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Unconventional ideas for teaching and learning.
An all-volunteer weekly Internet radio show by, for, and about people who eschew factory learning.
Learning Is 4 Everyone Resource Guides
Links to a variety of readily available Internet resources for families and educators seeking alternatives to conventional schooling.
A variety of thoughtful voices about home- and unschooling participate on the Life without School blog.
Science projects for kids using materials that are easy to find, and science information for parents. Also resources for math, history, and the arts.
Three Simple Steps For Getting Started with Homeschooling
1) Know Your State's Laws and Regulations.
Homeschooling is legal in all fifty states, though its regulation varies. Some states have reporting or testing requirements for homeschoolers and some do not. Local homeschooling groups are the best source of information about how to fulfill the requirements of the law, if there is one in, your state. Many state groups have infomration packets for new homeschoolers that include information about laws and regulations. Much of this information is available online. See Home Education Magazine's listing of inclusive, non-sectarian homeschooling support groups or search the Internet for groups to contact.
2) Develop Your Curriculum
You many not need to send a plan of study to local education authority, but you still might want to have a plan about what you and your chidlren will do. You are free to alter or ignore it as you live and learn with your children. Keeping a written, audio or video journal about your days with your children is often a satisfying way to record and reflect upon the question that homeschoolers, and unschoolers in particular, get asked: "But what do you do with your kids all day?" Sometimes this question is immediately followed with the statement: "I'd go crazy being with my kids all day," so you can really make an impression if you can remember what you've been up to and how much fun you can have with your kids. Read Growing Without Schooling's FAQ about homeschooling for more information. Also read Typical Course of Study PreK - 12 to see what is taught in each grade of public school.
3) Enjoy Your Family
Don't let your family get lost in your effortts to school your children. It's easy to replace teachers, but not parents. some parents burn out form homeschooling by tring to be demanding, "professional" teachers for some parts of the days, then sympathetic parents of other parts, and the stress of switching between those two roles become too burdensome. Be a loving parent to your children all the time. Teaching and helping our children learn is an inherent part of parenting that we seem to forget we do once we send children to school.
The above is adapted from TEACH YOUR OWN by Patrick Farenga and John Holt
HOMESCHOOLING/Unschooling Publication and catalog WEBSITES
FUN-Books’ catalog is a treat to browse. One special feature: the remaining back issues of Growing Without Schooling magazine are available for sale there.
Home Education Magazine is one of the oldest, most experienced, and best homeschooling publications.
Life Learning Magazine has an unschooling focus and is one of the many good works of this respected Canadian organization.
A magazine and website that supports unschooling. The website has some excellent links for learning resources.
The official website for and about the man who created the word "unschooling," John Holt. Information about his ten books, Growing Without Schooling magazine (founded by Holt in 1977 and published until 2001), and his work. The Questions and Answers page is still very relevant for today's concerns: http://www.holtgws.com/faqabouthomescho.html
Pat Farenga's conference website. DVDs and CDs the conference include keynotes by Dr. Thomas Armstrong (author of In Their Own Way, The Myth of the A.D.D Child, Awakening Your Child's Natural Genius) and John Taylor Gatto (author of Dumbing Us Down, The Underground History of American Education), plus many others. Recordings about starting homeschooling, Unschooling Children with Special Needs, Unschooling Teens, Learning Centers for Teens, and more are available here.
ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCE WebSITES
"African-American Unschooling is THE Internet resource for African-American Homeschoolers with an Africentric approach to learning all the time. "
Build Cool, Low Cost Toys at Arvind Gupta Toys
Arvind Gupta is a scientist, performer, toymaker, and education reformer. His website presents his books and the fruits of his efforts to translate other writer's books (including John Holt's) into the many languages used in Inda. Be sure to visit the toy part of his site and scroll to the bottom to check out the science experiments. The whole web page tells, through pictures and minimal text, how to create some really interesting things that you and your children can use and play with.
www.homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/
Anne Zeiss’ wonderful home-brew creation. This is one of the friendliest homeschooling sites I know of, and one of the most extensive in terms of resources and free advice.
A commercial website with some good materials for sale. One of my favorites is a car magnet that reads: "Warning! Unsocialized homeschoolers on board!"
This site is jam-packed with good essays and information about homeschooling from all perspectives.
Many educators and parents still seem to think that paddling is a time-tested, valid educational tool that is well-suited to our times: indeed, 21 states permit corporal punishment of students in school. Further, research shows that "Black students are hit at a rate that is more than twice their makeup in the population. Blacks comprise 17% of students, but receive 38% of paddlings." (Retrieved on Nov. 4, 2006 from http://www.stophitting.com/disatschool/statesBanning.php).
These groups, some founded by homeschoolers, are good resources for finding gentler ways of nurturing good behavior in children. — PF
Norm Lee was an early homeschooling advocate and writer/practitioner about alternative energy, four-season gardening, and the back-to-the-land movement. He now operates this anti-corporal punishment site.
The website for EPOCH USA: End Physical Punishment of Children.
www.parentinginjesusfootsteps.org
Parenting in Jesus' Footsteps has a nurturing, non-violent approach to living and learning with children.
Information about the needs and rights of children.
Support for Alternatives to School
Unschooling and Homeschooling in the Media
FREE RESOURCES
These are websites I recommend for learning more about homeschooling, unschooling, and alternatives to conventional learning for all ages. There are so many Internet sites with very complete listings of homeschooling, unschooling, and learning resources for all ages that I feel no need to create another one. However, for those needing information about unschooling and homeschooling, I provide these to help get you started because I am familiar with their work. I'll be adding more to this list over time. If you want to suggest a group or site for inclusion, please email me contact information. — PF
NEW UNSCHOOLING RESOURCE LINKS
Attachment parenting and unschooling. This site's motto: "Children reflect the treatment they recieve."
