Unschooling, Homeschooling, Classroom: Choose the Method that Meets the Needs of the Childby Lyn Newton | More from this Blogger 22 Jun 2008 03:22 PM One of my previous articles gave you some insight into unshcooling. Andrea has already addressed many questions about unschooling in Homeschool. However I thought that it might be interesting to throw in an article from a public educator's point of view. As you know unschooling involves letting children learn on their own in a natural environment instead of in a structured learning setting such as a classroom. It is more relaxed with less "bookwork". So does this work? It can. I think that unschooling and typical homeschooling and schooling in general all basically follow the same rule. That rule is that children must be treated and taught as individuals. No two children are exactly alike. Unschooling may work for one sibling but not for another. Some children are very capable of taking information and discoveries and learning from them without direct instruction. Some children do this in the classroom. They can observe the teacher and look at a certain situation and figure out a solution before the teacher ever says a word. However not all children can do this. Some children need more guidance and instruction. Kori and I both addressed this issue in Education and in Parenting. I think those children may struggle more with unschooling. I think that the key to success in whatever method of education you choose, is recognizing and following through with what best meets the need of the child. That may be homeschooling, unschooling, or classroom schooling. I think that is very appropriate for parents to do different things for each of their children based on the children's needs. One child may succeed with unschooling while another needs more traditional homeschooling or even schooling in a classroom setting. As long as the decision is made in the best interest of the child, you cannot go wrong. Unschooling Articles Lessons from Unschooling Families: The Greens Lessons From Unschooling Families: The Smiths Lessons from Unschooling Families: The Jones Learn more about Lyn Newton  Lyn is a kindergarten teacher and mommy to a girl and a boy. In her spare time, she enjoys informative and creative writing. Relevanteducation tags User Comments tangerinelullaby (553) 22 Jun 2008 05:26 PMI think it's also important to ask your child what environment is comfortable with her. As a child I often wished my mom would rather enroll me in an art school instead (also with general subjects like english and so). It is right that in every individual different kinds of methods works for them and not all kids have the same wants and degree in a certain subject. :) So when my son reaches four. I will ask him what he'd like to do without forcing him. I think this is best. Ask first what your child is comfy with and of course, let her learn and grow on her own. -Yvie http://tangerineslullaby.eachday.com  Valorie Delp (49340) 23 Jun 2008 08:13 AMI would not even consider asking whether or not my four year old wants to be homeschooled. . .um. . .they're four. Neither would I ask them what they're comfortable with because again. . .they're four. . .they probably don't even know. (I'm wondering how many kids you have?) They are not wise, but foolish and left unto themselves will make foolish decisions. This is the great fallacy I see with radical unschooling. I am the parent, I make the decisions and that's that. With that said, I always consider where my kids might want to be and certainly for extras like ballet, or gymnastics--there is choice. But I can guarantee you I have at least one child who would play game boy all day and I'm not about to let him sit around and rot his brain. There's such a thing as enriching exposure.  Andrea Hermitt (5512) 23 Jun 2008 09:41 AMVery well written. Per the comment of getting input from a four-yea-old. I think middle school is a better place to get a child's opinion. Still you must remember that middle school and highschool are the years when a child does the most damage to him or herself. Still it might not hurt to put a child who wants to be in school in school. If it was meant to be... fine. If not, he or she will come running back asking to homeschool!  deedee1231 (4030) 23 Jun 2008 09:59 AM*Yeah, my son would play gameboy all day if that were an option, ;) The only family I know of where unschooling has been successful is a family whose home has no televisions or video games whatsoever. Those kids are amazing, one is at Berkely, one is working as a tutor in the Math center at a University--and he is only 15! But...they also have a child with purple hair, one with a tattoo on his arm and a facial piercing, and several other interesting ways of expressing their individuality that I don't agree with for teens, who are not mature enough to decide about tattoos and such, IMHO. I am all for some degree of parental authority in the home as well as in the homeschool.  Lyn Newton (3966) 23 Jun 2008 03:03 PMWhile it may not be wise to ask your child directly what he or she wants- most would choose no schooling at all, it is wise to consider your child's personality and learning style. Some children and parents clash when it comes to learning. Some children learn best from others. I know plenty of parents who are too hard and impatient with their children. My son and I work better together than my daughter and I do- all because of personality. For some parents and children direct homeschooling may be stressful. They may need to consider group organziations or other methods with that particular child. In addition some children actually enjoy going to school. I know one homeschool family where one child goes to school and one is homeschooled. Valorie Delp (49340) 24 Jun 2008 03:58 AMDeedee--I do know a couple of families for whom unschooling has been successful. But I wouldn't call them radical by any means. There are rules, expectations about chores, volunteer work etc. But they're kids can choose what to study in a particular day. Lyn--Again, I'll have to disagree. I think it's far more important for the parent to have a philosophy and an idea of what education looks like than it is to consider the child's learning style. While there are a few kids for whom only one thing works--I think that's the exception and not the rule. Of course we are sensitive to the needs of our kids--I don't make my five year old sit forever because she simply can't. For science I have a list of things that we have to cover in the early years and we cover them at some point--and generally the kids pick. All homeschooling to an extent--should be child led. Community Tags homeschooling, unschooling Discuss this article
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