How many of you out there are unschooling kids who are technically high schoolers? I was just wondering what it looks like day to day? Most of the unschooling blogs I read have little kids. I'd love to hear stories or read blogs about the day to day lives of unschooling teenagers.
Visit my homeschool blog....HavenWood HomeSchool
Hi I just starting unschooling my 15yr old this year. Some days gogood some a little less good. But when I compare that to him being in the high school atmosphere, I am ok with everthing. My issue is math and programs available. But I think the school system has failed my child in many ways.
Always looking for new ideas and websites that are free
Taffeen
My 8th grader uses Khan academy for math. He likes doing it most days. We haven't had any issues. I'm not really an unschooler, but I do let his interest lead our work and I constantly work to ensure he is enjoying what he is learning. If he isn't enjoying it, he isn't going to remember it!
My son's day usually starts with a science video or book, then math, then P.E. (He's currently training for a 5k). Those are his favorite subjects and I usually follow his lead in the morning. In the afternoon, he works on a story he is writing for English (an idea he's had for a few years and is just now getting on paper) or he reads to me from a book of his choosing. Today, he just brainstormed his story and read the comics from Sunday to himself. Right now, we are reading a historical fiction book in history, but many times this is a history channel video or just a history discussion or research. He isn't crazy about history. I change it up to fit his interest when he gets bored. The rest of the day is computers. He wants to be a video game developer as a profession. I'll be honest, sometimes computers means playing a game. Other times he is learning skills or programming on the computer. Whatever he feels he needs to become more proficient in this area.
This spring he wants to begin raising baby chickens for science and have a garden. I plan to have him do some budgeting to model running a business. We'll keep doing the 5k training, but I'm not sure how the rest of the day will work out then! Basically, my approach is to follow the flow of curiosity and to have a good time all day long. If I'm not having fun and he's not having fun, then we are doing something wrong!
In addition to my above post, I wanted to add that what I mean by he does science is he likes reading books on something like the sun. He'll tell me about it and we discuss what he learned and he will ask questions. He learned that nuclear fusion takes place in the sun. He asked me to help him learn more about fusion because his search led him to information that was above his current scientific understanding. I found a video on the different between fusion and fission. This led to a Nova video on the Japan's Killer Quake and the near nuclear disaster. He also watched a Nature program on animals in Chernobyl this many years after the disaster. He researched why Russia fell, what the breadbasket was, where Chernobyl was on the map, did the people living there get cancer, and other topics related to the topic.
This did not take place in a week, this was a slow study over 9 weeks that also included studying the planets, why space is dark, why on 9/11 the skyscrapers fell, metals used to make other metals, blacksmith principals, clean energy, how to design a car using alternate fuels, etc. He also studied the big bang theory, tried to fit it into his theological belief which meant weeks of bible study led by him in addition to more and more science. He studies prehistoric man, cave drawings, skeletons, etc. As I said, I let him lead. I just try to help keep the materials coming to fit that interest.
In a way, our home school reminds me of "Sid the Science Kid's" schooling experience...or maybe I haven't watched enough of those!
Two questions...
1) What was the name of the video on animals in Chernobyl?
2) What was your son's conclusion about the Big Bang Theory fitting into his theological beliefs?
Quoting Venanya:In addition to my above post, I wanted to add that what I mean by he does science is he likes reading books on something like the sun. He'll tell me about it and we discuss what he learned and he will ask questions. He learned that nuclear fusion takes place in the sun. He asked me to help him learn more about fusion because his search led him to information that was above his current scientific understanding. I found a video on the different between fusion and fission. This led to a Nova video on the Japan's Killer Quake and the near nuclear disaster. He also watched a Nature program on animals in Chernobyl this many years after the disaster. He researched why Russia fell, what the breadbasket was, where Chernobyl was on the map, did the people living there get cancer, and other topics related to the topic.
This did not take place in a week, this was a slow study over 9 weeks that also included studying the planets, why space is dark, why on 9/11 the skyscrapers fell, metals used to make other metals, blacksmith principals, clean energy, how to design a car using alternate fuels, etc. He also studied the big bang theory, tried to fit it into his theological belief which meant weeks of bible study led by him in addition to more and more science. He studies prehistoric man, cave drawings, skeletons, etc. As I said, I let him lead. I just try to help keep the materials coming to fit that interest.
In a way, our home school reminds me of "Sid the Science Kid's" schooling experience...or maybe I haven't watched enough of those!
Visit my homeschool blog....HavenWood HomeSchool
1) Radioactive wolves on pbs.org
2) My son believes scientist are uncovering the ways in which God works, by unearthing laws of the universe used as a premise (gravity, for example). He came to the conclusion that man is making assumptions that could be the way God created the universe, but it could all be later discovered it did not happen that way at all. Basically, his conclusion was scientific theory is a good starting point, but is probably not the way it happened. Not necessarily ground breaking, but it was an interesting study that helped him learn a great deal and helped him do so in a way that made sense to him without me telling him either was wrong or that he had to believe one way or another (though I will admit to having my opinions!)
Quoting HavenWoodHome:Two questions...
1) What was the name of the video on animals in Chernobyl?
2) What was your son's conclusion about the Big Bang Theory fitting into his theological beliefs?
Quoting Venanya:In addition to my above post, I wanted to add that what I mean by he does science is he likes reading books on something like the sun. He'll tell me about it and we discuss what he learned and he will ask questions. He learned that nuclear fusion takes place in the sun. He asked me to help him learn more about fusion because his search led him to information that was above his current scientific understanding. I found a video on the different between fusion and fission. This led to a Nova video on the Japan's Killer Quake and the near nuclear disaster. He also watched a Nature program on animals in Chernobyl this many years after the disaster. He researched why Russia fell, what the breadbasket was, where Chernobyl was on the map, did the people living there get cancer, and other topics related to the topic.
This did not take place in a week, this was a slow study over 9 weeks that also included studying the planets, why space is dark, why on 9/11 the skyscrapers fell, metals used to make other metals, blacksmith principals, clean energy, how to design a car using alternate fuels, etc. He also studied the big bang theory, tried to fit it into his theological belief which meant weeks of bible study led by him in addition to more and more science. He studies prehistoric man, cave drawings, skeletons, etc. As I said, I let him lead. I just try to help keep the materials coming to fit that interest.
In a way, our home school reminds me of "Sid the Science Kid's" schooling experience...or maybe I haven't watched enough of those!
Hm interesting. I have no advice bc my daughter is only 4yo next month so we're not at this point yet. But I have always planned that I'm going to from the get go teach her to ask questions, do research on her own, come to me for more information & that the school isnt always right. I want to teach her to take in what they have to say, respect what they have to say but at home we will research ourselves then determine what seems to be the correct answer. I believe the schools get it sometimes while other times they dont.
I am kind of scared though about having to start school yikes!
BUMP.
DS isn't even two yet, but I'm trying to learn more about homeschooling and unschooling approaches. This was interesting for me to read.
Quoting mrskelby:I've heard of homeschooling, but what is unschooling?
There are many definitions of unschooling (each family does it their own way), but for the most part it is learning through living, instead of from a curriculum. It's also sometimes referred to as child-led learning, because the children take the primary lead in their education.
For my family, unschooling is learning from everyday life. We don't do anything special to promote learning, we don't follow any set curriculum, and there is nothing my children must learn, beyond whatever they want to know. We live, we learn, and we grow together, every day.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. ------from Desiderata Written by Max Ehrmann in 1927
Unschooling - would love to hear from experienced unschool moms
- HavenWoodHome
on Oct. 9, 2011 at 3:19 PM