|
21:09:40 |
Webmama_Tina |
we're talking homeschooling tonite...how
many people here are homeschoolers? or
thinking about it? |
|
21:10:01 |
angcac |
i am. |
|
21:10:17 |
Webmama_Tina |
welcome back david! |
|
21:10:24 |
David |
That's me. |
|
21:10:24 |
Webmama_Tina |
lemme mod you now...ready to look pretty
in pink? |
|
21:10:30 |
Webmama_Tina |
*waves magic wand* |
|
21:10:39 |
Webmama_Tina |
ooooooooh, pretty! |
|
21:10:50 |
Webmama_Tina |
pink looks good on you david. :) |
|
21:10:51 |
angcac |
my daughter alyssa is only three and i
am a single parent... her dad is opposed
to the idea |
|
21:10:52 |
Webmama_Tina |
;) |
|
21:10:54 |
David |
Do I have a tutu? |
|
21:11:00 |
Webmama_Tina |
LOL |
|
21:11:35 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok i was just asking how many
homeschoolers we had in our midst tonite |
|
21:11:50 |
Webmama_Tina |
before we get officially going i thought
it might be nice to ask... :) |
|
21:12:05 |
Webmama_Tina |
see who our audience is tonite |
|
21:12:16 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok raise your hand if you're currently
homeschooling |
|
21:12:20 |
Webmama_Tina |
*raises hand* |
|
21:12:32 |
Jill_ |
*raises hand* |
|
21:12:51 |
LiveFreeLearnFree |
Oops - sorry! Cleaning up the dishes.
Unschoolers here. :) |
|
21:12:56 |
Webmama_Tina |
no worreis |
|
21:12:59 |
Webmama_Tina |
worries even |
|
21:13:00 |
Webmama_Tina |
lol |
|
21:13:15 |
David |
Well, again, angcac, you are already
homeschooling. You remember how she
failed walking a couple of hundred
times. Tottered. Fell. Got up. Got
bored. Didn't have any where to go. And
then somewhere along the way, her
developmental truth" met up with
opportunities for action, and a little
encouragement, a bunch of "modeling" (I
assume you walk), and a place to walk,
and she was on her way. And so are you!
(raises hand)" |
|
21:13:47 |
Webmama_Tina |
we'll start the official chat in just a
second....i just wanted to get a little
idea as to how many homeschoolers we
have.... |
|
21:14:04 |
angcac |
ok! :) |
|
21:14:37 |
David |
I should let you know, however, that
these days I am only a B" walker. I
slouch a bit (my third grade teacher
Mrs. Hochstein wouldn't approve), and my
Himalayan trekking days are over. But
I'm okay with that." |
|
21:15:04 |
angcac |
? |
|
21:15:09 |
Webmama_Tina |
oh well i see what you mean
david...helps if i read what you said,
lol |
|
21:15:35 |
angcac |
will you say more about developmental
truth? |
|
21:15:52 |
David |
In other words, you get started by
getting started, and by the time you
decide to start, you already have. |
|
21:16:03 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok lets get going officially then.... |
|
21:16:08 |
Webmama_Tina |
here's my blurb.... |
|
21:16:22 |
Webmama_Tina |
Welcome to this week's Mothering
Sponsored chat! This is a moderated
chat. Please make sure you read and
fully understand the Moderated Chat
Instructions before participating in
this chat. Instructions can be found
here:
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...A Friendly Reminder: Please do not
post unless it is your turn to ask a
question. If you have a question, please
post a single ?" and you'll be added to
the queue. Have your question ready when
your name is called." |
|
21:16:43 |
Webmama_Tina |
Please visit Mommy Chats sponsors by
clicking on the ad banners you see above
and below this chat and throughout this
site. Links will open in a new window. |
|
21:17:03 |
David |
Yes, well, I've come to believe that the
well-springs of development of in-built,
and work on their own timetable, and
that if we watch and listen really,
really, our kids almost inevitably tell
us what they need next. |
|
21:17:33 |
Webmama_Tina |
Please visit Mommy Chats' Mommy Biz
Directory: www.mommychats.com/directory
...Help support your fellow moms! |
|
21:17:38 |
Webmama_Tina |
Please join the Mommy Chats egroup at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mommychats
to receive notices about upcoming chats
and changes to Mommy Chats. |
|
21:18:41 |
Webmama_Tina |
And last but not least....our first ever
Holiday Hoopla is coming to a close this
Saturday...but you can still participate
to possibly win some great prizes....
The Treasure Hunt and Trivia Games are
still on til Sat...
www.mommychats.com/hoopla.htm |
|
21:18:59 |
Webmama_Tina |
And some of our Hoopla vendors have
specials and sales that are good to the
end of the Hoopla. |
|
21:19:04 |
Webmama_Tina |
Check them out on the Homepage |
|
21:19:24 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok...tonite we are so lucky to have
David Albert, Mothering's resident
homeschooling expert |
|
21:19:38 |
David |
Ta-Dah! |
|
21:19:42 |
Webmama_Tina |
David, how about introducing yourself
officially and telling us your
background and expertise and anything
else you'd like to share |
|
21:19:56 |
Webmama_Tina |
and shall i be so bold as to also say,
our resident silly man? lol |
|
21:22:10 |
David |
Oh, my. Two kids (homeschooled) one 18,
one 15. Not homeschooled myself. Too
many degrees to shake a stick at, and
I'd be happy to sell you one for a
better violin. Helped raise some
informal foster kids (the oldest is now
39). Column in Home Education Magazine
(My Word!") and a new one with Joyce
Reed, in The Link, called "What Really
Matters", trying to sort out what in our
experience (both in school and out)
turned out to be junk, and what worth
remembering. Wonderful wife of 28 years.
Live in Olympia, Washington." |
|
21:23:00 |
Webmama_Tina |
when you're ready to start taking
questions let me know :) |
|
21:23:16 |
David |
Three books - latest one (of which I'm
very proud) is titled Have Fun. Learn
Stuff. Grow. Homeschooling and the
Curriculum of Love" (you can find it on
my website at www.skylarksings.com) -
and questions are now fine!" |
|
21:23:36 |
Webmama_Tina |
upcoming chatters: angcac |
|
21:23:52 |
angcac |
hello |
|
21:24:10 |
David |
:bday: |
|
21:24:13 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok angie's here now and can take over
the queue i think? she's way better at
it then me :) |
|
21:25:07 |
MOD_Angie |
lol |
|
21:25:57 |
Webmama_Tina |
go ahead with your question angcac |
|
21:26:19 |
angcac |
i do not have one right now thanks |
|
21:27:20 |
David |
Angcac - THE book for the reluctant dad
is Dumbing Us Down" by John Taylor Ga" |
|
21:27:23 |
Webmama_Tina |
oh ok, lol |
|
21:27:43 |
angcac |
ok |
|
21:27:50 |
LiveFreeLearnFree |
? |
|
21:27:53 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok we're ready for y'all to throw out
your question marks if you have a
question for david |
|
21:28:00 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok LiveFreeLearnFree you're up! |
|
21:28:07 |
David |
Gatto, 26-year NYC schoolteacher, former
3-time NYC teacher of the year, and NY
State Teach of the Year, who resigned
and told them what he really thought! |
|
21:28:24 |
LiveFreeLearnFree |
Could you tell us a little about your
newest book, Mr. Albert? |
|
21:29:00 |
David |
(Please, no Mr. Albert, or I'll be
looking over my shoulder for him.)
Collections of ef |
|
21:29:52 |
David |
Collections of essays, as previously,
but more directed around what the whole
experience means for parents as our kids
sprinke the radical electricity of youth |
|
21:30:04 |
David |
over us, and we get to experience it
again. |
|
21:31:41 |
David |
A discussion of the opposition of love
and apathy, and how schools are designed
as veritable apathy-inducing machines,
and then my usual run of stories and
anecdotes designed to jolt you into
recognition - you really do know how to
do this, it was built into you as |
|
21:32:01 |
David |
much as being your child was built into
your son or daughter. |
|
21:33:10 |
angcac |
? |
|
21:33:49 |
Webmama_Tina |
when you're ready for another question
just say something like next question"
:)" |
|
21:34:01 |
Webmama_Tina |
and angie will let ya know who's next.
:) |
|
21:34:02 |
David |
Oh, next question! |
|
21:34:03 |
MOD_Angie |
upcoming chatter(s): angcac |
|
21:34:52 |
angcac |
david, were you daughters homeschooled
all the way and what are some examples
of why schools are dcesigned as
apathy-inducing machines |
|
21:36:21 |
David |
Older one all the way, though she took
college classes when she had subjects in
which she was interested. Younger one
all the way, although she now takes
several classes at the local high school
(Spanish, math). We've always looked at
schools as a resource that we paid for,
like the library, and have always been
quite willing to use them, on OUR terms. |
|
21:38:06 |
angcac |
how interesting...have you developed a
rapport with the local school? |
|
21:38:19 |
David |
Well, think of the school - forget the
subject matter, just the socialization"
of school. You are told when and where
to sit and when and where to stand, when
and where to line up, and when and where
to go. When to speak and when to keep
your mouth shut. When to eat. When to
drink. When to think about numbers, and
when to think about letters. When to
raise your hand, and when to put your
head down on the desk, and when to
defecate. Slowly, but surely, the person
that you are slips away...." |
|
21:39:01 |
angcac |
yes, i see... |
|
21:39:09 |
David |
When there is something we want from a
school (and it could be college, or
whatever) we negotiate! But it's awful
rare.... |
|
21:39:34 |
angcac |
? |
|
21:39:40 |
David |
(next question is okay by me...) |
|
21:40:03 |
MOD_Angie |
next ? angcac |
|
21:40:26 |
Webmama_Tina |
? |
|
21:40:47 |
angcac |
what about social opportunities for your
girls? how did they participate in the
community? |
|
21:44:11 |
David |
So there are all these interesting
people sitting up there in the purple
space! Don't have to ask questions - let
me hear from you...Well, my first book
was subtitled Adventures in
Homeschooling and Community-Based
Education". We just learned to use our
community as a living library, filled
with the most wonderful people,
resources, opportunities (and yes, even
occasionally, books!) And we usually did
things together as a family. When I
wanted to go sing in a choir, I took my
6-year old to sit next to me, and next
thing I know she's singing the Mozart
Requiem, and next thing I know an
anonymous benefactor arrives and sends
her to sing with a group in Carnegie
Hall. But the point of the story is not
the last part, but the first - that I
took her along with me. The little one,
the piano fiend, started by disappearing
over at the next door neighbor's
house...." |
|
21:47:09 |
David |
We didn't have a piano, and neither my
wife nor I play. She would go over at
the age of 2 1/2 to cage snacks from the
retired folks who lived there, but what
we didn't know is that she was learning
to play the piano! (you can find all
that in my first book.) We found wolf
sanctuaries, and homeless soup kitchens,
and peace vigils, and opera companies (I
had my operatic debut at the age of 52,
and my older one at 14), and took up the
violin at age 47, and just found amazing
things in our community. |
|
21:47:51 |
David |
I hope I'm in the right place - the
computer rudely interrupted"." |
|
21:48:27 |
Webmama_Tina |
you're right |
|
21:48:38 |
Webmama_Tina |
darn computer |
|
21:48:51 |
David |
Well, I'm here |
|
21:49:01 |
David |
next question? |
|
21:49:06 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok that's me, right angie? |
|
21:49:14 |
Webmama_Tina |
just wanna make sure i'm not cutting
anyone :) |
|
21:49:47 |
Webmama_Tina |
angie? |
|
21:50:13 |
Webmama_Tina |
methinks her little ones might be
distracting her..ok i'll just go....i'm
pretty sure i was next... |
|
21:50:16 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok where to start? |
|
21:50:24 |
Webmama_Tina |
well first...i'm adding your books to my
xmas list! |
|
21:50:34 |
David |
As I said, you already have. :) |
|
21:50:37 |
lindajeen |
me too! |
|
21:50:44 |
Webmama_Tina |
i'm in need of some good reading on this
journey.... |
|
21:51:03 |
Webmama_Tina |
i just started officially
homeschooling...actually putting thought
into it, shall we say...just this past
sept |
|
21:51:13 |
Webmama_Tina |
my daughter just turned 5 |
|
21:51:26 |
David |
I'm reading an 18th Century satire in
manner of Swift called The Art of
Ingeniously Tormenting....whoops, stuff
is coming up" |
|
21:52:09 |
David |
5 is a very good age. :bf |
|
21:52:23 |
Webmama_Tina |
i have been planning on homeschooling
since before she was conceived and fully
believe in it for us and am really
excited about it! |
|
21:52:27 |
lindajeen |
? |
|
21:52:31 |
Webmama_Tina |
my question for you would be... |
|
21:52:46 |
Webmama_Tina |
any advice for a newish" homeschooler?" |
|
21:53:37 |
Webmama_Tina |
advice for things for me to think of or
do, in my role of guiding her? |
|
21:54:07 |
David |
First of all, remember that while you
might think it newish" for you,
homeschooling is only a couple thousand
years old. And you came totally equipped
and prepared for the job...and your
daughter came fully prepared to guide
you in what she needs." |
|
21:54:23 |
angcac |
? |
|
21:54:27 |
Webmama_Tina |
good to know |
|
21:54:28 |
Webmama_Tina |
:) |
|
21:54:36 |
David |
...once you practice the noble art of
listening really well, you get the hang
of it. |
|
21:54:59 |
David |
(this coming from a loud, former New
Yorker.) |
|
21:56:01 |
Webmama_Tina |
hehe |
|
21:56:18 |
David |
And there's plenty of us out there.
Couple of million. Experts all. There's
hardly a homeschooling problem under the
sun that one of us haven't already
encountered (ask LiveFreeLearnFree!),
and so there's lots of experts out there
--- and you're gonna be one of them. |
|
21:58:20 |
David |
And if you ever find yourself doing the
same ol', same ol' simply because that's
the way it was done to you (happens to
all of us), ask whether in 20 years
that's a memory you want your kids to
have. And DON'T WORRY - whatever you do,
you scar 'em for life. That's why I
always recommend a therapy fund
alongside the college one. |
|
21:58:44 |
Webmama_Tina |
LOL! |
|
21:58:56 |
Webmama_Tina |
that's funny, that's what my mil
says...that we all screw up our kids,
LOL |
|
21:59:01 |
David |
(next ?) |
|
21:59:07 |
Webmama_Tina |
thankyou david |
|
21:59:11 |
lindajeen |
I like that--think about the
memory-making quality of what you're
doing in hs! |
|
21:59:47 |
Webmama_Tina |
yeah thats like what i always think
about...that i'm building my child's
childhood memories right now |
|
22:00:04 |
Webmama_Tina |
how do i want them to remember these
times? its a potent way to think! |
|
22:00:08 |
David |
I write quite a lot about that in the
new book. We are in the business (while
we help our kids to educate themselves)
of creating a new culture, and a new
culture requires new memories. |
|
22:01:46 |
Webmama_Tina |
david we have 2 more questions i
think...do you have time for them? |
|
22:01:49 |
David |
? |
|
22:01:52 |
Webmama_Tina |
lol |
|
22:01:58 |
Webmama_Tina |
a question for yourself? |
|
22:02:22 |
David |
Always questions for myself, but I can
deal with those later. Ask away. |
|
22:02:32 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok lindajeen you're up! |
|
22:02:39 |
lindajeen |
David, you mentioned here (and in
Skylark) about taking your girls along
with you to places to let them
experience life. Did that ever cause any
problems for you? Were the girls usually
welcomed? Do you think it would have
been as easy if you had boys? I |
|
22:02:51 |
lindajeen |
I find that in general, society today is
not kid-friendly--especially not
boy-friendly. Boys particularly are more
physical and move around more than
girls. (I have 2 boys, 1 girl.) |
|
22:03:23 |
lindajeen |
I can easily see doing some of the
things you mentioned in Skylark with my
girl. With my boys, no way. Their
activity level would not be tolerated. |
|
22:04:21 |
lindajeen |
By others, not me. :-) |
|
22:04:28 |
David |
Remember, I helped raise boys too (3 of
em). The issue had more to do with what
I was interested in. You think boys
wouldn't go for the wolf sanctuary? Or
the wilderness awareness stuff? (the
latter was 90% boys, many of them
supposedly with (ahem) ADHD |
|
22:05:46 |
lindajeen |
No, not that. My boys would love that!
I'm talking about what others expect:
b/c we are a schooling" society, people
don't expect me to take my kids along
with me, and society seems to have
forgotten how to accept them in "adult"
situations." |
|
22:06:09 |
David |
My younger one Meera is extremely,
extremely physical - there's no question
that they would have drugged her in
school. Cartwheels everywhere, in the
house and out...never sat down...except
at the piano. We figured 4-5 hours a day
in the gym would tire her out. Nope! |
|
22:06:45 |
David |
Tis true, though, people don't expect
you to bring your kids along. So they
begin to think of you as a little
strange. Since I am actually more than a
little strange, what else is new? |
|
22:06:52 |
lindajeen |
So was that ever a problem as you
explored your community? |
|
22:07:29 |
lindajeen |
How did you deal with it? |
|
22:07:46 |
David |
Oh, yes! Constantly. We had to learn to
calibrate just the right amount of
patience/impatience to make it possible
to allow the kids to move along in their
knowledge quests. (more in a sec...) |
|
22:08:38 |
lindajeen |
I'd *like* to take my boys to arts
events, but I fear the social reprisals
for their rambunctiousness (I fear for
the boys' sake, not mine). |
|
22:09:42 |
David |
We learned not to take no" for an answer
easily, and I learned a lesson (that I
talk about in my first book) - once all
the doors look closed, and you've
basically given up trying to access
(whatever...) for your kids, do just one
more thing.... The rambunctious
thing...what your kids are learning are
social consquences, the limits of
behavior, and what you are learning is
to calibrate what you can do with them.
(more,,,)" |
|
22:11:03 |
David |
I learned early, for example, that when
taking the kids to a theatrical or
musical perfomance, that they would be
allowed to ask to leave at any time, and
that I would be prepared to do so, no
questions asked. Sometimes the kids
would have taken in all they could in
the first 20 minutes. (more) |
|
22:13:13 |
David |
Kids often have a different sense of
time than we do (both short and long
term) and for good reasons. The
6-year-old who has been playing the
violin for four months, has been playing
for as long as a 40-year old has in 3
years! (actually more, developmentally.)
Twenty minutes of a play or a concert
might be as long as 2 hours for us
fuddyduddies. (Learn to think like a
kid, and act like you would want an
adult to act toward you....) |
|
22:13:14 |
lindajeen |
Thanks. That's a good suggestion
(working w/in their comfort level). |
|
22:13:42 |
David |
(next....) |
|
22:13:59 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok angcac |
|
22:14:03 |
angcac |
when you are homeschooling, are you ever
really separated from your
child/children and are you ever not
following their lead? as a single
parent, how can i do this without
exhausting myself and resources? |
|
22:14:08 |
Webmama_Tina |
last question |
|
22:17:44 |
David |
In our culture, being a single parent is
hard (homeschooling or not). As I noted
above, there were quite a few times
(many times) that I was following my own
lead, and finding ways for them to tag
along. You were born with that same
magical energy, same potential, as your
children, and there is virtually nothing
more important you can do -- FOR THEM --
than to maximize it. Will you be
exhausted? Yes. (I never have found a
commandment in my Bible about sleeping.)
Will you exhaust resources? Well, put it
this way - there is nothing more
important going on at Yale today than is
happening in your own backyard. Learn
just to BE" with your kids, and the
future will pretty much take care of
itself, or so is my experience.
(more....)" |
|
22:19:15 |
David |
My co-author Joyce Reed, who wrote the
foreword to my book Homeschooling and
the Voyage of Self-Discovery",
homeschooled 5 kids on the beach on the
big island of Hawaii, as a single
parent, and with no telephone,
television, or computer. She ended up as
the Associate Dean at Brown University.
And yes, she was always exhausted. (and
a very happy camper....)" |
|
22:19:31 |
angcac |
super, thanks. i'll keep up with energy
foods lol :D |
|
22:19:44 |
David |
(she's the co-author of my What Really
Matters" column....)" |
|
22:20:15 |
David |
(next...) |
|
22:20:16 |
angcac |
i can't wait to read. perhaps i can
learn to read in my sleep! |
|
22:20:33 |
David |
LOL! I write that way! |
|
22:20:38 |
lindajeen |
hey yeah, can you record your books on
cd? ;-) |
|
22:20:43 |
Webmama_Tina |
transcripts will be up soon |
|
22:20:49 |
lindajeen |
Thanks, David! |
|
22:21:06 |
angcac |
this is fun thanks! |
|
22:21:16 |
David |
Folks are always making tapes of me, but
I never listen to 'em. Hey, I get to
listen to myself sometimes more than I
like.... |
|
22:21:38 |
Webmama_Tina |
oh thankyou so much david! this was
great! |
|
22:21:42 |
Webmama_Tina |
very good info! |
|
22:21:47 |
Webmama_Tina |
i can't wait to ready your books! |
|
22:21:53 |
LiveFreeLearnFree |
Thanks, David!! :D |
|
22:21:54 |
Webmama_Tina |
sound like they are just what i'm
looking for |
|
22:22:06 |
Webmama_Tina |
i'll also browse around your site some
more |
|
22:22:18 |
Webmama_Tina |
i see you have lots of books on
there...so i added some of them to my
amazon wish list. :) |
|
22:22:26 |
David |
You're welcome. If you order the books
through my website, just put Mommychat"
on the comment line, and I'll take off
two bucks for any book with my name on
the cover." |
|
22:22:33 |
Webmama_Tina |
can you share your link one last time
for those that missed it? |
|
22:22:45 |
Webmama_Tina |
oh awesome! |
|
22:23:19 |
David |
(will sign 'em too -
www.skylarksings.com ) And I run around
the country some speaking, so you can
either catch me, or invite me (you can
get my e-mail on the website.) |
|
22:24:03 |
Webmama_Tina |
how much to have you speak? |
|
22:24:16 |
Webmama_Tina |
ever in the central valley, california? |
|
22:24:20 |
David |
depends. E-mail me. |
|
22:24:24 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok |
|
22:24:33 |
Webmama_Tina |
just curious :) |
|
22:25:01 |
David |
Working on Sacramento/Davis, Los Gatos,
and Bay Area for February 23-25,
sponsored by Gifted Homeschoolers Forum.
E-mail me, and I'll connect you up with
them. |
|
22:25:05 |
Webmama_Tina |
well thanks again! transcripts will be
up soon! anyone not yet on the egroup, i
announce on there when i get them up |
|
22:25:20 |
Webmama_Tina |
and there are other chats that y'all
might be interested in as well, so come
join the egroup! |
|
22:25:26 |
Webmama_Tina |
Please join the Mommy Chats egroup at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mommychats
to receive notices about upcoming chats
and changes to Mommy Chats. |
|
22:25:41 |
Webmama_Tina |
oh! sacramento! i graduated college
there! not too far from me |
|
22:25:47 |
LiveFreeLearnFree |
Thanks for doing this, Webmama, and
thanks again, David! Happy holidays,
everyone! |
|
22:26:40 |
Webmama_Tina |
can we bring babies to your talks? :) |
|
22:26:56 |
Webmama_Tina |
mine will only be 7mos in feb |
|
22:27:07 |
Webmama_Tina |
not able to be away from mama yet :) |
|
22:28:05 |
David |
Babies not a problem for me, provided I
get to hug 'em. |
|
22:28:20 |
Webmama_Tina |
:) |
|
22:28:36 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok well i gotta git...hubby is very much
wanting me to get off the computer
now...thanks again david! |
|
22:28:37 |
Webmama_Tina |
:) |
|
22:28:53 |
David |
Adios :bday: |
