Unschooling

My NOT Back to School page!
NOT-Back-To-School Day!
As fall approaches, my boys and I are celebrating the fact that they're NOT going back to school! We're going to tell you some of the reasons why we love homeschooling. (photos of JG's and BT's Lego creations were taken on our front porch)

What is Unschooling?
What is unschooling all about?
Unschooling is learning based on the student's interests, needs, and goals. Parents are facilitators rather than teachers, helping their children to find resources for learning rather than being taught a canned curriculum. After teaching for several years, striving to keep children engaged and focused on what he was trying to teach, John Holt realized that children learn best when the are learning what they want to learn. He also realized that this could not be accomplished in a traditional ...

But What about Socialization?
But what about Socialization? The Question Homeschoolers face on a Daily Basis
When making the decision to homeschool, socialization is often one of the major concerns. Many homeschooling families believe that public and private schools with their classes divided by age, low ratio of adults to children, isolation from the community, and contact with professionals limited to teachers and administrators to be an unhealthy and incomplete social environment. They feel that their children need contact with people of diverse ages and backgrounds in a variety of contexts. Th...

Unschooling
A Guide To Unschooling
This page is sponsored by An Unschooling Life Unschooling (a term coined by John Holt) differs from other forms of homeschooling in that it's not directed by a teacher or a curriculum.  Parents who unschool their children provide a wide range of resources and support and believe that learning happens all the time and does not require coercion.  Unschooling isn't a method, it is a way of looking at children and at life. It is based on trust that parents and children will find the paths that w...

A hectic, urban family's homeschooling journey
Our homeschooling life
Every family's homeschooling experience is different, and seeing how different families approach it gives you confidence that you can do it, too. So I wanted to share my experiences of how we integrate our busy working life with our very relaxed homeschooling style. Welcome to our world. (photo of my boys at the library)

Unschooling and Whole Life Learning
Focus on Whole Life and Happiness
Radical unschooling, or whole life unschooling, extends the philosophy of unschooling to all of life. Whole life unschoolers extend the freedom to follow one's own curiosity and desire in learning to the freedom to follow one's own lead in all of life. The parents in a radical unschooling family approach living and learning with children as a respectful partnership. In other words, radical unschooling philosophy holds that children are not left on their own, but rather are supported a...

Unschooling your child
Unschooling your child Unschooling is the most fluid style of homeschooling. There is no curriculum and no set boundaries. Many parents feel a bit apprehensive about such freedom. But, even unschooling has certain guidelines that make it a great method of homeschooling Firstly, allow your child to express interests. Let her select the topic. If she wants to learn about flowers, tell her about the various flowers, their functions, parts of the flower, rare flowers etc. But don't go overboard...

Unschooling in action: Taking a walk with my kids
A fantastic no-cost homeschooling activity
Unschooling is learning from life. And you encounter life everywhere. You don't have to travel far or spend a lot of money. A great unschooling activity is just taking a walk. There are plenty of things right on your block that will capture your children's attention and spark their curiosity. One nice thing about living in Southern California is that the weather will rarely hinder you from taking a nice family walk. This page chronicles some of the learning opportunities we find just walki...

Autonomous Education * Unschooling - Does It Work?
Home Education in the UK - A Radical Approach?
This little girl has never been to school. At nine years old, she is happy, friendly, sociable and enthusiastic about learning. So why do we, her parents allow her to choose her own educational path? We practice, what is called in the US 'unschooling' and in the UK, 'autonomous education'. Autonomous education is child-directed, self-motivated learning. But kids don't want to learn by themselves, do they? Isn't that why we send them to school? So that someone with more knowledge and more exp...

Is Your Unschooling Teen Ready For College?
Unschoolers and College Prep
Is your unschooling teen ready for college? Going to college is a big decision that your teen and your family must be prepared for emotionally, mentally, and financially. This guide will take you through the steps to decide if it's time for your teen to go to school! Photo credit: Shani Enns