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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 work best for them - without depending on educational institutions or "experts" to tell them what to do.
"Unschooling doesn't mean not learning - it means learning without the trappings of school. Its not unlearning or uneducating. Its only unschooling - it points out a contrast in approaches to learning. My unschooled kids are learning as much or more than their schooled friends" - Pam Sorooshian
"Birds fly, fish swim, man thinks and learns. Therefore, we do not need to motivate children into learning by wheedling, bribing or bullying. We do not need to keep picking away at their minds to make sure they are learning. What we need to do, and all we need to do, is bring as much of the world as we can into the school and classroom (in our case, into their lives); give children as much help and guidance as they ask for; listen respectfully when they feel like talking; and then get out of the way. We can trust them to do the rest." - John Holt's "How Children Learn"
We'll gladly exchange links to other unschooling/homeschooling lens in the lensroll. Let us know if you'd like to in the comment section. Thanks!
**Please note: Lens owner has no control over google ad types and does not endorse the use of curriculum in unschooling**
Table of Contents
- What Unschooling Is, And Isn't
- Latest Posts From "An Unschooling Life"
- Unschooling Books
- Unschooling Poll
- Unschooling Rocks T-Shirts
- Del.icio.us Unschooling Bookmarks
- Unschooling Web Sites
- Bid On Unschooling Books
- Unschooling Magazines And Ezines
- Unschooling Blogs
- Google Unschooling Blog Search
- If You Enjoy This Lens:
- Share your thoughts and experience on unschooling
What Unschooling Is, And Isn't
by Joanne Greco
It isn't leaving your children to find their own way. It isn't brushing them off and doing your own thing while they're off on their own trying to make sense of the world.
Unschooling is being a present and mindful parent. It's spending time with your children, being involved in their world and inviting them into yours. It makes me stay on top of my own game and be an interesting parent. Gone are the days where a teacher used to fill that role.
Unschooling my children is enabling me to see that learning is everywhere. The more they are out of school, the more I see the curiosity and spark in their eyes. It shows me to see that learning is fun and enjoyable. Learning is not filling in a bubble on a test. Learning is not being told to memorize a bunch of facts that they could very easily find, in a matter of minutes, on line or in a book.
It has allowed me to see that their interests and passions are valid and important. It allows me to see them...for all they are at this moment, and all they can become.
I've been unschooling my children since 2004 and I can't imagine living any other way. My unschooled children don't view learning as something they "have" to do to pass a test. To them, it's just part of life. They learn about space and horses and forensics because they find it interesting, not because of a grade. Unschooling doesn't look like school. It's REAL learning in the REAL world!
Unschooling my children has shown me that life really is for living and exploring and singing and creating and discovering and trying and doing and being.
© 2007 Joanne Greco
Latest Posts From "An Unschooling Life"
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byUnschooling Books
Unschooling Poll
Unschooling Rocks T-Shirts
Kids T-Shirt
Kids Light T-Shirt
Price: 13.99
Black T-Shirt
Dark T-Shirt
Price: 18.99
Jr. Jersey T-Shirt
Jr. Jersey T-Shirt
Price: 18.99
Women's Tank Top
Women's Tank Top
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Women's T-Shirt
Women's T-Shirt
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Del.icio.us Unschooling Bookmarks
- How to Save the World
- Unschooling
- UNSCHOOLING
- Joyfully Rejoycing - Joyful Living and Unschooling
- John Taylor Gatto - Challenging the Myths of Modern Schooling
- Unschooling - Wikipedia
- Home
- Life Learning Magazine - the international unschooling magazine
- unschooling philosophies, faq's, and tips
- Life Without School
- The Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning (JUAL)
- Family Unschoolers Network - Unschooling Support
- The Education Revolution
- How to Save the World
- The Natural Child Project - Celebrating attachment parenting and unschooling since 1996
Unschooling Web Sites
If you have an unschooling site and would like to exchange links with us, please follow these two simple guidelines:
1. Add our link to your site. Here's our information:
A Guide To Unschooling
http://www.squidoo.com/freeyourmind
2. Leave a comment in the guest book at the bottom of the page. Tell us where you posted our link (3 way link exchanges are fine also) and leave your link information for us.
Thanks!!! :-)
1
Organic Learning
2 points
2
Joyfully Rejoycing
2 points
3
Unschooling.info
1 point
4
Radical Unschooling
1 point
5
Unschooling.com
1 point
6
Family Unschoolers Network
0 points
7
LeapingFromTheBox
0 points
Bid On Unschooling Books
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Unschooling Magazines And Ezines
1
Growing Without Schooling
2 points
2
Life Learning Magazine
1 point
3
Connections
0 points
Unschooling Blogs
If you have an unschooling site and would like to exchange links with us, please follow these two simple guidelines:
1. Add our link to your site. Here's our information:
A Guide To Unschooling
http://www.squidoo.com/freeyourmind
2. Leave a comment in the guest book at the bottom of the page. Tell us where you posted our link (3 way link exchanges are fine also) and leave your link information for us.
Thanks!!! :-)
1
Unschooling Voices
3 points
2
Robin's Blue Skies
2 points
3
A Beautiful Child
2 points
4
News from Hawkhill Acres
1 point
5
This Side of Somewhere
1 point
6
En"JOY" the Journey
1 point
7
8
Po Moyemu--In My Opinion
1 point
9
10
Unschoolmama
1 point
11
Happy@Home
1 point
12
An Unschooling Life
1 point
13
Leaping From The Box
0 points
14
Sandy Feet
0 points
15
Two Boys and a Dragon
0 points
16
The Mighty Beens
0 points
17
En"JOY" the Journey
0 points
Google Unschooling Blog Search
- mu.na.n.du » Blog Archive » “An Unschooling Manifesto.” Th…
- ?An Unschooling Manifesto.? Th? July 4th, 2009, by. ?An Unschooling Manifesto.? This is why I would want to home-school my kids (were I to want or have them). http://bit.ly/LSgK6 ...
- Christian Unschooling: Treehouse
- Christian Unschooling, Nurturing Your Children in the Freedom of Christ.
- Living Without School: Just another unschooling teen group Friday...
- Fridays can be fun days! Just ask any local unschooling/homeschooling teen. July 3. Chores, workout, computer, morning prayers, read about St Thomas...We went to Mass, for First Friday. Feast of St Thomas the Apostle. ...
- Living Life With a Pod Full of Peas: Unschooling for the Skeptics
- I have found an ingenious way to unschool, all while keeping my husband's nerves at bay so I wanted to share. If you print the content standards for your state for each child for each subject and keep them in a folder, you can mark off ...
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Share your thoughts and experience on unschooling
Feel free to add to this lens with your thoughts on unschooling.
aj2008 wrote...
Just revisiting lenses in the Children and Parenting Group to say how proud I am of the quality of lenses in the Group and that I am so glad this is one of them.
Posted May 20, 2009
tandemonimom wrote...
5* and now a Featured Lens in the newly redesigned Homeschooling Group (under new management)!
Posted April 09, 2009
marsha32 wrote...
I came back and lensrolled you with both my homeschooling lens and my Our Homeschooling Journey lens.
Posted January 30, 2009
marsha32 wrote...
My 12 yr old wants to be unschooled, although I am not for sure on what she thinks that is. She wants to read what she wants to when she wants etc. I'm the mom that has a problem getting away from the text books and workbooks. She is adhd and we tend to frustrate each other. I made a lens on homeschooling. If you have some good links I wish you would go post them to my plexo list there.
She is always writing and drawing, and asking me to verify how to spell words, telling me something she learned on the History channel that day, or quizzing me. What is the best way to unschool math? I am about to finally start giving her money for things she does, ans will expect her to keep track of it, tithe and save.
Posted January 01, 2009
aj2008 wrote...
I don't "unschool" my children but this is an extremely helpful lens to anyone considering this as an option for their family. 5*s. Welcome to the Children and Parenting Group!
Posted October 13, 2008
Tigga wrote...
Welcome to the Just Kids group. I have featured this lens. I don't think unschooling has reached the UK yet, I love the philosophy behind it so I have also favorited it! Please take a look at my small list of lenses.
Tigga
Posted October 11, 2008
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
Welcome to the Totally Awesome Lenses Group.
Lizzy
Posted October 11, 2008
chucknp wrote...
Hi Joanne,
Great information here! My two kids are in college now, but were both homeschooled all the way through. Added as a favorite.
-Chuck
Ramanujan - The Man Who Knew Infinity
Posted September 12, 2008
Silver_Lotus wrote...
John Holt is one of my heroes! I'm very pleased to have found this lens. 5*
Posted September 02, 2008
JJNW wrote...
Hi fellow Homeschool group member! We homeschool (and unschool) too and have graduated one so far! I will lensroll you. Please visit my lens at http://www.squidoo.com/HomeschoolDream
Happy Homeschooling! JJ
Posted April 01, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
Dayna Martin does a wonderful job explaining unschooling. I just started a lens on John Holt and thought you might like to check it out. http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/workshop/wisest-teacher-ever
Posted November 07, 2007
serendipityrose wrote...
I love your lens! We are unschoolers of 7 years now. Although my lens "Working at Home and Involving Your Kids" doesn't specifically mention unschooling it came about as a result of our lives as unschoolers.
Posted November 05, 2007
LoriSm wrote...
As an unschooleer for the past 14 years, I never tire of reading about other's ideas or journies. I am radical and outspoken and love meeting others who are just as vocal. You can check out my blog at www.unschoolmama.blogspot.com or on myspace, just look for homeschoolmom42@hotmail.com.
Posted October 13, 2007
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
Unschooling is the best. We unschooled in Boston for many years. When my oldest went to school for the first time in seventh grade she was way beyond her peers and now as a senior in High School is in the National Honor Society taking mostly Advanced Placement College Level Courses.
Posted September 20, 2007
crunchymom76 wrote...
Great lens. I'm a former public school teacher turned unschooling mom. :)
Posted September 02, 2007
AlwaysLearning wrote...
Great lens and information as I am considering changing my approach in homeschooling this upcoming year.
Posted July 25, 2007
Susan52 wrote...
Thanks for your informative lens! We graduated two homeschoolers and I appreciated John Holt's materials and insight. Learning is fun!
Susan
Planning Your Homeschooling Year - Getting it Organized and Making it Fun
Posted July 13, 2007
EditorDave wrote...
Congrats on a great lens! Although my wife and I had been school teachers, we chose to homeschool our two kids. Your lens makes a good argument on why this approach should be considered. Adding your lens to my favorites and lens roll. Likewise?
http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/editordave
Posted June 08, 2007
belindam wrote...
Great site! It's fun to watch kids learn on their own.
Belinda
Homeschool Happenings
Cooking with Kids
Posted May 18, 2007
