I think this would be a great concept for the second half of a school day. Like from 8:30 to 1pm, you take your more traditional classes, at least in core subjects like math, language arts, etc. Then from 1pm to 4pm, you can unschool your little heart out.
Or even having unschooling breaks during the day. Say come in do Language Arts for an hour or what have you then do an hour of unschooling where the kids can release some energy and do things they enjoy, then come back and do math for however long have lunch followed by a shorter unschooling session then Soc. Studies/Science, and so on.
It would be great for kids who have slight differences like ADHD or kids who are just more physical. It would give them opportunities to get it out in a non-disruptive way and probably focus better and be able to attend to their work with less difficulty.
I think this would be a great concept for the second half of a school day. Like from 8:30 to 1pm, you take your more traditional classes, at least in core subjects like math, language arts, etc. Then from 1pm to 4pm, you can unschool your little heart out.
This used to be known as "going home and playing with your friends after school."
Semi related but do schools still do Drop Everything and Read? I loved that.
When I was subbing 5 years ago they still did, I know the school my Mom taught at still does it because one of her teacher friends discussed it when we ran into her last time I was home. So I think so. I loved it to. that was the best!
I think this would be a great concept for the second half of a school day. Like from 8:30 to 1pm, you take your more traditional classes, at least in core subjects like math, language arts, etc. Then from 1pm to 4pm, you can unschool your little heart out.
Or even having unschooling breaks during the day. Say come in do Language Arts for an hour or what have you then do an hour of unschooling where the kids can release some energy and do things they enjoy, then come back and do math for however long have lunch followed by a shorter unschooling session then Soc. Studies/Science, and so on.
It would be great for kids who have slight differences like ADHD or kids who are just more physical. It would give them opportunities to get it out in a non-disruptive way and probably focus better and be able to attend to their work with less difficulty.
I don't know if it's standard, but at my DD's school (she's in first grade), "free" or "choice" time seems pretty common.
Most of the classroom teachers have a bunch of stuff - - from books to toy cars, from play-doh to snap-circuits, from stuff on the computers to Montessori math manipulatables - - for the kids to choose from during that time.
IME, it's built into every day. It might not be AS free range as complete un-schooling time (for the most part, they have to stay in the classroom, for example)... but it does seem to scratch that itch of giving kids some say in their day.
This used to be known as "going home and playing with your friends after school."
Also, weekends and summer break.
I think a lot of this, though, is reactive to kids simply NOT having time after school, on weekends, or on summer break.
It amazes me just how scheduled these kids are.
ETA: and "just playing" is becoming a lost art. There are way too many kids who simply don't know how to play without an adult leading them in some kind of structured activity.
I think a lot of this, though, is reactive to kids simply NOT having time after school, on weekends, or on summer break.
It amazes me just how scheduled these kids are.
ETA: and "just playing" is becoming a lost art. There are way too many kids who simply don't know how to play without an adult leading them in some kind of structured activity.
But those are the choices of the parents. Nobody is forcing these kids to do a million activities. You don't have to say "screw it! I'm not going to educate my child at all!" in order to give your kids free time.
I went to college in a hippie town (like many college students). I knew one of the local families who were unschooling their youngest children. The kids were 7 and 10, I think, and didn't know how to read. Because they had never taken the initiative to learn it for themselves I guess.
:?
I mean, yeah, I wouldn't have wanted to learn calculus or chemistry, either, if I didn't have to. But as an adult I have to do a lot of things I don't really want to do.
I think I'm going to do "unlifeing" where I don't do anything I don't want to do, like pay bills, do my taxes, or fold fitted sheets. I'll just tell the electric company and the IRS that I'm "choosing my own adventure" and that those things just don't really interest me at this point in my life.
Or even having unschooling breaks during the day. Say come in do Language Arts for an hour or what have you then do an hour of unschooling where the kids can release some energy and do things they enjoy, then come back and do math for however long have lunch followed by a shorter unschooling session then Soc. Studies/Science, and so on.
It would be great for kids who have slight differences like ADHD or kids who are just more physical. It would give them opportunities to get it out in a non-disruptive way and probably focus better and be able to attend to their work with less difficulty.
I don't know if it's standard, but at my DD's school (she's in first grade), "free" or "choice" time seems pretty common.
Most of the classroom teachers have a bunch of stuff - - from books to toy cars, from play-doh to snap-circuits, from stuff on the computers to Montessori math manipulatables - - for the kids to choose from during that time.
IME, it's built into every day. It might not be AS free range as complete un-schooling time (for the most part, they have to stay in the classroom, for example)... but it does seem to scratch that itch of giving kids some say in their day.
My daughter's 1st grade class has free choice on Fridays. It's the highlight of her week. I wish it could be a daily thing, but it's set up as a reward for the kids who get their work done during the week.
Post by runforrest on Apr 29, 2014 13:30:22 GMT -5
This just angers me - I think this school is doing these kids a disservice. 1000%. Real life is not like this, and good luck getting into any college or field that is math/science-based when all you do is play video games and frisbee all day.
So she's proud of the fact that her son has spent the last couple of years playing video games all day long? Instead of, oh I don't know, learning how the US government functions or how to calculate 20% of a restaurant bill?
Well, her kid probably won't be able to find any work, so he won't need to know how to calculate a tip because he won't be the one paying the bill when eating out. So there's that I guess.
I don't know if it's standard, but at my DD's school (she's in first grade), "free" or "choice" time seems pretty common.
Most of the classroom teachers have a bunch of stuff - - from books to toy cars, from play-doh to snap-circuits, from stuff on the computers to Montessori math manipulatables - - for the kids to choose from during that time.
IME, it's built into every day. It might not be AS free range as complete un-schooling time (for the most part, they have to stay in the classroom, for example)... but it does seem to scratch that itch of giving kids some say in their day.
My daughter's 1st grade class has free choice on Fridays. It's the highlight of her week. I wish it could be a daily thing, but it's set up as a reward for the kids who get their work done during the week.
That's what it is like here, on Fridays the kids who are all done get to goof around for periods of time while the kids who are struggling and probably need the break the most have to sit and catch up on work. And here it is pretty much phased out after 1st, by 2nd and 3rd there is too much work to do for the kids to have free time. and if they do have spare time they are expected to read quietly/draw/write/etc at their desks so they don't disturb the other students.
Aside from how stupid this school sounds, I'm so tired of the smug "look at me and the unique choice I'm making for my child that you aren't but should" parenting articles that are really just clickbates for Huff Po or CNN or whatever.
And what is UP with people in Seattle and their "unschooling" high horses?! I have a FB friend up there and she is always prattling on and on how her spechial kids are not going to go to school. Blah blah blah.
So she's proud of the fact that her son has spent the last couple of years playing video games all day long? Instead of, oh I don't know, learning how the US government functions or how to calculate 20% of a restaurant bill?
Well, her kid probably won't be able to find any work, so he won't need to know how to calculate a tip because he won't be the one paying the bill when eating out. So there's that I guess.
Good point, and how will he know when he's been stiffed?? Because he's far more likely to be the one serving food than being served it.
I chose this school because I didn't want G to feel the pressure that kids can get "to live up to their potential." I wanted him to know what makes him happy, and to follow his interests. I didn't want his natural curiosity dulled by school, and it hasn't been. Everything he's learned has been something he wanted to learn — but usually he learns by doing things that society doesn't recognize as educational. Once or twice when I've said he should do something "because I say so," he's shot back, "that's not the way you raised me!" He's right, and I'm so thankful.
LOL. DH and I just had a conversation where we agreed that we didn't care if the kids grew up to be rocket scientists, but that we just wanted them to live up to their potential. We literally used that phrase. Of course we want them to be happy, but there are plenty of happy basement dwellers mooching off their parents. Not what we have in mind, thankyouverymuch.
I do think that in general public schools have become too rigid in the way they educate kids. But this is waaaay to far in the other direction. I'd be interested in reading some studies on long term outcomes for unschooled children.
And what is UP with people in Seattle and their "unschooling" high horses?! I have a FB friend up there and she is always prattling on and on how her spechial kids are not going to go to school. Blah blah blah.
you just described a good one-third of my facebook feed
another third: parents of kids from DD's public school, ranting about it
final third: college friends who live on the east coast, prattling on about their speshul kids' private school experiences
IME, most parents are on some kind of high horse. You just have to pick the one that doesn't make you want to barf.
While I get the appeal of keeping kids interested in learning and using stuff they are interested in to teach them, I feel like there are certain things that everyone should learn regardless of their interests. I mean, if I had been in a school like this I would have focused on math/science and ignored history/literature/social studies. Which I am glad that I learned now.
Yeah and I'm sorry, but I don't care how interested you are in video games, that doesn't mean you get to sit around and play them all day long and call it "learning."
I mean, I'm interested in laying in bed, eating ice cream and watching Law & Order for a good 8 hours a day, but that doesn't mean I get to do it.
While I get the appeal of keeping kids interested in learning and using stuff they are interested in to teach them, I feel like there are certain things that everyone should learn regardless of their interests. I mean, if I had been in a school like this I would have focused on math/science and ignored history/literature/social studies. Which I am glad that I learned now.
How my unschooling friends would respond:
They'll get to it. Our school is 24/7/365. So it looks like we're goofing off at 10 a.m. on a random Tuesday in April while your kid is grinding away at school. But we're playing math games at 8 p.m. on a Sunday. We don't feel the need to get to it RIGHT NOW, but we'll get to it eventually. Our kids will learn what they need to learn, just not at the same time as yours and probably not in the same way. But they'll get there.
I've "heard" the rant (mostly on FB) a bajillion times.
I would maybe consider this if they paid me $82,000 a year to put in a savings fund to support my child when they are living in my basement enjoying frisbee and role playing games at age 45.
While I get the appeal of keeping kids interested in learning and using stuff they are interested in to teach them, I feel like there are certain things that everyone should learn regardless of their interests. I mean, if I had been in a school like this I would have focused on math/science and ignored history/literature/social studies. Which I am glad that I learned now.
How my unschooling friends would respond:
They'll get to it. Our school is 24/7/365. So it looks like we're goofing off at 10 a.m. on a random Tuesday in April while your kid is grinding away at school. But we're playing math games at 8 p.m. on a Sunday. We don't feel the need to get to it RIGHT NOW, but we'll get to it eventually. Our kids will learn what they need to learn, just not at the same time as yours and probably not in the same way. But they'll get there.
I've "heard" the rant (mostly on FB) a bajillion times.
Post by Wrath0fKuus on Apr 29, 2014 14:16:05 GMT -5
How long has this trend been around? Long enough for any studies to be done on how these kids do as adults, whether they ever do bother to learn stuff they weren't interested in (reading or math or whatever)?
So there's no feeling with these people that waiting to learn certain concepts makes it more difficult to grasp? I mean I thought that was often the point of school, to present things to kids at the age they are most likely to grasp them before their little child brains have set in their ways.
If speaking to your child about racism is necessary because kids absorb media and life influence or just their own musings, they why isn't dealing with some educational concepts early necessary?
While I get the appeal of keeping kids interested in learning and using stuff they are interested in to teach them, I feel like there are certain things that everyone should learn regardless of their interests. I mean, if I had been in a school like this I would have focused on math/science and ignored history/literature/social studies. Which I am glad that I learned now.
How my unschooling friends would respond:
They'll get to it. Our school is 24/7/365. So it looks like we're goofing off at 10 a.m. on a random Tuesday in April while your kid is grinding away at school. But we're playing math games at 8 p.m. on a Sunday. We don't feel the need to get to it RIGHT NOW, but we'll get to it eventually. Our kids will learn what they need to learn, just not at the same time as yours and probably not in the same way. But they'll get there.
I've "heard" the rant (mostly on FB) a bajillion times.
That's great, but here's the thing - if these kids ever get a traditional job, there are deadlines that can't be dealt with by just "getting to it eventually". These parents are doing these kids a huge disservice, IMO.
How long has this trend been around? Long enough for any studies to be done on how these kids do as adults, whether they ever do bother to learn stuff they weren't interested in (reading or math or whatever)?
I grew up in an area with a lot of the OG hippies in the 80s and all this "alternative schooling" was kind of popular (ahead of its time I guess). Many of these kids turned out to be trouble in later years. Some didn't though. I was traditional schooled, btw.
That's great, but here's the thing - if these kids ever get a traditional job, there are deadlines that can't be dealt with by just "getting to it eventually". These parents are doing these kids a huge disservice, IMO.
Not even the most liberal of liberal arts colleges are going to be cool with some math games at 8pm three weeks after your core course midterms.
This is some Emperor's New Clothes shit, right here.
While I get the appeal of keeping kids interested in learning and using stuff they are interested in to teach them, I feel like there are certain things that everyone should learn regardless of their interests. I mean, if I had been in a school like this I would have focused on math/science and ignored history/literature/social studies. Which I am glad that I learned now.
How my unschooling friends would respond:
They'll get to it. Our school is 24/7/365. So it looks like we're goofing off at 10 a.m. on a random Tuesday in April while your kid is grinding away at school. But we're playing math games at 8 p.m. on a Sunday. We don't feel the need to get to it RIGHT NOW, but we'll get to it eventually. Our kids will learn what they need to learn, just not at the same time as yours and probably not in the same way. But they'll get there.
I've "heard" the rant (mostly on FB) a bajillion times.
Don't you seriously need to know how to write by the time you're 10 in order for the synapses to form correctly in your brain? I think I've heard that you can learn to read later in life, but if you don't learn how to write by around age 10, you honestly never will.
So what does eventually mean? Age 25 when they're sitting around, still playing video games?
How long has this trend been around? Long enough for any studies to be done on how these kids do as adults, whether they ever do bother to learn stuff they weren't interested in (reading or math or whatever)?
Why do you want to study this? Can't you just feel in your heart that these kids are going to be creative and generous and worldly? Don't be such a square, man.