Kim Holderby

Hello, I am new to unschooling--actually to homeschooling period! My
son is 8 & 1/2 and has been home since about Feb 1. He was in public
school (3rd grade) in Arkansas. I am so interested in doing this for
him. He is a gifted child and extremely bright. However, he hates
school! I need some advice and feedback, I think. My husband is
very, very supportive of all of this, but is having trouble with the
"unstructuredness" of it all. Both my son and I are similar in that
we are very unstructured, spontaneous learners, where my husband is
completely the opposite..very methodical, very routine-oriented. I
am trying NOT to push my son. He is resisting ANY schooling right
now. All he seems to want to do is play video games and watch TV!
He hates to write, for one thing. Which is one thing he detested
about school. I haven't seemed to find the "spark" for him yet.
He's interested in EVERYTHING, it seems.

I know I am rambling here! Is there anything wrong with letting my
son stay up late and sleep late? My husband seems to think he should
have a set bedtime and get up early to start his day. Guess what?
That doesn't seem to work with Benjamin (my son). Which is one of
the reasons I chose to take him out of public schools! They seemed
much more interested in recording attendance than they did
challenging and stimulating my child!

I will close for now...not sure if any of this makes sense. Please
respond with ANY feedback! I haven't found a support group here in
Northwest Arkansas yet. We have Christian beliefs, but are not
"religious". HELP!

bkmblpn

My husband and I have decided to embark on unschooling our 7 year
old son. We are simultaneously excited and nervous. We like the free-
style approach unschooling offers our extremely curious child, yet am
confused by it. Any suggestions on how to ease our family into this
transition?

Alan & Brenda Leonard

> My husband and I have decided to embark on unschooling our 7 year
> old son. We are simultaneously excited and nervous. We like the free-
> style approach unschooling offers our extremely curious child, yet am
> confused by it. Any suggestions on how to ease our family into this
> transition?

Pretend it's summer vacation, or Saturday every day. A curious child is
going to learn, he can't help himself. Play outside, read together, make
dinner (or cookies!), search the internet (google!) for your favorite
subject and have fun clicking away. Go to the zoo, the park, the beach, a
museum, the library or wherever thrills you.

I used to sit down at the end of the day and try to think about what was
"educational" in everything we did. Legos = problem solving, cooking =
math, riding a bike with friends = social & exercise, did we read books,
etc. If it makes you feel better, it might be a useful exercise now and
then. Eventually, I got to the the point where I rarely think that way.

Jump in feet first and have fun!

brenda

Gerard Westenberg

<Pretend it's summer vacation, or Saturday every day. >

I really second this advice! We have moved into unschooling from relaxed homeschooling and the BEST advice we received in making this change was to act as if we were on holiday - read together, watch movies together, play games, go to the park and the library, visit the museum, just live every day life, really - all holiday things for us and now part of every day unschooling life...BTW, we are having the greatest fun with card games atm - just taught myself and the 6 yo Knock Down Whist and he and the next three sons up have been playing this with me at odd moments throughout the day - even at the park yesterday! :-)..Leonie


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[email protected]

Thank You Brenda and Leonie for the wonderful advice, gotta tell you though,
it somehow feels naughty. Like playing hooky. ~ lol ~ I think we're gonna
have a blast!! Once I learn to relax :-)
Kelly


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Bill and Diane

Go ahead and let him continue summer while you take the next six months
or so to research this. Of course, if something really interesting comes
up, you can drop the research for a little while to go somewhere or do
something, so it may take you 'til June. But 'til then, just let him
continue summer.

:-) Diane

>>My husband and I have decided to embark on unschooling our 7 year
>>old son. We are simultaneously excited and nervous. We like the free-
>>style approach unschooling offers our extremely curious child, yet am
>>confused by it. Any suggestions on how to ease our family into this
>>transition?
>>

zenmomma *

>>My husband and I have decided to embark on unschooling our 7 year
old son. We are simultaneously excited and nervous. We like the free-
style approach unschooling offers our extremely curious child, yet am
confused by it. Any suggestions on how to ease our family into this
transition?>>

Pretend you're on a really great vacation. Find out all the interesting
things to see, do and visit in your local area and then see, do and visit
them. Go see some movies. Read some great new books together. Play around,
answer his questions, ask some of your own. Hike, swim, bike, skate, lounge,
giggle, enjoy. Oh and forget to worry about that curriculum because you're
having such a great vacation. ;-)

Life is good.
~Mary

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