April Unschoolers support - Page 2

[alima]

This weekend was my first weekend off work in a looooong time, so ds and I were mostly sleeping, reading, doing desperately needed housework and sleeping some more. Ds is still sleeping now, wrapped in a cocoon of blankets and loudly announcing "NO" whenever I go in there He doesn't acknowledge morning until about 2 in the afternoon

I'm so jealous hearing about the beautiful weather everyone is getting, it's been snowing here for the last two days. Yesterday we went to my sister's for a family dinner with 2 of her daughters. Ds hung out with his 12yo cousin, while I wrote out some of my older neice's favorite recipes in a "healthy eating" notebook she asked me to start for her a few years ago. She talked a lot about what sort of things she wants to do in the next few years (she's 18), asked for my advice on student loans (don't!) and where to buy equipment to make jewelery.

After we got home, ds and I watched Hell Boy, and ds played online video games. After that we laid down together in my bed (something we don't do often since ds became a teenager, partially because he's not so cuddely anymore, but mostly because we just don't fit on my double bed together anymore, sigh, if ds keeps growing at this rate, I'm going to have to rent him a barn: He read the latest issue of Learning Through History, about the Byzantine Empire, and I read the book I just got through library holds, which happens to be Istanbul by Orhan Pamuk. We talked about the Byzantine and Ottoman empires and major battles from both the Christian and Muslim side of things (ds is a major military history buff, this is how most of our conversations go, ) Ds wants to read Istanbul when I'm done with it, won't take long, it's a facinating book.

Ds is now bellowing "FOOOOOOOOOD" from his cocoon bed. I have to go laugh at him, then drag him out of bed

Great thread, I look forward to seeing what everyone is doing this month.

[UnschoolnMa]

Originally Posted by alima

He doesn't acknowledge morning until about 2 in the afternoon

After we got home, ds and I watched Hell Boy, and ds played online video games. After that we laid down together in my bed (something we don't do often since ds became a teenager, partially because he's not so cuddely anymore, but mostly because we just don't fit on my double bed together anymore, sigh, if ds keeps growing at this rate, I'm going to have to rent him a barn

Ds is now bellowing "FOOOOOOOOOD" from his cocoon bed. I have to go laugh at him, then drag him out of bed

Oh this all sounds so very very familiar! Video games, Hell Boy, sleeping (morning? We don't need no stinkin morning...) reading, and food.

[mama in the forest]

I'm loving this thread! Before I started it I was starting to believe that I was one of only a small handful of unschoolers lurking on the homeschooling forum. I feel pretty alone there. And I even wondered if anyone would respond to an unschooling support thread! I'm so happy to see everyone coming out of the woodwork!

I never hung out with my parents when I was 16--I love that he and I can do this.

You know Joan, I think hanging out with my teenager is one of the most beautiful benefits of unschooling. Last night we watched Marie Antoinette together & I just cherish these moments.

Oh this all sounds so very very familiar! Video games, Hell Boy, sleeping (morning? We don't need no stinkin morning...) reading, and food.

: So true.

[Dar]

Originally Posted by mama in the forest

You know Joan, I think hanging out with my teenager is one of the most beautiful benefits of unschooling. Last night we watched Marie Antoinette together & I just cherish these moments.

Rain loved that movie - we saw it at the dollar theatre and happened to have found a magazine with a story about the movie and the real Marie right before we saw it - I think it was Smithsonian magazine? Something? Anyway, it was interesting to compare...

Dar

[domesticzookeeper]

:

Stephen (16) has decided be wants to take the GED next year, so he's planning out what he needs to get there. He's currently reading The Teenage Liberation Handbook and LOVING it!

Hannah (12) is having a harder time. She does need some kind of structure, she's even said that. But when I try to involve her in creating that structure, she wilts

I ask her what she would like to learn about. She doesn't know. I ask her what her goals are. She says she's not good at making goals. "Of course you are. You do things all the time that you set your mind to do." Yeah, she'll say, things that don't have to do with school.

(me, internally: )

externally: "But school is life. There doesn't need to be a difference."

We need to deschool more, I realize that. Her brain is so wrapped around this idea of a delineation between school and everything else that we're getting nowhere. Part of it is the influence of her institutionally schooled peer-group Part of it is her fear that she can't learn on her own (of course she does, but to her mind that's not "school")

She's an incredibly intelligent, creative and, yes, driven person. I know she has it in her. But I fear that she's become too passive and molded to the "let's be force-fed information" model.

What we really, really, really need is to find hands-on activities that would interest a young teen :

[sunshinegal]

May I join you ladies?? :

It has been so refreshing to read just the few posts in this thread!

Everyone seems so relaxed... and just so natural. I miss that. DH and I are going through some stressful stuff with our finances. Basically the lack there of : and figuring out where the heck we want to be and what the heck we want to do. I guess it is sort of our own deschooling that is conflicting with unschooling the kids. It's been so hard to just let the kids be. I keep thinking if they don't get themselves involved in something besides playing, they will end up like us. Broke and unsatisfied. :

Now, we completely love our family and are desperately trying to soak up every moment because it will be gone in a flash. My oldest is on the verge of officially becoming a woman while I have the smooshiest, happiest, lovliest 5 month old.

It's amazing for me to see all of them as siblings throughout the day. I can't imagine what they will be like as adults, having spent all this time with each other growing up instead of being away at school all day.

Stacey

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by domesticzookeeper

What we really, really, really need is to find hands-on activities that would interest a young teen :

Have you checked out the Unschooling Resources yahoogroup? It seems to be oriented toward helping folks enrich their passions. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Unscho...guid=287472904

Or the Imagination Tribe which helps to discover one's creativity. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/imagin...guid=287472904

As far as I know, these are welcoming of children and adults seeking support and FUN. I've heard about both and have just joined both myself.

Pat

[alima]

Originally Posted by domesticzookeeper

What we really, really, really need is to find hands-on activities that would interest a young teen :

I found The Watcher through another list this morning, ds is really interested in writing for this, and ds HATES to write, so if he's finding it interesting, it's gotta be pretty appealing

http://www.readthewatcher.org/

I don't think I can suggest anything else from what my ds likes, unless your dd has developed an overwhelming interest in tanks, anti-aircraft guns, submarines or ancient Greek military tactics

[domesticzookeeper]

Originally Posted by alima

I don't think I can suggest anything else from what my ds likes, unless your dd has developed an overwhelming interest in tanks, anti-aircraft guns, submarines or ancient Greek military tactics

Not so much

Thank you both for those links, they're very helpful!

[SagMom]

Thanks everyone, for the carpentry ideas--ds actually has a Home Depot clinic on the calendar for later this month. He's been asked to help build a retaining wall, which he's never done, so we'll see how this clinic goes and then maybe there will be something carpentry-related in the future.

The community college here doesn't offer anything he's interested in, but it's okay because he's just not interested in college at this point.

He's done a bunch of work with his grandfather, who was a contractor and other relatives have asked for his help on projects, plus, there are endless home improvement projects here, so I figure he'll have 2 more years of that, and he enjoys it.

domesticzookeeper, what kinds of things does your dd like to do? Does she like to read...is she artistic...does she like computers...give us some hints.

And I'm another one who can relate to the night-owl thing. When I saw that breakfast at the L&L conference was at 8:00, my first thougt was, "I wonder if the kids can stay up that late?" ('cause they sure aren't getting UP in time for an 8:00 breakfast!! )

[domesticzookeeper]

um...she's not my dd, she's my lil' sis : (see intro)

She's an amazingly talented artist and doodle constantly. She's good with computers (her favorite activity at the moment is math games) and she likes to read, but has a hard time sitting still for too long. She's a kinesthetic/tactile learner through and through. The problem we've run into is that most hands-on learning techniques are for little kids, not young teens. For her to actually enjoy something it needs to employ several senses, which is why standard books and curriculum are so hard for her.

[Earth Angel]

Just joining in....my boys are 6 and 2! We are just beginning our journey with unschooling, though of course, we've been doing it all along (but oldest went to a Waldorf pre K and K and we are officially done with that)!! I'm reading the Teenage Liberation Handbook right now ~ (oh how I wish I had found this book when I was in high school) and learning to knit....and the boys are playing, playing, playing!!
In the last few weeks oldest has been interested in Superheroes, Native Americans (made up his tribe and language), Legos and more Legos, Knights and today it is Star Wars (he is Emperor Palpatine as of this moment, but was Darth Maul a bit ago!!). Oldest is also so curious about reading, so in the rest of our spare time, we read, and read some more and also visit starfall once in a while.

domesticzookeeper ~ we are in Mid Coast Maine
It must be amazing to be homeschooling your siblings!! Were you also homeschooled?

Thanks for starting this thread mamma in the forest, its so nice to hear about everyone's journies!!

[Arduinna]

Originally Posted by UnschoolnMa

Good gravy 90 degrees! I forget where you are. Florida or out of the US?

My Ds does the sleeping all day thing right now. Well, not all day I guess. He was up by 1pm today. LOL

Arizona

[SagMom]

Originally Posted by domesticzookeeper

um...she's not my dd, she's my lil' sis (see intro)

Sorry about that--I haven't read that thread. Have you checked out local museums for art classes? I know a few in our area offer classes for teens. Also, craft stores sometimes have classes for adults--maybe she would like something like that?

My dd has been really into computer graphics and likes to make those glittery/smilie things (I know they have a name, lol.) There are a lot of online tutorials and sites that explain how to do this--maybe your sis can combine her computer and art skills and learn about web design?

My dd's creativity seems to spill into other interests without thought--she loves to cook, and was really into garnishing and making imaginative displays for a while. The Play With Your Food books, while made for little kids, were a great jumping off point for her with that.

Is your sis interested in exploring art beyond sketching? Maybe a trip to an art supply store to check out all the possibilities would inspire her.

[papayapetunia]

Yesterday, we went to a homeschool park day, our first ever. Tania had so much fun. There were a bunch of kids her age. I have no idea whether any of them are unschoolers. Some of them, you could tell were not unschoolers, if you can wrap your brain around how I could make that sort of judgment. I'm not sure...I could just tell. A few did seem like unschoolers to me. One girl who was about Tania's age was a serious ballerina. She goes to ballet every day, and eight hours on Saturday. Another (teenage) girl was sitting with the adults and drawing real cool pictures of anime characters. There was a lot of running around and chasing going on. I clicked with a couple of the moms. One had the same Ergo baby carrier as I did and was nursing her three-year-old, so you can imagine I made a fast friend there. Another was discussing how she bartered for art lessons for her daughter (the one drawing). I like people who save money creatively, so I made a friend there as well.

We have soccer today, which surprisingly, Tania loves and has stuck with for three months already. I hated soccer when I was a kid, I guess because I was forced into it and it was very competitive. Tania's soccer class is very mellow, and there aren't any winners or losers. The coach lets the little kids score goals and puts up a bit more challenge for the older kids. It's very cute how he pretends that a little kid can get the ball past him. He acts all disappointed.

Tomorrow, we are going to a new homeschool day at a community center near us. They now have homeschool indoor park day and roller skating for $1 every Wednesday. I'm so glad they're doing this. The indoor park will be perfect for when it rains. I've gone to the mall for us to get exercise on rainy days.

I guess I'd better wrap this up. We've been doing all sorts of other things as well though.

[ErikaDP]

Hi Everyone,

I am really glad to have found this thread!
We just got back from my daughter's wedding in Seattle and we are exhausted!
I am so glad that we didn't have "homework" to do while we were there enjoying this special time for our whole family(a couple of the cousins did have to do school work to not fall behind while they were away). I am also happy that we can sleep the day away today if that is what we choose to do(most of the morning was gone before Cameron woke up).
I will post more here later.
Right now, the little patches of blue sky peeking through the clouds is calling my name to come outside!

Take Care,
Erika (I don't have a fro, I'm just a sister who likes this smilie!) :
PS-Hi Stacey! I am so happy to see you posting here! I looked at your pictures and I can't believe that Huckleberry cut his hair! It will take me a while to get used to his new look!(Either way, he is such a good looking boy!)

[ErikaDP]

Originally Posted by Joan

...And I'm another one who can relate to the night-owl thing. When I saw that breakfast at the L&L conference was at 8:00, my first thougt was, "I wonder if the kids can stay up that late?" ('cause they sure aren't getting UP in time for an 8:00 breakfast!! )

Joan ,

This was my thought too! It sure will be interesting!

Take Care,
Erika (I don't have a fro, I'm just a sister who likes this smilie!) :

[earthmama369]

Today dd, ds, and I ran a De-Clutter Crew group at our local Family Wellness Center. We focused on the kitchen. I said my favorite part of the kitchen is the cabinet space and the greenhouse window. She said the green peppers are her favorite part. I said I wanted to purge our dish and cup cabinets and organize the food cabinets more efficiently. She said we need to get chocolate and ice cream and bring home the orange couch from the Family Wellness Center.

After lunch dd drowned some lettuce seeds and helped me plant some beans and peas while ds sat in the stroller and explored the wonderful world of clothespins. We found some cool earthworms and planted them in our garden, too.

Then she picked out a Nancy Drew book and we read the first chapter and for quiet time she finished watching the Princess Bride (her choice) while ds nursed down for a nap.

Now we're off for a walk and later, an activity at the library.

Whee~

[Dar]

Ohh, we had a cool unschooling evening (I have a teen, too, so mornings don't happen much). We saw Dan Savage (you know, the guy who writes the Savage Love column) speak at the university! He was great, very funny and insightful. I have tried to be sex-positive and talk about all sorts of variations and possibilities, but Dan definitely added some good stuff.

Sex ed, maybe? US History?

Dar

[Earth Angel]

OT

Mamma in the Forest....I was just checking out your jewlery, it is so beautiful!!! And I LOVE your board of Directors!!! They are so cute, and their names are fantastic (I just finished reading Mists of Avalon for the 2nd time!!! ~ and I just am so "attached" (for lack of a better word) to that period in history (or should I say her-story )).

You have a georgeous family and forest