A few months ago, a student at Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism contacted me and asked if they could interview me about unschooling for research they were doing. Here are her questions, and my answers.
1) You address a lot of the day to day in your blog, but what are the biggest hurdles to starting?
For me, it was changing the way I view education, school and learning. Real learning…learning that truly means something to an individual. Learning has nothing to do with passing or failing, dividing the world up into subjects or taking a standardized test. That’s not learning.
Education is not telling students that it’s June 1 and today is the day you need to learn about dolphins. Also, when you’re done “learningâ€
Statistics: Posted by sartasd — Tue Jul 06, 2010 4:20 pm
]]>
Of the unschooler I know, If their kids like workbooks and ask for them, then they buy them. The kids don't have to be forced to do workbooks because they asked for them.
A friend of mine had a son who is not in high school, he didn't do math as a boy till about age 12. This boy learned math so fast that He was on grade level math in only a few months because he was so interested in math and was able to focus and retain what He learned at a fast pace.
Just because a 8 yo is not doing math or only doing easy addition doesn't mean that they won't be able to do harder math at a later age.
Unschoolers allow their kids have a say so in the curriculum (if they desire it) My kids have tried a few different curriculums over the years and they liked the ones that allows them to work alone without too much help from me. I love independent learning materials. However at time they ask for a break from it and we may do a group project that takes off as more of a "unit study" type of learning.
People misunderstand unschooling as parents not doing anything to help their kids to learn. the difference is we don't "teach" or "lecture" or do the schooly things. We don't try to make it "school at home" we create a learning environment that will help them learn everything they will need if they do "choose to go to school" next year. They read, write, do basic math that is practical and usable in everyday life. As a unschooling parent who is part of a unschool support group, I am encouraged by other unschooling parents to be involved with my kids and do things that will spark interest in something. We are very involved with summer reading programs at our local library, we go the local library 1 to 3 times a week, we go to local events or visit local historical places, museums, zoo, or go on day trips or overnight trips to visit all kinds of places.
It never fails that one of our kids will see something or hear something and then a trip to the library put them on a road of research to know more about that subject.
Recently Hallmark Movie Channel had a movie about Marco Polo, My son asked who's he, I told him who he was and that he really did live. He realized that is history and like the movie. We also found books at the library on Maro Polo.
Instead of him reading a text book with only bits of info. he reads living books/whole books instead.
As for our life being "relaxed" we are far from it. My kids do learn and they love learning because they are allowed to learn using their learning style.
If a unschooler has a child who learns by hearing things, they find resources, videos, computer software, or even sign them up for classes. they are still unschoolers because it is not the parent who is is making the decision to learn this way, it is the child's choice.
The argument is children won't know to learn something or ask for the right things, Not with my kids. I expose them too everything they need and learn because I am listen to them when they question things. We together set out to find answers to those questions.
Let me give you an example a friend did a few years ago with a 7 year old. Her 7 year old asked why they don't recycyle light bulbs (the old ones)
Her mother was about to say, we just don't, go and play but stopped and knew they could be a learning moment. So they did a internet search about light bulbs, electricity, and etc.
Thata 7 year old learned to draw the parts of a light bulb, know how electricity worked, who invented electricity and the dangers of lightning and etc. Mother also found information about what a new bulb's wires look like, the used bulb and a burned out one looked like.
Her dd, was later able to pick out of a box 3 bulbs one which was brand new, one which worked but was used, and another one that was burned out. She correctly indentified each one. She didn't have to shake them only look at the wires and new which was which.
That is a good picture of what true unschooler is. We are not against education, we are just against assembly line school education that expects every child in that grade to know and learn all the same at the same time. By the time unschoolers are finished with school they know everything High school seniors know plus more.
Statistics: Posted by sartasd — Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:39 pm
]]>
]]>
]]>
Personally, my view is that unschooling provides perhaps too much potential for the idiot savant - someone who's master at one thing and knows nothing in other areas. A more formal structure is required at some point, probably early high school.
Thoughts? How do you close gaps while still allowing your children to choose what they study? Not everything is fun to study.
Statistics: Posted by Theodore — Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:51 pm
]]>
]]>
The difference is: who is the driving force behind the learning? Is it the parent or the child? If it's the child, it's unschooling. If it's the parent, it's probably "relaxed" or "eclectic".
Personally, after reading alot about unschooling I think it is a very misunderstood philosophy. That, or I'm too legalistic. I think it would be very difficult (for me) given the above definition to unschool younger children. How would they ever know what they wanted to learn unless something caught their eye by chance? As my children get older, I can see more possiblities.
I think relaxed - eclectic homeschooling is great for children when they are younger. That's the approach I took with my kids. I write more about the differences I've discovered at http://www.homeschool-by-design.com/unschooling.html if you are interested.
Best wishes.
Statistics: Posted by Jill — Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:38 pm
]]>
I would recommend that you do lots of reading on unschooling over the summer. You could do this online but also see if your local library has any books on the subject. If you want to buy a book or two, you could go to amazon.com and look at what they have and read the reviews before choosing one. Here is an interesting unschooling blog -
http://anunschoolinglife.com/
You might want to look into the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling too. That might appeal to both of your sons. (I like the Charlotte Mason method, especially "living" books.) Here is a link-
http://simplycharlottemason.com/basics/ ... on-method/
Statistics: Posted by hscoach — Thu Jun 03, 2010 1:12 pm
]]>
We have a school room, it has a white board, art center, puzzles, games, etc.
So, maybe unschooling isn't exactly for us, but I do want to be more laid back and not so schedule-y.
This year with my DS1 we basically worked on handwriting and addition/subtraction. He is a really artsy boy so we also focused on arts and crafts. He LOVES to play math games. They kind of make the lesson stick. For History, he wanted to study knights, so we did a unit study on knights. We learned about viruses because his little brother had a cold, lol.
If he enjoys this kind of learning, should I try to unschool him or should we just stick with it?
My problem is my 4yo is the complete opposite. He is bright and curious and everything, but he would rather be outside rolling around in mud. He live in the woods so we like to go "exploring".
Would unschooling one son and not unschooling the other be too hard? Should I give my soon to be 5yo another year of exploration and then buckle down when he is 6, or slowly start now?
We live in OK, so grade levels don't really matter. We don't report to them, they don't care.
Any advice for two young boys on two completely different sides of the learning spectrum?
Statistics: Posted by partyoffive — Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:31 pm
]]>
I have began looking into "unschooling" my boys and eventually my other ds and dd when they get older.
I have been searching these boards for unschooling tips and just exactly what unschooling is. I understand everyone unschools differently but I also want them to be able to transition to high school/college level work.
What would you suggest since my children are still so young? How do you still teach them what is neccassary while being laid back and "unschooling"?
Thanks
Statistics: Posted by partyoffive — Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:10 pm
]]>