Okay, so I've decided that my life is just not interesting enough to post everyday. How much can you really say about cleaning, cooking, cleaning, disciplining, cleaning, grocery shopping, cleaning...?
I have been thinking a lot about my homeschooling techniques lately though, and thought I'd see what kind of feedback I can get about a book I've been reading. The book is called The Unschooling Handbook. Unschoolers have the philosophy that children are born with a natural drive for learning and we need to let them follow their own interests and just gently guide them. In other words, no textbooks, no tests, no grades, little structure...
When I first heard about unschooling, I wasn't feeling it. After reading this book though, it makes sense to me. If you think about your children when they are small for minute...they basically teach themselves to walk, talk, eat...some even teach themselves to read, write, count...so what keeps them from teaching themselves algebra? Well, we stick them in public school and tell them that they only can learn what, when and how the teacher tells them to. That is when the thirst for knowledge becomes stunted--especially if you have a gifted child being taught things they already know.
Anyway, just food for thought. I certainly don't have all the answers. I actually have very few of them. I just want what's best for my kids. Tell me what you think--but be kind. : )
A sampling of unschooling activities---
Fieldtrip to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial
Canoeing
A game of chess
Soccer
Dog training
Arts and crafts
Boy Scouting
Tie dyeing
Sewing
Baking cookies
Making pilgrim hats
Baby-sitting cousin...playing piano with him
Making dog costumes
Building tents like in the King Benjamin story and listening to General Conference
Exploring outdoors after the ice storm
Unloading the dishes with friends
Watching a live show about birds
Playing Monopoly
Visiting a replica of Germany
Riding bikes and scooters
Bowling
6 comments:
By the way. Cool pictures, Jenny!
Looks like one fun field trip after another to me! =) I don't have much of an opinion on this Jenny, other then I think it's great you're willing to homeschool your kids and that I would never want to. For starters, I don't know if I'd be disciplined enough.
Jenny, I would love it if you could delete my comments. They are way toooo long. I'll write a condensed version. :)
I deleted it Debbie, but I appreciated the information. You know I always appreciate your home schooling advice.
I'm not sure if you will see this comment but Leroy and I were so impressed with your son. Your doing a great job homeschooling him. Your son is a natural learner. I don't see any wrong with going with unschooling approach. We are always learning. A child that is given the freedom to explore new interest with no limits is powerful to a child! Good luck on your homeschooling journey!
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