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Leonie
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Do you think that unschooling can be a mind set but that the practicalities of unschooling may change?
I recently posted on an unschooling list, that we are "seasonal unschoolers". Perhaps I should just write real learners? 
We have seasons of pure unschooling, following interests, nothing formal ( buts lots of living and learning) and seasons of some structure ( like this year so far) - to expose the kids to serious study, to new ideas, to things that are not necessarily of their choosing but a) are what dh and I think are important and b) I know they will get into these things with time and exposure.
Our structure runs to daily meetings and some assignments but few/no textbooks, a couple of mornings a week. In addition to all our talkling, music, movies, books, many outings!
I find there is joy in both types of living and learning - in some structure as in schoolwork stuff and in some structure as in routines. In unschooly seasons.We have fun and we learn, and I think there is a good mix of want tos and have tos, for us.
So, any other seasonal unschoolers out there?
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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Mary G
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| Posted: May 14 2007 at 9:08pm | IP Logged
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Definitely -- at least as far as I "unschool". There are times when the weather or liturgical time just begs for a relaxed outlook on schooling ....
I'm really trying to make my home a 24/7 learning environment, avoiding the word "school" and just helping the kids love learning! It's amazing how much we do when we don't plan each step of the way....and we're able to take advantage of field trip opportunities, craft ideas or other serendipitous events ...
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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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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 14 2007 at 9:27pm | IP Logged
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Very much sounds familiar. I think we are approaching closer and closer to unschooling as time goes by (though we will never be radical unschoolers), but we definitely have times of tightening the reins, and times when I let ds run more free. And there is great satisfaction in both of those types of activiites.
I like what Mary said about trying to make our home a 24/7 learning environment. Great goal to strive for!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Willa
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That describes me. I think I originally heard the idea of "seasonal" from you, Leonie, waaay back on CCM 7 or 8 years ago. It stuck in my mind and later I realized that what I was calling "default unschooling" (when life took over) was actually a reasonable response to circumstances.
Theresa, I have been thinking that sometimes as you get further into homeschooling and get to know yourself and your dc's learning style better, the lines between homeschooling and unschooling become a bit more blurred... and that is OK.
I realized this when I reflected on my oldest's ds school years. I never had to fight to get him to work. Somehow our learning modes clicked and there was a sort of partnership going. I am not saying I never assigned him anything, or never had to pull his attention back to what I was saying. I did do those things, so I never thought about it as unschooling. But later I realized that he wanted this kind of support and guidance. When I withdrew it when I was overloaded with life issues, he asked for it back.
Though his learning style was different from your ds's, I think possibly the partnership was something similar. I sometimes pushed harder with my second and third child because their learning styles didn't match my ideas so well.. and I regret it, but I see that still we did a lot of things right.
I have been thinking about whether I still ought to call myself an unschooler, since at present I am giving the dc work to do and reminding them to do it. Even though they don't protest and they have a lot of say in how things are done, it doesn't seem completely child-led.
Cindy wrote to me in an email that sometimes labels can be too limiting, and that made me realize that for me, it can be counter-productive to use labels because sometimes the labels get in the way of what I am doing. Even the unschooling label.
What Mary said makes sense to me -- why use the word "school" -- it's not school or anti-school, it's something different, altogether. Unless you use the old "schola" to mean leisure or pleasant study of meaningful things -- this would include perhaps a lot more of what we do in our home education.
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Willa
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Leonie
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WJFR wrote:
| What Mary said makes sense to me -- why use the word "school" -- it's not school or anti-school, it's something different, altogether. Unless you use the old "schola" to mean leisure or pleasant study of meaningful things -- this would include perhaps a lot more of what we do in our home education. |
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I guess that is why the term "real learning" makes sense - we learn all the time, sometimes informal, sometimes structured. Engaged learning?
I agree that labels can be counter productive - when pressed about how we homeschool, I tend to use phrases rather than labels. Iow, - we use real life,living books, follow interests, take advantage of new curricula and of communty resources, learn all the time.
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Leonie in Sydney
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lapazfarm
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I've not found a label yet that I feel comfortable with. Of course there is always "eclectic" but sometimes that even feels wrong. Phrases like yours, Leonie, would be better, more accurate.
Willa, the partnership idea rings very true. It is our most comfortable mode of operation. More like going arm-in-arm rather than either of us actually leading, though there are times when either of us may take the lead for a time.
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Theresa
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Mary G
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| Posted: May 15 2007 at 7:58am | IP Logged
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I know this is slightly off-topic, but I just finished Frank Smith's The Book of Learning and Forgetting that I think, Willa you recommended? Anyway, this is a sensational book that really fits my idea of education -- the classical view where kids WILL LEARN based on their assoications with others and in the doing not so much the rote learning or the standardized testing. He's talking to teachers in formal classrooms, but so much applies to us....
I've put it aside to read again and then I'll inundate all you unschoolers with pithy quotes 
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Cay Gibson
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lapazfarm wrote:
| I've not found a label yet that I feel comfortable with. |
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Theresa,
I've always loved your "us-schooling". I think that's perfect .
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 15 2007 at 8:56am | IP Logged
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Cay Gibson wrote:
lapazfarm wrote:
| I've not found a label yet that I feel comfortable with. |
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Theresa,
I've always loved your "us-schooling". I think that's perfect . |
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Thanks, Cay!
I figured if I couldn't find a label that fit, I'd invent my own!LOL!
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Theresa
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ladybugs
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Leonie,
I like this phrase...it defintely describes our family - much like Lissa's tidal homeschooling....
For me, I know that I have to remember - and it's a challenge for me - not to look at other families in terms of comparisons but realize that God is leading my family and that there are times when unschooling fits and times when it doesn't...(I'm not saying this for anyone but me)...
I can relax when I remember that God is in charge and if I'm doing my part - in whatever form that looks like - that He will compensate....
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Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Seasonal Unschooling?
