Unschooling Site News, SandraDodd.com

I came to fix the spelling on "socialization&...

2012-04-15T07:49:14.780-06:00

I came to fix the spelling on "socialization" in the text. Sorry for that the first time around.

2012-02-07T20:37:12.697-07:00

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Pam, I think it's a problem for those who clai...

2011-08-22T21:13:38.799-06:00

Pam, I think it's a problem for those who claim to believe it will bring them riches and friends, though. I think religions that promote racism or child abuse (spanking, shaming) are a problem for unschooling too.

If a family believes that visualizing learning, or future jobs, or friends, or parties, will create those things, their children will be at a disadvantage compared to other unschooling families where the parents are promoting logic, everyday courtesies and explorations, and non-magical cause and effect.

For purposes of my site and discussions, though, the immediate problem is when someone shows up with the assumption that it's necessary or useful to make unschooling work.

Anonymous wrote:
"Yes, like attracts like...So what? "

"So what" besides what I've already written?
So negative, antagonistic people are unlikely to attract people who prefer logic to wishful "manifestation."

Acting like the "Law of Attraction" is p...

2011-08-22T19:20:34.512-06:00

Acting like the "Law of Attraction" is part of unschooling IS a problem. It is the exact same problem as if any spiritual or religious belief was confounded with unschooling. If I went around speaking or started a list called "Unschooling" that assumed and promoted and was entirely devoted to unschooling based on my own particular religious/spiritual beliefs, and if I promoted that as if that WAS what unschooling was all about, that would be a problem. I may think other people's religious or spiritual beliefs are illogical and maybe laughable or even dangerous - and they may think that about mine, but it doesn't matter and isn't a problem unless and until someone mixes their beliefs up with unschooling and promotes them as if they are the same thing. That is a big problem. The only people I see doing that are the Law of Attraction followers. Others identify themselves clearly, such as the Christian Unschoolers or Baha'i or Muslim unschoolers, for example. If the Law of Attraction unschoolers would also do that, make it clear that they are not just talking unschooling, but talking about a reglious or spiritual belief system that they have chosen, then I would not consider it a problem for the rest of us unschoolers.

Contrary to the Law of Attraction posting, there i...

2011-08-22T15:27:19.273-06:00

Contrary to the Law of Attraction posting, there is no "Problem" with the theory or law.

It's just like humans discovering electricity or anything else that's already "out there" ... then people are able to understand it and harness the powers that be.

Yes, like attracts like...So what? As a result of mass awareness, more people are aware of their thoughts, which factors into their point of attraction.

There is no PROBLEM with that...it's simply information and education for those whom never realized this before.

Very nice!! There's something else new on t...

2011-08-21T16:56:38.408-06:00

Very nice!!

There's something else new on the site, about record keeping, for those who might need it:

http://sandradodd.com/portfolio

I adapted her curriculum to appropriately match my...

2011-08-21T16:42:03.519-06:00

I adapted her curriculum to appropriately match my family and turned it in to the school officials here in our own "small, southern Italian village" and it has satisfied their request to see my curriculum. Yay for the internet!!!

I was thinking the other day that unschooling is l...

2011-08-05T14:20:40.373-06:00

I was thinking the other day that unschooling is like riding a bike, but for the parents. I was reading a post on the always learning list, a woman who was worried she wasn't doing enough and was wearing herself out.

I was thinking that when you unschool some bits are like pedalling hard- up a hill or maybe just for the joy of it across country. That would be when you have challenges or difficulties- or when you're just so excited that you put lots of time into organising and coming up with cool stuff.

Then there are times when you can coast down hill; when all that work sets them off and you just stay for the ride.

The coasting is just as much unschooling as the pedalling.

http://sandradodd.com/NYC2011

Nina, unschooling and I'm the only presenter. ...

2011-01-21T01:30:36.568-07:00

Nina, unschooling and I'm the only presenter.

There will be a halfday gathering in New York City on February 18 at which I'll speak twice. In between those I will interview Peter Kowalke, but the announcement isn't ready for release yet.

I heard recently that it's being used as a dri...

2011-01-20T08:17:03.564-07:00

I heard recently that it's being used as a drinking game, too. Connections and diversions. :-)

I thought of this page over xmas when I came acros...

2011-01-19T21:49:24.275-07:00

I thought of this page over xmas when I came across a Snakes & Ladders drinking game! I had to laugh remembering the religious origins of the game.

What's the focus of the Ivyland presentation? ...

2011-01-18T15:31:31.907-07:00

What's the focus of the Ivyland presentation? Are you the only presenter?

Looking forward to seeing you next month in our ne...

2011-01-18T07:10:33.551-07:00

Looking forward to seeing you next month in our neck of the woods.

I think a photo of all those cute, little My Littl...

2010-03-17T21:18:41.232-06:00

I think a photo of all those cute, little My Little Ponies on the shelf in your house would be cool on the Pony Page. Just sayin....

LOVE the dresser! And Bea is living in a beautifu...

2009-10-05T12:44:21.157-06:00

LOVE the dresser! And Bea is living in a beautiful area, so it should be nice for Holly to explore. :-)

Awesome gorgeous dresser. Kudos to Holly. Beautifu...

2009-10-03T18:41:39.126-06:00

Awesome gorgeous dresser. Kudos to Holly. Beautiful, colorful and creative (much like Holly). Ashford is a fabulous place, I think she'll really like it. There use to be a fun hang-out for artists called Daddy-0's that she might enjoy visiting. We miss Holly --

Helene

What a bunch of beloved beautiful people. :)

2009-10-02T08:56:01.022-06:00

What a bunch of beloved beautiful people. :)

Thanks! You're right, as far as I've read...

2009-06-28T13:04:33.885-06:00

Thanks! You're right, as far as I've read, about Piaget studying mostly his own children, so genetics would've been a factor, too. If their learning skills and intelligence were like his, and so their development had been similar to his and he generalize that...

Still it was better than the nothing that existed before that.

On Vygotsky and Rogoff, If you have links or summaries you'd be willing to let me share on my site, I'd be glad to have them!

My e-mail is Sandra@SandraDodd.com

Regarding Piaget and unschooling: I am an unschool...

2009-06-28T13:00:34.131-06:00

Regarding Piaget and unschooling: I am an unschooling mom of about 10 years getting my doctorate in Free-Choice Science Education. I have found that the work of Vygotsky is much more in line with my unschooling experiences than Piaget. Particularly his "zone of proximal development", Also the work of Barbara Rogoff on "Guided Participation". I do not believe Piaget studied much outside of his culture and his children's styles of learning (I could be wrong and have not read a lot from him). Rogoff really opened my eyes to cultural differences in development and learning.

Got it, thanks!

2009-06-27T19:30:43.584-06:00

Got it, thanks!

There's better art. That first one with the e...

2009-06-27T19:12:08.952-06:00

There's better art. That first one with the error needs to be removed by one of the site owners. Lee sent better art. Thanks for reminding me I didn't have the newest one here! (I'm changing it, and you could lift that for your blog if you want to; thanks.)

Hey Sandra, I was adding this to my blog and notic...

2009-06-27T18:21:43.304-06:00

Hey Sandra,
I was adding this to my blog and noticed the typo. It says Unshooling not Unschooling.

Precious slide show, love it!

2009-05-24T01:12:07.843-06:00

Precious slide show, love it!

OOOh, I want to attend the monkeyplatter festival!...

2009-05-14T10:47:00.000-06:00

OOOh, I want to attend the monkeyplatter festival!!! I love the name, by the way!
I hope it happens, and I hope I can make it!