Category: Uncategorized
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Unschooling: they still don’t get it
Today I came across an article about homeschooling by Mirza Yawar Baig that lifted a quote of mine from last year’s Boston Magazine article. In talking about my kids I said: “I wanted them to be in charge of their own education and decide what they were interested in, and not have someone else telling them…
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On depriving kids of screens
“Deprive” is such a loaded word. It came up this week in an online thread about technology, a long and winding discussion in response to a mom expressing concern about allowing her child unlimited screen time. Many unschoolers feel that limiting screen time does not mesh with unschooling philosophy, and said so. I shared my own story,…
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Picture perfect
One of the great joys of being a longtime homeschooling parent is watching kids grow–not just one’s own kids, but so many others, too. Astaeria is 14 now, but I’ve known her since she was a wee one. When she was seven, she used to come with us to park day every week, which was…
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Captain Fantastic, Homeschooling, and The Man
Warning: Captain Fantastic spoilers follow! There aren’t many movies made about homeschoolers, so when one comes out, especially one as glowingly reviewed as Captain Fantastic, I try to see it. I watched Captain Fantastic last night, and I can see why it’s being praised. Viggo Mortensen is great. The actors who play his six kids…
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What are you doing this summer?
We all have them, right? Summer memories of lazy days, popsicles, swimming, pick-up games of tag or kickball, and oodles of fun. Well, maybe we don’t all have them, especially since summer has become just another season for scheduling stuff. These days, when people ask What are your kids doing this summer? the answers generally include multiple…
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The boy with the boulder
Many years ago, when my eldest daughter was in public school kindergarten and I was helping out in the classroom, I witnessed the following exchange between the teacher and a boy who had brought in a special object for show-and-tell. Boy (holding up his smooth round rock proudly): “This is my boulder.” Teacher: “You mean,…
A Potluck Life 