Full Circle with Home Schooling

It seems like during the Covid-19 phase, Joanne has actually come full circle with Home schooling.

What I mean by that ?

1. She starts with home learning before starting a few months of nursery in NIBM rd, Pune
2. Then starts off with a private school for 4 years - pre-k3, pre-k4, kg, 1st grade @Queen of Apostles, San Jose, CA
Then she starts public school for 2 years - 2nd grade in 2 schools - @Easter Brook Elementary, San Jose, CA and @Will Rogers elementary, Edmond, OK
3. Then during 3rd grade (Will Rogers), she is forced to do home schooling with Mom due to the shutdown of schools.

Isn't that a full circle.

I'd love to share some pictures as she has progressed during each phase. 

School Re-formed

Looking at this blog titled - "School Re-formed" and particularly at the article that describes a unique learning program - "Shikhantar and Swaraj", it seems to ring a bell on alternative education very loudly for learners today.

If you want pure learning without worrying about - exams, peer pressure, learning disabilities, high expectations, this seems to be a real-life example of how its done.

Read through the entire article, to understand how some of life lessons are learnt through experiences as a khoji !

Introduction text from the article :

What does “school” look like when we throw out the grades, the classes, the teachers (the competition, the tests, the authority from above)? 

This one-of-a-kind organization in India offers a compelling picture for what learning could be.

Kudos to the founders & visionaries, for having started  Swaraj and Shikshantar. Do check out the blog which documents the learnings & doings of  Khojis/Students online.

If you are contemplating a Gap year and want to do something you are passionate about, there is nothing like trying something with such organizations !


Can we have more such organizations like these in 2013 please ?

Dyslexia

While reading through this article - "Some Thoughts on Dyslexia", I was compelled to think about a movie "Tare Zameen Par" (Stars on Earth) which also deals with Dyslexia.

This article by Mike (your man in the hammock), describes his experiences with learning disabilities due to Dyslexia and how he managed to get through his schooling years.

Quote : Having Dyslexia does not mean that your child is doomed to go through life unable to spell or read. It normally improves over time. As time goes by your child will develop strategies for dealing with certain problems.  

There are many different perspectives of how to deal with a learning disability. The teacher in the movie per-se illustrates a different approach namely - harnessing the child's creative tendencies which could be art forms like painting, building stuff, photography etc.

Each and every one is born with some form of learning pattern and may not fit the general mold ! We need to be patient with children who find themselves struggling with an approved teaching method.

References :

1. Some Thoughts on Dyslexia
2. Tare Zameen Par

Credits : Image Downloaded from Wikipedia article on Tare Zameen Par

Big Book of Unschooling

Sandra Dodd's book on Unschooling is a great resource for parents who are delighted to know how to help connected with their children rather than controlling them.

I have yet to read the book, but to tell you the truth, I'm a bit excited to use it from the massive positive feedback all round from practicing home schoolers.

Here is the article@homeschoolers.in that led me to investigate more about the book.

Hope to share some of our (Jenny's & myself) experiences from using the material.

Home Schooling

The topic has been on my research list for about a year now. I've slowly been able to ask questions and dialogue with a few folks involved in home schooling.

I believe until this becomes a more accepted and advertised way of educating a child, it would still be something of pink elephant.

I've come across atleast 2 parents in flesh who are actively home schooling their children.
Some may be able to do it with a lot of help with their spouses and some may have to manage alone.

Recently joined a group (indialearning) on facebook related to home schooling and was quite impressed with the discussions and content generated here.

Home Schooling Conference

Home Schooling Conference coming up at Lonavla (enroute Mumbai-Pune Highway), Maharashtra, India in Feb 2013. RSVP.

A lot of networking with other like minded parents ; who are looking at alternate schooling methods. The presentation & event management takes the participation to a whole new level.

Take a look at how hasgeek.in has got participants, speakers & sponsorships participating in this barcamp offshoot.