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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

                                                            It's Just Our Way





People often wonder how we homeschool, especially since I work many jobs...often. What I rarely tell them is that we are unschoolers because that is just another ball of wax which takes too much to explain via an elevator statement (30 seconds or less). The best way to explain what we do, at this point in our experience as unschoolers, is we mix and match our lessons in book work and life experience. I write my own curriculum every year and mix my own lessons plans with things I find online, especially with the assistance of the PA Dept of Ed's Standards Aligned System which offers loads of resources http://www.pdesas.org/. This year the overall focus is Black History in which I have combined literature (Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, WEB Du Boise, Richard Ellison and Richard Wright to name a few) and history (from slavery to present as per the era in the literary work explored)  as well a music (rap, jazz, blues)  and art (various mediums: dance, photography, paintings, poetry, dance), in order to explore the black experience.  Over the last two years, we have added more book work as each child transitions into high school. We try to encourage more academic study in order to get enough credits to be accepted into college. In Qwyn's middle school journey of learning, we are providing information which she might have a deficit or lack of knowledge in addition to the black history curriculum. We have been to many states (31) and countries (11) over the years, and Qwyn was growing as we traveled; even though we did some prep work before we traveled (I'll share one specific experience in another blog), Qwyn has difficulty figuring out where many states and countries are located. So this year, Geography is the focus. She was kicking and screaming a little but she is getting more interested as the days pass (I also took her cellphone lol) and  I review things that she might have worked on for the day. Right now, she is learning about the geology of PA (science...cool stuff...the Dept of Conservation and National Resources has some great educational manuals and fieldtrip ideas http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/publications/pgspub/educational/index.htm) and learning about each state, in alphabetical order (geography) by using a worksheet which I developed. So last night we talked about how PA was a glacier...very interesting..we were both fascinated. Qwyn also needs to constantly work on her multiplication tables so I had her make a game called Bang, which we played for the first time last night and it was a big hit. This is a game is used for sight words but I modified it to her needs and it worked beautifully and it was cool family time. Another special moment last night, was when we tried to learn Swahili for about 20 minutes.A unschooling group which I belong to shared the link (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NKPQ9WU/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o01_?ie=UTF8&psc=1).  It was interesting but hopefully we will get more serious with it. Daily chess game will be incorporated nightly as well...after I purchase a board. I want to learn to play and Qwyn needs a refresher.  We do ask Milan and Qwyn to do "something" with their days. It does not have to be heavy laden in book work. My assignments are monthly not daily. They have to learn how to organize their time...I give the deadline. I check in at least weekly to see if they have done anything and try to help where I can. Life experience is just as important as book work.  For example, Milan loves music and I would love to just let her go and write and play music all day. If I could take a vacation day at work (I am truly blessed that I can) I might take the kids to a Broadway matinee in NYC or go to see some type of musical symposium down at Univ. of  Penn, (which is where we got to see Wynton Marselis...for free, one year). One purpose of the unschooling is to hone in on the child's interests and allow them to flourish by providing opportunities. Back to Milan...she loves music. As I noted before, she is a singer/songwriter and loves to play her guitar which she only learned to play during group guitar lessons at the local Boy's and Girl's Club, over the last few years. She is now one of the performing group of kids which go out into the community and perform various gigs representing the guitar program. Milan expressed an interest in exposing her music to others, so hubby and I (with sister in tow) took her to her first open mic this past Sunday. Wow, what an experience for all of us. She had the opportunity to hear other artists and begin networking with folks that she might not have otherwise met. One lady would like to try to do some work with her and maintain a connection. Milan also began to work at McDonald's on Monday, so I found a financial curriculum (http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/foreducators/lesson_plans/) which we will work on in order to assist her in understanding how to be financially savvy. Because Qwyn might be getting a paper route, I found a middle school version of the curriculum. Life experience rolls over into extracurricular activities, which gives them a world of  learning opportunities.
Milan continues her weekly violin lessons as well as orchestra rehearsals and guitar lesson, Qwyn has African Dance, Drama, and Guitar weekly. So this is our life in a nutshell...some days we have some good academic days and some days are full of learning in other ways. It's just our way...

Milan's performance at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem PA. You might have to copy and paste.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6qFYXmaP_s&feature=youtu.be


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoU3mTdIyAM&feature=youtu.be








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