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KackyK
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| Posted: Oct 29 2011 at 8:48pm | IP Logged
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I didn't know how to title this!
I've always loved the unschooling idea, but have that pull type feeling keeping us tied to certain books and ways, blah blah blah you've heard this before.
Anyways, with my 7th grader this year, he's a slightly grumpy fellow. He does his work, but I know he's just waiting for something more. So I thought I'd let him have it with history, so to speak!
SO...he has been all about World War 2 for weeks and weeks here. He's loving reading and rereading, it's great. At first I was having him narrate to me daily, but then I realized he was sort of going back and forth and rediscovering so I've been just asking him really weekly about what he is exploring and if he'd like to go on to something else. Basically I'm asking when does he need to go back to the library.
OK here is my question/anxiety - it comes from my schoolish self - when, or do I need to, say "write me a paper", "make me a model", do something material that I can shake in the air and say see, this is what he is doing!
I'm sure I just need to be talked down and he'll be fine, I'll be fine! 
So maybe the better question is what else can I say, how can I encourage in a directed way? Or do I need to do that? Is just saying "hey are you ready to move from airplanes to warships? any battles you want specifically?" good enough. This is all I have been doing so far for our library searches.
I hope this made some sense???!!!! If you got this far, please know I'm not always this scatterbrained!
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KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Oct 29 2011 at 8:55pm | IP Logged
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What about having him explain a particular battle or event to you with a map or other visual aids? (Narration!)
If he's researching all of WWII, perhaps a timeline (even a list of dates/events in a notebook, but he could do something more complex, too, like a binder with pages for months/years) would help him keep everything in perspective, and he could add to it at any time.
My son adores military history, too, and in 10th grade I tied a lot of his reading selections to that interest (Eddie Rickenbacker's bio - WWI - you might be able to find age-appropriate books about St. Maximilian Kolbe, Father Joseph O'Callahan and the USS Franklin, etc.).
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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KackyK
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| Posted: Oct 29 2011 at 8:59pm | IP Logged
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His weekly narrations have been good. He started out just wanting to learn about the bombers. So he's a little airplane wiz now. He really got into the whole atomic bombing and the stories from the pilots.
Now he's moved to submarines. He's not on a timeline at all. He knows more about Hiroshima than anything about Poland. I guess we'll get there??
But maybe if I just print a template out and he starts filling in what he has done, that will lead him on too...hmmmm....thanks for that suggestion!
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KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Oct 29 2011 at 9:43pm | IP Logged
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I say if it ain't broke don't fix it.
He is learning on his own and enjoying it. Isn't that really what we are hoping for?
Sometimes I think the hardest part of unschooling is letting go of the need for some kind of physical "proof" of learning--a paper, a project...something you can put your hands on and say--'Look! he learned!". But really, the only proof you need is that he keeps asking for more books. If he were not learning he would tire of it and quit asking for more.
I say you are doing just fine!
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MaryM
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| Posted: Oct 29 2011 at 9:58pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
| Sometimes I think the hardest part of unschooling is letting go of the need for some kind of physical "proof" of learning--a paper, a project...something you can put your hands on and say--'Look! he learned!". But really, the only proof you need is that he keeps asking for more books. If he were not learning he would tire of it and quit asking for more. |
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I agree with what Theresa said. It really is true. A student can produce a model or write a report and not necessarily have "learned" a subject. It can be external and superficial. It is the going further and deeper and having a sustained interest that really brings the kind of learning that is sustained. And learning in that way teaches a student how to learn and to be a seeker of knowledge. We all learn better when we are invested and have motivation to know the material. I say  to your history experiment.
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Our Domestic Church
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leanne maree
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| Posted: Oct 31 2011 at 5:35am | IP Logged
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I agree with both Theresa and Mary,
Your son is doing just fine..
My dd was ttravelling through history using various texts and living books etc..We jumped off the ride-so to speak, because she started asking who Adolf Hilter was, and she needed answers, she has been using various books to read and investigate WWII. She has achieved this through reading books that interest her.
She also has enjoyed and learnt about Victorian life due to her love of jane Austen.
We haven't really asked for any reports as such, just immerse her in good literture and living books.
So History can be unschooled and once you get started its easy to jump around.
I hope that helps,
Leanne 
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Leanne
Loving wife to Dermot and Adoring mother to Louise, Kristie, Kieran & Brid
http://leannemaree.blogspot.com/
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Topic: unschooling history first time!
