“Anyways, I suggested that a child who needed structure would
probably
provide it him or herself - with the parent’s assistance perhaps”
What those people are failing to understand, is a need for structure
has NOTHING to do with schooling. Yes, some children need
structure. All of the children I know that really, truly NEED what
some people call “structure” is [...]
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 [...]
My first child was a girl - 11yo -(if that has anything to do with it) and we used to READ, READ, READ and I guess that satisfied the need in my mind for a lot of ‘learning’. I felt like I was doing something intelligent. She is currently enrolled in a charter school, by [...]
I was reading through some old post and I started to think…I would love to know from the people who have been doing this for a long time…if I’m doing it right. Unschooling that is. I know this is a very “schoolish” question, but I am over educated and just now learning about the really [...]
Learning happens all the time. The brain never stops working and it is not possible to divide time up into “learning periods” versus “nonlearning periods.” Everything that goes on around a person, everything they hear, see, touch, smell, and taste, results in learning of some kind.
Learning does not require coercion. In fact, learning cannot really [...]
Continue reading about Principles of Unschooling by Pam Sorooshian
As I dip my toe into the world of unschooling, I am finding the water is sometimes very chilly! A friend said to me this morning, “Well I tried to explain what you’re doing to my husband. He said that unschooling prepares kids for unliving…” Discouraging, I know, but I think it strikes right to [...]
You need to DEschool for one month for each year you were in school.
If you have a master’s degree, it might take two years before you’ve gotten rid of schoolthink. If you didn’t finish high school, you should plan on maybe a year or less. And it’s just a rule of thumb—-sensitive people tend to [...]
Continue reading about Understanding the basics of unschooling
Just wondering if anyone else has been at a point with a child when it has become very difficult to enjoy their company? And if so, how have you gotten through it?
My 5yo dd is a challenge. She is intense, extroverted, extremely verbal, persistant, reactive, demanding, observant, sensitive, and high energy. While we love her [...]
…many times the way he does things are a bit out of the ordinary and I struggle with letting him be who his is and showing him some basic aspects of social appropriateness. Is there a balance here? Am I using the wrong language when I say limits?…do some kids need a little extra guidance [...]
Her oldest daughter said to her mom that she should be the “cool” mom. Her mom’s response was something like this…”Cool moms have the kids who drink, smoke, and do drugs, so I won’t be the cool mom.”
She said it in a way that sounded like it was a common saying repeated by others too. [...]