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juliecinci
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Joined: Feb 20 2005
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: April 30 2005 at 4:32pm | IP Logged
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One of the difficulties with sustaining an unschooling lifestyle is that there are "down" periods or seasons of "dormancy" where it looks like no learning is happening. Back when my oldest was ten, he had six months of this unbelievably productive period of learning initiated by himself that reassured me he was learning.
He created a website about WWII, read WWII books, watched videos, and created a California Gold Rush party that took us two months to prepare and we invited fifteen kids. It was a huge hit! He learned how to do origami, string games, rock climb, and skateboard. He wrote stories and journal entries. It was the ideal unschool season.
Then he stopped. He wanted to play on the computer and watch TV. He didn't care about the library so much. He lost interest in finishing the website.
After a couple of weeks like this, I decided that unschooling was okay if kids could sustain it but obviously mine couldn't and so we needed to reintroduce structure to help him. I only added a couple little things... that year. But over the next three years, he was back up to a mommy-run schedule. And he broke down again... hating school.
I am only telling you about this one child because he is the most obvious example of the see-sawing in my family.
Noah needed freedom to learn. He is the essence of a self-directed learner. But that includes times when it looks like he isn't learning. He needs time for new interests to emerge, to recover from deep investigation and to enjoy the fruits of learning.
He's taught me so much.
I'm becoming more confident in the cycle since I've seen it so many times now. But it has taken years for me.
Julie
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Julie
Homeschooling five for fourteen years
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Cindy
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Joined: Feb 01 2005
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| Posted: April 30 2005 at 5:36pm | IP Logged
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Hi Julie-
Yes, I have gone through the same thing... I think we ended up naming these period "lulls".. it wasn't until I realized that was how I worked with my learning that I gave my kids permission to have those lulls, too. Yes, it took me a long time to finally see what was happening. Who can go full tilt, or be even-keel at all times?
Thanks for the reminder...
I think, too, that all kids have unique personalities. Some kids are do-ers.. and love to create tangible projects and are competitive with themselves and others. Those who are not so 'tangible' in their results take more patience and I think sensitivity by mom to see what they are doing, thinking, creating. The multiple intelligenes by Howard Gardner helped me a lot with this.
Has anyone had more challenge 'seeing' learning with some kids than others?
Lissa mentioned that her children rarely balked at a project she brought out.. wonderful Lissa! Do any of you have the other type  who don't like anything that smells of pre-planned? Even if it really is cool? Would love to hear your experiences....
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Cindy in Texas
It Is About The Journey
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Karen E.
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| Posted: May 01 2005 at 1:00pm | IP Logged
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juliecinci wrote:
Noah needed freedom to learn. He is the essence of a self-directed learner. But that includes times when it looks like he isn't learning. He needs time for new interests to emerge, to recover from deep investigation and to enjoy the fruits of learning. |
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Exactly -- And, when we think about it, aren't we all like this?
I go through periods of devouring books, or learning about something new, or writing several articles or essays, or doing a lot of physical activity with the kids and then ... I need to decompress and recharge.
I use my time in as many and varied ways as the kids do. There are times when, if given an afternoon at home alone, I would choose to write (read: be productive) or clean (read: be productive) or read (read: be productive). Other times, I might choose to just nap (read: be non-productive? -- No ... it's extremely productive to rest and recuperate and refresh oneself.)
I think we, as the parents/educators, just get nervous during those down/recharge times, because it looks as if nothing's happening. But, then, sleep looks pretty anti-climactic, too.
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God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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