What is unschooling?

Answer 1

unschooling is a model of homeschooling, or even a lifestyle, based on the theory that children will learn and develop fabulously if allowed to develop, pursue, and explore their own interests. it is an absolutely awesome way to live for parents and child. some whackos believe unschooling means unlimited and unrestricted tv and video games. my spouse calls that 'unparenting.'

to unschool, parents ought to be 'on.' they need to be able to model pursuing one's interests and developing one's talents. they have to be available to talk with the kids, share ideas, buy materials, go to museums, parks, wherever..

Search for the writings of John Gatto and Holt, of Growing Without Schooling.

We've done it 13.5 years with great success.

Answer 2

Just adding to the already great answers that not all unschoolers are alike. Some are very, very relaxed and do little to facilitate learning because they believe the kids will learn everything they're interested in on their own and that the parents shouldn't initiate anything even to the point that I know of some parents who would not teach their kids how to read even though the kids asked to be taught.

On the other end of the spectrum are parents who work hard at helping their kids pursue their interests and model, as mentioned, different ways of learning and producing final works. They take the kids to different places, take out books from the library they think the kids would be interested in and leave them lying around, things like that. Basically, they set up an environment and structure where the kids are learning things all the time but the kids are the ones who have the final decision about what they will actually study.

Answer 3

Unschooling (also sometimes referred to as "natural learning", "child-led learning", "discovery learning", "autodidactic learning", or "child-directed learning") refers to individual self-education. Under unschooling education, parents may act as "facilitators" and may provide a wide-range of resources to their children. Proponents of unschooling have a variety of reasons to support their position. A common belief underlying their reasoning is that curiosity is innate and that children want to learn what is necessary to become an adult. Some argue that institutionalizing a child in what they consider a factory model public school, or any form of compulsory schooling, is an inefficient use of a child's time. Proponents contend that such an education is made to be "one size fits all" and is oppressive for forcing a child to learn regardless of his or her interests. Proponents also claim that individualized, child-led learning is more efficient and respectful of a child's time, takes advantage of a child's interests, and allows learning and deeper exploration of subjects than what is possible in formalized education.