tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7596826491172481628.post1987542533337822887..comments2023-05-22T03:46:55.649-07:00Comments on My Summer Notebook: An Archaelogical Dig: The First Post I Ever Put Online. . .Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06469299112021260475noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7596826491172481628.post-14903999787820459522011-07-30T20:56:13.974-07:002011-07-30T20:56:13.974-07:00This really takes me back! When I started homescho...This really takes me back! When I started homeschooling in 1987 there were no computers to speak of. I remember going to the library and they had installed computers for the patrons to use. My boys were pretty young, but unafraid to try them. They've been using them ever since and Mom jumped on board as well. My boys learned using mainly a textbook approach (Christian Liberty), but my daughter was more of an unschooler. If they don't want to do the work it can't be forced. She turned out just fine and is very self-directed in her life. The 1980's were a scary time to be homeschooling as our neighbors in North Dakota were being jailed for teaching their children, but God gave us the courage one day at a time to continue and I've never regretted it. <br /><br />This was an interesting post. I can remember spending a lot of time on a non-Christian unschooling website and the discussions got pretty spirited! It was so exciting to finally have a tool (the computer) to communicate with other homeschoolers after feeling so alone out here in "the sticks"! :)Lisa Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00567160304529796810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7596826491172481628.post-8393186591392438572011-07-22T13:51:00.633-07:002011-07-22T13:51:00.633-07:00Michelle brings up a good point about the Legos. ...Michelle brings up a good point about the Legos. As I think about it my children do certain things with excellence. One of my children is such an inventor/creator. He lacks in patience.....he just wants to know RIGHT NOW if something will work or not. I look forward to your response!<br />ReneeBessieJoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09121291074222997123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7596826491172481628.post-77973101500994917872011-07-22T09:13:29.943-07:002011-07-22T09:13:29.943-07:00I would love to hear any ideas you have! My boys ...I would love to hear any ideas you have! My boys are 11 and almost 9. Speaking of excellence, it just struck me how much care, time and attention they do take in making their Lego creations - just not written work. Maybe it is a matter of maturity.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05143371958951670471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7596826491172481628.post-26667029588690196282011-07-22T08:23:41.385-07:002011-07-22T08:23:41.385-07:00These are good comments and questions! First, Clai...These are good comments and questions! First, Claina, your insights are really interesting and thought-provoking, coming especially from your profession as a therapist. I really appreciate that you shared your thoughts at length like this!<br /><br />Renee and Michelle, I am already thinking about how I will answer your questions, and I will definitely respond to them the best I can in the next two or three days (don't know how the weekend will go yet). Michelle, can you remind me how old your boys are?Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06469299112021260475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7596826491172481628.post-4337115122537150772011-07-22T06:08:18.894-07:002011-07-22T06:08:18.894-07:00I would be interested in any advice for fostering ...I would be interested in any advice for fostering excellence as well. Also, any advice for fostering that love of reading? I love reading, have a large library at home for our family, have read aloud for years, have a MS in Reading Education and have "done the right things" to grow that love, but my boys cannot stand to read. They are very proficient readers; they just do not enjoy it to the dismay of this Momma!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05143371958951670471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7596826491172481628.post-85821653627440828972011-07-21T13:39:40.986-07:002011-07-21T13:39:40.986-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Terra Aspenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15651236306559668429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7596826491172481628.post-75478802233314218322011-07-21T12:17:15.972-07:002011-07-21T12:17:15.972-07:00Great post, Susan!
I couldn't agree more about...Great post, Susan!<br />I couldn't agree more about the importance of not forcing or coercing children. There can be something very crushing to the natural spirit in that. As a therapist, I see every day, how precious, unique and individual we all are and how being almost scripted and molded to the expectations of others, adversely impacts our lives. When I work with adults, there's a lot of work for them to firstly see how this came about and then they finally have some freedom about where to go in the here and now with it. When working with children and young people, some of the most beneficial, learning & growing parts of their process is in their expression through creative means as they haven't yet had that crushed out of them. The same applies to some adults who simply have no words for whatever trauma brought them to me. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that each human being learns, grows, changes (and heals) in their own uniquie way and at their own pace. Facilitating and providing an environment where this is encouraged and nurtured is an absolute joy for me,in my work. I think you're spot on that this is the way in which "school" learning should lean. It was never an option here. In fact I still don't know anyone who homeschools their children. My boys are 18 and 13 now, so well up already. We're Catholic and their schools are Catholic run and maintained (though not by priests, nuns or christian brothers, as mine were) Though still fairly strict, very good community based school,with much input from us parents, they've done well and are happy there. If I had to start over with them I would be def be of the home "unschooling" train of thought.<br />Your children all seem to be beautifully creative, going by the work shown on this and other posts. Love it!Clainahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09584624852429655664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7596826491172481628.post-51826535904745371642011-07-21T11:46:45.441-07:002011-07-21T11:46:45.441-07:00I've been wanting to ask a question ever since...I've been wanting to ask a question ever since you posted the pic of the girls' books and the calendar that your sweet daughter made for you year after year. In that post you mentioned the playing that took place with the stuffed animals. It sounds as though in all the "play" and "art" that it was always done with such excellence. Do you feel you did anything to foster this? We create things in our home all the time but sometimes it seems it is only created for a very temporary purpose and not a lot of time and energy is put into it...not always what I would consider excellent work. (This could very well be because I don't value it enough or don't leave them alone long enough to do the things that I don't deem worthwhile at the moment???) Did you ever guide in "play"? I don't mean interfere and actually be involved in the play (that seems to always take the fun out of it, and besides that's just not the way I mother) but for instance when they were making the house for the stuffed animals, did you encourage excellence somehow in how they went about doing it? <br />On a side note, your home looks so lovely and airy! You have a knack, I do believe! :)<br />Happy day,<br />ReneeBessieJoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09121291074222997123noreply@blogger.com