a unschooling's families worst nightmare

[shoeshoegirl12]

I am starting to slowly understand why people have curriculum's. Which is a unschooling families worst nightmare.

The first year of unschooling was the best, my son got a hold of every book about Astronomy out there for his age level. Now we have a bit of a problem. He is only 7 and wants to learn more, but all the books that are left are for teens in reading /comprehension level. 

I got him a facts book that was on his level, and he keeps asking me Why this , how does that work, when do they do this... and I have no clue. 
I am not the best teacher for elementary (but highschool watch out!) or I would just learn it myself then teach him.

I just don't know what to do. I am about to say ... "unschooling didn't work for us" and use a curriculum from now on with the other subjects ,so the teachers guide will show me what to say and how to teach. HELP! 

[HistoryMamaX3]

In our house we live by the theory that if they are old enough to ask the question, then they are old enough to have an answer.

How do you think a curriculum would help this problem? Are you looking for an elementary level of the basics so you have the answers? The biggest (and most important piece) to unschooling is to teach kids to discover the answers for themselves! Your job is not to have the answers for him already... it is to help him learn how to discover them for himself. You are not the teacher, he is the teacher. You are his guide to discovering the world.

[LostTheSlipper]

Look for DVD's, youtube videos, stuff on netflix? Scour the library for books? Find websites for his age group that help him discover things?

Is he still doing astronomy? (I couldn't tell for sure if his questions are still in this subject area or not.) If you don't mind a Christian viewpoint you could get him the Apologia Astronomy book for elementary level and let him read through it at his own pace.

Also, if you can afford to buy some "astronomy" things, check out places like Amazon and homesciencetools.com and get him some hands-on items.

[jen2150]

We use curriculum and special classes.  My kids are free to say they rather do something else.  I only use curriculum they like.   My son has grabbed a botany textbook for me to read to him.  Curriculum are not bad.  They are many great ones out there.  Just don't be afraid to do something else.  The problem arises with curriculum when they become compulsory.  I also suggest reading adult books on subjects they are interested in.  Show them it is interesting to you as well.  Have you tried reading books to him.  Most kids are able to comprehend much higher than their reading level.  My boys are in 3rd and 5th grade and I do our own science lessons.  I am not a science person either.   Ask me anything.  There are some great Astronomy textbooks out there that are interesting and full of wonderful pictures.

[Bleacheddecay]

When he asks why or how, get him a book or show him how you look things up on the internet. That is teaching him how to research things. That's a very good skill to have.

[suziejax]

try... thesimplehomeschool.com unit studies they are cheap & have printable interactive videos loaded with facts on the  unit and has youtube vid suggestions to add extra

[snowangel1979]

Why not just give him the books? What better way to learn to read harder books, then to read harder books.
DS 8 is the same but with train/railway books.
He reads adult non-fiction now. I just skim the book real quick to make sure there's nothing real bad in it.

[1Redapple]

The best way to learn is to teach it, as my friend always says.  I don't see anything wronge with useing books designed for school.  Unschooling is about letting them learn and grow.  You'll be okay.

[tuffymama]

What HistoryMama, Snowangel, and Redapple said. Don't let his age make you slow him down; I was reading my father's technical manuals at seven, and just ached to use his power tools. Your kid has a thirst for knowledge, so quench it. Let him select more books at the library. He can skip the parts that are too tough and come back to them with you. Do you live near a university? A museum? Take him to explore. See if you can borrow a telescope or get a cheapie used one. Make contacts for him if he has questions you can't answer. At least one mom or dad in your HS group can help, I'm sure. Don't close this door for him! And like HMama, I really fail to see what a curriculum will do to address this specific problem. Don't be intimidated by this! He is going to challenge you much more than this in the coming years. Sounds like you have a smartie. I feel you, girl. LOL. My oldest really put me through it. ;0)

[tuffymama]

http://www.homeschoolastronomy.com/

[Anna92464]

Help him learn to do research on the internet.....I know there is much to protect him from, but what I did with my kids is to warn them what is out there (porn), and that I'm going to put software on the computer to keep that away from him,  and give him the warning talk about strangers and porn on the internet, etc., and how the software doesn't always work to protect them, so they need me to be there with them for a while while they learn how to navigate the internet......so far, it has worked well, and my youngest is 12....All my kids started using the internet at 3 or so with my help.....Researching to find that nugget of info is so much fun for all of us...