the network for radical unschooling families

February 2009 Blog Posts (33)

Exploration

We went to a little one screen theater here in Vancouver this afternoon. It plays second run movies for pretty cheap prices. The three of us were able to see Twilight for what it would have cost for just one of us someplace else. Yes, we are a bit behind the times. But I don't care.

I think that old style movie house is going to become one of my favorite places about this city. Being relatively new to the area we are still exploring. I am not a mainstream new and shiny kind of person… Continue

Added by Melissa on February 28, 2009 at 11:01pm — No Comments

Passion Parent Interview

If you missed my interview with Christine, here it is for you to listen in as we talk about homeschooling, unschooling, parenting and life.
Enjoy!

Added by Rain Fordyce on February 28, 2009 at 10:09am — No Comments

Why We Home School

Ok, just so you know, I'm not good at blogs. Blogs require daily attention and regular maintenance. Suffice it to say you probably won't be getting daily updates here. Between my ADD tendencies and my "P" personality trait on the Myers-Briggs index, I just don't do "regular, routine" all that well. But, anything to produce traffic on my main site, Wild Blue Heaven. So, here… Continue

Added by Rick on February 28, 2009 at 3:11am — No Comments

Join me for blogtalk radio show about unschooling!

Passion Parent, Christine Hiebel's has a show called "Just Parenting About" and I am going to be there talking about unschooling.

I would love for you to be there today to support and share your thoughts, ideas and experiences about unschooling as her audience has a broad base of parents with different philosophies.

It's today at 4:30 PST /7:30 EST

You can find her show at:… Continue

Added by Rain Fordyce on February 27, 2009 at 8:22am — No Comments

Saving For Education?

Im wondering what people are doing about saving for education for their kids.

My kids are 5 and 1, so they'd benefit from the magic of interest accrual if we started investing and saving now. But I have no idea if they'll choose school or anything that we could use the money for (if we chose specific education savings accts like the 529 or Coverdale acct)

Of course, we could just save money, but there are tax benefits to the other ones. Im considering the coverdale, because it… Continue

Added by Nancy Machaj on February 26, 2009 at 9:55pm — 1 Comment

I love photos.

Holly sent this to me. I didn't even know it had been taken. Kirby took it, and must have stood on a chair.

That's Holly with the red in her hair. Then Rosie and Roxana Sorooshian, me, Bo King (who did the tree art I use on my unschooling pages), Marty, and his girlfriend Ashlee. Pam and Kirby were in the other room.

This was the second week of January, this year, at my house.

I'm going to put it on my other blog,… Continue

Added by Sandra Dodd on February 25, 2009 at 12:39am — 3 Comments

Video Games

Video games in our household have evolved naturally. My husband is an avid gamer. Since he was a little boy he loved playing video games. I never did, but, I also don't have any negative association with them. We currently have an Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2, plus the handheld systems, a Game boy (original) and Nintendo DS. I don't know If they are considered on the video game spectrum, but, we also have a Leapster, Pixter and V.Smile. The kids' favorite are their DSs. DH prefers his Xbox360 and uses… Continue

Added by Jennifer Varela on February 24, 2009 at 4:24pm — 2 Comments

My youngest son doing a back handspring

Added by Rain Fordyce on February 24, 2009 at 5:32am — 2 Comments

Learn Nothing Day in London

Well good luck to me this year, but I'll think of something.

Learn Nothing Day is July 24, and I'll be in London. Y'know why?

Because the next day there's a conference and I really want to be there.

http://familyrun.ning.com/events/the-london-unschooling

I hope to get to visit Schuyler's house, and maybe get to France, and possibly accompany a friend of mine to see friends of hers in… Continue

Added by Sandra Dodd on February 21, 2009 at 3:00pm — 1 Comment

A Full Week with Family, Peace and the Work

This week my family came back from a long trip away. We missed each other so much and I took a break from writing the book for most days.

I am at about 141 pages and 31,000 words.

I am amazed at what writing a book does to your brain. I feel it is so fast paced and fun when I am in the zone. The words are pouring out and it all makes sense. Then after I put away the book and I am no longer in any zone, I feel so uncreative. Zoned OUT! I can barely think now to… Continue

Added by Rain Fordyce on February 20, 2009 at 7:50am — No Comments

Green Jobs; Turning IT into EnergyTech with Energy and Apprentice TalkRadio Networks.

Find our weekly schedule at AlternativeEnergy.com/energytalk

Go to our show archives at BlogTalkRadio.com/vinbeazel

Call in to LIVE shows:… Continue

Added by vinbeazel on February 18, 2009 at 4:40pm — No Comments

Where Does One Start?

Hi friends,

I've been getting private emails asking me about unschooling along with being in a few unschooling groups where these same questions come up so I thought I'd share a recent post with you all. Whether you homeschool or unschool, I believe the most important point is to 'see what your kids are gaining from the experience and not on what you think they are missing.' So many parents are finding their children ever so sad in the 'school system'. I would like to encourage those… Continue

Added by Vicki Gray on February 17, 2009 at 8:42am — 1 Comment

New uses for...

GS cookie packages and boxes...Pokemon car and gym…

Continue

Added by Elisabeth on February 16, 2009 at 10:08pm — No Comments

Home again Home again

We made it. Three months of camping around New Zealand on beaches, the base of a volcano, out of a Subaru Legacy and now back home. The sites we saw and the adventures we had are anough to make me smile for the rest of my life.

Catalina and Nolan "Blue" really showed me how it's done. They were the adventures always up for something new. Catalina went surfing with the dolphins in Porpoise Bay, Blue conquered his fear and treked up Mt. Rapahu (the active volcano) and I went bungy… Continue

Added by Marissa on February 16, 2009 at 9:05am — 3 Comments

Cookies,Cookies..every where! Feb.15th, 2009

GS COOKIES HAVE TAKEN OVER OUR HOME! This cookie business is a full time job! I'm trying to have fun with it...but other people go all "Type A'' over it... UM...get over yourselves!! Ok...back to our week, interrupted, the girls chose to be home bodies for the most part this week and I happily went along...with it. They played a lot of DS Pokemon and You Tubed vids for peeks at new version coming out....they both can't wait for the new game to hit the stores. We had two very windy days early in… Continue

Added by Elisabeth on February 15, 2009 at 9:00pm — 3 Comments

Some Questions About Art

I've been struggling to find my place (role?) in my 2.5 year-old's art journey. I've already written about how I have a bit of visual art-o-phobia. I've been doing some thinking and came up with some questions.

Do you do art WITH your child? If your child is say, painting, do you paint with him/her? Or do you sit and watch? Or do something unrelated nearby, but check in often (i.e. fold… Continue

Added by Chessa on February 14, 2009 at 10:30am — 6 Comments

Love

Today is a day to remind us to remember those we love.

Remember to start where love begins: You!

Fill your cup with a breath and a knowing

that you are perfect where you are today.

Fill your spirit with the joy

for you have created joy for others on your journey.

Fill your heart with warmth

for you have been loved in your life.

Fill your mind with clarity,

for love is waiting for you when you clear out your… Continue

Added by Rain Fordyce on February 14, 2009 at 9:31am — No Comments

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am looking forward to celebrating LOVE with my family tomorrow!

We've had such a great fun-filled week I almost wish it wouldn't end. : ) I'm interested in seeing what the future holds, though, so I'm going on and not holding back.

I bought each girl a box of chocolates, and I got DH several *little* things...which he's going to have to hunt for. ; ) It's SO corny...I made him a scavenger hunt, complete with rhyming clues. I just… Continue

Added by Paige on February 13, 2009 at 8:36pm — No Comments

I've been wondering

if anyone ever unschooled college. Now I have my answer.

Added by Home4skool on February 13, 2009 at 10:23am — 4 Comments

The Book

Well the family has been away and I have been working on the peace treaty book. I have 3-4 more chapters to rough draft in. Then a final writing. So far about 29,000 words in just a couple of weeks.

I am ready for a break.

It will be wonderful to have my family home again and spend time with them. Real people instead of the computer! I miss their faces, their smiles and laughter. Picking them up on Valentine's Day feels just right. So much love. So much to… Continue

Added by Rain Fordyce on February 12, 2009 at 11:52am — No Comments