Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts

Unschooling--not so "un"


Well, the first couple of weeks of unschooling have been very sucessful. Magic School Bus only ruled my den for two full days! I expected a much longer binge than that. And besides a few scattered sessions on Beatles Rock Band, Kaden has mostly stayed away from the Wii as well. Very suprising considering he used to play Wii as soon as he woke up (before going to school) and as soon as he got home. Now it seems that having it be available all the time as created less of a desire to play. Instead Kaden's been building sofa cushion forts, crazy creatures out of pipe cleaners, toilet paper rolls, empty containers, and cardboard (complete with moving parts!). Besides all the free-play, we've been reading a lot more around here. We're still working on The Magician's Nephew from the Narnia series, but we've also been reading a lot of non-fiction (the library is great, no?) We've read about Japan, about Castles & Forts, a great book about Sea Creatures (fictional and real), a Prehistoric Monsters book, about Lasers (followed by a long explanitory discussion by dad, of course, since he works with lasers every day!), and more I can't even think of right now. Other things we've done have been to make cookies and bread, he has learned how to cook scrambled eggs on his own (with us turning on the stove).  We're growing sprouts and plan to start growing more things to plant in the garden come Spring. So far, everyday has been full except for a mid-week slump this week while I was in a stressed out mood (can anyone say Blowing-the-Budget-on-Christmas much?)... Thank goodness for Karate and Swimming Lessons on those days!

Currently Jeff is building a skating rink with Kaden in the back yard. They've got the wooden structure nailed down and half of it covered in plastic sheeting, but funds have run out and leaves are piling up on the plastic as we wait to splurge on another roll of plastic. I think it hasn't happened yet because we thought there was enough in that (expensive!) roll and it looks like we'll need another couple of rolls instead... However, we plan to repurpose the wood and plastic in our Square Foot Gardens this Spring. I think it's so great that the boys can do stuff like that together. One because it's great bonding/learning time for them both and two--I get some time off (bubble bath, wine, book---ahhhh).

So, what I've learned so far is that Unschooling is not a lot of Un, it's mostly active, hands on, and fun!

Posted in: , , , , , , , , on Friday, November 20, 2009 at at 7:54 AM 0 comments  

Unschooling (or Deschooling) Begins!


Halloween was so much fun, as always. Kaden got very much into role playing with his costume--as you can see!
Horray! We are officially de-schooling now :)

Mind you, the proper forms have not been returned to us granting 'permission' for us to make our own educational choices in this matter, BUT I did at least send in the forms last week. I just couldn't stand to send my son Kaden into the school one more day. I can't imagine how degrading it would feel to not be allowed to speak during lunch and snack time while eating at your desk in the class....silently...when you are a SIX YEAR OLD BOY! A couple of weeks ago, Kaden has his lemon cookie taken away for stating during snack "I have a lemon cookie!" What is the benefit to taking away children's food for talking? They certainly aren't going to be able to concentrate on eating...when they have. no. food.! Sometimes I wonder about the thought processes behind some of these decisions....

Teacher: "The student's don't have enough time to eat their lunch!"

Board: "Well, then, do not allow them to speak!"

Teacher: "How should I manage them if they speak during lunch and snack?"

Board: "If they talk, take their food away! That will teach them to eat!"


See the fallacy in this thought process? Anyway that's only the beginning. The little ones, including my active grade oner (is that a word?) are not allowed to play on the play equipment during outdoor lunch recess....Why? Because there are big scary kids on there! They must not interact! In fact, there is a large yellow line separating the big scary kids (10, 11, and 12 year olds--Oh my! 10, 11, and 12 year olds--Oh my!...sorry a little to Oz?!) from the younger ones. This means no field, basketball court or playground for the smaller kids. Wow, way to conquer childhood obesity with your every three day gym period and banishment from the play structure! Such forward thinking!


Ok, well enough sarcasm. Today my son has a "sore throat" and we are "worried about swine flu" so he's staying home. Okay, so I had to teach Kaden about little white lies today while calling the school to say he wasn't coming in! Hey, he learned something! I just don't want to deal with anymore calls from his teacher complaining that "this has never happened to me before! This is a great school! What about socialization? What is your rationale? Why can't you do enrichment on your own time?" Well because I want it to be all our time. No more boring worksheet, which are the same day after day.


Today, Kaden will watch way to much Magic School Bus and then we'll read some Narnia (Magician's Nephew) and paint some of his Knight figurines and then make dinner together and Kaden will learn so much more than how to "sit and listen and memorize this".

Posted in: , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Monday, November 2, 2009 at at 6:55 AM 8 comments  

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