Unschooling moment:
As we were driving to pick up my oldest daughter from play practice, my youngest daughter saw a left over political sign in a yard. Here in Ohio we just voted down Senate Bill 5 with Issue 2 on the ballot. She wanted to know what Senate Bill 5 and Issue 2 were.
So we got into a lengthy government discussion on how the people didn't like SB5 so they got enough signatures on a petition to put Issue 2 on the ballot. Then people voted on Issue 2. This was a great example of how we are truly a government ran by the people. etc.
Of course the conversation was a bit longer than this, but she came away satisfied and hopefully a little more understanding on how our government works here in Ohio. I'm sure our short conversation was more interesting than a lengthy chapter in a dry text book.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Unschooling Math - Yes it is possible!
Discussing in a Christian Unschooling group I follow...ways our children have discovered math on their own.
Wanted to share the following discoveries:
This afternoon my almost 8 yo son discovered multiplication! While talking about his cousin - who had his wisdom teeth extracted today, ds came to the conclusion that we had 16 wisdom teeth in our truck (4 kids x 4 wisdom teeth each = 16 wisdom teeth)! I reminded him about the "skip counting" he already knew (5, 10, 15, 20, etc) and how that was an example of multiplication. He recognized a pattern and figured it out! Through more conversation, he realized that 5 x 3 and 3 x 5 are the SAME! Just like 20 + 10 and 10 + 20 are the same! VERY COOL! LOL! We also talked about the commutative property for addition and multiplication.
My youngest (10 yo) discovered multiplication when we were playing Yahtzee.....recently discovered division while we were shopping and trying to figure out how much one box of cereal is when they are advertised 4 for $10. AND then I point out, every time we do money we are using decimals too. SO not only did she learn division she learned dividing a decimal too. :)
Recently my 12 year old, who has always been good with numbers, decided to check out a math website, she spent hours with math problems, some story problems, some pre-algebra. It was so simple for her. I keep thinking, are you bored yet, doing problem after problem, with no reason behind it? Yet, at the same time, liking how well she did, and her drive to complete the task she set for herself.
Thank you families!
My youngest (10 yo) discovered multiplication when we were playing Yahtzee.....recently discovered division while we were shopping and trying to figure out how much one box of cereal is when they are advertised 4 for $10. AND then I point out, every time we do money we are using decimals too. SO not only did she learn division she learned dividing a decimal too. :)
Recently my 12 year old, who has always been good with numbers, decided to check out a math website, she spent hours with math problems, some story problems, some pre-algebra. It was so simple for her. I keep thinking, are you bored yet, doing problem after problem, with no reason behind it? Yet, at the same time, liking how well she did, and her drive to complete the task she set for herself.
Thank you families!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Christian Unschooling
I really like the blog Christian Unschooling...the latest post really made my day :)
It speaks of the book: "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith" by Ann Spangler. From one of the reviews: "This book is a good starting point for beginning to understand the Jewishness of Jesus."
Now, you're probably wondering "what does this have to do with unschooling?" Keep reading....
The post goes on to explain how the book explains how children were taught in Jesus' times. Do you think they all lined the school room in rows raising their hands up and down like children do today? SORRY
wrong answer!
They learned the necessary skills they needed from their mother or father by watching them and participating in their daily work. They didn't learn history from a dry text book but from the tales told around the fire by their elders. My favorite quote from the book (above): "The usual method of learning was through hands-on experience, imitating someone who possessed the skills they wanted to aquire"
My favorite quote from the blog post: "What a radical idea! Learning through your life experiences and acquiring the applicable skills you needed along the way? By doing? You mean Jesus was in large part Unschooled? Blasphemy!" :) (as I chuckle out loud...this brings a smile to my face every time I read it.)
The blog post continues on to explain being an apprentice or learning under a rabbi as a disciple....(PLEASE read the blog for a more in depth explanation.)
To sum it all up beautifully:
"This is the goal of Christian unschooling. Not retaining data but raising our children in an unrestrained environment of constant contact and discipleship. Of listening to the spirit and allowing God to play a great hand in igniting passion and talent in our children. Of discipling by example, allowing our children to be immersed in our lives and experiences so that they can learn to do as we do.
It is not irresponsible, it is not lazy, and it is not a violation of scripture.
It is our attempt at allowing God to more organically shape the lives and futures of our children."
(from: http://christianunschooling.com/2011/08/25/christian-unschooling-following-the-rabbi/)
SEE why I like this blog SO MUCH!!! It really helps put unschooling into perspective. :)
It speaks of the book: "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith" by Ann Spangler. From one of the reviews: "This book is a good starting point for beginning to understand the Jewishness of Jesus."
Now, you're probably wondering "what does this have to do with unschooling?" Keep reading....
The post goes on to explain how the book explains how children were taught in Jesus' times. Do you think they all lined the school room in rows raising their hands up and down like children do today? SORRY
wrong answer!
They learned the necessary skills they needed from their mother or father by watching them and participating in their daily work. They didn't learn history from a dry text book but from the tales told around the fire by their elders. My favorite quote from the book (above): "The usual method of learning was through hands-on experience, imitating someone who possessed the skills they wanted to aquire"
My favorite quote from the blog post: "What a radical idea! Learning through your life experiences and acquiring the applicable skills you needed along the way? By doing? You mean Jesus was in large part Unschooled? Blasphemy!" :) (as I chuckle out loud...this brings a smile to my face every time I read it.)
The blog post continues on to explain being an apprentice or learning under a rabbi as a disciple....(PLEASE read the blog for a more in depth explanation.)
To sum it all up beautifully:
"This is the goal of Christian unschooling. Not retaining data but raising our children in an unrestrained environment of constant contact and discipleship. Of listening to the spirit and allowing God to play a great hand in igniting passion and talent in our children. Of discipling by example, allowing our children to be immersed in our lives and experiences so that they can learn to do as we do.
It is not irresponsible, it is not lazy, and it is not a violation of scripture.
It is our attempt at allowing God to more organically shape the lives and futures of our children."
(from: http://christianunschooling.com/2011/08/25/christian-unschooling-following-the-rabbi/)
SEE why I like this blog SO MUCH!!! It really helps put unschooling into perspective. :)
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