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Hello everyone. I'm a new member but have been watching the list off and on for a couple weeks now. I am a single mother of a 13 year old son who is finishing up seventh grade this year at public school. We are both completely fed up with the public school system and want out. I've been doing some reading/researching on homeschooling, which is how I discovered the concept of unschooling. I am completely intrigued by the idea and really wish that I had learned about it years ago when my son was still young. I am concerned that it may be too late now for it to be of value to him.
I am determined that this is going to be his last year in public school, but I'm facing several challenges, not the least of which is that I have to work full time to support us. I am desperately trying to find a way to make a living from home, which has always been my goal/dream anyway, but so far nothing viable has come to light. Even if my son has to stay home by himself during the day, I still feel that he will be better off than he currently is in the school system.
From the posts I've read thus far, it seems as though most of you either have younger children or started your children with homeschooling/unschooling at a young age. Do any of you have any advice about starting with a young teenager and how to move from a schooling type of mentality to a self-learning mentality? He is a very intelligent child, but he has absolutely no motivation to put it to use at this stage in his life. Considering some of the things I've been learning recently about the school system I can understand why, but I'd like to help him overcome that.
I guess the other major question I have is, is it possible to make this work for him if I'm not able to be home with him during the day? As much as I desperately want to be, I have to pay the bills somehow, so there is a strong possibility that it just won't work out that way.
Thanks,
Chris
I am determined that this is going to be his last year in public school, but I'm facing several challenges, not the least of which is that I have to work full time to support us. I am desperately trying to find a way to make a living from home, which has always been my goal/dream anyway, but so far nothing viable has come to light. Even if my son has to stay home by himself during the day, I still feel that he will be better off than he currently is in the school system.
From the posts I've read thus far, it seems as though most of you either have younger children or started your children with homeschooling/unschooling at a young age. Do any of you have any advice about starting with a young teenager and how to move from a schooling type of mentality to a self-learning mentality? He is a very intelligent child, but he has absolutely no motivation to put it to use at this stage in his life. Considering some of the things I've been learning recently about the school system I can understand why, but I'd like to help him overcome that.
I guess the other major question I have is, is it possible to make this work for him if I'm not able to be home with him during the day? As much as I desperately want to be, I have to pay the bills somehow, so there is a strong possibility that it just won't work out that way.
Thanks,
Chris
Cornerstone Community Farm
On Friday 12 March 2004 09:20 am, GothicLoungeLizard@... wrote:
Try the Teen Age Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn, about
unschooling teens.
Keith
Also single and homeschooling
> the concept of unschooling. I am completely intrigued by the ideaNEVER TOO LATE...even for adults:)
> and really wish that I had learned about it years ago when my son was
> still young. I am concerned that it may be too late now for it to be
> of value to him.
Try the Teen Age Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn, about
unschooling teens.
Keith
Also single and homeschooling