Poll: What homeschooling style - in general - do you follow? - Page 5

[eilonwy]

I still think that there's a strong unschooling majority here at MDC. Many people who think of themselves as unschoolers the rest of the time are afraid to commit to that label here because of the strong presence of radical unschoolers. I also think that a lot of people are confused about the definitions, and find that the definitions here don't necessarily work the way that they do in real life.

Sorry if I'm : I spent half the night with sick kiddles. :

[Dar]

I do think the general definition of "unschooling" used here is narrower than that used in some other forums... the places where one can self-define as an unschooler and add that one does insist that the kids do something math-related for 30 minutes a day and read a book every week, and no one bats an eye. On the other hand, I do think that the definition used here is fairly commonly accepted, and similar to the one used in most venues.

It is an anonymous polll where people are self-defining, so it's not like people need to worry that the "unschooling police" will come after them if they claim the label...

dar

[Jae]

We are eclectic, and unit, slightly structured with a touch of flexibility!
I use whatever meets the need, whatever gets the kids attention and lots of reading

[sha_lyn]

wonder how I missed this before now

I really had a hard time choosing between the two relaxed-eclectic choices
I would say we are right in the middle between child led and parent led.
I guess I could say I "lead" but always keep in mind her needs and interest.

Started as highly structured school at home, backed way off and was very relaxed/unschhooly for a while. Now she is ready for some structure, and actually likes work books over copy-work etc. I follow what she likes and what we find works for her, but then I set goals and guidelines. We sort of have weekly objectives to reach but she can acheive them in any order. If she wants science all one day and history another I'm fine wiht that. I do like for her to at least touch on math and LA each day but it can be something as simple as listening to X-tables or playing a leapster game in the car on the way to volleyball, scouts etc.

[WuWei]

Bumping.

Pat

[elizawill]

well, i use structure and a curriculum (mostly free stuff), but i have no commitment to a book and wouldn't hesitate kicking anything to curb that wasn't working for us. i follow my dd's lead and interests, but in the context of giving her choices....not full reign. she's only 5, so i'll say, what subject should we do first? or if we do a book report, i'll ask her to choose the topic, etc. if she's really tired, we take a break...i don't make her press on or anything. we do a lot of hands-on stuff, as we both prefer that. we definitely don't mimic public school in the way we learn or do things, but i'm not an unschooler at all. as my children get older, i will do even more child led learning though....i think that is best imo.