As homeschoolers, we spend a lot of time with educational materials and such. I was wondering how many of us like to self-educate, and if so, what is your particular subject of choice and how do you find time? I'm not talking about taking a class at a college or school somewhere, I mean, what do you like to learn/study on your own? If you dont have the time, what would you LIKE to do? I'm a foreign language and technology aficionado, yet being a fulltime student and home schooler and Homeschoolspot-addict leaves me little time for anything but minor house tidying and homework (mine and theirs!). I'm trying to get more organized this Summer to leave room in my schedule to continue working on Spanish and learning Arabic and reviving my Web Design skills. I'm trying to find the time and money to take a sewing class at a Sewing and Crafts store this fall because there are many things that I'd like to make on a Sewing machine but I can only sew by hand.
I'll join you in the craft classes! And I'd love to pick up some additional college classes dealing with special needs children. I loved my job, and loved working with "my" kids! I'd love to pick up some formal interpreting/ASL classes.
Well let's see no time anymore. But before the kids I educated myself in perennial gardening. I also was a teddy bear artist. I learned to hand sew and design jointed bears. My next teach myself project is how to make Barbie clothes as my daughter loves to dress her's up.
I love ASL. I have decided to exhaust every FREE resource available to me through the internet and library before investing any money into it. I figure I can learn about 300-500 signs from library videos and basic grammar from the lifeprint website. Then take some more formal lessons on ASL when I get the opportunity.
I"ve taken many classes formally and informally. I started learning from a lady who came to my church when I was 14, was part of the Advanced Class of the Sign club at Oral Roberts, took a formal ASL class when a student at Bowling Green (Ohio), took another class from a Deaf man at a local library, and a few classes that were formally part of the Interpreter's Training College at Columbus State (though back then it was Columbus Technical Institute). But that was LONG ago, and I'd love to pick it up some more!!!
I think what's most amusing is that when I was a child, young teen, etc. I hated the thought of reading non-fiction ANYTHING. Now, I would say about 80% of what I read is non-fiction! LOL I love to learn. I would say I focus mostly on food related learning. Foods and cooking. Foods and culture. Foods and health. Etc. BUT....I'll read ANYTHING!
Several years ago, I took some webmaster classes (didn't finish my certification, though). My ultimate goal is to become a pediatric endocrinologist by the time I'm 50. I'm a little obsessive when it comes to learning. I soak up everything I can about a single topic before moving on to the next. I'm passionate for the moment, I guess you could say. With a degree in music, two kids to get through high school, no money, and a mind that changes frequently, the odds of becoming a doctor are against me. :lol:
Oh yes-def like to learn what I what to know! LOL (almost) Anything medical related. Esp interested in pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, geriatrics, and mental illness. I may become a doula when the kids are older....or I may go back to working in nursing homes...but doula would open up an opportunity to own my own business, which I like... who knows, we'll see. And history-I graduated high school knowing next to nothing about us history. Cause I hated it-or so I thought-seems what I really hated was how it is presented in PS! I love history now. Esp JFK & Lincoln assassinations, civil war era, & Hitler/Nazi stuff. (the fact that racism can find such a following just blows my mind!) Oh and I love a good conspiracy theory! I like to research both sides and make up my mind on those! LOL
I think I could easily become obsessed with space science. I have thought about taking an astronomy class but I honestly can stomach the thought of another "real" college class after finishing my masters. I could join the astronomy club at one of the local observatories, but local is relative - one is in Boulder about 80 miles away, one is in Denver about 60 miles away, and one is in Colorado Springs about 80 miles away. I do find myself drawn to Science Sundays on the Science Channel though! I will watch those shows for hours and we have more space science DVDs than a household ought to.
I love to read and learn. My son has a mood disorder and I have read and cont. to read what ever I can find. I feel this is the best way to help my son. I have also worked with other children with special need and when I see something I don't understand I learn all I can about it to help the child better. I have made children my career and have been working with them for over 18 years and love learning about them and from them. I have taken college classes in early education and nursing. I am thinking about going back to school for nursing, more for the money but also because I love helping people. Or I may cont. my education in education not sure yet. My co workers tell me to do nursing but working with children. Yes that would be nice. Till then I will cont. to educate myself all I can.
I love history and economics. Not that I know much about them but I love both subjects. I would love to learn to play guitar but I have a hard time finding practice time. I also am learning about gardening. A friend and I decided to study Koine Greek together but it will be slow going as she is having another baby this year and things seem to get busier as my kids get older. I thought it would be the other way around.
I,too,love anything relating to history.Especially WW2.My biggest eduacational goal,although I don't think it's considered self educating,is to get my nursing degree.I have always wanted to go into nursing.I worked as a C.N.A. for a few years before we started having children,and it's definately strong with me.I want to focus on my children right now,but who knows?Reading is my favorite hobby,so I am always reading and learning something.A lot of random information,but it comes up from time to time I'm not sure if this counts,but I did teach myself to juggle a few years ago LOL
Yes, I love to learn. I typically investigate subject matter in depth before I explore it with my children. Sometimes I learn along side them and find myself learning things I would have never explored on my own. We did a huge unit study on dinosaurs my son's Kindergarten year because that is what he wanted to learn. I knew little to nothing about them, but by the end of the school year we had explored the various theories about the origin and fate of the dinosaurs. On my own I enjoy learning about educational, philosophical, theological, and ethical issues. I also love and enjoy diverse languages and cultures and will speak to my kids in other languages when I know the right phrases to say.
I learn ASL on my own. And since my 2.5yo was born I have been doing a lot of learning on his health issues. And over the last two years I have been doing a lot of research on how children learn and right brain vs. left brain learning. Also do a lot of ready on how to become a Godly wife and mom, which is my favorite subject, because the better I get at those two things, the better everything else is!
I don't know....Life is a learning experience The main true "I am going to learn something new" is when I go to my vet tech conferences.
I'm always look for new recipes, b/c I LOVE to cook (I thank Paula Deen and my Mother for that!!!) But I am a CRAFTY CRAFTER! I would love to learn more about sewing, and start making more crochet things. There for awhile I was dusting off my French, but that sorta fell by the wayside :-(
I have studied perennial gardening and I have to say, I love the way my yard looks. I have just completed courses for being a child's adovate. So, between work and homeschooling I can't wait to see what my next adventure will be.
I haven't really expanded my skills in this area recently, but I love learning Spanish. I am about halfway to where I want to be. This is a wonderful and frustrating place to be. Wonderful because I am able to converse with my neighbors. Frustrating because is there is too much background noise or someone doesn't speak clearly I feel like I haven't learned anything--although I really know it just means I need more practice listening. The other thing I have enjoyed learning is history. I have learned tidbits here and there. I am like KBABE in that I am reading mostly non-fiction these days. I love reading about missionaries and also some biographical stuff. I have even been enjoying reading some books in the kids section. I find them easier and faster to read and I like illustrations.
