Unschooling Is Like Watching A Garden Grow
If I didn't say I was nervous I'd be lying.
Delving into new and uncharted territory is always nerve wracking.
Leaving traditional schoolwork behind to start unschooling has always made me a bit nervous but I am determined to give it a try.
I know my biggest problem is going to be trusting that they are learning even when I can't always see what they are learning. This quote sums it up best:
It just sounds so right!
Kids will pursue knowledge, as any parent can attest after struggling through the "why" faze. Though kids stop asking "why" all the time, they still wonder and in wondering will naturally try to seek answers.
I'm hopeful that by backing off and putting them in charge we'll get back to the fun, happy, engaged learners I had over the summer when we first started on our voyage to school at home. During those first few months I put the kids and our families happiness above everything else trusting that by doing fun things together learning was taking place.
I know it did; I saw it happening!
By letting fear get to me I slowly modified our curriculum and we became more traditional in our approach to schooling. In turn that led to all of us becoming more miserable.
We need to find our fun and enjoyment again and learning will follow.
I have to have faith in this and so I anticipate and wait for my garden to grow slowly over time, showing signs of growth here and there. I will hover, administer aid, and tend as best I can while giving them the room they need to grow.
Delving into new and uncharted territory is always nerve wracking.
Leaving traditional schoolwork behind to start unschooling has always made me a bit nervous but I am determined to give it a try.
I know my biggest problem is going to be trusting that they are learning even when I can't always see what they are learning. This quote sums it up best:
- Sometimes the problem for the parent is that it can be difficult to determine if anything important is actually going on. It is a little like watching a garden grow. No matter how closely we examine the garden, it is difficult to verify that anything is happening at that particular moment. But as the season progresses, we can see that much has happened, quietly and naturally. Children pursue life, and in doing so, pursue knowledge. They need adults to trust in the inevitability of this very natural process, and to offer what assistance they can." (If you'd like to read more about unschooling & the context of this quote click here for the original site).
It just sounds so right!
Kids will pursue knowledge, as any parent can attest after struggling through the "why" faze. Though kids stop asking "why" all the time, they still wonder and in wondering will naturally try to seek answers.
I'm hopeful that by backing off and putting them in charge we'll get back to the fun, happy, engaged learners I had over the summer when we first started on our voyage to school at home. During those first few months I put the kids and our families happiness above everything else trusting that by doing fun things together learning was taking place.
I know it did; I saw it happening!
By letting fear get to me I slowly modified our curriculum and we became more traditional in our approach to schooling. In turn that led to all of us becoming more miserable.
We need to find our fun and enjoyment again and learning will follow.
I have to have faith in this and so I anticipate and wait for my garden to grow slowly over time, showing signs of growth here and there. I will hover, administer aid, and tend as best I can while giving them the room they need to grow.
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