling us ruefully
of how their moments of "teaching" regardless how gently, have run
aground against their children's marvelous determination to be
individual and process their own learning.

By all means read, take them places and play games, without the ulterior
motive of finding teachable moments. Would a day be wasted if you didn't
find any? I bet the kids would have learnt stuff anyway, including how
cool their Mom is! John Holt has a lot to say on keeping interactions
with children real, and avoiding what he called "the devil teacher" in
himself.

If you are available to do stuff with them, and not putting your need to
teach onto them, however subtly, they will then feel free to say, "I'd
like to do such-and-such for a while, in my room. See you later". Jayn
always says to me "No, thanks, not right now" when she wants to play
alone.

Robyn Coburn



I have this fear that if I just let them do what
they want, I will be missing out on all those teachable moments. I
am still having trouble translating all this into life. I always
feel like I should be reading to them, taking them places, playing
games?



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

zenmomma2kids

>>Keiran (almost 5) pretty much can spend his whole day playing with
his action figures and play acting. >>

And he can get amazing things from playing with action figures and
play acting. Your job now is to see if you can figure out what it is
that he's getting from these activities. What part of his brain is
being fed? What is he sorting through mentally? What is he working
out in his own mind? See the world through the learning in his eyes.
You'll be amazed.

Life is good.
~Mary
>

Olga

Mary,

I know you are right. I know he is learning alot but translating it
is the hardest. I am finally understanding why everyone complains
about documenting. Even loose curriculum is easy to sort into
subjects, this is so much deeper. I am working on it.

I want to thank EVERYONE for their responses! It does help to hear
about how you spend your days, especially when I know mine are
similar.

Olga :)

--- In [email protected], "zenmomma2kids"
<zenmomma@h...> wrote:
> >>Keiran (almost 5) pretty much can spend his whole day playing
with
> his action figures and play acting. >>
>
> And he can get amazing things from playing with action figures and
> play acting. Your job now is to see if you can figure out what it
is
> that he's getting from these activities. What part of his brain is
> being fed? What is he sorting through mentally? What is he working
> out in his own mind? See the world through the learning in his
eyes.
> You'll be amazed.
>
> Life is good.
> ~Mary
> >

Olga

Thanks Robin. It is much easier to read about stepping away, LOL!
We are all learning to adjust. This list has been wonderful in
making me aware of so many things beyond strictly *unschooling*
Thanks to everyone.

Olga :)

--- In [email protected], "Robyn Coburn"
<dezigna@a...> wrote:
> "Teachable moments" is a piece of school vocabulary/mentality that
you
> can probably afford to let go of. Children have "learning moments"
every
> waking moment, and this list has been full of people telling us
ruefully
> of how their moments of "teaching" regardless how gently, have run
> aground against their children's marvelous determination to be
> individual and process their own learning.
>
> By all means read, take them places and play games, without the
ulterior
> motive of finding teachable moments. Would a day be wasted if you
didn't
> find any? I bet the kids would have learnt stuff anyway, including
how
> cool their Mom is! John Holt has a lot to say on keeping
interactions
> with children real, and avoiding what he called "the devil teacher"
in
> himself.
>
> If you are available to do stuff with them, and not putting your
need to
> teach onto them, however subtly, they will then feel free to
say, "I'd
> like to do such-and-such for a while, in my room. See you later".
Jayn
> always says to me "No, thanks, not right now" when she wants to play
> alone.
>
> Robyn Coburn
>
>
>
> I have this fear that if I just let them do what
> they want, I will be missing out on all those teachable moments. I
> am still having trouble translating all this into life. I always
> feel like I should be reading to them, taking them places, playing
> games?
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

zenmomma2kids

>>Even loose curriculum is easy to sort into subjects, this is so
much deeper.>>

Exactly! The learning is so much deeper. It's meaningful and it's
personal to your child. It's not something easily put into a stilted
curriculum with narrowly defined subjects.

Life is good.
~Mary

Stephanie Elms

> I saw a sample "curriculum " on the web that can be tweaked and
> delivered to my VA school superintendent citing our intentions. What
> have you submitted to officials asking for 'proof'?

Hi G! Where in Va are you? I am in Annandale (northern Va). Before you submit anything
make sure that you are familiar with the law. There are 4 options, 1 is to use a
approved curriculum (so if you are unschooling that is out!) and one is if you are
a teacher. The remaining 2 options depend on if you have a college degree or not. If
you (or your husband) do have a degree, it is extremely simple and your description
of your "course of study" can be a sentence or two. If you do not have a degree,
there are a few more requirements (you need to say that you will include the
SOLs (but there is no follow up to show that you did)). For the most part, the
less info you give them the better.

For more info on hsing in va, check out:

http://www.vhea.org

There is also a great virginia hsing email list made up of mostly relaxed hsers (with good
number of unschoolers). There are discussions about curriculum from time to time, but we have
had some good unschooling conversations as well. It is a great place to get Va specific
info.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VaEclecticHomeschool/


Hope that this helps!

Stephanie E.

Geraldine Weis-Corbley

Hi Stephanie in Annandale, VA!

I am in Lake Jackson, a magical piece of land on its banks, just
south of Manassas.

I did join the VA Eclectic list. I am glad to know the difference,
thanks to a recent post by Alan & Brenda Leonard, between eclectic
and unsing -- and that there are some unschoolers on the VA list...

Thanks for all your good info. Especially, the part that says I could
list "my husband's BA degree"-- I have but 2-year degree, myself and
wondered if I could list his. THEN, I could use option #3, I can
forget about SOL's and simply be faced with providing proof of
advancement at year's end, correct?

I am suddenly very psyched to be a mother since I made my decision
for unschooling this weekend!

Cheers on this mother's day (finally a break in the rain) !

Geri


>Hi G! Where in Va are you? I am in Annandale (northern Va). Before
>you submit anything make sure that you are familiar with the law.
>There are 4 options, 1 is to use a
>approved curriculum (so if you are unschooling that is out!) and one
>is if you are
>a teacher. The remaining 2 options depend on if you have a college
>degree or not. If
>you (or your husband) do have a degree, it is extremely simple and
>your description
>of your "course of study" can be a sentence or two. ...For the most part, the
>less info you give them the better.

[email protected]

<< I'm not doing a whole lot with them right now either.
I figured we/I needed de-schooling for awhile also. >>


Being with kids while you're all deschooling is no problem at all!
Being with kids while they're deschooling is wonderful, so that you build or
rebuild a close, warm relationship with shared experiences.

I'm guessing maybe (maybe not) the person who wrote that and some who read it
think of "doing with them" as having something to do with
teaching/learning/educational activities.

Maybe not; I'm reading my 200 pieces of new mail in quickie, swirly fashion.

Sandra

[email protected]

In a message dated 5/10/03 11:02:41 PM, HMSL2@... writes:

<< Funny thing is he is going to sleep at the same time as
before and up by 8:00. >>

But the COOL thing is now he's doing it because he WANTS to!! It must feel
bigger, bolder and better.

Sandra

[email protected]

In a message dated 5/11/2003 10:43:15 PM Eastern Standard Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:

>
> In a message dated 5/10/03 11:02:41 PM, HMSL2@... writes:
>
> <<Funny thing is he is going to sleep at the same time as
> before and up by 8:00. >>
>
> But the COOL thing is now he's doing it because he WANTS to!! It must feel
>
> bigger, bolder and better.
>
> Sandra

Oh, Yes! It does! It's great to see him in the am. He comes into my room and
uses the computer or gets the baby if he wakes at the same time. He has his
moments as all children do but he is a pleasure to have at home.

Laura D


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Stephanie Elms

> Thanks for all your good info. Especially, the part that says I could
> list "my husband's BA degree"-- I have but 2-year degree, myself and
> wondered if I could list his. THEN, I could use option #3, I can
> forget about SOL's and simply be faced with providing proof of
> advancement at year's end, correct?

My understanding is that it does not matter which parent has the degree. You just
need to provide a copy of it. You could ask on Va Eclectic to be sure. I am pretty
sure that there are others who have done that.

Welcome to list!

Stephanie E.

Tammy in MS

<< I'm not doing a whole lot with them right now either.
I figured we/I needed de-schooling for awhile also. >>

-----<<<I'm guessing maybe (maybe not) the person who wrote that and some
who read it
think of "doing with them" as having something to do with
teaching/learning/educational activities.>>>----

ahhh yes.. I do believe that is where my mind was when I wrote that. Right.

We are all together 24/7 and just doing what we do. Still trying to
dissolve the "schooly" thinking. <g>

tammy t.

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Rebecca DeLong

jmcseals SEALS <jmcseals@...> wrote:
<<<I try to pay attention to what they are interested in. My oldest loves
skater-type stuff>>>

Have you guys seen 'Dogtown and Z-boys'? it's this really amazing documentary about the birth of skateboarding as we know it today. We watched it yesterday, it was really good. jaiden is getting interested in skateboarding and surfing, we watch a lot of skateboarding and surfing movies and almost all of our friend do one if not both and are all waiting for him to get just a little older so they can start taking him out.

Rebecca


*~*Leave the crowd, look within, and let your dreams soar*~*

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]