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chicken lady
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| Posted: Aug 08 2007 at 6:39pm | IP Logged
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I have to give a talk tomorrow night on unschooling. Yes I am just getting around to thinking about it 
If you were there what would you like to know about my experience with unschooling? Would you want to hear facts, experience, examples, details?????
I am speaking to a large group of pretty traditional school at home folks. WHY they asked me to do this again I have no idea
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kingvozzo
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I would want to know how you feel comfortable knowing your kids are "covering the basics." I think I'd also want to know how you came to unschooling. Did you always do it, or did it evolve. Also, addressing the fears of people unfamiliar with unschooling re: college.
These are just some thoughts I've heard expressed regarding unschooling.
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Noreen
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SuzanneG
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Examples. Examples of the times when you get the "Ah-ha! This really does work! They really ARE learning! "
I'm thinking of Have fun, Learn Stuff, Grow book......I love how he gives concrete examples of the fact that his daughters ARE learning even though day-day, it may not seem like it.
Give examples of the things your children are interested in and how those interests developed. What are they Not interested in.
What sorts of things do you "require" as opposed to what do you leave them alone in?
One thing I liked about the Homeschooling with Gentleness book is that she gave examples of her son's learning.
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Suzanne in ID
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chicken lady
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OK I am writing over here, thanks for the ideas......
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Marybeth
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I agree with covering the basics and how you as a Mom relax and let the learning get to the ah-ha moment without hovering. I think talking about strewing would be interesting b/c I use to do this in my classroom before I knew it had a name. 
Also,when I gave a talk about reading to your children the audience was amazed at the 50+ mini rabbit trails we have taken just off my ds' interest in dinosaurs.
How I would love to hear you speak. God bless!
Mb
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chicken lady
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OK here is a problem, what do you all mean by relaxing about the "basics". I never have used a curriculm so I guess I am not nervous about meeting the basics. I mean we all read, know math as ir pertains to something we are interested in, we know history, (dh LOVES History) we learn music and latin, literature.......is that the basics???
This is what I am trying to say, I never have for some reason, felt the need to so school at home. I must be odd about this, so I don't understand the mystery to my relaxed approach. Growing up in No Calif. I knew other people who shared this approach, kind of like Home Births, I never thought twice about them. To me they are normal, our choice of natural HS is normal. SO bridge the gap for me, what am I not seeing or understanding. I somehow feel as if I am suppose to be alarmed and worried about soemthing, only I don't know what that something is??? Does that make sense? This is why these talks are hard for me, I don;t understand why this lifestyle is odd!!!
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LisaR
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I'd like to kick it off with what unschooling is NOT. I think there are alot of misconceptions out there and unless you sort of clear the air first, a traditional type crowd might not be able to really "hear" you kwim?
It could be brief, even a top five list type thing.
just off the top of my head....
and, well, I'd talk about how you can "unschool" one child and traditional school another, depending on learning styles... or say you are traditional homeschool does not mean that in another season of your life, you might need to "unschool" for a time- and that is ok!!
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LisaR
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ah, but all that you are doing- is it the "basics" that "they" want your child to know?? many parents have this nervous feeling somewhere in the back of their mind that their child is not measuring up to some sort of percieved, or real, or state or national standard. I never did until....
Just as an example, my ds, had to take the EXPLORE test for entrance to 9th grade High School. (you can check it out at the ACT website) anyway, it was the second in his life ever test of any kind. Who knew how he would do? I honestly had no idea, and was for the most part curious, but ds did not feel "prepared" like the other kids and we both got a bit nervous.
Other families we know who took it coming from Seton for example, were confident and did great.
Ds was ALL OVER the place- all a puzzle to us except Lit and Comprehension (no surprise when he reads non stop and we have always been Lit based school) he got 99th percentile. BUT he bombed Science, and that was a surprise as he has done well with the "Apologia" books, and enjoys them. He did better than we both thought on Math- he really struggled alot with Math this entire past year and finally we gave up.
He was so kind when it was over but also expressed sadness and regret that he did not have more experience with traditional homeschool, with standardized tests, grades, etc. I heard him and it gave me pause.
My goal when we started homeschooling was not to send a child to school. But now that we are there, I am starting to see the "mindset" of the traditionalists more clearly. I like to say I unschooled for seasons of our life....
There is a balance in the freedom of homeschooling if we can find it. I think the traditional families might hate the fear of the unknown, and cling to lesson plans, enrollment, or whatever. I feel like maybe I unschooled and CM learning, etc on principal, because I COULD and it was so much more amazing to learn in a relaxed manner. But for a son/mom/dad who wants to know "where they're at" covering the basics with a workbook or two occasionally or a standardized test every few years or so might be necessary to cover the "basics".
feeling like I'm going in circles here, sorry!
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dh Tim '92
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SuzanneG
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LisaR wrote:
I'd like to kick it off with what unschooling is NOT. I think there are alot of misconceptions out there and unless you sort of clear the air first, a traditional type crowd might not be able to really "hear" you kwim?
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Yes! Good point, Lisa.
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chicken lady
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Sorry Lisa, I am still struck by the fact that your oldest is in high school When did that happen, it seems not that long ago you and Tim were new parents here in Steubie!!! WOW I feel old.
OK now to finish reading your post 
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lapazfarm
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Tomorrow night!!!??? Gee, plenty of time!
I think what is meant by "covering the basics" is , for example, how do you make sure your children learn how to read, write, and do math. Those are the areas most folks are hesitant about. Especially math. Even folks who unschool every other subject often have a hard time letting go of math (like... for instance... me!).
I know it's about trusting your child to learn what they need, but honestly I think that is a tough one when it comes to subjects like math.
You may want to bring up that study that showed that if a child is behind in math it only takes a month or so to learn it all, and they can do it by themselves if properly motivated. I can't remember where I read that. Anyone?
I also think you may want to talk about the fact that not all unschoolers unparent. That aspect is a real turn-off for many.
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SuzanneG
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lapazfarm wrote:
| You may want to bring up that study that showed that if a child is behind in math it only takes a month or so to learn it all, and they can do it by themselves if properly motivated. I can't remember where I read that. Anyone? |
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Life Learning Magazine? Hmmmmm.....I just read that too....somewhere.
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ladybugs
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Molly,
I wrote a post on how our family came to unschool.
You're welcome to use that for whatever it's worth...
Also, I think unschooling has to do with the understanding that we're all wired to learn...
Let us know how it goes!
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JuliaT
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I would like to hear about a 'day in the life of an unschooler." I know that there aren't two days that are the same in unschooling, but maybe you could tell them what you did today or yesterday. When I first started to unschool, I made a list of all of the subjects that my dd was getting through her choices. I was amazed by all that she learned in one day. I think alot of people think that if you aren't sitting down doing seatwork, then learning is not taking place.
I agree also with the separation of unschooling from unparenting. Most people when they think of unschooling, they think of radical unschooling. People may be surprised that not all unschoolers are of that thinking.
Blessings,
Julia
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http://www.homeschoolbloggr.com/Juliainsk
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Leonie
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I know I am late ( my, unschooling and life keeps me busy and away from the internet! ). How did the talk go?
I often focus on real ife examples when I talk about unschooling - people like the practical how tos and ideas of how it can work...And I take along some unschooling books/resources for perusal.
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CAgirl4God
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how did your talk go???
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chicken lady
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Sorry for the delay......I needed to pass on the talk. I had some serious family issue come up, (please offer and Ave it is still critical) and I had to call it! No talk, off to adoration for me. Good news I did get the talk down on paper, tweaking last years and adding bits of advice from this thread.
Lisa I am pondering your post about testing etc. Good food for thought. I read somewhere about this issue, I am trying to rememeber where.
BTW I will post the talk on my blog later today.....hopefully (if this head cold lets up)
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LisaR
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Oh Molly, I have been praying for you and your family. and a cold, yuck, nothing worse than a summer cold. chicken soup and hot tea just don't cut it now!
I think I was just trying to point out my own journey in a small way. My desire early on and what sparked me to home educate was the "lighting of a fire" concept vs the filling of a bucket that we see in the institutional schools. I wanted my kids to love learning! I wanted them to be curious, bright, interested and interesting persons. However, as my young men have grown a bit, I realize I desire for them confidence and stability. I recognize that as men especially, they will have to do many tasks that are unpleasant, obey many a boss that they might disagree with a bit, and have to work with deadlines and structure of some kind most likely.
I KNOW my oldest ds is bright, he is confident that he knows alot. However, we both are realizing that we regret that he did not have more "structure" and traditional schooling experiences (like standardized testing ) to better prepare him for "out there" whether it be community college to aid in his homeschooling years, Private HS, or even a mundane job.
Yes, it is boring, yes it is unappealing, yes there are "better ways" out there to home educate. Maybe I have let go of the "perfect" way or model of home education.
Just because we CAN make it interesting and fun and creative and non schooly....should we?
my answer has evolved and I still am working on the balance!
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Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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chicken lady
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Do you think it is different tempermants Lisa? I hear you, I am trying like crazy to remember where I read about a very similar situation to yours. Leonie is this ringing any bells for you???? Basically this family unschooled, as the child realized he wanted to go to college( as opposed to a trade) his parents showed him the hoops he needed to jump and he basically accepted that fact and learned to jump. Again it was self directed and desired. I don't know if this is the best way to go about life, but it was interesting and gave me another way to think.
THis I think pertains to academics, as for the other points you made about employment, I hope (think) for us that falls under obedience and humility. Very much apart of our spiritual training. I am thinking out loud here Lisa, not directing this to you I wonder if this is what gets people riled about (unparenting). You see, for us some things (religion) are not optional. Respect, discipline and self control are essential to our spiritual lives, therefore I do not unschool these! I love Edith Stein's emphasis on the soul primarily, then academics.
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lapazfarm
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chicken lady wrote:
THis I think pertains to academics, as for the other points you made about employment, I hope (think) for us that falls under obedience and humility. Very much apart of our spiritual training. I am thinking out loud here Lisa, not directing this to you I wonder if this is what gets people riled about (unparenting). You see, for us some things (religion) are not optional. Respect, discipline and self control are essential to our spiritual lives, therefore I do not unschool these! I love Edith Stein's emphasis on the soul primarily, then academics. |
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That is the same way I see it also. Obedience to parental authority is not simply practice for the working world and some cranky boss. It is preparation for obedience to God's authority in our lives as adults.
As long as that is established, I don't think having intellectual matters be delight directed will have ill effects.
It is when we forget to order the soul first that the problems occur.
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Theresa
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Topic: Unschooling talk
