In the end, the secret to learning is so simple: Think only about whatever you love. Follow it, do it, dream about it...and it will hit you: learning was there all the time, happening by itself.
math
Posted April 4th, 2008 by jaybay in
I guess I know this whole unschooling thing is supposed to be fluid and child-directed learning, etc, etc, etc, but my (almost 8 year old) daughter is coming upon a time when she ought to be learning more mathematics than measuring cups, play money and the calendar. She loathes workbooks and papers and has a deep dislike of math (my fault from the early days when I followed Abeka). Manipulatives only carry her so far. There is coming a time when I've got to decide what path to take with her and math. Certain aspects of unschooling with math make sense to me such as the idea that I ought to wait until she shows signs that she's ready to learn the times tables, for example, at some point in the future . She will have a far easier time understanding the concept and memorizing the times tables when her brain opens to them versus me having her pound them into her head. Doesn't it make sense that we avoid a year's worth of memorization until such time as when her abilities are such that she can memorize the times tables in a week? In all honesty, I'm worried that she's not learning in a well rounded way and I'm going to be doing her a disservice.
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Are you looking for advice?
Did you want some advice on this, or are you just venting? I'll be happy to share my thoughts, if you'd like.
~Tracey
__________________
~Tracey
please
Share! Your advice is absolutely welcomed!
hugs!
It sounds to me like the best step to help your daughter is for YOU to deschool (or unschool) yourself and to just chill. I would highly recommend reading:
Parenting A Free Child: An Unschooled Life by Rue Kream
Homeschooling Our Children, Unschooling Ourselves by Alison McKee
The Unprocessed Child: Living Without School by Valerie Fitzenreiter
You said: <she ought to be learning more mathematics than measuring cups, play money and the calendar.>
In unschooling, I don't feel like there's room for thoughts of "ought to". If, in your heart, you feel like she NEEDS to be LEARNING more, then maybe you guys aren't really unschooling. If, in your heart, you KNOW that you can TRUST that she will learn whatever she needs to, when she needs to and in her own time...then you're unschooling.
You said: <There is coming a time when I've got to decide what path to take with her and math. Certain aspects of unschooling with math make sense to me such as the idea that I ought to wait until she shows signs that she's ready to learn the times tables, for example, at some point in the future . She will have a far easier time understanding the concept and memorizing the times tables when her brain opens to them versus me having her pound them into her head. Doesn't it make sense that we avoid a year's worth of memorization until such time as when her abilities are such that she can memorize the times tables in a week?>
With unschooling, we (as parents) decide what path to take: follow the child. To me, unschooling isn't waiting until the child shows an interest in a subject and then teaching him/her that thing...it's getting out of the way and letting the child learn what they want/need to know, and I'm standing by to help, ONLY IF THEY ASK. I, in all honesty, hope that my children NEVER memorize the times table. I hope that they don't memorize anything. I hope that in their daily lives they stumble across the basic concept of a variety of things, and that their passion drives them to KNOW some things inside and out...not have memorized anything.
You said: <In all honesty, I'm worried that she's not learning in a well rounded way and I'm going to be doing her a disservice.>
Unschooling (for parents) involves letting go of thoughts like this.
I honestly think that reading the above books would help you to start thinking more in an unschool-y way (you might have to read them once and let them digest for a while, and then read them again). I am more than happy to help you let go...I'm learning more and more each day how to myself. You said somewhere on this site once that you are here to learn about unschooling and letting go, and this is all my opinion on how to help with that. If you ever don't want my help, please let me know! I'm not trying to step on toes, and my views might be quite a bit more "radical" than other folks.
~Tracey
It is a struggle
for me to truly embrace unschooling. My husband is not in favor of it. He doesn't get too involved with things but he is there if we need him. He has been pleased thus far with what he sees as results of being homeschooled. As for me, I trust that they are creative enough and interested enough in life to derive most of what they'll need. It is myself I don't trust. I can't help but think I'm lazy and undisciplined. It almost makes me feel guilty and embarrassed to say "we're unschoolers" when speaking to other homeschooling mothers. They always ask "what do you do all day?" and I can't ever seem to really define what it is they actually do, though I know they are constantly engrossed in something and always industrious.
About passion fueling the need to know something, you are right about that. My 5 year old taught herself to read beginning at age 4 simply because she wanted to. It surprised me beyond words because I hadn't done anything to help her or guide her. She just figured it out.
Your comments are helpful and I do appreciate them. I will seek out those books and continue to come here for help with letting go.
AMAZON
I actually ordered all 3 books. "Parenting a Free Child" from Rue Kream directly, the other 2 from Amazon. Looking forward to reading them already, so thank you for the lead on that.
Yaye!
Excellent reads, all of them! Let me know what you think!
~Tracey
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