Look! Crafts! The girls mailed pictures to Liza and Maggie, and I took a picture of this because I thought it was funny. I haven't taught Millie how to write more than a handful of letters, but she's getting pretty good at figuring them out by herself (e.g. How do you spell "rainbow?"). Now if only she can figure out how to write in a straight line all by herself, my homeschooling days will be a breeze...
12.11.2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(
Atom
)
5 comments :
If you'll allow me a few words on the topic of homeschooling. . .
Homeschooling will be a breeze. The hardest part is convincing Mr. Red-Tape that it is, and that you're doing it right. Millie is not unusual; God invented the desire to learn and the ablitity to communicate long before any curriculum or work-book, or study method, or data research. Kids want to learn--as evidenced by the fact that "Why?" is almost always a favorite word.
Kids are all different; some learn in different rates, or start later, or learn best in different ways, or are drawn to (and better at) different subjects, but they all have a huge capacity for learning, and will learn. Usually all they need is encouragment and resources, with the occasional (or not so occasional, depending on the kid) explanation or reminder of diligence (which needs to be taught, regardless).
It's really not as complictated as a lot of people make it out to be. . .and I say this all on the basis of being homeschooled myself (from pre-K through highschool), watching my three older brothers being homeschooled (ditto), and watching and assisting in the homescooling of my other 6 brothers and 2 sisters. I honestly think the hardest part (besides the beaucratic reporting) is not being overwhelmed by others' expectations, and focusing on what it is your individual child needs to learn in preperation for the live he/she will live--something that is different for every child.
And that's my serious answer to your tongue-in-cheek comment. ;)
And because I (as many Purdy's) am allergic to brevity, a few other (hopefully quick, for the sake of not overwhelming your blog with foreign writing)addendums:
--The best and most effective way of teaching diligence is to practice it yourself; kids are no less sensitive to do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do than anyone else. I think it's a bit frightening and humbling to realize exactly how much they absorb from their parents and older siblings. It is not uncommon for me to realize things that I disapprove of they have picked up directly from me.
--The subjects traditionally taught were decided upon by fallible man, and actually have surprisingly little to do with real life. My "formal" education is slipping away from me like a raw egg white, but what remains and is put to use on a regular basis are the things that are disdained to be put in cirriculums--to cook food, to wash dishes and laundry, to work through your hunger, to take initiative--things that were not learned "in the school room". Though the regulations must be satisfied, that does not mean those subjects are the most important.
And that's my attempt at brevity! (With added apologies for typos/misspelling in both posts; a pity Blogger doesn't allow peopple to edit their own comments.)
Agreed on most counts. We've got to leave for the laundromat in 20 minutes and- gasp!- I'm still in my pajamas, so I'll respond with my attempt at brevity.
1. You might be interested in John Taylor Gatto's take on education, particularly in regards to apprenticeships. I don't agree with all of his conclusions, but I respect him and believe he's spot on in a lot of his criticisms of government education.
2. You wrote, "The subjects traditionally taught were decided upon by fallible man, and actually have surprisingly little to do with real life. My "formal" education is slipping away from me like a raw egg white, but what remains and is put to use on a regular basis are the things that are disdained to be put in cirriculums--to cook food, to wash dishes and laundry, to work through your hunger, to take initiative--things that were not learned "in the school room". Though the regulations must be satisfied, that does not mean those subjects are the most important."
As you said, each child's abilities will be different. Some will have desire and talent in certain areas, and others will let those same areas "slip away like raw egg white." This doesn't mean that we won't teach all content areas (including dishes, laundry, cooking, etc., and, as well as we are able, to foster initiative), but, the older children become, the more they will focus on their areas of aptitude and the less they'll focus on those that won't have as much relevance to their adult life.
Blah. You're trying to draw me in, and I won't have it! (Jesting.)
I really do need to go, but this is obviously a topic of interest to me, seeing as we will begin "formal" homeschooling soon with Millie.
I always quote a statement I read on the blog of a woman I highly respect in many areas, including homeschooling. In response to a reader who was bemoaning the fact that this woman's children were so able and advanced (particularly the oldest child), she replied that if one did nothing else but to teach one's children to read well and to surround them with good literature and books of all kinds, those children would still receive a better education than they would in a government school setting. This is due in large part to that desire to learn that God packs into children, and the presence of parent(s) to guide that curiosity is of inestimable help, too. So far, I don't stress about homeschooling. Hey, we've got lots of books!!!! (We did recently purchase some phonics, music, math, and art books, however. John bought bits from here and bits from there...)
Anyway, I'm not of the "unschooling" variety, but I'm certain that in some areas, we'll be winging our children's education as we go, simply because no rigid structure will fit every last child.
The End.
I plead guilty! Part of me was trying to draw you in. I didn't really think I was 'till you accused me, and then realized you must be right when I heard my evil little snicker.
My brief response to your points.
1. I remember before John's blog went defunct, he had posted some link to Gatto's writing. I think I read quite a bit of it over some brother's shoulders; I don't remember it in detail, but I do remember the general thoughts. I do think that I've done my best learning when in posistion as an apprentice to someone else, but that works better for some subjects than others.
2. . . .the older children become, the more they will focus on their areas of aptitude and the less they'll focus on those that won't have as much relevance to their adult life.
Exactly. This seems to be a point many people have trouble keeping in mind.
3. I'm not personally of the "unschooling" variety either. But I think I am a little bit in rebellion against pre-packaged all-subjects cirriculums.
I have to confess, though, my orginal comments weren't really directed exactly straight at you. I have seen many other homeschooling families struggling with what it means to homeschool, and it has influenced my thoughts in many ways. Some have followed cirriculums strictly and to the letter, not realizing they have the power to change the cirriculum to suit their needs. Other's have struggled with the exact opposite problem, not finding any cirriculum that seems to apply to them and being very confused as to how satisfy regulations and still teach their children in a way that will not stifle or crush the child's desire to learn.
There are many points of confusion and doubt that can arise when homeschooling. In a part, this is because homeschooling does give so many options. But it often leaves those who would homeschool so confused, discouraged, and pulled about in every way. Keeping the big picture in mind is difficult, especially when you feel like you don't understand what you are doing.
I guess when I write these comments, I am particularly thinking of my Aunt, who has two kids, a boy Caleb's age and a girl Deirdre's age. She is frustrated (and feels like she must be doing something wrong). All the math textbox at her son's age are having him do things like writting a number multiple times. Her son has difficulty with writing well, but has no problems with adding or subtracting double digit numbers, and is even working on mulitpliciation. So the math textbooks seem both too hard (pulling teeth would be about as easy as writing a row of 5's across the page) and too easy (provides no mental stimulation because it is far below his thinking capacity). Surrounded by people who have been homeschooling for years, she feels incapable and incompetent, and very afraid she's going to mess up. For her, homeschooling is not a breeze--not because her children have difficulty learning, or because she has difficulty teaching them--but because she is plagued by doubts, fears and uncertainty.
I'm happy to hear that you are not, but I wish more substantive encouragment to my aunt. "Don't worry" just doesn't seem to cut the cake, you know?
Oh, give me a year. I'm sure I'll be plagued by doubts, fears, and uncertainty once we're into things full swing. THEN you can write me all of these things all over again, only with me in mind instead of your aunt. :)
Post a Comment