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Curriculum to Unschooling
Dateline: 11/11/97
By Ann Zeise
To purchase an off-the-shelf curriculum or accept one from
a school district's Independent Study Program often seems like
the easiest way to homeschool. I'm going to tell you a story
how we came to not using curriculum.
So what's wrong with curriculum? It can be an expensive mistake.
Usually it is sold in sets of grade-level materials, one size
fits all. Would you go into a shoe store and ask for "Fifth
grade shoes, please."? The clerk would start to quiz you:
boy or girl? Is this for active wear or formal? What color do
they prefer? Do you mind black soles that may scuff floors? Does
your child prefer high tops or low? Do they need a specialty
shoe for sports or dancing?
First, let me tell you, I relied on it our first year, primarily
for economic reasons. I homeschooled through our school district
office, which gave me all the texts the fourth graders were using,
supposedly, and a box full of supplies, like paper and pencils.
Gradually I gained the confidence to select material according
to our son's interests and capabilities, and he's gained the
confidence to pursue his own interests no matter how paranoid
I get.
My son spirited away the reader and two weeks later announced
he had finished it. It was full of interesting stories that his
teacher before hadn't let him read at his preferred pace: fast!
Oh dear! Wasn't he supposed to answer questions at the end of
each chapter and write out related grammar lessons? Could we
get the fifth grade reader? Nope. Not allowed. So we started
reading reviews, then going
to the library and bookstores regularly and getting 'real' books
to read. Scott gobbled up books from pop kid novels through classics
at a rate of about 3-4 books a week. If he got bored with one,
he'd put it down. If he loved one or felt he didn't 'get' something,
he'd reread it. Instead of book reports or 'exercises' in reading
comprehension, we'd all, Dad included, just give each other reviews,
like adults do when they've found a book they've liked. Before
long, Mom and Dad were reading "Animorphs" and Scott
was reading Anne McCafferty's books.
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I talked to a local
public school science teacher and found out the schools were
only using the science books for ideas for experiments. So, that's
what we did, too. Only we found out that many were disappointing.
The experiments didn't work or we couldn't figure out what we
were supposed to be proving. I don't think anyone really tests
to see if kids can do them. |
|
Scott doing kitchen science. Filtering out impurities
in water. |
We wound up going to book stores and museum stores and getting
far better books with experiments for children to try. In my
browsing, I came across a book called "Making and Using
Scientific Equipment" by David E. Newton. First thing we
built was an astrolabe,
a device for finding latitude or locating celestial objects.
Took it out in the park, located the North Star and Scott determined
our latitude fairly accurately. Had a chance to go out on the
San Francisco Bay on a old sailing vessel that could have been
a Nina replicate. Took along the astrolabe and used it for doing
some navigating. Scott read a book about the explorer, Drake.
"Hey, Mom! Drake had an astrolabe, too, just like mine!"
An exhibit of Spanish galleon treasure came to town. What do
you know? They had found a golden astrolabe, and had it on display.Since
history and science seemed to be getting all mixed up anyway,
we decided that we'd keep looking for more examples of inventions
throughout history, rather than emphasizing the history of wars.
Though I attempted to jam the California history book down poor
Scott's throat, I think he learned more history from visiting
local historical
sites, museums, Sierra gold mines, and living history days.
He declared just the other day that he really liked to read history
books. I now buy the kind that do not resemble school text books.
Also, I buy good autobiographies and first hand accounts or books
that focus on a major event. At the bargain table, Scott found
a book about Guadacanal and became a minor expert on that battle.
This was an event that I knew little about. How do you teach
your child something you know nothing about? You don't. You let
them teach themselves.
The district gave us a math book and let me make copies of
the workbook pages. They weren't too bad. Gave us something to
turn in, since we weren't about to donate our astrolabe. Dad's
a fanatic about math. I did point out to him that did he notice
that the only texts we bought and the only subject we didn't
"unschool" was math, and it was the only topic Scott
didn't just adore. We use the Key
to Algebra workbooks at this point. Cost is about $2 a workbook,
so I get four at a time and the answer book. Scott can about
teach himself from these. Dad works on his "mental"
understanding of true mathematics.
And you know what, it's gotten easier and easier. I even have
time to do this web site.
If you feel you need or must use a curriculum, do borrow
before you buy. Check into places
that sell used curriculum, if only to learn which ones people
are reselling "never used" so you can avoid them! I've
got links to all sorts of
sites that will help you develop your own materials or purchase
a curriculum off the shelf. There are also sources
of "scope and sequence" lists for those of you
who must file such documents. Such lists will give you the "educationalese"
you need to convince a public educator you have a masters in
education.
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- Books To Help You Get Started Homeschooling
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- Complete
Idiot's Guide to Homeschooling
- by Marsha Ransom
- If you find yourself teaching subjects you know little about,
undecided about what curriculum to choose, or concerned that
your children may miss out on band, drama, or sports, this guide
provides practical advice from an author who has homeschooled
four children.
The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World
As Your Child's Classroom
by Mary Griffith
Unschooling, a homeschooling method based on the belief that
kids learn best when allowed to pursue their natural curiosities
and interests, is practiced by 10 to 15 percent of the estimated
1.5 million homeschoolers in the United States.
Learning
All the Time
by John Caldwell Holt
Holt is widely considered the father of the modern-day homeschooling
movement because he grew to believe that schools stifle the learning
process.
The Homeschooling Book of Answers
The 88 Most Important Questions Answered by Homeschooling's
Most Respected Voices
by Linda Dobson
This how-to guide offers the collective wisdom of six dozen homeschoolers,
their children, and noted writers on the subject.
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