John Holt Coined the Term Unschooling
He then went on to write many books about Homeschooling, started the magazine Growing Without Schooling and coined the term "unschooling".
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 teaching a canned curriculum.
Unschooling Table of Contents
- Unschooling in the News
- We Chose Unschooling..
- John Holt Was A Very Wise Teacher
- Unschooling
- Philosophy of Unschooling
- Is Charlotte Mason Unschooling?
- Children learn what they want to know.
- But what about socialization?
- JFK launches Peace Corps - 1961 newsreel
- College admission for Unschoolers
- World Schooling
- Little New School
- Unschooling: Is this legal?
- Unschoolers can Receive a Diploma
- Kindergarten in the Woods
- Homeschool vs. Public Schooling Debate
- Blogging about Homeschooling
- Results of Unschooling
- Unschooling News
- How has John Holt and unschooling affected your life?
Unschooling in the News
- Creative Commons
I am a teacher and an Educational Consultant. I unschooled my daughter until she entered 7th grade.
Homeschooling was the best educational experience my child could ever have. She was able to study exactly what she wanted to study at any moment.
We were able to go in depth into some subjects just because she found it interesting and then go on to another subject when she was ready.
She never needed to be congoled into doing homework or studying subjects that she already knew. She learned to direct her own education.
She made the decision to go to high school starting in 7th grade and will be graduating this year at the top of her class, a member of the National Honor Society, with friends all over the world.
She is completing second year college level calculus and physics (AP) and has been accepted at several colleges.
She was given the Outstanding Senior award and all this began with a solid foundation in homeschooling.
As a homeschooling parent, you work more as a facilitator than a teacher. We used the library, museums, National Parks, friends, the Internet, and many, many other resources to find answers to our questions.
Though I may not know how to do calculus or physics, I certainly know where to find out.
And so when someone asks if one parent can teach a child, I say yes and no, "It take a village to raise a child."
Cultivating Patience
Since making the decision to homeschool the kids n more...0 points
Should home schooling be banned? - NJ.com: Parental Guidance
California courts recently banned parents from hom more...0 points
A Recovery Program for Homeschool Split Personality Disorder
Do you vacillate between child-led, developmentall more...0 points
OP-ED: Homeschooling an option - Op-Ed
A teen describes her experiences homeschooling.0 points
Class Dismissed - City on a Hill Press
...how the unschooling movement is changing how we more...0 points
Moving away from public education
His personal experiences as a public school teache more...0 points
Act NOW to Stop The "Education Begins at Home" Act
don't be fooled by what sounds like a homeschool f more...0 points
In defence of home schooling - The Irish Times - Tue, Apr 14, 2009
Perhaps the most enduring testament to how well ho more...0 points
Growing Without Schooling
The Magazine started by John Holt
Growing Without Schooling is the title of a newsletter started in 1977 by the late John Holt. The last issue was published in 2001.
The newsletter earned a devoted following of homeschoolers over its twenty-four year history.
It was about people who, during some of their growing up, did not go to school, what they did instead, and how they made a place for themselves in the world.
Mostly, it was about people who wanted to take or keep their children out of school, and about what they did instead, what problems came up, and how they coped with these issues.
We Chose Unschooling..
John Holt coined the term Unschooling
As a teacher I have always strived to have all the children happily choosing to learn. One day I picked up What Do I Do Monday? by John Holt. I read it cover to cover. I could make one or two children happily focused on what we were learning but never the whole class.
As my oldest neared kindergarten age I looked at overcrowded classrooms of 35+ students and I talked with Betsy Herbert of South Street School, a school for homeschoolers in Boulder Creek, California. I wanted my child to continue to learn naturally.
We moved to Boston and joined the unschoolers there. Though John Holt had died several years before, we met Pat Feranga and the rest of the folks at Holt Associates and felt like we were coming home.
Catherine Hughes taught us about the Daughter of the Bog at the Boston Museum of Science. We held starfish in our hands at the New England Aquarium. My daughter fell in love with acting and making costumes with the Puddlejump Players. She learned to read with Harry Potter.Though our children choose to attend school now, we know that it is a choice and thus they are still unschooling in a sense.
John Holt Was A Very Wise Teacher
- He believed in children.
- He gave voice to the unschooling movement.
- He started the magazine "Growing With Schooling".
- He believed that home is the proper base for the exploration of the world.
- He believed that children did not need to be coerced into learning; they would do so naturally if given the freedom to follow their own interests and a rich assortment of resources. This line of thought became known as unschooling.
Unschooling
Unschooling is a form of education in which learning is based on the student's interests, needs, and goals. It may be alternatively referred to as natural learning, child-led learning, discovery learning, delight-led learning, or child-directed learning.
Unschooling is generally considered to be a form of home education, which is simply the education of children at home rather than in a school. Home education is often considered to be synonymous with homeschooling, but some have argued that the latter term implies the recreation of school in the context of the home, which they believe is philosophically at odds with unschooling.
Unschooling contrasts with other forms of home education in that the student's education is not directed by a teacher and curriculum. Although unschooling students may choose to make use of teachers or curricula, they are ultimately in control of their own education.
Students choose how, when, why, and what they pursue. Parents who unschool their children act as "facilitators," providing a wide range of resources, helping their children access, navigate, and make sense of the world, and aiding them in making and implementing goals and plans for both the distant and immediate future. Unschooling expands from children's natural curiosity as an extension of their interests, concerns, needs, goals, and plans.
The term unschooling was coined by John Holt. An author of ten books on education, John Holt founded the unschooling magazine Growing Without Schooling.
"You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help him find it within himself.
~Galileo Galilei"
Philosophy of Unschooling
Unschoolers commonly believe that curiosity is innate and that children want to learn what is necessary for them to become competent adults. Some argue that institutionalizing children in what they term a "one size fits all" or "factory model" school is an inefficient use of their time because it requires every child to learn specific subject matter in a particular manner, at a particular pace, and at a particular time regardless of that individual's present or future needs, interests, goals, or any pre-existing knowledge he or she might have about the topic.
Many unschoolers also believe that opportunities for valuable hands-on, community based, spontaneous, and real-world experiences are missed when educational opportunities are largely limited to those which can occur physically inside of a school building.
Additionally, some unschoolers agree with John Holt when he says that "...the anxiety children feel at constantly being tested, their fear of failure, punishment, and disgrace, severely reduces their ability both to perceive and to remember, and drives them away from the material being studied into strategies for fooling teachers into thinking they know what they really don't know." Proponents assert that individualized, child-led learning is more efficient and respectful of children's time, takes advantage of their interests, and allows deeper exploration of subjects than what is possible in conventional education. Is Charlotte Mason Unschooling?
- Is Charlotte Mason Unschooling?
- Welcome to my Charlotte Mason essay.
Unschooling and homeschooling Lenses
Squidooers, please feel free to add your homeschooling lenses to this list. You may also grab this plexo to add it to your lens. By adding it to your lens both our lenses will be updated each time someone adds a lens to the plexo.
http://www.holtgws.com/
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http://www.fun-books.com/gws.htm
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http://www.freechild.org/ReadingList/john_holt.htm
This page is offered to honor the unschooling/ hom more...0 points
http://www.naturalchild.org/common_objections/
People, especially educators, who hear me talk abo more...0 points
http://www.afamunschool.com/id10.html
Unschooling As Philosophy of Life
Often it is sa more...0 points
An Unschooling Life
An Unschooling Life0 points
Alternative Learning Systems & Experimental Education
Public schools perform much worse at edifying stud more...0 points
Revolutionary Homeschool T-shirts and Gear
Say it loud, say it proud: we homeschool and you s more...0 points
Homeschool FAQ
Do you have questions about whether you should hom more...0 points
Real World Learning
Real World Learning* Already homeschooling? This p more...0 points
Unschooling ROCKS!
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Our Unschooling Journal
My 12 year old, Jasmine has been telling me that s more...0 points
Raise Children With A Wild Streak | An Unschooling Life
I enjoyed the whole article except this part; Surr more...0 points
The Lighter Side of Home Education
Given the recent media attention to the growing mo more...0 points
Organic Education
How we spend our time free from curricula and time more...0 points
Essential body of knowledge
What do Unschoolers Learn?
Unschoolers often contest that learning any specific subject is less important than learning how to learn. They assert, in the words of Alec Bourne, "It is possible to store the mind with a million facts and still be entirely uneducated", and in the words of Holt:
Since we can't know what knowledge will be most needed in the future, it is senseless to try to teach it in advance. Instead, we should try to turn out people who love learning so much and learn so well that they will be able to learn whatever needs to be learned.
This ability to learn on their own makes it more likely that later, when these children are adults, they can continue to learn what they need to know to meet newly emerging needs, interests, and goals. They can return to any subject that they feel was not sufficiently covered or learn a completely new subject.
Many unschoolers disagree that there is a particular body of knowledge that every person, regardless of the life they lead, needs to possess. They suggest that there are countless subjects worth studying, more than anyone could learn within a single lifetime. Since it would be impossible for a child to learn everything, somebody must decide what subjects they are to explore.
Unschoolers argue that "Children... if they are given access to enough of the world, they will see clearly enough what things are truly important to themselves and to others, and they will make for themselves a better path into that world than anyone else could make for them."
Children learn what they want to know.
Learning does not box children in. It leads them out into life in many directions. Each new thing they learn makes them aware of other new things to be learned. Their curiosity grows by what it feeds on. Our task is to keep it well supplied with food.
-John Holt from How Children Learn
The Role of Parents
The child-directed nature of unschooling does not mean that unschooling parents will not provide their children with guidance and advice, or that they will refrain from sharing things that they find fascinating or illuminating with them.
These parents generally believe that as adults, they have more experience with the world and greater access to it. They believe in the importance of using this to aid their children in accessing, navigating, and making sense of the world.
Common parental activities include sharing interesting books, articles, and activities with their children, helping them find knowledgeable people to explore an interest with (anyone from physics professors to automotive mechanics), and helping them set goals and figure out what they need to do to meet their goals.
Unschooling's interest-based nature does not mean that it is a "hands off" approach to education; parents tend to be quite involved, especially with younger children (older children, unless they are new to unschooling, will often need much less help finding resources and making and carrying out plans).
The Best Unschooling Books
Vote for your favorite unschooling book or add another.
Everyone has their favorite unschooling book. Please add your own here.
Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book of Homeschooling by John Holt
The classic work on teaching children at home, upd more...0 points
What Do I Do Monday? (Innovators in Education) by John Holt
When teachers listened to Holt's talks, or wrote h more...0 points
The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education by Grace Llewellyn
You won't find this book on a school library shelf more...0 points
Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto
With over 70,000 copies of the first edition in pr more...0 points
The Unprocessed Child: Living Without School by Valerie Fitzenreiter
The Unprocessed Child is a work of nonfiction abou more...0 points
Homeschooling Our Children Unschooling Ourselves by Alison McKee
A compelling story about one family's journey into more...0 points
Real Lives: Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go to School Tell Their Own Stories
In 1993, eleven homeschooled teenagers described t more...0 points
Socialization for Unschoolers
Concerns about socialization are often a factor in the decision to unschool.
Many unschoolers believe that the conditions common in conventional schools, like age segregation, a low ratio of adults to children, a lack of contact with the community, and a lack of people in professions other than teaching or school administration create an unhealthy social environment.
They feel that their children benefit from coming in contact with people of diverse ages and backgrounds in a variety of contexts.
They also feel that their children benefit from having some ability to influence what people they encounter, and in what contexts they encounter them.
Unschooled children are often reported to be more mature than their schooled peers,and some people believe this is a result of the wide range of people with which they have the opportunity to communicate.
But what about socialization?
The first picture is of a classroom where the children are seated quietly listening to the teacher. There is no social contact between the children. Many school systems are even eliminating recess. The second picture is of a group of homeschoolers learning together. They are socializing while learning.
Very well meaning family, friends, and even strangers will ask "But what about socialization?" How do you respond? Here is a list to help new families with this looming question:
Socialization is one of the best reasons to homeschool.
Although non-homeschoolers worry that homeschooling may turn children into social misfits, we know that the opposite is true and that POSITIVE socialization is one of the best reasons to homeschool your children0 points
Homeschoolers spend more actual time out in society.
Socialization is actually meant to prepare children for the real world, which means learning to interact and deal with people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. In this case, homeschooling actually does a better job of this because homeschoolers spend more actual time out in society.0 points
Homeschooled children certainly not isolated; in fact, they associate with--and feel close to--all sorts of people.
Home-schooled children are taking part in the daily routines of their communities. Home schooling parents can take much of the credit for this. For, with their children's long-term social development in mind, they actively encourage their children to take advantage of social opportunities outside the family. Home-schooled children are acquiring the rules of behavior and systems of beliefs and attitudes they need. They have good self-esteem and are likely to display fewer behavior problems than d...0 points
Many people are homeschooling because of socialization reasons.
Socialization in homeschooling works better because children have more opportunities to be socialized through the modeling of good social behavior by caring adults rather than through peers, who do not know much more than they do. Parents give their kids the skills they need to interact with other people and also have the chance to protect their children.0 points
To Unschoolers, Learning Is As Natural As Breathing
The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 02/09/2010) 
The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education
Amazon Price: (as of 02/09/2010)
College admission for Unschoolers
Unschoolers have been admitted to most universities (including Ivy League schools). The article Homeschooling: Back to the Future? states that in the absence of a transcript or high school diploma, applicants can submit samples or a portfolio of their work, letters of recommendation, and CLEP and Stanford Achievement Test scores.
Some universities consider unschoolers to be an asset because they tend to love learning, be self-motivated, and know what they want to get out of their college experience. According to Johnathan Reider, an admissions officer at Stanford university, speaking of home educated students in general, The distinguishing factor is intellectual vitality. These kids have it, and everything they do is responding to it.
College admission for Unschoolers
- Unschooling- Citizendium
- Unschoolers have been admitted to most universities (including Ivy League schools). The article Homeschooling: Back to the Future? states that in the absence of a transcript or high school diploma, applicants can submit samples or a portfolio of their work, letters of recommendation, and CLEP and Stanford Achievement Test scores.
Some universities consider unschoolers to be an asset because they tend to love learning, be self-motivated, and know what they want to get out of their college experience. According to Johnathan Reider, an admissions officer at Stanford university, speaking of home educated students in general, The distinguishing factor is intellectual vitality. These kids have it, and everything they do is responding to it. - Links to Unschooling Blogs
- All about unschooling
World Schooling
Unschooling College
Photo Credit: Worldschooling
on Stranger in a Strange Land Newsletter
Eli was unschooling with us in Boston years ago. He was unschooling high school and was an inspiration for those of us who wondered what the possibilities were for our children when they got to that age.
Now I find that Eli not only unschooled college but that he has coined a new, more friendly term, worldschooling. He is now worldschooling and blogs about it online. Be sure to check it out:
- Eli Gerzon - Writer, Traveler, Worldschooler | Worldschooling
- Eli Gerzon's travel newsletters; speaking and writing on education, travel, and homeschooling; travel tours and photos.
How do you homeschool?
Little New School
Video of a School for Unschoolers
- LITTLE NEW SCHOOL
- Very amazing film on a off beat School near Copenhagen.John Holt, the great pedagogue, called it his dream school.You will love seeing the passion of the teachers and the children.
Criticisms of Unschooling
Photo Credit: Holding a Turkey Chick
1. The following are common opinions and concerns of people who are critical of unschooling.
2. Most children lack the foresight to learn the things they will need to know in their adult lives.
3. There may be gaps in a child's education unless an educational professional controls what material is covered.
4. Because schools provide a ready-made source of peers, it may be more difficult for children who are not in school to make friends and develop social skills than it is for their schooled peers.
5. Because schools may provide a diverse group of both adults and students, it might be more difficult for children who are not in school to be directly exposed to different cultures, socio-economic groups and worldviews.
6. Some children are not motivated to learn anything, and will spend all of their time in un-educational endeavors if not coerced into doing otherwise.
7. Not all parents may be able to provide the stimulating environment or have the skills and patience required to encourage the student's curiosity.
8. Because they often lack a diploma from an accredited school, it may be more difficult for unschooled students to get into college or get a job.
9. Children who direct their own educations may not develop the ability to take direction from others.
School, Homeschool, or Unschool
Children who are homeschooled exhibit no disruption in academic or social development, however, to make homeschooling work, parents must make the time commitment, the money commitment, and the lifestyle commitment to provide that academic environment for the child at home.
Homeschooled children have above-average social and psychological development through their exposure to many different age groups and other activities to boost their social development.
Do you or would you homeschool your children?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, homeschooling or better yet unschooling is the best.
theraggededge says:
We have homeschooled (DS 10, DD 7) for almost 5 years. Mostly unschooling, or 'autonomously' as it is known in the UK. We follow a maths schedule but I think that is more for me than the kids :-)
Posted August 09, 2009
tandemonimom says:
My four (13, 11, 7, 5) have always homeschooled! All have active social lives and lively curiosity and intelligence. Thank goodness for homeschool!
Posted January 01, 2009
Cajean says:
I would if I had children, especially now! I used to help my great-nephews in their homeschooling several years ago. It was a super experience for them and me. Now they've traveled the world, done volunteer/mission work, graduated from college, and are still giving back to their communities. I don't know as much about unschooling, but it sounds good.
Posted October 11, 2008
groovyoldlady says:
I've homeschooled 2 through highschool and I'm homeschooling a 7 year-old and 9 year-old now. We use unit studies as well as seat work, but we mix it up with what the girls want to pursue. I'm not afraid to change the directions in the curriculum!
Posted September 18, 2008
Capagrl says:
I do homeschool and am dabbling more and more into unschooling. My son is super smart, super headstrong and super capable of educating himself in the areas that interest him. I guess you could say he's deschooling ME :)
Posted June 30, 2008
No, I don't feel capable of teaching my children.
Unschooling: Is this legal?
- Unschooling
- We support, defend, promote and encourage unschooling in all its many shapes and forms. We're creating a haven for unschooling families, a place to find answers, to meet friends, to discover resources, to read affirming essays when one needs uplifting. We welcome your suggestions and ideas, and we c
- Unschooling Blog
- "Unschooling" is a term that can be used with two distinct meanings.
Some use the term "unschooling" to describe methods of education that do not resemble schools, primarily indicating that they do not rely heavily on textbooks or spend much time at desks. The parents actively conduct the children's education, using a variety of resources.
Picture Books about Homeschooling
Most picture books speak of taking the school bus, happenings in the classroom or school class fieldtrips. Homeschoolers need a few books that champion homeschooling. Please add to this list if you know any that I have missed.
Shouldn't You Be In School? by Angelina Hart
We all choose to homeschool for a variety of reaso more...0 points
Unschooling on eBay
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Links to Homeschooling Lenses
Each of these links will lead you to great homeschooling sites.
Please add your Homeschooling Lens to the plexo. The more links to your lens the higher your lensrank.
John Holt: Unschooling
Unschooling is learning based on the student's int more...0 points
Real World Learning
Real World Learning* Already homeschooling? This p more...0 points
Harry Chapin's Flowers Are Red Song Illustrates Why We Unschool
Lyrics and thoughts on the song by Harry Chapin, F more...0 points
Homeschooling
I am building this lens to help other homeschooler more...0 points
The Lighter Side of Home Education
Given the recent media attention to the growing mo more...0 points
Organic Education
How we spend our time free from curricula and time more...0 points
Homeschool Planning
One of the most focused on areas of homeschooling more...0 points
Harry Chapin Sings Flowers are Red
I learned about this wonderful song from Lisa
Homeschooling in the News
- The Anti-Schoolers
- Benny's parents aren't home-schooling in the traditional sense, by hewing to a curriculum, nor are they strictly "unschooling," that is, following the teachings of John Holt, a progressive educator who promoted a child-led learning movement that is a wildly democratic subset of the home-schooling world. Rather, theirs is an ad hoc, day-by-day exploration into what it means to be a stay-at-home parent and child in an accelerated culture like New York.
Magazines for Unschooling
Live Free Learn Free
- Unschooling Inspiration - Live Free Learn Free Magazine
- Inspirational unschooling magazine and expansive online collection of resources for unschoolers and other natural learners.
Unschoolers can Receive a Diploma
Alger Learning Center is for Unschoolers around the World
There are times when society in general demands paperwork and grades, credits and diplomas. This is what Alger Learning Center offers to unschooling families across the US and around the world. Your children learn in any way they so choose and Alger Learning Center helps to document that learning and puts it into the format required to be accepted into college, army or for job requirements.
I have personally spoken with the director and found this institution to be very friendly and helpful to unschoolers. They offer a variety of services to meet whatever level of comfort you need. I highly recommend checking out Alger Learning Center which is dedicated to freedom in learning and unbridled education, while supporting independent learning, homeschooling, and unschooling.
- Alger Learning Center K-12 Homeschooling & Unschooling Assistance
The Alger Learning Center and Independence High School was founded in 1981 to provide students with creative educational alternatives while empowering them to take charge of their own lives and learning.
Our educational philosophy is grounded in the belief that learning is an ongoing, lifelong experience. We strongly believe that students deserve trust and the basic freedom to make choices, to put ideas into action, and to grow and learn according to their own learning style(s) and goals.
Homeschoolers Love to Walk in the Woods
There is a new group being formed in Squidooville. It's called A Walk in the Woods. Whitefoot the Wood Mouse is inviting you to join him there. If you are a member of Squidoo and you may join the group. The exposure that your lens gets by joining will boost your lens rank and add to the number of web pages linking back to your lens. If you are not yet a member of Squidoo you can still come over and read about those who are. Come take A Walk in the Woods.
Kindergarten in the Woods
- German Kindergarteners Answering Call of the Wild : TreeHugger
- If you've ever wished you could play outside all day, running through forests and playing in the mud until the sun went down you just may be fascinated to learn that there are kindergarten schools in Germany that now eschew classrooms in favor of the forest floor, and head outside to learn all day, come rain or shine.
And while schools and parents in some countries push their kids to read, write, and surf the Web earlier and earlier in an effort to sharpen their skills for an increasingly competitive global economy; these kids get to sing songs, build fires, roll around in the mud and kick back in their "wald sofa" of tree stumps and twigs.
All told it seems there are about 700 Waldkindergarten, or "forest kindergartens" throughout Germany, with kids discovering the world in a different fashion.
Intriguingly, there's a tiny high school in the woods of Northeastern America, inspired by Thoreau, that's taken a similar approach with kids who might otherwise have dropped out or found themselves in trouble of one form or another.
Unschoolers can find some great ideas on these Lenses!
Check them out!-
Teachers Who Teach from the Heart
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This lens will tell you about some famous and not so famous teachers, methods of teaching and ways to engage children in learning. Think about the great teachers you have known who truly care about children. They inspire children to do their best an...
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Enjoying Educational Games
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What do kids do best? Play of course. Why not encourage this natural tendency by providing your children with great entertaining games that just happen to be educational as well. Educational Games such as Mancala and Set teach math concep...
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Lemmings: Falling into the Sea of Knowledge
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When the winds start to howl and the snow begins to blow you can capture your student's attention with this innovative Arctic Unit Study focusing on lemmings. Your little lemmings will be excited to learn with a theme that includes little furry crea...
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Beginning to Read
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Mrs. Wishy Washy and The Big Bad Pig are inviting you all beginning readers to join them in the adventure of learning to read. Learn how to make Word Walls, Literacy Bags, activities for Center Time and lots, lots, more. You will find suggested begi...
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Garner Rix and the Royalton Raid - 1780
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Garner Rix was just 12 when he moved with his father, pregnant mother, two sisters and three brothers from a farm in Connecticut to a log cabin on the banks of the White River, a place that would one day be called Royalton, Vermont. He helped h...
Homeschool vs. Public Schooling Debate
Having homeschooled my children for years, worked in both public and private schools, daycares and Afterschool programs, I have found that homeschoolers have excellent social skills and are the academically self sufficient as teens and young adults. If they choose to go to high school or college they excel, often entering far beyond their schooled peers.-
Homeschool vs. Public School
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Homeschool vs. Public School The number of kids being schooled at home is surging forward. Why are millions of parents taking their kids out of school and back home? Why are we still educating our kids like our parents, grandparents, and our founding...
Blogging about Homeschooling
- The Stigma of Home Schooling | Blissfully Domestic
- Here in the suburbs, failing to put your four-year-old child in preschool is right on par with locking her in the car on a 100-degree day and going
- UK Unschoolers Blog Ring
- This is a blog ring for unschooling and radically unschooling bloggers in the United Kingdom, so that we can easily find each other, link to each other's sites, and share our unschooling journeys.
Results of Unschooling
Did we make the right decision?
Photo Credit: Unschooling in Costa Rica
Because we chose to homeschool, we were able to visit volcanos in Costa Rica, learn algebra using Cuisenaire Rods and read hundreds of books that public schooled children never have the time for.
- Results of Unschooling: My Daughter turns 21
- On September 21, I spent the day with my oldest daughter at her college. As she turned 21 I look back at the choices we made and the results of those choices.
Unschooling News
A Very Relaxed form of Homeschooling
- What are the things that all children need to learn?
- Every time Autonomous Education (aka Unschooling) gets discussed it seems that someone will voice their concern about the child not covering certain things ...
- Young Atlantan relishes first feature film role
- In between acting gigs, Tendal is part of a local "unschooling" movement, a slightly different take on traditional home schooling. ...
- The world is their classroom
- From strict ?school at home,? where students sit in desks and switch classes every hour, to ?unschooling,? where children's interests lead the curriculum ...
Follow me on Twitter
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- @faithvoid Sounds like a great day to snuggle up with your child, a cup of tea and a good book.
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- What does that heart shaped necklace mean?: Love Actually: A Heartwarming Movie / http://tinyurl.com/338zup
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- @JJNW Teens love to cook together. Have you thought about having a pizza party where they get to roll out and then add toppings?
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- @Aramacaoinn I love the addresses in Costa Rica! 500 meters south of Pizza Hut. What a kick :)
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- Happy Groundhog's Day! Fun, hands-on learning activities to celebrate... http://www.squidoo.com/woodchucks
How has John Holt and unschooling affected your life?
Tell me about your experiences with homeschooling or unschooling.
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Reply
- GladlyMom GladlyMom Feb 8, 2010 @ 8:45 pm
- Having homeschooled our daughter before there were homeschooling laws, I can say that our daughter was perfectly suited to unschooling. Her passion was horses and she basically taught herself through a college-level and beyond just about everything there is to know about horses. She is now 29 years old, married with two little boys, and runs her own business training horses and young riders. She did not fit in the traditional classroom at all. Unschooling paid off big time in her life!
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Reply
- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Feb 9, 2010 @ 6:43 am
- Thank you for sharing your story. Success stories like these help us all to realize that unschooling does work. When children are allowed to persue their interests they learn the most.
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- Mart903 Mart903 Dec 13, 2009 @ 10:52 am
- Non-standard ways of learning have always appealed to me. This lens is a fine gateway for me to understand everything this revolutionary concept of unschooling implies. Thank you for sharing such valuable info!
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- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Dec 13, 2009 @ 11:42 am
- Hi Mart, Thank you for stopping by and checking out unschooling. Please let me know if you have any questions.
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- KNicholls KNicholls Oct 4, 2009 @ 10:02 am
- I only heard the word "unschooling" in the last two weeks on a "Wife Swap" TV show. Your lens gave me great insight into the concept. Thanks for doing it!
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Look Who's Twittering about Unschooling
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- mrshannigan
- @HelenMelon27 A mathematician's lament - absolutely life-changing perspective. http://bit.ly/wltk7 enjoy #homeschool #unschool #kids #math
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- LifeLearningMag
- We're looking for anti-school or pro-unschool quotes by women to add to the long lists by men. Will compile and share.
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- OnBradstreet
- Unschool morning--the kids are attending a Naturlization Ceremony w/Dad as part of their Immigration studies.
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- ashdhart
- @queenofgeek I looked into them and I'm not big on tight structures like they seem to have. One reason we unschool. Maybe @wreichard does?
Meet the Author of this Homeschooling Lens
We happily unschooled for years.
Opportunities for learning abound. Just open your mind and look around.
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Evelyn Saenz: Lensography of a Teacher
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My passion is teaching and finding ways to teach children in fun, hands-on, creative ways. The unit studies I make on Squidoo reflect my view that learning should be integrated and no skills should be taught in isolation. I believe that each topic s...
