What About Math?

Well, that’s a good question. One that a lot of unschoolers answer with trepidation; or it is the one subject that they don’t unschool. Most assert that when the child needs the math to accomplish whatever goals they have or to accomplish something else they want to do that requires math- that they will learn it. Some simply out of curiosity and interest. I still had my doubts that they would ever be interested on their own, despite numerous stories ( true)declaring otherwise……until…..Micah bombarded me this morning with his excitement over ALGEBRA! He had apparently stayed up later last night with an algebra book, zipping through several lessons, become wholly engrossed( and obviously surprised at how fun( yes I said fun) it truly is. All this from a casual statement I made when he asked what math he would need to be a NASA engineer (did I mention they had been learning about astronomy lately too? That reminds me , I need to get more baking soda and vinegar) I explained to him that before he could learn the higher maths and sciences he would need to understand algebra and then geometry.( I had already gotten prepared by getting books and videos from the library and strewing them about invitingly-he he, he he, he he. Learning (even math) has suddenly become, “ the world’s best kept secret”.