Well, I didn't send him back to ps. I was going to send him to another school in our district, but I would have had to get a transfer approved and putting him in the school across the road is just not an option for me. A few days later I read an article in a magazine on unschooling. I went to the library and found a book by John Holt. It has helped, but I still feel Im not doing enough. So, I should not try to make him learn stuff he is not interested in (that part I can understand). Now, do I let him sit around playing video games until he comes up with something he wants to learn? He is already a grade above his, so I am not worried he will fall behind. I would really like to let them do things like in the book. Rewiring the house, building a treehouse, Growing a garden, raising animals. Although, we can't do any of these things because we live in an apartment. I don't know what to expose them to. I don't drive either, so we are stuck to our town. I took out my sewing machine for my daughter last night and my son completely took over and made his sister a purse. I want more times like that.
Cool. The key is that you did something to set up an environment for learning. Our kids will veg out on video games all day if we let them. I follow a charlotte mason style -structured morning lessons and then free afternoons. But the afternoons are supposed to be "masterly inactivity". (basically unschooling in the afternoon). But if I want them to do more with that time, I have to provide for it. He has an interest in mexico and spanish language, so we bought a book that he can work on to learn more. I have to put it out or plan a playdate with our spanish friends and family to rekindle his interest in it from time to time. I also like them to do nature journaling, but I want it to be their thing. So I set them all up with one, but I do one too. Then when I take mine out, they are more likely to take theirs out. We spend time looking up plants and animals; learning about habitat or ecosystems. The conversation and learning goes where they take it, but it started with me getting out my nature journal. My husband pulled out an old computer, and my DS took it apart with him. It was amazing the questions and research that came out of that. Led by the child, but my DH provided the idea. Sometimes it's a flop. I got out some bulbs and started prep on the garden. I was hoping for some fun outdoor learning, but they played stick swords instead. Oh, well, at least they were exercising. But a couple of days later, DH decided he wanted to plant his apple seeds. So now we have our chance to plant and dig. We're learning about plant life cycles, but on his time. Unschooling really works if we set up the environment as an active, experience rich environment. It can take a lot of work to do well, but it's great for kids who have come out of a dysfunctional classroom situation, or who are ahead on their learning. It encourages life long learning when it's done well.
I think the idea of Mom doing the same thing with the kids is great. I will use that for sure. Neither of my kids like to do pencil and paper work. I can get my 4 year old to read a book or sit and read to her. My 9 year old doesn't want to read at all. I have found hooda.com. It is a math and logic games website. He absolutely loves it, but I still find myself thinking it's not enough and too much like a video game. OOOH how he loves his video games. I need to get them outside more. When I tell them we are going to do math or spelling words or learn states, they whine and give me a hard time. It seems the tougher I am on them the more whining I get and the less learning they get. I really want them to learn about our country, but I don't know how to do that without forcing it.
Ask your kids what they want to learn about. Take them to the library and let them pick out their own books. Go for a walk. I'm no longer a fan of any labels. My goodness some unschoolers got their panties all in a wad cause I claimed the label of unschooling to describe what we do but my kids have bedtimes and chores! LOL But, academically-we unschool. My kids learn what they want to learn. My kids new favorite phrase is "Let's google it" (I'm so proud) Surround your kids with opportunity to learn and see what they are drawn too. My 8 year old was outside playing ball yesterday which led to us having a conversation about Newton's laws of motion....The opportunity to learn while living life is there, we just have to train our brains to recognize learning outside of the curriculum box for learning. Talk to your kids. Ask them questions to make them think and always answer their questions. They'll learn plenty!
We all have stuff we don't want to do, but have to do, it's part of life. I would let them in on the secret now, not everything you do is going to be fun, but we can learn perseverence through it. I would also do some brainstorming with them, how can we make spelling more fun? Writing with glitter glue? Writing in foam? Spelling orally? The same would go for other classes. There are always more ways to skin a cat, but some days any school at all (do I have to google it? Can't you just tell me?) is not fun, but that is a good day to learn some character(stick-to-it-ness!). The purpose of child-training, not just schooling, is to get a morally responsible adult who can have a job and support/raise a family. As long as they can read, write, research, and do basic math, they can do most anything. Now if he wants to be an engineer, some higher math will be needed. Jennifer
Well, he knows all the basics in math, can read and write(doesn't spell that great)but knows enough to figure out anything he wants or needs to know. I just can't handle the temper tantrums every time I give him something to learn. I wrote some q's on the board today and told him he could use the internet and google to find the answers. I did it very casually and told him just like I was talking about something non-important. He immediately saw right through me and said no. I haven't been pushing him to do ANYTHING. I am giving him some deprogramming time, but getting worried he's being lazy.
glad you kept him there, I would buy him a few educational games, like the Word type ones, scrabble etc. Have him play Spellingcity or whatever it is there are tons of educational computer games you can play online and let him have fun with schooling for a while. My kids all started out with lots of Scholastic Rock, and Scholastics computer games, jump start , etc, it made learning to read a game, and finding out as they got older and older they got to the next level in the game, it was cool. They had class time, with thier lesson books too, but as they finished one class or worksheet they went to a game. it made it a challenge to get the work done, also remind him of all the cool things he gets to do at home!
I've been researching how to garden in small spaces, because we live in town and have a tiny yard. I've seen several things about city gardening or patio gardening. If they are motivated, that might be something to research. Also, a older neighbor (with a yard) might appreciate some young help with their garden and would then share in the harvest.
Does your apt have a balcony? There's something called "Square Foot Gardening". I investigated this a while ago, I've never ended up trying it, but you basically make a garden by creating square foot spaces in a box, and they tell you how to plant the box, etc to get the most yield. It's neat b/c it does not take up a lot of space, and it's contained. We have A LOT of critters in our backyard b/c we butt up to a creek, so gardening in my yard is impossible. But we're thinking of doing the square foot thing on our deck, and sealing off the deck so that animals can't get in! As far as learning states, capitals and that stuff, the game The Scrambled States of America is really fun. My kids loved it. They now know all the states and capitals, state nicknames, etc. They also played some online games to learn the position of the states in the country. Also, placemats - the cheap ones from Walmart are AWESOME! It might create a curiosity that would in turn give them the desire to learn (there's one on the states, math facts, presidents, etc.....) Just some ideas....
You can totally do a flower pot style garden! We grew tomatoes and peppers ( two kinds) carrots even, though its best if they have depth to grow really big. You can grow lettuce, celery, any of the above ground low depth plants in a flower pot on your patio or by your door if its right in front. Also if you live in apts, ask if they have a spot of soil you can use, you may begin a community garden! ? I would also try topiary style plants in a big pickle jar? Okay enough for planting, you can build a bird house.. a plant stand for your mini garden, a book case for school books, or a box to keep the books in with a lid? So apartment living doesn thave to stifle it all. Do you have a park near by? Take them with pad and pencils, crayons or what not and have them draw what they see...
You should do it! We have square foot garden plots in our back yard, five, then one open in the ground one. There are tricks to do to keep the critters away but with square foot garden boxes you still have to sometimes put screens around them and such. And watch the birds! They ate my tomatoes this year! lol, I have a plan though and am going to make some whirly things with lots of colors to hang in our garden to scare off the critters with wings, and not scare the bees, we like them!
Thanks for all the ideas. We used to have a balcony garden. It was quite extravagant. Then we moved to a bigger apartment and totally lost that space for growing plants. Now our front porch is in such a way that we don't get much sun. I was able to have a tomato plant this last spring, but it was nothing like the ones we grew in the old place. I will keep trying on that one. I think I will check out some more computer games. I did finally get Dad to take him to work once a week. He loves going. Last time he came home exhausted telling me how he learned all about batteries and fixed his R.C. car so it goes faster. The pieces are slowly falling into place, it's just taking longer than I expected. Thanks again.
