Help me unschool!
gracefellowship03
Hi, I know you veteran unschoolers will think I am possibly hopeless,
or at most terribly uninformed, but I need some advice. My children
went to public school until 6th, and 3rd grades until I got so fed up
I decided to homeschool. Our first year was wonderful. Lots of fun
and activities. Once I joined a support group and met many other
homeschoolers, I began to doubt my abilities and felt quite inferior!
No one else seemed to have my relaxed, unit study type opinion of
education. Surely, since they were much more experienced than me,
they knew the "right" way. So, I adopted a more rigid (still couldn't
bring myself to do grades, report cards, etc.) approach.
Basically, long story short, our homeschooling went from fun, de-
schooling to boring, rote, get the correct yearly subjects done
criteria. Not to mention, we had a surprise little addition to our
family 17 months ago. Now, I am busy with a toddler, my oldest is a
senior this year, and my middle son will begin 9th grade. (I know, I
can't break free of the grade mentality yet either!) Basically, I
have always read and loved everything about unschooling, but get
nervous when it comes down to it. I end up buying curriculum and
following the school subjects model. I want to be an unschooler. Can
it realistically work with 14 and 18 yr. olds? Will I be ruining my
older sons chances of college? I feel the crunch of one year left
with him. I want him to know that learning is something you do your
whole life because of something that interests you. Not because the
state says you must have so many hours of this subject.
Does anyone have any suggestions? We have been in a few support
groups, but never met any unschoolers. Some are more relaxed, but
most are school-at-homers! I wish I had some living examples around
me to help me in my resolve (or get me off the fence)! All advice,
hints, help, etc. wanted!
Thanks,
WH
or at most terribly uninformed, but I need some advice. My children
went to public school until 6th, and 3rd grades until I got so fed up
I decided to homeschool. Our first year was wonderful. Lots of fun
and activities. Once I joined a support group and met many other
homeschoolers, I began to doubt my abilities and felt quite inferior!
No one else seemed to have my relaxed, unit study type opinion of
education. Surely, since they were much more experienced than me,
they knew the "right" way. So, I adopted a more rigid (still couldn't
bring myself to do grades, report cards, etc.) approach.
Basically, long story short, our homeschooling went from fun, de-
schooling to boring, rote, get the correct yearly subjects done
criteria. Not to mention, we had a surprise little addition to our
family 17 months ago. Now, I am busy with a toddler, my oldest is a
senior this year, and my middle son will begin 9th grade. (I know, I
can't break free of the grade mentality yet either!) Basically, I
have always read and loved everything about unschooling, but get
nervous when it comes down to it. I end up buying curriculum and
following the school subjects model. I want to be an unschooler. Can
it realistically work with 14 and 18 yr. olds? Will I be ruining my
older sons chances of college? I feel the crunch of one year left
with him. I want him to know that learning is something you do your
whole life because of something that interests you. Not because the
state says you must have so many hours of this subject.
Does anyone have any suggestions? We have been in a few support
groups, but never met any unschoolers. Some are more relaxed, but
most are school-at-homers! I wish I had some living examples around
me to help me in my resolve (or get me off the fence)! All advice,
hints, help, etc. wanted!
Thanks,
WH
pam sorooshian
On Aug 12, 2004, at 12:22 PM, gracefellowship03 wrote:
-pam
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.
> I want to be an unschooler. CanTeenage Liberation Handbook - you and they need to read it.
> it realistically work with 14 and 18 yr. olds? Will I be ruining my
> older sons chances of college? I feel the crunch of one year left
> with him. I want him to know that learning is something you do your
> whole life because of something that interests you.
-pam
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/12/04 1:30:44 PM, ladybuggz@... writes:
<< Will I be ruining my
older sons chances of college? I feel the crunch of one year left
with him. I want him to know that learning is something you do your
whole life because of something that interests you. Not because the
state says you must have so many hours of this subject.
<<Does anyone have any suggestions? >>
You could do a lot of "what if" and review his life with him (or for him)
looking for the things he learned well and informally. Can you afford
overnight trips to other cities? (If the baby doesn't mind car rides or train rides,
depends where you are.) Explore. See bunches of videos. Play tourist in
your own town.
-=-an
it realistically work with 14 and 18 yr. olds?-=-
You'd have to consider what you really, deeply mean by "it" and
"realistically" and "work."
Honest.
What are your goals? If your goals remain "they seem to know everything
they would have known if they had gone to high school," it won't work. But there
are many other ways to see "it" and to revise what "realistically" means to
you. Some of the work schooling does is quite negative work.
But it can work for a 17 month old, for the next dozen-and-more years, and
work better the more confident you are.
And for the mid-kid? It should be wonderful!
http://sandradodd.com/deschooling
article there, with links to several more
Sandra
<< Will I be ruining my
older sons chances of college? I feel the crunch of one year left
with him. I want him to know that learning is something you do your
whole life because of something that interests you. Not because the
state says you must have so many hours of this subject.
<<Does anyone have any suggestions? >>
You could do a lot of "what if" and review his life with him (or for him)
looking for the things he learned well and informally. Can you afford
overnight trips to other cities? (If the baby doesn't mind car rides or train rides,
depends where you are.) Explore. See bunches of videos. Play tourist in
your own town.
-=-an
it realistically work with 14 and 18 yr. olds?-=-
You'd have to consider what you really, deeply mean by "it" and
"realistically" and "work."
Honest.
What are your goals? If your goals remain "they seem to know everything
they would have known if they had gone to high school," it won't work. But there
are many other ways to see "it" and to revise what "realistically" means to
you. Some of the work schooling does is quite negative work.
But it can work for a 17 month old, for the next dozen-and-more years, and
work better the more confident you are.
And for the mid-kid? It should be wonderful!
http://sandradodd.com/deschooling
article there, with links to several more
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/12/2004 3:30:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ladybuggz@... writes:
Does anyone have any suggestions? We have been in a few support
groups, but never met any unschoolers. Some are more relaxed, but
most are school-at-homers! I wish I had some living examples around
me to help me in my resolve (or get me off the fence)! All advice,
hints, help, etc. wanted!<<<<
Quit hanging around school-at-homers (doh!) and attend the Live and Learn
Unschooling Conference.
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
ladybuggz@... writes:
Does anyone have any suggestions? We have been in a few support
groups, but never met any unschoolers. Some are more relaxed, but
most are school-at-homers! I wish I had some living examples around
me to help me in my resolve (or get me off the fence)! All advice,
hints, help, etc. wanted!<<<<
Quit hanging around school-at-homers (doh!) and attend the Live and Learn
Unschooling Conference.
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]