tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post8560270409754364504..comments2023-10-23T20:14:05.916-05:00Comments on Ruth's Rambles...: Dipping a Toe Into the WaterHi from Ruth!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04696686601621200587noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-18200379611326947492011-01-13T22:12:11.377-06:002011-01-13T22:12:11.377-06:00Wow cool that you're open to changing the way ...Wow cool that you're open to changing the way you do things. That flexibility and openness will surely benefit your family. ~HeidiHeidi - seed wedding favorshttp://www.botanicalpaperworks.com/catalog/wedding-collection/plantable-seed-wedding-favorsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-87169291449100896682011-01-13T22:01:09.042-06:002011-01-13T22:01:09.042-06:00Thanks for all of the great comments and opinions ...Thanks for all of the great comments and opinions - love it!<br /><br />I'll likely be posting more in this vein, so let's keep the conversation going.<br /><br />Thanks all!<br /><br />RuthHi from Ruth!https://www.blogger.com/profile/04696686601621200587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-23054907880306811072011-01-13T19:03:20.079-06:002011-01-13T19:03:20.079-06:00Good for you Ruth! I would love to try unschooling...Good for you Ruth! I would love to try unschooling and plan on doing so when our family is travelling in a few years (we are still saving). <br />I didn't like homeschooling and really wanted to do unschooling but we had too much going on with therapists and so on so I just stopped schooling all together. <br /><br />Good luck - I hope it goes well!<br />Michellesallytomatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00260612433484483242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-24547606362126078102011-01-13T16:15:34.801-06:002011-01-13T16:15:34.801-06:00Ruth, I love your creativity. And I don't thin...Ruth, I love your creativity. And I don't think what you're doing is unschooling. At least not in my books. It's homeschooling. I am a supporter of homeschooling (and I am about to return to work as a classroom teacher), but I am not at all a fan of unschooling. What you are doing is letting Matthew's interests guide you and taking a break from the regular curriculum to pursue that, which is one of the greatest things about homeschooling. And I know by now that you are not going to let your child grow up unable to read or write or do simple math. That is the problem that I keep facing with children who come to my classroom who were "unschooled" Right now as I soon return to work I have been warned that there are two new students who were supposedly homeschooled, who are are enrolled in grades 3 & 4, but functioning at a preschool and kindergarten level. They are not dumb. They just were never taught. They were unschooled, unless there's a better name for it that I don't know, which there could be. But now they are frustrated and their self esteems are lacking because they can't come close to doing what the other kids are doing. I believe with the extra help they are now receiving that they will catch up eventually. But not likely this school year, or next. There's just too many basics missing that they need first before they can build up to where they want to be. So after reading all your posts of what you do with Matthew I don't think you need to worry. You are doing a great job.Derrick, Alysia, and Levihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01329753217195945989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-58203173074312844512011-01-13T13:26:21.016-06:002011-01-13T13:26:21.016-06:00FABULOUS Ruth- I think that you are onto something...FABULOUS Ruth- I think that you are onto something, and that your germ study will be super. I know that as a classroom teacher, some of the best "aha" moments come when the curriculum is dropped, and you chose to follow a tangent based on the kids' lead. Nothing is better than seeing that motivation and excitement. Way to go :)<br />By the way, I was a complete non-reader until gr.3, and I LOVE to read now- so I wouldn't panic with Matthew, just keep exposing him like you are. I have a good kids book called "germs make me sick" that you can borrow if you wish.<br /><br />KristinKristinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-87069840570501986322011-01-13T12:32:16.005-06:002011-01-13T12:32:16.005-06:00So he has a microbiologist in him! And maybe a fu...So he has a microbiologist in him! And maybe a future in toxicology too! Pretty amazing that he has led you to this interest of his.<br /><br />Katie HKatherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17172827976055923073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-49239417123974783882011-01-13T11:38:37.195-06:002011-01-13T11:38:37.195-06:00This sounds great!!
Did you know that Dawn at Th...This sounds great!! <br /><br />Did you know that Dawn at This Woman's Work is an unschooler? She doesn't talk about it all that much, but she is a seriously smart cookie so that makes it feel more approachable to me!Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09352341442556433375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-89199964159585858752011-01-13T11:05:20.817-06:002011-01-13T11:05:20.817-06:00This sounds so great! We've been really racki...This sounds so great! We've been really racking our brains trying to figure out how to motivate our daughter to just do her best, seeing as how she really dislikes anything to do with school. What we've come up with is a check mark system, where if she tries hard & finishes her work, then she gets a check. Every day with a check is good for 5 minutes on the Playstation. So far, it's working really well! She's reading a book that she LIKES, and is very excited about it. Plus, I found some science experiments that we do at home after school, and both kids are responsible to read the instructions and give me a list of supplies (in their own handwriting/printing). This is a huge hit!Mrs Changsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17840252521875408953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-83133076510030405382011-01-13T10:49:38.920-06:002011-01-13T10:49:38.920-06:00bahhhhhaaahaaaa! i laughed out loud at your initia...bahhhhhaaahaaaa! i laughed out loud at your initial reaction to his request..too funny! ok, so I'm so wth you here- I personally think unschooling, if done right, is amazing! But I'm not sure if I've got what it takes to be one..I think you have to be MORE intentional actually. I heard Gordon Neufeld speak on the 'emergent learner' years ago, and how our biggest mistake as homeschoolers is trying to 'bring school home' rather than just capitalize on this great excitement already IN these little sponges we call our kids..they LOVE to learn, so why not let them run with it? I call myself an "eclectic homeschooler" :) meaning I like to check off my boxes of a math and language curriculum, and then the rest is gravy...so they read a TON and they soak in SO much..it amazes me what they know and can recall, but it's because they've ENJOYED learning it..so, maybe I'm more 'charlotte mason' or living books than anything...hmm..see what I mean about eclectic?darcihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11729565512380024608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-49865414174569095752011-01-13T10:01:49.034-06:002011-01-13T10:01:49.034-06:00My eldest son's favorite household is cleaning...My eldest son's favorite household is cleaning the bathroom also! Its nice to know that the cleaning products we use won't hurt him.Eileennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-22345555264773589572011-01-13T09:25:21.362-06:002011-01-13T09:25:21.362-06:00Ahhh...don't tempt me! I was actually reading ...Ahhh...don't tempt me! I was actually reading a tiny bit more about unschooling this week, and did order a book on unjobbing (a particular interest of mine - just didn't realize there was an official term for it). <br /><br />I, too, feel like home and unschooling seem daunting in the commitment to ongoing research and preparation on the parent's part, and making sure that important skill & knowledge areas don't get left behind...although I love that kind of sponatneous & interest-based learning and exploration myself (it's amazing how neuro-biology can become fascinating when there's topic of particular interest where that knowledge comes into play...and at other times...snore), so it might be more up my alley than I fear...<br /><br />Of course, my biggest fear (and obstacle to problem-solve) is that our work/financial situation won't permit any stay-at-home schooling options, which makes me VERY sad (even if I opt for out-of-home school in the end, I want the choice), because I always planned to be around full-time for my kids (well, originally I figured I would keep my at-the-time "dream" job as primary wage-earner, and let my husband stay home...but things changed...except that I still contribute a major portion of the income...anyway, I digress).<br /><br />Back to your post - I love the list of activities Matthew came up with, and totally see how you could cover pretty much every subject/skill area for academics, all while focusing on the germ/bacteria topic in a self-directed way!Joyhttp://joyandgeoffsplace.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-39612278539417714252011-01-13T08:39:41.451-06:002011-01-13T08:39:41.451-06:00Eileen, it's funny to me that Matthew actually...Eileen, it's funny to me that Matthew actually LOVES cleaning the bathroom...usually as a procrastination technique for something else he doesn't want to do, but still! He uses my norwex cloths to clean the sink and mirror and LOVES cleaning the toilet. I say: go to it man, as this is my least favourite part of cleaning...or would that be dusting? Hmm. Toss up. I hate it all, truth be told!<br /><br />Have a good day, Eileen.<br /><br />RuthHi from Ruth!https://www.blogger.com/profile/04696686601621200587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-33460006617481646852011-01-13T08:30:55.939-06:002011-01-13T08:30:55.939-06:00Maybe you'll have extra help cleaning for the ...Maybe you'll have extra help cleaning for the next couple of weeks especially if its part of learning!Eileennoreply@blogger.com