Remember, Leonie, you are unschooling? Helping to educate your children?There have been so many things going on lately, that unschooling has had to take a back seat.
Am I brave to admit that?
However, to the trained observer, learning and education has been happening. ( Please don't laugh at the trained observer comment..trying to talk education-speak here!)
Learning the art of co-operation, in everyone working together, supporting one another.
A priest said to me the other night, that I seemed to have “docile” kids. I reeled in horror. Docile? Gasp! Dismay!
Fr then explained that maybe he didn’t mean docile, he meant co-operative. The kids don’t seem to balk a lot at what I ask them to do.
I explained that they, for the most part, are nice kids who do co-operate but we certainly have our moments and some kids are different to others in this aspect. But I also explained that we are a family with very few rules, so the kids have a lot of freedom and choice, we do things together, and so the few things I really want them to do are not onerous.
Like all pitch in to help with clean up.... No being mean! .....But I don’t police food or bedtimes or computer time and only rarely censor books or movies.
I explained that they, for the most part, are nice kids who do co-operate but we certainly have our moments and some kids are different to others in this aspect. But I also explained that we are a family with very few rules, so the kids have a lot of freedom and choice, we do things together, and so the few things I really want them to do are not onerous.
Like all pitch in to help with clean up.... No being mean! .....But I don’t police food or bedtimes or computer time and only rarely censor books or movies.
Anyway, it occurred to me that maybe unschooling principles, respecting the child, and being child and family centred, doing a lot of things together, always, well, maybe has made this difference over the years, has helped with co-operation.
Students value and implement practices that promote personal growth and well being.
We have been reading about the saints - St Andrew, St Francis Anthony Fasani, St Elizabeth of Hungary, St Francis Xavier; reading about Advent; choosing spiritual reading for Advent ( Heretics G K Chesterton, Mass and the Sacraments Fr Laux, Mere Christianity C S Lewis, Pius X, The Way of Perfection St Teresa of Avila); praying the novena to Our Lady for the feast of the Immaculate Conception; discussing mass and rubrics and prayer...
Students value and implement practices that promote personal growth and well being.
Students understand cultural, geographic and historical contexts and have the knowledge, skills and values necessary for active participation in life in Australia
Maths has continued with Kumon Maths study ( volume, graphs, quadratic functions) ; game playing; planning budgets and comparison shopping; talking about the family budget, about house buying and shares...
Students select,integrate and apply numerical and spatial concepts and techniques.
Lots of discussion - liturgy, movies, decision making, relationships,,,and movies with friends, family friends, family , online - Star Wars nerd quotes, quips, The Kingdom of Heaven, Alien Vs Predator 2, Alien, 310 to Yuma, Christmas With the Cranks.
Students use language to understand, develop and communicate ideas and information and interact with others
Students understand their cultural, geographic and historical contexts and have the knowledge, skills and values necessary for active participation in life in Australia
Students understand and appreciate the physical,biological and technological world and have the knowledge and skills to make decisions inrelation to it.
Students select, use and adapt technologies.
We have sung Latin hymns and carols..studied Latin with Lingua Angelica and Latina Christiana..some Latin translation..some Italian translation..Chinese study and exam...essay for course for Catholic Education Centre..French class with other homeschoolers.
Students interact with people and cultures other than their own and are equipped to contribute to the global community.
Students use language to understand, develop and communicate ideas and information and interact with others
Anne of Green Gables literature class...vocabulary, reading, discussing, drawing descriptions, poetry, learn about medieval times, writing reviews, talking about editing writing precisely and specifically, learn about wincey and geography and nature.
Students use language to understand, develop and communicate ideas and information and interact with others
Students understand their cultural, geographic and historical contexts and have the knowledge, skills and values necessary for active participation in life in Australia.]
Students understand and appreciate the physical,biological and technological world and have the knowledge and skills to make decisions inrelation to it.
Students participate in creative activity of their own and understand and engage with the artistic, cultural and intellectual work of others.
Discussion about politics, Church politics, the Liberal Party, new leader.
Students understand their cultural, geographic and historical contexts and have the knowledge, skills and values necessary for active participation in life in Australia.
Junk mail delivery, Kumon assistant work, attend Mass, serve at mass, chores, cooking, housework!
Students value and implement practices that promote personal growth and well being.
Fitness exercises, walking, trampolining, Bocci, park equipment play, active games with friends.
Students value and implement practices that promote personal growth and well being.
Computer and video games; Singstar; listen to music; band practice, piano practice, play at Youth Mass, music lessons.
Students select, use and adapt technologies.
Students participate in creative activity of their own and understand and engage with the artistic, cultural and intellectual work of others.
Volunteer work and meetings in the parish.
Students select, use and adapt technologies.
Students value and implement practices that promote personal growth and well being.
Students interact with people and cultures other than their own and are equipped to contribute to the global community.
Students use language to understand, develop and communicate ideas and information and interact with others
Students select,integrate and applynumerical and spatial concepts and techniques.
Map making and map comparisons, role playing games, writing on their novels, reading - The Water Babies Kingsley, Skipping Christmas John Grisham, Coming Up For Air George Orwell, The Secret Life of Bees, Ballet Shoes Noel Streetfield.
Students use language to understand, develop and communicate ideas and information and interact with others
Students understand their cultural, geographic and historical contexts and have the knowledge, skills and values necessary for active participation in life in Australia.
Students understand and appreciate the physical,biological and technological world and have the knowledge and skills to make decisions inrelation to it
Students participate in creative activity of their own and understand and engage with the artistic, cultural and intellectual work of others.
Phew. I am unschooling, not neglecting. I think.
(Cartoon from the Official Book of Homeschooling Cartoons www.familymanweb.com. )
3 comments:
Hi Leonie,
I know you probably weren't attempting to write a great post, rather just reflecting but it is a great post!
Like you, I think we are uschoolers at heart...we live with very few rules- bedtime, mealtime, computer time, etc *but* that will be changing for us, for a season, next year.
Not because I'm hitting the panic button but because we have a few skills to learn- both the boys and myself! I have to be careful and mindful to unschool and not neglect.
Great post...can I feature it on the Ah blog?
Share away, Susan! I find its negelct for me when I am living unintentionally - but intentional, albeit busy, living makes a difference. Keen to hear about your new "season"!
Sounds like you are doing a lot. Good for you!
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