Hello.

[1pomegranate 1jar]

I am beginning to un-unschool my kids this fall.

I admit I never truly "unschooled" my kids, since I taught them to read early, and make sure they have basic math and geography lessons. Ok, some history and nature sciences too.

Seriously though, I've pretty much let them run wild for the vast majority of their days. And now that my eldest two children are middle school aged, I really feel that I need to do some remedial work with them. They're smart, and quite well-read, but are still managing to lack the basics that I really feel they should have.

So, I may a have a lot of questions about some of their topics getting up to 7th and 8th grade levels. Thankfully, they are beyond in just as much, so that comforts me.

Also, I'm beginning basic reading and math with my kindergartner this autumn, however that is not unusual for us.

[Lillian J]

Hi! I see you've posted only 12 times in MDC, so you may not be aware that there's also a subforum here on unschooling - that would be a good place to also post. Lillian

[1pomegranate 1jar]

Originally Posted by Lillian J

Hi! I see you've posted only 12 times in MDC, so you may not be aware that there's also a subforum here on unschooling - that would be a good place to also post. Lillian

Oh, I saw it. But I'm not unschooling anymore. I'm un-unschooling. Maybe re-schooling is a better term perhaps?

So I posted on the main learning at home forum, because I'll most likely be asking more academic orientated questions.

Mainly math and science. I've really neglected those things. My children can deal fantastic with financial transactions (evidently. most cashiers seem shocked that my kids can actually count change - I get the feeling my local schools may be lacking ), but honestly their ability to do most multiplication and division is atrocious. And we have covered a lot of basic nature sciences, and yet so much more of it I have let go.

But overall I have to approach this holistically. They are so used to an unschooling schedule, plus my seventh grader has ADD, so I always approach things with him very patiently anyway.

However I really must establish something more solid with them. I'm hoping just a couple hours a day, since they are willing to cooperate on this. We of course have already discussed it at length. The three of us figure that we can get them caught up pretty quick as long as we keep our eye on the ball.

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by 1pomegranate 1jar

Oh, I saw it. But I'm not unschooling anymore. I'm un-unschooling.

Wow, I guess I was reading more hurriedly than I realized - going back and rereading, it's perfectly clear. No wonder it made no sense to me the first time. - Lillian

[1pomegranate 1jar]

Originally Posted by Lillian J

Wow, I guess I was reading more hurriedly than I realized - going back and rereading, it's perfectly clear. No wonder it made no sense to me the first time. - Lillian

Sorry!

[onyxravnos]

what about workboxes?

take whatever the work for each day is and put 1 subject or project in a box (i like those plastic organizer things with the six compartments)

1 set per kid.... then they can do them whenever they like but they must be done by dinnertime.

it allows for the topics you want to be covered each day but allows them the flexibility to choose when to do them.

[1pomegranate 1jar]

Originally Posted by onyxravnos

what about workboxes?

take whatever the work for each day is and put 1 subject or project in a box (i like those plastic organizer things with the six compartments)

1 set per kid.... then they can do them whenever they like but they must be done by dinnertime.

it allows for the topics you want to be covered each day but allows them the flexibility to choose when to do them.

Oh, I like that! And it would be really easy, because I'm available all of the time anyway. I like how it puts the power back in their hands.

Thank you.

[1pomegranate 1jar]

Should I give them each a choice of two boxes a day, or do you think that is unnecessary?

Also, would you give them each a box four or so days a week, with a couple of hours worth of work, or would it be better to start the routine of a box every day, but the load varies in such a way, that some days it is just a tiny item?

Well, actually I'll ask my boys what they think on that, but I would still love to hear your thoughts about it as well. Thank you!

[onyxravnos]

well anyway could work depending on the kids what I do is i have plastic storage container with 6 compartments and everyday i put in the new work. it varies depending on the days tasks... an example of a days box might be

• Story of the world ancient times with a sticky note to read pages ___ & ___
• Math worksheets
• Science experiment do dads - as in here is random stuff to indicate you must do a science experiment today based on whatever our current science study is
• English main lesson book with colored pencils and a note to illustrate a report
• Cooking supplies (not everything just enough to indicate cooking) for cooking a period meal from our history
• Recorder with recorder book for practice.

I just made that list up but i hope it gives you an idea... with my 3 1/2 year olds box i normally have 2 'academic' things and 2 hands on. such as

• pre-k workbook
• main lesson book with paints for painting the letter S
• colored nesting blocks for stacking up and in and color matching
• cooking supplies for making muffins.

[AAK]

We did something slightly different than work boxes--but along the same line. I didn't want to take up as much space as a work box system (to the OP--usually all 6 boxes are filled each day and the child works through each of them--one subject/box).

I got the girls each a "14 pocket portfolio" (about 5 bucks). Basically, this is like a book of pockets. There are six 'pages' with a pocket on each side. There is also a pocket on the front cover and a pocket on the back cover. There is a slot on the back cover that you can slide a notepad into and on the front is a pen/pencil holder.

How I use it: I put Monday worksheets in the front of the first one, Tuesday on the second and so on. When they finish them, they move it to the other side of the same page. Of course, you can't always put everything in a pocket folder. Each girl also has a magazine holder that holds their books/workbooks. Sometimes they will find a note in their folder saying to read a chapter from their science text. They will retrieve their book, do the reading, and then move the note to the backside of that pocket page when they are finished. They like that they can see how much is left to do. Also, I try to put the entire weeks worth in at a time. If they know that they want to do something special on Friday--they try to work ahead a little each day.

Here is an example from Office Depot. I actually got ours at Staples and it is cloth but I can't find it online at all.
http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...Portfolio-Red/

And here is what I mean by mag. holder:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...oard-Magazine/

Amy