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Unschooling is a belief of self-driven informal learning characterized by a lesson -free and curriculum -free implementation of homeschooling. [1] Unschooling encourages exploration of activities initiated by the children themselves, under the belief that the more personal learning is, the more meaningful, well-understood, and therefore useful ...
- Overview
- What is unschooling?
- How it’s done
- Is unschooling legal?
- What are the benefits of unschooling?
- Are there reasons not to unschool a child?
- The takeaway
More than 2 million students are homeschooled in the United States. There are several approaches a parent can take to homeschooling, including a philosophy called unschooling.
Unschooling is an educational method that replaces a formal teaching with individualized learning through curiosity-driven experiences. It’s estimated that as many as 13 percent of homeschooled children learn through unschooling.
Unschooling is the idea that children can direct their own learning, at their own pace, without the rigid structures of formal education. Instead of following curricula, students are given a supportive setting that fosters their natural curiosity about the world.
It’s believed that this curiosity can develop into formal learning, even without formal schooling — hence the term “unschooling.”
The idea behind unschooling was first coined by American educator John Holt in 1977, with the released of his magazine, Growing Without Schooling (GWS). This publication focused on how children can effectively learn outside of a school setting through homeschooling and unschooling.
Holt produced many other professional works on non-traditional education, and his voice is widely revered in the homeschooling community.
The way in which a child learns is largely determined by their personality type and learning style. In a traditional classroom, personality and learning type are not always considered when the instructor is teaching. For example, a visual learner may be at a disadvantage if the teacher uses an auditory teaching style.
Unschooling promotes individualized learning by allowing the learner to make their own choices regarding what and how they learn. The role of the parent is to provide the learner with an environment that fosters their natural curiosity. This may involve providing activities and support that help develop this curiosity into learning new things.
Generally, parents who choose to unschool take a more hands-off approach. For example, unschooling doesn’t rely on workbooks or textbooks. Instead, learners may choose to use any of the following methods to find new information:
•books they choose to read and explore
•people they speak to, such as parents, friends, or mentors
•places they visit, such as museums or formal work settings
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. However, each state has different laws regarding what type of structure is required when homeschooling your child. If these requirements are not met, you may be reported to the state for educational neglect.
When in doubt, there are legal professionals who can help answer any questions you may have about the homeschooling laws in your state and ensure that you are following the law.
finding the homeschool laws for your state
If you are considering unschooling your child, it’s important you’re aware of the homeschooling laws in your state. To find out the rules about homeschooling in your home state:
•Visit the Home School Legal Defense Association’s website for a detailed map of possible state laws.
•Visit the Coalition for Responsible Home Education’s website for a detailed guide on how to get started with homeschooling.
There are many reasons why you might choose to unschool your child. The benefits of unschooling include:
•providing a safer learning environment
•improving learning outcomes with more effective teaching methods
•teaching your child in a manner that is more in-line with your family’s values
•providing a customized, tailored approach to your child
There are other unschooling advantages. For example, research shows up to 40 percent of children experience test anxiety. Academic stress can lead to depression, sleep disturbances, and substance use. With no grading or testing in unschooling, your child is less likely to experience these negative effects.
There have been some concerns raised about unschooling. One possible disadvantage is missing out on crucial information because of the lack of an educational framework. Another negative is the potential for a lack of socializing if children do not have easy access to peers.
In the same 2013 study mentioned above, some parents found additional challenges with unschooling. The researchers found that many of these parents struggled with managing their beliefs about formal education.
Unschooling is a form of homeschooling that relies on a hands-off approach so that children can learn through their own natural curiosity. With unschooling, there are no formal curricula, learning materials, grades, or tests.
There are a handful of advantages and disadvantages to unschooling your child. However, there is a lack of formal research on unschooling outcomes, whether positive or negative.
Dec 28, 2022 · Unschooling is an educational philosophy that relies on a child’s innate curiosity and desire to learn. In families that practice unschooling, students do not attend school and do not...
Sep 17, 2020 · “For us, unschooling means letting our kids pursue their own passions while we find ways to ensure they are getting a high quality education,” says Kari Wilde, also a photographer, who lives in...
May 25, 2020 · With schools closed, the concept of unschooling—allowing kids to direct their own learning—is being touted by some as timely and new. But the idea has been around for centuries, and its...
Jul 3, 2019 · Often referred to as child-led learning, interest-based learning, or delight-directed learning, unschooling is a term coined by author and educator John Holt. Holt (1923-1985) is the author of education books such as How Children Learn and How Children Fail.
People also ask
What do you know about unschooling?
Who coined the term 'unschooling'?
Is unschooling legal?
Why is unschooling important?
Jul 22, 2023 · Yes, unschooling is legal! If you're homeschooling in a state that requires you to report your child's academic record, you'll simply need to use an app or notebook to keep track of what your child is learning to ensure they meet your state's educational standards.
