Every moment of every day is an opportunity for inspired learning. A key is unschooling ourselves as parents, so we don't get in the way. We must change to learn, to listen, to what our children communicate without being limited to language. A new way of "being" becomes possible. Learning is a organic, individual phenomenon, unique as the unfolding of flowers. Thanks for sharing on our unique journey finding Freedom through unschooling.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Homeschooling and a New Society - Natural Life Magazine - frugal green family living
Homeschooling and a New Society - Natural Life Magazine - frugal green family living: "At present they [schools] are government jobs for children" John Taylor Gatto
Friday, February 11, 2011
Spontaneous Capability
We just got back from the swimming pool where Merrilee without any formal swimming teaching has just begun entirely on her own, swimming without the noodle, across the entire pool! She is just recently 4 years old. She asked us to come to pool and as soon as we were there, providing a bit extra confidence, she just began, entirely self initiated, swimming back and forth between us, at times a perfect breaststroke.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Wakeboarding on Lake Arenal
This is a first for us wakeboarding at the base of a volcano.
This is priceless!
I wanna do it!
Go daddy Go!
We find our joy from the simple things...Costa Rica
Thank you Vismay and Nicole Sound of Light on Soundcloud for the song "find my joy"
Monday, February 7, 2011
Something of Interest or Something You Care About
Project Based Learning and Social Emotional Development are the two main voids in typical classification-curriculum-assessment teaching. This system lacks the primary motivation for intellectual freedom and life development. Instructive learning as it is called is contrary to self inspired, self learning, self design that develops the authenticy of the individual. "Unschooling" reinforces the ability for one to find and develop their own unique purpose here in honoring who they truly are. Hence, "Something of Interest or Something You Care About."
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Deny Children Their Dreams?
A revelation indefensible is borne of seemingly disconnected conversation:
"too much emphasis is put on curriculum," is something of where the ah-ha cohered.
Conversation was begun.. About our children being 'tethered' together in a duet or trio of PS2 play. Meanwhile well educated English speaking Egyptians a world apart are reading my Tweets from America about freedom and how the Old World Order based on a certain tyrannical power structure is crumbling into, people power. Have you read the news? So Egyptians will have no more, no more of living where their very dreams are squashed.
It is the same thing in compulsory or dictated curriculum-assessment based education. Children are taught to submit to coercion, conspiracy (parent/teacher/education-director, private meetings/conferences) and bribery, sacrificing of themselves, their very childhoods' in attempt to hide or gain favor. These are the "choices" presented our children.
Where, when a child's emotional development is the most critical element developing, children suffer alienation and separation anxiety from their 'elders' due to the ongoing trauma of repeated and regular dictation and indifference. Conformity, classification and competition, assessment-comparison is so required that the environment becomes completely lacking in regard to the individual. The personal path is denied including any personal bio-rhythmic, special challenges unique to an individual or various learning style needs... Usually when the "norm" is not met children end up with labels instead of unfolding.
Sometimes our children sleep a lot, naps, etc.. other times not so much.. Sometimes we're up late and other times we get up early. Such is life. Sometimes we're productive and others well.. Where did this emphasis were priority is some attendance record, spinning to our grave in drudgery.. The supposed value in a dictated contrived regimen, were did it come from? The schooling the homework is almost like a child labor-camps. I cannot imagine denying my children their sleep whenever they are so inclined nor their dreams (a function of sleep), whenever they - on their natural rhythm, may come to require some...
This is one way "school" teaches no such regard for individual subtlety, but indifference to ourslves and ultimately to others too.
See: John Taylor Gatto in the links for enlightening us on 'Indifference' further...
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Global [interconnected] Learning - by Construction
What results of 13+ years of learning by instruction ... when instruction ceases?
This video reveals an immense aspect of the [global] learning revolution that is NOW.
Learning Plan Self Design
Our son is old enough to develop his own learning plan.
He mentions how is sister annoys him...
We talked about the circle of life...
We talked... about how his sister will make him an uncle someday and he will make her an auntie.. how we will become grandpa and granny... Developing a long view.. Okay so something of interest to you, etc..
He suggested not having a sister, we told him the project about not having a sister.. not so sure about this one... "can you imagine not having your sister when you are doing that amazing improvisation with your stuffed characters...?" I guess you could put together a stuffed story and do it your self but .. might be more interesting if you let her have a part... we told him how we for some reason or another have chosen this life and the people we share it with...
See post: Something of Interest or Something You Care About
A Presentation Or a play... a show... an art project, music project?
We had to say goodnight...
We will sleep on it!
"so goodnight" and we reiterated the above question.. "I'm not even going to talk about.. gimme that pillow"
Will update you on this developing surprise...
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Volcan Arenal...This was the view out our cabina at Cabinas La Catarata. This was a family owned establishment the hospitality was wonderful. Felix and his wife were wonderful and very patient with their english speaking guests. We stayed for three weeks and swam in the local swimming hole which was a rushing river with beautiful waterfalls and a rope swing. La Fortuna is the town at the base of Volcan Arenal.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Merging Unschooling and Video
Where the freeform learning philosophy of unschooling meets the potential of a free internet digital age - creates unlimited opportunity for the advancement of human development. This is the miracle of the internet. Next to actual experience, videos are of the most effective of learning tools. Videos can utilize actual video, actual sound, music from baroque to the latest in binaural brain entraining music, to nature sounds, to chosen photos, art, sketches, places, mind maps, animations, etc. This is just the beginning of this potential where ah-ha concepts have an outlet to reveal ideas through pure associative expression and subsequent impression. Within the use of such imagery media the depth of learning through context and connections provides infinitely greater understanding for intellect.
There are lots of videos I've seen recently that fit this criteria. I will be coming back to this post to include examples myself but in the meantime I welcome you to include your examples in the comments.
There are lots of videos I've seen recently that fit this criteria. I will be coming back to this post to include examples myself but in the meantime I welcome you to include your examples in the comments.
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Gnomes