Re: Gifted and Special needs unschooling
Rob Wight
Hi Karen
I am unschooling three gifted children. Two of them went to school. One for
four years and one for nine months. They really struggled in the
one-size-fits-all system. My oldest son, James, started school with a
passion for maths. He liked to do maths problems at home and when I showed
the school what he had been doing they told me it was grade four work. He
was reading novels independently and with a great deal of pleasure. Once in
school, he had to sit through pre-reading sessions and "learn" the numbers
1-10. He was ostracised and bullied and thoroughly miserable. We struggled
along for four years believing that the school was trying to help whilst my
son became increasingly depressed and lost interest in life. The school
tried various strategies including putting him up a grade with mixed
success.
My second son, Matthew, started school reading fluently and with a talent
for maths. He quickly became bored with the easy work given to him and
although a model student at school, came home and gave us all hell -
hitting, kicking, biting and screaming at us. Family life was awful. I
reread parenting books and did a class but life at home was a NIGHTMARE. We
were all so stressed all the time, we didn't even like each other anymore.
I did some research, found out about unschooling, worked up my courage and
pulled them out. We have not done any 'school" work since but the boys
learn, do and produce amazing things through their own motivation. They love
to learn. Their main objection to school was it was so boring and they
weren't allowed to learn but expected to sit and wait patiently while the
teacher taught the others what they already knew. My third son, Stephen, has
never been to kinder or school but he spent a huge amount of time there with
me trying to support his brothers, attending meetings and helping out in the
classroom. He hated it and missed out on a lot at home as a result.
Since being at home (2 1/2 years now), James is no longer depressed and
withdrawn, Matthew's stess levels are down and his behaviour has improved,
Stephen is happier because he has his brothers with him all the time. They
are great friends.
Unschooling gifted kids works and is exciting, rewarding and so much less
stressful than trying to keep them in school!
Susan
essentially unknown (she's 3).
and how it can / does work for all children. I however, only have one child
and very little unschooling experience so I'm hoping you all can give me
some input.
her *grade level* in this class. Stuff that I'm amazed that she is learning
and doing.
I am unschooling three gifted children. Two of them went to school. One for
four years and one for nine months. They really struggled in the
one-size-fits-all system. My oldest son, James, started school with a
passion for maths. He liked to do maths problems at home and when I showed
the school what he had been doing they told me it was grade four work. He
was reading novels independently and with a great deal of pleasure. Once in
school, he had to sit through pre-reading sessions and "learn" the numbers
1-10. He was ostracised and bullied and thoroughly miserable. We struggled
along for four years believing that the school was trying to help whilst my
son became increasingly depressed and lost interest in life. The school
tried various strategies including putting him up a grade with mixed
success.
My second son, Matthew, started school reading fluently and with a talent
for maths. He quickly became bored with the easy work given to him and
although a model student at school, came home and gave us all hell -
hitting, kicking, biting and screaming at us. Family life was awful. I
reread parenting books and did a class but life at home was a NIGHTMARE. We
were all so stressed all the time, we didn't even like each other anymore.
I did some research, found out about unschooling, worked up my courage and
pulled them out. We have not done any 'school" work since but the boys
learn, do and produce amazing things through their own motivation. They love
to learn. Their main objection to school was it was so boring and they
weren't allowed to learn but expected to sit and wait patiently while the
teacher taught the others what they already knew. My third son, Stephen, has
never been to kinder or school but he spent a huge amount of time there with
me trying to support his brothers, attending meetings and helping out in the
classroom. He hated it and missed out on a lot at home as a result.
Since being at home (2 1/2 years now), James is no longer depressed and
withdrawn, Matthew's stess levels are down and his behaviour has improved,
Stephen is happier because he has his brothers with him all the time. They
are great friends.
Unschooling gifted kids works and is exciting, rewarding and so much less
stressful than trying to keep them in school!
Susan
> Message: 16middle girl has learning difficulties (Carolyn) and the youngest is
> Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 21:20:43 -0400
> From: "Betjeman and Barton Tea Merchants" <karen@...>
> Subject: Gifted and special needs unschooling. ???
>
> I have a friend who has 3 kids - the oldest is 'gifted' (Katherine) , her
essentially unknown (she's 3).
>kids with such different needs.
> My friend, Tina would love to know if anyone has experience unschooling
>unschooling. I'd like to open her eyes a bit to the wonders of unschooling
> Tina is IMO sort of anti-homeschooling and she really doesn't 'get'
and how it can / does work for all children. I however, only have one child
and very little unschooling experience so I'm hoping you all can give me
some input.
>because we *butt heads* too much over her school work now.
> Here are some of her comments:
>
> "Honestly, I don't think I could ever try to teach Carolyn at home,
> She has some learning difficulties, and the school is much better able tohandle her needs that I would ever be.
> In her case I would have to spend all my time and energy helping her, thatI feel it wouldn't be fair to my other 2.
>school, and in her Enrichment class. She is learning stuff that is beyond
> Also, what about kids who are *gifted*? Katherine is learning so much at
her *grade level* in this class. Stuff that I'm amazed that she is learning
and doing.
>vast learning differences and how do they make it work."
> I'm just curious if parents have come across having 2 children with such
>
> Thanks
>
> Karen (in CT)
>
Have A Nice Day!
LOLOLOL!!!! I'm spitting my drink all over the place.
Kristen
Kristen
----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Wight
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 12:17 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Gifted and Special needs unschooling
Hi Karen
I am unschooling three gifted children. Two of them went to school. One for
four years and one for nine months. They really struggled in the
one-size-fits-all system. My oldest son, James, started school with a
passion for maths. He liked to do maths problems at home and when I showed
the school what he had been doing they told me it was grade four work. He
was reading novels independently and with a great deal of pleasure. Once in
school, he had to sit through pre-reading sessions and "learn" the numbers
1-10. He was ostracised and bullied and thoroughly miserable. We struggled
along for four years believing that the school was trying to help whilst my
son became increasingly depressed and lost interest in life. The school
tried various strategies including putting him up a grade with mixed
success.
My second son, Matthew, started school reading fluently and with a talent
for maths. He quickly became bored with the easy work given to him and
although a model student at school, came home and gave us all hell -
hitting, kicking, biting and screaming at us. Family life was awful. I
reread parenting books and did a class but life at home was a NIGHTMARE. We
were all so stressed all the time, we didn't even like each other anymore.
I did some research, found out about unschooling, worked up my courage and
pulled them out. We have not done any 'school" work since but the boys
learn, do and produce amazing things through their own motivation. They love
to learn. Their main objection to school was it was so boring and they
weren't allowed to learn but expected to sit and wait patiently while the
teacher taught the others what they already knew. My third son, Stephen, has
never been to kinder or school but he spent a huge amount of time there with
me trying to support his brothers, attending meetings and helping out in the
classroom. He hated it and missed out on a lot at home as a result.
Since being at home (2 1/2 years now), James is no longer depressed and
withdrawn, Matthew's stess levels are down and his behaviour has improved,
Stephen is happier because he has his brothers with him all the time. They
are great friends.
Unschooling gifted kids works and is exciting, rewarding and so much less
stressful than trying to keep them in school!
Susan
> Message: 16
> Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 21:20:43 -0400
> From: "Betjeman and Barton Tea Merchants" <karen@...>
> Subject: Gifted and special needs unschooling. ???
>
> I have a friend who has 3 kids - the oldest is 'gifted' (Katherine) , her
middle girl has learning difficulties (Carolyn) and the youngest is
essentially unknown (she's 3).
>
> My friend, Tina would love to know if anyone has experience unschooling
kids with such different needs.
>
> Tina is IMO sort of anti-homeschooling and she really doesn't 'get'
unschooling. I'd like to open her eyes a bit to the wonders of unschooling
and how it can / does work for all children. I however, only have one child
and very little unschooling experience so I'm hoping you all can give me
some input.
>
> Here are some of her comments:
>
> "Honestly, I don't think I could ever try to teach Carolyn at home,
because we *butt heads* too much over her school work now.
> She has some learning difficulties, and the school is much better able to
handle her needs that I would ever be.
> In her case I would have to spend all my time and energy helping her, that
I feel it wouldn't be fair to my other 2.
>
> Also, what about kids who are *gifted*? Katherine is learning so much at
school, and in her Enrichment class. She is learning stuff that is beyond
her *grade level* in this class. Stuff that I'm amazed that she is learning
and doing.
>
> I'm just curious if parents have come across having 2 children with such
vast learning differences and how do they make it work."
>
> Thanks
>
> Karen (in CT)
>
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