Is Santa real? It’s a question we’ve all asked at some point, and as parents, it’s one we’re very likely to face again. Our culture is full of stories that aim to strengthen our belief. From Miracle on 34th Street to The Polar Express and The Santa Clause, the theme is the same: one-time doubter […]
Unschooling Philosophy
A New Twist on Reporting
I don’t know about you, but every year I find myself getting increasingly stressed as end-of-year reporting draws near. Although I keep a journal of our activities throughout the year, it’s cumbersome to compile it all into a report. Worse, I’m never happy with the end product. Being a former teacher, I have no trouble […]
My Favorite Websites
Don’t you just love it when, after months of staring at the same to-do list, you finally get to cross something off? I sure do! Sometimes I actually complete a task and THEN write it on my to-do list, just so I can cross it off. I know. It’s a little bit weird. And possibly […]
My Favorite Video Clips
Have you had a chance to check out the clips on my videos page? I love hearing what others have to say about unschooling, child development, and the current education system, and I’ve been collecting my favorites to share with you. If you have a few minutes, take a look! What would you add to […]
Play and (Don’t) Walk Away
Back in my mainstream days, I was an avid fan of the nanny shows. There were several on at the time, and they all boasted the same thing – that by using their techniques even the most wild of children could be tamed, that houses filled with chaos and bad behavior could be transformed into […]
Rileigh Forslund: Voice of an Unschooler
Over the past week, I’ve had the opportunity to hold a series of interviews with sixteen year old unschooler, Rileigh Forslund. Hearing about her experience with unschooling has been really fascinating – especially since she’s been at this much longer than I have! I hope you’ll enjoy hearing her story as much as I have! […]
The Absent-Minded Professor Myth
The morning before Hurricane Sandy hit, the kids and I went out to tidy up the back yard and generally batten down our hatches. It was a windy, gray day, and Thomas was shivering beneath his thin shirt. Soon his arms had disappeared from his sleeves, tucked snugly against his middle. “Thomas, I’m thinking it’s […]
Unschooling In Action: Help Hannah Achieve Her Dream!
For us parents, a major part of unschooling is learning to spot our children’s passions and find ways to support them. Sometimes, this is easier said than done. Not because we can’t figure out what our children are passionate about, but because we’re conditioned to be much more limited in our thinking than they are. […]
What About Socialization? Part 2
Homeschool playground days are always a highlight for my family. They provide wonderful opportunities for deepening friendships and developing social skills. Plus, they’re just plain fun! And every once in a while, they present me with a “window” moment: an opportunity to witness the beauty of this unschooling life in action. Today was one of […]
What About Socialization? Part 1
We went to a homeschool gathering today at a local park. It was a raw, chilly, gray kind of day, but I left with a warm glow. It was such a beautiful thing to watch these children of all ages, shapes and sizes come together to socialize. “What about socialization?” is such a common question […]