Comments on: Collaborative Learning Stages http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/ May the star within us shine for all to enjoy Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:42:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.4 By: Throwing Marshmallows » Finding Our Rhythm http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-223 Throwing Marshmallows » Finding Our Rhythm Sun, 01 Oct 2006 05:14:02 +0000 http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-223 [...] Now that we have finally been home for a little while, it seems as if our days are slowly starting to find their rhythm. Not sure what it is this year, but I really feel like things are coming together naturally. Part of this I think is due to a willingness on Jason’s part. He really seems much more open to things. Suggestions that would have been met previously with a rolling of the eyes and resistance are now being willingly accepted. He seems to be maturing a bit and entering a new phase. Cindy over at Apple Stars talks about patterns of learning (she calls them Collaborative Learning Stages) that she has seen in her kids. Jason is in the “Exploration Stage” which she describes as “although each child had a style or interest that would be revisited consistently, they would move off of it easily using it to explore other arenas of potentiality.” I am definitely seeing a willingness in Jason to explore other arenas of potentiality…including areas that previously would have been fought (like writing and spelling!). [...] […] Now that we have finally been home for a little while, it seems as if our days are slowly starting to find their rhythm. Not sure what it is this year, but I really feel like things are coming together naturally. Part of this I think is due to a willingness on Jason’s part. He really seems much more open to things. Suggestions that would have been met previously with a rolling of the eyes and resistance are now being willingly accepted. He seems to be maturing a bit and entering a new phase. Cindy over at Apple Stars talks about patterns of learning (she calls them Collaborative Learning Stages) that she has seen in her kids. Jason is in the “Exploration Stage” which she describes as “although each child had a style or interest that would be revisited consistently, they would move off of it easily using it to explore other arenas of potentiality.” I am definitely seeing a willingness in Jason to explore other arenas of potentiality…including areas that previously would have been fought (like writing and spelling!). […]

]]> By: Apple Stars » Blog Archive » School Schedules vs. Seasonal Schedules http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-196 Apple Stars » Blog Archive » School Schedules vs. Seasonal Schedules Mon, 04 Sep 2006 14:34:26 +0000 http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-196 [...] For the first about thirteen years of having children, my older children didn’t understand the impact of “summer vacation”. Oh, they had heard it, because most of their friends have been public or private schooled, but it didn’t impact them in a way that made them take a close look at it. We were strong unschoolers in the early developmental learning stages of my children’s lives, so learning happened all day and all year long without any significant formal learning activities. [...] […] For the first about thirteen years of having children, my older children didn’t understand the impact of “summer vacation”. Oh, they had heard it, because most of their friends have been public or private schooled, but it didn’t impact them in a way that made them take a close look at it. We were strong unschoolers in the early developmental learning stages of my children’s lives, so learning happened all day and all year long without any significant formal learning activities. […]

]]> By: Apple Stars » Blog Archive » Strength-Based Learning, Parental Roles, and the Collaborative Learning Stages http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-155 Apple Stars » Blog Archive » Strength-Based Learning, Parental Roles, and the Collaborative Learning Stages Sat, 29 Jul 2006 22:05:33 +0000 http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-155 [...] This question allowed me to further explain some of MY interactions with my children through the various Collaborative Learning Stages I discussed here before. I would like to go through that a little bit more clearly here on my blog. [...] […] This question allowed me to further explain some of MY interactions with my children through the various Collaborative Learning Stages I discussed here before. I would like to go through that a little bit more clearly here on my blog. […]

]]> By: momof3feistykids http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-135 momof3feistykids Wed, 19 Jul 2006 19:22:05 +0000 http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-135 Excellent article! I have a much better understanding of unschooling after reading this, and it has given me a great deal of food for thought about how children gain independence and find their gifts and callings. Excellent article! I have a much better understanding of unschooling after reading this, and it has given me a great deal of food for thought about how children gain independence and find their gifts and callings.

]]> By: The Country Fair » 5th Country Fair Open! http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-131 The Country Fair » 5th Country Fair Open! Wed, 19 Jul 2006 08:56:55 +0000 http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-131 [...] By comparing her own experiences to those given in ‘A Thomas Jefferson Education’ Cindy at Applestars has put together a list of Collaborative Learning Stages she’s observed her kids go through. You might find that these seven stages correspond with your own family’s learning adventures. [...] […] By comparing her own experiences to those given in ‘A Thomas Jefferson Education’ Cindy at Applestars has put together a list of Collaborative Learning Stages she’s observed her kids go through. You might find that these seven stages correspond with your own family’s learning adventures. […]

]]> By: applestars http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-128 applestars Tue, 18 Jul 2006 18:33:27 +0000 http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-128 Karen, I look forward to seeing you at the conference! JoVE, I really like your outlook about unschooling. I particularly like how you were able to connect with how I view things. Your saying, "instead of seeing each of us as self-contained individuals, you see us as a web of connected people". YES! That is it precisely :-) I also see collaboration as fitting easily into the unschooling paradigm, but lately I have felt to not label what I do as such so as not to have the focus become about if I "fit" or not with what I do. Thanks for both of your comments! Karen, I look forward to seeing you at the conference!

JoVE, I really like your outlook about unschooling. I particularly like how you were able to connect with how I view things. Your saying, “instead of seeing each of us as self-contained individuals, you see us as a web of connected people”. YES! That is it precisely :-) I also see collaboration as fitting easily into the unschooling paradigm, but lately I have felt to not label what I do as such so as not to have the focus become about if I “fit” or not with what I do.

Thanks for both of your comments!

]]> By: JoVE http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-127 JoVE Tue, 18 Jul 2006 16:28:08 +0000 http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-127 This is very helpful and your comment in response to other comments also gave me important food for thought about how this might work with a child who has been schooled for some of it. I don't think your approach veers away from unschooling, though. You just don't have an extreme libertarian view of what unschooling is. Instead of seeing each of us (adults and children) as self-contained individuals, you see us as a web of connected people. The collaboration you describe fits with how I understand unschooling, anyway. I prefer to think that there is variation within unschooling. This is very helpful and your comment in response to other comments also gave me important food for thought about how this might work with a child who has been schooled for some of it.

I don’t think your approach veers away from unschooling, though. You just don’t have an extreme libertarian view of what unschooling is. Instead of seeing each of us (adults and children) as self-contained individuals, you see us as a web of connected people. The collaboration you describe fits with how I understand unschooling, anyway. I prefer to think that there is variation within unschooling.

]]> By: Karen http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-117 Karen Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:16:00 +0000 http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-117 These were great stages. I like how they were more broken down then just say 0-8 years old (there's lots of variation in kids between those ages and so much going on with them developmentally). Your stages do seem to make a logical progression, as well, from less structured learning for young children to more for adolescents and then into adulthood. Unfortunately, I think school systems (and most people in general) tend to feel that young children need to have very structured lives with everything planned out for them and little time for real exploration on their own terms. Thanks for posting this list, as it will help me as we begin our official homeschooling adventure soon. My husband is registered for one of your sessions at the VA Homeschoolers Conference (IEPs). I'm in another session, but maybe I can stop by and introduce myself (if you aren't swarmed by other attendees). Karen These were great stages. I like how they were more broken down then just say 0-8 years old (there’s lots of variation in kids between those ages and so much going on with them developmentally).

Your stages do seem to make a logical progression, as well, from less structured learning for young children to more for adolescents and then into adulthood. Unfortunately, I think school systems (and most people in general) tend to feel that young children need to have very structured lives with everything planned out for them and little time for real exploration on their own terms. Thanks for posting this list, as it will help me as we begin our official homeschooling adventure soon.

My husband is registered for one of your sessions at the VA Homeschoolers Conference (IEPs). I’m in another session, but maybe I can stop by and introduce myself (if you aren’t swarmed by other attendees).

Karen

]]> By: Apple Stars » Blog Archive » Developmental Learning vs. Educational Models http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-115 Apple Stars » Blog Archive » Developmental Learning vs. Educational Models Fri, 14 Jul 2006 04:04:35 +0000 http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-115 [...] Apple Stars May the star within us shine for all to enjoy BiggerBigger Font Size :: SmallerSmaller Font Size :: LeftLeft Align :: JustifyJustify Align :: RightRight Align :: BookmarkBookmark This Page :: PrintPrint This Page « Collaborative Learning Stages [...] […] Apple Stars May the star within us shine for all to enjoy BiggerBigger Font Size :: SmallerSmaller Font Size :: LeftLeft Align :: JustifyJustify Align :: RightRight Align :: BookmarkBookmark This Page :: PrintPrint This Page « Collaborative Learning Stages […]

]]> By: applestars http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-114 applestars Fri, 14 Jul 2006 03:42:31 +0000 http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/13/collaborative-learning-stages/#comment-114 Faith and Susan, Thanks for the positive feedback. It encourages me :-) You know, Susan, I think the school system wreaks havoc on these stages of learning. I really do. For instance, schools are the last place that take into account temperament and learning style knowledge, so it's already discounting the stages that have already occurred and are currently occurring upon entering the system. Further, love of learning is dampened by the exploration stage, so the desire to explore is gone. And how many people do you know find their gift at 14-16? Most discover it in college or later, after they have a season of "finding themselves". Now, the adult transition time occurs for schooled children, but it is an automatic pilot sort of deal, where they just robotically continue to plug in to the expected next route . . . college, or job, or some such. My oldest's transition is going bumpily along, and I wonder if it's because he is experiencing it mindfully and as it is, besides his learning style and temperament have always been "high maintenance" and emotive. That's my take, anyway . . . with some thoughts . . . Faith and Susan,

Thanks for the positive feedback. It encourages me :-)

You know, Susan, I think the school system wreaks havoc on these stages of learning. I really do. For instance, schools are the last place that take into account temperament and learning style knowledge, so it’s already discounting the stages that have already occurred and are currently occurring upon entering the system. Further, love of learning is dampened by the exploration stage, so the desire to explore is gone. And how many people do you know find their gift at 14-16? Most discover it in college or later, after they have a season of “finding themselves”. Now, the adult transition time occurs for schooled children, but it is an automatic pilot sort of deal, where they just robotically continue to plug in to the expected next route . . . college, or job, or some such. My oldest’s transition is going bumpily along, and I wonder if it’s because he is experiencing it mindfully and as it is, besides his learning style and temperament have always been “high maintenance” and emotive.

That’s my take, anyway . . . with some thoughts . . .

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