Unschooling NYC

A few days ago on Sandra Dodd’s lovely blog Just Add Light & Stir, she wrote a post titled “Life Becomes Easier”.   I put in the link because you should all go over and subscribe.  Sandra has the ability to say in a few words what many of us take thousands to express.

In this case she used only fifteen words.

“If your child is more important than your vision of your child, life becomes easier.”

Even veteran unschooling parents need to remind themselves of this on a regular basis.  As kids grow their likes and interests may change, so … Read more

It occurs to me that most parents (myself sometimes included) spend far too much time obsessing over “how our kids are doing”.

It’s a national parental pastime.

Mostly this involves constant comparisons to guage how our kids measure up to other kids; in school or learning, in sports, in looks, in height, in eating habits, sleeping habits, ‘screen time’…. you name it.

Discussions with other parents tend to fall into two categories: The first involves a lot of wringing of hands and commiserating over our childrens’ failings or flaws.  The second involves spending time listening to parents boasting or engaging … Read more

Newsflash:  My education has holes in it.

Yep, there is a lot of stuff I don’t know, some of which I supposedly learned in school, but I sure don’t know it now.

Some of it is probably about our system of government, various state capitals and maybe a President or two.

Some of it might have to do with Chemistry or Geometry.

I can’t read music or tell you much about the Pythagorean Theorem.

Don’t ask me to diagram a sentence.  (Is there a place in the world where people diagram sentences that isn’t Freshman English?  That was the first … Read more

Today a friend of mine posted a link on Facebook to a Ted Talk by Angela Lee Duckworth titled “The Key to Success? Grit”   In it she talks about how it’s not always the most talented people who succeed, but rather those who are dogged in their perseverance of their goal = those with the most grit.   This is of course true.   I once heard Bill Murray, who had at the time been nominated for an Oscar, say that he was far from the most talented actor in his class and that mostly what he had going for him was … Read more

A couple of months ago I wrote a post about the ebb and flow in life and learning.    Today I have a few more thoughts on the matter, having just written the 1st Quarter Reports as required by NYS for both my kids and thus being forced to take a closer look at the path their learning is currently taking.

Ben is in the midst of a definite flow – an upswing, a time when I look at my ‘what he’s done this quarter’ notes and think “Wow, look at all this stuff.  And most of it is SCIENCE and … Read more

Next Fall Maya will once again be attending Not Back to School Camp.

Most of her homeschooled peers here in the city will, instead, be in the first few weeks of attending school.

The attrition rate of homeschoolers to school when 9th Grade rolls around, at least among the people we know, is really very high.

Next year we have the added phenomena of friends entering school in both the 8th and 10th grades.

Sigh.

We do our best to live as if school doesn’t exist, but it is impossible, especially at the moment.   All around is talk of SHSAT’s … Read more

After re-reading what I wrote yesterday and receiving some insightful comments from the wonderful Lisa Nalbone, I’ve decided that my analogy of the houses was a little off the mark in pursuit of the idea I was trying to communicate.   Looking at my own design aesthetic, I love clean lines, polished wood and lots of glass.   My home does not, in fact, meet my ideal design aesthetic; there is a reason that Dwell is my favorite magazine.  I dream of movable walls and ingenious storage spaces that hide most of the jumble or at least make it easier to … Read more

What makes a life interesting?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, and the best answer I can think of is “texture”.

Texture, to someone like me who knits and sews, is of utmost importance.   When I walk through a clothing store I will often touch the clothes for their texture before judging them by color or cut.   The same goes with yarn or fabric – if the texture isn’t inviting (and inviting usually means something soft, lush or with depth) I’m going to move on.

When it comes to people, a textured life can manifest in many ways:  … Read more

When people tell me they can’t unschool because they could never spend that much time with their kids, I always want to say, “You know what cures that problem?  Spending more time with your kids.”

It’s true.

At least, it’s true if you as the parent can take off your “authority” hat and look at your kids, not as creatures who need to be controlled, manipulated and directed in all things but rather  as unique human beings.  You might be surprised at how fun they are to be around, and how quickly you find your rhythm as a family.

Of … Read more

The thing I’ve noticed about unschoolers?

They have strong roots, but also strong wings.

In my book, those two things are vital elements in a happy, adventurous, satisfying life.

What more can you ask for?

 … Read more