Monday, May 03, 2010
What is essential is to realize that children learn independently, not in bunches; that they learn out of interest and curiosity, not to please or appease the adults in power; and that they ought to be in control of their own learning, deciding for themselves what they want to learn and how they want to learn it. -John Holt
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19 comments:
two thumbs up!
I'm really gravitating more towards this Dawn. Would you mind sharing what a day in your household looks like? Like....Do your children get up when they like? Are they allowed to watch tv/video games, etc? Do you do any "structured" activities with them? Have they ever gone to pub school and how old are they? Hope you don't mind my questions.
*hits like button*
No two days are the same. Today it looked like this because I'm sick.
DS11 was up first. He fed and watered the birds, fed and watered Yumi, and unloaded the dishwasher. He likes to get his chores out of the way so he can enjoy the rest of his day. He then went on the computer because in this house, the early bird gets the good PC. Later, after his brother woke up, he allowed his brother to go on the PC and DS11 chose to watch 70's game shows while eating Captain Crunch.
DS14 woke around 10:30. He stays up late reading so he sleeps in. Both the boys can sleep until they feel rested. DS14 cleaned the litter box of Yumi's nightly activities. Before he goes to bed, he'll clean it again. Believe or not, he's a teenager who cleans the cat box twice a day without complaining, without us having to ask him. DS14 played his computer game while eating Just Bunches.
Me- I made toast, took my medicine and laid back in bed, watching Pride and Prejudice until I felt better.
DH- got up, showered, shaved and job searched on the computer while throwing in loads of laundry.
Around midday we all headed outside to work in the garden. DS14 & DH built two more Square Foot Garden frames, while DS11 & I filled them with dirt and planted seeds and seedlings. DH & DS14 did also help us wheelbarrow dirt into place. A few hours later, we all came in and cleaned up.
DS11 played Legos while DH & DS14 went to the grocery store. I rested and called my mom.
Around 3:30pm school was out and friends started calling, showing up. The boys entertained their friends in the mancave, playing Yu-Gi-Oh cards and video games. I worked on getting our materials ready for this weekend's homeschool conference. My family is hosting 3 workshops. DH job searched some more on the computer.
Supper time- DH made supper, we ate together as a family and afterward, friends came back over. This is out of the ordinary for a "school night." We'll be asking them to leave by 8:00pm so we can go back to having family time, where we'll probably watch Pickers on the history channel.
Yes. They also go to bed when they want to. DS11 will usually tell you he's tired around 10:00pm. We'll tuck him in first, as a family, saying a prayer. DH & I will usually retire to our bedroom while DS14 stays up to read his book. DS14 usually ends up going to bed around midnight. He'll wake up between 10:30-11:00, but I really feel he needs all that sleep because he's 14. DS11 will wake up by 7:00am. If I'm not working in the morning, I'm awake by 7:30am.
On Friday and Saturdays, we all sleep in our bedroom. DH moves the boys' mattresses into our room or they sleep on sleeping bags. We'll watch a movie while we fall asleep. This is a tradition stemming from the early days when we did the family bed thing.
Most definitely! We have learned quite a bit from tv/video/computer games. I'll have to write a blog post on this subject, because I have a lot to share on this subject!
Thanks Dawn....I feel like lately I can't wait until you post something else...I feel so drawn to the unschooling life at times and when I just let it flow like that it seems to work so well. Then there's the strict scheduler in me that won't let it fully happen. I'm soaking up your posts. Thank you for humoring me and tolerating my questions. :)
What's your definition of structured? I'm thinking you're meaning do I make them do something "educational" when I want them to "learn" something. As an unschooler, I recognize learning happens all the time. Probably the closest I get to what you may interpret as "structure" is when I decide to inspire them by introducing a new idea or taking them to a new place. I will decide that as a family, we're going to explore something new, but sometimes they are the ones who want to share a new passion. After the introduction, if it interests them, I'll help facilitate their further pursuit. If they are not interested, after being exposed to it, I don't push it. I have to respect and recognize that God made us all different, with different talents and different paths to follow.
Maybe chores could be considered "structured" but to be honest, we gave them a choice. We explained how we all need to pitch in and help because we all live here. To respect each other we need to all share in the responsibility of keeping our home healthy. The boys chose chores they felt they could handle and sometimes we change things up when we need to. For the most part, we all carry our own weight and when we need help, we ask for it and help each other out.
No, never. My oldest is now 14 and my youngest 11.
I don't mind at all! You can ask me anything. I'm an open book. :)
I just see such a healthy family when I read your posts and I feel like your children are doing amazingly well........and I wonder if I've ruined things for my children by A) sending them to public school in the beginning B) continuing "school at home" when we first starting homeschooling and C) by not letting them have the freedom to learn what interests them like you have even though we're no longer exactly doing the "school at home" approach.
For some reason I can relax in ALL areas except language and math. I feel like they have to have a certain curriculum for that and my middle girl loves it but my son just hates any structured learning at all. I KNOW in my heart that learning is LIFE, but yet I think I feel pressure from outside sources. I don't have any support for the unschooling lifestyle. The one friend I had that was closer to unschooling has put her children in school this year. SHOCKER to me!! Big time!!
I feel like everything in me wants to abandon all curriculum and just live life......my children are so THERE, but yet I can't let go of those 2 areas. I love reading about unschooling and hearing about how well it works, but why can't I let go? Did public school and the govt agenda ruin me? UGH!!!
Sometimes it takes time.. I still feel pressure only cus they do go to speech and language. I come home PUFF UP and then after a day go back to unschooling
Steph, as you know I am not an unschooler, but have relaxed some over the years. I think if you feel led to go that route, try it. :o) I am SURE you have not ruined your children by sending them to ps and that you have not ruined them with how you have taught them at home. I think what ruins children is when you squash their desire to be creative and take their desire to learn away from them.
If they have an interest in something, they'll learn about it. I really really think your kids would enjoy lapbooks and it's possible the girls would enjoy them more. If they are showing an interest in something or asking you questions about a particular topic, a lapbook would be a fun way for them to have hands on learning....I think doing the lapbooks would also help ease your mind about them learning as you gravitate from standard lessons to a more relaxed approach. :o)
Just my two cents!:o)
Oh!! Confirmation alert! Confirmation alert!! LOL I have been going through the lapbooks I currently have, searching for new ones online, etc and feel VERY led to pursue this avenue. Wast thinking perhaps this Summer we'll just try those. The girls enjoy them so much!! Macie loves Aleks.com for math and so I think she'll keep doing that. Austyn has it too and just hates math in general but Aleks has been better for him than anything else. I bought a year subscription for them both and paid over $300 for it, so we're using it, by gosh!!! LOL
I have got to get ALEKS I let a month go only because I HAD to get the cat fixed.
Good luck with everything Steph!:o)
You have to deschool yourself. Schools do teach you not to trust yourself. One of the best ways to work through this process is pick something to learn about that interests YOU and make sure your children see YOU pursuing it. Whenever I started to feel the creep of doubt, I realized it was because I wasn't challenging my own mind. My remedy was to find a balance between staying involved in the boys' activities while still finding time to inspire myself. Believe me, your children will be inspired when they see you learning something new on your own. Autodidactism is contagious!
Bingo! You hit it right on the head!
More good advice....Dawn you're gonna have to start charging me for all this wisdom you are imparting....LOL I've gone through periods of time where I have tried to deschool myself but I think I'm gonna get intense with it. I feel like I'm right on the edge.....I want to push myself over and never look back. :)
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