Curriculums for parents?

[Sarasvati]

Sorry I'm on a roll! Basically, have you ever done up a curriculum just for yourself? For the part of yourself you still need to deschool? I can see myself doing up a curriculum just to satisfy that academicy part of myself, and then gaily abandoning all hope of sticking to it ;). Can it help maybe to have some ideas for things to do? Especially for younguns? Thoughts?

[Aurora]

The closest thing I have to a curriculum is a list of things ''to do'' that day. I am a list writer... I love organising (Im a Virgo, what can I say!) The kids join me throughout the day and I know they're learning along the way, so....

If I needed to, for registration issues I would just keep my daily lists and expand on them. Eg ''Post parcels'' would become some fantastic lesson at the Post Office on mathematics (weight, currency etc). :D Not exactly what you mean, I know, but doing something similar might help you satiate those organisational tendencies... are you a Virgo too by any chance?

[Sarasvati]

Sprung! yes...

[Janet]

:lol

[Aurora]

Takes one to know one :D

[SandraDodd]

Maybe if you make a checklist and then see how creatively you can fulfill your secret intents you could wean yourself of the need. If you have geography on your list, you could make food from some particular other place, and maybe watch a movie about another place (or the same one)...

There's almost a unit on Hawaii that came from a question about Elvis:
http://sandradodd.com/dot/elvis
and this might be a comfort to people who like lists but are afraid they will get in the way of unschooling:
http://sandradodd.com/checklists

[Sarasvati]

Thanks Sandra!

[Ayla]

Oh gawd, I'm a list queen too :hide

[Quickening]

The QLD registration requires that you submit a summary of the learning philosophy and that it meets all their (double) standards. I've already done all of this up in case we do decide to register and I tried to lay it out in a format that they would get, being used to schools and curriculums. Natural Learning is just something you can't structuralise into a curriculum but I did my best for the "official" paperwork shite.

Heres one from The Arts section;

The Arts

Creativity and imagination is strong in DD. She enjoys coming up with new ways to dress herself, decorate a room or to create art. DD enjoys looking and touching paintings, photos, sculptures, participating in making music and art.

Unrestricted access to art materials is important to DD so that she can do art when she feels the creative motivation to do so.

Learning Opportunities


·Art galleries
·Interaction with sidewalk artists
·Potters Club
·Experimenting with various art mediums eg clay, mud, food, paints, pastels, watercolours, sand, papier mache, music, poetry, drama, dance.
·Watching theatre shows
·Browsing books on art
·Equinox and Solstice celebrations
·Playing songs on piano
·Dress up
·Setting a table for family dinner vs formal dinner


Records & Assessment


·Photo Scrapbook
·Artwork


Goals

DD should continue to find art an intensely personal and enjoyable experience. We expect that she will develop the skills that are relevant to her desires for art in the course of creating it.

[Quickening]

I'm happy to send you a copy of the stuff I've done for the registration requirements to look over. I also have two versions, one is rolling over when they say so (see above), and the other one is a letter challenging them on each of their "requirements". I'm in favour of the letter! Here's a sample *snicker*;

-------------------------

We would like to address the proviso on the application form where it asks us to provide documented evidence that the learning philosophy used, takes into account and shows how, the following listed requirements are met;

a) has regard to the age, ability, aptitude and development of the child concerned;
Due to the nature of the learning philosophy implemented, it is difficult to see how it can not have regard of those individual needs. DD learns according to her ability, aptitude and development.

Age is an arbitrary judgment where learning is concerned as children are individuals in their own right, and not to be segregated or limited in learning opportunities based on their age. There will be no age segregation and unrealistic expectations determined by something as arbitrary as age and validated through a series of distorted assessments that fail to consider the whole child as an individual.

[Ayla]

Oh Lisa, I'd love to read your whole letter! :lol Maybe we can make that into some kind of statement or handout for people to print out and give their local gov'ts.

[Kezia]

I would love to see what you've written if you don't mind sharing it? I'm currently grappling with how to write an application that will be acceptable to the authorities but still give a picture of what we're intending to do.

[Sarasvati]

Lisa I somehow missed your replies!! I'd love to see what you've done (both versions LOL).

[bella]

Go Lisa!

I'm a bit of a list maker too. I often list goals at the beginning of each year - all sorts of goals for me and my place and my role in our family etc. I rarely look at it again, till the end of the year! :)

Weekly, I list our menu and outings that I know of etc. Daily, I list the stuff I need to get done so life goes on (I'm not a naturally-inclined homemaker, LOL).

[Laiste]

I'd love to see too Lisa. Still trying to decide on the rego thing.

[Kris]

Now this OP is very intriguing. I'm still deschooling and at the same time finding a new year such a time of relief - I feel so much better, so more in "trust" and so less fearful than this time last year.

A list of deschooling issues for me might be very good indeed.

[brogeybear]

I know this is an old thread, but Quickening, do you still have a copy of your letter, etc.? I'd love to read it if you do.