Kelly's Unschooling Basics
[email protected]
Unschooling Basics
Unschooling is trusting the child to learn what he needs to learn when
he
needs to learn it. Unschooling is also sometimes called "natural
learning"
and "child-led learning" . But mostly unschooling is NOT school-at
home: we do
not try to replicate school in our houses. It's real living in the real
world---for and with a purpose. You cannot live and not learn---we're
surrounded by real opportunities every day to learn. And it's REAL
learning,
not simulated as in school. Living is learning is unschooling is living
is learning is
unschooling.....
There are several good books on the inanity and insanity of schools and
on
the marvels of unschooling.
The unschooling "patron saint" is John Holt. He was a school reformer
in the
70's who came to realize that schools are NOT reformable. His most
popular
books are How Children Fail, How Children Learn, Teach Your Own, and
Learning
All the Time.
John Taylor Gatto was a NY city and NY state teacher of the year. He
finally
quit and started on the speaking circuit. He seems completely behind
unschooling. His two big books are Dumbing Us Down and The Underground
History of American Education.
Frank Smith has a great little book called The Book of Learning and
Forgetting that shows how little one learns in and remembers from
school. He
pushes REAL learning---for a purpose.
Alfie Kohn's Punished by Rewards shows the total inanity of EXtrinsic
motivation (gold stars, grades, etc.) and the attributes of INtrinsic
motivation (learning because it's FUN!).
Grace Llewellyn's The Teenage Liberation Handbook (How to Quit School
and
Get a REAL Education) is the "bible" for unschoolers. It's a great read
for
teens, but parents should read it too. Be SURE not to skip the "cute
little
story" at the beginning. Grace also hosts the "Not Back To School Camp"
in
the early fall for teen unschoolers---a place to meet other unschoolers
and share
passions and interests.
Mary Griffith has two books, The Homeschooling Handbook and The
Unschooling
Handbook. The Homeschooling Handbook has many great ideas for
documenting
what's being learned; and, since that is a requirement in several
states, it's very
helpful. But The Unschooling Handbook is THE handbook for new
unschoolers. In it she
gives real life examples and explanations. VERY understandable.
Convinced my
husband that what I was suggesting made sense! <g>
David Albert has two: And the Skylark Sings with Me and Homeschooling
and the
Voyage of Self-Discovery. Both are witty---and easy reads.
Valerie Fitzenreiter has a brand new book that I highly recommend: The
Unprocessed Child: Living Without School. It's about unschooling her
daughter, Laurie. I give it as gifts a LOT!
Magazines:
"Life Learning Magazine"
“Live Free Learn Free”
"Growing Without Schooling", originally put out by John Holt. No longer
in
production, but back issues available from "old" unschoolers and from
FUNbooks.
Websites:
_www.unschooling.info_ (http://www.unschooling.info/) is THE website for
unschooling. There are other lists that "say" they unschool; these are
the radicals who KNOW what they are talking about. There are essays and
FAQs which you should definitely read first.
Afterwards go to the message boards and read, read, READ! If you have
questions after reading for a few weeks, then post---but most things
have been
explained before, so if you read, you'll run across the answers to most
of your
questions.
Some posters to pay attention to are Sandra Dodd, Joyce Fetteroll, Pam
Sorooshian, Anne Ohman, Ren Allen, Deb Lewis, Rue Kream, Robyn Coburn,
Danielle Conger, and Mary Gold. There are other wonderful posters, but
these are all radical unschoolers who all have great ways of expressing
themselves and getting to the nitty gritty of unschooling. They will
all be at the conference in October.
Sandra Dodd is a radical unschooler of three children, 18, 15, & 13.
She has her own website that is chocked FULL of essays and stories about
unschooling. It's a great place to start.
_www.SandraDodd.com/unschooling_
(http://www.sandradodd.com/unschooling) .
Ned Vare & Luz Shosie have an
already-graduated-from-college-always-unschooled son. Their website is
full of short essays on unschooling. They have a newsletter as well
and a regular get-together in CT._http://borntoexplore.org/unschool/_
(http://borntoexplore.org/unschool/)
Billy and Nancy Greer own FUN-books---a mail-order catalogue for
unschoolish
books and games. _www.FUN-Books.com_ (http://www.fun-books.com/)
E-lists/Yahoogroups:
[email protected]_
(mailto:[email protected]) is a great e-list for
those serious about discussing unschooling. I recommend reading a while
to “get the feel” of some posters' styles before posting.
There is also [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]) . For beginners. Owned by Ren
Allen and Kelly Lovejoy, this list caters those who are just starting
out. We try to be gentle! <g>
For those looking to unschool from the very beginning, try
[email protected]
. They have a monthly book discussion that might appeal to many! This
site is run by Danielle Conger and Robyn Coburn, and they chat with the
parents of children from birth to eight years old---who aren't
“technically” unschooling because the children are not yet of “school
age.”
Anne Ohman started [email protected] for those with
specific questions about children who are considered “non-typical”:
“Highly Sensitive”, “Out of Sync”, “Asperger’s”, “Explosive”. They
discuss how unschooling frees their spirits and allows them to truly
*Shine*.
Sandra Dodd's [email protected] is a list for those that
already “get it.” It's a place to discuss deeper levels of
unschooling---the real radicals! <g>
And the conference:
Here's the flyer:
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
_www.LiveandLearnConference.org_
(http://www.liveandlearnconference.org/)
October 6-9 in Fairview Heights, IL (just across the river from St
Louis, MO) at the
Four Points by Sheraton Fairview Heights
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1168
Encouraging families to trust themselves to make good decisions and
empowering them to find the support and information they need. This
conference is a must attend. Meet other families on the same journey,
listen to inspiring speakers and panelists and discover the art of
unschooling in beautiful Fairview Heights, Illinois - just across the
river from St. Louis.
Make friends! Picture a long weekend where you and your children won't
be asked "So, what curriculum do you use?" Here's a chance to make
friendships that will support you and your children throughout the
year. The energy at The Live and Learn Unschooling Conference is
different from anything you've ever experienced! This is a
non-age-discriminatory conference: anyone can participate in any
Funshop or Presentation. Bring the whole family for a joy-filled
weekend!
Be inspired and challenged! Our loose theme this year is "Ages and
Stages" and how an unschooling lifestyle changes with our growing
children.
You will meet Sandra Dodd and her entire family this year: take a close
look at unschooling family dynamics.
Pam Sorooshian will put you at ease with the most common educational
fear---Math!---and when and how we acquire our maths skills naturally.
Anne Ohman will SHINE! with Unschooling your highly sensitive child.
Danielle Conger and Robyn Coburn, of AlwaysUnschooled, will concentrate
on our future unschoolers----our babies, toddlers, and
un-pre-schoolers.
Twenty-one year old Roya Sorooshian will talk about growing up
unschooled and where it's taking her.
Wes Beach, author of Opportunities After "High School": Thoughts,
Documents, Resources will calm your fears about teens and their
futures.
Ren Allen will concentrate on juggling large families and the creative
ways to give each child what he needs.
Ben Lovejoy will again lead the dads in more thought-provoking
discussions and encourage living by principles.
Talk about struggles and successes in letting go, supporting your
family in being lifelong learners, and questioning issues from chores,
to bedtime, to video games and television. Ask all the questions you've
been struggling with in our afternoon break-out sessions.
Have FUN! In addition to Funshops where you and your kids can learn new
things and just play, there'll be the Talent Show and many more
surprises. You'll have plenty of time to hang out at the pool and relax
or share a meal with old/new friends.
Make it a family vacation! Fairview Heights is ten minutes from
downtown St Louis, Missouri, the home of the St Louis Cardinals,
Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Union Station, The *free* St Louis Zoo,
Botanical Gardens, Purina Farms, The *free* Science Center/Planetarium,
Sachs Butterfly House, *free* Grant's Farm, Laclede's Landing, Black
History Wax Museum, Riverboat Gambling, Bowling Hall of Fame, Magic
House Children's Museum, and the famous landmark, The Arch with its
Lewis & Clark Museum of Westward Expansion (also *free*!). Just a short
drive in Illinois you'll find Cahokia Mounds and National Shrine of Our
Lady of the Snows. For more information about these and other local
attractions, click on http://www.stlouisattractions.com/
Live and Learn is a volunteer-driven conference-giving organization
that pulls attendees from all over the US and Canada. Its mission is to
support and promote unschooling, provide information, offer
opportunities for families to get together, and empower families to
make the choices that respect the rights, needs and aspirations of
their children. L&L welcomes anyone with an interest in unschooling.
Since its inception in 2001, L&L has supported families that have made
the decision to unschool as they face difficult questions and
challenges. These families may wonder about socialization, or
integration of John Holt's educational philosophy into their everyday
lives. Some families may doubt their abilities, feel confused and ask
themselves, "Can I really do this?". L&L encourages parents to trust
themselves and their children to make good decisions and empowers them
to find the support and information they need. L&L also gives you the
opportunity to see unschooling families “up close and personal”---to
see them in action!
For more information, contact Kelly Lovejoy @ (803) 776 4849 or visit
our
website-
www.LiveandLearnConference.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
You may also all me anytime to ask questions or discuss concerns. I
truly believe that school is harmful---physically, emotionally,
intellectually, and spiritually. It's a bad place to spend a childhood.
~Kelly Lovejoy (803) 776-4849
_kbcdlovejo@..._ (mailto:kbcdlovejo@...)
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
October 6-9, 2005
http://liveandlearnconference.org
Unschooling is trusting the child to learn what he needs to learn when
he
needs to learn it. Unschooling is also sometimes called "natural
learning"
and "child-led learning" . But mostly unschooling is NOT school-at
home: we do
not try to replicate school in our houses. It's real living in the real
world---for and with a purpose. You cannot live and not learn---we're
surrounded by real opportunities every day to learn. And it's REAL
learning,
not simulated as in school. Living is learning is unschooling is living
is learning is
unschooling.....
There are several good books on the inanity and insanity of schools and
on
the marvels of unschooling.
The unschooling "patron saint" is John Holt. He was a school reformer
in the
70's who came to realize that schools are NOT reformable. His most
popular
books are How Children Fail, How Children Learn, Teach Your Own, and
Learning
All the Time.
John Taylor Gatto was a NY city and NY state teacher of the year. He
finally
quit and started on the speaking circuit. He seems completely behind
unschooling. His two big books are Dumbing Us Down and The Underground
History of American Education.
Frank Smith has a great little book called The Book of Learning and
Forgetting that shows how little one learns in and remembers from
school. He
pushes REAL learning---for a purpose.
Alfie Kohn's Punished by Rewards shows the total inanity of EXtrinsic
motivation (gold stars, grades, etc.) and the attributes of INtrinsic
motivation (learning because it's FUN!).
Grace Llewellyn's The Teenage Liberation Handbook (How to Quit School
and
Get a REAL Education) is the "bible" for unschoolers. It's a great read
for
teens, but parents should read it too. Be SURE not to skip the "cute
little
story" at the beginning. Grace also hosts the "Not Back To School Camp"
in
the early fall for teen unschoolers---a place to meet other unschoolers
and share
passions and interests.
Mary Griffith has two books, The Homeschooling Handbook and The
Unschooling
Handbook. The Homeschooling Handbook has many great ideas for
documenting
what's being learned; and, since that is a requirement in several
states, it's very
helpful. But The Unschooling Handbook is THE handbook for new
unschoolers. In it she
gives real life examples and explanations. VERY understandable.
Convinced my
husband that what I was suggesting made sense! <g>
David Albert has two: And the Skylark Sings with Me and Homeschooling
and the
Voyage of Self-Discovery. Both are witty---and easy reads.
Valerie Fitzenreiter has a brand new book that I highly recommend: The
Unprocessed Child: Living Without School. It's about unschooling her
daughter, Laurie. I give it as gifts a LOT!
Magazines:
"Life Learning Magazine"
“Live Free Learn Free”
"Growing Without Schooling", originally put out by John Holt. No longer
in
production, but back issues available from "old" unschoolers and from
FUNbooks.
Websites:
_www.unschooling.info_ (http://www.unschooling.info/) is THE website for
unschooling. There are other lists that "say" they unschool; these are
the radicals who KNOW what they are talking about. There are essays and
FAQs which you should definitely read first.
Afterwards go to the message boards and read, read, READ! If you have
questions after reading for a few weeks, then post---but most things
have been
explained before, so if you read, you'll run across the answers to most
of your
questions.
Some posters to pay attention to are Sandra Dodd, Joyce Fetteroll, Pam
Sorooshian, Anne Ohman, Ren Allen, Deb Lewis, Rue Kream, Robyn Coburn,
Danielle Conger, and Mary Gold. There are other wonderful posters, but
these are all radical unschoolers who all have great ways of expressing
themselves and getting to the nitty gritty of unschooling. They will
all be at the conference in October.
Sandra Dodd is a radical unschooler of three children, 18, 15, & 13.
She has her own website that is chocked FULL of essays and stories about
unschooling. It's a great place to start.
_www.SandraDodd.com/unschooling_
(http://www.sandradodd.com/unschooling) .
Ned Vare & Luz Shosie have an
already-graduated-from-college-always-unschooled son. Their website is
full of short essays on unschooling. They have a newsletter as well
and a regular get-together in CT._http://borntoexplore.org/unschool/_
(http://borntoexplore.org/unschool/)
Billy and Nancy Greer own FUN-books---a mail-order catalogue for
unschoolish
books and games. _www.FUN-Books.com_ (http://www.fun-books.com/)
E-lists/Yahoogroups:
[email protected]_
(mailto:[email protected]) is a great e-list for
those serious about discussing unschooling. I recommend reading a while
to “get the feel” of some posters' styles before posting.
There is also [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]) . For beginners. Owned by Ren
Allen and Kelly Lovejoy, this list caters those who are just starting
out. We try to be gentle! <g>
For those looking to unschool from the very beginning, try
[email protected]
. They have a monthly book discussion that might appeal to many! This
site is run by Danielle Conger and Robyn Coburn, and they chat with the
parents of children from birth to eight years old---who aren't
“technically” unschooling because the children are not yet of “school
age.”
Anne Ohman started [email protected] for those with
specific questions about children who are considered “non-typical”:
“Highly Sensitive”, “Out of Sync”, “Asperger’s”, “Explosive”. They
discuss how unschooling frees their spirits and allows them to truly
*Shine*.
Sandra Dodd's [email protected] is a list for those that
already “get it.” It's a place to discuss deeper levels of
unschooling---the real radicals! <g>
And the conference:
Here's the flyer:
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
_www.LiveandLearnConference.org_
(http://www.liveandlearnconference.org/)
October 6-9 in Fairview Heights, IL (just across the river from St
Louis, MO) at the
Four Points by Sheraton Fairview Heights
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1168
Encouraging families to trust themselves to make good decisions and
empowering them to find the support and information they need. This
conference is a must attend. Meet other families on the same journey,
listen to inspiring speakers and panelists and discover the art of
unschooling in beautiful Fairview Heights, Illinois - just across the
river from St. Louis.
Make friends! Picture a long weekend where you and your children won't
be asked "So, what curriculum do you use?" Here's a chance to make
friendships that will support you and your children throughout the
year. The energy at The Live and Learn Unschooling Conference is
different from anything you've ever experienced! This is a
non-age-discriminatory conference: anyone can participate in any
Funshop or Presentation. Bring the whole family for a joy-filled
weekend!
Be inspired and challenged! Our loose theme this year is "Ages and
Stages" and how an unschooling lifestyle changes with our growing
children.
You will meet Sandra Dodd and her entire family this year: take a close
look at unschooling family dynamics.
Pam Sorooshian will put you at ease with the most common educational
fear---Math!---and when and how we acquire our maths skills naturally.
Anne Ohman will SHINE! with Unschooling your highly sensitive child.
Danielle Conger and Robyn Coburn, of AlwaysUnschooled, will concentrate
on our future unschoolers----our babies, toddlers, and
un-pre-schoolers.
Twenty-one year old Roya Sorooshian will talk about growing up
unschooled and where it's taking her.
Wes Beach, author of Opportunities After "High School": Thoughts,
Documents, Resources will calm your fears about teens and their
futures.
Ren Allen will concentrate on juggling large families and the creative
ways to give each child what he needs.
Ben Lovejoy will again lead the dads in more thought-provoking
discussions and encourage living by principles.
Talk about struggles and successes in letting go, supporting your
family in being lifelong learners, and questioning issues from chores,
to bedtime, to video games and television. Ask all the questions you've
been struggling with in our afternoon break-out sessions.
Have FUN! In addition to Funshops where you and your kids can learn new
things and just play, there'll be the Talent Show and many more
surprises. You'll have plenty of time to hang out at the pool and relax
or share a meal with old/new friends.
Make it a family vacation! Fairview Heights is ten minutes from
downtown St Louis, Missouri, the home of the St Louis Cardinals,
Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Union Station, The *free* St Louis Zoo,
Botanical Gardens, Purina Farms, The *free* Science Center/Planetarium,
Sachs Butterfly House, *free* Grant's Farm, Laclede's Landing, Black
History Wax Museum, Riverboat Gambling, Bowling Hall of Fame, Magic
House Children's Museum, and the famous landmark, The Arch with its
Lewis & Clark Museum of Westward Expansion (also *free*!). Just a short
drive in Illinois you'll find Cahokia Mounds and National Shrine of Our
Lady of the Snows. For more information about these and other local
attractions, click on http://www.stlouisattractions.com/
Live and Learn is a volunteer-driven conference-giving organization
that pulls attendees from all over the US and Canada. Its mission is to
support and promote unschooling, provide information, offer
opportunities for families to get together, and empower families to
make the choices that respect the rights, needs and aspirations of
their children. L&L welcomes anyone with an interest in unschooling.
Since its inception in 2001, L&L has supported families that have made
the decision to unschool as they face difficult questions and
challenges. These families may wonder about socialization, or
integration of John Holt's educational philosophy into their everyday
lives. Some families may doubt their abilities, feel confused and ask
themselves, "Can I really do this?". L&L encourages parents to trust
themselves and their children to make good decisions and empowers them
to find the support and information they need. L&L also gives you the
opportunity to see unschooling families “up close and personal”---to
see them in action!
For more information, contact Kelly Lovejoy @ (803) 776 4849 or visit
our
website-
www.LiveandLearnConference.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
You may also all me anytime to ask questions or discuss concerns. I
truly believe that school is harmful---physically, emotionally,
intellectually, and spiritually. It's a bad place to spend a childhood.
~Kelly Lovejoy (803) 776-4849
_kbcdlovejo@..._ (mailto:kbcdlovejo@...)
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
October 6-9, 2005
http://liveandlearnconference.org