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hereinantwerp
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 12:46am | IP Logged
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Interesting discussion---
I am always attracted to unschooling but do not think I could be a "pure" unschooler. Which brings me to the question, what is a "bare minimum" for structure??
I know this has been discussed here before, last year especially with the "Latin Centered" book---but, I'm not into Latin, LOL!
I also think the answer could really differ depending on the child. My oldest child likes structure, "boxes to check," and asked me once for "REAL exams and grades". My younger one seems to be the opposite--the less structure, the more he learns. In a free day he will happily write his own little comic books, make things, read an educational magazine, but ask him to do any these things as an "assignment", and he balks!!
So I guess it depends on the child, and on the long-term goals of the older child, and sensitivity to what is the right thing at the right age or time. Not quite the "educational security blanket" I'm always wishing for in curriculum  . I like the idea of "mentoring", or serving as an "educational coordinator/facilitator/advisor". This individualizes the whole thing, and makes it a PROCESS, not a fixed thing. Just thinking via keyboard!
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Angela Nelson
Mother to Simon (13), Calvin (9), and Lyddie Rose (3)
my blog: live and learn
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 9:30am | IP Logged
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cactus mouse wrote:
lapazfarm wrote:
| He said "Is there anything there that can tell me how to make authentic Native American tools and weapons?" |
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The Smoke & Fire Catalog's Book Section might have something along those lines.
hth, |
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Oh, my!!!! Superboy looked at that site and is literally drooling!!! Laura, you may have just done me in!!! 
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 4:17pm | IP Logged
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I hesitated to join this conversation because in one breath I sound like a literature professor, in another I sound like a hardcore CHC/Seton workbook task master, in another I sound like a FIAR purist, then when I take another breath I sound like I have a degree or something from MODG. I often sound like a Charlotte Mason wanna-be, but our living room shelf and kitchen closet look like I've shopped at a Montessori store, and when I talk to the librarians they think all we read are picture books.
Honestly...today I picked up a book I had requested and the librarian (often called "Aunt Bea"  ) gave a hoot and a hollar and said, "Oh, look! It's something for you this time!"
But, in my mind, this is how I define our "unschooling". We try a bit of everything and sometimes it overlaps and sometimes we neglect an area for weeks/months.
There are so many holes in our hammock that the schools would question what kind of rat-trap I am teaching my children with and would junk it all. 
I see I have a lot of leisure reading to do here. I think I'll sit on my rat-trap hammock and enjoy myself. 
Btw, Leonie, I ordered "The Day I Became an Autodidact" by Hailey, Kendall because of your blog post. I want my oldest to read it because he was (is) very much a poster-child for the unschooling approach. I'd also like my 10-yr-old to read it because she is very advanced like her older sister and she likes curricula and boxes but, even more, she likes designing her own lessons and plans.
I'd like her to see this "unschoolish" approach as something that she could make her own.
Is this book fit for someone as young as 10 yrs of age?
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Leonie
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 5:14pm | IP Logged
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Cay, I think there may be one or two things that may be hard for a 10 yr old to read - no s*x stuff, Kendall is quite a homey modest girl - but she does talk about a young man she is interested in and maybe their first date and kiss? Mind you, she is 19 at the time...
I am not sure tht my 12 year old son would "see" the bigger picture of being an autodidact, if he read the book. I'd probaly give it to him to read in a year or two. But boys seem to mature a bit more slowly than girls - so perhaps read it yourself first? I know you would! lol!
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 6:59pm | IP Logged
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Leonie wrote:
| I am not sure tht my 12 year old son would "see" the bigger picture of being an autodidact, if he read the book. I'd probaly give it to him to read in a year or two. But boys seem to mature a bit more slowly than girls - so perhaps read it yourself first? I know you would! lol! |
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You've tagged me well. Thank you, Leonie.
After thinking about this, I believe I'll give it to my 15 yr old ds after I read it. He has such an unschooling spirit and learning style so I'm sure this book will speak to him.
He does not learn by conventional style and I feel had he not been made to learn phonics he might still not be reading today. And I'm seeing proof that Teaching Textbook is keeping him from being math-illiterate.
And so I fret about what I feel is a "weak" learning style. Yet, while I'm making him do a MODG-structured program, I still want him to "own" his education. I want him to feel he is in control (as much as God puts him in charge of what he's been given) in this dog-eat-dog world.
Thanks again!
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Mary G
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 7:08pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
cactus mouse wrote:
lapazfarm wrote:
| He said "Is there anything there that can tell me how to make authentic Native American tools and weapons?" |
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The Smoke & Fire Catalog's Book Section might have something along those lines.
hth, |
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Oh, my!!!! Superboy looked at that site and is literally drooling!!! Laura, you may have just done me in!!! |
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oh, me too, me too!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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amethyst
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 7:35pm | IP Logged
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Cay Gibson wrote:
| I hesitated to join this conversation because in one breath I sound like a literature professor, in another I sound like a hardcore CHC/Seton workbook task master, in another I sound like a FIAR purist, then when I take another breath I sound like I have a degree or something from MODG. I often sound like a Charlotte Mason wanna-be, but our living room shelf and kitchen closet look like I've shopped at a Montessori store, and when I talk to the librarians they think all we read are picture books. |
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Cay, I am rolling on the floor with laughter at your description of yourself!
Everything that has been shared on this thread has resonated in some way with my almost 50yo brain. Gee, am I just getting too hung up on my son's education!!??? What I mean is, am I over-focussed on the outcome and forgetting that we're STILL on the journey and it's something that has not finished it's morphing yet?!
My sweet husband sat me down during the midst of this thread to say "He's only 15...he's doing FINE...relax, I teach kids older than him who only know half of what he knows, and you forget that he's a good kid - he's still maturing, give him time."
Gotta love a man that tells you that so sweetly.
I have never been a purist of any form of education - I call myself eclectic because I can't find a basket with my name on it. I *am* going to loosen the reins with ds and encourage him to take hold of more of his education so I can stop the spoon-feeding and hand-holding - but I think that his Aspergers tendencies still need some form of structure (routines/habits) because without them he freaks.
I can see that having a greater unschooly atmosphere will be good for him, but with some boundaries in place for his mental security. Does that make sense?
Leonie, I *love* your blog - I *love* that your family are so driven by desire and interest and commonality...I think that's why unschooling has worked so productively for you? Our family are not like yours - we are so..so..TOTALLY different. We have minimal common interests, and many uncommon, but as a family we are so tight, so committed, and that works for *us*. I need to remember that.
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Jenny in Australia
He Knows My Name
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folklaur
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| Posted: May 28 2008 at 8:06pm | IP Logged
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Mary G wrote:
lapazfarm wrote:
cactus mouse wrote:
lapazfarm wrote:
| He said "Is there anything there that can tell me how to make authentic Native American tools and weapons?" |
|
|
The Smoke & Fire Catalog's Book Section might have something along those lines.
hth, |
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Oh, my!!!! Superboy looked at that site and is literally drooling!!! Laura, you may have just done me in!!! |
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oh, me too, me too! |
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Oh, I am glad you guys liked it!
You can order the print catalog too (it is just a simple newspaper style one, I think. Sometimes I just like holding catalogs in my hand instead of just looking online.  )
A lot of the companies that are geared toward re-enactors are going to have good stuff, because lots of re-enactors try to do things like they were done in period.
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Unschooling
