unschooling

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It is a form of schooling that I do not understand.

I know there are some that are indeed successful with it--but to me, they're just tricking the kids into what they want them to learn anyway. (i.e. I know a family who says she does things like set out materials to create a 3-D map and then "inspires" the kids and then they are interested enough to do it.)


It is not something I could do--whatever we learn has to be formally structured. Otherwise, my kids homeschool would consist of watching tv all day b/c that is what they would choose.

But I do acknowledge that for *some* people, it is a viable avenue

FWIW, my kids didn't begin "formal" curriculum until age 6.

At age 4 or 5, a child doesn't require "sitting down" formally to learn. In many states, it isn't even compulsory that they go to school at that age and my children have learned their 1st grade and up work just fine without any formal "school time" at that age. Compulsory age in my state is the school year they turn 6 before Feb 1--so I will have only 1 child that is compulsory at age 5 as a result, b/c all of my kids turn 6 after February 1 in a school year.

 

[binny]

This.Is.Not.True.


Head over to mothering.com's forums for the unschooling threads. There you will learn more. That's to everyone in this thread who thinks that whatever GMA chose to show about "unschooling" IS unschooling.


It's what I would have done, but DS likes structure more. He doesn't notice how much he learned in the 4 years before we started with workbooks and such...he picks things up like a sponge, and knows quite a bit without having been formally taught it.


There are lazy people who make everything look bad. That's what makes for good TV. Don't decide that good TV is an accurate depiction of something.

Ive been over there they scare me.

No offense bumber but seriously, there ARE some lazy people who unschool. I know some personally. I do NOT think those children will be prepared for the future!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm all for homeschooling, but this unschooling thing seems way too lax.

A post before yours, someone posted the wiki definition.

Every time I read it, it reminds me of montessori. When I had check that out when my oldest was 3....that was the impression I got from the montessori school.

For me to do that at home--I think I'd be pulling my hair out considering the type of child she ended up being.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Kind of like how you decided that a Marilyn Monroe movie accurately depicted measles?

Funny story--

but yesterday, I had an ultrasound at the perinatologist (I think that's what the specialist was called ). Anyway, they were checking the blood flow in the heart and there was red and blue. I never asked what it was, but my 7yo did.

My 9yo chimes in with a definition about old blood/new blood something. (blood going in, blood that had already been pumped....I dunno!)

The technician looked at her and was astonished. I was like...okay, so what is it really. And she said she was pretty darn close and mentioned something about oxygenated blood and blood that hadn't been oxygenated or used to be oxygenated (science guru, I am not!)

So I had to look at my 9yo and ask where she learned that as it certainly hasn't been (and won't be by the time we finish) in our science book this year.

Evidently, Magic School bus was the source of such knowledge.

Kind of funny b/c we razz on kids for watching tv--but they do pick up stuff every now and then. Since my 9yo is very interested in science, she is captivated with that show. (She does also love to read about science as well.)

 

[RitaZ.]

Unschooling sounds like permissive parenting, which is a recognized parenting style. This is one VERY easy way to "parent". Maybe it should be called 'unparenting'.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I have mixed feelings on homeschooling to begin with, which I will not get into here.

Unschooling, however, is just plain stupid.

I agree with you on UN-schooling!

I mean no disrespect...
But, my child's doctor and his wife have always Homeschooled their children. He is a physician. He and his wife are intelligent individuals who have made a decision on what they believe is best for their children. I am sure that his children must have excelled in all areas.

Considering the fact that you are probably aware of my views on our educational system, ESPECIALLY the public school system in my county... I would have to agree that he is right!

I would, in no way, ever, summarily decide that the best thing for our children is to have them in our public school system (and even other traditional school systems, which are basicly clones, with the same issues, ideologies, and problems).

I have to say that your 'Just plain stupid' comment (while I totally agree with it) does not come off as intelligent or professional.

I have to say that it might not foster respect or good-will if I were made aware of a doctors personal 'mixed feelings' and comments like 'just plain stupid'.

 

[grumpeeduck]

Its a very long and drawn out story that had me at the school several times a week. It wasnt until I took in the manual highlighted the part the principal was supposed to do and what he was NOT doing, then threatened to go the media if my concerns were not addressed within 24 hours, that anything happened. Oh I should mention that my timing was impecable and it just happened to be during Rachels challenge week which was very much promoted there.

Im sure you can find some of my older posts about it, last year was our worst year in school for all 3 of my kids. I couldnt WAIT to get out of that system!

Suffice it say, I yanked all 3 of my kids out and "virtual schooled" them for the first half of the year while waiting to move here. They went through the www.k12.com program, which I felt was a great curriculum. Believe me, there was NO unschooling going on there LOL.


On a brighter note they are all thriving here in Denver. My youngest was bullied the other day, a teasing, they were imitating her. The teacher wound up stepping right in and dealing with it. I havent heard of anything since.

So glad your in a great place now! I hate that you and your kids had to go through that!

 

[themilesfamily]

We homeschool our DD (age 5) and we never seriously considered unschooling because she's the type who loves structure, schedules and routine -- and she enjoys the guidance of and interaction with me. So something more structured seemed appropriate for her. (We do a combo of workbooks, online activities, hands-on activities and field trips.)

There is ONE kid in our neighborhood who I think could pull off unschooling. She is super-smart, super-inquisitive -- always asking questions, always exploring issues, always wanting to do and try something new. I think she could easily pull off a self-guided education. (She also breaks a lot of our stuff trying to figure out "how it's put together." But I digress.)

I do think many kids would just sit around and watch TV and play video games all day.

 

[dldwmom]

I am a mother who has had a son in public, and one that I homeschooled. If I had to do it over, I would have homeschooled my older son as well. He is in college now, and is finally learning something. We found that we invested a lot of time and effort in his experiences with us so that he would learn something. This is also a student who took 4 advanced placement classes his senior year. Unschooling is controversial even with homeschoolers. I personally do not know any, so I can not comment on any experiences.

 

[freckles and boo]

I can only IMAGINE what my kids would want to study. The eco-system of Bikini Bottom. The culture of Pokemon. Urban planning for Littlest Pet Shops. Fashion design for cats. While I am sure I could find a way to make those things educational, I would rather not.

 

[ols386]

Isn't there some kind of legal requirement, that kids who are home-schooled are to be tested each year to ensure that they are performing at their age appropriate grade level? I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I thought I had heard something like this before.

 

[themilesfamily]

Isn't there some kind of legal requirement, that kids who are home-schooled are to be tested each year to ensure that they are performing at their age appropriate grade level? I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I thought I had heard something like this before.

In our state you have a few options:

1) Submit lesson plans and curriculum choices for the entire year prior to the beginning of the school year.
2) Have your child tested yearly.
3) Dual-enroll your child in the school system. The school gets 1/3rd of the funding of a full-time student. They provide a resource teacher who you meet with once a month. Your child can also participate in extracurricular activities at the public school and can take some classes at the school if they choose. For example if you want them to take Physics or Trigonometry, you can drop them off at the high school and they take only those classes and return home where you provide the remainder of their education.

Our district also provides a K-5 and 6-12 class that meets 1/2 day each week. The kids get an art/music rotation and it gives them the opportunity to interact with other kids.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Isn't there some kind of legal requirement, that kids who are home-schooled are to be tested each year to ensure that they are performing at their age appropriate grade level? I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I thought I had heard something like this before.

Depends on the state.

There are a couple of states at least--that really have no requirements at all.

What one state requires hasn't anything to do with another state.

In my state--testing is an option, but it isn't mandatory.

 

[Deb in IA]

I have to say that it might not foster respect or good-will if I were made aware of a doctors personal 'mixed feelings' and comments like 'just plain stupid'.

Then it is a good thing I am not your doctor, right?

 

[JoiseyMom]

Isn't there some kind of legal requirement, that kids who are home-schooled are to be tested each year to ensure that they are performing at their age appropriate grade level? I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I thought I had heard something like this before.

It's regulated by the states. Some states are very strict others not so much. My DD13 saw the story on unschooling, and said it was insane. That as much as she hated school, kids need it!!

The parents on the GMA story, I hope they are rich, since I think they will be supporting their kids for a long time. THe 17 year old wasn't interested in college at all. She said if I wanted to go to college I would pick up a textbook...ummm...

Now, Repeat after me : Would you like fries with that???

 

[VillageMama]

Isn't there some kind of legal requirement, that kids who are home-schooled are to be tested each year to ensure that they are performing at their age appropriate grade level?

Not in my state, thank goodness. My children do not belong to the government. It is not the state's responsibility to test my children to see if they know the capitals of the states or if they get 30 minutes of exercise a day or if they sleep eight hours at night. The raising and educating of children is the right and responsibility of the parents. Not every parent does things in the same way.

Besides, what if a homeschooled child failed that grade level test? What is the state going to do? Require them to attend the under performing local school? Their students fail those tests, too.

FWIW, my kids didn't begin "formal" curriculum until age 6.

We don't get serious about formal academics until ages 8-10. There is a developmental shift that occurs then that allows children to think in more concrete terms.

Of course, they are learning long before that! But it's more unschooling-ish in the early years.

It seems to be working. Our fourteen year old started college this year and has a 4.0.

 

[castleview]

Just saw the segment. My goodness, those kids are going to think they know everything after reading one book. Kind of scary. I think they will be easily manipulated when they reach their late teens and twenties.

 

[disykat]

I guess I'm surprised by this thread and by what was apparently in that segment. I'm not much of a fan of homeschooling, but am somewhat familiar and know some who've done it very successfully. One problem with homeschooling can be the people who just plain don't do it! THAT seems to be what this was describing, a total lack of schooling, not what I know about the "unschooling" movement.

My understanding of unschooling was that it still taught specific skills, they were just totally theme or interest driven.

 

[Momvic5]

As a parent who homeschools and who has just finished two hours of Algebra 1 with my 8th grade son, I would like to meet the genius who knows how to teach Algebra 1 and Geometry using the unschooling method.

I can see how unschooling could be used with very young students, but I don't see how it is possible with older children. Becoming familiar with a topic is one thing, but learning the concepts usually requires structure and incremental learning especially in the older grades. I don't understand how unschooling achieves that.

 

[SaraJayne]

Isn't there some kind of legal requirement, that kids who are home-schooled are to be tested each year to ensure that they are performing at their age appropriate grade level? I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I thought I had heard something like this before.

In some states, unfortunately, no.