Learning Notes Week of April 4: The Unschooling Edition

I have a secret — we have been unschooling this week. I figure since we aren’t doing “school” anyway we should give it a shot, right? So you might wonder how unschooling is different than not doing school. I think it is very different (for Mom anyway) and would be subject for a post all its own (that I simply don’t have the time or brain power to write at this moment). For a short answer this week I have listened to and observed their interests for ideas of things to share with them. I can’t say that I have been strewing because our home environment is not conducive to that at the moment (read: 18-month-old), but I did place some books on Olivia’s nightstand. I have also been inviting them to do activities and sharing “neat things” with them (they have the option to refuse) — mostly during T’s naps.

I started this post on Tuesday and have just left it up and added to it as the week went on. I am not stressing about what this list lacks right now (mostly writing and it is light on Olivia reading to me) as we are meant to be on a break anyway. I am surprised at everything it does contain — wow. And it could contain so much more as there are things they have asked to do that we never got around to doing during one of Thomas’s naps. *sigh* I made a list of those for later so I wouldn’t forget.

Read alouds
Squirrels
Mouse Paint
The Very First Americans
The Legend of the Blue Bonnet
Indian Two Feet and His Horse
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses

The Cat in the Hat

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds

What is the World Made Of?

The Beginner’s Bible
Why Are These Days Different: Readings for Lent
Various others at bedtime
Started listening to The Chronicles of Narnia via podcast. Not sure how much Olivia is following things, but she keeps asking for the next chapter. And yes, if you click on that link above you can get the entire series of books in podcast form for free — very cool!

Olivia read aloud
In the Lake (Headsprout Reader)
Mat and Dad (Frontline Phonics Reader)

Everything Else
Made their own container flower gardens.
Watched “Parts of a Plant” and “Plant Life Cycle” and “Pueblo People” and others on Brainpop Jr.
Planted sunflower seeds.
Made and painted with our own sidewalk paint from The Big Messy Art Book.
Discussed solids, liquids and gasses.
Melted crayon lab from More Mudpies to Magnets — solid to liquid. Did lab page and colored with our new crayons.
Discussed the hibernation habits of squirrels.
Discussed plate tectonics.
Experimented with mixing primary colors using Pineapple Paint Brush’s art lessons.
Olivia is learning to play checkers.
Leap Frog Learning Path Cartoons
Flip Flop Spanish 1 Lesson 4
Memory Work: Olivia – “Easter” and Proverbs 22:6, John – “Little Boy Blue”
Dreambox Math – Not sure John is ready.
Headsprout Reading
Starfall.com
PBS Kids
Time4Learning Trial

And then there is so much that is not on this list of more “academic” topics. All of the so important outside and water play. Dress up. The pretend boat trip. They made their own hopscotch board today. John’s constant quizzing me of addition facts (maybe he thinks I need a review). And on, and on, and on. Good week! I think we will do it again next week.

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Pam

Pam is the author of The Your Morning Basket Guide and Plan Your Year: Homeschool Planning for Purpose and Peace. She also is the host of three popular podcasts -- The Homeschool Snapshots Podcast, Your Morning Basket, and The Homeschool Solutions Show. She lives in the Deep South with her husband and three kids, where she is the go-to lady for great curriculum recommendations or a just a pep talk on a rough day.