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Hi I am new here. I have a couple of questions. Have any of you
taken your kids out of school to unschool? if so at what ages?
Do you have high schoolers or have you "graduated" high schoolers?
My ds is just beginning to HS. He was in the 7th grade butwould like
to skip the 8th grade and move on tothe 9th. He is very smart but has done
poorly in PS for many years. He asked to HS. His older brother is failing his
freshman year of high school and planning on taking summer school to try to make
up some classes. He does not want to HS. He was brought home in the middle of
last year, but never allowed himself to enjoy it.
I have tried to be flexible with my 7th grader, but I do tryto get
him to do some "school work". He goes back and forth between wanting me to give
him assignments and telling me I am too pushey. I don't think he is sure what
he wants. He certainly has me confused.

Thanks,

Londa <A HREF="www.mymomishome.com">www.mymomishome.com</A>

The solution to adult problems tomorrow depends on large measure upon
the how our children grow up today. There is no greater insight into the
future than recognizing when we save our children, we save ourselves. Margaret
Mead


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

[email protected]

In a message dated 6/5/03 1:50:43 AM, Loniam@... writes:

<< I have tried to be flexible with my 7th grader, but I do tryto get
him to do some "school work". >>

I'm pretty inflexible with my kids. I won't MAKE them do any academic thing,
and I won't let other people make them either.

That flexibility you're talking about is a lack of conviction! <bwg>

If you believe he can learn on his own, you need to give him a clear, free
shot at doing so. It's possible to do, but it take some concentration and
willpower on the part of the parents.

Here's something it will help you to read, and read the one linked at the
bottom too.

http://sandradodd.com/deschooling
<A HREF="http://sandradodd.com/deschooling">Deschooling for Parents, by
Sandra Dodd</A>

Sandra

zenmomma2kids

>>Have any of you taken your kids out of school to unschool? if so at
what ages? >>

My son Conor went to public school through the middle of 4th grade.
He's 14 now. My daughter Casey only went to one year of preschool and
a tiny specilaized Kindergarten program. She's 9 now.

>>Do you have high schoolers or have you "graduated" high schoolers?>>

Conor would be considered high school age for the upcoming school
year. But we don't do school years and we won't do high school. He'll
continue on the path of following his interests and learning for the
sake of knowledge, not to pass a course. He won't graduate because he
doesn't consider learning something that should ever end. He is
considering Community College at some point during his teen years.

>>My ds is just beginning to HS. He was in the 7th grade butwould
like to skip the 8th grade and move on tothe 9th. >>

He's home now. Why not skip the grades altogether and move on to the
learning? He (and you) will need time to deschool and get used to
learning in freedom. Have either of you read The Teenage Liberation
Handbook by Grace Lewellyn? Lots of great ideas for teens in there.

>>He is very smart but...>>

Forget the but. Leave it at "He is very smart." School is not real
life. What he will do from now on is his real life.

>>I have tried to be flexible with my 7th grader, but I do tryto get
him to do some "school work". He goes back and forth between wanting
me to give him assignments and telling me I am too pushey. I don't
think he is sure what he wants. He certainly has me confused.>>

Unschooling is learning totally removed from school. Your son has
only known school, so he doesn't remember what learning outside the
system is like. That may even be true for you as well. I would
suggest you keep reading here, read at the unschooling.com website
and also at sandradodd.com. You'll have lots of time this summer
where you won't feel you have to worry about "schooling" him. Use
that time to get a better understanding of what learning in true
freedom can look like.

Life is good.
~Mary