late readers/socialization
dtillitzferguson
For those of you who worry about your children reading late because
you unschool and don't force them to learn, this is our experience:
Naomi, my dd, now age 11, was in day care from 3 months to
Kindergarten (I worked full time) where they started teaching them
letters/sounds at age 2. She then went to public school until the
end of 1st grade. We schooled at home (we are just now turning to
unschooling) and she STILL didn't read fluently until she was 9! At
9 she could read whatever she wanted and she tested above grade
level on her first state mandated test after third grade.
As for socialization: Wills, my almost 13 ds, was also in the above
situation. Day care, preschool, kindergarten, public schooled until
the end of 2nd grade. He has always been a square peg in a round
hole, but not because he was homeschooled! The experts had him for
all those years and couldn't make him fit (thank God!).
After four years of home schooling (which has not been unschooling,
but has been fairly relaxed) Naomi does not love to read, but she
can read whatever she needs/wants to read. She reads well and with
excellent comprehension. Wills no longer seems like a round peg, now
that he can choose his own companions. He is comfortable in any
situation and makes friends *everywhere*. At the store he talks to
the kids in the toy aisle and is well known by the clerks in home
electronics. While waiting for us to check into a hotel he
befriended the security guard and the bellman who took up our bags.
He also learned the history of the hotel and had a list of fun
things we could do in the surrounding area. While watching fireworks
the other night I was amazed once again at how kids of all ages
gravitate toward him. He kept them so entertained with his
impressions that they missed the fireworks finale!
As I've been reading about unschooling and all the posts here, I
keep thinking, "My kids have come so far since their institutional
days. How far might they go if truly left to themselves?" I can't
wait to see!
Deborah in Oregon
you unschool and don't force them to learn, this is our experience:
Naomi, my dd, now age 11, was in day care from 3 months to
Kindergarten (I worked full time) where they started teaching them
letters/sounds at age 2. She then went to public school until the
end of 1st grade. We schooled at home (we are just now turning to
unschooling) and she STILL didn't read fluently until she was 9! At
9 she could read whatever she wanted and she tested above grade
level on her first state mandated test after third grade.
As for socialization: Wills, my almost 13 ds, was also in the above
situation. Day care, preschool, kindergarten, public schooled until
the end of 2nd grade. He has always been a square peg in a round
hole, but not because he was homeschooled! The experts had him for
all those years and couldn't make him fit (thank God!).
After four years of home schooling (which has not been unschooling,
but has been fairly relaxed) Naomi does not love to read, but she
can read whatever she needs/wants to read. She reads well and with
excellent comprehension. Wills no longer seems like a round peg, now
that he can choose his own companions. He is comfortable in any
situation and makes friends *everywhere*. At the store he talks to
the kids in the toy aisle and is well known by the clerks in home
electronics. While waiting for us to check into a hotel he
befriended the security guard and the bellman who took up our bags.
He also learned the history of the hotel and had a list of fun
things we could do in the surrounding area. While watching fireworks
the other night I was amazed once again at how kids of all ages
gravitate toward him. He kept them so entertained with his
impressions that they missed the fireworks finale!
As I've been reading about unschooling and all the posts here, I
keep thinking, "My kids have come so far since their institutional
days. How far might they go if truly left to themselves?" I can't
wait to see!
Deborah in Oregon