Comments on: Confessions of a Homeschool Mama http://christianunschooling.com/2008/09/10/confessions-of-a-homeschool-mama/ Encouragement and resources for Christian unschooling, relaxed/eclectic home educating families--living in freedom in Christ. Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:10:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: beth http://christianunschooling.com/2008/09/10/confessions-of-a-homeschool-mama/comment-page-1/#comment-20 beth Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:14:58 +0000 http://christianunschooling.com/?p=113#comment-20 You wrote, "Dare I say that we, despite our plans and ideals, are unschoolers?" Heh, that line made me smile, seems to be the story of our entire homeschooling career! *LOL* I am continually amazed at what my kids are learning and accomplishing, without my supervision! I'm also encouraged by how much they love great literature that I've carefully chosen and suggested, even to their own surprise. I cannot tell you how many times now they've groaned over beginning a book I suggest, only for me to find them still snuggled up with it like an hour later... it's become a running joke around here. Yeah, "learning in freedom" (love that term) is definitely a balancing act here for this Mama, to discern how and when to direct or when to just stand back and not interrupt~ simultaneously. When done with thoughtful intention, both approaches can and will facilitate growth and certainly complement each other in playing a meaningful role in learning. But I'm finding that it's easier to know *how* the more that I really tune into the kids' interests and needs. That, after all, would truly be the heart of good teaching, would it not? To inspire, and then to come along side of one with helpful direction and guidance, but only as needed. I guess that figuring out the "as needed" part is where it gets tricky, and probably even varies from one child/family to the next... but I'm rambling now. Thanks for sharing, good thoughts. We too have found wonderful dress-up costumes in the after Halloween sales. :) You wrote, “Dare I say that we, despite our plans and ideals, are unschoolers?”
Heh, that line made me smile, seems to be the story of our entire homeschooling career! *LOL*

I am continually amazed at what my kids are learning and accomplishing, without my supervision! I’m also encouraged by how much they love great literature that I’ve carefully chosen and suggested, even to their own surprise. I cannot tell you how many times now they’ve groaned over beginning a book I suggest, only for me to find them still snuggled up with it like an hour later… it’s become a running joke around here.

Yeah, “learning in freedom” (love that term) is definitely a balancing act here for this Mama, to discern how and when to direct or when to just stand back and not interrupt~ simultaneously. When done with thoughtful intention, both approaches can and will facilitate growth and certainly complement each other in playing a meaningful role in learning. But I’m finding that it’s easier to know *how* the more that I really tune into the kids’ interests and needs. That, after all, would truly be the heart of good teaching, would it not? To inspire, and then to come along side of one with helpful direction and guidance, but only as needed. I guess that figuring out the “as needed” part is where it gets tricky, and probably even varies from one child/family to the next… but I’m rambling now. Thanks for sharing, good thoughts.

We too have found wonderful dress-up costumes in the after Halloween sales. :)

]]> By: shileen http://christianunschooling.com/2008/09/10/confessions-of-a-homeschool-mama/comment-page-1/#comment-18 shileen Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:35:19 +0000 http://christianunschooling.com/?p=113#comment-18 The longer I homeschool (my 15th year) the more I see how much better is to school in this natural way. I really don't like the term unschooling. I find myself lately describing our way of schooling/life as natural learning. I do sometimes get that uneasy feeling because our "school" ... our life really is so different from everyone else. I have a son in college who is loving life and doing so well. And, he also didn't get into college the traditional way. We've not been unschoolers our whole homeshool career but we've always had that laid back characteristic. My youngest now is 15. Outsiders would look (and they do) how he spends his day and time and think it's a waste. How can he possibly be learning. He does. He picks up much more than if he were being taught in a traditional sense.... and trust me the "tradition way" is NOT his learning style anyway. We are very much "think outside the box" type of people. There is always more than one way to skin a cat and our kids' education is no different. And because we look so different than everyone else sometimes I get nervous. But all in all... I'm pleased as punch with our lifestyle and extremely proud of both my boys. shileen The longer I homeschool (my 15th year) the more I see how much better is to school in this natural way. I really don’t like the term unschooling. I find myself lately describing our way of schooling/life as natural learning. I do sometimes get that uneasy feeling because our “school” … our life really is so different from everyone else. I have a son in college who is loving life and doing so well. And, he also didn’t get into college the traditional way.

We’ve not been unschoolers our whole homeshool career but we’ve always had that laid back characteristic. My youngest now is 15. Outsiders would look (and they do) how he spends his day and time and think it’s a waste. How can he possibly be learning. He does. He picks up much more than if he were being taught in a traditional sense…. and trust me the “tradition way” is NOT his learning style anyway.

We are very much “think outside the box” type of people. There is always more than one way to skin a cat and our kids’ education is no different. And because we look so different than everyone else sometimes I get nervous. But all in all… I’m pleased as punch with our lifestyle and extremely proud of both my boys.

shileen

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