The problem with saying "That's ridiculous!" when people are discussing unschooling
http://sandradodd.com/issues/ridiculous
Spoiled kids, and about what can happen if you buy young children too many toys
http://sandradodd.com/spoiledkids
How can a person change? How long does it take to change?
http://sandradodd.com/change/
The main unschooling page now has the current "Just Add Light and Stir" each day, thanks to automated internet widgetry.
http://sandradodd.com/unschooling
Sometimes kids want to watch the same thing over and over. Me too!
Some things work in video, or aurally, that don't work in books or in writing.
http://sandradodd.com/again
Until recently, Europeans (and Canadians, NZ, Australia—anybody outside the U.S.) needed to give me a lot of money for international shipping, but now Lulu has production centers on other continents. GOOD! [April 2011 is over.] Please check this out. I also intend to have books with me in some places, at £9 for Moving a Puddle, and £15 for The Big Book, but for anyone interested in buying one directly now, with $4.95 off the shipping costs, I've collected details and links here: http://sandradodd.com/booksale |   |
A Springtime addition to the page on the benefits of breathing, at the bottom.
http://sandradodd.com/breathing
Eighteen on 18: Gail's younger child, Logan has turned 18 while the older one is 21.
http://sandradodd.com/milestones/gail
Something new on the service page, by Lori Odhner, and some by me, about 1/3 of the way down the page in the righthand column.
http://sandradodd.com/service
My summer trip to Europe (UK and France) is coming more into focus, and people can subscribe to a blog where details are gathered and news will be announced. As I travel, I'll add photos and comments. You're welcome to subscribe even if you're in some other part of the world. There's a link in the upper right to get it by e-mail through feedburner, and in the lower right to subscribe by a blog notification method.
http://sandraeurope2011.blogspot.com/
The photo of Holly has nothing to do with the other links. I just liked it.
Two talks I gave in August 2010 at the HSC conference are available for download. Both were well received in person, and weren't available until last month. I forgot to link them here.
Unschooling: How to Screw it Up
Michelangelo said that to carve his statue of David, he just chipped away everything that didn't look like David. Or maybe he didn't say that. But clearly that's what he ultimately did. Here will be ideas to help you chip away what doesn't look like unschooling. It's not as difficult as you might think.
Partnerships and Teams in the Family
Seeing and avoiding adversarial relationships. Nurturing partnerships with spouses or significant others, and with our children.
These are $7 each. I was supposed to get freebies, but I finally gave up and went and bought them, so I can advise you on how to work the site.
You will need to register, before or after your order. They'll send a password by e-mail. It took my money and offered to let me print out a receipt, but never said "Okay! Here are your files!" An e-mail arrived later with links. I'm too impatient. So I went back into the site, checked my account, clicked "FILES" and there were the downloadable files. Without a download button. Click the name of the file. It won't tell you it's downloading, but it will be. If you click it six times (as I discovered) it will download six copies.
So...
Register.
Go back and click "file."
Enjoy!
Jill Parmer, who will be speaking this summer at the Always Learning Live Symposium, has a new site on unschooling in Colorado. 
Because of her linking to it, I cleaned up an article she wrote a couple of years ago to commemorate their 7th anniversary of unschooling. So here are links to her site, that article, and the opportunity for you to hear her speak.
http://coloradounschoolingresources.blogspot.com
http://sandradodd.com/milestones/jill
http://sandradodd.com/all
Two examples (old stories, newly added) at "rulebound":
http://sandradodd.com/rulebound
Tweaks and clean-up, main page; automated most-recent-posts for JustAddLight
SandraDodd.com/unschooling
The photo is of Jill, her two children, and one of mine; details here.
New addition to ideas about parents dealing with their own issues, for the benefit of their children:
http://sandradodd.com/issues
Bob Collier wrote about playing Polly Pocket with his daughter. Very sweet.
I added it here:
http://sandradodd.com/dads
Pam Sorooshian about "fifteen more minutes" with food (bottom right):
http://sandradodd.com/eating/idea
Being with children in healing ways (for new unschoolers getting a rough start)
http://sandradodd.com/being/healing
All New Pages this time:
Pam Sorooshian comments on the article "Mathematics: The Most Misunderstood Subject," by Dr. Robert H. Lewis of Fordham University
http://sandradodd.com/math/scaffolding
Ideas about "success":
http://sandradodd.com/success
Parental Authority, an antique post from 1997, added to the site:
http://sandradodd.com/parentalauthority
The first one is not as new, but I include it in this set of three. If you ever lose them, the links have been added near the bottom, righthand side of the main monkeyplatter page.
"There's a scene in the movie 'Ratatouille'..."
http://sandradodd.com/eating/ratplate
Logan's Inspiration
http://sandradodd.com/eating/monkeyplatterLogan
Charlie Eats an Apple
http://sandradodd.com/eating/apple
Between Neglect and Control (bottom of the page)
http://sandradodd.com/control
Something new on an important page.
New page:
What do people need? What do people need to know? "Need" is a problem.
http://sandradodd.com/needs
I will be adding to this page, so if you're interested or have examples, check back or write. You could leave a note in the blog comments section, too.
Snakes and Ladders, the French connection
http://sandradodd.com/game/snakesandladders
I received and e-mail from someone in France who recognized the sleds and toboggans image as a game she had played as a child, which had belonged to her great grandmother. I knew the original had been printed in France. Isn't that cool!? The note is there, and the page was rearranged and cleaned up some.
February 10, 2011 Halfmoon, NY
Live and Learn Homeschool Co-op Meeting
King of Kings Lutheran Church in Halfmoon, NY
Thursday, February 10, 2011, noonish
Workshop on breathing, 1:00
Q&A on radical unschooling follows
Not an Unschooling presentation, but...
Caring for Marriage Conference archived copy of 2011 schedule
11-2 Lunch and Presentation at Ivyland New Church (Ivyland, PA) www.ivyland.org
All ages welcome (there will be a separate room for kids, parents take turns supervising, and bring things to occupy their young ones)
$15 donation covers lunch and presentation
RSVP to Emily Schnarr [marillabernice AT yahoo.com], drop ins also welcome
11-1
Greenshire Arts Consortium Gathering (near Quakertown, PA) www.greenshirearts.org
All ages welcome (there will be a separate room for kids and great places to play outside, parents take turns supervising, or maybe someone will bring an older child who wants to babysit)
Bring a bag lunch and a snack to share, and things to play with
RSVP to Arlene Curly [arlenerose.mm AT comcast.net], drop ins also welcome
3-7
Games then Potluck Dinner at Brie Jontry's house (Chadds Ford, PA)
All ages welcome (great play spaces, indoor and out, including world's most amazing tree house)
Bring a potluck contribution and some money for pizza if you're staying after 5
RSVP to Brie Jontry [briejontry AT mac.com]
10-2
Philadelphia Free School (Pennsport, PA) www.phillyfreeschool.org
All ages welcome (the Free School is still setting up their space, and there will be lots of room to play - bring games, projects, toys to share)
Bring snacks or lunch (if you'll be hungry)
RSVP to Michelle Loucas [learn AT phillyfreeschool.org], drop ins also welcome
6-8:30pm
Potluck Dinner then Discussion at Amy Childs's house (Philadelphia)
Best for people who like to sit, talk and listen (no extra play space)
Bring a dish to share, or come at 7pm for discussion after dinner
RSVP to Amy Childs [amy AT amychilds.com]
2-5pm
Informal Gathering for families somewhere near Trenton NJ
Not exactly sure where or when
email Sylvia Woodman [sylvia057 AT gmail.com] if interested
7-8:30pm
Presentation about Self-Directed Learning at Princeton Learning Cooperative www.princetonlearningcooperative.org (Princeton, NJ)
Teens and adults welcome (especially good for teens who hate school, and for people who are afraid of unschooling in the teen years)
RSVP to Paul Scutt [paul AT pscutt.org]
The Alchemy Juice Bar (a homeschooling family owned business) will be open
for Brunch prior to this event (10am to 2pm) and they will also offer a
selection of delicious organic food and drinks for sale during this event