Unschooling in 2015: Our Year
Homeschooling / Unschooling

Not back to school

My dearest girls,

Today is the start of another school year. You don’t know that of course. You have no idea. You’ve never been to school and I’m not sure if you ever will or not.

So today, when most young kids were up early getting ready for their first day, our life looked like it did any other day.

Not Back To School

You would have been in Grade 1 and Kindy today, quite possibly filled with the nerves and tears I’ve seen described by many parents. Instead, you played. At home, where you’re always yourself and always comfortable.

You spent time outside. You looked for bugs in the garden and studied them closely.

Not Back To School

You created art together…

Not Back To School

…immersed in an imaginary world.

Not Back To School

You played with your little sister. You all laughed and giggled together.

Not Back To School

We read books together. We talked. We cuddled. We enjoyed each others company.

Not Back To School

I used to wonder if this was the right decision, because it’s a big decision! But looking into your smiling little faces I have no doubts.

You are happy, and you are so free. Right now, I could not imagine life any other way. I don’t think I could give you a better childhood. I can’t wait to spend another magical year living and learning with you.

Not Back To School

Comments

Rachel | Racheous - Lovable Learning
January 27, 2015 at 8:15 pm

“I don’t think I could give you a better childhood.” <3 nope, wouldn't give this life up for anything!





Jenn
January 27, 2015 at 8:49 pm

Could no have stated it better! So beautiful! I can’t imagine life any other way with my 6yo daughter and 2yo son. Grateful for these years!



Stephanie Cook
January 28, 2015 at 12:49 am

I am always reading about homeschooling/unschooling.

I am not quite brave enough to tAke the plunge!!

My reasons,

Failure. What if I don’t provide the skills they need to d o what they want to do in the future?

My children are at a fantastic school, as schools go BUT my eldest daughter doesn’t thrive at school and seems switched off.

I help a lot at school and there is lots I learn myself which I wouldn’t think of ‘teaching’ my child. These are basics that will be expected of them later in life.

I have four children – 8,6,4 and 2. How do I get the right balance for all of them? It’s hard sometimes, without the added responsibility of their education. We have no help or family around so no rest bite and it feels a struggle to get everything I need to done now.

Finances. Will it be pricey we get by atm but could do with some extra income …Maybe me working …

Motivating them all when they want to do d different things. One isn’t keen on outdoor stuff a lot (like the rest of us) distraction such as tv while allowing freedom of choice.

In my mind I want to be with them all the time. In reality I may run out of steam out need a break (I do now sometimes) some me time.

But

I want to spend more time with my children, not rush and be ruled by time restraints or spend spare time doing or stressing about doing homework!!

I feel like I do a lot of nagging my children during term time..you need to get ready or we will be late. You need to do your reading book, spelling etc.

I’m very picky when it comes to school and completely agree with children learning themselves, its natural and attitutes to children and learning need completely changing in schools. Having said that the children are at is a fantastic school with an amazing forward thinking head, we get on well on a personal level and have the same opinions on learning. He is still ultimately restricted to a certain extent by the system.
It’s the only school I would be happy with. If pulling the children out didn’t go as I hoped they wouldn’t get back in and I could be kicking myself!

We live in a rural area with no other children not attending school.



    January 28, 2015 at 11:20 am

    There is SO much to consider isn’t there. I’m not sure I can answer all of your questions because it’s so different for every family. But what I do know is if you think this would be the best path for your family and you are motivated then you CAN do it. You work it all out along the way. And you never regret spending so much of their childhood with them!

    As for learning everything they need to know. I guess it’s a whole different perspective. What school thinks they need to know and what I think they need to know are very different, LOL. I remember very little from school myself. I just trust that they will learn what they need for their lives, at the time that it is needed 🙂



      Erika
      January 28, 2015 at 3:21 pm

      I also remember very little from my public schooling hours. What I do remember are the hours well spent out of doors on my family’s farm just being a kid, and the long wait for the bell to ring so I could return to where I really wanted to be; at home with my family and wonderful pets(after a 45 minute bus ride!).

      When my oldest was at the age where he could have begun to spend his days apart from us in a brick and mortar environment, it was easy to just continue what we were already doing; being a family learning and playing together. That was 14 years ago. He did have formal lessons along the way. He remembers his years of studying Latin alongside his father and beloved tutor with fondness, but much of his learning just came from his interests. His younger siblings are following suit and even though there have been bumps along the way, I wouldn’t change the road we are on.

      Thank you for the lovely post, Sara. I really enjoy reading here.



January 28, 2015 at 2:10 am

beautiful! we love playing with magnatiles. They make great lego minifig houses.



January 28, 2015 at 4:43 am

Love it. Letting them have a beautiful childhood is so worth it.



January 28, 2015 at 5:53 am

My husband and I are planning to travel in a few years time. As we move, we are thinking of homeschooling the kids. I have 2 kids and they are 4 years apart. Will it be a challenge if we home school both since they should be learning different things? How can I manage teaching them both? Until when can I child be homeschooled?



    January 28, 2015 at 11:24 am

    I think there’s different challenges with different age gaps but you will work out what works for you. Usually if my 5 year old is doing something her younger sister will join in on her level.
    You can homeschool as long as you like 🙂



      January 29, 2015 at 6:47 am

      Wow it really sounds like a lot of work and dedication. You make it sound so fun though. I am just concerned if I have patience to do it. Wondering too how they can cope up if they get homeschooled then get into highschool or college?! Or is there a study about homeschooled children and employment?
      Thank you for your time!!! I appreciate it.



        Bee
        January 29, 2015 at 10:06 am

        Hi Khristine,
        I’m not Sara but I just wanted to quickly refer you to this survey:

        https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201406/survey-grown-unschoolers-i-overview-findings

        A Boston college professor has conducted research into the experiences of unschooled children and where they “end up,” so to speak. He admits that some of the limitations of his study are the fact that 1. the sample size is very small (too small to draw any definite conclusions) and 2. the people who responded to the survey were self-selected, i.e. they wanted to talk about their experiences, so they may not be totally representative of all unschoolers.
        However, I do think it’s a really cool first indication of what unschoolers might end up doing after the age of 18, and how they viewed and experienced their education.



Siggy
January 28, 2015 at 9:31 am

Exactly. So well said!

What book are you reading there?



January 29, 2015 at 1:40 am

This made me cry. Just this morning my daughter’s teacher told me that my daughter told her she doesn’t want to go to school anymore. In March will be her graduation day and she wants to experience that. I don’t know what to do. It felt sad because she’s not happy in school anymore. I hope to convince her to go to school until March because this coming school year, we’ll homechool her.



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