Category: Unschooling

Ask Lyn About Homeschool: Why Don't Homeschool Parents Teach in a School Building?

1/13/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

As homeschool becomes more popular and widespread, there are many questions that people ask. As a mom who has educated her children at home, as well as enrolled them in traditional school, I have been asked a fair share of questions regarding educational methods at home. With more people homeschooling, some may wonder if groups of homeschoolers should buy school buildings together. In fact, when a group of readers were asked for back to school concerns, theBarefoot asked me this very question. So, why don't homeschool parents form a school together? There are many reasons and answers to that seemingly simple question.

Social Interaction With the Outside World

Contrary to what some may believe, social interaction is very important to most parents of children who attend school at home. The ability for kids to interact with the outside world during the day, rather than being restricted to a building is one reason using a traditional school building may not appeal to some homeschooling families. Learning in the outside world can provide a great opportunity for children to socially interact with kids their age, as well as a variety of age groups. This type of interaction could be a great preparation for when kids graduate and get out into the "real world."

Differences in Curriculum and Learning Styles

One of the main benefits to homeschool is the ability to choose or develop a custom curriculum plan for each child, based on his or her needs. Not all homeschooled kids will be using the same curriculum. For this reason, it may be more difficult to hold school in a building in a traditional class setting. Since everyone may not be using the same plan or methods, parents and other teachers might all be talking at once. This could be a very distracting and confusing learning environment that may even hinder the educational process.

Flexible Learning Environment

Some homeschool parents choose this form of education because of the flexibility it provides. Children in a homeschool environment have the unique opportunity of being able to learn everywhere. Class does not necessarily have to be held behind four walls, sitting at a desk. Math and nutrition might be taught in a combination lesson at the local farmer's market, for instance. Of course, some learning will still be completed with paper, pencils, and books, but there is often more flexibility in a “home” learning environment. This flexibility could possibly be one reason some homeschool parents would choose not to hold school in a traditional school building.

What About Homeschool Co-Ops?

There actually are some homeschoolers who choose to learn together. This type of arrangement is often called a homeschool co-op. Usually in these arrangements, the classes are offered as a supplement to what the kids are already learning in homeschool. The classes are usually held only on certain days, still leaving room for the flexible learning environment that home school can provide. There also are homeschool co-ops in which a group of parents work together to form a teaching plan. In these type of arrangements, a parents who specializes in a certain area may have the opportunity to aid other students in that area.

Which Method is Best?

When deciding between public, private, or home school (or various homeschool options), the answer will differ for everyone. That's often why parents choose to homeschool, whether that occurs in a a school building or not. They likely have come to the conclusion that not all children have the same educational needs. What works for one child may not work for another. Education is about providing a child with the best learning opportunities possible. For the most information to be gained during learning, a child's individual needs, as well as the available options, should be taken into consideration.

Note: A special thanks to theBarefoot for asking this question. He's a freelance writer and IT expert who writes about a wide range of topics. His content subjects include politics, writing, news, relationships, and many more. Expect his work to be entertaining, informative, and engaging.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Questions Kids May Have when Switching to Unschooling

1/12/2015

Q & A on Discussing the Unschooling Homeschool Method with Kids

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Sometimes when switching to unschooling from a more traditional homeschooling method, your kids will have some questions. Here's some common questions kids have when faced with this new form of learning. The questions are accompanied by answers that may help them better understand what unschooling is all about.

Yay! Does That Mean I Don't Have to Learn Anymore?

No. Unschooling does not mean you won't be learning. It means that you will learn based on your strengths, weaknesses, and interests, rather than learning through a set curriculum. It can also mean you will learn through hands-on experience and play.

Can I Play All Day?

Well, you will be playing but you also will be learning. You can learn through play if learning is going on. It's most likely going to be more fun than learning in a more traditional way. Sometimes playing will help you learn your lessons and that's perfectly fine if it works for you.

Are we Still Going to Use Textbooks?

Unschooling doesn't necessarily mean textbooks and other materials won't be used. Just like any other teaching method, some unschoolers use textbooks and some may use other materials to teach with. When and how they are used will align better with the way each child learns and their individual readiness. So, you might use textbooks and you might not. Sometimes other books or other learning materials work best.

Do I Have to Sit at a Desk All Day?

No! You can if you learn well that way. But you can also do other things if they help you learn. Unschooling is about doing whatever works best for each kid. If blocks help you learn how to count, you can use them. If visiting a veterinary clinic helps you learn about an animal, you might get the chance to do that. But if reading a book at your desk helps you more, you can do that instead.

Do I Have to Learn All Subjects?

Yes. You still need to learn all subjects. But the order you do it in and how you do it might be different than what we did before. If you are enjoying a particular lesson, we might spend more time on that if you want to. If you aren't in the right frame of mind for another lesson, we might move on to the next and come back to it later when you are ready.

Will I Still have Grade Levels Like All My Friends?

Yes. You still will have grade levels. However, the order that you do things in might be different than what they do. You will still graduate at the same time if you earn your way there - just like any other type of learning. Unschooling is just a way to make learning more fun for you and allow you to focus on things you are most interested in to help you succeed in life.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

Can 'Free' Schooling or Unschooling Help My Child Succeed in Life?

1/10/2015

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by Lyn Lomasi; Owner of Intent-sive Nature & Brand Shamans Content Community

Free schooling, unschooling, and even open schooling is becoming a more popular choice as parents and teachers struggle to find enjoyable ways for kids to learn. Often, you will see these methods associated with homeschooling. But that is not always the case. Not all homeschoolers use unschooling and not all free schoolers are homeschooled. Can free schooling or unschooling help children succeed in life?

What is the difference between 'free schooling,' 'unschooling,' and 'open schooling'?

First, these schooling methods do not mean the child is not learning anything. It is the belief of many parents and educational professionals that more freedom with schooling enhances self-reliance and leadership. Because of the ability to learn freely, the way in which each individual employs these methods can vary significantly. But the main point is to learn from everything and encourage independent study skills.

Some schools, such as Jefferson County Open School (Lakewood, Colo.) and Armathwaite Community School (Cumbria, U.K.) are adapting independent learning methods, such as open schooling as well. Open schooling is very similar to unschooling, but is done within a traditional school building. Multi-aged grouping, openness of subjects, and other techniques are utilized.

Unschooling simply refers to schooling in a way which deviates from a standard format.In simple terms, it is a method (usually adapted by homeschool families) that encourages child-directed learning. Some unschoolers use textbooks and worksheets, while others may not. Most homeschoolers use the world around them.

I've called our method free schooling almost from the beginning, as I learned pretty quickly that schedules and exacts were not for us. What we call free schooling is the freedom to learn from everything around us without the restrictions of a typical curriculum. In many states, a nationally standardized test is still required. However, this has never been an issue, as the kids have always scored well above grade level.

Why do parents choose unschooling or free schooling with so many other options?

As a parent who chooses free schooling, I find that it encourages children to be leaders in life. When my children grow up, I want them to think for themselves and stay ahead of the competition. Writer Kathy Foust says "Hunter is a hands on learner that is devoted to science. I am a believer in making education into a fun, lifelong process. I combined those two things to develop his curriculum." Her son is currently in public school, but has been homeschooled previously, using more hands-on methods.

"Hunter loves science and hates worksheets of any kind. So, everything we did, we did with science. Since science is really all about observation and experimentation with a focus on recording steps, I used that to our advantage," adds Kathy in regards to forgoing more traditional paper and pencil methods. "I used this method with my child in particular because I know that children all learn in different ways and that for things to be understood by anyone, they must be presented on a level that that person has an interest and understanding in. I want my child to not be a sheep, but a shepherd and to learn to think for himself and question things rather than simply accepting them because they are told to him. As a result, Hunter is able to stand up for his own values and beliefs rather than simply accepting situations surrounding him."

How can parents implement free schooling to teach their kids?

Think of everything as an opportunity to learn. If you find an interesting tree or leaf on a walk, take time out to talk about it. If you don’t know what it is, study the item and look it up later to learn more. According to Kathy, her and her son "created a science notebook and every experiment was done with a detailed explanation of every step of the scientific process. In this way, Hunter was made to feel as if he was doing 'grown up' things in his own "lab" and didn't realize that he was developing math and writing skills along the way. Our discussions and experiments with plants and animals brought history, geography and social studies into the lessons. His natural curiosity about all things 'sciency' gave him a great pull toward reading. Keep in mind that this is 1st grade-in our public schools Hunter is just now given a science course in 4th grade!"

Are there benefits to unschooling?

As with any other schooling method, there are benefits, as well as drawbacks. What they are is going to depend a great deal on each family, each child, and whether this method fits in with the family's current lifestyle. One thing Kathy mentioned is "an enormous difference in the way that he responds to the world as compared to other children his age who have always gone to public school. He has a very well developed sense of right and wrong and tends to gravitate toward the underdog, often defending those that would otherwise simply take abuse from others. He also constantly questions why things happen and understands that it's not the failing of a test that matters, but the corrections that are made to the test that enhance his understanding of the material-something that is not offered to him in public school. In short, Hunter is able to see the 'big picture' much clearer because of homeschooling. He knows he has goals to meet and that sometimes what society expects from him in that moment are not as important as what he expects from himself in EVERY moment."

(Written from personal experience as a homeschool teacher who implements free schooling techniques, as well as an e-interview of Kathy Foust via facebook on Dec. 4, 2010)

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

Last updated 12/11/2020

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Ask Lyn About Homeschool: Why Don't Homeschool Parents Teach in a School Building?

Questions Kids May Have when Switching to Unschooling

Q & A on Discussing the Unschooling Homeschool Method with Kids

Can 'Free' Schooling or Unschooling Help My Child Succeed in Life?

Heart 'N Mind Homeschool Journal

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