Need some opinions - Those who un-school

Those who un-school
Do you still keep up with any sort of lesson plans that are grade equivalent related? To make sure your children are following the country’s standards?

DH and I had differing opinions about this. My 7 year old is not liking going over any lesson plans at all. DH wants me teach in a more structured style and at the very least make certain the kids know what the rest of the 2nd graders in the country know prior to moving on and trying to be more open. He is OK with me supplementing the 2nd grade curriculum we have, but he does not want me to waiver from it unless it is to supplement. He is nervous that my ideas will not give my boys the fundamentals to grow on in order to succeed in the future.

Anyway, I think that the best way to teach is to allow the boys to explore their interests and broaden their horizons with that idea. DH is OK with that (As a supplement) as long as I follow the structure curriculum – which seems to re-create a school at home program versus homeschooling. That you MUST learn A and B in order to do C, that you can not learn C without having full and complete knowledge of A and B.

This came up when I thought that perhaps, since my kids are very into computers, that my 7 year old who hates the re-creating school at home idea that I would upload the SOS 3rd grade curriculum and allow him to explore that. DH is ok with that, AS long as I hold on to him and make him sit down to learn what is in the 2nd grade curriculum book as well.

So, I am looking for any advice how to show DH that the kids will also be getting there FUNDAMENTALS as well as exploring their interests and opening their views more to an everything has educational value versus, we only learn when we follow this book type of idea.

I think that DH is afraid that If I allow the kids to help control their educational goals that they will become quitters when they come upon any opposition or dislike enters their minds.

Jen

 

I think kyou need to have him talk to MY DH! When I first started with my daughter in kindergarten, myDH (a high school teacher) told me he wanted a schedule that said exactly when we'd be doing math, reading, etc. Well, I use to teach specal needs. I told him that I DIDN'T work that way when I was in the classroom, and I WASN'T going to work that way at home! (Though I did say it nicer than that, lol!) After the first year, he came to the realization that I knew what I was doing, and to trust me in that. He was worried that I was going to be too laid back, and let things slide.

You two are going to have to come to some agreement. He needs to understand the uniquness of homeschooling, as compared to "schooling at home". Can you show him specifically what you want to offer INSTEAD of the formal curriculum? Help him see how this "supplemental" stuff, if done properly, WILL INCLUDE all the stuff the formal curriculum has? There's no need to keep going over stuff they already know! Also, when it comes to science or history, there's really no set order. Just because it's on a third grade list somewhere doesn't mean they can't do it in first (when they have the interest).

 

Also, I wonder why we need to follow the ps curriculum anyway? Why is some groups arbitrary idea of what to teach in what grade better than going with what your child is interested in and exploring it to the fullest extent before moving on to something else???! I agree with Jackie, in that it was just some idea back at some point in time to teach a certain thing in a certain grade. Homeschoolers have such a broader viewpoint!

I think you can go with what they are interested in, as long as they are truly researching and gaining knowledge (which is easy to prove with lapbooks, notebooking, journaling, drawings, etc.), yet still have some structure to your day!

I would explain to him, very politely/respectfully of course, what I said above about the group or groups that sat down one time and hammered out what THEY thought might be a good thing to have for each grade. It was THEIR idea! One of the reasons you homeschool is to have more freedom to teach and allow your children to learn to enjoy learning! So, because you allow them, or yourself, to pick what they learn, doesn't mean they'll learn less! In fact, they'll most likely learn WAY more, because they will be interested in what they're learning, and you can help make the learning more fun than what they'd get in a ps classroom!

That said, I think MATH is important to be as consistent with as possible! Building the math stepping stones, one upon the other, is very important, so hopefully you can find a curriculum they like and stick with it as long as possible. Times will change, and you may have to switch math curriculum at sometime, and that's okay. Switching it every year may cause problems though, because the concepts and when they are taught are different in each program.

Best wishes! I will pray for an agreement between you and your dh, because that is what will help your homeschooling venture to succeed!

 

I can understand that your dh would want to be able to see that certain things are being covered. I can also understand your wanting to avoid "school at home". It seems to me that these conditions can both be met with compromise, communication and understanding of what the other needs and wants from the schooling situation.

I would recommend getting a curriculum outline, objectives list of other, and using with your un-schooling approach. I did this with science this year. It is nice to see that items are getting checked off as we go. We usually cover items more in depth than what the usual 1st grade curr. for science, but we can see that we are covering what is typically covered for the most part.

I have a book called "what you child needs to know when" that has such lists in it for k-8th grades for all subjects. I enjoy looking over the lists every week or two and checking off items and using other things in the lists to come up with lesson ideas. We often cover the objectives in a very casual, un-schooling fashion at or away from home. We talk while taking walks, driving in the car etc. Sometimes I simple ask questions or give a little activity that gives me enough feedback to know that my student has a concept and I check it off.

For example Understanding the different states of matter. We can discuss this when we see steam rise from a storm drain or when we see a cup sweat at McD's. We can discuss scales and weight while in the produce section of the store and when hopping on the big scale on the way out, or when using a self checkout at Walmart.

I think it is important to see that your kids are somewhat on track in terms of grade level. You never know what your circumstances might be in the future. At some point they will be measured by generally excepted standards whether in school, taking placement exams, applying for college or when looking for a job.

Even if you un-school, you can still bring up topics for discussion, or introduce new material for the students to explore.

 

You have to do what works best for your child.

Lorna

 

Here's my suggestion:

Print off the standards from your particular state for the grade levels your dc are "technically" in. Use these as yourchecklist/point of reference.

Maybe designate an upcoming week as "Explore Week" and invite the boys to choose a topic that really interests them, then hit the library to gather resources, search the net for any related materials (brainpop, word searches, WebQuests, etc) See if there is any way you can include cross-curriculum activites based upon the interests/topics the boys have chosen. Measuring, journaling, book summaries, graphs, acting out a scenario from their chosen topic w/ toys or props, a mock interview w/ a pretend expert in their field of interest, and so on.

Unschooling is a VERY effective method of education, but to be effective sometimes requires MORE work on the parent's behalf than "schooling at home"! You'll need to be very involved in finding materials and making them accessible, aware of how every activity the boys engage in could "count" towards fulfilling a grade-level benchmark, AND keep track/great records.

We more or less unschooled for 1st grade, and are using a curriculum for 2nd grade this year. The curriculum does keep us on track but seems to only skim the surface of what we could be learning the other way.

You could use your observations for the "Explore Week" to help your dh see just how much learning is taking place, but only if you are diligent and thorough w/ record-keeping. But don't announce, "Okay, you learn what you want, I'm going to watch you and write everything down." IMO, you still need to "facilitate" learning situations, in other words, create situations including available materials, trips to relevant sites, etc. but do the evaluating behind the scenes, almost.

Then, I've also discovered there are some things that just need to be "taught", like addition/subtraction facts. But they pick things up faster when they are ready and motivated to learn.

One of the nice things about homeschooling is that there isn't just one way to do it right. And my advice is just that, advice. Use what works best for you and don't be afraid to try new things. You can always change it!

Bev

 

I'm sorry but if that's what you plan on doing, that isn't unschooling. The only way that it'd be unschooling is if your children were requesting to do this.:love:

 

I think that as with all other methods of schooling, un-schooling can be taken to various levels. No parental guidance would be the most extreme example of unschooling. Where as, self learning with guidance would seem extremely unschooled when compared to the typical classroom environment.

I believe that most humans will resist that which is hard, or uninteresting. I am not willing to gamble with the idea that my dd's will eventually decide of their own accord that spelling correctly is a good thing and request assistance. Ditto long division, and comma rules.

I think that unschooling in its most extreme form, is not going to work with the majority of children. I bet that few unschoolers left potty training, manners, and not bitting and hitting up to self guided discovery.

We do some unschooling, some traditional, some classical, and other. Hopefully this will prepare for a variety of work environments and tasks, develop various parts of the brain, and help the student develop a variety of motivations, ie extrinsic, intrinsic, fear .......

 

I have to admit that Vantage is correct. Even I sit down once in a while and have my dd do workbook stuff. I try to make learning fun but sometimes I just need the confidence of knowing that she really does know this stuff LOL

 

Did you see the videos from Dr. Phil's (infamous) show about homeschooling that Jen posted? I watched the family that did "unschooling". And if I thought they were representative of what unschooling was like, I'd be fighting against it tooth and nail. They come across as totally anything goes, kids make ALL decisions, no discipline, no NOTHING! To me, unschooling requires more discipline and organization on the parents' part, not less. It's very difficult to allow the freedom to learn that is unschooling's advantage while still maintaining discipline and order. I know I couldn't do it, but I sure admire those who can!