Julie Bogart

I used to think unschooling meant unit studies and following a child's interests,
supplemented with the basics. But now that we've lived it, I've realized unschooling had
more to do with honoring the child. Certainly interests were a part of that, but if I focus on
interests, I sometimes find myself evaluating their choices instead of looking at my child -
to learn something new, important, true about him or her.

I've learned that knowing my child as he is, is more important than shaping him into
someone I think he ought to be.

And yet, I'm still nervous about things like times tables, basic math operations, and
handwriting for one of my children (10 years old). He still doesn't show interest in basic
math (even though we've done games and tricks to make it more tantalizing) and his
handwriting has deteriorated (he doesn't remember which way 'd's and 'b's go or 9s and 6s
etc.) The basics that most school teachers look for aren't there. He does read, though.

Otoh, he's memorized four poems by Robert Browning just because he likes them, he's
played hundreds of hours of Star Craft (both on his own and online), loves to be read to,
plays lacrosse, now enjoys his first dog and is an avid bird watcher. He's also much more
helpful around the house since we let go of the schedule to make it happen. And I'm
continually surprised by what he does know just from listening to our family
conversations, movie watching and gaming.

He's truly a great kid. I don't doubt he's learning. But the truth is, I do worry that he may
not learn some of these essentials. And I don't know how to represent his learning to our
year end evaluator given that he has nothing written to show for this year.

Any thoughts to help me?

Julie B

[email protected]

In a message dated 7/7/04 8:12:13 AM, julie@... writes:

<< And yet, I'm still nervous about things like times tables, basic math
operations, and

handwriting for one of my children (10 years old). He still doesn't show
interest in basic

math (even though we've done games and tricks to make it more tantalizing)
and his

handwriting has deteriorated (he doesn't remember which way 'd's and 'b's go
or 9s and 6s etc.) >>

That's really young. Few kids that age have really great handwriting.

<<And I'm

continually surprised by what he does know just from listening to our family

conversations, movie watching and gaming.>>

That's the big one for us. The knowledge taken in effortlessly from a big
life.

-=-And I don't know how to represent his learning to our

year end evaluator given that he has nothing written to show for this year.-=-

Are you in contact with locals in your area? See what they do that's
sufficient.

Does his list need to be in handwriting? Why not computer/printed?

Sandra

J. Stauffer

<<<< He's truly a great kid. I don't doubt he's learning. But the truth is,
I do worry that he may
> not learn some of these essentials. And I don't know how to represent his
learning to our
> year end evaluator given that he has nothing written to show for this
year.
>
> Any thoughts to help me?>>>>>

If it is an essential, then how can he help but learn it? If it is a truly
necessary part of existing on this planet, then he will come up on it again
and again..

Suggestions for evaluator:

Take lots and lots of pictures, tape your son reciting a poem, take an
"educational view" of your child's games and make a note of the skills he is
using while playing those games, .....basically, instead of trying to fit
what your child is doing into some kind of pre-conceived format for an
evaluator, look at what your son is doing and ask yourself how those things
can be recorded.

Julie S.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie Bogart" <julie@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 9:09 AM
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] My ten year old


> I used to think unschooling meant unit studies and following a child's
interests,
> supplemented with the basics. But now that we've lived it, I've realized
unschooling had
> more to do with honoring the child. Certainly interests were a part of
that, but if I focus on
> interests, I sometimes find myself evaluating their choices instead of
looking at my child -
> to learn something new, important, true about him or her.
>
> I've learned that knowing my child as he is, is more important than
shaping him into
> someone I think he ought to be.
>
> And yet, I'm still nervous about things like times tables, basic math
operations, and
> handwriting for one of my children (10 years old). He still doesn't show
interest in basic
> math (even though we've done games and tricks to make it more tantalizing)
and his
> handwriting has deteriorated (he doesn't remember which way 'd's and 'b's
go or 9s and 6s
> etc.) The basics that most school teachers look for aren't there. He does
read, though.
>
> Otoh, he's memorized four poems by Robert Browning just because he likes
them, he's
> played hundreds of hours of Star Craft (both on his own and online), loves
to be read to,
> plays lacrosse, now enjoys his first dog and is an avid bird watcher. He's
also much more
> helpful around the house since we let go of the schedule to make it
happen. And I'm
> continually surprised by what he does know just from listening to our
family
> conversations, movie watching and gaming.
>
> He's truly a great kid. I don't doubt he's learning. But the truth is, I
do worry that he may
> not learn some of these essentials. And I don't know how to represent his
learning to our
> year end evaluator given that he has nothing written to show for this
year.
>
> Any thoughts to help me?
>
> Julie B
>
>
>
>
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