What are you doing this morning?
Cay A. Gibson
Hello. My name is Cay Gibson and I've been lurking for the past
couple of weeks.
I have always been an eclectic hsing mom...using literature-based
planning with an assortment of workbooks, and a Charlotte Mason
flavor. I have 5 dc ages "soon-to-be" 16 ds, 13 dd, 10 ds, "soon-to-
be" 6 dd, and 20 month dd. I've been married for 17 years to my
high school sweetheart, Mark.
I came to this list this school year to get a feel for what
unschoolers *actually* do during the day. Checking into the posts
each day, I still find myself clueless over the *daily doings* of
unschoolers. I understand the concept and, due to personal reasons,
I'm really anxious to adopt an unschooling way of thinking. I feel
(again...due to personal reasons) that I need the unschooling
lifestyle this year.
We've had a full two days. Today I'm tired and the dc are in the
living room playing. I don't have a clue what they're playing but
they're quiet and that's what matters to me today. Thunder has
punctuated the whole morning and today promises to be a day of rain
and winds. We've been gone for two days. I'm looking forward to
staying home today. Yet (even after six years of hsing) I still
think of the structured/disciplined learning that is happneing in a
school room today and I worry that my dc are just *playing* in the
living room.
I admire hs families whose dc do self-study on their own during the
day. My dc tend to wait for me to place something in front of
them...otherwise they're off *playing*.
Any advice would be most helpful...if I could just get a *peek*
inside your *unschools* today. What are your dc doing right this
moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with them
for when you get off the computer?
Thank you!
Cay
Author of Literature Alive! http://literaturealive.tripod.com
Take the boredom out of reading and make literature come Alive! in
your home!
couple of weeks.
I have always been an eclectic hsing mom...using literature-based
planning with an assortment of workbooks, and a Charlotte Mason
flavor. I have 5 dc ages "soon-to-be" 16 ds, 13 dd, 10 ds, "soon-to-
be" 6 dd, and 20 month dd. I've been married for 17 years to my
high school sweetheart, Mark.
I came to this list this school year to get a feel for what
unschoolers *actually* do during the day. Checking into the posts
each day, I still find myself clueless over the *daily doings* of
unschoolers. I understand the concept and, due to personal reasons,
I'm really anxious to adopt an unschooling way of thinking. I feel
(again...due to personal reasons) that I need the unschooling
lifestyle this year.
We've had a full two days. Today I'm tired and the dc are in the
living room playing. I don't have a clue what they're playing but
they're quiet and that's what matters to me today. Thunder has
punctuated the whole morning and today promises to be a day of rain
and winds. We've been gone for two days. I'm looking forward to
staying home today. Yet (even after six years of hsing) I still
think of the structured/disciplined learning that is happneing in a
school room today and I worry that my dc are just *playing* in the
living room.
I admire hs families whose dc do self-study on their own during the
day. My dc tend to wait for me to place something in front of
them...otherwise they're off *playing*.
Any advice would be most helpful...if I could just get a *peek*
inside your *unschools* today. What are your dc doing right this
moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with them
for when you get off the computer?
Thank you!
Cay
Author of Literature Alive! http://literaturealive.tripod.com
Take the boredom out of reading and make literature come Alive! in
your home!
Lillian Haas
Hi, Cay.
What your children are doing is unschooling -- they're doing what interests
them right now. It may not be "academic," but "just playing" is just as
valuable.
I have two sons, 11 and 6. The 11-year-old isn't here at the moment, because
he spent the night at a friend's house, but if he were here he'd be playing
on the computer or reading or playing Legos with his brother. He's working
his way through a Latin book at the moment, so usually he'll find 10 or 15
minutes a day to do a couple of sentences in that, and he's just passed his
audition to move up into the advanced band, so he's going to have to find
time to practice -- but if it's important enough to him, he will.
The younger one is upstairs playing on the computer, enjoying the fact that
his brother's absence gives him dominion over the sacred machine.
Neither of them does "self-study" in the way I think you mean it (except for
the older one's Latin): deciding they just have to open a textbook and plow
through it. They learn from everywhere -- from the books they read all the
time, from the discussions we have with them, from the places we take them
and the TV shows they watch and the things they hear on the radio and the
people they talk to. And they know an astounding variety of things.
The biggest difference between unschoolers and homeschoolers is that
unschoolers have (for the most part!) let go of the belief that there are
certain things that children have to learn at certain times. your
16-year-old may be thinking about college, and he will have to figure out
what he needs to cover to get there in a two years, but for the others, it
might be a good idea to let them decompress for a while, to begin to believe
that you won't tell them what they have to learn.
I'm sorry I can't give you a better idea of what a day looks like around
here, but they're all different. It's scary to let go of expectations, but
it can be very rewarding.
Lillian
What your children are doing is unschooling -- they're doing what interests
them right now. It may not be "academic," but "just playing" is just as
valuable.
I have two sons, 11 and 6. The 11-year-old isn't here at the moment, because
he spent the night at a friend's house, but if he were here he'd be playing
on the computer or reading or playing Legos with his brother. He's working
his way through a Latin book at the moment, so usually he'll find 10 or 15
minutes a day to do a couple of sentences in that, and he's just passed his
audition to move up into the advanced band, so he's going to have to find
time to practice -- but if it's important enough to him, he will.
The younger one is upstairs playing on the computer, enjoying the fact that
his brother's absence gives him dominion over the sacred machine.
Neither of them does "self-study" in the way I think you mean it (except for
the older one's Latin): deciding they just have to open a textbook and plow
through it. They learn from everywhere -- from the books they read all the
time, from the discussions we have with them, from the places we take them
and the TV shows they watch and the things they hear on the radio and the
people they talk to. And they know an astounding variety of things.
The biggest difference between unschoolers and homeschoolers is that
unschoolers have (for the most part!) let go of the belief that there are
certain things that children have to learn at certain times. your
16-year-old may be thinking about college, and he will have to figure out
what he needs to cover to get there in a two years, but for the others, it
might be a good idea to let them decompress for a while, to begin to believe
that you won't tell them what they have to learn.
I'm sorry I can't give you a better idea of what a day looks like around
here, but they're all different. It's scary to let go of expectations, but
it can be very rewarding.
Lillian
Fetteroll
on 8/27/03 10:18 AM, Cay A. Gibson at caygibson@... wrote:
it from a little (5 minute) video game break. Not sure what was up with that
but she felt she needed it so she had the freedom to take it. :-)
we somehow "get" them to do) but in the freedom they have to do what they
feel they need to do. Right now it looks like my daughter is doing something
academic all on her own. And that's sort of what many people picture an
ideal unschooling home will look like. But in reality her writing is no
different to her than playing video games or watching TV. It's something she
enjoys so that's what she does.
Unschooling days are like summer days when you were a kid. You were free to
do whatever you wanted. (I hope anyway!) Unschooling parents are probably
more involved than most "regular" parents, who just send their kids off to
find something to do. We're not glued to out kids ;-) so much as we are
aware of their needs and are there to help them get what they want.
Joyce
> What are your dc doing right thisMy daughter is writing a story on the computer. Though she just returned to
> moment as you read my message?
it from a little (5 minute) video game break. Not sure what was up with that
but she felt she needed it so she had the freedom to take it. :-)
> What are your plans to do with themWatch the anime shows we recorded last night while I walk on the treadmill.
> for when you get off the computer?
> Any advice would be most helpful...if I could just get a *peek*The "secret" isn't in what unschooled kids do (or what other parents imagine
> inside your *unschools* today.
we somehow "get" them to do) but in the freedom they have to do what they
feel they need to do. Right now it looks like my daughter is doing something
academic all on her own. And that's sort of what many people picture an
ideal unschooling home will look like. But in reality her writing is no
different to her than playing video games or watching TV. It's something she
enjoys so that's what she does.
Unschooling days are like summer days when you were a kid. You were free to
do whatever you wanted. (I hope anyway!) Unschooling parents are probably
more involved than most "regular" parents, who just send their kids off to
find something to do. We're not glued to out kids ;-) so much as we are
aware of their needs and are there to help them get what they want.
Joyce
[email protected]
In a message dated 27/08/2003 07:22:31 Pacific Daylight Time,
caygibson@... writes:
Today we are going to "just hang out" and see where that leads. Riht now ds
almost 8yrs is watching Star Wars ep. 2, dd 2yrs is sleeping with her dad. The
horses are fed, so are dogs and chickens. I will think of something for
breakfast soon, supper is made, and my broken arm really hurts today, so I will take
it easy for the most part.
Ds will probably try to find a friend to play with, or go play computer. We
may read,go for a walk,play cards. Dd will putter around and sing and be nude,
for most of the day.I am caring for a friends 2 younger kids while older one
goes to riding lesson and then we may have tea.
We can't go anywhere cause I can't drive right now, but it is fun to stay
home. Dh goes to work at 2pm, we might make cookis or paint, or we might watch
more tv, depends on the children's preference. I may clean ds room, as he is
having trouble moving in there, but I asked first, and he said yes.
then supper, maybe a walk(my legs aren't broken!) perhaps a board game when
dd goes to sleep, maybe read some more.
Sounds pretty up in the air, loose etc., but we really like it that way,
spontaneity works well for us, as does this fabulous unschooling way of life. We
can breath.
Nancy in BC
kids here aren't back to school yet, by the way.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
caygibson@... writes:
>Good morning Cay.
> Any advice would be most helpful...if I could just get a *peek*
> inside your *unschools* today. What are your dc doing right this
> moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with them
> for when you get off the computer?
>
Today we are going to "just hang out" and see where that leads. Riht now ds
almost 8yrs is watching Star Wars ep. 2, dd 2yrs is sleeping with her dad. The
horses are fed, so are dogs and chickens. I will think of something for
breakfast soon, supper is made, and my broken arm really hurts today, so I will take
it easy for the most part.
Ds will probably try to find a friend to play with, or go play computer. We
may read,go for a walk,play cards. Dd will putter around and sing and be nude,
for most of the day.I am caring for a friends 2 younger kids while older one
goes to riding lesson and then we may have tea.
We can't go anywhere cause I can't drive right now, but it is fun to stay
home. Dh goes to work at 2pm, we might make cookis or paint, or we might watch
more tv, depends on the children's preference. I may clean ds room, as he is
having trouble moving in there, but I asked first, and he said yes.
then supper, maybe a walk(my legs aren't broken!) perhaps a board game when
dd goes to sleep, maybe read some more.
Sounds pretty up in the air, loose etc., but we really like it that way,
spontaneity works well for us, as does this fabulous unschooling way of life. We
can breath.
Nancy in BC
kids here aren't back to school yet, by the way.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Teresa
--- In [email protected], LOWRIEK@a... wrote:
to go to the preschool, where my sister works as the Director,to
volunteer. She has been anxiously waiting all summer while public
school was out ( and preschool, that follows the ps schedule)to begin
volunteering when school started back. Preschool started last week,
but it was very chaotic with new 2 yr olds beginning for the first
time, so she waited til this week when things calmed down a bit. SO,
I took her to preschool and my sister was getting ready to take her
out to the playground to meet some of the kids when I left.
I got back home and Ethan and JP were up and playing N64. I noticed
that Landon ( who goes to public high school, he is a Sr) was still
in bed. I guess he is not going to school today. I began checking
my email, reading, replying to some.. Ethan came in and asked me to
find some cheats for Lego Racers. I did that and printed them off
for him. I hear them in thier bedroom bumping around and talking,
but I do not know what they are doing.
Every day just goes by and we do whatever comes up. Some of the
highlights of this week have been:
On Monday we visted an former ( and most favorite) teacher of Anna
and Ethan. She had a baby 6wks ago. That was a wonderful visit.
She was totally into the unschooling and very supportive. Ethan and
JP played on her game cube while Anna, Jen, and I cooed over the baby
and just chatted. We stopped at Wal-mart on the way home and JP got
some marked down dragon thingy and Ethan got a new pack of Yu-gi-oh
cards. I saw another homeschooling mom at Wal-mart, her son takes
karate with JP. I blew her away talking about how we DON"T do
school. LOL.. they do FIAR.
On Tuesday, I had to run errands to the bank and credit union. Anna
went with me, Ethan and JP stayed home and played N64. ( that was
for about an hour) I took Anna to piano, JP went with me, Ethan
stayed home. I came back from piano, dropped JP off.. I thought
they would want to go to the park day, but Ethan and JP wanted to
finish playing Lego Racers. I took Anna to the orthodontist. She
gets her braces off next week!. When we got back from the ortho, we
watched Analyze That. OH, we had watched Swim Fan that morning before
I ran the errands. Then, I took the rented DVDs back and Anna and I
went to the grocery store. The boys stayed home. They cleaned thier
room last night. JP had dumped all of the legos and imaginext toys
out.
We are going to the laundrette today ( our washing machine is
broken) Tomorrow we are going to a new park day at a new location.
Then, we are leaving to go camping in Tennesse for Labor Day. If we
don't leave tomorrow evening, we will leave early Friday morning..
We are staying til Monday. We will probably hike, bike, hang out,
ride horses, just general camping stuff.. I get to try out my new
dutch oven!! YAYYYY.. My sister and her family and my first cousin
and her family are also camping with us. It will be LOTS of fun.
Teresa
> In a message dated 27/08/2003 07:22:31 Pacific Daylight Time,them
> caygibson@x... writes:
>
>
> >
> > Any advice would be most helpful...if I could just get a *peek*
> > inside your *unschools* today. What are your dc doing right this
> > moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with
> > for when you get off the computer?This morning, Anna came in and woke me up around 9:45 am. She wanted
> >
to go to the preschool, where my sister works as the Director,to
volunteer. She has been anxiously waiting all summer while public
school was out ( and preschool, that follows the ps schedule)to begin
volunteering when school started back. Preschool started last week,
but it was very chaotic with new 2 yr olds beginning for the first
time, so she waited til this week when things calmed down a bit. SO,
I took her to preschool and my sister was getting ready to take her
out to the playground to meet some of the kids when I left.
I got back home and Ethan and JP were up and playing N64. I noticed
that Landon ( who goes to public high school, he is a Sr) was still
in bed. I guess he is not going to school today. I began checking
my email, reading, replying to some.. Ethan came in and asked me to
find some cheats for Lego Racers. I did that and printed them off
for him. I hear them in thier bedroom bumping around and talking,
but I do not know what they are doing.
Every day just goes by and we do whatever comes up. Some of the
highlights of this week have been:
On Monday we visted an former ( and most favorite) teacher of Anna
and Ethan. She had a baby 6wks ago. That was a wonderful visit.
She was totally into the unschooling and very supportive. Ethan and
JP played on her game cube while Anna, Jen, and I cooed over the baby
and just chatted. We stopped at Wal-mart on the way home and JP got
some marked down dragon thingy and Ethan got a new pack of Yu-gi-oh
cards. I saw another homeschooling mom at Wal-mart, her son takes
karate with JP. I blew her away talking about how we DON"T do
school. LOL.. they do FIAR.
On Tuesday, I had to run errands to the bank and credit union. Anna
went with me, Ethan and JP stayed home and played N64. ( that was
for about an hour) I took Anna to piano, JP went with me, Ethan
stayed home. I came back from piano, dropped JP off.. I thought
they would want to go to the park day, but Ethan and JP wanted to
finish playing Lego Racers. I took Anna to the orthodontist. She
gets her braces off next week!. When we got back from the ortho, we
watched Analyze That. OH, we had watched Swim Fan that morning before
I ran the errands. Then, I took the rented DVDs back and Anna and I
went to the grocery store. The boys stayed home. They cleaned thier
room last night. JP had dumped all of the legos and imaginext toys
out.
We are going to the laundrette today ( our washing machine is
broken) Tomorrow we are going to a new park day at a new location.
Then, we are leaving to go camping in Tennesse for Labor Day. If we
don't leave tomorrow evening, we will leave early Friday morning..
We are staying til Monday. We will probably hike, bike, hang out,
ride horses, just general camping stuff.. I get to try out my new
dutch oven!! YAYYYY.. My sister and her family and my first cousin
and her family are also camping with us. It will be LOTS of fun.
Teresa
[email protected]
-=-I worry that my dc are just *playing* in the
living room. -=-
Try to separate (forever) "just" from "playing."
-=-I admire hs families whose dc do self-study on their own during the
day. My dc tend to wait for me to place something in front of
them...otherwise they're off *playing*.-=-
"During the day" is a problem, if you want to get to unschooling. Learning
happens ALL the time.
If your children tend to wait for you to place something in front of them,
that's what you taught them by using structure. Place this in front of them:
The whole world and the freedom to be in it.
The self-study that needs to happen is all yours at this point. When you
learn to see the value of play and to know where and how natural learning
happens, then unschooling can start to take off.
Deschooling:
http://sandradodd.com/deschooling
(and go to some of the links at the bottom)
Typical days:
http://sandradodd.com/typical
Late-Night Learning:
http://sandradodd.com/latenightlearning
This morning two of my kids are in New Mexico (probably asleep) and Marty,
the mid-kid, is with me at Kelly's house in South Carolina. He's eating a pop
tart and watching Scooby Doo at the Addam's Family (pretty cool episode).
Kelly and Duncan are at the dentist. Then we're going to pack our stuff into the
car and go to:
fire engine museum
along with their family to get Cameron a skateboard
an ice cream shop
the air port.
I'm sure Holly's asleep; it's 9:30 there, and she and I were up instant
messaging until 1:00 her time. She's 11, and was thrilled to find me online. I've
been gone since last Thursday. We had had one phone conversation.
Kirby works at 5:00 (I think) at a gaming shop, so he'll probably sleep until
noon. He'll be at work when I get home, probably.
Sandra
living room. -=-
Try to separate (forever) "just" from "playing."
-=-I admire hs families whose dc do self-study on their own during the
day. My dc tend to wait for me to place something in front of
them...otherwise they're off *playing*.-=-
"During the day" is a problem, if you want to get to unschooling. Learning
happens ALL the time.
If your children tend to wait for you to place something in front of them,
that's what you taught them by using structure. Place this in front of them:
The whole world and the freedom to be in it.
The self-study that needs to happen is all yours at this point. When you
learn to see the value of play and to know where and how natural learning
happens, then unschooling can start to take off.
Deschooling:
http://sandradodd.com/deschooling
(and go to some of the links at the bottom)
Typical days:
http://sandradodd.com/typical
Late-Night Learning:
http://sandradodd.com/latenightlearning
This morning two of my kids are in New Mexico (probably asleep) and Marty,
the mid-kid, is with me at Kelly's house in South Carolina. He's eating a pop
tart and watching Scooby Doo at the Addam's Family (pretty cool episode).
Kelly and Duncan are at the dentist. Then we're going to pack our stuff into the
car and go to:
fire engine museum
along with their family to get Cameron a skateboard
an ice cream shop
the air port.
I'm sure Holly's asleep; it's 9:30 there, and she and I were up instant
messaging until 1:00 her time. She's 11, and was thrilled to find me online. I've
been gone since last Thursday. We had had one phone conversation.
Kirby works at 5:00 (I think) at a gaming shop, so he'll probably sleep until
noon. He'll be at work when I get home, probably.
Sandra
Crystal
>>>>if I could just get a *peek* inside your *unschools* today.>>>>Our day so far has been pretty boring. Erica got up around 8:30. She went
on the computer. She was coordinating all her Yahoo IDs with their
passwords and writing them down in her notebook when I got up because she's
got so many that she's starting to forget which screen name goes with which
password. Sean and I were still sleeping.
Around 9:30 my grandson called and woke me up. He's only 19 months but he
was pulling a chair toward the phone so my daughter said to him, "who are
you calling". He said "grammy", so she called me and I talked to him.
After Erica finished what she was doing I asked her for a turn at the
computer. This was about 10. She made macaroni salad for lunch. It came
out pretty good. She could have cooked the macaroni a minute longer, but it
tasted good. About 11 Sean got up and brought his laundry down to the
basement to wash it.
Right now, they are both sitting on the couch watching music videos, eating
their macaroni and arguing. Something about large numbers, I'm not really
listening. Erica just had me stop writing this to find a poll on BET.com
that she wanted to vote in.
Later we have to go to WalMart to pick up Sean's glasses. He lost one of
the lenses so I had to leave them while they ordered the correct lens. They
were done on Saturday but I was at the conference. Poor kid had to go a
week without them. I got some of Jim Weiss' tapes so we're going to listen
to one of them in the car on the way to WalMart. My husband will probably
pick up my grandson on his way home from work to spend a couple of days with
us. We keep him until he asks to go home, usually 3 days is all he can take
of us.
You should have asked this last night when we were discussing quantum
physics and whether or not time travel could be possible. At least then we
wouldn't look so boring!
Crystal
Jenny E.
> What are your dc doing right thisRight now it is 8:50am. I just got up and started some coffee. Hubby and
> moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with them
> for when you get off the computer?
boys (7and just about 5) are still in bed. Hubby will probably get up in
about 30 minutes to start getting ready for work. The boys may get up any
time or they may sleep until 10:30 when they need to get up so we can take
Hubby to work. After taking him to work, the boys and I will get ready for
library day with our homeschool group. Some of the group may decide to go
for ice cream today. Not sure if we will go to ice cream or not. After
that we need to head to Babies R Us to find a baby shower gift. Then it's
home to whatever the day brings us.
The day will depend on what they boys want to do. There are no plans. We
may get some cool book at the library that has a project or experiment in
it, maybe they will just want to read their books without me...maybe with
me. They may want to watch a movie or play video games or fantasy
play....there is no telling right now.
Namaste,
Jen :o)
Mom to Beck (7) and Dane (4...almost 5!)
Learning the natural way every day!
Crystal
>>>We're not glued to our kids ;-) so much as we areaware of their needs and are there to help them get what they want.>>>
Joyce, I like the way you worded this. It really does explain what I do
very well.
Crystal
Jon and Rue Kream
Hi Cay -
**What do you admire about it?
The kids and I do some things on our own, some things together, and some
things alone while physically together throughout the day. Right now Rowan
is watching Scooby Doo and occasionally drawing, Dagny is 1/2 watching and
writing something, and I am 1/2 listening and writing to you :0). A while
ago Rowan was trying to figure out how to set her watch and playing with the
dogs, Dagny was checking out the message boards and playing with some
magnets and common pins, and I was unpacking and doing laundry from our trip
to the conference so we can go camping in two days. We're all pretty tired,
so I expect we'll maybe watch a movie or go lay on the hammock for a while.
**Off playing is good! I guess you could call some of the things my kids do
'self-study', but if you asked them they'd say they were playing. It's not
*just* play. It's PLAY!!! Children do it because they know what they need.
We're taught not to value play, and to think it's something people should
outgrow a desire for, but it is valuable, and I hope to be playing all my
life. What's more important than joy and imagining and thinking and
dreaming and learning and hoping and creativity? Play is all of those
things and more.
moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with them
for when you get off the computer?
**I'd imagine that what my kids do on a daily basis isn't so different from
what your kids want to do. What's different is how what they're doing is
viewed. In our house fun is important, play is valuable, and learning is
everywhere. We're not much interested in "disciplined learning", since the
undisciplined kind is much more fun :0). ~Rue
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>I admire hs families whose dc do self-study on their own during theday.
**What do you admire about it?
The kids and I do some things on our own, some things together, and some
things alone while physically together throughout the day. Right now Rowan
is watching Scooby Doo and occasionally drawing, Dagny is 1/2 watching and
writing something, and I am 1/2 listening and writing to you :0). A while
ago Rowan was trying to figure out how to set her watch and playing with the
dogs, Dagny was checking out the message boards and playing with some
magnets and common pins, and I was unpacking and doing laundry from our trip
to the conference so we can go camping in two days. We're all pretty tired,
so I expect we'll maybe watch a movie or go lay on the hammock for a while.
>>My dc tend to wait for me to place something in front ofthem...otherwise they're off *playing*.
**Off playing is good! I guess you could call some of the things my kids do
'self-study', but if you asked them they'd say they were playing. It's not
*just* play. It's PLAY!!! Children do it because they know what they need.
We're taught not to value play, and to think it's something people should
outgrow a desire for, but it is valuable, and I hope to be playing all my
life. What's more important than joy and imagining and thinking and
dreaming and learning and hoping and creativity? Play is all of those
things and more.
>>Any advice would be most helpful...if I could just get a *peek*inside your *unschools* today. What are your dc doing right this
moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with them
for when you get off the computer?
**I'd imagine that what my kids do on a daily basis isn't so different from
what your kids want to do. What's different is how what they're doing is
viewed. In our house fun is important, play is valuable, and learning is
everywhere. We're not much interested in "disciplined learning", since the
undisciplined kind is much more fun :0). ~Rue
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Melissa
Hello Cay,
I, too, have been lurking and reading. Have learned much and am sure will learn more. I have 3 dd ages 16, 14, and 11. Everyday is different for us for the most part. We plan some activities around things we are interested in. Especially if something special is going on in the area. We usually find out about events in the local paper or a local parents magazine. I am always on the look out for anything that we may want to do, either at home or away from home. And not everyone needs to participate. I am fortunate that the girls are interested in a number of the same things, but if not they are capable (ready) to stay home if they do not want to come along.
That said, right now all 3 girls are watching The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Our entire family LOVES this series and have anxiously awaited the release on dvd. I picked it up yesterday but since it is a long movie and the OC was on last night they waited until today to watch it. I will be making popcorn soon. Earlier this a.m. my 16 you spent time on the computer(2hrs). She has a wide variety of interests and surfs the net for just about everything. She loves fantasy and I found a free e-course about the Lord of the Rings for her to participate in. My 14 year old volunteers at a local horse ranch and also takes lessons there. So that is her passion and I try to encourage that as much as possible. In September she will partcipate in a pony show to raise money for The Minnesota Animal Hooved Rescue. I also will be there again this year to work the concession stand. She is a little more shy and quite than my other 2 so having me close by puts her more at ease and she will more likely want to participate. My 11 year old loves science and art. So I always make sure she has a wide variety of art supplies (right now there are great sales going on) and science books/ magazines around for her. Also web sites can be found for just about any interests. We live on a hobby farm, so everyone helps out (spoils, plays) with the animals. Right now they include 3 dogs, 3 cats, 3 rabbits, 9 hens, 2 Bantam roosters, 4 ducks and 1 African goose. We hope to expand soon with dairy goats. And eventually sheep. Before we add any animal the girls and I do research about different breeds and their needs.We also have a large bird feeding station and are always watching the daily activity.
Sorry this is longer than I had planned, but I still could add more. I guess we are busier than I thought. And I didn't even add some of their planned activites. No wonder I am so tired some days! :) But I wouldn't want it anyother way!
Melissa in Minnesota
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I, too, have been lurking and reading. Have learned much and am sure will learn more. I have 3 dd ages 16, 14, and 11. Everyday is different for us for the most part. We plan some activities around things we are interested in. Especially if something special is going on in the area. We usually find out about events in the local paper or a local parents magazine. I am always on the look out for anything that we may want to do, either at home or away from home. And not everyone needs to participate. I am fortunate that the girls are interested in a number of the same things, but if not they are capable (ready) to stay home if they do not want to come along.
That said, right now all 3 girls are watching The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Our entire family LOVES this series and have anxiously awaited the release on dvd. I picked it up yesterday but since it is a long movie and the OC was on last night they waited until today to watch it. I will be making popcorn soon. Earlier this a.m. my 16 you spent time on the computer(2hrs). She has a wide variety of interests and surfs the net for just about everything. She loves fantasy and I found a free e-course about the Lord of the Rings for her to participate in. My 14 year old volunteers at a local horse ranch and also takes lessons there. So that is her passion and I try to encourage that as much as possible. In September she will partcipate in a pony show to raise money for The Minnesota Animal Hooved Rescue. I also will be there again this year to work the concession stand. She is a little more shy and quite than my other 2 so having me close by puts her more at ease and she will more likely want to participate. My 11 year old loves science and art. So I always make sure she has a wide variety of art supplies (right now there are great sales going on) and science books/ magazines around for her. Also web sites can be found for just about any interests. We live on a hobby farm, so everyone helps out (spoils, plays) with the animals. Right now they include 3 dogs, 3 cats, 3 rabbits, 9 hens, 2 Bantam roosters, 4 ducks and 1 African goose. We hope to expand soon with dairy goats. And eventually sheep. Before we add any animal the girls and I do research about different breeds and their needs.We also have a large bird feeding station and are always watching the daily activity.
Sorry this is longer than I had planned, but I still could add more. I guess we are busier than I thought. And I didn't even add some of their planned activites. No wonder I am so tired some days! :) But I wouldn't want it anyother way!
Melissa in Minnesota
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
zanhawk
We slept in this morning (that happens alot as we always stay up past
midnight)
It was storming this AM when dh got up for work It was great sleeping
weather. Shortly after dh left (poor guy, we wish he could stay home and
play everyday) Max (9yo) got up and played Gauntlet on the gamecube. He
then went to the family room and watched some morning cartoons. Then I got
up. Sam (12yo girl) woke up shortly after me. They had breakfast (cereal).
Right now Sam is helping out by doing the dishes. Max is doing a combination
of picking up toys and such from the family room floor while doing some
karate type moves and making fighting noises LOL
I am wriiting (of course) and petting the dog, wondering if I really have to
goto the grocery store today (I hate shopping). DH will be home for lunch in
about 2 hours. We usually eat lunch while DH and I dicuss current events
(politics, news articles, etc) The kids almost always get in on the
discussion.
Max is planning a game that he wants to play with his best friend this
afternoon after PS gets out. He is telling me about the props they will use
and what characters they have decided to play. Sam and I will probably play
with the sewing machine again. She has shown a great interest in learning to
sew recently. So we dug out the machine last week, bought some remnants to
practice on, and some patterns. A local homeschooler is offering classes for
sewing, and Sam really wants to do it. I've got to call today and find out
when the classes start. After that we may watch a movie, read, play games or
whatever suits us. Sam has been going thru some tough times recently with
her best friend (she is in public school, we'll call her "B") B's Mom has
been trying to talk Sam into going to PS all summer. She said that B is
taking all honors courses and will not have time for friends "except at
school" ARGH! So instead of seeing B everyday, now she is lucky to see her
once a week and she just lives down the block. So Sam has been spending more
time with me and/or a homeschooled boy (first big crush LOL) that lives down
the street. I am sure around 3pm today kids will begin to show up on our
doorstep asking if the kids can play. This evening someone will probably
help me with dinner. One of my friends will probably stop by. When DH gets
home we will talk about stuff over dinner. He will more than likely play a
game at the kids request.
The possibilities are endless. Some days we are out all day long. Our plans
could change at any moment, we fly by the seat of our pants around here and
we love it!
Jamie
midnight)
It was storming this AM when dh got up for work It was great sleeping
weather. Shortly after dh left (poor guy, we wish he could stay home and
play everyday) Max (9yo) got up and played Gauntlet on the gamecube. He
then went to the family room and watched some morning cartoons. Then I got
up. Sam (12yo girl) woke up shortly after me. They had breakfast (cereal).
Right now Sam is helping out by doing the dishes. Max is doing a combination
of picking up toys and such from the family room floor while doing some
karate type moves and making fighting noises LOL
I am wriiting (of course) and petting the dog, wondering if I really have to
goto the grocery store today (I hate shopping). DH will be home for lunch in
about 2 hours. We usually eat lunch while DH and I dicuss current events
(politics, news articles, etc) The kids almost always get in on the
discussion.
Max is planning a game that he wants to play with his best friend this
afternoon after PS gets out. He is telling me about the props they will use
and what characters they have decided to play. Sam and I will probably play
with the sewing machine again. She has shown a great interest in learning to
sew recently. So we dug out the machine last week, bought some remnants to
practice on, and some patterns. A local homeschooler is offering classes for
sewing, and Sam really wants to do it. I've got to call today and find out
when the classes start. After that we may watch a movie, read, play games or
whatever suits us. Sam has been going thru some tough times recently with
her best friend (she is in public school, we'll call her "B") B's Mom has
been trying to talk Sam into going to PS all summer. She said that B is
taking all honors courses and will not have time for friends "except at
school" ARGH! So instead of seeing B everyday, now she is lucky to see her
once a week and she just lives down the block. So Sam has been spending more
time with me and/or a homeschooled boy (first big crush LOL) that lives down
the street. I am sure around 3pm today kids will begin to show up on our
doorstep asking if the kids can play. This evening someone will probably
help me with dinner. One of my friends will probably stop by. When DH gets
home we will talk about stuff over dinner. He will more than likely play a
game at the kids request.
The possibilities are endless. Some days we are out all day long. Our plans
could change at any moment, we fly by the seat of our pants around here and
we love it!
Jamie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cay A. Gibson" <caygibson@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 9:18 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-Discussion] What are you doing this morning?
Cay A. Gibson
--- In [email protected], "Teresa"
<TeresaBnNC@a...> wrote:
I blew her away talking about how we DON"T do
replies. :-)
this remark by Teresa really perked my ears up...or caused my
eyebrow to raise ...being the case of email. ;-) The reason is
because I use FIAR and love it. I know Teresa doesn't mean anything
against FIAR when she shared this...and I'm not taking it that way.
I just wanted to make mention that *boxed* curriculum hsers think
that FIAR is unschooling in some ways. They can't see a complete
learning style coming out of using FIAR. It's more of an extra.
There are days we've done only FIAR because I didn't want to do
anything else. And, since I love literature and books, I enjoy FIAR
immensely.
I guess what's considered work for someone may be considered fun for
another.
Huh? Is that part of the concept behind unschooling? Are am I way
off track? Does anyone do any "planned" study...such as FIAR or
otherwise? I know I sound like a novie hsers...and I am a novice
*unschooler*. Maybe I'm asking all the wrong questions. But I
really do want to have peace of mind on these *unschool* days that
we pull while we're *unschooling* this year. My lifestyle requires
it this year.
Blessings,
Cay
Mom to Corey 15.11, Kayleigh 13.3, Garrett 10.5, Chelsea 5.10, and
Annie 20 months
Author of "Literature Alive!" http://literaturealive.tripod.com
Take the boredom out of reading and make literature come Alive!
within your home!
<TeresaBnNC@a...> wrote:
I blew her away talking about how we DON"T do
> school. LOL.. they do FIAR.I am SO enjoying everyone's answers...trying to keep up with the
replies. :-)
this remark by Teresa really perked my ears up...or caused my
eyebrow to raise ...being the case of email. ;-) The reason is
because I use FIAR and love it. I know Teresa doesn't mean anything
against FIAR when she shared this...and I'm not taking it that way.
I just wanted to make mention that *boxed* curriculum hsers think
that FIAR is unschooling in some ways. They can't see a complete
learning style coming out of using FIAR. It's more of an extra.
There are days we've done only FIAR because I didn't want to do
anything else. And, since I love literature and books, I enjoy FIAR
immensely.
I guess what's considered work for someone may be considered fun for
another.
Huh? Is that part of the concept behind unschooling? Are am I way
off track? Does anyone do any "planned" study...such as FIAR or
otherwise? I know I sound like a novie hsers...and I am a novice
*unschooler*. Maybe I'm asking all the wrong questions. But I
really do want to have peace of mind on these *unschool* days that
we pull while we're *unschooling* this year. My lifestyle requires
it this year.
Blessings,
Cay
Mom to Corey 15.11, Kayleigh 13.3, Garrett 10.5, Chelsea 5.10, and
Annie 20 months
Author of "Literature Alive!" http://literaturealive.tripod.com
Take the boredom out of reading and make literature come Alive!
within your home!
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/27/03 09:22:18 AM Central Daylight Time,
caygibson@... writes:
Yet (even after six years of hsing) I still
think of the structured/disciplined learning that is happneing in a
school room today and I worry that my dc are just *playing* in the
living room.
I admire hs families whose dc do self-study on their own during the
day. My dc tend to wait for me to place something in front of
them...otherwise they're off *playing*.
Any advice would be most helpful...if I could just get a *peek*
inside your *unschools* today. What are your dc doing right this
moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with them
for when you get off the computer?
First, I think it is great that all five of your kids are playing together!
That is what mine are doing too. I am concerned that you are making statements
about "just playing" and "otherwise they're off playing" as if playing is
frivolous and something to be discouraged. My kids learn the most when they are
"just" playing.
This morning my dh rolled out of bed, did his morning thing and then crawled
back into bed with me. I heard something in my sleep that sounded like; "I've
got a few minutes, just wanted to cuddle..." I went back to sleep and woke up
when he kissed me good-bye. (I think he was late! <g>) The kids came
downstairs about 10 minutes later, Moly took our dog out and came back in and crawled
into bed with Jack and I. Maggie (the dog) got excited and jumped in bed too.
After about 5 minutes of cuddle time Jack got up and fixed himself some cereal.
Moly and I played "Where's the puppy" with Maggie for a few minutes then Moly
went and got some treats to show me she taught Maggie the down command. (She
learned it from Animal Planet when she was "just" watching TV <g>) Then she
and I got up and fixed coffee.
I spent time on the phone with a friend to make arraignments to help her pack
for a move and with my MIL who wanted to make plans for Christmas. The kids
ate breakfast and watched the last part of LOTR that they had missed last night
when they fell asleep. Yep! The fell asleep on their own, no one told them to
go to bed. Moly got up when she was tired and went upstairs on her own. After
the movie was over, Darin woke Jack up enough to tell him he was still on the
floor and did he want to sleep there or go upstairs. Jack went upstairs.
They have played on the computer with some games they got from the library.
Moly was coloring in a new American Girl coloring book (Kaya) she bought
yesterday afternoon. She has been mowing yards this summer, and she had a lemonade
stand during the fiesta and has earned quite a bit of money! She wanted to get
the coloring book at Barnes and Noble last week, but didn't have the $14 or so
on her. I had told her I would buy it for her, but she wanted to get it
herself. Yesterday we were at Sam's Club and she found it for half what it is
selling for at Barnes so she bought it. She asked, while coloring, where Columbus
landed when he first came to America. I told her I wasn't too sure, but I
thought it was somewhere in the Bahamas. So she looked it up. I was right. Then her
little brother asked if she wanted to play marbles with him so she put her
things up and they got all of his marbles out. Jack wanted to draw a circle on
the floor with chalk. I suggested a string tied to make a circle. They thought
that was a great idea. I did too. <g>
Darin got home to eat and give me the car, the kids had tons of things to
show him. Right now they are building with Moly's new Ello set of fairies. Darin
asked me if I was going to bring in my plants off the front porch today. I
said yes. Then he asked the kids if they would please clean the porch off so he
can sand it this weekend. Moly asked if he wanted it done right now or just
sometime, he said whenever. No yelling or demanding, no time limit, just a nice
request and I am sure the kids will do it for him. Jack wants to help sand.
Darin said he will look for small eye goggles, Jack said he can use his swim
mask. Yes he can, great idea!
Moly went and got the sand paper pads for the sander and is now trying to
figure out how many pads they will need for the porch. Jack suggested measuring
the porch so they have abandoned the Ello set and Daddy and are off in search
of a measuring tape. Darin wants to go back to work soon, so I will leave the
kids to their "math" and take him back. Darin is still "playing" with the Ello.
This afternoon we will go swimming and I will take them to a friends house to
play so I can go help my other friend pack for her move.
Some days we "do" more than others. Mostly we just live and go with what ever
presents itself at the moment. Hope this helps.
~Nancy
He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered
whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.
Douglas Adams
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
caygibson@... writes:
Yet (even after six years of hsing) I still
think of the structured/disciplined learning that is happneing in a
school room today and I worry that my dc are just *playing* in the
living room.
I admire hs families whose dc do self-study on their own during the
day. My dc tend to wait for me to place something in front of
them...otherwise they're off *playing*.
Any advice would be most helpful...if I could just get a *peek*
inside your *unschools* today. What are your dc doing right this
moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with them
for when you get off the computer?
First, I think it is great that all five of your kids are playing together!
That is what mine are doing too. I am concerned that you are making statements
about "just playing" and "otherwise they're off playing" as if playing is
frivolous and something to be discouraged. My kids learn the most when they are
"just" playing.
This morning my dh rolled out of bed, did his morning thing and then crawled
back into bed with me. I heard something in my sleep that sounded like; "I've
got a few minutes, just wanted to cuddle..." I went back to sleep and woke up
when he kissed me good-bye. (I think he was late! <g>) The kids came
downstairs about 10 minutes later, Moly took our dog out and came back in and crawled
into bed with Jack and I. Maggie (the dog) got excited and jumped in bed too.
After about 5 minutes of cuddle time Jack got up and fixed himself some cereal.
Moly and I played "Where's the puppy" with Maggie for a few minutes then Moly
went and got some treats to show me she taught Maggie the down command. (She
learned it from Animal Planet when she was "just" watching TV <g>) Then she
and I got up and fixed coffee.
I spent time on the phone with a friend to make arraignments to help her pack
for a move and with my MIL who wanted to make plans for Christmas. The kids
ate breakfast and watched the last part of LOTR that they had missed last night
when they fell asleep. Yep! The fell asleep on their own, no one told them to
go to bed. Moly got up when she was tired and went upstairs on her own. After
the movie was over, Darin woke Jack up enough to tell him he was still on the
floor and did he want to sleep there or go upstairs. Jack went upstairs.
They have played on the computer with some games they got from the library.
Moly was coloring in a new American Girl coloring book (Kaya) she bought
yesterday afternoon. She has been mowing yards this summer, and she had a lemonade
stand during the fiesta and has earned quite a bit of money! She wanted to get
the coloring book at Barnes and Noble last week, but didn't have the $14 or so
on her. I had told her I would buy it for her, but she wanted to get it
herself. Yesterday we were at Sam's Club and she found it for half what it is
selling for at Barnes so she bought it. She asked, while coloring, where Columbus
landed when he first came to America. I told her I wasn't too sure, but I
thought it was somewhere in the Bahamas. So she looked it up. I was right. Then her
little brother asked if she wanted to play marbles with him so she put her
things up and they got all of his marbles out. Jack wanted to draw a circle on
the floor with chalk. I suggested a string tied to make a circle. They thought
that was a great idea. I did too. <g>
Darin got home to eat and give me the car, the kids had tons of things to
show him. Right now they are building with Moly's new Ello set of fairies. Darin
asked me if I was going to bring in my plants off the front porch today. I
said yes. Then he asked the kids if they would please clean the porch off so he
can sand it this weekend. Moly asked if he wanted it done right now or just
sometime, he said whenever. No yelling or demanding, no time limit, just a nice
request and I am sure the kids will do it for him. Jack wants to help sand.
Darin said he will look for small eye goggles, Jack said he can use his swim
mask. Yes he can, great idea!
Moly went and got the sand paper pads for the sander and is now trying to
figure out how many pads they will need for the porch. Jack suggested measuring
the porch so they have abandoned the Ello set and Daddy and are off in search
of a measuring tape. Darin wants to go back to work soon, so I will leave the
kids to their "math" and take him back. Darin is still "playing" with the Ello.
This afternoon we will go swimming and I will take them to a friends house to
play so I can go help my other friend pack for her move.
Some days we "do" more than others. Mostly we just live and go with what ever
presents itself at the moment. Hope this helps.
~Nancy
He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered
whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.
Douglas Adams
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Cay A. Gibson
--- In [email protected], "Jon and Rue Kream"
<skreams@c...> wrote:
Thanks for the question, Rue.
Honestly I haven't stopped to wonder what I admired about it.
I guess it's seeing some children who have a wholesome enthuasiasm
for learning, a love and excitment of new learning adventures. Who
aren't scared of answering questions put to them.
I'm not saying me dc aren't like this...they are about some
things...the things they're interested in. But I dread when we're
in a situation around other hsers or public school children and my
dc clam up. I feel like they're hiding their talent and knowledge
under a bushel basket. Not that I want them to come off like "no-it-
alls" but.... Example, my middle ds mumbles terribly.
Yet we're taking a Latin class this year that meets once a week.
He's repeating the Latin like it's old shoe. I'm still trying to
remember how to say, "My name is..." :-) But he does this mostly
at home...not around his friends.
It's funny...my oldest ds was talking to me the other day and
the "stuff" he was telling me. And it was brilliant stuff (for lack
of a better word...information?) What struck me the most about all
the things he was telling me is that we never "studied" any of that
stuff (info?). I don't ever remember this as "subject" matter. I
even asked him how he knew all that "stuff". He said he just knew
it...had picked it up here and there or read about it. That was
just the other day...the day I started thinking that maybe
unschooling wasn't such a bad idea.
Also, he went to the Grand Canyon this summer with my parents. My
dad, a highly intellectual person, came back very impressed with
this young grandson. My son is a worry-wart and at times seems
unsure of himself. He has been accused of being unfocused. But my
parents were nothing short of impressed. My father was amazed at
the things Corey knew and said he handles himself well and is very
sharp-witted and quick with information.
And who is more observant of a child than the parents? The
grandparents. They look with critical eyes at the parents and
watchful eyes upon the child. My parents were basically
saying, "You've done a great job with this young man's training."
I was speechless...and amazed at God's humility and compassion.
Again...maybe there is a lot to say about the unschooling
lifestyle...which I'm sure you will all let me know. <G>
Blessings,
Cay
mom to Corey 15.11, Kayleigh 13.3, Garrett 10.5, Chelsea 5.10, and
Annie 20 months
Author of "Literature Alive!" http://literaturealive.tripod.com
Take the boredom out of reading and make literature come Alive!
within your home!
<skreams@c...> wrote:
> Hi Cay -the
>
> >>I admire hs families whose dc do self-study on their own during
> day.~Rue >>
>
> **What do you admire about it?
Thanks for the question, Rue.
Honestly I haven't stopped to wonder what I admired about it.
I guess it's seeing some children who have a wholesome enthuasiasm
for learning, a love and excitment of new learning adventures. Who
aren't scared of answering questions put to them.
I'm not saying me dc aren't like this...they are about some
things...the things they're interested in. But I dread when we're
in a situation around other hsers or public school children and my
dc clam up. I feel like they're hiding their talent and knowledge
under a bushel basket. Not that I want them to come off like "no-it-
alls" but.... Example, my middle ds mumbles terribly.
Yet we're taking a Latin class this year that meets once a week.
He's repeating the Latin like it's old shoe. I'm still trying to
remember how to say, "My name is..." :-) But he does this mostly
at home...not around his friends.
It's funny...my oldest ds was talking to me the other day and
the "stuff" he was telling me. And it was brilliant stuff (for lack
of a better word...information?) What struck me the most about all
the things he was telling me is that we never "studied" any of that
stuff (info?). I don't ever remember this as "subject" matter. I
even asked him how he knew all that "stuff". He said he just knew
it...had picked it up here and there or read about it. That was
just the other day...the day I started thinking that maybe
unschooling wasn't such a bad idea.
Also, he went to the Grand Canyon this summer with my parents. My
dad, a highly intellectual person, came back very impressed with
this young grandson. My son is a worry-wart and at times seems
unsure of himself. He has been accused of being unfocused. But my
parents were nothing short of impressed. My father was amazed at
the things Corey knew and said he handles himself well and is very
sharp-witted and quick with information.
And who is more observant of a child than the parents? The
grandparents. They look with critical eyes at the parents and
watchful eyes upon the child. My parents were basically
saying, "You've done a great job with this young man's training."
I was speechless...and amazed at God's humility and compassion.
Again...maybe there is a lot to say about the unschooling
lifestyle...which I'm sure you will all let me know. <G>
Blessings,
Cay
mom to Corey 15.11, Kayleigh 13.3, Garrett 10.5, Chelsea 5.10, and
Annie 20 months
Author of "Literature Alive!" http://literaturealive.tripod.com
Take the boredom out of reading and make literature come Alive!
within your home!
Cay A. Gibson
--- In [email protected], Dnowens@a... wrote:
yes, your post was helpful...as well as everyone else's. I ahve
lots to think about tonight. And I do understand that play is
highly under-rated in today's highly competitive world. Havn't
there been schools who have stopped having recess time altogether?
I do believe in playtime. Following CM's method, we do
our "schooling" during the morning hours and end at lunchtime. The
dc have all afternoon and night for "play" and learning on their
own. So I'm not questioning the playtime. I'm trying to adjust to
the whole unschooling mindset. I'm here with a new thinking and I'm
looking to "educate" myself. :-)
If I come across asking the wrong type question or sounding like
a "structured" person, you will all have to excuse me. I have lived
in "structure" all my life. But, with the birth of each baby, my
life has become a little more unstructured. I want to use this
unstructured lifestyle to our advantage.
What I'm seeing is that it is the excited, enthuiastic hsers who
raise excited, enthusiastic children.
Blessings,
Cay
mom to Corey 15.11, Kayleigh 13.3, Garrett 10.5, Chelsea 5.10, and
Annie 20 months
Author of "Literature Alive!" http://literaturealive.tripod.com
Take the boredom out of reading and make literature come Alive!
within your home!
> I am concerned that you are making statementsplaying is
> about "just playing" and "otherwise they're off playing" as if
> frivolous and something to be discouraged. My kids learn the mostwhen they are
> "just" playing. >>Nancy,
yes, your post was helpful...as well as everyone else's. I ahve
lots to think about tonight. And I do understand that play is
highly under-rated in today's highly competitive world. Havn't
there been schools who have stopped having recess time altogether?
I do believe in playtime. Following CM's method, we do
our "schooling" during the morning hours and end at lunchtime. The
dc have all afternoon and night for "play" and learning on their
own. So I'm not questioning the playtime. I'm trying to adjust to
the whole unschooling mindset. I'm here with a new thinking and I'm
looking to "educate" myself. :-)
If I come across asking the wrong type question or sounding like
a "structured" person, you will all have to excuse me. I have lived
in "structure" all my life. But, with the birth of each baby, my
life has become a little more unstructured. I want to use this
unstructured lifestyle to our advantage.
What I'm seeing is that it is the excited, enthuiastic hsers who
raise excited, enthusiastic children.
Blessings,
Cay
mom to Corey 15.11, Kayleigh 13.3, Garrett 10.5, Chelsea 5.10, and
Annie 20 months
Author of "Literature Alive!" http://literaturealive.tripod.com
Take the boredom out of reading and make literature come Alive!
within your home!
[email protected]
caygibson@... writes:
weather, he has it all printed out from the net. He's doing the local news, I
suppose. :-)
~Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> What are your dc doing right thisAlex has the video camera out again, and I'm about to film him reading the
> moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with them
> for when you get off the computer?
>
weather, he has it all printed out from the net. He's doing the local news, I
suppose. :-)
~Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Jon and Rue Kream
>>I guess it's seeing some children who have a wholesome enthuasiasmfor learning, a love and excitment of new learning adventures. Who
aren't scared of answering questions put to them.
**These are two totally different things, though. I love to learn new
things, but I don't like to be put on the spot. I think that a fear of
answering questions can come from a fear of giving the 'wrong' answer. The
unschooled kids I've met (and I met bunches this weekend!) don't have that
fear.
>>I dread when we'rein a situation around other hsers or public school children and my
dc clam up.
**Why? Does it upset them?
>>But he does this mostlyat home...not around his friends.
**I mean this in the nicest way, but, so what? Let him decide where and
with whom he's comfortable sharing parts of himself. Does it really matter
if his friends know that he can speak Latin? Is it anyone's business what
he knows or doesn't know? What we know isn't who we *are*. ~Rue
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
> What are your plans to do with themWe had a Not-Back-to-School picnic at a local metropark. There were about 20
> >for when you get off the computer?
>
families attending so maybe 70-ish people total. It was so cool to see all the
moms connecting and all the kids running around together.
Amy Kagey
<A HREF="http://www.ubah.com/ecommerce/default.asp?sid=Z0939&gid=1684902">my Usborne Books website!</A>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/27/03 12:40:22 PM Central Daylight Time,
caygibson@... writes:
I just wanted to make mention that *boxed* curriculum hsers think
that FIAR is unschooling in some ways. They can't see a complete
learning style coming out of using FIAR. It's more of an extra.
There are days we've done only FIAR because I didn't want to do
anything else. And, since I love literature and books, I enjoy FIAR
immensely.
I guess what's considered work for someone may be considered fun for
another.
Huh? Is that part of the concept behind unschooling? Are am I way
off track? Does anyone do any "planned" study...such as FIAR or
otherwise? I know I sound like a novie hsers...and I am a novice
*unschooler*. Maybe I'm asking all the wrong questions. But I
really do want to have peace of mind on these *unschool* days that
we pull while we're *unschooling* this year. My lifestyle requires
it this year.
I have noticed that school-at-home hsers think FIAR is unschooling too. The
problem with that is answered in your first statement above. "I don't want to
do anything else, And, since I love literature and books, I enjoy FIAR
immensely." You said "I" not "the kids..." What would your kids like to be doing?
Would they enjoy reading comics or gaming magazines or watching TV, or climbing
trees, or hiking through the woods, as opposed to reading through a list of
books designed to guide them through subjects? Because that is what FIAR is. You
read a book and then do activities or units of study based on the book. You do
FIAR because YOU enjoy it. As unschoolers, my kids read a book because they
want to and they may or may not play or do something because of what they read.
And I don't structure activities based on what they are reading. They read for
enjoyment, or to learn about something they want to know about. Like Moly
this morning wanted to know about Columbus landing in America. She was coloring,
stopped, looked up her answer, and went back to coloring. I did not question
her on her knowledge, I didn't force her to look anything up, or design an
assignment based on her question. She found out what she wanted to know and left
it at that.
Then you said you want peace of mind on these "unschool" days you "pull while
you are unschooling this year." Unschooling isn't something you "do" on a
certain day or for a year. Unschooling isn't a plan of sort, it is just life. You
have to separate the word you know as school from your vocabulary if you want
to unschool. You have to stop putting unschooling in quotes, as if it is just
another description of the kind of school-at-home you do. Many of us describe
unschooling as child led learning. BUT that doesn't mean we take an interest
of our child and turn it into a unit study. That would be eclectic schooling.
Your peace of mind comes from trusting that children will learn what they
need to know, when they need to know it. It comes from knowing that a momentary
interest in when Columbus came to America is all she needs to know at that
particular time. Now Moly knows, she will remember it, I won't have to test her on
it. You also have to know when an interest is momentary and when it is long
term. Moly want's to be a vet. She has wanted this since forever. I do as much
as possible to provide things she can use toward this goal. Her interest in
Columbus was here and gone. But I am sure she will remember it always, unlike
me, who learned it at a set time in school, spent days on the subject, probably
did some sort of report on it, had a test and promptly forgot. So before you
do anything you can ask yourself, is this momentary or lasting? Many times I
have disappointed myself and ruined a child's interest in something because I
went overboard.
Moly has her life goal all planed out. She wants to go to K-State, she even
knows what she needs to do to get into the vet school after her four years of
college are over. But I also know that Moly is only 9, she may change it at any
time. When we go to Manhattan to visit friends who own a pet store there, she
asks to go to the college. She has toured the vet school and asked questions.
She takes our dog to the vet, follows the vet around asking questions. He
lets her look in the microscope at stool samples and gets his collection of
hearts filled with worms, still born puppies and kittens, a fetal deer fawn and
other oddities out for her to examine.
She got to watch Maggie's spay last year. He recruited her one day to help
with bull dog puppies. He was doing a c-section and needed another pair of hands
to help him, his assistant and the owner. She was ecstatic! I did not ruin it
for her by quizzing her and throwing a bunch of books at her to read. Our vet
is always amazed at what she knows and he always comments that we must really
work hard on this and asks when does she find time to do her animal things
with all her other studies. In the past I have shrugged my shoulders and said
nothing. But when she told the vet that one of the bull dog puppies was "mushy"
and she thought it might have water on its brain and he examined it and told
her she was right. He again made the comment that she must be neglecting other
things to learn about animals. I finally took the time to explain that Moly
chooses to learn about animals, that she doesn't neglect anything because there
isn't anything to neglect. He thought about that for a minute and said he
wished someone had thought that way when he was a kid.
To get unschooling, you have to get life. You read because you enjoy it. You
learn about something because you want to. Let that be your guide with your
children too. Give them that same freedom and curtsey.
~Nancy
Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the
dark place where it leads.
Erica Jong
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
caygibson@... writes:
I just wanted to make mention that *boxed* curriculum hsers think
that FIAR is unschooling in some ways. They can't see a complete
learning style coming out of using FIAR. It's more of an extra.
There are days we've done only FIAR because I didn't want to do
anything else. And, since I love literature and books, I enjoy FIAR
immensely.
I guess what's considered work for someone may be considered fun for
another.
Huh? Is that part of the concept behind unschooling? Are am I way
off track? Does anyone do any "planned" study...such as FIAR or
otherwise? I know I sound like a novie hsers...and I am a novice
*unschooler*. Maybe I'm asking all the wrong questions. But I
really do want to have peace of mind on these *unschool* days that
we pull while we're *unschooling* this year. My lifestyle requires
it this year.
I have noticed that school-at-home hsers think FIAR is unschooling too. The
problem with that is answered in your first statement above. "I don't want to
do anything else, And, since I love literature and books, I enjoy FIAR
immensely." You said "I" not "the kids..." What would your kids like to be doing?
Would they enjoy reading comics or gaming magazines or watching TV, or climbing
trees, or hiking through the woods, as opposed to reading through a list of
books designed to guide them through subjects? Because that is what FIAR is. You
read a book and then do activities or units of study based on the book. You do
FIAR because YOU enjoy it. As unschoolers, my kids read a book because they
want to and they may or may not play or do something because of what they read.
And I don't structure activities based on what they are reading. They read for
enjoyment, or to learn about something they want to know about. Like Moly
this morning wanted to know about Columbus landing in America. She was coloring,
stopped, looked up her answer, and went back to coloring. I did not question
her on her knowledge, I didn't force her to look anything up, or design an
assignment based on her question. She found out what she wanted to know and left
it at that.
Then you said you want peace of mind on these "unschool" days you "pull while
you are unschooling this year." Unschooling isn't something you "do" on a
certain day or for a year. Unschooling isn't a plan of sort, it is just life. You
have to separate the word you know as school from your vocabulary if you want
to unschool. You have to stop putting unschooling in quotes, as if it is just
another description of the kind of school-at-home you do. Many of us describe
unschooling as child led learning. BUT that doesn't mean we take an interest
of our child and turn it into a unit study. That would be eclectic schooling.
Your peace of mind comes from trusting that children will learn what they
need to know, when they need to know it. It comes from knowing that a momentary
interest in when Columbus came to America is all she needs to know at that
particular time. Now Moly knows, she will remember it, I won't have to test her on
it. You also have to know when an interest is momentary and when it is long
term. Moly want's to be a vet. She has wanted this since forever. I do as much
as possible to provide things she can use toward this goal. Her interest in
Columbus was here and gone. But I am sure she will remember it always, unlike
me, who learned it at a set time in school, spent days on the subject, probably
did some sort of report on it, had a test and promptly forgot. So before you
do anything you can ask yourself, is this momentary or lasting? Many times I
have disappointed myself and ruined a child's interest in something because I
went overboard.
Moly has her life goal all planed out. She wants to go to K-State, she even
knows what she needs to do to get into the vet school after her four years of
college are over. But I also know that Moly is only 9, she may change it at any
time. When we go to Manhattan to visit friends who own a pet store there, she
asks to go to the college. She has toured the vet school and asked questions.
She takes our dog to the vet, follows the vet around asking questions. He
lets her look in the microscope at stool samples and gets his collection of
hearts filled with worms, still born puppies and kittens, a fetal deer fawn and
other oddities out for her to examine.
She got to watch Maggie's spay last year. He recruited her one day to help
with bull dog puppies. He was doing a c-section and needed another pair of hands
to help him, his assistant and the owner. She was ecstatic! I did not ruin it
for her by quizzing her and throwing a bunch of books at her to read. Our vet
is always amazed at what she knows and he always comments that we must really
work hard on this and asks when does she find time to do her animal things
with all her other studies. In the past I have shrugged my shoulders and said
nothing. But when she told the vet that one of the bull dog puppies was "mushy"
and she thought it might have water on its brain and he examined it and told
her she was right. He again made the comment that she must be neglecting other
things to learn about animals. I finally took the time to explain that Moly
chooses to learn about animals, that she doesn't neglect anything because there
isn't anything to neglect. He thought about that for a minute and said he
wished someone had thought that way when he was a kid.
To get unschooling, you have to get life. You read because you enjoy it. You
learn about something because you want to. Let that be your guide with your
children too. Give them that same freedom and curtsey.
~Nancy
Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the
dark place where it leads.
Erica Jong
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 17:35:10 -0000 "Cay A. Gibson"
<caygibson@...> writes:
do FIAR... but your kids might not want to join you, or they might want
to just sit in on the stories but not do the other activities, or they
might want to skip the Monday and Tuesday activities and then modify the
Wednesday one, or whatever.
What my daughter likes is theatre, so most days we have the structure of
a rehearsal at some point. She decides what to audition for and then
after casting she'll generally get a rehearsal schedule, and most
evenings she'll ask me what's planned for the next day. She asks me to
run lines with her sometimes, and I do. She's never failed to be off-book
by the deadline. Today she has rehearsal from 4:30 to 6:30, and I offered
to take her shopping before that for an "audition outfit" - when I was a
kid we always got a new outfit for the first day of school, and since
most of her clothes are from thrift stores or hand-me-downs, we thought
getting a brand-new outfit would be a good thing. We also need to get a
birthday present for my grandma and one for a friend of hers - she's been
chosing beads and making personalized necklaces for most of her friends'
birthdays lately, so we'll probably do that.
Sometime late last night or early this morning she planned her next
birthday party, including writing a guest list and coming up with a list
of places to possibly have the party. She has a group of friends from the
bay area, where we used to live, and she wants to invite them, too, so
she was thinking of places in between Davis and Alameda. She'll be eleven
in January, so this is really planning ahead...
on others. Unschooling permeates our lives, and the basis of unschooling
is my daughter's freedom to chose her own paths for learning. She started
writing a novel the other day, after writing very little for 5 years. It
was cool - I think I posted about it other places, but maybe not here.
I do think having "peace of mind" with unschooling is important - but I
think you have to recognize it as your issue, and not put it on your
kids. If you give the mssage that you're not feeling comfortable about
unschooling because they're not learning certain things, or learning in
certain ways, then you're actively sabotaging the process and it won't
work. You're the one who needs to work on changing your beliefs about
learning and schooling...
Dar
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
<caygibson@...> writes:
>And, since I love literature and books, I enjoy FIAR immensely.Unschooling is about everyone doing what they enjoy, so you'd be free to
do FIAR... but your kids might not want to join you, or they might want
to just sit in on the stories but not do the other activities, or they
might want to skip the Monday and Tuesday activities and then modify the
Wednesday one, or whatever.
What my daughter likes is theatre, so most days we have the structure of
a rehearsal at some point. She decides what to audition for and then
after casting she'll generally get a rehearsal schedule, and most
evenings she'll ask me what's planned for the next day. She asks me to
run lines with her sometimes, and I do. She's never failed to be off-book
by the deadline. Today she has rehearsal from 4:30 to 6:30, and I offered
to take her shopping before that for an "audition outfit" - when I was a
kid we always got a new outfit for the first day of school, and since
most of her clothes are from thrift stores or hand-me-downs, we thought
getting a brand-new outfit would be a good thing. We also need to get a
birthday present for my grandma and one for a friend of hers - she's been
chosing beads and making personalized necklaces for most of her friends'
birthdays lately, so we'll probably do that.
Sometime late last night or early this morning she planned her next
birthday party, including writing a guest list and coming up with a list
of places to possibly have the party. She has a group of friends from the
bay area, where we used to live, and she wants to invite them, too, so
she was thinking of places in between Davis and Alameda. She'll be eleven
in January, so this is really planning ahead...
> But II don't think of unschooling as something you can do on some days but not
> really do want to have peace of mind on these *unschool* days that
> we pull while we're *unschooling* this year. My lifestyle requires
> it this year.
on others. Unschooling permeates our lives, and the basis of unschooling
is my daughter's freedom to chose her own paths for learning. She started
writing a novel the other day, after writing very little for 5 years. It
was cool - I think I posted about it other places, but maybe not here.
I do think having "peace of mind" with unschooling is important - but I
think you have to recognize it as your issue, and not put it on your
kids. If you give the mssage that you're not feeling comfortable about
unschooling because they're not learning certain things, or learning in
certain ways, then you're actively sabotaging the process and it won't
work. You're the one who needs to work on changing your beliefs about
learning and schooling...
Dar
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Betsy
>>>We're not glued to our kids ;-) so much as we are aware of theirneeds and are there to help them get what they want.>>>
<<<Joyce, I like the way you worded this. It really does explain what I
do very well.>>>
Anyone have suggestions, other than "direct interogation", for being
more aware of our kids needs? My son is kind of quiet and hard to "draw
out".
Betsy
Fetteroll
on 8/27/03 1:35 PM, Cay A. Gibson at caygibson@... wrote:
that's because their kids ask for it.
The vision you have of learning/education (as most people do!) is of getting
the child from where she is to where she's supposed to go.
But for unschoolers there's no predefined end point. It's more like the
nurturing of a tree, giving it the water and room and sunlight it needs to
grow into what it will become.
textbooks to someone who is thinking in school terms.
Play to unschoolers is doing what they enjoy. When my daughter writes,
that's play to her. Play is how she spends her days. Learning happens as a
side effect.
Joyce
> Is that part of the concept behind unschooling? Are am I wayWrong track. Some unschooling parents may do something more structured but
> off track? Does anyone do any "planned" study...such as FIAR or
> otherwise?
that's because their kids ask for it.
The vision you have of learning/education (as most people do!) is of getting
the child from where she is to where she's supposed to go.
But for unschoolers there's no predefined end point. It's more like the
nurturing of a tree, giving it the water and room and sunlight it needs to
grow into what it will become.
> I do believe in playtime. Following CM's method, we doAh, but you are seeing it as a separate activity from life. It's like
> our "schooling" during the morning hours and end at lunchtime. The
> dc have all afternoon and night for "play" and learning on their
> own. So I'm not questioning the playtime.
textbooks to someone who is thinking in school terms.
Play to unschoolers is doing what they enjoy. When my daughter writes,
that's play to her. Play is how she spends her days. Learning happens as a
side effect.
Joyce
Robyn Coburn
<<Havn't there been schools who have stopped having recess time
altogether?>>
One of the things that I have had to do, vigorously and often, is
consciously choose not to go down the path of discussing the practices
of schools - good or bad. It is so easy, especially when in the position
of having to defend one own's lifestyle to the unconvinced, to get
sucked into an ever widening quagmire of school bashing. I walk away
from ALL conversations about schools, for my own peace of mind. It is
kind of a "cold turkey" approach to removing all the schoolish lingo and
thinking from my mental vocabulary. I've just HAD to do it to be free to
grow.
<<I do believe in playtime.>>
I do *not* believe in playtime. I believe in living a full life, with my
daughter engaging in activities that have some interest for her. If you
do not have playtime, then all activities can be viewed as having merit.
<<Following CM's method, we do our "schooling" during the morning hours
and end at lunchtime. The dc have all afternoon and night for "play"
and learning on their own.>>
Jayn does some of her most intense and enriched reading, drawing,
questioning, and imaginary play at night. She often spends her morning
on quiet tv watching and reflection, and then usually wants to go for a
swim.
<<I'm trying to adjust to the whole unschooling mindset. I'm here with
a new thinking and I'm looking to "educate" myself. :-)>>
Welcome to the wonderful journey. I urge you to follow Sandra's earlier
suggestions about the reading. It is like peeling an onion - just when
one thinks "I've got it", along comes another challenge to one's
assumptions.
<<What I'm seeing is that it is the excited, enthuiastic hsers who
raise excited, enthusiastic children.>>
Come to the next Live and Learn conference - be blown away.
Robyn Coburn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
altogether?>>
One of the things that I have had to do, vigorously and often, is
consciously choose not to go down the path of discussing the practices
of schools - good or bad. It is so easy, especially when in the position
of having to defend one own's lifestyle to the unconvinced, to get
sucked into an ever widening quagmire of school bashing. I walk away
from ALL conversations about schools, for my own peace of mind. It is
kind of a "cold turkey" approach to removing all the schoolish lingo and
thinking from my mental vocabulary. I've just HAD to do it to be free to
grow.
<<I do believe in playtime.>>
I do *not* believe in playtime. I believe in living a full life, with my
daughter engaging in activities that have some interest for her. If you
do not have playtime, then all activities can be viewed as having merit.
<<Following CM's method, we do our "schooling" during the morning hours
and end at lunchtime. The dc have all afternoon and night for "play"
and learning on their own.>>
Jayn does some of her most intense and enriched reading, drawing,
questioning, and imaginary play at night. She often spends her morning
on quiet tv watching and reflection, and then usually wants to go for a
swim.
<<I'm trying to adjust to the whole unschooling mindset. I'm here with
a new thinking and I'm looking to "educate" myself. :-)>>
Welcome to the wonderful journey. I urge you to follow Sandra's earlier
suggestions about the reading. It is like peeling an onion - just when
one thinks "I've got it", along comes another challenge to one's
assumptions.
<<What I'm seeing is that it is the excited, enthuiastic hsers who
raise excited, enthusiastic children.>>
Come to the next Live and Learn conference - be blown away.
Robyn Coburn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Robyn Coburn
Nancy,
This story about your daughter's vet experiences needs to put into one
of the "Unschooling is fabulous" type folders that some people are
hosting!! How delightful - another convert (ie the vet) - hope he has
some children of his own one day.
Robyn Coburn
<<Moly has her life goal all planed out. She wants to go to K-State, she
even knows what she needs to do to get into the vet school after her
four years of college are over. But I also know that Moly is only 9, she
may change it at any time. When we go to Manhattan to visit friends who
own a pet store there, she asks to go to the college. She has toured the
vet school and asked questions.
She takes our dog to the vet, follows the vet around asking questions.
He
lets her look in the microscope at stool samples and gets his collection
of hearts filled with worms, still born puppies and kittens, a fetal
deer fawn and other oddities out for her to examine.
She got to watch Maggie's spay last year. He recruited her one day to
help
with bull dog puppies. He was doing a c-section and needed another pair
of hands to help him, his assistant and the owner. She was ecstatic! I
did not ruin it for her by quizzing her and throwing a bunch of books at
her to read. Our vet is always amazed at what she knows and he always
comments that we must really work hard on this and asks when does she
find time to do her animal things with all her other studies. In the
past I have shrugged my shoulders and said nothing. But when she told
the vet that one of the bull dog puppies was "mushy" and she thought it
might have water on its brain and he examined it and told her she was
right. He again made the comment that she must be neglecting other
things to learn about animals. I finally took the time to explain that
Moly chooses to learn about animals, that she doesn't neglect anything
because there isn't anything to neglect. He thought about that for a
minute and said he wished someone had thought that way when he was a
kid.>>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
This story about your daughter's vet experiences needs to put into one
of the "Unschooling is fabulous" type folders that some people are
hosting!! How delightful - another convert (ie the vet) - hope he has
some children of his own one day.
Robyn Coburn
<<Moly has her life goal all planed out. She wants to go to K-State, she
even knows what she needs to do to get into the vet school after her
four years of college are over. But I also know that Moly is only 9, she
may change it at any time. When we go to Manhattan to visit friends who
own a pet store there, she asks to go to the college. She has toured the
vet school and asked questions.
She takes our dog to the vet, follows the vet around asking questions.
He
lets her look in the microscope at stool samples and gets his collection
of hearts filled with worms, still born puppies and kittens, a fetal
deer fawn and other oddities out for her to examine.
She got to watch Maggie's spay last year. He recruited her one day to
help
with bull dog puppies. He was doing a c-section and needed another pair
of hands to help him, his assistant and the owner. She was ecstatic! I
did not ruin it for her by quizzing her and throwing a bunch of books at
her to read. Our vet is always amazed at what she knows and he always
comments that we must really work hard on this and asks when does she
find time to do her animal things with all her other studies. In the
past I have shrugged my shoulders and said nothing. But when she told
the vet that one of the bull dog puppies was "mushy" and she thought it
might have water on its brain and he examined it and told her she was
right. He again made the comment that she must be neglecting other
things to learn about animals. I finally took the time to explain that
Moly chooses to learn about animals, that she doesn't neglect anything
because there isn't anything to neglect. He thought about that for a
minute and said he wished someone had thought that way when he was a
kid.>>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tia Leschke
> Any advice would be most helpful...if I could just get a *peek*Mine is off building mountain bike trails with a friend. When he gets back,
> inside your *unschools* today. What are your dc doing right this
> moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with them
> for when you get off the computer?
he'll probably be off doing something with his girlfriend. Academics?
Well, last night he was reading the driving regs, in preparation for taking
his learners test in October. He says (like last year) that he wants to do
more "stuff", but like last year, he isn't more specific than that. I think
he feels he's lacking in many academic areas and should fix that. But I
don't think he wants to yet. He admits that he didn't really want to last
year, which is why he didn't. We'll see what he actually does. The only
thing I'd like to see him doing more of in that area is thinking about what
he might want to do in the future, and seeing what requirements he might
need to fulfill. He says he's planning to do that, so I'll just keep a
lookout for career fairs and other resources of that nature. By the way,
he's nearly 16.
Tia
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
Shyrley
Hi all,
I'm back from the conference and recovered enough to type!
I had a wonderful time and met so many great people. Heather loved it
too after her initial shyness - she at first thought the kids would be
like HS kids she's met here, that they would be nasty to her and make
fun of her accent :-(
A few thanks are in order for some people who went out of their way for
me....
Kelly for organising the conference and for spending the day attempting
to call her doctor to get me a migraine drug.
Brenda for taking me to the ER to get a migraine drug and waiting with
me there 2 hours while I was throwing up :-(
Rue for the gift she made for an unhappy little girl :-)
Marji for making the drive down into a fun experience and for singing
that Star Wars song every time Heather and Liam asked for it (we know it
by heart now!)
And all the other wonderful women for making me feel welcome, Elissa,
Ren, Sandra, Pam S (I want her to be my sister), Joyce and her wonderful
daughter.
And Heather says not to forget little Jayne who followed her around all
weekend. She now wants this baby to be exactly the same :-)
Shyrley
I'm back from the conference and recovered enough to type!
I had a wonderful time and met so many great people. Heather loved it
too after her initial shyness - she at first thought the kids would be
like HS kids she's met here, that they would be nasty to her and make
fun of her accent :-(
A few thanks are in order for some people who went out of their way for
me....
Kelly for organising the conference and for spending the day attempting
to call her doctor to get me a migraine drug.
Brenda for taking me to the ER to get a migraine drug and waiting with
me there 2 hours while I was throwing up :-(
Rue for the gift she made for an unhappy little girl :-)
Marji for making the drive down into a fun experience and for singing
that Star Wars song every time Heather and Liam asked for it (we know it
by heart now!)
And all the other wonderful women for making me feel welcome, Elissa,
Ren, Sandra, Pam S (I want her to be my sister), Joyce and her wonderful
daughter.
And Heather says not to forget little Jayne who followed her around all
weekend. She now wants this baby to be exactly the same :-)
Shyrley
>
>
Barb Eaton
Well....I'm playing catch up from our trip to the conference. My 13yo
and I had a fabulous time. Thanks go out to Kelly, Ben, all the speakers and
so many wonderful attendees. Way Kewl!
Laundry and grocery stores have taken up most of my day until now. My
youngest and I did clean out the rabbit cage. I got to read a little of my
new HEM last night. Life Learning came too. ;-)
As I type my youngest(9yob) is watching Totally Spies. Then Justuce
League. (It takes meforever to compose one of these. LOL!) We just finished
a conversation obout heaven and hell. From what I have been able to see
today he has played army men, fixed and eaten his breakfast and lunch,
played and watch his older brother play Kingdom Hearts, watched TV, and
played in his room for a while. Oh yes he took a shower to get ready to go
to a friends house tomorrow.After dinner we have plans to play a game of
LIFE.He also showed me a magic trick.
My oldest ds (18yo next week) has been working on his computer getting a
driver, working on stuff for his computer group, working on RedHat, IMing,
IRC, and various other stuff. He did play Kingdom Heart and later he goes to
his weekly computer group.
Aimee can I contact you off list? I'd like to talk to your dh about how
he got into computer admin without a degree. That is Michaels focus. He
starts college classes in a few weeks.
My other ds (13yo) spent the night at a friends last night. He's been
out the majority of the day socializing with friends that will start school
soon. Also with his hs friends in the neighborhood. Riding bikes,
skateboards, swimming and all that stuff. He'll be home for dinner then out
again. It's been a slow day. I'll be glad when I get caught up and the kids
in the hood are back to school. It will be nice to have my kids around a
little more. ;-) I'm sure they have done other things today too.
Advice? Well relax, read, read, read. Write, explore your town, state,
and countryside. Find *your* passion and live a full life. That will be the
example you want and will enjoy the wonders of your family in doing so. I'm
sure others have said it too. Listen to your kids, your heart, and your
family will soar. :-)
Happy Unschooling
Barb E
"The function of the child is to live his own life - not the life that his
anxious parents think he should live, nor the life according to the purpose
of the educator who thinks he knows what is best. All of this interference
and guidance on the part of adults only produces a generation of robots."
A S Neill
on 8/27/03 10:18 AM, Cay A. Gibson at caygibson@... wrote:
and I had a fabulous time. Thanks go out to Kelly, Ben, all the speakers and
so many wonderful attendees. Way Kewl!
Laundry and grocery stores have taken up most of my day until now. My
youngest and I did clean out the rabbit cage. I got to read a little of my
new HEM last night. Life Learning came too. ;-)
As I type my youngest(9yob) is watching Totally Spies. Then Justuce
League. (It takes meforever to compose one of these. LOL!) We just finished
a conversation obout heaven and hell. From what I have been able to see
today he has played army men, fixed and eaten his breakfast and lunch,
played and watch his older brother play Kingdom Hearts, watched TV, and
played in his room for a while. Oh yes he took a shower to get ready to go
to a friends house tomorrow.After dinner we have plans to play a game of
LIFE.He also showed me a magic trick.
My oldest ds (18yo next week) has been working on his computer getting a
driver, working on stuff for his computer group, working on RedHat, IMing,
IRC, and various other stuff. He did play Kingdom Heart and later he goes to
his weekly computer group.
Aimee can I contact you off list? I'd like to talk to your dh about how
he got into computer admin without a degree. That is Michaels focus. He
starts college classes in a few weeks.
My other ds (13yo) spent the night at a friends last night. He's been
out the majority of the day socializing with friends that will start school
soon. Also with his hs friends in the neighborhood. Riding bikes,
skateboards, swimming and all that stuff. He'll be home for dinner then out
again. It's been a slow day. I'll be glad when I get caught up and the kids
in the hood are back to school. It will be nice to have my kids around a
little more. ;-) I'm sure they have done other things today too.
Advice? Well relax, read, read, read. Write, explore your town, state,
and countryside. Find *your* passion and live a full life. That will be the
example you want and will enjoy the wonders of your family in doing so. I'm
sure others have said it too. Listen to your kids, your heart, and your
family will soar. :-)
Happy Unschooling
Barb E
"The function of the child is to live his own life - not the life that his
anxious parents think he should live, nor the life according to the purpose
of the educator who thinks he knows what is best. All of this interference
and guidance on the part of adults only produces a generation of robots."
A S Neill
on 8/27/03 10:18 AM, Cay A. Gibson at caygibson@... wrote:
>
> Any advice would be most helpful...if I could just get a *peek*
> inside your *unschools* today. What are your dc doing right this
> moment as you read my message? What are your plans to do with them
> for when you get off the computer?
>
> Thank you!
> Cay
Heidi
Hi Cay
From someone who has homeschooled for seven years and only in Jan/Feb
began exploring the concept of Natural Learning.
Right now, my husband and 9 year old girl just got back from the
pool. She's reheating some dinner for an after pool snack. Earlier
today, we read through some DK books on large cats (and the small
cats) and talked about the differences, and compared the facts that
we got from THESE books, to some facts we had from books over the
summer, specifically: Is the Puma a large cat or a small cat? One
book says "small" but these books we have now say "large." We're
going to look into that one further.
My 10 year old boy is flying paper airplanes around the house,
waiting his turn at the computer, since he wants to conquer all the
levels on a game we just got: Beetle Junior. He's thinking he doesn't
really like this game all that much, because it doesn't have that
many levels, and you pretty much do the same things on each level.
He "rescued" my youngest girl's "snack" by turning the heat off under
it!
My 15 year old girl is taking drama at the high school again this
year, but her "studies" right now are about pirates...Pirates of the
Caribbean having turned her on to that subject. She spent an hour or
so chatting on a Tolkien forum, answering emails, and listening to
some Celtic CD's that she got at the UT Shakespeare Festival last
week with my mom. (Next year, MY turn!!! :) She's in her room at the
moment, probably writing. She's keeping her journal in a hobbit
notebook, and writing as if she were a hobbit explaining her life to
the journal.
Earlier today, we drove up the nearby canyon and went for a nice
walk. The temp was low 80's and a nice breeze: lovely walking
weather. We found lots of bushes with dark red/blue/purple berries on
them and tasted to see if they were choke cherries.
BTW, can anyone tell me if choke cherries have five pits?
We made sure and spit everything out, but they didn't have a bitter
taste, so we think they are not poisonous. Probably choke cherries,
actually.
But I do have something "scheduled," once the pool closes. I want to
read Watership Down aloud to the family. Doesn't that sound like a
good read-aloud? We're going to get a chapter under our belts before
deciding whether to read the whole thing or not. They're
thinking "not" at this point, but they've agreed to a fair sample
before really saying no thanks.
well, there you go.
Wow. I never thought we did that much today!
blessings, heidiC
From someone who has homeschooled for seven years and only in Jan/Feb
began exploring the concept of Natural Learning.
Right now, my husband and 9 year old girl just got back from the
pool. She's reheating some dinner for an after pool snack. Earlier
today, we read through some DK books on large cats (and the small
cats) and talked about the differences, and compared the facts that
we got from THESE books, to some facts we had from books over the
summer, specifically: Is the Puma a large cat or a small cat? One
book says "small" but these books we have now say "large." We're
going to look into that one further.
My 10 year old boy is flying paper airplanes around the house,
waiting his turn at the computer, since he wants to conquer all the
levels on a game we just got: Beetle Junior. He's thinking he doesn't
really like this game all that much, because it doesn't have that
many levels, and you pretty much do the same things on each level.
He "rescued" my youngest girl's "snack" by turning the heat off under
it!
My 15 year old girl is taking drama at the high school again this
year, but her "studies" right now are about pirates...Pirates of the
Caribbean having turned her on to that subject. She spent an hour or
so chatting on a Tolkien forum, answering emails, and listening to
some Celtic CD's that she got at the UT Shakespeare Festival last
week with my mom. (Next year, MY turn!!! :) She's in her room at the
moment, probably writing. She's keeping her journal in a hobbit
notebook, and writing as if she were a hobbit explaining her life to
the journal.
Earlier today, we drove up the nearby canyon and went for a nice
walk. The temp was low 80's and a nice breeze: lovely walking
weather. We found lots of bushes with dark red/blue/purple berries on
them and tasted to see if they were choke cherries.
BTW, can anyone tell me if choke cherries have five pits?
We made sure and spit everything out, but they didn't have a bitter
taste, so we think they are not poisonous. Probably choke cherries,
actually.
But I do have something "scheduled," once the pool closes. I want to
read Watership Down aloud to the family. Doesn't that sound like a
good read-aloud? We're going to get a chapter under our belts before
deciding whether to read the whole thing or not. They're
thinking "not" at this point, but they've agreed to a fair sample
before really saying no thanks.
well, there you go.
Wow. I never thought we did that much today!
blessings, heidiC
regina hogan
well our day was much as always differant ,,lol,,my oldest son brought a friend home with him last night so i was woken at 9'oclock and ask if i could run them to his house for the day so i managed to pull myself out of bed due the fact i like to sleep late and mostly so due the kids ,,we night peoples,,i got home from taking them and by this time the others were getting up ,,mid-kid ask mom what you doing today i said i have no clue,,well i sat on the porch for a while the played and watched tv,,then they went out side to play ball so i decided my floors needed to be striped and rewaxed so off i went clearing the room of all funiture and other obstcules in my way,,i began half way thru stripping they came in,,boy how it looked fun to them i do not know but they said "cool can we help?"that was a dream to have help for me,,lol,,i only have 1 mop so only one could work at a time,,well youngest ask could i got to the local store and buy every one their own mop and scrubber ,,sure
and i did ,,end the end i got to set back and watch as they had fun (to them) and at same time my floor got redone,lol,,once that was over we were setting on the porch again talking about mars and it started to rain so they played in the rain,,i cooked my lunch ,watched tv,they came inside when thunder started ate their food,outside again they went jumped in the pool,splashed out all the water ,well about 8 inches worth making water tarnadoes,,lol,,husband came home,,got ill at our water bill lately and refilled the pool while kids and i watched millionior on tv,,oh yes and we laughed at dh for getting ill over water,he got over it and noses it will happen again tomorrow probly,,lol,well i just can not remember what we did the rest of the day but right now its 10:00 pm i am on pc,dh is asleep,boys are all in one of the bedrooms i think drawing since they came got my pencil jar a minute ago,i will be on pc til i can not see and go to bed,,they will stay up until they either fall
out or go to theor beds,,that is after the raid the frig,,lol,,they like doing that around midnight ,but so do i,,lol,,any way thats a day for us but not a normal one because they are all differant,,advice i can give you is to stop worrying and relax they will be fine,,and yes they do learn all by their little bitty self,lol,,heck mine show me things all the time and i have no clue as to how the got their info to do things but they manage and the learn not just memorize things,,,,its neat just relax,and enjoy you kids,you be ok
p.s. by the way they had water and sudds all over the walls and them selves when doing the floor but we managed to get it off the ceiling and walls,,lol
"
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regina hogan,=mother to
robert age14,timothy age13,justin age 12,matthew age 10 ashley age 17,,,,,homeschooled since august 2002!!!!!!!!!!!
proud and happy wife to floyd of 9 years,now grandmother to kandace age 4 weeks born june 14
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and i did ,,end the end i got to set back and watch as they had fun (to them) and at same time my floor got redone,lol,,once that was over we were setting on the porch again talking about mars and it started to rain so they played in the rain,,i cooked my lunch ,watched tv,they came inside when thunder started ate their food,outside again they went jumped in the pool,splashed out all the water ,well about 8 inches worth making water tarnadoes,,lol,,husband came home,,got ill at our water bill lately and refilled the pool while kids and i watched millionior on tv,,oh yes and we laughed at dh for getting ill over water,he got over it and noses it will happen again tomorrow probly,,lol,well i just can not remember what we did the rest of the day but right now its 10:00 pm i am on pc,dh is asleep,boys are all in one of the bedrooms i think drawing since they came got my pencil jar a minute ago,i will be on pc til i can not see and go to bed,,they will stay up until they either fall
out or go to theor beds,,that is after the raid the frig,,lol,,they like doing that around midnight ,but so do i,,lol,,any way thats a day for us but not a normal one because they are all differant,,advice i can give you is to stop worrying and relax they will be fine,,and yes they do learn all by their little bitty self,lol,,heck mine show me things all the time and i have no clue as to how the got their info to do things but they manage and the learn not just memorize things,,,,its neat just relax,and enjoy you kids,you be ok
p.s. by the way they had water and sudds all over the walls and them selves when doing the floor but we managed to get it off the ceiling and walls,,lol
"
Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT
regina hogan,=mother to
robert age14,timothy age13,justin age 12,matthew age 10 ashley age 17,,,,,homeschooled since august 2002!!!!!!!!!!!
proud and happy wife to floyd of 9 years,now grandmother to kandace age 4 weeks born june 14
---------------------------------
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Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
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