Treasure Chest
The following are informative excerpts and links that I collected from various sites and mailing lists. I put them here as a reference that I can go back to during my journey as an unschooling mom. It is my hope that this site will help not only me, but other fellow unschoolers as well. Please note that this is ALWAYS a work in progress. 
Main areas of interest are (for the most part) alphabetically listed. Sub-topics are listed generally in the same way. You will have to scroll down to find all that is available on this page. Thanks for understanding!
* NEW!!! * Actual comments from credentialed teachers who signed the CHN Teacher Petition
UNSCHOOLING:
Unschooling:
- January 3, 2009: I LIVE THEREFORE I LEARN: Living an Unschooling Life by Pam Sorooshian
- May 20, 2009: Rules vs. expectations; unschooling vs. parenting
- June 24, 2008: Unschooling does *NOT* mean hands-off parenting!
- May 21, 2009: Unschooling vs. radical unschooling
- November 11, 2008: Wow! This Works
- March 26, 2009: You’re not really unschooling if you just “watch” your kids do whatever they want
Books to Help You Get Started
- Don’t Bother Me Mom. I’m Learning
- The Unschooling Manual
Why Unschool?:
- March 26, 2009: When a parent hates unschooling
- October 10, 2008: Why is unschooling better?
- June 24, 2008: Why not just do school?
Deschooling:
- March 7, 2009: Letting go of rules and “have to’s”
- February 20, 2009: Am I expecting to much?
- February 12, 2009: Deschooling and Trust
- February 12, 2009: Stress in unschooling
- February 24, 2009: TV
- September 9, 2008: Understanding the basics of unschooling
The Basics:
- March 7, 2009: Letting go of rules and “have to’s”
- June 25, 2008: “Cool” parents
- November 11, 2008: Am I doing it “right”?
- March 26, 2009: Compromise and Negotiation
- February 20, 2009: Concerns
- June 30, 2008: Enjoying Children
- June 24, 2008: Freedom and Choices
- February 24, 2009: Freedom as compared with permissiveness
- March 26, 2009: How do you “do” summer?
- May 21, 2009: I Hate Homeschooling!
- February 12, 2009: New and unsure
- June 28, 2009: Newbie to unschooling
- November 11, 2008: Principles of Unschooling by Pam Sorooshian
- February 20, 2009: Questions from a scaredy cat
- June 26, 2008: Real limits vs. arbitrary limits
- January 3, 2009: School and structure
- June 24, 2008: Tidbits
- June 24, 2008: Traits of a successful unschooling parent
- September 9, 2008: Understanding the basics of unschooling
- January 3, 2009: Unschooling Basics by Kelly
- January 3, 2009: Unschooling Boys
- June 24, 2008: Unschooling does *NOT* mean hands-off parenting!
- September 9, 2008: Unschooling does NOT mean unliving
- February 25, 2009: Unschooling Fears and Strewing
>>> Other great articles:
- Building an unschooling nest
- Disposable checklists
- Joyce Fetteroll's 5 Steps to Unschooling
- Some ideas to get you started
Radical Unschooling:
- June 19, 2009: How to handle things the “radical” way
A Typical Day:
- June 25, 2008: Collective samples
- February 12, 2009: Unschooling kids’ interests
- February 2, 2009: Unschooling right this minute
- February 20, 2009: Unschoolish Things
Dealing With Other People:
- June 24, 2008: Answering questions from family members
- February 1, 2009: Closet Unschoolers
- February 12, 2009: Dealing with other strict parents
- June 24, 2008: Expectations when guests come over
- September 30, 2008: Having Doubts
- June 24, 2008: Living it vs. learning it
- July 22, 2008: Problem with Non-unschoolers
- May 11, 2009: Saying “I’m Sorry”
- June 24, 2008: Schoolish comments
- February 12, 2009: Strategy for deflecting ignorance with grace
- May 21, 2009: The lonely unschooler
- June 20, 2009: Unschoolers blaming other things
Spouses:
- June 24, 2008: How unschooling can help improve marriages
- June 24, 2008: Husbands and Unschooling as a Luxury
- June 24, 2008: Spousal/partner cooperation
- August 12, 2008: Unschooling with a spouse that has an illness
Education and Learning:
- June 29, 2009: Budgeting and Unschooling
- July 21, 2008: Help! I can’t get my kids interested in learning
- June 24, 2008: How to strew
- March 26, 2009: Is it enough?
- October 10, 2008: Isn’t it necessary for kids to learn things they’re not interested in learning?
- February 3, 2009: Knowing when to offer info and when to bite your tongue
- January 3, 2009: Letting Go
- June 30, 2009: Need advice about writing
- June 24, 2008: SATs
- February 1, 2009: Saxon Math books and math in general
- June 24, 2008: The math thing
- June 24, 2008: Unschooling and College
- June 24, 2008: Unschooling and self-regulating
- June 24, 2008: What if they aren’t interested in learning?
- June 27, 2009: Will my kids ever learn to read and write?
Curriculum?:
- October 8, 2008: Among a world of curriculums and structure
- June 24, 2008: Answering questions from family members
- June 24, 2008: Control Issues
- January 3, 2009: How to answer the “What do you use for curriculum?” question
- September 30, 2008: What About Subjects?
- October 10, 2008: Why is unschooling better?
- June 27, 2009: Will my kids ever learn to read and write?
>>> Other great articles:
- Sample "elementary curriculum"
- Sample "secondary curriculum"
- Unschooling curriculum
Entertainment:
- January 3, 2009: Cartoons and computer games
- June 24, 2008: How long does it take a child who plays video games 24/7 get it out of his system and do other stuff?
- February 20, 2009: Images in the media
- January 3, 2009: Internet access?
- June 24, 2008: Kids, time and video games
- June 25, 2008: Movie age restrictions
- February 1, 2009: Question about tv
- June 24, 2008: Rap music
- February 24, 2009: TV
- June 30, 2008: TV, evil?
- September 30, 2008: Watching Videos All the Time
Food:
- February 20, 2009: Concerns
- June 24, 2008: Food for thought
- May 21, 2009: Food Limits
- June 24, 2008: Patience with kids and food
- March 26, 2009: You’re not really unschooling if you just “watch” your kids do whatever they want
Getting It:
- February 1, 2009: Am I an unschooler?
- June 26, 2008: Am I doing it right?
- June 25, 2008: Does anyone ever get to a place where they say, “Okay, I’ve *got* it. I’m a total unschooler, now.”?
- June 24, 2008: Insights from a 10 year old
Proof that Unschooling Works:
- June 24, 2008: From home to college
- June 25, 2008: It does work
- December 20, 2008: Proof that learning has happened
- June 25, 2008: Random proof
- June 24, 2008: SATs
- November 11, 2008: Wow! This Works
Growing Up:
- June 24, 2008: Boy crazy
- June 24, 2008: Kids/teens looking at porn
- June 24, 2008: Making sex material/media available
- January 3, 2009: Sex and alcohol
- June 24, 2008: Shaving legs at 10 years old? Am I nuts?
- June 24, 2008: Trust and dating
Teens:
- February 1, 2009: Cursing
- June 24, 2008: Kids/teens looking at porn
- December 20, 2008: Teen sexuality
- June 24, 2008: Underage sex
- December 24, 2008: What about teenagers?
Life:
- November 11, 2008: Am I doing it “right”?
- October 8, 2008: Among a world of curriculums and structure
- February 24, 2009: Being a night owl
- June 24, 2008: Changed language and changed thinking
- June 24, 2008: Control Issues
- June 24, 2008: Happiness
- October 10, 2008: Healing through unschooling
- March 10, 2009: Healthy Destruction
- June 24, 2008: How unschooling can help improve marriages
- October 10, 2008: Isn’t it necessary for kids to learn things they’re not interested in learning?
- March 1, 2009: My son, the homebody
- February 24, 2009: Passions that cost a lot of money
- June 24, 2008: The value of things that aren’t easy
- June 25, 2008: Tidbits
- June 24, 2008: Time is precious
- April 5, 2009: Too much honesty
- June 24, 2008: Unschooling and self-regulating
- September 9, 2008: Unschooling does NOT mean unliving
- August 12, 2008: Unschooling with a spouse that has an illness
- December 24, 2008: What about teenagers?
- June 24, 2008: What if they aren’t interested in learning?
- June 24, 2008: When things start to feel like too much
Other Issues:
- March 27, 2009: Boys and violence
- September 9, 2008: Commercialism and materialism
- May 21, 2009: Does no bedtime = no parent time?
- February 1, 2009: Having a lot of something
- June 24, 2008: Lying and sneakiness
- June 24, 2008: Smoking and drugs
- February 12, 2009: Stress in unschooling
- June 30, 2008: Touchy kids
- August 12, 2008: Unschooling with a spouse that has an illness
- February 12, 2009: When you think your child has ADHD
Parenting:
- March 7, 2009: Letting go of rules and “have to’s”
- June 25, 2008: “Cool” parents
- February 1, 2009: “Mindful Parenting” by Ren Allen and Sandra Dodd
- July 22, 2008: Choosing the “easiest” parenting way…
- June 24, 2008: Control Issues
- June 20, 2009: How to handle a toddler that hits
- June 24, 2008: How to Not be Like Your Mom When it Comes to Parenting/Discipline
- February 12, 2009: How to stop micromanaging?
- May 21, 2009: I Hate Homeschooling!
- June 24, 2008: Organizing tips
- February 3, 2009: Punishment and rewards
- May 21, 2009: Relationship with your kids
- June 24, 2008: Replacing Negative Parenting Responses with Positive Ones
- May 20, 2009: Rules vs. expectations; unschooling vs. parenting
- February 1, 2009: Siblings and Fighting
- July 22, 2008: The Middle Ground in Parenting
- June 24, 2008: Tidbits
- June 24, 2008: Traits of a successful unschooling parent
- June 24, 2008: Treating kids nicely when they misbehave
- June 24, 2008: Unschooling does *NOT* mean hands-off parenting!
- June 24, 2008: Yelling
>>> Other great articles:
- Spoiled Rotten? Spoiled Ripe!
Respect:
- June 25, 2008: “Cool” parents
- March 26, 2009: Compromise and Negotiation
- June 30, 2008: Enjoying Children
- February 24, 2009: Freedom as compared with permissiveness
- August 9, 2008: Housework Expectations
- January 3, 2009: How do they learn responsibility
- June 24, 2008: How unschooling can help improve marriages
- February 12, 2009: New and unsure
- June 25, 2008: Respectful Kids
- July 22, 2008: The Middle Ground in Parenting
- June 24, 2008: Unschooling does *NOT* mean hands-off parenting!
Responsibilities and Rules:
- September 9, 2008: “Slave” labor
- June 25, 2008: About kids knowing family financial information
- September 9, 2008: Bedtime
- February 1, 2009: Bedtimes
- June 25, 2008: Bedtimes and various ages
- February 12, 2009: Can you unschool with somes rules such as bedtime?
- July 22, 2008: Choosing the “easiest” parenting way…
- February 20, 2009: Chores, cleaning, etc
- January 3, 2009: Cleaning their room and chores
- February 1, 2009: Food Controls?
- June 25, 2008: Getting help to clean
- June 25, 2008: Getting kids to do chores
- August 9, 2008: Hiring help for housecleaning
- August 9, 2008: Housework Expectations
- January 3, 2009: How do they learn responsibility
- April 5, 2009: I’m feeling “taken advantage of”
- February 24, 2009: Ideas about how to “schedule” the day…
- February 3, 2009: Life without chores
- February 12, 2009: More on chores
- June 25, 2008: Movie age restrictions
- June 26, 2008: Real limits vs. arbitrary limits
- May 20, 2009: Rules vs. expectations; unschooling vs. parenting
- February 24, 2009: Rules vs. Principles
- June 25, 2008: Sleep issues
- February 20, 2009: Thoughts about limits
- June 25, 2008: Tidbits
Socializing:
- June 25, 2008: Having friends your kids’ age
- June 30, 2008: How Much Socializing
Other
- Other unschooling resources
