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21:09:40 |
Webmama_Tina |
we're talking homeschooling tonite...how
many people here are homeschoolers? or
thinking about it? |
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21:10:01 |
angcac |
i am. |
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21:10:17 |
Webmama_Tina |
welcome back david! |
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21:10:24 |
David |
That's me. |
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21:10:24 |
Webmama_Tina |
lemme mod you now...ready to look pretty
in pink? |
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21:10:30 |
Webmama_Tina |
*waves magic wand* |
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21:10:39 |
Webmama_Tina |
ooooooooh, pretty! |
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21:10:50 |
Webmama_Tina |
pink looks good on you david. :) |
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21:10:51 |
angcac |
my daughter alyssa is only three and i
am a single parent... her dad is opposed
to the idea |
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21:10:52 |
Webmama_Tina |
;) |
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21:10:54 |
David |
Do I have a tutu? |
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21:11:00 |
Webmama_Tina |
LOL |
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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... :) |
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21:12:05 |
Webmama_Tina |
see who our audience is tonite |
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21:12:16 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok raise your hand if you're currently
homeschooling |
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21:12:20 |
Webmama_Tina |
*raises hand* |
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21:12:32 |
Jill_ |
*raises hand* |
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21:12:51 |
LiveFreeLearnFree |
Oops - sorry! Cleaning up the dishes.
Unschoolers here. :) |
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21:12:56 |
Webmama_Tina |
no worreis |
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21:12:59 |
Webmama_Tina |
worries even |
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21:13:00 |
Webmama_Tina |
lol |
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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)" |
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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.... |
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21:14:04 |
angcac |
ok! :) |
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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." |
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21:15:04 |
angcac |
? |
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21:15:09 |
Webmama_Tina |
oh well i see what you mean
david...helps if i read what you said,
lol |
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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. |
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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:
http://www.mommychats.com/modrules.htm
...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 |
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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 |
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21:24:10 |
David |
:bday: |
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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 |
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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" |
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21:27:23 |
Webmama_Tina |
oh ok, lol |
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21:27:43 |
angcac |
ok |
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21:27:50 |
LiveFreeLearnFree |
? |
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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! |
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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. |
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21:33:10 |
angcac |
? |
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21:33:49 |
Webmama_Tina |
when you're ready for another question
just say something like next question"
:)" |
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21:34:01 |
Webmama_Tina |
and angie will let ya know who's next.
:) |
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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.... |
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21:39:34 |
angcac |
? |
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21:39:40 |
David |
(next question is okay by me...) |
|
21:40:03 |
MOD_Angie |
next ? angcac |
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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? |
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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 |
