{"id":219,"date":"2017-03-29T19:58:11","date_gmt":"2017-03-29T23:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/walnutgrovecoop.com\/WalnutGroveHomeSchool\/?p=219"},"modified":"2020-07-25T11:02:28","modified_gmt":"2020-07-25T15:02:28","slug":"ology-assembly-democratic-process-unschool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/walnutgrovecoop.com\/WalnutGroveHomeSchool\/ology-assembly-democratic-process-unschool\/","title":{"rendered":"Unschool Child-Led Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"

This group adopts an unschool approach to learning — with a facilitator following the desires of the learners. We teach the learners how to articulate what they want to learn. We then create a program year plan based on survey results that help us to aggregate, understand, and prioritize interests.<\/p>\n

Visit our Fees page to learn more about pricing and schedules.<\/a><\/p>\n

The facilitator summarizes each week’s experience for parents. Here’s a sample of a typical day as summarized by the facilitator:<\/p>\n

“We extended our study of tornadoes by using homemade marker tops to simulate the storm’s spinning motions. \u00a0We covered the tables with paper and students went to town experimenting with the spinners, which were made by pushing markers through the holes in CDs and securing them with tape.\u00a0 Some students took to it right away while others experimented a few times before getting the hang of it.\u00a0 Hoots and hollers could be heard when individual children noticed the paths that were made by the markers.\u00a0 I encouraged them to experiment with different techniques and to switch spinners or locations to see if these factors changed their results.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Numerous students asked if they could take the spinning tops home because they did not think they had spare CD’s.\u00a0 I took out the markers and handed the CDs over because I would love for them to continue this process art (with an educational twist) at home. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, we continued our exploration by reading and discussing the appropriately-titled <\/span>Tornadoes<\/span><\/a>\u00a0by Brian Cassie<\/span>. \u00a0A student<\/span> brought this book in from her personal library; I love when students take initiative and offer to bring materials or supplies from home that connect to what we are studying.\u00a0 We had a small group that day, so I gathered them on the purple couch (Have I ever told you how much I love the purple couch in my room?\u00a0 I really do love it!) and read the book aloud as they drew and took notes.\u00a0 This text was the first source to differentiate between Tornado Warnings and Watches, so we added that information, and more, to our class KWL chart.<\/span><\/p>\n

This Friday, we will watch a few clips from a documentary that has footage of real tornadoes.\u00a0 This will be the last information-gathering day before we use our newfound knowledge to create a class book about the current topic: \u00a0tornadoes!<\/span><\/p>\n