Unschoolers
Unlimited Home ARTICLES: Contact us: To receive a free informational packet and latest newsletter, email Luz Shosie and Ned Vare at nedvare@ntplx.net, call (203) 458-7402, or send mail to 22 Wildrose Avenue, Guilford, CT 06437.
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| Unschooling
To The Max by Mary Hopkins My son was diagnosed "high functioning autistic." Two and a half years ago, I took him out of private school. I can't tell you how good homeschooling has been for my son, and for our family. I have become an unschooler, which means my son decides what, when, and how to learn. I'm just the resource person and assistant to his process. I continue to be amazed at how interested he is in learning and how quickly he does learn. Learning is incredibly efficient when the learner is interested in the material. Of course, I did have to get over the idea that learning occurs only by following a curriculum designed by teachers. "Socialization" is a big issue for someone with autism. My son's interest in and ability to relate to others improved markedly when he wasn't being forced into it day in and day out in school. He is happy, and he has lots of self confidence that I know would have been terribly eroded by school and special education programs. When you take your child out of school you can stop focusing on everything that "isn't right" and start seeing all the great and wonderful things your child is. Believe me this is the greatest gift you can give to yourself and your child. In the beginning I was horribly anxious about homeschooling my son, but I had the good fortune to talk to Luz Shosie and Ned Vare. They helped me get on the right path, and soon I was able to encourage a friend to try unschooling her daughter. Liberated from school and schooling, the daughter got very interested in primates. She started corresponding via email with a respected primatologist at a major university... this led to her learning how to create her own website dedicated to helping preserve primates... this led to her being asked by Jane Goodall to speak at conferences and rallies dedicated to this cause.... Most recently this little girl (now 12 years old) was the focus of a Canadian television program called "To The Max." The TV show flew her and her mom up to Canada for some of the shooting and then a camera crew came to Connecticut to film her at home while she was "homeschooling." Amazing isn't it? The example of this friend's unschooling her daughter was a big factor in another friend's decision to homeschool her two sons. So you just never know what the full extent or impact of your influence will be.... |
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