These are not concepts we have pushed. These are concepts that come up in daily life and she is picking up on them. Between daily life and all the various games that involve math, I think she's going to be just fine. :)
Thursday, June 28, 2012
And This Is How Math Happens
These are not concepts we have pushed. These are concepts that come up in daily life and she is picking up on them. Between daily life and all the various games that involve math, I think she's going to be just fine. :)
Friday, June 22, 2012
Unschooling & Meat-Eating Vegetarians
We've all heard it before: "Labels are for soup cans, not people!" People like to argue about labels and how terrible they are. I agree to a certain point. Labels like "goth" and "prep" are just obnoxious and have little use anywhere other than highschool...and even in highschool their existence is hardly beneficial. It's usually just a way for one group of people to exclude and ridicule another group of people. Once you reach adulthood, most of those labels start to fall away...but a few others rise up and take their place. See the following:
I am an Attachment Parent. I do not mind this label. It's accurate and clues people in to how we live our lives without having to run off a list of all my beliefs. Sure, not all Attachment Parents are the same...far from it! The label is useful, however, because it lets us know immediately that the person it is applied to is probably at least supportive of things like breastfeeding, co-sleeping, babywearing, natural birth, etc. even if they themselves don't do those things personally.
I am also a Geek. I do not mind this label either. It's accurate and clues people into what sort of interests I have without me having to list off each one. Sure, not all Geeks are the same...far from it! The label is useful, however, because it lets us know immediately that the person it is applied to is probably at least aware of franchises like Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who, Lord of The Rings, Zelda, Dungeons & Dragons, etc. even if they themselves aren't into them personally.
See my point?
Terms like Unschooling and Radical Unschooling are the same way. When someone says they are an Unschooler, that is supposed to let me know a little bit about their views or at least what they are supportive and/or aware of. The problem is, however, that so many people misuse the term that it makes that difficult. Meanwhile people get angry and defensive whenever someone dares to say "that's not unschooling" and we get into fights about label-policing and such. Why is this? What is so wrong about defining unschooling and not being afraid to point out when someone is mistaken?
Consider the following:
Say you are a Vegetarian. You live in an area where there aren't a lot of people like you, so you turn to the internet for support and information. You find a Vegetarian discussion group online and join. Finally! Some like-minded people! Recipes you can actually use! People who don't behave like you have two-heads!
Now someone else joins this same group. They introduce themselves as "Vegetarian...except I eat chicken". Wait....what? You're confused. Maybe a little annoyed. You wonder why this person seems to have misunderstood what a Vegetarian is. Now, had this same person joined and introduced themselves at someone who "Only eats white-meat, but enjoys Vegetarian cooking", there would be no confusion.
If that person joined in on discussions about Vegetarian cooking, posted recipes that were or had instructions on how to make them meat-free, or asked for help with substituting meat-free proteins in their favorite chicken-salad, nobody would mind that person at all.
However, if that person is constantly talking about non-Vegetarian cooking, posting chicken recipes with no alternatives offered, or suggesting poultry when someone else is asking for protein options....well...that is not going to be okay!
Now imagine if the Vegetarian forum was overrun with lots of people who are confused about what Vegetarianism is while insisting that they are Vegetarian. If half the posts are about eating meat would you even consider it a Vegetarian forum anymore? Then you have to consider the inevitable drama. Topics discussing the ethics of eating meat would just turn into fights. You're either going to have to not discuss it at all, or constantly be trying to smooth over hurt feelings. So much for support!
As an Unschooler, I see similar things happen in what are supposed to be Unschooling discussion groups. I'm looking for support and understanding. I assume other people are too. When someone says they're an Unschooler and asks for advice, I offer Unschooling advice. Seems simple enough.
On one such occasion I was involved in a discussion on a Facebook thread in a group for both Homeschoolers and Unschoolers. The poster said they were an Unschooler and asked how to get their child to quit fighting his book-work. Okay...now I'm a bit confused. I suggest she forget the bookwork entirely. The response I get is an angry statement of "I don't think it's too much to ask that he sit down and do this much written work each week!" Thing is she didn't want Unschooling advice at all. She said she did, but clearly missed the memo about what Unschooling is....so my advice didn't suit what she wanted to hear. Had she said she was a Relaxed-Homeschooler I wouldn't have even bothered to comment. I would have left it to the other Relaxed-Homeschoolers or Homeschoolers in general to offer advice. Nobody had to get angry or defensive had the correct label been applied.
In the Unschooling world you see it all the time: "We Unschooling....except for math/reading/science/whatever". Well, in that case, you aren't Unschooling. You're a Relaxed-Homeschooler. There is nothing wrong with that! I have no issue with it at all...but be honest about it. There is no shame in being a Relaxed-Homeschooler....but a Relaxed-Homeschooler insisting they are something that they are not isn't helpful to me or anyone else. It makes it difficult for others to interact with you, if confuses outsiders who don't understand the in-and-outs of the home-education world, and it makes it more difficult for Unschoolers to find actually like-minded people.
So here are some simple definitions for you:
Homeschoolers do school at home.
Relaxed-Homeschoolers do some school at home and follow their children's lead in some educational areas.
Unschoolers follow their children's lead in all educational areas.
Radical Unschoolers follow their children's lead in all areas of daily life.
Now go read Idzie's Unschooling Is Not Relaxed Homeschooling because she is awesome. Fin.
I am an Attachment Parent. I do not mind this label. It's accurate and clues people in to how we live our lives without having to run off a list of all my beliefs. Sure, not all Attachment Parents are the same...far from it! The label is useful, however, because it lets us know immediately that the person it is applied to is probably at least supportive of things like breastfeeding, co-sleeping, babywearing, natural birth, etc. even if they themselves don't do those things personally.
I am also a Geek. I do not mind this label either. It's accurate and clues people into what sort of interests I have without me having to list off each one. Sure, not all Geeks are the same...far from it! The label is useful, however, because it lets us know immediately that the person it is applied to is probably at least aware of franchises like Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who, Lord of The Rings, Zelda, Dungeons & Dragons, etc. even if they themselves aren't into them personally.
See my point?
Terms like Unschooling and Radical Unschooling are the same way. When someone says they are an Unschooler, that is supposed to let me know a little bit about their views or at least what they are supportive and/or aware of. The problem is, however, that so many people misuse the term that it makes that difficult. Meanwhile people get angry and defensive whenever someone dares to say "that's not unschooling" and we get into fights about label-policing and such. Why is this? What is so wrong about defining unschooling and not being afraid to point out when someone is mistaken?
Consider the following:
Say you are a Vegetarian. You live in an area where there aren't a lot of people like you, so you turn to the internet for support and information. You find a Vegetarian discussion group online and join. Finally! Some like-minded people! Recipes you can actually use! People who don't behave like you have two-heads!
Now someone else joins this same group. They introduce themselves as "Vegetarian...except I eat chicken". Wait....what? You're confused. Maybe a little annoyed. You wonder why this person seems to have misunderstood what a Vegetarian is. Now, had this same person joined and introduced themselves at someone who "Only eats white-meat, but enjoys Vegetarian cooking", there would be no confusion.
If that person joined in on discussions about Vegetarian cooking, posted recipes that were or had instructions on how to make them meat-free, or asked for help with substituting meat-free proteins in their favorite chicken-salad, nobody would mind that person at all.
However, if that person is constantly talking about non-Vegetarian cooking, posting chicken recipes with no alternatives offered, or suggesting poultry when someone else is asking for protein options....well...that is not going to be okay!
Now imagine if the Vegetarian forum was overrun with lots of people who are confused about what Vegetarianism is while insisting that they are Vegetarian. If half the posts are about eating meat would you even consider it a Vegetarian forum anymore? Then you have to consider the inevitable drama. Topics discussing the ethics of eating meat would just turn into fights. You're either going to have to not discuss it at all, or constantly be trying to smooth over hurt feelings. So much for support!
As an Unschooler, I see similar things happen in what are supposed to be Unschooling discussion groups. I'm looking for support and understanding. I assume other people are too. When someone says they're an Unschooler and asks for advice, I offer Unschooling advice. Seems simple enough.
On one such occasion I was involved in a discussion on a Facebook thread in a group for both Homeschoolers and Unschoolers. The poster said they were an Unschooler and asked how to get their child to quit fighting his book-work. Okay...now I'm a bit confused. I suggest she forget the bookwork entirely. The response I get is an angry statement of "I don't think it's too much to ask that he sit down and do this much written work each week!" Thing is she didn't want Unschooling advice at all. She said she did, but clearly missed the memo about what Unschooling is....so my advice didn't suit what she wanted to hear. Had she said she was a Relaxed-Homeschooler I wouldn't have even bothered to comment. I would have left it to the other Relaxed-Homeschoolers or Homeschoolers in general to offer advice. Nobody had to get angry or defensive had the correct label been applied.
In the Unschooling world you see it all the time: "We Unschooling....except for math/reading/science/whatever". Well, in that case, you aren't Unschooling. You're a Relaxed-Homeschooler. There is nothing wrong with that! I have no issue with it at all...but be honest about it. There is no shame in being a Relaxed-Homeschooler....but a Relaxed-Homeschooler insisting they are something that they are not isn't helpful to me or anyone else. It makes it difficult for others to interact with you, if confuses outsiders who don't understand the in-and-outs of the home-education world, and it makes it more difficult for Unschoolers to find actually like-minded people.
So here are some simple definitions for you:
Homeschoolers do school at home.
Relaxed-Homeschoolers do some school at home and follow their children's lead in some educational areas.
Unschoolers follow their children's lead in all educational areas.
Radical Unschoolers follow their children's lead in all areas of daily life.
Now go read Idzie's Unschooling Is Not Relaxed Homeschooling because she is awesome. Fin.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
7 Snippets From Unschooling - Birthdays, learning, & interwebs
Back again for another 7 Snippets!
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| 3 and 1-year portraits |
-1-
First and foremost, my little boy is 1!!! I cannot express how bizarre that is to me! We celebrated his birthday recently with a smallish party at home. He didn't get the whole gift thing, but he definitely enjoyed the cake! Hubs is a bit of a food-geek so he went to about 6 different stores in search of Dutch-process cocoa powder. Since then Oscar just seems so grown up. He's pushing around cars, trying to stack some blocks, kicking/throwing/hitting balls, and dancing a bit too. Where did the year go?!
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| Yeah...he liked it! |
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| He enjoyed the new toys, but his sister pretty much did all the unwrapping. |
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| I also finished Trouble's quilt...FINALLY! Only took me over a year. |
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| Bear enjoyed the new toys too. |
-2-
D has a new pet of her very own! It's a red Betta Fish named Lala. So far poor Lala has already taken a spill....this afternoon Oz pulled the bowl over on himself. I think Lala is going to be okay though...no thanks to his attempt to JUMP OUT OF MY HANDS during the rescue. Between a mad dash, much swearing, and a plastic cup I got him back in water in time. Yeah, he'll be located to a higher location in the future.
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| Lala the fish |
-3-
We're enjoying the pool with Aunt Bonnie this summer. I'm looking into swimming lessons for D. She loves to jump in and isn't afraid to go under. Oz also enjoys the water, though he's already too big for his float. lol
We've also been enjoying the kiddie pool in the front yard. Lot of outside play going on in the nice weather, though I have a feeling it's going to be a bit too hot in the near future.
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| Daddy found a snail in the yard |
-4-
Dani asked me about who lived on our planet which opened up a discussion about the solar system. We picked up some books at the library about space, the moon, and how our ideas about the universe have changed over time. I highly recommend Boy, Were We Wrong About the Solar System. It's perfect for her age!
-5-
One day Dani announced that she had put her shoes on the correct feet. I asked her how she knew how to do that and she replied (in a very "DUH, mom!" sort of way): "I learned it!" I had to laugh. She also learned how to do a roll all by herself AND....
-6-
...she is recognizing letters! Recently we were watching Super Why and when they asked "what letter is this?" she called them out all on her own. O.O I was shocked! It's not something we focus on at all....but she picked up everything anyway. She's going to be reading before I know it. She's not even 4 yet.
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| Where did my baby go?! |
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| So independent. |
-7-
OMG WE HAVE INTERNET!!!!one1!!!
It's been about 2 years, but we have internet again. Streaming is amazing! We're awash in cartoons of our childhoods....plus all the awesome documentaries and such are great to have on hand. We've got a laptop setup now for the kids so they can play games...which Dani can do without any help from me! lol She was thrilled to be able to play on Starfall and not have me fix it every few minutes (tethering our phones wasn't making for a very reliable connection).
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