how to start

[vickie]

Hello,

I've been homeschooling my 9 year old son this year. It has been
challenging and not completely satisfying. I really want to start
moving towards unschooling. I'm not sure where to start. I've
ordered a John Holt book, and can't wait to read it. What is one
thing I can do today to move towards unschooling? I've been doing
pretty traditional schooling with an emphasis on his choices for
writing and reading. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Vickie

[Robin Bentley]

You could start by reading here:

http://sandradodd.com/help

Plenty of links on all kinds of topics, with gathered wisdom from
unschoolers throughout the years.

And one piece of advice I think is important - it's right at the top
of the page: "Read a little, try a little, wait a while, watch."

And come back to ask questions, if you have them. This group is very
quiet these days, so I'd also recommend joining Sandra's other list
"AlwaysLearning" at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysLearning/

AlwaysLearni...@yahoogroups.com

Robin B.

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[Robin Bentley]

Oh, and if you want a tidbit of daily inspiration, you can sign up for
"Just Add Light and Stir":

http://justaddlightandstir.blogspot.com/

Robin B.

[Sandra Dodd]

-= I've been doing

pretty traditional schooling with an emphasis on his choices for

writing and reading. Any advice would be much appreciated.-=-

-=-What is one
thing I can do today to move towards unschooling? -=-

Don't do any traditional schooling. Don't announce it. Move gradually.
http://sandradodd.com/gradualchange

That's the one thing. :-)
If he asks if he needs to read or write you could say, "Not if you don't want to. Do you want to watch a movie?" or something like that.

John Holt wrote some pretty great things, but depending which book you've ordered, there might be some other things you could be reading that would help more. John Holt didn't have any children; he wasn't a parent. He died 27 years ago. Since then, based largely on his ideas and those of other school reformers, some families (mine, Pam Sorooshian, Joyce Fetteroll--owners of this discussion) have raised children to adulthood without school. We've been helping people for ten, fifteen, twenty years--lots of the people in this discussion have--and can help you with ideas and situations.

Lots of beginning thoughts and exercises are here:
http://sandradodd.com/beginning

This discussion is not used much. It might perk up a little. But if you want a quicker turnaround there is a discussion on facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/groups/303347574750/
and there's another one, if you decide to seriously consider radical unschooling, here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysLearning/

Even though this googlegroups group isn't active, we leave it here because there's some good stuff in the archives, but it might be easier to read at the links above or here: http://joyfullyrejoycing.com

Be patient with yourself as you're deschooling! It takes time and thought to move away from schoolishness.

Sandra

[Monique Schaefers]

Spend some time de-schooling.  Fall in love again as a family.  Move forward with the things you both enjoy.
--

Monique Schaefers

Vickie