Comments on: the homeschooling habit http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/10/14/the-homeschooling-habit/ where a mother tries to cultivate creativity and a sense of wonder in her kids—and does a whole lot of wondering herself in the process Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:38:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/10/14/the-homeschooling-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-1483 patricia Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:40:38 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1369#comment-1483 Hi Anno! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I'm glad the post has been helpful. I know just what you mean about days flying by without feeling like you've engaged in much together. That's exactly why planning time together seems to work for us. And I'm glad you get what I mean--that it isn't so much <i>what</i> we're doing together as the fact that we're doing something. And making time for each other. Wishing you some fun times together! Hi Anno! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

I’m glad the post has been helpful. I know just what you mean about days flying by without feeling like you’ve engaged in much together. That’s exactly why planning time together seems to work for us. And I’m glad you get what I mean–that it isn’t so much what we’re doing together as the fact that we’re doing something. And making time for each other.

Wishing you some fun times together!

]]> By: Anno http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/10/14/the-homeschooling-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-1482 Anno Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:41:09 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1369#comment-1482 HI there, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this post. We are unschoolerish folks finding our way in this journey, but I have been feeling a bit adrift without some sort of structure in our days, as if so many days just fly by without me spending any real time with the littles, without anyone really ENGAGING in more than just flitting from thing to thing while i struggle to cook and clean and do basic childcare. I LOVE the idea of setting aside time to be together in focused creativity, regardless of what goes on in those moments, of having the kids know that they get me, no holds barred, no distractions during that time. You have made our lives richer (and I think possibly less overwhelming with this simple post. ANno HI there,
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this post. We are unschoolerish folks finding our way in this journey, but I have been feeling a bit adrift without some sort of structure in our days, as if so many days just fly by without me spending any real time with the littles, without anyone really ENGAGING in more than just flitting from thing to thing while i struggle to cook and clean and do basic childcare.
I LOVE the idea of setting aside time to be together in focused creativity, regardless of what goes on in those moments, of having the kids know that they get me, no holds barred, no distractions during that time.

You have made our lives richer (and I think possibly less overwhelming with this simple post.

ANno

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/10/14/the-homeschooling-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-1336 patricia Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:02:26 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1369#comment-1336 Thanks for visiting, Mon, and for linking me on your blog too! It took me years to figure out that, for us, structure doesn't have to undermine creativity. If a few folks can learn from our experiences and work that out faster, I'd be thrilled. Thanks for visiting, Mon, and for linking me on your blog too!

It took me years to figure out that, for us, structure doesn’t have to undermine creativity. If a few folks can learn from our experiences and work that out faster, I’d be thrilled.

]]> By: Mon http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/10/14/the-homeschooling-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-1335 Mon Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:22:50 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1369#comment-1335 Thankyou so much for this post. I believe that many who are new to homeschooling need to read experiences like yours. I have recently spoken to friends talking about unschooling and feeling panic because they thrive on some structure. They need to hear that structure isn't the death of creative learning. Thankyou so much for this post. I believe that many who are new to homeschooling need to read experiences like yours. I have recently spoken to friends talking about unschooling and feeling panic because they thrive on some structure. They need to hear that structure isn’t the death of creative learning.

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/10/14/the-homeschooling-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-1319 patricia Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:57:18 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1369#comment-1319 Dawn, I'm so glad that the post was helpful! And the comments too--aren't they fantastic? My kids do much better having a short amount of time regularly to work on projects. In the past, when we've had too many mornings out, they don't have enough continuity, and they lose their original excitement. I've heard that kids who go from school to homeschooling often make a slow transfer. They're not used to being able to come up with their own projects. Sometimes what works for us is that I notice something they're interested in, and then we brainstorm together what they might do with that interest. Right now, my 7-year-old is learning about Wolverine, of the X-Men...whatever they're excited about works for me! Dawn, I’m so glad that the post was helpful! And the comments too–aren’t they fantastic?

My kids do much better having a short amount of time regularly to work on projects. In the past, when we’ve had too many mornings out, they don’t have enough continuity, and they lose their original excitement.

I’ve heard that kids who go from school to homeschooling often make a slow transfer. They’re not used to being able to come up with their own projects. Sometimes what works for us is that I notice something they’re interested in, and then we brainstorm together what they might do with that interest. Right now, my 7-year-old is learning about Wolverine, of the X-Men…whatever they’re excited about works for me!

]]> By: Dawn http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/10/14/the-homeschooling-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-1315 Dawn Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:38:33 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1369#comment-1315 Thanks so much for this...I have been waging an inner battle with myself over this issue and it just keeps swirling and swirling around. I often wonder why my previously public schooled daughter (almost 13) goes blank when I ask what do you want to learn about? I get panicky, think Charter School and feel like I've falied her. But, what I am realizing after reading your post and the great comments (I am on my way next to read the posted articles) is that if I don't facilitate the time for learning, exploring.....make it a habit...it's asking way to much of her to come up with nothin' with nothin'. Ahh, breakthrough!! I have always worked so hard to protect one day a week...this year it's Monday but I never thought of a part of every day. Thank you again and I am taking you out of my favorites and linking you....so I don't miss anymore good stuff :) Thankful, Dawn :) Thanks so much for this…I have been waging an inner battle with myself over this issue and it just keeps swirling and swirling around. I often wonder why my previously public schooled daughter (almost 13) goes blank when I ask what do you want to learn about? I get panicky, think Charter School and feel like I’ve falied her. But, what I am realizing after reading your post and the great comments (I am on my way next to read the posted articles) is that if I don’t facilitate the time for learning, exploring…..make it a habit…it’s asking way to much of her to come up with nothin’ with nothin’. Ahh, breakthrough!! I have always worked so hard to protect one day a week…this year it’s Monday but I never thought of a part of every day. Thank you again and I am taking you out of my favorites and linking you….so I don’t miss anymore good stuff :)
Thankful,
Dawn :)

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/10/14/the-homeschooling-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-1303 patricia Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:32:21 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1369#comment-1303 Thanks, Susan. But don't think about such things right now. You're in Hawaii! Thanks, Susan. But don’t think about such things right now. You’re in Hawaii!

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/10/14/the-homeschooling-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-1302 patricia Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:30:29 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1369#comment-1302 Hi Susan! It's always nice to be stumbled upon! I'm honored that you linked me on your blog. I read down to your post about your son having trouble holding his pencil correctly. Know that you're not alone. Check out my almost-eight-year-old's pencil grip: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9357042@N03/3403806315/ He has no plans to change. Yet he manages to draw amazingly intricate drawings and has nice handwriting. Maybe he'll switch at some point. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if he became a professional artist--with a truly quirky pencil grip. Hi Susan! It’s always nice to be stumbled upon!

I’m honored that you linked me on your blog. I read down to your post about your son having trouble holding his pencil correctly. Know that you’re not alone. Check out my almost-eight-year-old’s pencil grip:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9357042@N03/3403806315/
He has no plans to change. Yet he manages to draw amazingly intricate drawings and has nice handwriting. Maybe he’ll switch at some point. Then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if he became a professional artist–with a truly quirky pencil grip.

]]> By: susan http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/10/14/the-homeschooling-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-1301 susan Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:59:17 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1369#comment-1301 Lovely post. I think you have found a wonderful way to homeschool and the name doesn't matter. I am inspired again to make our mornings free (that was the plan for this fall) and myself available. I've succeeded with the former, but not always with the latter. Lovely post. I think you have found a wonderful way to homeschool and the name doesn’t matter. I am inspired again to make our mornings free (that was the plan for this fall) and myself available. I’ve succeeded with the former, but not always with the latter.

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/10/14/the-homeschooling-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-1299 patricia Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:37:13 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1369#comment-1299 Ooh, that was a good link too. I hadn't read it. It's nice to hear others questioning the whole unschooling-and-where-do-I-fit-in-it conundrum. Thanks for sharing it. Ooh, that was a good link too. I hadn’t read it. It’s nice to hear others questioning the whole unschooling-and-where-do-I-fit-in-it conundrum. Thanks for sharing it.

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