Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Radical Unschooling vs Unschooling: Is There Really That Big of a Difference?

Radical Unschooling vs Unschooling: Is There Really That Big of a Difference


Homeschooling is homeschooling, regardless of what you may call it. Of course, there are a lot of different meanings that we attach to things. One such distinction that some people try to make is between “unschooling” and “radical unschooling.”

One of the differences that people try to attach here has to do with whether or not any type of instruction is given. For instance, they say that unschoolers may give some teaching while radical unschoolers won't offer any instruction at all.

Another difference has to do with whether or not learning and life are separated in any way. While radical unschoolers may allow their children to do whatever they want all day long, unschoolers may decide there are certain activities that are “appropriate” for school days and others, which should be avoided. Usually, if you divide your life in this way, deciding what's academic and non-academic, you're not a radical unschooler.

There's also a division that occurs in regards as to whether or not the lines between learning and life have become blurred. This is a line that a lot of conflict exists around. It's simply a matter of the lifestyle that's been chosen. Each family has to decide where this line is drawn for them.

Ultimately though, it's all about homeschooling regardless of how you may see it. At least, you now have a better understanding of what the blurry lines are all about though. If you still need some help with the unschooling lifestyle, I strongly suggest taking a look at the book, “The Unschooling Handbook: How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom” by Mary Griffith. It's really helped me embrace it over the years.


Sunday, February 22, 2015

Tips for Teaching Kids about Money

Tips for Teaching Kids about Money
There are lots of great lessons that you're going to teach your children throughout their years of homeschooling. However, one of the most important things you should teach them is how important it is to use and save money. For this reason, here are some tips for teaching kids about money.

As soon as your child can count, it's time to introduce them to money. While doing so, it's also important to talk to them about wants vs. needs. By the time your child turns 7-years-old most studies suggest that children's money habits are already established. Of course, this doesn't mean that they'll understand more complex things like compound interest. Eventually, you'll want to teach them about this and things like short-term goals and long-term goals too.


Since we're homeschoolers, sometimes we really would like a program to go along with what we're trying to teach our children. While you can teach your child about money without one, I highly recommend Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Junior. As an adult, you're probably already familiar with his seminars. However, this is made just for children, and many children honestly do enjoy it. Parents seem to really like the fact that their children are much more willing to do their chores so that they can earn money. What's also nice about this “curriculum” is that it's meant for children from ages 3 – 12, so you can do this as a family. Don't worry, most older children still enjoy doing it too, and it's really easy to “dumb down” things for younger children. (Reviewed by me here.)


A great way to teach them about compounding interest is by having them maintain and balance a checkbook. This is particularly good for young children because you can work this into their play time. As an unschooler, I know this is oftentimes the best way for a child to learn anything new.

Although there are a lot of math books that have “fake” checks in them that help teach your child about this, if you're not using a math book or if yours doesn't contain this exercise, don't fret. You can always pick up Learning Resources Pretend and Play Checkbook with Calculator. It comes with 25 checks that are similar to real ones. There are also deposit slips, a pen, and a battery-powered calculator. All of this makes it both fun and easy to teach your child this much-needed life skill.  (Reviewed by me here.)


For this reason, it's a good idea to give them some of their own money to use on a practical level. This will also enable them to understand and appreciate the highs and lows that come with using money. Once they've grasped this, don't forget to explain the concept of virtual or digital money to them as well.   



This blog is part of this week's...
This Is How We Roll Thursdays

Saturday, February 21, 2015

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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

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Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Homeschool Valentine's Day Activities




I loved having a Valentine's Day outing when my daughter was younger. As she's gotten older, we've simplified things a great deal but I still want her to feel special.

In the past, we used to go out to lunch on Valentine's Day or the day before, depending upon when the day fell. I wanted to miss the crowd and have a nice lunch to ourselves. Of course, if your child was in school you wouldn't be able to do this but as a homeschooler, you get the freedom to enjoy this.

While at lunch I'd give my daughter a card and a small trinket, like a bracelet or charm or something. What you decide to give will depend upon your child. Show them you know and love them by selecting something special just for them.

Of course, you can extend this a bit and have your children exchange cards with one another too. You can also hang up some decorations around your living room. These always make the time more festive. I usually do this too but since we're in the midst of moving, I didn't get to do so this year and I must say, I really miss it.

Hopefully this will give you a few ideas to make your Valentine's Day more special this year... Happy Valentine's Day!