What Unschooling Is . . . and Isn’t
What It Is
- True education is more about the process than the content.
- I trust my child knows best when it comes to selection of studies.
- It’s okay if my son can’t read and he’s nearly 8; he’ll get there soon enough.
- Learning takes place whether it’s meticulously planned or completely spontaneous.
- Math isn’t about memorization; the memorization will come when my child is ready for it.
- As a parent, I’m more inclined to let my daughter figure things out on her own; that way she truly learns something.
- The “curriculum” will present itself as we explore my children’s interests.
If you agree with these statements, unschooling might just be the ticket for you and yours.
What It Isn’t
Homeschooling is saying “no,” to many things.
A homeschooler says no to entrusting her child and his education to a teacher who doesn’t know him well, no to having her daughter sit in a classroom for six hours when two may have sufficed, no to an institution that has more in common with daycare than calling forth reason or knowledge.
Well, unschooling (in various degrees) says “no,” to even more. An unschooler says no to a plotted curriculum, no to frivolous workbook pages, no to pedantic methods geared at putting information in rather than drawing learning out, no to chronological burdens while discovering history, and no to imposing subjects of study that aren’t of natural interest to her child.
Choosing Unschooling
Perhaps the biggest question a homeschooler must ask herself is, “Does my child have the right temperament for unschooling?” If your daughter loves to fill in workbook pages and becomes ecstatic over completing that workbook, she may need or desire a bit more structure. If you feel your son craves (and benefits by) a set schedule, then a traditional, semi-planned curriculum may fit the bill. You know your child and her disposition best; that qualifies you to determine whether she will flourish or flounder being unschooled.
Additionally, your own personality may dictate whether unschooling is the path you ultimately choose. If you happen to be a Type A person, an unstructured approach may leave you feeling rudderless. However, if you thrive on spontaneity and can take alaissez-faire approach to your child’s education, you may be a born unschooler.
Legal Considerations
Unschooling is legal in all 50 states. You need to ascertain, however, what your state requires concerning documentation. Unschoolers will typically use an evaluator who will produce a “year end” report that’s meant to satisfy the local authorities. Recording your child’s various activities in ways that will keep those local authorities happy may be a challenge but keep in mind thatunschoolers routinely manage this task.
For example, your child’s homemade pirate board game can serve as evidence of progress in math, writing, art, and history. Cooking may demonstrate knowledge in math, reading, and science. Your child’s everyday world becomes her curriculum.
Resources and “Curriculum”
While unschoolers eschew more traditional methods of teaching / learning, they still need the resources to fulfill their child’s curiosity. Libraries, museums, toy stores, online game sites, localhomeschool groups (which usually have a balance of homeschooled and unschooled children), even some products used in a more standard homeschool curriculum, all serve to help the unschooler.