Making the Unschooling Decision
Choosing the Right Homeschooling Method for Your Family
Aug 13, 2008
There is no one-size-fits-all method to homeschooling. Methods and curriculums come in all shapes and sizes. Finding your preferred method takes careful time and consideration. There is usually a natural evolution to everyone’s educational endeavors.
One viable, increasing popular option is unschooling. It is also sometimes called “natural learning” or “relaxed homeschooling.” Difficult to define, it is more a way of life than it is a specific agenda. People who choose this path for their children are not easily classified, but can be noted to have certain characteristics that lead them to the unschooling lifestyle.
Common Unschooler Characteristics
- Self motivated
- Works well alone
- Self starter
- Deep desire to learn
- Natural curiosity
- Works well without rigid scheduling
- Seeks internal rewards (learning for its own sake) rather than external (like grades)
- Prefers freedom in educational pursuits rather than imposed guidelines
- Inclination towards real life experiences, not strictly textbook learning
Typical Unschooling Day
What does a day in the life of an unschooler look like? Again, there is no prescribed method, so there aren’t any "typical" days. One family’s day may include a relaxed morning reading, playing games, hiking or nature walking, an afternoon family outing to run errands, and a dinner the child has cooked.
Another family may have a completely different schedule. They may or may not use textbooks, although mostly as references and not as a set of rigid rules. They may have a family business where the children acquire heaps of learning experiences.
The parents may work part-time, work from home, or the kids may be actively involved in their own business pursuits. The days of an unschooling family are as diverse as the people who choose this method of education. As parents contemplate whether or not unschooling is the right choice, they should feel no pressure to fit into stereotypes or modules. Freedom is key.
Common Reservations
Making the leap to an unschooling lifestyle can cause unnecessary anxiety. Parents are often concerned that their children will have gaps in their education. No one is ever “fully educated.” There are gaps in everyone’s education. Most unschooling parents subscribe to the common philosophy that learning specific facts is not nearly as important as teaching children how to learn.
John Holt, a leading educational writer, summed this up beautifullyin his book, Teach Your Own [Da Capo Press, 2003]: “Since we can’t know what knowledge will be most needed in the future, it is senseless to try to teach it in advance. Instead, we should try to turn out people who love learning so much and learn so well that they will be able to learn whatever needs to be learned.”
Unschooling Resources
There are many excellent resources available to help families along their learning path. Any books by James Holt are highly recommended as is The Unschooling Handbook, by Mary Griffith [Three Rivers Press, 1998]. Sandra Dodd has exceptional unschooling articles and topics. The Family Unschooling Network is a great resource as well.
Taking the time to consciously choose the best learning methods is a wise parenting decision. The goal is always a happy, well-adjusted family life.
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