Un/Homeschooling

Lesson 5: Learning Experiences

Learning Away From Home

"What children need is not new and better curricula but access to more and more of the real world; plenty of time and space to think over their experiences, and to use fantasy and play to make meaning out of them; and advice, road maps, guidebooks, to make it easier for them to get where they want to go (not where we think they ought to go), and to find out what they want to find out." - John Holt, unschooling advocate and author of many books on education.

Many learning experiences take place away from home. Homeschoolers often use free or low-cost resources such as the public library or local college libraries to pursue their interests. They may also volunteer in exchange for lessons or admission to museums and arts events. Older homeschoolers may choose to participate in apprenticeship programs, volunteer jobs, travel, and other opportunities.

Community Resources: Community gardens, nature centers, parks, wildlife preserves, zoos, pet shops, museums, art galleries, historical societies, astronomical societies, libraries, courthouses, etc.

The list of community resources utilized by my family includes our local county fairgrounds and events center, parks, art galleries, music and dance instruction companies, gardener’s resource companies, family activity centers, children’s museums, historical museums, nature center, county library, college libraries, bookstores, toy stores, malls, community college, homeschool support group, unschooling support group, and playgroup.

“You needn’t feel you must know everything to help your child; again, homeschooling doesn’t have to be like regular school and you don’t have to be like a typical school instructor. Instead, you can be a facilitator and guide for your children’s explorations of areas in which you don’t feel particularly well versed.” - Patrick Farenga, homeschooling father and unschooling advocate.

Your children can learn from your interests, the interests of other adults who you know, and those of professionals in your community. Parents in homeschooling groups can pool their expertise for the benefit of all the children. Learning from professionals in your community can take the form of interviews, observation, participation, lessons, an instructed course, or a mentoring relationship.

Homeschooling Groups:

Local homeschooling groups often organize clubs and activities and share learning resources. You’re not limited to just one group. My family belongs to a local homeschool group and an unschooling group. Both groups offer fun activities and interesting people to spend time with. There are also larger, regional or national groups. And of course parents and children always have the option to start a special-interest group such as a study group or reading circle.

“Life for unschoolers is easier today than it was even a few years ago, though, because there are more of us sharing our experiences. Instead of having to do all our own digging for every subject that interests our families, we can start with resources that other unschooling families have already found useful. By talking with other families in a local support group, reading reviews in state and national homeschooling newsletters and magazines, and poring over catalogs published by families whose search for resources turned into home-based businesses, we can usually get a good start on finding materials about almost any subject.” - Mary Griffith, author of The Unschooling Handbook.

Homeschooling groups may create clubs in which groups of children of various ages gather to explore together a common interest such as astronomy or geology, etc. These groups will likely be more enjoyable than projects done in the school setting because there will not likely be any time limit and resources will be more flexible.

“Unschoolers tend to be less peer-centered in their ideas and activities, and more interested in and tolerant of a wide variety of people. Generally they are more willing to play with both younger and older children, and welcome adult friendships as well.” - Mary Griffith.

Schools: Public school clubs, charter schools, alternative schools, and community colleges may admit homeschoolers. A benefit to charter schools of enrolling homeschool students is that charter schools are usually required to demonstrate that their students achieve well on standardized tests, and homeschoolers generally do so. Charter schools also receive state money for each student enrolled. Charter schools are public schools, however, so exercise caution when choosing to enroll your children. Pay special attention to any requirements of attending. Community college classes may be a better option for your children to maintain homeschool status separate from the public school system.

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