My son's successes have been many once we left the online school. Last year, in particular, he started his own YouTube Channel with little assistance from anyone. I just need to relax, and trust more. I do appreciate this group, and read plenty. I am an older parent who worries about my son's future because he does have special needs. Thanks again!

Here's the exact wording for Georgia homeschooling requirement:

"Your child must be tested at least every three years, beginning at the end of the 3rd grade. You may administer the test if you do this “in consultation with a person trained in the administration and interpretation of norm reference tests.” Test results do not have to be submitted to public school officials."

Thanks everyone for the feedback, and sorry for the vagueness.? We were doing online public school for first four years so he was tested back then. I tested at home three years ago but didn't even discuss any results. Realized around that time (11 - 12 years old) that my son cannot learn that way, and have been allowing him to follow his interests.

Truthfully, I am having doubts based upon my husband not being completely on board. Yes, it's myself and my husband who obviously need more deschooling. It's frightening how deep that conditioning goes, and how I allow my extended family to cause these doubts to arise. I will continue to read more here, and appreciate Sandra referring to the older links.

Thanks for the support and encouragement!

Still learning,
Karen

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On Mon, Apr 12, 2021 at 07:13 PM, <ktaylor339@...> wrote:

Am suddenly feeling quite anxious regarding this being a required testing year for my fifteen year old son.

-=-Am suddenly feeling quite anxious regarding this being a required testing year for my fifteen year old son.?-=-

How long have you been unschooling???

-=- Am feeling like a bit of a failure as an unschooling parent as we approach these so-called high school years.-=-

How long?? I'm not just being conversational here; I really do want to know. :-)

What has made you feel successful, in the past.? What were the good moments or days like for you?

Sandra
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(This might not look like Sandra Dodd's e-mail, but it's one of three or four, only two of which will appear here.)

On Mon, Apr 12, 2021 at 07:13 PM, <ktaylor339@...> wrote:

I know we don't need to turn the test in but I don't even like putting my son through it. I don't feel like it's "right" not to do it either.

If you know that much, why do you need someone from your own state to advise you?? This isn't a legal issue, but a philosophical one.

If you don't need to turn the test in, what is the purpose of the requirement that you "must test" (if that's what it is).? If you have the exact wording of the requirement, bring that.

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Meanwhile, consider reading this.? It's one of my oldest pages, but the principles remain as true as they can be.

Sounds like you CAN avoid it, though, and maybe should.

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There's a bit more here:??

about the kinds of surprised or problems unschoolers have had with standardized tests—things they didn't know, about testing.

Sandra
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(This doesn't look like Sandra Dodd's e-mail, but it is one.)

Greetings!

Am suddenly feeling quite anxious regarding this being a required testing year for my fifteen year old son. Is there anyone in this forum who lives in the State of Georgia who might be willing and able to offer some guidance? I do not test my son, and he has never been graded. I know we don't need to turn the test in but I don't even like putting my son through it. I don't feel like it's "right" not to do it either. Am feeling like a bit of a failure as an unschooling parent as we approach these so-called high school years. Sigh. Appreciate any feedback.

Peacefully,
Karen

Someone on the internet wrote this:? ?

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"My struggle is how to find a way to work and homeschool. I know I am great at living a homeschool life, but struggle with the idea of creating or finding my own work life and balancing that."

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Not an unschooler.? It's about people who've been home with their kids for a year, but schools are reopening.? The child used to be in a Montessori school.? That's not the point, though.? ?

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I brought it as an example of the use of the word "struggle."? ?In the past few years, its use is increasing, and being used VERY casually, in life-harming ways.

For anyone who already knows, you know. :-)

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For anyone still "struggling" (or unconsciously complaining of struggling), here's some of my collection of examples and thoughts:

There was a topic in this group in 2017, too, about stuggling to learn things.

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Relax, everyone!! :-)

https://justaddlightandstir.blogspot.com/search?q=struggle

Love,?

Sandra

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(This might not look like Sandra Dodd's e-mail, but it is one.)

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Ten years ago, Marta shared some quotes from this group.? That came up in Facebook memories.

I went to see about using one for Just Add Light (something Pam Sorooshian wrote, in 2011).

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I found this explanation, from Chris Ester, of what the group does:? " the whole list is almost like some large, multi-lateral thought experiment to hone that definition into a working paradigm."

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In a little broader context:

(me:)

The experience of someone who doesn't know that there's a difference
between unschooling and radical unschooling is likely to cause confusion
and miss the mark. <<<

(Chris:)

I think that often there is a misunderstanding of terms. Semantics are
important, on this list radical unschooling is specifically defined and the
whole list is almost like some large, multi-lateral thought experiment to
hone that definition into a working paradigm.

It took me a while to understand that. I kept reading and learning and
absorbing the meme of the group.

__________________________________

And that came from?/g/AlwaysLearning/message/63904

I love this:

?" the whole list is almost like some large, multi-lateral thought experiment to hone that definition into a working paradigm."

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A large multi-lateral thought experience to hone [radical unschooling] into a working paradigm BUT ALSO people were using those principles at home and bringing back successes, and problems, and questions.? It wasn't just a thought experiment, because we were also all DOING it.

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I know there are still people coming along with young children, and the group isn't as lively as it was in 2011, nor as lively as in 2001 when the group was new. In those days, many in the group had already spent nearly ten years honing their shared ideas into a working set of principles and experiences to share.

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There are people who shared deeply and generously and then "graduated" or went on to other interests.? I miss their words, and humor, and sweetness.

Sandra

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Darn it!

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Thanks for sharing that the other day Sandra.

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(This doesn't look like Sandra Dodd's e-mail, but it is one.)

Hi mom/mum

Your request brought to mind the song "turn turn turn to everything there is a season" by-the-byrds.

Your daughter's world has been turned upside down and she is sad and maybe even grieving in her own way for the friendships she used to have.? That's ok, it won't last for ever.? Maybe she wants the opportunity to talk about her feelings or she might just need you to be there and acknowledge how she is feeling without trying to fix it for her.? Sometimes my boys just need a hug, to know that what they are feeling is normal and time to heal.

This too will pass and she will find happiness again.

My 11 year old has definitely found lockdown harder than her older siblings. I think that's due to a few factors - she's not so well set up to have group chats with her friends like her siblings are (she has a phone, and access to Zoom or Skype but many of her friends do not, or don't want to use it), she's more used to playing physical games that involve running around or jumping or climbing, than just chatting, and I think there's a strong hormonal factor as well. In our long lockdown last year she had weeks where nothing seemed to cheer her, and in this current (snap, 5 day) lockdown she has become very teary again, and says she's not sure what's wrong, she just feels like crying. She's also having a lot of trouble going to bed - she gets very tired which makes her more emotional, but she's very very reluctant to actually go to bed and finds it hard to fall asleep when she gets there. Some nights she sleeps with us and that helps.

I realised during last year's lockdown that there might not be anything I could do that would really help her feel better, and that was hard for me to accept. In the meantime, I did (and am doing) whatever I could to make her days sweeter, so that even if she was feeling sad she at least felt nurtured and somewhat connected. What has helped us is lots of food that she loves, and offering it at surprising times (ice cream and Nutella for breakfast!); watching her favourite shows with her, offering to play card or board games, finding new books for her to read, jumping on the trampoline with her, reminding her it's ok to go and sit somewhere quietly for a while if she's feeling restless (she likes to climb up in an oak tree and sit, but she forgets that it's there when she's feeling antsy). looking at dogs or kittens with her on instagram, helping her learn to play the piano and the ukulele, brushing or styling her hair, suggesting she has a shower or a bath (for relaxation), going for a walk together, suggesting she play with the dog, doing a puzzle together etc. Usually connecting with her in one of those ways helps her to calm down and feel less agitated - even if she's still sad, she feels less frustrated.?

Not sure if any of that is helpful for your situation, but wanted to say that it feels pretty normal for a girl that age, especially in this weird lockdown phase we currently experiencing.

Annie

Another mom, anonymous, 10-yr-old daughter:

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(This might not look like Sandra Dodd's e-mail, but it is one.)

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(This doesn't look like Sandra Dodd's e-mail, but it is one.)

Early.Learning.Project [Organization], use a name, please.?

If so, consider joining our video chat study

Is the study done in a video chat?

Or do you want to study video chats?

Infants don't chat yet.

The request isn't very clearly written.

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-=-We are looking for teams of both parents and grandparents to participate in 4 online surveys,-=-

Grandparents who have chatted with their grandchildren online?

Grandparents who have grandchildren living in the same house?

-=-the Early Learning Project at Georgetown University is studying how infants learn and interact through a screen.-=-

Learning is the same with a screen, a book, or an in-person exchange.? It only happens inside the learner, if the information is interesting and there's something already inside to stick it to—associations and connections.

I'm glad the study's being done, so that the nonsense that has been claimed to keep children from "using screens" can be debunked.

Since you (a singular person who posted the request for participants, or the group, if others are reading) want to learn more about learning, consider the problem of using the term "screens."

If you want to make comparisons to similar odd learning situations, look at the school of the air (public school by radio, at first, and now internet) in Australia.? They have seventy years of experience.

I hope the self-reporting of mainstream parents who were disallowing "screentime" before all this started won't be the same propaganda they were believing when their kids were going to school.?

Sandra

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-=-?the Early Learning Project at Georgetown University is studying how infants learn and interact through a screen.?-=-

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