Serena ~ unschooling
Posted by: the5kims <the5kims@...>
question. Perhaps because it takes so much time to type it out and because,
in reality, it is a broad question.
There are all types of homeschoolers. Those who follow a curriculum that is
planned in the beginning of the year and who stay on the plan until the end
of the year. Often this type of homeschooler uses curriculum that looks
similar to traditional schoolers (grade level) and have textbooks and
workbooks. They complete a certain amount of work each day, each week, and
each month.
The total opposite would probably be unschoolers. Their style of "school"
looks very little like school. They may call science the hands-on of
running a farm or taking their pets to the veterinarian. It may be an
insect that the found in their yard that they captured and brought inside to
look up in one of their many reference books. Unschoolers don't usually
plan at the beginning of the year what they are going to learn throughout
the year. They "take it as it comes." Usually unschoolers don't worry
about what grade their child is in or what traditional educators will say is
age or grade appropriate for a child. They study what a child wants to
study at whatever age that child is. If a four year old is interested in
rockets, than a there is a trip to the library for books on rockets. Time
will be spent on drawing rockets. Perhaps a video from a library on rockets
will be watched. A home-made rocket will be made. A simple study of the
first rockets will be discussed. Perhaps a bit of astronomy will be tied
in. Whatever the child can handle, the parent will assist the child in
learning of the facts and discussions will be held on the subject. The
parent wouldn't say, "Well, when you are in middle school, we are going to
do a unit on astronomy. At this time you can also study rockets." Wouldn't
happen in an unschooler's home. Most unschoolers just incorporate every day
living as "school."
Lots of my homeschooling friends say that I'm an unschooler. I'm not. I'm
not confident enough in myself to do so (nor would my husband stop asking me
the question "Are the kids doing any school work?") I do use text books for
math. With literature and writing, well, now that is where my children kind
of decide for themselves what they are going to learn. My 8 year old girl
wanted to study horses. So she is reading classic "horse" books (She's
reading Black Beauty right now.), drawing horses (using a book called
Drawing 50 Horses), and writing about the books in a dialectal journal. I
ask her questions or she writes reactions to the books. Her journal ends up
being essays that interact with the books on some level. For science I let
my kids choose whatever subject they are interested in and they have to
research it. They read books, draw pictures, and write essays. Each year
they must choose two topics to write research papers on. So for me that
covers science, literature, art, writing, and math (with a textbook). They
both play the violin. They both are on a competitive swim team (P.E.) and
my daughter also takes ballet. Because I don't use textbooks for anything
other than math, my friends think I'm an unschooler. But I'm not. Just
different. I envy those who are truly unschoolers because I have a feeling
they are much more spontaneous and they never say things like I do..."You
need to get your work done." I say this.
Next year, my son (11) is going to have a change in his education. Biola, a
Christian university near our house, offers homeschooling classes. He'll
take biology, geometry, and world history/art in a classroom setting with
other homeschoolers. So many professors and staff workers at Biola
homeschool their children, that they started this program on campus. Some
professors teach some of the classes while others are taught by professional
people or mothers/fathers of homeschoolers. Lab facilities (both science
and computer) are used in classes where it is appropriate. Classes meet
once or twice a week depending on the level of class. It is a terrific
program. This will definitely NOT be unschooling.
I hope I have given you some ideas about unschooling vs. homeschooling. For
me, it just doesn't matter what kind of educational program a family uses in
educating their children. It seems to me that home education has more to do
with a family's lifestyle than the curriculum used. Just my opinion.
Sincerely,
Robin in So. CA
> I have a question. ........What exactly is unschoo;ling? I have
> noticed that some of you homeschoolers have mention unschooling. .I
> would love to know more about this.
> In His Love, Serena
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