Oct. 14, 2007 - How kids fail?
I am reading a book by John Holt on how kids fail. It has me really thinking about how I present myself to my boys. Are they scared to answer questions when I ask, are they constantly wondering if they will dissapoint me? I know my eight year old is afraid, at times, to make me mad...he is always trying to please me but is that just him or did I do something to create that in him? My oldest doesn't really ever seem to care what I think, only that I leave him be to do his work and he only seeks me out when he doesn't understand or doesn't really want to do the work in the first place.
Scooing is so much more than book work. It is about life and learning to live it. I want my boys to love learning but to realize that every situation can present itself as a learning opportunity and that when they do not know something it isn't the same as not understanding something. How do I teach that? For now, I am a very eclectic homeschooler. I pick and choose my tools, sometimes not very carefully. I often go on a whim....whatever happends to interest me or my boys at the time..is the direction I take. Thus far, it has proved lucrative, in that they haven't asked to go to public school yet and they haven't embarassed themselves with a silly response to a simple question...when others ask, that is.
I guess they're doing okay. Math, reading and writing are my main focal points, even though it is taking quite some time for my middle boy to grasp these. My baby (3yrs old) is earger to 'do school' and wants to sit at the table every morning and work on his folder. It is so sweet to see the innocense of him, the yearning that comes natural so early in life but seems to quickly fade as school/learning become more critical and at times more boaring.
I do wish I was more comfortable with unschooling...but a small piece of me worries my boys will grow up and not know a dang thing.
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Oct. 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by MOMatHWTK |
I am very eclectic, though not a complete "unschooler." I have tons of curriculum, I just never use it. LOL! But one thing I do to encourage my children to seek knowledge and not fear a wrong answer is to tell them when I don't know. Even an embarrassing "I don't know" (like I didn't know if penguins lived in at the north or the south pole!) I let them see me search for information and talk about what I don't understand. My 6 y.o. actually understands planetary movements better than I do, so he helps me out.
Children learn the "truth" of what you believe by your actions. If you want them to believe it's ok to be a seeker, you have to demonstrated that you aren't afraid to seek. ;-) |
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Homeschooling Mom of 3 wild guys!! Sharing her daily strife, success and blessings while atempting to tame the wild hearted boys she has been blessed with!!
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