Seedling
Nurturing our children in the freedom of Christ
Issue #18, April 3, 2001
Sr. Editor & Publisher: Elissa Wahl
Assistant Editor: Teri Brown
Contributing Editor: Angel Dyke
IN THIS ISSUE
1. Welcome from the Editor
2. "Definitions" of Unschooling....Elissa Wahl and Jeanne Musfeldt
3. Update Info on Our Book
4. Cool Contest!!! Healthy Recipes?!
5. Closing letter from the editor
6. Subscription Information
7. Reprint Information
1. Welcome from the editor
Hi all, hope this newsletter is received in the manner it was
sent ... in love and through God!
We apologize for such an abbreviated edition of Seedling this month,
but I just had my baby!!! Elias was born Friday, March 30 at 6:25
PM, weighing 7.4 pounds and 19" long. We STILL have no middle name!
Please read on, and we pray you are blessed!
2. "Definitions" of Unschooling....Elissa Wahl and Jeanne Musfeldt
Everyone wants to know this!! Surprise, there is no one definition!
I always say Unschooling is a philosophy of learning. It is in
contradiction to a pre-planned curriculum..rather, being child-led,
interest-based, spirit-guided. There is no textbook manufacturer, no
corporation, saying what has to be done WHEN, or specifically learned
HOW, or using WHAT materials. These things are left up to each
individual child...according to their unique skills and abilities and
interests.
This is NOT to say the parent does not have an active role...au
contraire. It is my JOB to introduce new cool things, go on cool
trips, read interesting books and find the hands-on-icky science
stuff
frustrated by said material, he is not ready, and to see the spark
when he is totally entranced and allow it to keep going. Much of my
job is also done through modeling. I am continually learning things
also, and choose to live in an environment filled with educational
things. Volunteering is very important in my life, as is learning
more about God's great love for us. These things my children can
learn through and with me.
Here's what Jeanne has to say about it!
So many people want a solid definition of unschooling. Guess what?
Ask a hundred unschoolers for their opinion, and you will get a
hundred answers! Some of the more common answers are: child-led,
interest-based, delight-directed, or discipleship. For us, it is
just learning. :o) It is a matter of seeing something that my
children, or perhaps just one of my children are interested in and
going with that.
A recent example involves my 10 year old daughter, Cora. She is so
interested in horses. As we have been able to afford it, she has
taken riding lessons. But we don't have our own horse, so those
lessons tend to come and go. Lately, she has been saying that she
doesn't want any more showmanship riding lessons. She just wants to
be able to get on a horse and ride and enjoy. I told her to pray
about it. God will have an answer for her. Just last week, I was
talking to a friend, and she told me about a gal that I have known
for years. This gal is a graduated homeschooler, and wonderful with
kids. She is also going to start giving lessons! I called her, and
she would be delighted to let Cora come and ride around the land.
Not only that, but she is willing to let Cora work it out in trade!
Cora is going to help clean out the stalls for time on the horse.
She will learn awesome things for an experienced horsewoman, not to
mention being with a godly young woman. I couldn't be more thrilled
with what God has worked out for her.
If my daughter had not been interested in horses, none of this would
have happened. It is all unschooling! God is so good about
supplying those learning opportunities. All we have to do is watch
for them.
3. Update Info on Our Book
Hey all, it is that time!! We are looking forward to many of you
receiving and enjoying all our efforts. However, out of our control,
out of our publisher's control....the printers messed up our order.
About three-quarters of the pre-ordered books got signed and sent out
last week. The rest will follow VERY SHORTLY. We feel so horrid about
this....please know we've complained and whined and feel badly also.
4. Cool Contest!!! Healthy Recipes?!
Have any irresistible yet healthy recipes? We are looking for recipes
that will not only build our children's bodies, but whet their
appetite. If you have a recipe that meets these qualifications send
to unschoolr@aol.com or unschoolr2@aol.com. If your recipe is chosen
(tested by our own fussy tasters) you will receive Leanne Ely's New
book, Healthy Foods: An Irreverent Guide to Understanding Nutrition
and Feeding Your Family Well. Also included with the book is a unit
study that will help teach your children about nutrition. Contest
open from March 1st to April 15th. Winners announced on May 1st. Good
Luck!
5. Closing Letter
We look forward to sending out a "normal" length edition next month.
Until next time,
Be blessed you all!
Elissa Wahl
Teri Brown
Angel Dyke
6. Subscription Information
Subscribe at : Seedling-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe at: Seedling-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
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7. Reprint Information
Individual authors herein retain their own copyrights. You may
freely copy this entire newsletter or material from this newsletter
in other nonprofit publications (unless otherwise marked in the
article), but you MUST include the author's name and this entire
notice:
"Reprinted with permission of Elissa Wahl from Seedling, a
Christian Unschooling E-Zine. For a free subscription, send
any e-mail message to Seedling-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit
URL: http://www.ChristianUnschooling.org"
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