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lapazfarm
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| Posted: April 08 2006 at 10:52pm | IP Logged
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I am trying to think a bit more about the practicalities of unschooling, as the time approaches to begin.
I like the idea that Cindy mentioned about journaling what dc do, but I also like the idea of encouraging ds to be a bit responsible for record keeping.
Is it totally contrary to unschooling to ask ds to keep some form of records of what he is doing, either through journaling, notebooking, or keeping a book list?
I mean, if our intention through unschooling is to have dc be responsible for their own learning, does it follow that they can also take some responsibility for documenting that learning?
I'm eager to hear some thoughts on this.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Willa
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| Posted: April 09 2006 at 2:19pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
Is it totally contrary to unschooling to ask ds to keep some form of records of what he is doing, either through journaling, notebooking, or keeping a book list?
I mean, if our intention through unschooling is to have dc be responsible for their own learning, does it follow that they can also take some responsibility for documenting that learning?
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I have been wondering about this too.
Someone mentioned to me that in Homeschooling for Excellence, the kids were required to keep a journal. It was a family endeavour -- the parents did it too and they all used each others' journals to help them recall their history -- "when was that lamb born?" "When did we have that big storm?" The kids sometimes complained about it a bit but also saw the point and were generally OK about it.
When I have my "overview" with my teenage son I usually work on his journal with him. That's how we do it, but with my daughter, I have asked her to keep a booklist and also a basic timesheet for recording things she would want in her transcript-portfolio. Pretty soon I want to go over it with her and try to organize it a bit. My oldest did something similar and it really helped when we were putting together his transcript -- compiling time frames for various extracurricular activities and experiences.
My daughter also enjoys keeping diaries and logs. I do not ask to see them, but I know she is doing that and it is one of the benefits of journalling to me -- the self-reflection and act of writing.
NOW -- I am not sure how I will approach this with my 13yo and 10yo, or even if I should. Nor am I sure how I would approach it with children who were really opposed to the idea. I would not like journalling to become a dreaded chore in their minds. That would defeat the point of unschooling, to me.
I have thought of asking them to start a blog!
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AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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Leonie
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| Posted: April 10 2006 at 6:30am | IP Logged
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I think it depends on how we approach it.
Two of my older sons ( Nicholas and Gregpry) kept a journal/log for a couple of their secondary school age years. We bought student diaries and each day they would record their own thoughts on the day, achievements, happenings, book titles. These were brief and not all encompassing but a good record over time - and fun to look at now!
Around the same time, my then elementary school age sons also wrote or drew a small entry in a daily log, and noted the time and date and weather.
We haven't done this in a long time but it might be something for us to consider.
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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stefoodie
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| Posted: April 10 2006 at 11:19am | IP Logged
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my kids all started to blog last year. it really has helped me a lot with record keeping, documentation, etc.
they blog without me prompting them. i do assign writing projects; my 9-yo is writing his narration right now of saint isaac on his blog. most of the time it's bits and pieces that they just want to record themselves.
pressure has been taken off me and off them because of this. they know they can write without every little piece of writing/narration being an "assignment" that has to be corrected and/or gets a grade from me.
b/c of this the 9-yo and 7-yo also recently became interested in learning touch-typing -- another plus!
they do have "junk material" in some of their blogs -- my 7-yo has taken to starting a blog for almost every topic he gets interested in, so he's got a narnia blog, a drome racers blog, a hardy boys blog, etc. all with 1 or 2 posts only each. 
my 15-yo, OTOH, who blogs about jewelry projects, cooking and baking, book reviews, karate, etc., is taking record-keeping off my hands without her even knowing it or me getting on her case about it.
not only is it great for backup, they also get writing practice daily.
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stef
mom to five
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Cindy
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| Posted: April 11 2006 at 10:57am | IP Logged
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Just to throw in the mix.. journalling can take many forms. My boys were constantly coming downstairs asking for more blank (or used) cassette tapes. When I asked them why, they said they were 'recording their life". 
I think journalling has two forms-- for record-keeping, etc and for preserving memories (for fun).
I tend to keep the two rather seperate- at least for now.
Oh, and Stef-- it turned out that learning touch typing was one of best investments of time we ever spent around here. The boys can get their thoughts down really quickly.
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Cindy in Texas
It Is About The Journey
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Leonie
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| Posted: April 15 2006 at 7:55pm | IP Logged
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Cindy wrote:
I think journalling has two forms-- for record-keeping, etc and for preserving memories (for fun).
I tend to keep the two rather seperate- at least for now. |
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I think it can be kind of fun to have the two together - a sort of hodge-podge compendium,a scrapbook sort of thing.
At least, that is what happened with my older sons and their logs/diaries in their high school years.
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: record keeping
