Comments on: Homeschooling Under the Apple Tree http://www.notfarfromthetree.org/archives/1021 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:27:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: rebecca http://www.notfarfromthetree.org/archives/1021/comment-page-1#comment-642 rebecca Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:40:08 +0000 http://www.notfarfromthetree.org/?p=1021#comment-642 I've had the opportunity to see Marnie and Safiya in action at a homeschooling program they attend and, in the same way, I'm inspired. I've had far more interesting discussions (and felt far more confident about my parenting abilities) with my 4-yr old while we were picking raspberries at our community garden or wandering our Parkdale hood. The hours that I spend at work and she spends at daycare (plus the fact that she splits her time 50/50 between her home with me and her home with her dad) means that what little awake time we have together is spent stressed out over preparing and eating dinner and daycare pick-up and drop-off and the other daily tasks that eat away at the time I'd rather be reading with her, or discussing why the man outside the video store is asking for money, or laughing at her bizarre knock-knock jokes. I appreciate Marnie's use of the word 'meaningful' and pointing out that she and Safiya work together and share the experience of fruit picking. I certainly don't think of my elementary school years as 'meaningful'. Neither do I feel that I ever shared a learning experience with a teacher. Here's to re-defining homeschooling as it suits each and every family and student. I’ve had the opportunity to see Marnie and Safiya in action at a homeschooling program they attend and, in the same way, I’m inspired. I’ve had far more interesting discussions (and felt far more confident about my parenting abilities) with my 4-yr old while we were picking raspberries at our community garden or wandering our Parkdale hood. The hours that I spend at work and she spends at daycare (plus the fact that she splits her time 50/50 between her home with me and her home with her dad) means that what little awake time we have together is spent stressed out over preparing and eating dinner and daycare pick-up and drop-off and the other daily tasks that eat away at the time I’d rather be reading with her, or discussing why the man outside the video store is asking for money, or laughing at her bizarre knock-knock jokes.
I appreciate Marnie’s use of the word ‘meaningful’ and pointing out that she and Safiya work together and share the experience of fruit picking. I certainly don’t think of my elementary school years as ‘meaningful’. Neither do I feel that I ever shared a learning experience with a teacher.
Here’s to re-defining homeschooling as it suits each and every family and student.

]]> By: Laurel http://www.notfarfromthetree.org/archives/1021/comment-page-1#comment-599 Laurel Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:42:21 +0000 http://www.notfarfromthetree.org/?p=1021#comment-599 Just to add ---- as the Parkdale - High Park Hub coordinator, I LOVED the picks where there were wee ones along. It made things more fun, more exciting, and more enjoyable to see someone really (REALLY!) getting into the spirit of the pick. Too often (and especially when we are children) are lives are segregated based on age .... which is ridiculous when you think of human history prior to the last 100 years. Studies show that kids need to be around grownups to develop properly --- and I bet that you could do a study showing that adults of all ages need to be around kids of all ages to become a whole, fully-developed person. Seeing Marnie homeschool Safiya definitely changed the way I look at homeschooling --- my perception of what homeschooling "is" has changed dramatically. ....and it helps that Safiya is AWESOME and WONDERFUL to be around. I think that's because of the homeschooling, and certainly not in spite of. (well, I'm sure she's got AWESOME genes, too!) Just to add —- as the Parkdale – High Park Hub coordinator, I LOVED the picks where there were wee ones along. It made things more fun, more exciting, and more enjoyable to see someone really (REALLY!) getting into the spirit of the pick.

Too often (and especially when we are children) are lives are segregated based on age …. which is ridiculous when you think of human history prior to the last 100 years. Studies show that kids need to be around grownups to develop properly — and I bet that you could do a study showing that adults of all ages need to be around kids of all ages to become a whole, fully-developed person. Seeing Marnie homeschool Safiya definitely changed the way I look at homeschooling — my perception of what homeschooling “is” has changed dramatically.

….and it helps that Safiya is AWESOME and WONDERFUL to be around. I think that’s because of the homeschooling, and certainly not in spite of. (well, I’m sure she’s got AWESOME genes, too!)

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