Can anyone help me understand democratic/sudbury schooling

[roseselene]

Hi! I currently have a 6 y.o. in 1st grade and a 5 y.o. in pre-k both attending a montessori. We are considering making some changes. THere is a democratic/sudbury school in my area -- its in Palm Harbor florida. It's called Spring Valley school. Anyway, I'm intrigued by the concept, but I guess this might come off as sounding stupid, so please excuse this question because I'm not tryign to sound stupid or to insult. But how do the children learn? What do they learn? I need to go visit the school, but I wanted to gather as much info as possible before i go to do that and the concepts seems sort of like theory based on what I've been able to find to read so far. I haven't been able to find any like actual description of how the children learn. I realize they are given free choice to choose what they want to learn -- but are there learning tools there in the school....I'm just sort of confused because i couldn't find any concrete info. I really hope this doesn't sound dumb. Any ideas would be much appreciated. I really feel like my kids are being pushed to hard in the montessori that they are in and i'm getting a really bad taste in my mouth about it..and i feel like my children who otherwise like "school" are going to start resenting the amount of pushing.
Thoughts?
Amy

[thisiswhatwedo]

all three of my kids go to a dem free school and that really was my first question too. They learn by doing, by being curious and by playing mostly> they also learn by sitting with teachers or parents or other kids and figuring things out from books worksheets or whatever. My daughter is the most engaged in being in the classes and actively pursuing "knowledge" right now her 7 y.o. brother refuses to do any classes and right now I am a bit nervous about his lagging in reading writing and math but he is so smart I do believe he is picking a lot up just by doing the normal things kids do. My teen went to regular public school until 7th and really just reads and plays saxophone and is on the computer. I am pushing him a bit to review math but other than that his writing reading skills remain above his age group. So how do they learn, kinda how I learned. I got through a miserable boring day at school that I daydreamed through and went home to pursue my intellectual interests on my own. I can't say they will go to a 4 year university but I can say they are very happy enthusiastic about school and life and have a passion and curiosity that public school just kills--hope this helps

[roseselene]

Thanks so much for your opinions and ideas on the school. I went and visited our local one. I like it a lot. I'm still not 100% certain of what i'm going to choose, but it really does help to hear a variety of opinions and actual real life examples of how it is working for people. I do appreciate you replying!!
Amy

[singin'intherain]

My four kids go to a Sudbury school in Olympia, Washington. The simple description is that the kids do whatever they want. They have lots and lots of resources available to them: books, film, video games, computers, art materials, toys, instruments, and people: the staff, parents, other kids, and community members (they can go take piano lessons, for example). The kids pursue their interests and cook up projects together and alone. They ask questions, they experiment, they exercise their curiosity. It's a very stimulating atmosphere, because it's so busy- all those kids having free reign on their imaginations and assistance with finding resources makes for a fertile learning community. My kids have never been formally taught anything at all- and yet they read, write, do math (those are the worrisome ones, right?), they know tons about science and history and social studies. They have diverse tastes in music, they love to create, they have good critical thinking skills- they have a much better education than I had at their ages, because they don't waste their time going along with someone else's agenda! Sudbury is definitely worth looking into.

[CoopsZippo]

My 6yo attends a Democratic School. This is his second year. Last year he played. He matured and learned personal dynamics.

This year he is branching out. He is sitting in on classes exploring things on the computer. He is working on getting certified for the music studio. He wants to start playing an instrument.

I was really nervous about him not learning how to read or etc. But he has picked up reading on his own. One day he said hey mom Spongebob is on at 11. He was reading the tv guide.

As I had it explained to me. He will persue the skills he needs to do what he wants. And he has. Even being a kid building forts with his buds he is learning something.