Alexander has always been interested in numbers and how they work. For a short time he wanted to do formal math, but after exploring it and realizing he can do it, he is back to just enjoying numbers as they are authentically used in life.
Sophia quickly caught onto counting money as she has been purchasing many of her own clothes and other goodies since she was seven years old and got her first dog sitting job. However, she openly admitted to not being interested in math as a subject to study. However, that has changed now that she is going to high school next year. On her own she made a list of goals she wants to accomplish before heading to high school in August. Math is on the list of goals. She wants to be up to speed with her peers when she makes her first appearance in a school environment.
We are starting with the very basics and moving forward. The thing I love about waiting to teach kids when they are ready is they catch onto the concepts so quickly. You don't have to spend years on subtraction (I remember teaching 5th grade and each year the curriculum reviewed everything the students had learned the previous year, although for some students it was like seeing it for the first time.) She asks for work to do on her own. I provide the answer sheets so she can check her work immediately and if she sees a mistake, she figures out why it was wrong.
I love unschooling. To me it is almost magical. When you let kids learn what they want when they are ready, amazing things happen. I have no doubt that Sophia will be just fine when school starts in August.
*The other thing I love is that although she has never been to school or had any formal instruction, the only subject she feels would challenge her is math. I completely agree.
0 comments:
Post a Comment