unschoolingbasics

List description: A list designed for those new to the philosophy of unschooling. Ask experienced unschoolers all those niggling questions, and find out how unschooling works in real families.

If you're familiar with John Holt's work, but unsure of how to begin or what an unschooling day really looks like, this is a place for you to discuss,question, ponder and become deeply familiar with natural learning and how it affects our entire lives. From parenting issues to learning from the whole wide world and beyond, come explore the issues that unschooling families have dealt with in the past and how to get beyond "school-think" to a joyful unschooling lifestyle!

AlwaysLearning

List description: Discussion for homeschooling fans of John Holt, whose books Learning All the Time, Never Too Late, and Teach your Own have made unschooling a sweet and viable option for thousands of families.

This is a moderated group, with trapdoors for the uncooperative. (Not moderated in the advance-approval way, but in the be-nice-to-play way.) It's an idea group and is intended to lean more toward pure unschooling than neutral, general homeschooling discussion--there are hundreds of general homeschooling discussions for newcomers. It's to focus more toward how people learn no matter where in the world they are, rather than on what's legal in any particular country or jurisdiction.

AlwaysUnschooled

List description: As Unschooling becomes more widespread, the deliberate choice to Unschool comes early as a way to fend off pressure for Head-Start, Preschool and Pre-K programs. Many mothers emphatically resist the push toward early academics, choosing instead to nurture freedom, joy, childhood and natural learning, trusting that their children will learn all they genuinely need to know--the very foundations of Unschooling!

List owners are working to create a space in which Radical Unschooling can be seriously discussed as it applies to young children. Although secular in nature, we welcome unschoolers from all walks of life. Our discussions focus on exploring topics like natural learning, respectful parenting, joyful living, freedom and autonomy, living by principles, single parent unschooling, convincing family, surviving panic and criticism, living without fear, resisting enrollment, non-coercive parenting, deschooling ourselves, and letting go of controls.

This is an on-topic list dedicated to achieving a deeper understanding of a Radical Unschooling lifestyle with young children--topics that fall outside this description belong, please, on more appropriate lists. This list is geared towards thoughtful discussion and exploration of what Radical Unschooling looks like in the early years, from toddlerhood to around age 8 or so. Experienced and new Unschoolers can discuss how they made the transition from peaceful parenting to Unschooling in daily practice, when that transition occurred and what benefits children gain by Unschooling from the beginning.

RUL

List description: This is the “Radical Unschoolers List”. It is for all families, regardless of religious affiliation, choosing to unschool. Unschooling is learning as a part of life. It allows the child to learn naturally, without adult-imposed “lessons”, schedules, or timelines. This list is to offer support, information, perspective, and enlightenment to anyone already unschooling or interested in unschooling.

Shinewithunschooling

List description: Allow your *Non-Typical* Child to SHINE with Radical Unschooling! I believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that radical unschooling does nothing less than save the lives of our non-typical children. This list is a forum for those either radically unschooling or learning how to radically unschool to discuss our *Shining* children (Highly Sensitive, Out of Sync, Asperger’s traits, Explosive) and all the glorious and challenging issues that accompany life with them...how *we* grow and learn ourselves thanks to our non-typical children...and how unschooling frees their spirits and allows them to truly *Shine*.

The goal of this list is to not only help parents see past the challenges of our non-typical children to their Shine, but to also learn to see their challenges as the way that THEY need to Shine in the world. It is about Honoring and Celebrating our children for being exactly Who They Are.

UnschoolingDiscussion

List description: Unschooling is not a homeschool teaching method. It refers to a philosophy of natural learning as well as the lifestyle that results from living according to the principles of that philosophy.

The most basic principle of unschooling is that children are born with an intrinsic urge to explore -- for a moment or a lifetime -- what intrigues them, as they seek to join the adult world in a personally satisfying way. Because of that urge, an unschooling child is free to choose the what, when, where and how of his/her own learning from mud puddles to video games and SpongeBob Squarepants to Shakespeare! And an unschooling parent sees his/her role, not as a teacher, but as a facilitator and companion in a child's exploration of the world.

Unschooling is a mindful lifestyle which encompasses, at its core, an atmosphere of trust, freedom, joy and deep respect for who the child is. Unschooling sometimes seems so intuitive that people feel they've been doing it all along, not realizing it has a name. Unschooling sometimes seems so counterintuitive that people struggle to understand it, and it can take years to fully accept its worth.

The purpose of this list is to move out of our own comfort zones as we critically examine our beliefs, ideas, and viewpoints about learning, and seek a deeper understanding of unschooling and more respectful relationships with our children.

The list is intended for discussion rather than support and we suggest that you read for at least 2 weeks to get a feel for the list. New members are on moderation, to avoid spam and other disruptions. "List Posting Policies" can be found in the files area of this list or, along with other list information, at: List Info.

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