The Power of Natural Learning
I first heard about unschooling almost a decade ago, when I started exploring alternative education options for my older son, who I knew would not do well in a traditional school setting (he was a toddler at the time). It wasn't long before I stumbled upon a reference to unschooling, which piqued my curiosity.
Unschooling refers to learning which is directed by the CHILD, and based on his or her own interests and passions. It may also be referred to as natural learning, child-led learning, or organic learning.
This concept is so far from any traditional education ideas, that many people wonder if it can possibly work. So, does it? The answer is a resounding YES! My two always-unschooled boys (now aged 8 and 10) are happy, curious, imaginative and creative people who are truly learning all the time.
Transforming Lives
Unschooling goes far deeper than merely "education"
I became a more respectful parent, and learned to trust my children to know their own needs. I also learned to trust MYSELF, and when that happened, my life, along with that of our entire family, reached new levels of peace and freedom.
The biggest thing we have learned from unschooling is that ANYTHING is possible. We are free to learn what we want, do what we want, and BE what we want.
THAT is truly powerful!
My Unschooling Blog: Two Boys and a Dragon
Natural Learning in Action!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byRead More About Unschooling on the Web
- Unschooling on Wikipedia
- Basic information about unschooling.
- Joyfully Rejoycing
- An excellent resource, with detailed answers to just about any question you could have about unschooling!
- Sandra Dodd's unschooling site
- A collection of writings on various aspects of unschooling, by Sandra and other unschooling parents.
- Living Joyfully
- Another great collection of articles and links on unschooling, including writings by Anne Ohman
- Unschooling America
- The site of unschooling advocate Dayna Martin
Are You SURE They're Learning?
Do my boys know everything they would "know" if they were in school? No. Does it matter? No. Why? By the time they are fully grown, I guarantee that they will be able to function as capable, productive adults. They already function better than many adults I've met. Even if they somehow "fall short" in the academic knowledge department (which I don't truly believe will happen), they will have something far more important - a deep understanding of WHO THEY ARE and what they are passionate about. That, to me is the biggest measure of success in life.
Although my boys may not know every single thing they're "supposed to", based on the current school curriculum, they know plenty of things that lots of kids don't. My eight year old, for example, knows who Ghengis Khan is and understands the mathematical concept of infinity. He also knows what a trebuchet is and how to build one (and how it differs from a catapult). My ten year old knows more about reptiles and amphibians than most adults. He also has personal experience caring for a reptile - our Bearded Dragon, Spark.
Those are just a couple of examples of the many, many things my children know about. They are learning more every day - so much that half the time I can't keep up with their learning!
Testing out our homemade trebuchet and catapult
Books About Unschooling
The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 10/10/2008)
The Unprocessed Child: Living Without School
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 10/10/2008)
The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education
Amazon Price: $20.00 (as of 10/10/2008)
Learning All The Time
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 10/10/2008)
Parenting A Free Child: An Unschooled Life
Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)
Unschooling magazines and ezines
Add and vote on your favorite unschooling magazines and ezines
#1
Growing Without Schooling
Back issues of Holt's GWS2 points
#2
Life Learning Magazine
Monthly print magazine1 point
#3
Live Free Learn Free
Bi-monthly print magazine0 points
#4
Connections
Bi-monthly ezine0 points
What We've Been Up to Lately
After watching a short line-drawing animated video on YouTube, both of my boys became interested in learning more about the process of animation. I'm getting fascinated, too!
2. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Now that spring's in the air, we're all feeling like moving more. Swimming at the (indoor) community pool, doing spring-cleanup yardwork, playing on the street with friends, more trips to the park and long walks have been some of the many ways we've been enjoying the start of the warmer weather.
3. A TRIP TO THE SPCA
We love to visit, but it's hard for us not to come home with another pet (we already have 4 - that's enough for now!)
4. RANDOM EXPERIMENTS...
...with Dr. Dreadful's Drink Lab
5. PLAYING WITH OUR BEARDED DRAGON
Who has recently awakened from his winter brumation (the reptile equivalent of hibernation).
6. INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING
At Gravity Climbing Gym. This was quite an experience for all of us (I climbed,too!) It's very physically demanding. The kids were a natural at it and I have a feeling we will be doing this again.
Making a thaumatrope
Critter Watch! April 2008
Animals we have observed (or met!) this month
- Turkey Vulture
- Spotted one flying much lower than usual over our neighbourhood park (Churchill Park)
- 2 Golden Retrievers
- Walking down the sidewalk on the way home from the park!
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Saw (and heard) several walking the most western section of the Waterfront Trail
- Male Mallard
- On the waterfront trail, Cootes Paradise section
- Red fox
- Strolling through the neighbourhood after dark!
- Double-Crested Cormorant
- Along the Waterfront Trail
- Male Promethea Moth
- I think I correctly ID'd this guy.The males look quite different than the females. It was sunning itself on our back deck!
- Woolly Bear Caterpillar
- This little guy was crawling along the Waterfront Trail!
- Mute Swan
- Near the Fishway in Cootes Paradise
This is the Video that Sparked Our Interest in Animation!
Simon's Cat 'Cat Man Do'
A hungry cat resorts to increasingly desperate measures to wake its sleeping owner.
Runtime: 1:38
4672666 views
10 Comments:
Books We Are Currently Exploring
Flipbook Animation: And Other Ways to Make Cartoons Move
Learning about animation is one of our latest passions. This is a fantastic book to get started in understanding how animation works, with great kid-oriented projects
Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)
Make Your Own Animated Movies and Videotapes
Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)
Time Warp Trio: The High and the Flighty (I Can Read Book 3)
Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Walter the Farting Dog Goes on a Cruise
Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 10/10/2008)
Nate the Great and the Musical Note (Nate the Great)
Amazon Price: $4.50 (as of 10/10/2008)
Movies We Have Recently Enjoyed
School of Rock (Widescreen Edition)
This is a TOTALLY unschooly movie! One of our all-time favourites.
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Surf's Up (Widescreen Special Edition)
Amazon Price: $18.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Gremlins
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Fantastic Four - Rise of the Silver Surfer
Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 10/10/2008)
Just Like Heaven (Widescreen Edition)
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Bursting With Anticipation
some things we are eagerly awaiting...
Unschooling Discussion Lists
Get answers to your questions from experienced unschooling parents!
- Shine with Unschooling
- A list that celebrates the uniqueness of every child, with lots of gentle, respectful advice.
- Radical Unschooling
- Unschooling with an emphasis on metaphysical principles, spirituality and LOA.
- Unschooling Basics
- For those new to unschooling - get advice from experienced unschoolers.
- Always Unschooled
- A list for parents of children who have been unschooled since birth, to about age 8 or so.
- Always Learning
- An unschooling discussion list for fans of John Holt.
- Unschooling Discussion
- One of the oldest and largest lists for discussing unschooling.
I'd love to hear your thoughts about unschooling!
|
Evelyn_Saenz
5 Stars and Favored! Posted April 28, 2008 |
Thanks for sharing this on Shine Karen! Your unschooling lens is so great! I wonder what kind of lens Sam and I could make...hmmmm??
~Simone in AK
Posted April 22, 2008
Awesome job Karen!!!!!
Posted April 07, 2008
