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pigeonberry
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| Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 9:56am | IP Logged
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I'm curious to know what the homes and lives of those that unschool look like. I went into the homeschooling adventure fully intending to go the classical route but I find that with each passing month were becoming more and more unschooly. Those of you that "unschool" do you spend some time with your own learning pursuits? I must admit feeling a little guilty reading other women's posts about all their plans and unit studies and burnout in February. I keep asking myself, should I be doing more? Basically, we follow a math program but I'm not concerned about how long it takes my daughter to finish it. She reads a lot and we read read-alouds together. She reads lots of science books and is currently drawing pictures of the stuff she learns for the science museum she wants to make. (Own her own initiaive). History is simply reading American girl books for enjoyment, playing constantly with her new Felicity doll and cooking from their cookbooks. Geography is pointing to places we read about on a map and putting together Geopuzzles. The rest of her day, after chores is spent in creative play and making crafts. Meanwhile, I'm chasing after my 1 year old and busy keeping a home.
I guess were not completely unschooling as I do require time everyday for faith studies, math and copywork. I wouldn't require copywork but that's her weak point so for right now it is something I have to assign.
So, I guess my question is, am I doing enough from an unschooly perspective? What does your unschooling home look like?
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AndieF
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| Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 2:21pm | IP Logged
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Your schooling looks VERY much like my days last year - it was my then 9 year olds first year in homeschool. My dd really enjoyed it and learned a lot. We are more structured this year, but I didn't decide that because we were too unschool-y last year or something.
Andie
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 2:26pm | IP Logged
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What you describe sounds perfect to me.I wouldn't change a thing!
Our days sound a lot like yours, just with different subject matter chosen. My kids pretty much do their own thing and I go with it, as long as they are doing something constructive. My dd has a learning disability, so I do work with her more formally on reading and math, but for the most part the kids get into their self-directed projects, and I follow along as mentor, guide, coach, quartermaster, whatever they require.
For my older son I have designed a high school level marine bilogy course at his request. He is free to follow the plans as written or do his own thing. He usually ends up doing a bit of both. He also reads a LOT and we discuss it informally. He is very open to suggestions from me of interesting things to reaad, so literature is a breeze. And is always putting together or pulling apart something.This is his first year of really following a standard math course (MUS Algebra 2). It is going fairly well. Math is one of those subjects he understands but doesn't love, so it is ok with him to just follow the book and "git 'r done" as they say.
We like to all 3 of us study subjects together, such as our recent Shakespeare binge, poetry, geography, etc. These are areas where we can all get excited about learning because there is always more to learn no matter what level you are at.
Feel free to visit my blog to check out some of the things we have done previously. Right now we have been on extended hiatus due to moving back to Alaska,so there isn't much to see. The blog has been pretty inactive as of late. But we are all here now (the kids and d got here yesterday!YAY!) and so we should be back in our groove soon.
And welcome to the board!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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mariB
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| Posted: Jan 26 2010 at 4:51am | IP Logged
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You are doing perfectly...this is A LOT of what our day looks like! I agree with Theresa...I WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING!
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marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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pigeonberry
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| Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 7:58am | IP Logged
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Well, please keep in mind that what I described are the good days. What I have found is that my daily goings on are what mainly determines if it's going to be a good day or a bad day. If I indulge myself a bit too much or don't keep a routine, then the days I described don't happen.
One of the things I struggle with is my desire to work on my own projects. There are so many basic things that I don't know how to do. I refuse to let my daughter leave our nest without knowing the basics of running a home. But I have to learn these things myself first and I want to learn these things for myself and the benefit of our family. Do y'all carve some time during the day to do your own learning projects while your children pursue their own? I've written a list of everything I'd like to learn and have thought about inviting my daughter to learn along with me. It usually happens that when I express excitement about something, she gets interested too. Is it selfish to pursue your own projects or a good example?
Also, when you say you are learning something together as a family, does that mean you sit around a table and learn something together, like a unit study or is it more informal where your reading different books throughout the day and then you have informal discussions in the car or at the dinner table?
Thank You for your responses 
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JenPre
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| Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 10:23am | IP Logged
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pigeonberry wrote:
One of the things I struggle with is my desire to work on my own projects. There are so many basic things that I don't know how to do. I refuse to let my daughter leave our nest without knowing the basics of running a home. But I have to learn these things myself first and I want to learn these things for myself and the benefit of our family. Do y'all carve some time during the day to do your own learning projects while your children pursue their own? I've written a list of everything I'd like to learn and have thought about inviting my daughter to learn along with me. It usually happens that when I express excitement about something, she gets interested too. Is it selfish to pursue your own projects or a good example?
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I don't think it's selfish at all! As you said...when your daughter sees you excited about something that makes her excited to be learning. And what better example for her then to see that you don't "know" everything and that learning is an on-going life-time experience?
And if you didn't carve out time for you to do what you find enjoyable then you as a mommy and teacher will burn out. You need to do things that are fulfilling to you too...that is an example to your daughter as well I believe.
What better way to learn for both you and you daughter but side by side exploring new things together. Gives you both something to talk about and enjoy! So I say go for it!
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Jen
Mommy to Marie-Therese born 12/4/09
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ekbell
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| Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 4:08pm | IP Logged
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I remember when my dad started taking vocal lessons and when I and the sister next in line joined him and sharing swimming classes with my mom. There was something very special about learning something alongside a parent.
(My Oma at the age of ninety odd years still likes to learn about new handicrafts. I remember her telling me about the new sculpted rug hooking class she was taking.)
I think it would be sad if my children never saw me learning new things, never had the chance to to see me work on skills, study, strggle and improve.
[Something to remember is that it can go the other way around as well. My oldest wants to go through the CCC and I've just bought some books for myself (the Companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Living the Catechism of the Catholic Church series so that while I'm helping her understand what she is reading, I can also deepen my understanding and learn more about my faith. When I bought books for the children to learn more about the Mass I also bought a book for myself the How-to Book of the Mass which is very good. ]
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 6:00pm | IP Logged
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I have long said that the number one thing you can do as a mom/teacher is to have and pursue your own passions and be willing to share them with your child.
Even if your child does not share the exact same passions as you, just the fact that she sees you pursuing learning with enthusiasm will teach her that learning is something wonderful--a gift even, and will inspire her to pursue her own interests with the same enthusiasm. And that precious lesson is one she will never learn in school.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: What Does Your Unschooling Look Like?
