Unschooling?

Question

For unschoolers, could you please describe the way you unschool, why you think unschooling works, and how it has worked for you? This would be very helpful for me as I am trying to convince my mom to let me unschool.

Thanks for all your help!!!

Answer 1

I unschooled in Writing, Observational Astronomy, Audio Recording, Motion Picture Production, Still Photography and Darkroom, Music, Computer Programming.

I was first published at age 16 in Sky and Telescope for my observations of a lunar eclipse.

I made my first documentary film for a producer from Cal State Northirdge age age 20 in 16mm.  I produced my first commercials that got on TV at age 28.

My audio recordings sell on e-bay for $30 and they got international airplay on commercial and college stations and generated ASCAP royalties and Current Performance Status.

My writings have been in, Sky and Telescope, Complete Woman, Income Opporunties, Mix Magazine, Music Connection and I also sold to Valley Magazine.

My photographs were pubished in the Desert Sun Newspaper, BAM magazine, Music Connect, Metal Rendovous International.

My press and publicity has been in Sound Pro News, Mix, Music Connection.

My music videos have been syndicated around the US and world.

I currently supervise the work for 6 people and maintain $500,000 worth of Fuji picture equipment and do repair work on these items.

I am one of the foremost experts on Women in the History of Cinema, including animation.\

As far as I know I wrote the worlds first NO CODE web page maker in 1994

My software has been profiled in international magazines.

I wrote the first no code CD cover software in 1998

I am listed in Who's Who in Enterainment second Edition.

I was Western REgional Manager for a GAF Corp. company and Director of Customer Service west of the Mississippi for Argus-Interphoto

I designed web sites for a variety of companies and entertainers.

Most of my successes have come entirely from UNSCHOOLING, although I was formerly trained in electronics at a private institute, went to college for Cinema-Theater where I was trained by MFAs from Pasadena Playhouse and USC/UCLA Doctorates and CBS sound people.

I play guitar, bass and keyboard and did it on stage for money for decades.

I am also on record with independent labels.

My works have appeared on commercial TV, radio, newspapers and magazines, local, nationally and internationally.

I got actors their SAG card

I am personally eligible for NARS (the Grammys) but I never joined.

Answer 2

Unschooling is not a great idea in my opinion. It's self-directed education for the child, which leaves a lot of gaps in one's education. Unschooling basically says that the child can learn whatever and whenever s/he wants to learn. That's just not effective.

Classical homeschooling is wonderful. You don't need to follow a strict curriculum, but you have guidelines and topics that must be covered.

A proper education requires a committed teacher, so you will have to convince your mom to be really dedicated to instructing you and to providing quality material or you'll be very sorry later in life.

Answer 3

First, to unschool, you have to unlearn what you learned before.  If you are already sufficiently stupid this should not be a challenge. Don't look towards the future, because it won't work for you.  Be depressed, because that will make you popular, especially at the bars that you will attend in your life.  To drink depressants.  Smoke heavily as this will help constrict arteries and make any type learning nore difficult.

     Socialize when not in school with the corrupt, crack heads, prostitutes and theives.  After a while you may do some of that yourself.  Don't ask for guidance, since you know it all yourself.  Of course society will frown on all this and when they catch you, will lock you up.  Just think 3 square meals and a roof over your head.

      So drink, smoke, and party.  Unschool and you too can be stupid!

Answer 4

I do not believe Earl D.  It sounds like he has done everything!

  You can study the things you are interested in, but you do need the basics also.  Will you be able to write a business letter?  Will you be able to do basic Math and English?  Some day you will probably want to go to college, there are basic things you need to know before you go or you will be put in the bonehead classes.  I went to public school and was still put in the bone head classes!  That is one reason why I am homeschooling my kids, so that they will know what they need to know as an adult.

Answer 5

My mom used school in a box! for a few years!

Answer 6

Unschooling, also called the Jeffersonian approach by some, is best done with students who would be successful no matter what materials are used.  Students who have deficiencies in any particular area, or difficulties with learning, are going to end up with a limited education.

If you try an unschooling approach, you need an educationally rich environment -- so get rid of the tv, and fill your house with books, especially the classics.  Audiobooks are also beneficial, but shouldn't replace reading in entirety.  Many of the materials designed through the Institute for Excellence in Writing are based on the Jeffersonian approach.  For an unschooler, I'd recommend Singapore Math -- it's probably a little more structured than desired, but it's a holistic approach to math that helps student see math in everything.  

The problem with unschooling is that it's sometimes an excuse for no schooling.  When the tv educates, everybody loses.  And even with the best of intentions, some parents who don't have the time to develop and encourage educational interests in their children, end up doing a mediocre job of it.  Also, even when all the other elements are present, some students have educational needs that must be addressed in traditional approaches.

Answer 7

I have two great children, and we started out with all the curriculum we could get. Later I realized that pushing is not necessary. Some children are not self-motivated, and for them I do not think this method works well. But if your kids love life, then let them live it. I do use two books, math and language, and the rest they learn as they deem necessary. We shop together, my daughter of 10 can already cook full meals. My kids are great. My son loves to work with animals and help in the kitchen too. The main point of unschooling, is that learning doesn't come only from books, but from all of life. We should be encouraging all children, and adults, to constantly be searching for more information. We should desire to learn something daily, whether from books, or hands on.

Answer 8

I don't know much about unschooling, but I know there is a website for it, do a google search.

Personally I think homeschooling is great. Some employers even look for homeschoolers because they know that most likely they will be good workers.

Answer 9

Here is a link to Dayna Martin's web-blog.  Lots of information and she is very convincing.  We are relaxed, but do not feel that we can unschool because of work schedules.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr7U7wXmB...

You may want to do a search with her name.  There are many sites that quote her and have audio and video of her talks.

Answer 10

Oh! Dayna Martin is amazing...I love her video's!

You might also look at http://www.sandradodd.com and at http://www.joyfullyrejoycing.com

We unschool, but it's pointless really to describe how one unschooler will do it, and even more so to try and copy that at your house because unschooling looks different for every family. We have seven kids, all under the age of 12, and that is going to look a lot different than a teenager who is unschooling without siblings. What we look at instead is the principle behind unschooling.

That principle behind unschooling is that human beings are innate learners, and that with trust and respect, a child will learn what they need as they need it. If they decide they want to go to college, then they will do what it takes to get in. You really need to have a parent who is on board and willing to advocate and nurture their interests, who is able of keeping track and supporting the child. I spend all day of almost every day completely interacting with my children, driving them to places and classes and just talking about their interests.

I probably have a dozen examples, but they are mostly for younger children and probably would not convince your mom. There are several blogs and books by adult unschoolers, who talk about their life choices, going to college etc. Just google adult unschoolers.

Why are you interested in unschooling? What are your passions? What do you plan on doing with this time? Those are all things you need to figure out, and be able to express to your mom why unschooling will fit that.

Answer 11

We are eclectic, leaning towards unschooling. Mornings are for playing and pet care for him and housework for me. In the afternoons we read to each other from many types of books or do activities together such as Math Card Games, Creative Writing, Crafts or Science Projects (his favorite).

When my son finds a special interest that he wants to learn more about we call it a Unit Study and find every way possible to learn about that subject. They range from books such as Magic Tree House to very specific questions and studies of things like black holes or clouds. We use 3-ring binders to keep each study info together.

We have an area in our house that is set up for him to go to and find ways to learn while playing. Everything is on his level. He has books, art supplies, games, erector sets, musical intruments, a globe, an easel, etc. There is a drawer for math manipulatives and a drawer for hands-on science tools such as a prism, a magifying glass, magnets, wire, measuring divices. He spends time here every day discovering and learning.

I have a homeschool group where we do fieldtrips with other local homeschoolers. My son does better with hands-on learning. We spent last week at the beach and learned about birds, tides, the history of Galveston Island. We visited several museums and historical sites, including Fort Travis.

Today we went to a local art festival and did some hands-on art and other kid-friendly activities such as pretend hospital and grocery store and fossil dig, listened to my son's favorite band TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA (they come to this festival every year) then played in the outdoor fountains.

Tomorrow we are going to tour a local bank and learn about saving, how to write a check correctly and other stuff.

Recently we went to the NOAA weather station and learned about weather balloons, water levels and forecasting.

My son also takes fencing with a group of homeschoolers. His teacher is a former Olympian and the class building is also the only Fencing Museum in North America. The teacher is amazing with kids. My son has learned patience, coorperation, respect for others and coordination as well as the history of the sport.

We have a close family who live near us. He is able to spend a lot of time with my sister and her husband, my parents, my aunt and my grandmother. He is very close to his 84 year old great-grandmother and they have a lot of fun together. He has learned so much from them. They are all very supportive and helpful in our homeschooling.

I do not believe in giving tests or grades. I can see how much he is learning by what he writes about and what he tells to me and to others. Seeing him happy and well-adjusted is an "A" for us both.