Feelings of Fraudulence

Having just completed a proposed routine for when the boys come back from their extended stay at their Grandparents, I'm feeling seriously Fraudulent when it comes to 'Unschooling'.

I have been struck by the enthusiasm that the younger lad in particular has been reporting on the school work that they have been doing in the mornings with their Grandmother. He is requesting grades, ticks and crosses for correct and incorrect work, and is enjoying the regular praise at his improved penmanship.

I always preferred a "B+" grade myself.

My guiding principle for our home education journey, has been to follow the boys' interests and needs. Clearly the younger lad is interested in more formal works, and receiving feedback. I am happy to do this, as long as he is interested.

It will be interesting to see how long this interest of his lasts, once he returns home and has free access to the PC once more.

The lads have also been enjoying a more formal approach to literacy. They have been reading a book together, and each new word they learn, they write out as they learn it. I have had conversations over the phone, where each lad has proudly reported that they can now read a whole book all by themselves. A bittersweet proclamation, as the elder has been able to do so for a while now, he just has not been able to accept his level of ability and had been continuing to proclaim of himself, "I can't read".

image from HJNews.com

My rough overview of the routine on their return is, every morning, contribution work consisting of the 20 minute household challenge, 30+ minutes per day exercise, 30-60 minutes focused on worksheets / school work type work, lunch and then free for all to engage in which ever interests we wish.
As inner discipline is something we all find challenging, it will be interesting to see how that all pans out... further, as this is an outline that I ave developed after having had one on one phone conversations with the youngest, it may not even eventuate. Ideally we would have a discussion on this upon their return, and develop something suitable, collaboratively.