[email protected]

I went to Yahoogroups to see if our group showed under an "unschooling"
search. 210 groups did, so I thought I'd go through and see which were
larger than our current 214. I've found some and will list them below.
Maybe some of you want more input and would like to join additional groups.
Maybe some of you are bored with this list and want a different style. Maybe
you're just curious about what else is there. I'll set my own comments
apart ******this way******** and the first number there is the number of
members listed. These numbers are probably not exactly current, because our
number was a couple of weeks old. There were 210 groups listed, but many
of them were definitely NOT unschooling lists, and showed up because they
said so (using that term) or because they had a keywords list and unschooling
was one of their keywords (for no good reason at all).

There was another listed for unschoolers in Colorado: counschooling (not
many members, but worth mentioning in addition to the csprings group
mentioned in the previous post)



395 RUL
This is the "Radical Unschoolers List". It is for all families, regardless of
religious affiliation, choosing to unschool their children. Unschooling is
child-led learning, learning as a part of life. It allows the child to learn
naturally, without adult-imposed "lessons", schedules, or timelines. This
list is to offer support, information, perspective, and enlightenment to
anyone already unschooling or interested in unschooling.


217 CCU-List
CCU stands for Christ Centered Unschooling. Unschooling is a well researched
theory which departs from the accepted norms of education in our society.
Learning should be as natural as any other life process, ie; breathing and
eating. The theory of unschooling depends on the human being's innate desire
to learn and strives to allow the individual the freedom to explore their
current areas of interest. This list was formed as a place for Christians who
are either unschooling, attempting to ... more

****I don't think unschooling is exactly "well researched," although it's
based on various parts of well-researched learning theory rejected by public
schools...****

299 members ***and the 123 is part of their forum name***
123ahomeschoolforme
Home School! Homeschoolers. Homeschooling! Unschoolers. This is a place for
home-schooled kids and parents. Here you can exchange ideas! support each
other! give links for school stuff! just talk including, scripture, God,
church, parents, kids, home cleaning, lessons and curriculum, on-line
courses, web sites, dogs and cats Please be considerate of others Please, no
rude talk, bad language, or anything of the sort. This is an unmoderated list
and the list owner does not have any legal ... more

***THIS IS IMPORTANT, because Pennsylvania appears to be an impossible place
to unschool, but look how many people DO know how to pull it off and are
offering help! So keep this one in mind when you're elsewhere and some new
Pennsylvania resident comes in scared and hopeless.***

264
PA-Unschoolers
Are you unschooling in Pennsylvania? Are you a relaxed or eclectic
homeschooler? Are you thinking about taking the leap of faith to unschool?
Come chat with us! PA has one of the most restrictive homeschooling laws in
the country. When you join our group, you will automatically get a copy of
the law in your email. You can also access the Law by clicking on "files" on
the website at Yahoogroups. Get together with us to talk about the ways that
unschoolers can meet the law's requirements. All are ... more


***This one's more like a newsletter and isn't a disussion group directly,
but it does have lots of members!
370 FUNNews
Brought to you by the Family Unschoolers Network. Members will receive our
online newsletter with articles, announcements, events listings, FUN Books
special offers, and other items of interest about unschooling and
homeschooling.


461
unschoolingcheap
Unschooling ? Homeschooling in a more relaxed way? Want to discuss ways to do
it cheaply? If your looking for a list that will help you find cheap and free
homeschool resources, but arnt interested in more worksheets, quiz makers,or
textbook swaps, then this is the list for you!!! I want this list to be for
everyone who is interested, but we will be discussing resources that are not
as schooly, fun things, books, movies, field trips, web sites etc.. This list
does have a no ads policy, no spam, ... more


****almost but not quite the biggest list there:****

636 Unschooling-dotcom
This is a networking and discussion list for unschoolers, sponsored by Home
Education Magazine (HEM). For information about unschooling please see the
Unschooling.com website http //www.unschooling.com

**** and THE biggest list:*****
1039 unschooling
Unschooling is the art of using a child's natural curiosity to guide
learning. Join us and learn more about this. See more at Unschooling Support
Center http //www.homeschoolzone.com/unschooling/

****Not too many posts a month, 25 or so? But part of a HUGE website with
sponsors and color and flash.****

--------
705
Seedling
Seedlings Nurturing our children in the freedom of Christ A monthly Christian
homeschooling ezine. Subscriber-made. Christian Unschooling at it's best!!
***** (not a discussion, really; couldn't tell from peeking how it
worked)****


****A big local group, but not all unschoolers:****
241 dfw-hu
The DFW Homeschoolers & Unschoolers Loop is open to all, regardless of race,
creed, core belief system, basic motivation for home/unschooling, hair color,
marital status, sex, sexual preference, favorite color, etc., who share an
interest in home/unschooling children in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and
the surrounding area. It's purpose is to share homeschooling experiences,
suggestions and encouragement. This is not a list for "sale" ads of any type.
To subscribe, send an empty message to ... more



****These are not big, but I thought they were interesting. ****


5thgradehomeschool
15 members
For parents and children who are homeschooling in the 5th Grade. Discussions
may include any aspects of the home education experience, including
curriculum choices, teaching tips, creative lesson plans, alternative
methods, learning styles, and time management. Here you can exchange ideas!
support each other! give links for school stuff! just talk including,
scripture, God, church, parents, kids, home cleaning, lessons and curriculum,
on-line courses, and web sites. Please be considerate of others Please, no
rude talk, bad language, or anything of the sort. This is an unmoderated list
and the list owner does not have any legal responsibility to any postings.
Please-no SPAMMERS! No bad words and no teasing and no racism! Keywords-
reading, student
contenthomeschool,Homeschool,homeschooling,Homeschooling,home school,home,
home schooling, homeschooling, homeschool education, educated, educator,
unschooling, curriculum reviews, support group, 5th grade, fifth grade

***I included that one because it was *SO* not unschooling, yet listed
unschooling as a keyword.****


***Some listings were TEENY small (three members) or very localized
like
North Texas Natural Learners
(Denton, Texas "Denton, home of happiness") but at least it was for
natural learners. ***
***There we were with an outdated headcount:****

196 AlwaysLearning
Discussion for homeschooling fans of John Holt, whose books Learning All the
Time, Never Too Late, and Teach your Own have made unschooling a sweet and
viable option for thousands of families. This is a moderated group, with
trapdoors for the uncooperative. (Not moderated in the advance-approval way,
but in the be-nice-to-play way.) It's an idea group and is intended to lean
more toward pure unschooling than neutral, general homeschooling
discussion--there are hundreds of general homeschooling ... more

****and this one I though sounded really inviting and peaceful, but...****

144 UnschoolersCircle
The Unschoolers' Circle is an inclusive list for anyone interested in home
education with unschooling leanings. Sometimes called relaxed schooling or
child-led learning or interest-led learning, unschooling encompasses
everything in your life, so our conversations range incredibly in subject
matter. You just have to check in to see what's being discussed. Like the
Round Table of Arthurian legend, we are a circle of peers. Everyone's input
is equally valuable - from the newest newbie to the ... more


****.... there is no way a newest newbie's input about how unschooling works
will be equally valuable to that of someone with experience. I'm always
baffled by people who say "everyone's opinion is equal." And that wasn't
true in Camelot anyway. Arthur was still the King and Lancelot was still IT
on a stick (despite being French).****

****So we're in the top five or six of actual discussion groups, maybe
(depends how some of those odd ones work), but in the top ten for sure of
yahoogroup lists which purport to support unschooling.

Sometimes I think maybe we should all just blend into large existing groups
and not divide the group further, but there's nothing keeping people from
joining all of those, so it's not like splitting a vote or building a new
building, I suppose.****

Sandra, through musing and reporting for the moment

kayb85

> ***THIS IS IMPORTANT, because Pennsylvania appears to be an
impossible place
> to unschool, but look how many people DO know how to pull it off
and are
> offering help! So keep this one in mind when you're elsewhere and
some new
> Pennsylvania resident comes in scared and hopeless.***

Not impossible. We just have a whole lot of hoops to jump
through. :) There are also some wonderful ladies in PA fighting
very hard to get us a better law.

Sheila