This group is for Unschooling Dads, Granddads, and Dads-to-be who have attended one of the past 3 Live and Learn Conferences OR who have spouses who attended one of these conferences. Other unschooling fathers (et al.) can also join the group through invitation. Our intention is to keep a running dialog and passion for unschooling our children between conferences.
One of the most important duties of parents is to help their children to discover and pursue new interests, retaining the love of learning that is almost universal in young children and almost universally extinct in conventionally educated adults. Standardised curricula, and the stultifying educational hoops that schoolchildren have to jump through, sabotage this aim. This can cause trouble for parents who have to satisfy other people ... that they are educating their children properly. Under pressure, they may slide into a "homeschooling" mentality that distorts and damages their children's education.
To produce life-long learners, we need to show our children that learning is not just something that they get graded on or that only happens during certain hours of the day or certain times of the year. We need to help them hang on to the natural joy of learning that every child is born with, to help them see that learning new things is fun, and to help them realize that learning can take place anywhere and at anytime. Fun Books has put together a catalog of books, games, and other materials to help you in your efforts to produce life-long learners.
With the accelerating media interest in homeschooling, chances are increasing that you will receive a request to speak with a reporter for a magazine or newspaper article, a television or radio program. What will you do? You could say "no," and leave it up to someone else. That would be the simple and easy response. Or, you could say "yes," and find yourself at the start of a new and educational experience.
Kids, Share your creative math ideas! Describe how you use math in any activity you love to do—a sport, game, craft, hobby or anything else. Send in a description of the activity and how you use math. You can also include a drawing or diagram. All participants will receive an MP3 of Googol Power's new song "Crazy 4 Math" at the end. All finalists receive a copy of Googol Power's award winning CD "Multiplication Vacation". There are many other great prizes to be won including the chance to have your idea featured nationally in David M. Schwartz's "Math Moments"â„¢ magazine column. Winners will be chosen by online voting.