UnschoolingUnschooling is a child-led homeschooling method in which the child decides what, when and how to learn and the parent is involved only as much or little as the child desires.
When I first heard of this method, I pictured a child sitting around playing video games all day. However, having seen my children initiate learning during our breaks from school, I do believe it can work for some families. A Learning EnvironmentUnschoolers set up a learning environment by making books, microscopes, and other supplies available. Children obtain information naturally through activities such as reading, playing games, gardening, cooking, working alongside parents, writing stories, watching documentaries and taking homeschooling field trips. Parents who unschool are available to answer questions and supply materials, but they do not lead or tell their children what to study. They give their children freedom to explore, trusting that they will learn everything they need to know. DisadvantagesAs with any form of education, this method will leave gaps. However, as children pursue their interests, they become aware of the need for certain skills. A child who decides to write a novel may decide to study grammar or spelling. A teen who decides to go to college may take courses in advanced math. Just as we learn as adults, unschooled children fill in gaps on a need to know basis instead of cramming their heads with facts that will be forgotten soon after the test. Resources for Further StudyFor more information, visit Sandra Dodd's Wesbite, check out Growing Without Schooling, or read How Children Learn and How Children Fail by John Holt. Here's an informative biography of the late, child-led learning pioneer John Holt. Return from Unschooling to Homeschooling Methods
|
