4Real Forums: What do you use with the little people?

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Nurturing the Years of Wonder
4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder

Topic: What do you use with the little people?

Poll Question: Do you combine philosophies, or use one method exclusively?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Charlotte Mason	0	[0.00%]
Montessori	2	[8.70%]
Waldorf	1	[4.35%]
Five in a Row	0	[0.00%]
Little Saints	1	[4.35%]
unschooling	3	[13.04%]
A happy combination of all of the above	15	[65.22%]
Another method not listed here...explain below	1	[4.35%]
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Mackfam
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 6:25am \| IP Logged

I'm curious. I was reflecting in another thread about how I combine many philosophies in a way that I almost can't tell where one ends and the other begins. That's not how I started homeschooling though. I've relaxed into a gentle approach that really works for my family. I attribute my being able to do that largely to the encouragement and wisdom I've received on these boards!

So, for your 6 and under crowd...what do you choose - whether it's structured or intentionally relaxed? Please share! You can vote for more than one!

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Jen Mackintosh
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Sarah M
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 10:39am \| IP Logged

My absolute favorite resource for my littles is Kindergarten with Your 3-6 Year Old because it is such a gentle approach to the early years. Though it's based pretty solidly on Waldorf ideas, integrating those with CM, unschooling, and Montessori is so natural!

MaryM
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 10:42am \| IP Logged

I no longer have little people in that age group - but my approach with the under first grade crowd was mostly unschooly.

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Mary M. in Denver

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Mary G
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 10:52am \| IP Logged

I'm with the Other Mary

-- mine are a bit above that, but I too would lean mostly toward unschool, particularly as I want them to love learning so I would let it be child-directed. I don't agree with starting littles in pre-K type things ... I could kick myself for having put my older two in pre-K, day care and "real school" that young!

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MaryG
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ALmom
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 4:31pm \| IP Logged

Ok, I'm not sure what I do because I'm more of a Better Late than Early type, but I use some Montessori style, self directed type trays and am taking the Montessori on-line classes and trying to implement bits here and there but in my own way. I also do plenty of reading aloud. I'm not great with the nature walks (did more with the olders and am trying to ease back into allowing the time for it while I have biggers who seem to feel they don't have time for it). We follow trails if the child expresses interest and I'm not sure if that is unschooling because I'm not very systematic about strewing or anything else. I certainly don't plan rabbit trails or have any strategy for the read alouds. I simply don't even think much about "school" for my under 6 crowd.

Now, I couldn't call myself Montessori because the Better Late than Early seems to contradict the Montessori providing early opportunities for learning and discovering and developing the potentials to the fullest from the start by controlling the environment with intense observation of the needs of the individual.
When I happen to notice something, I find Montessori often provides a very delight filled and self led opportunity to develop in the area that seems to be drawing them. So if my child is cutting everything under the sun, I will pull out a Montessori cutting tray and introduce it and allow the child to run with it as long as they like. I do focus on some of the care and order type things - but I do that in everyday living and we may adjust what I want them to do from time to time as the need presents themselves. So right now everyone is responsible for spraying all around the toilet after every single bathroom visit (with vinegar and water spray bottle) and the sink. Once we recognize how much work it is, I may actually back off and assign some sort of daily wipe down on a rotating basis to each child. I don't have to do a lot of Montessori to aid in self-sufficiency. Mine do this naturally. Every once in a while, I might notice a difficulty and we pull out a Montessori presentation that addresses the skill. If they aren't interested, we drop it. If they are then they have that available to work on and generally the related household skill improves alongside the Montessori tray.

However, I do not feel obligated to plan lessons or presentations in any kind of quantity or order nor stress over how many I should do. I am totally not worried about academics. The children teach themselves whatever until I must, by law, teach them or until they demand something more.

I'm not sure what this is called?

Janet

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