about deschooling
[email protected]
I saved this from a few years ago because Helen said she really liked it. I
wish I had found it when the deschooling question was first asked, but it's
still good a few days later. <g> I don't remember who asked the original
questions; sorry.
<< All in all this has been a great experience and we all agree HS is where
we want to be...but does any one have input on the motivation/curiosity
issue?>>
Even before I read the rest of the post my question for you was whether
you're wanting their learning parcelled out evenly over the year, over the
week, over the day. <g> Life is lumpy. Like statistics, like chaos
theory, there are "busy" times and big loops which seem to be going nowhere
and actually have a destination. Think "leaps and bounds" (with rests in
between). Cats are certainly bright and curious, and they sleep more than
half of the time.
<<Do I just need to be encouraging and bide my time as the habits are
relearned?>>
I think it's waiting. And I don't think there's a "relearning" or "habits,"
but until the school habits are forgotten. It's always easier to cut
something off than for it to grow back, and school sometimes cuts kids off
from their natural curiosity and desire.
<<We (spouse and I) do want them to learn piano and math at a steady pace,
the rest we would like to leave for them to choose??? Comments???>>
"Steady pace" jumped out at me.
What if they have a great piano week where they practice two hours a day and
then are tired of it for the rest of the month? It wouldn't all be lost and
over and ruined.
What if, one day, they just GET some mathematical concept. Will that reset
the level at which you want them to work steadily?
Kids at school each "get" multiplication once, and after that they're just
hearing the explanation over and over while the teacher rephrases and
re-introduces and reviews in hopes that all the other kids will "get it" that
day. (Reminds me of singing an invitational hymn three times because the
preacher has his eye on one potential convert.)
The "steady" pace schools simulate is 1) not real, and 2) not applicable to
homeschooling anyway.
"Having history" 180 times a year is like trying to teach a pig to sing. In
one hour an interested and curious (i.e. "ripe") child might learn as much
about the Civil War or Apollo 11 as they would in a week at school (if ever).
It's possible that the deschooling needed in this situation is more of the
parents than the kids. I still have subconscious school-stuff to slough
off; it surfaces when I least expect it and I wrestle it, encapsulate it, and
try to forget it.
Sandra
wish I had found it when the deschooling question was first asked, but it's
still good a few days later. <g> I don't remember who asked the original
questions; sorry.
<< All in all this has been a great experience and we all agree HS is where
we want to be...but does any one have input on the motivation/curiosity
issue?>>
Even before I read the rest of the post my question for you was whether
you're wanting their learning parcelled out evenly over the year, over the
week, over the day. <g> Life is lumpy. Like statistics, like chaos
theory, there are "busy" times and big loops which seem to be going nowhere
and actually have a destination. Think "leaps and bounds" (with rests in
between). Cats are certainly bright and curious, and they sleep more than
half of the time.
<<Do I just need to be encouraging and bide my time as the habits are
relearned?>>
I think it's waiting. And I don't think there's a "relearning" or "habits,"
but until the school habits are forgotten. It's always easier to cut
something off than for it to grow back, and school sometimes cuts kids off
from their natural curiosity and desire.
<<We (spouse and I) do want them to learn piano and math at a steady pace,
the rest we would like to leave for them to choose??? Comments???>>
"Steady pace" jumped out at me.
What if they have a great piano week where they practice two hours a day and
then are tired of it for the rest of the month? It wouldn't all be lost and
over and ruined.
What if, one day, they just GET some mathematical concept. Will that reset
the level at which you want them to work steadily?
Kids at school each "get" multiplication once, and after that they're just
hearing the explanation over and over while the teacher rephrases and
re-introduces and reviews in hopes that all the other kids will "get it" that
day. (Reminds me of singing an invitational hymn three times because the
preacher has his eye on one potential convert.)
The "steady" pace schools simulate is 1) not real, and 2) not applicable to
homeschooling anyway.
"Having history" 180 times a year is like trying to teach a pig to sing. In
one hour an interested and curious (i.e. "ripe") child might learn as much
about the Civil War or Apollo 11 as they would in a week at school (if ever).
It's possible that the deschooling needed in this situation is more of the
parents than the kids. I still have subconscious school-stuff to slough
off; it surfaces when I least expect it and I wrestle it, encapsulate it, and
try to forget it.
Sandra
Beth Newog
Hi
I am new to this list and new to hsing (we are officially out of the school
today!). I am timid about the next few weeks as we decompress from 3 years
in structured school to a relaxed approach. My kids are so programmed to
how "school" works, I am wondering what I can do to ease the transition from
institution to home, from bell schedules to their own planning and
interests. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Beth
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
I am new to this list and new to hsing (we are officially out of the school
today!). I am timid about the next few weeks as we decompress from 3 years
in structured school to a relaxed approach. My kids are so programmed to
how "school" works, I am wondering what I can do to ease the transition from
institution to home, from bell schedules to their own planning and
interests. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Beth
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/9/99 11:40:41 AM PST, hapahomeschool@... writes:
<<
Hi
I am new to this list and new to hsing (we are officially out of the school
today!). I am timid about the next few weeks as we decompress from 3 years
in structured school to a relaxed approach. My kids are so programmed to
how "school" works, I am wondering what I can do to ease the transition from
institution to home, from bell schedules to their own planning and
interests. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Beth
they need to. Don't schedule anything - go with the flow of their rythms.
Let them get totally into whatever it is that interests them (Yes, even if it
is all video games all the time or all TV all the time.) YOU plan for some
little trips for yourself - "I'm going to the park today, anyone want to
come??" if they say yes - great, if they say no - fine too. I would be going
to museums, parks, shopping, book stores - whatever it is you like, and
always invite the kids along. Never force it on them to participate - just
make sure YOU enjoy yourself. Soon, the kids will catch on to the fun you
are having.
Don't set up a time limit for "deschooling" either. Just watch your kids,
are they getting their sparkle back? Great - then make some suggestions about
a fun thing to do. Are they appearing depressed? Withdrawn? Let them chill
if that is what they need.
It is going to be MOST difficult for you - because you are going to look and
say "but what about the stuff they aren't learning???" -- Look for what they
ARE learning. Are they on the computer? They are strengthening reading and
writing skills. Are they playing massive amounts of video games? There is
math and dedcutive reasonsing and all kinds of critical thinking in video
games. Retrain yourself, without putting the pressure on the kids...
Does this help?
Mary
<<
Hi
I am new to this list and new to hsing (we are officially out of the school
today!). I am timid about the next few weeks as we decompress from 3 years
in structured school to a relaxed approach. My kids are so programmed to
how "school" works, I am wondering what I can do to ease the transition from
institution to home, from bell schedules to their own planning and
interests. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Beth
>>Yep - let them watch TV, read, sleep in, eat when they need to, play when
they need to. Don't schedule anything - go with the flow of their rythms.
Let them get totally into whatever it is that interests them (Yes, even if it
is all video games all the time or all TV all the time.) YOU plan for some
little trips for yourself - "I'm going to the park today, anyone want to
come??" if they say yes - great, if they say no - fine too. I would be going
to museums, parks, shopping, book stores - whatever it is you like, and
always invite the kids along. Never force it on them to participate - just
make sure YOU enjoy yourself. Soon, the kids will catch on to the fun you
are having.
Don't set up a time limit for "deschooling" either. Just watch your kids,
are they getting their sparkle back? Great - then make some suggestions about
a fun thing to do. Are they appearing depressed? Withdrawn? Let them chill
if that is what they need.
It is going to be MOST difficult for you - because you are going to look and
say "but what about the stuff they aren't learning???" -- Look for what they
ARE learning. Are they on the computer? They are strengthening reading and
writing skills. Are they playing massive amounts of video games? There is
math and dedcutive reasonsing and all kinds of critical thinking in video
games. Retrain yourself, without putting the pressure on the kids...
Does this help?
Mary
::she just is::
Hmmm... well if your kids really want to do the school stuff (which they
might not, depending) you could try more of a homeschool approach (ie. doing
some structured lessons). However, if they are not interested they probably
could use some "deschooling time". How old are they? ~Eryn
==
"I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky;
then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of
being a butterfuly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am
a man?" - Chuang Tsu
http://www.camenaworks.com/Eryn/
#24591173 ::she just is::
AIM :: Opal Fayre
might not, depending) you could try more of a homeschool approach (ie. doing
some structured lessons). However, if they are not interested they probably
could use some "deschooling time". How old are they? ~Eryn
==
"I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky;
then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of
being a butterfuly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am
a man?" - Chuang Tsu
http://www.camenaworks.com/Eryn/
#24591173 ::she just is::
AIM :: Opal Fayre
>Hifrom
>I am new to this list and new to hsing (we are officially out of the school
>today!). I am timid about the next few weeks as we decompress from 3 years
>in structured school to a relaxed approach. My kids are so programmed to
>how "school" works, I am wondering what I can do to ease the transition
>institution to home, from bell schedules to their own planning and
>interests. Any thoughts? Thanks!
>Beth
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/9/99 11:31:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:
<< It's possible that the deschooling needed in this situation is more of the
parents than the kids. I still have subconscious school-stuff to slough
off; it surfaces when I least expect it and I wrestle it, encapsulate it,
and
try to forget it.
Sandra >>
Well said! All those years of schooling really do get into our subconscious
and it's harder for some to let go of the idea that learning is something
that takes place in school. Life is educational and as long as we are still
alive, we are learning. We learn what we need to know at the time we need to
know it.
Mary Ellen.
SandraDodd@... writes:
<< It's possible that the deschooling needed in this situation is more of the
parents than the kids. I still have subconscious school-stuff to slough
off; it surfaces when I least expect it and I wrestle it, encapsulate it,
and
try to forget it.
Sandra >>
Well said! All those years of schooling really do get into our subconscious
and it's harder for some to let go of the idea that learning is something
that takes place in school. Life is educational and as long as we are still
alive, we are learning. We learn what we need to know at the time we need to
know it.
Mary Ellen.