Unschooling

Unschooling is more than just not going to school. It is following your child’s interests to get the most out of learning through living.

Can a Christian Be an Unschooler?

Unschooling is an educational approach, an attitude towards learning. It refers to the ways in which we use books, materials, and experiences to learn and grow. The type of underlying structure you have inside yourself, your goals, value system, discipline, whether you watch TV or call parents by their first names, whether you use a patriarchal, democratic, or any other type of family structure, are not unschooling issues; they are parenting issues. Whether unschoolers or not, every parent must deal with these issues. Homeschoolers can agree on matters of how children learn and can even share a similar homeschooling style without agreeing on all of those personal issues; Christians can be unschoolers.

How do Unschoolers Turn Out?

Can unschoolers be successful at life? This article details the results of some surveys of unschoolers, from the parents to those children who were unschooled themselves. Successes include the overwhelming positive response from unschoolers who were happy with their educations, and the 83% of respondents who had gone on to pursue higher education. Includes a discussion of unschoolers' career choices and successes. The conclusion is that unschooling can work if the whole family are invested and with some social connection to the broader world.

8 Powerful Reasons Why I Unschool My Kids

Nina Palmo explains the benefits of unschooling by looking at the benefits this model offers. These benefits include better learning, innovative thinking, passion about learning, good preparation for college and the workforce, and even more what the exact point of learning is (hint: it's not just to go to college or enter the workforce). Unschoolers don't have all the answers, but they do dig deep to find the best way to help their children find joy and power in learning.

Why the Future of Education is Unschooling

According to John Holt, unschooling allows children the freedom to learn in the world on their own terms. He saw no distinction between learning and living a meaningful life. Learning is a natural process and works best when integrated into the spaces and activities of everyday life. This article takes a look at some of John Holt's philosophy of education and explains why unschooling is often the very best choice of educational model.

You Might Be An Unschooler If…

A short list of some of the ways unschoolers learn through living.

Unschooling Discussion

Large traffic email list whose stated purpose is to move out of comfort zones and critically examine beliefs, ideas, and viewpoints about learning, and seek a deeper understanding of unschooling and more respectful relationships with one's children.

Unschool Sharing for Parents

Share successes and ideas and build a helpful, welcoming archive for the new unschoolers, the newly-unschooling, and the nicely unschooling.

Shining Children with Radical Unschooling

This list is a forum for those either radically unschooling or learning how to radically unschool to discuss our "shining" children (Highly Sensitive, Out of Sync, Asperger’s traits, Explosive) and all the issues that accompany life with them--how we grow and learn ourselves thanks to our non-typical children and how unschooling frees their spirits and allows them to truly "shine."

Arkansas Unschoolers

This group is for people who live in Arkansas or nearby who use the "unschooling" philosophy to homeschooling their children. This group will be used to provide support to each other, make connections with each other and attempt to help provide answers to those who have question about unschooling.

John Holt: Teach Your Own Children...at Home

An interview with John Holt from 1980 from The Mother Earth News. Holt discussed his own schooling experiences, how he discovered the key to real learning, and how the idea of homeschooling developed. He also discussed some concerns that parents new to the idea of homeschooling have. There is a short description of some of the legal issues that homeschoolers have faced and where the homeschooling movement is headed.

Unschooling or Homeschooling?

What is the difference between unschooling and homeschooling? At one time they were just two terms for the same thing, so the question was like asking what the difference is between a car and an automobile. Today, homeschooling has remained a generic term while unschooling has come to refer to a specific type of homeschooling. So now the question is like asking what the difference is between a Ferrari and a car. Just what is it about unschooling that differentiates it from other types of homeschooling enough to warrant its own term?

Live Free Learn Free Email Group

This group is an announcement list for the print magazine Live Free Learn Free, a forum for unschoolers and relaxed homeschoolers in which to share ideas and experiences.

The Unschooling List FAQ

This was compiled from many of the wise voices of a great internet list called The Unschooling List. A great basic primer on the concept of unschooling.

Learn in Freedom

Unschooling is the process of learning in freedom. This site supports those efforts, with books, resources, articles, and lots of great information for families interested in self-directed learning or unschooling. With helpful ideas and resources to let your child learn outside of a school environment and be successful and joyful.

Catholic Unschoolers

The Catholic Unschoolers List has been created to provide a forum for those who consider themselves ‘Catholic unschoolers,’ and who wish to make connections with other like-minded individuals for discussion and encouragement.

Unschooling Undefined

Unschooling is a word coined by negating the idea of schooling; it starts off with a negative definition. What, specifically, is it about schools that unschoolers want to do without?

Unschoolers of the Ozarks

This group is for radical unschoolers (and people who want to be) who live in Northwest Arkansas.

Unschooling in the Midwest

This group is for unschoolers in the midwest to offer support to other life learning families and to organize activities.

Unchores

A look at an unschooling family's approach to managing chores around the house. Although this approach may not work for everyone, the emphasis on flexibility and respect for each others needs and inclinations is enlightening.

Texas Unschooling

Texas Unschooling is the source for information on all things unschooling in Texas. At Texas Unschoolers, their mission is to educate and support those families who are exploring an alternative approach to life and learning. Many kids do very well outside the traditional public school model when they are allowed the time and resources to discover where their passions lie.

Against School

This essay was written for the Harper's Magazine forum, "School on a Hill." John Taylor Gatto discusses how public education cripples our kids and why.

A Letter to Concerned Relatives

An explanation of natural learning and the reasons for pursuing this in a family.

Ark-La-Tex Homeschoolers

This is an inclusive, informal group for the Southwest Arkansas, East Texas, and Northwest Louisiana area. This group is available for homeschoolers who are not religious based, and who would like to meet on a regular basis for educational outings as well as social events for the children and adults alike. They meet for Park Days and schedule several inexpensive group field trips a month. Homeschoolers as well as unschoolers are welcome.

A Few Words About Unschooling Math

A wonderful list of things that can lead to math learning.

Unschooling Stories

This is a place to exchange stories from your unschooling life. Describe how your child learned to read. Tell us anecdotes of how your child made unexpected connections. How does your child learn math through play and everyday activities? This list is for stories of how unschooling works. You'll learn from each other by sharing experiences and observations.