Gina at Space of Love posted a nice review of my unschooling book.

"I have just finished reading this book. 'A practical handbook on learning without school' and I really enjoyed it. I read it cover to cover in one sitting (well one long breast feeding session in bed!)"

Read the full review at Space of Love »

. . . And my book was mentioned here, too! Walk Slowly Live Wildly: Kindle Adoration

If the unconventional path is the one on which you think for yourself rather than deferring to others in the face of potentially life-altering choices, and if that is fanatical, count me in!

One might think that the potentially life-altering choices that Julie Cook focuses on in her book, Unvaccinated, Homeschooled, and TV-Free: It's Not Just for Fanatics and Zealots (No Regrets Publishing, 2010), would elicit significant attention from parents faced with making these decisions. However, Julie Cook asserts that the biggest decisions more often get the least attention in favor of relying on majority opinion. Read the full review »

In response to the Helium prompt, How to homeschool and still find time for yourself:
Why should homeschooling make a difference in how much personal time a parent takes? Homeschooling parents find time for themselves just as working parents do. If they have hobbies or crafts, they find time to do them. If they want to go out on a date or do an exercise workout, they make arrangements.

Parenting is a full-time job whether or not we homeschool. Finding time for ourselves doesn't require any more effort for the homeschooling parent than for the parent who works while their children attend school. I would even argue that the homeschooling parent has an advantage and that homeschooling actually makes it easier to find and take time for oneself. Go to the full article »

(Note: In addition, for folks with babies, babywearing can feel like alone time. I can go for a walk with the baby on my back, let my mind drift and relax, and feel as rejuvenated as if I walked alone. Moreso even since I have the peace of mind from knowing my baby feels content and safe.)

In response to the Helium prompt, Homeschool co-op groups: Beneficial or harmful?
What do you envision when someone says "homeschool co-op?" A study group. An activity club. In practice, it could look like either. A homeschool co-op which suits its members will certainly benefit them. On the other hand, I can imagine some scenarios which would not serve those involved. However, let me focus on what works.

My children and I regularly participate in activities with an all-inclusive homeschool group with a significant unschooling membership. That means we have both formal and informal activities from which to choose. The group hosts several clubs, i.e, LEGO club, Spanish club, Inventor's club, as well as special events (art show, science fair), park days and parties, and fun stuff for the parents, too. Go to the full article »

(Note: I've been dreaming of a "free unschool," a sort of intentional unschooling community co-op where my kids could spend time together with other unschoolers more often than they do through our homeschool group. We need a clubhouse or a park or a farm.)

"Eight hundred people died in an earthquake." I said this to my seven-year-old daughter while she ate breakfast and listened absently to the radio news. I knew by her occasional comments that she does listen to the news reports with some attention.

"That will help with our population problem," she replied.

I could have attempted to shame and criticize her for the insensitive remark. I can imagine many people in my life who would insist that I must do so. However, I simply said, "Yes."

I paused for a bare instant before I knew what to say. Read the rest »

I used to think of free schools as "unschooling schools," which Wendy Priesnitz of Life Learning Magazine refers to as an oxymoron in her post, "The Dark Side of Influence."

Although someone might suppose an unschooling parent in an area that boasts at least two such "free schools" would know more about them, I had thus far felt sufficiently content with unschooling from home so as not to look elsewhere, that is, until the other day after reading the same Lenz on Learning post, "Unschooling vs. Sudbury schooling," to which Wendy Priesnitz had referred.

Upon reading the glowing review of Sudbury free schools, I initially felt excited by the possibility of my children taking part in a free school community, perhaps a day or two a week. What great people they would meet, right? I went straight to the nearest Sudbury school's website and started reading. However, whereas Wendy Priesnitz already knew about the "dark side" of Sudbury, it came as a surprise to me--Compulsory full-time attendance. Huh? How is that free?

And so I quit reading the school's website. In her post, Wendy elaborated on the coercive "pseudo-democracy" practiced in these schools and the ominous concept of freeing children from parental influence. I've heard enough to know that it doesn't jive with my family's lifestyle and I can now leave behind any ideas I might have had about a free school somehow providing a better unschooling environment than my homemade version.

Besides, if my kids were at school every day playing democracy, we wouldn't be hanging together at the lake on a beautiful day or taking a spontaneous trip. They would be cut off from the world of possibilities.

Continued from Part 1 . . . Rethinking Everything Magazine, my first impressions: I do love to read about people significantly improving their lives and going after their dreams. REM delivers. The intensely personal stories of change and growth inspired me and rekindled some of my dreams which had faded with inattention. REM helped me put desired growth and change back into focus. The authors reminded me to keep moving toward what I want in this precious life.

This first issue of the magazine also stirred up a lot of suppressed feelings. I continue to struggle against a subconscious sense of unworthiness and so I oftentimes stop short of my true wants in life. I came from a very abusive and traumatic childhood upbringing and I oftentimes try not to think about the continuing pain even though I need some healing. Thus, my thanks especially go to M. Sharples for sharing her story in "Teen Angels."

Now that I have finished reading the magazine filled with other people's stories, I'm going to think about my own story, the one I have lived and the one I want to live.

Learn more about REM »

I received a questionnaire from the Republican National Committee, identifying me as a Republican. The introductory text warned that the Obama liberals want me to throw out the questionnaire, but that I must not do that.

Since I register with the Green Party, I made my best guess that someone had collected my name on a list related to homeschooling. I couldn't come up with any other association between me and the Republican Party.

Nonetheless, what could I do? I threw out the questionnaire, because I don't represent Republican values. I have strong idealistic family values, but below any surface similarity, my family values don't resemble general Republican family values.

From Lee Stranahan, creator of Unschooling: The Movie.

Hey there...

Can you please help put the word out - I'm asking people to send me photos of their unschooled kids for the movie.

I'd like a LOT of pictures - they are going to flip by quickly.

All people have to do is send them to Lee@Stranahan.com - along with a note saying they give me permission to use the photos in the film.

Start watching the movie before the release

"Enjoy Life Unschooling is heading in a new and exciting direction. We will be publishing books about Radical Unschooling. The first work will be a cook book with easy family friendly recipes and short stories from people who have overcome food issues. The book will also include photographs. If you would like to contribute please send recipe, story/writing and/or photographs to EnjoyLifeUnschooling(at)gmail(dot)com. Anyone is welcome to submit, only entries that maintain the belief that trust and respect should be given to your child in all areas of their life. Please feel free to forward this to others you think may enjoy participating in. Deadline: 25 April 2010."
Go to Enjoy Life Unschooling »

"What if they never want to learn algebra, and trig, and calculus????" Okay, what if? Honestly, let's just be rational about this. Life is short; we have little enough time to focus on our strengths. Why waste time being made to learn something one has little aptitude and interest for? For what possible purpose? "To get a job that involves doing higher math." But why on earth would someone want such a job, if they didn't like math?"--"unschooling basics" Four Little Birds

She makes some great arguments, as well as some great explanations, for how and why, etc. unschoolers learn the academic basics.

Go to the full post » (Looks like she has gone invitation only since I made this note.)

We use labels to provide shortcut descriptions. We use them to simplify. Yet, they can also complicate. I put the term, unschooling, in the title of this blog. I typically apply the term to my family's lifestyle. I even apply the term, radical, when pressed to elaborate. However, as Wendy Priesnitz says in "Unschooling, Radical Unschooling, or Something Else?," unschoolers don't like to use labels, yet we argue over our own labels.

Some people join together under the unschooling label while others use it to push people away. Rain Fordyce, author of I Am Learning All the Time (Homeschool Adventure Books, 2008), stopped using the unschooling label and felt liberated to live authentically.

When I first heard about unschooling, I felt immediately drawn to the concept and attempted to discover everything I could about the movement. I soon encountered the notion of "radical unschooling." At first I didn't see a need for the additional term, because I had interpreted unschooling philosophy to comprise all of life sans arbitrary lines between schoolish learning and unschoolish learning (a.k.a. all life experience). I continue to interpret original unschooling philosophy in that way, but we now have the concept of "academic unschooling," which came after the broader initial unschooling concept.

Of course, the institution of school, and thus school-at-home, is a relatively new invention. The idea of unschooling is based on life before the invention of school. Parents and other community members have been passing on what they know to their children since the beginning of time.

So how do I identify my family?

We live. We live without school. We live without school-at-home. School takes up a significant place in the lives of the majority of families around me.

When I ate a vegetarian diet as a teen, my boyfriend's grandmother would serve me a head of lettuce with salad dressing. Upon hearing that I did not eat meat, to her mind, I must eat nothing but vegetables. I would politely accept the lettuce, but think to myself, "I eat everything else!" I suspect that when people with school in their lives hear about unschooling, they think we must do nothing but play.

For this reason, I don't think a shortcut label can serve us, at least not yet.

I think I should elaborate

My family learns through life experiences, as well as through direct academic pursuit, as well as through play. We live spontaneously, as well as by design. We take classes, as well as pursue new skills autonomously. We follow a biological clock, i.e., sleeping when tired, as well as a schedule when we choose to make appointments, i.e., classes, play dates, parties. We live flexibly and authentically, adapting to new needs and wants. We live communally and respectfully, aiming for peaceful and contented family relationships. We attend to discord one situation at a time, knowing we need not take disharmony for granted. We continually create our life.

More: Homeschoolers in solidarity regardless of differences