Jan. 21, 2006
Thoughts turn to unschooling...again..
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Maybe it's just the January doldrums, but my thoughts turn to unschooling whenever I see the frustration in my 15 yo son's eyes, and wonder why are we doing this, anyway? Today I had one of those lightbulb moments, as I was researching the web looking for some ideas on how to improve the situation. I was reading an article by a mom who shared how she really had allowed her son to 'unschool', although she had other plans. Then she explained how her second son schooled a totally different way - a textbook approach - that really worked for him. Suddenly it hit me that because ds doesn't learn the way his siblings did, it IS perfectly fine - or better! - to let him school a different way--maybe even (gasp!)unschool! Of course, I know all my four children are so different from each other, and I've always tried to teach to their style. But my youngest REALLY doesn't like bookwork (reading and writing) at all! So, maybe unschooling is the way to go for him. I mean, what really is the point of pushing, prodding, begging, cajoling, etc. at times? Especially now that he's 15 and has the basics down? When he is agreeable, I sometimes misinterpret that he is enjoying his studies and finally things are fine, but really, I think he's just tolerating his education and that is so wrong. I have homeschooled a long time, so you would think I would have this all settled by now! Nope. Mind you, I've changed my strategies so many times, and the unschooling starts that way, then I bring in a little of this, and -oh yes - we must have a bit of that in our day, etc, and pretty soon we aren't unschooling anymore. I feel that I need to have some boundaries and goals in place, but what that looks like this time, I don't know yet. I'll have to pray about that and really have a talk with ds..set some mutually agreeable goals. The homeschooling life is not for the faint of heart, I say! |
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Feb. 1, 2007 - Hi there!
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