Right now one daughter is the computer, on the Khan Academy, my other daughter is cooking, my son is on a new scooter that was kindly donated to him by another very generous worldschooler. The kids choose their activities, we flit in and out trying to assist where we can but mostly we step out of the way. That to me has been one of the hardest parts, the stepping away bit, which we talk about a lot in our book. Here are some self directed things that they are
Why does Marissa have a tattoo of a hat and a bunch of tulips on her arm? I had been wanting to ask her from the moment I saw her arm. Then I did. So I know the story. Marissa is here as a Workaway with us, it is no surprise that she found us, or that we found her. She is twenty two and from America and was/is a self directed learner from the age of fourteen. She is ten years on from what we are doing now, considering
When we recently went to the Unschooling/homeschooling event in Italy I was slightly frustrated as I knew that there was going to be a market and we did not have our car. It is a long story. We had a tiny car that the mechanic lent us, so there was no space to put in all the toys that our kids had wanted to sell at the market. They had nothing to sell. So on the day of the market this lovely family asked if our son would like to
So I was curious to know out from my friends three things. Firstly, who understands algebra and secondly do they use it in their work and thirdly do they think it really needs to be taught in schools? My experience of algebra was one of extreme anxiety, shame and complete, I have no idea what you are talking about-ness. For me it was like some one saying ‘Fwalaffaaneeprofdikey?’ and then someone saying ‘Fwalaffaaneeprofdikey?’ again and then them saying ‘Fwalaffaaneeprofdikey?’ but only louder and expecting me to translate it. Until the whole room
I have peppered this post with words that show what subjects are being learnt as the day goes on. But in truth who knows what is being learnt, who knows what goes in to a childs mind, ever. If one needs a label, then there are the labels… The day went like this we woke, we came down to breakfast. We talked over breakfast, I reminded myself that I am not so great in the morning and I put on a positive talk, on the internet. It made me feel
This picture is of my son’s ‘Maths leg’. I don’t remember the exactly when somebody said I was terrible at maths at school. But there was moment. I most likely suffered from a form of dyscalculia, if I was at school now that maybe what they would say. However, it was either that or just a plain fear and anxiety when it came to numbers, or more over being asked about numbers in front of a whole class. There was a moment when we were doing algebra and we may
This is what I, Lehla mean by Unschooling. I do find it tricky having a label slapped on anything. So for the purpose of basic communication we are ‘unschooling’. But what does that actually mean? For me unschooling means many things but mainly these things listed below. Not going to school. Our hope is that our kids remain open, independent, curious, playful and questioning. Following the children’s desires and wants as best as we can by guiding them towards self directed learning. Unschooling for me, is what starts from minute