Decorate with Maps

I think one of the main roles of an unschooling mother is to create an atmosphere in the home that encourages learning.  One way to do this is by putting things on your wall!

For instance, maps!

These are both in our study or computer room.

Here's another U.S. map in our upstairs hallway.  I just kind of stuck up there!

Then you can also get those shower curtains that have the map of the world on them.  This one is kind of cool in that it is from a British Co. so some of the place names or the actual places they note seem to be a bit different from what an American publisher would use or show.

This is the globe in our family room.  It's right under the TV.  My husband got this for his birthday about 9 years ago.  Before that we had one of those standard issue table top globes which worked just fine, too.  We refer to this globe all the time.  One of my kids once joked that if our life was a TV show we'd have a 'going to the globe' theme that would have to play every time we used the globe to find a place.  Having the globe near the TV is actually helpful.  For example, the other night some of us were watching a music history dvd and the professor was talking about how the fashion and music of Turkey became quite popular during the late 18th Cen.  My 18 year old son immediately got up to look at the globe to see where exactly Turkey was in relation to Western Europe.

And to conclude the geography theme here, this is our atlas which has a permanent place on our (very messy) family room coffee table.

wikihow

My 11 year old continues in his fascination with various, funky wind instruments.  So far he's been teaching himself:  slide whistle, harmonica, ocarina and the jaw-harp (otherwise know as a jew-harp but he's uncomfortable saying that and really it doesn't make any sense any way!).  We have a very old penny or tin whistle that we got ten or more years ago from some Irish girls who came to stay with us.  He sometimes picks that up and fools around on it, trying to pipe out little tunes.  Last night though he went at it in a little more earnest.  He checked out wikihow and was teaching himself that way.  When I entered the study where he was on the computer doing all this, I was surprised to find that the teacher is an Irish Catholic priest!  Actually, I think he is a seminarian at Fordham University.

Anyway here's the link.http://www.wikihow.com/Play-the-Tin-Whistle

Draw Squad

This is a tried and true resource my kids have all enjoyed.

The Importance of Journaling

The best advice I ever got from other unschooling moms was to journal all the learning that was going on in our home.  Unschooling does lend itself to a particular type of anxiety because it is such a different approach to the way we've been brought up.  One does tend to feel very insecure and out of step with the norm.  Second guessing oneself is a very common problem (of course the school at home approach can also be rife with doubt, as can sending your child to school or, heck, just plain motherhood!).

But a wonderful way to prove to yourself that learning is happening is to journal.  It can really open your eyes.  In fact, I have found that it is impossible to record every moment of learning that goes on each day.  I'm always leaving something out inadvertently!

The other thing that journaling does is keep you more aware of what is going on with your kids.  Unschooling can feel very scattershot because it is not systematic in an institutional way.   But if you are consciously observing your kids, you are better equipped to respond to their needs and interests.

How you journal is up to you.  You can keep a pretty diary.  You can scribble down notes on stray pieces of paper as you move through the day and then collect them in a file when you think of it!  You can blog every day.  I tend to type up very cryptic notes on my computer at lunch time and then again after dinner/before bed.  Sometimes I blog my notes.  Whatever works for you!  I don't journal as religiously as I used to.  I go through phases.  Keeping a journal can help you comply with your state laws especially if you need to submit records or attendance.

Unschooling Moment of the Week

My 11 year old got a new slide whistle.  He got it Wednesday evening and recorded himself playing it Thursday morning.

Living Math

This is a very popular resource for homeschoolers.  I love the book lists!  That's really where I've benefited the most from this wonderful woman's efforts to share her love of math.  Lots of ideas here.  Enjoy!

Mindware

For Christmas and birthdays!