Stories of an Unschooling Family

Should children be responsible for their own educations? Or is that an irresponsible idea? This week, I’m exploring lots of questions including: Is learning an active activity that needs the learner’s cooperation? Is it impossible to force knowledge into a child without resorting to teaching methods that ultimately destroy their natural love of learning? Is forced learning real learning? Is it better to unschool and let children learn what’s important to them? But if we choose unschooling, will our kids, one day, accuse us of side-stepping our duty and not providing them with a good education? Show Notes Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Who Should Be Responsible for a Child’s Education, the Parent or the Child? It contains today’s show notes.   My Unschooling Books The Unschool Challenge: Kindle The Unschool Challenge: paperback Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page  

Is unschooling about staying in bed late, spending lazy days in the forest, and baking cookies?  Or is there more to unschooling than that? What does a typical unschooling day look like? Will it be different in different families? Will it change over time? Whatever it looks like, will it always be packed with deep learning, the kind that matters and makes a difference? I discuss these questions and more in episode 197. Show Notes Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, What Do Unschoolers Do Each Day? It contains today’s show notes.   My Unschooling Books The Unschool Challenge: Kindle The Unschool Challenge: paperback Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page

Are kids more likely to suffer mental health problems if they experience excessive control? Could video games provide safe spaces for kids to retreat to when life becomes too difficult? If we insist kids leave their games and they get upset, could it be the real world that we’re forcing them to return to that’s the problem and not the video games? And if kids do have genuine trouble handling games and protest loudly when we take them away, how will they learn to deal with their feelings if they’re not allowed to play? I discuss these questions and more in episode 196. Show Notes Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Video Games, Control, Mental Health and Freedom. It contains today’s show notes.   My Unschooling Books The Unschool Challenge: Kindle The Unschool Challenge: paperback Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page

This week, I’m going back to basics: I’m discussing the question, What is Unschooling? I’m also sharing several stories to illustrate my definition: What Is Unschooling? Why Unschooling Isn’t a Method of Homeschooling What Is Unschooling? A Transcript I also share some links to other unschoolers’ definitions of unschooling.   Show Notes Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Unschool Basics: What Is Unschooling? It contains today’s show notes.   My Unschooling Books The Unschool Challenge: Kindle The Unschool Challenge: paperback Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page

This week, I'm discussing chores. How do we encourage our kids to be generous and willing workers? I’m sharing two stories: How to Get Kids to Do the Chores The Radical Chore Roster Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Can Radical Unschoolers Use Chore Rosters? It contains today’s show notes.   My Unschooling Books The Unschool Challenge: Kindle The Unschool Challenge: paperback Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page

This week, I’m sharing a blog post, Should We Push Kids to Use Their Talents, Aim High and Impress? This post includes stories about people who have followed the pathway desired by their parents and ended up unhappy. And there’s one story about a man who, despite achieving the necessary grades to study medicine or law, chose to become a high school teacher. I’ve included lots of links to books, videos and other resources. Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post and look at these links. And I’d love you to check out my unschooling books, Curious Unschoolers, Radical Unschool Love, and The Unschool Challenge, which you can find on Amazon!

This podcast episode discusses the struggles of maintaining focus while reading and shares tips on eliminating distractions. It emphasizes the power of storytelling and shares exciting experiences with kangaroos and trees. The importance of recognizing delights and keeping a 'homework for life' is highlighted, as well as the concept of a second brain for managing information. The speaker also discusses their return to blogging and future plans for the podcast.

This week, I'm sharing some big news: I've published a new unschooling book! In this episode, I tell you about The Unschool Challenge, share some family news and a couple of resources, and ponder lots of unschooling thoughts and ideas along the way.   Show Notes   My Unschooling Books The Unschool Challenge: Kindle The Unschool Challenge: paperback Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Blog: Stories of an Unschooling Family Instagram: stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily Youtube: Sue Elvis   Things I Mention in This Episode   John Holt's Growing Without Schooling magazine   The Virtual Kitchen Table podcast Episode 5, Part 1: Kindness and Unconditional Love: What Do They Have to Do with Unschooling? Episode 5, Part 2: Kindness and Unconditional Love: What Do They Have to Do with Unschooling? Watch out for the Virtual Kitchen Table podcast about deschooling and The Unschool Challenge. It’ll be available some time in the next few weeks. Why not subscribe to the podcast so you hear all about the latest episodes?   Art of Manliness podcast Jane Austen for Dudes   The Word on Fire Institute YouTube channel God and Gaming video series 

After a long break, I’m back!   In this episode, I read one of my stories called Clock Watching and comment on it. I share some news, including some about the future of my blog and podcast.  I mention a couple of resources that I hope you’ll find interesting. And, along the way, I share loads of unschooling thoughts!   Show Notes   Things mentioned in this episode: Blog post: Clock Watching Podcast episode 178: Strewing Unschooling and Charlotte Mason  Blog post: Unschooling when Charlotte Mason Appeals to Our Hearts Book: The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery  Book: Fingers in the Sparkle Jar by Chris Packham Documentary: Aspergers and Me by Chris Packham   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Youtube: Sue Elvis Blog: Stories of an Unschooling Family Instagram: stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily   Thank you for listening to this episode!   Error: I received enormous bills for my blog hosting and podcast hosting. I didn't receive two bills for my podcast!    

I'm back! Are you surprised? I am! This week, I'm talking about: How lack of control makes us feel helpless. Do controlled kids feel helpless? Does control lead to mental health issues? If we want a society of responsible adults, do we need to listen to kids, give them freedom, and let them learn how to be responsible for themselves? Difficult times, friends, and our unschooling community How change can stretch us, and how we learn when we have an interest or a need Video gaming and what I've learnt since I became a video gamer My new children's novel, The Angels of Wallaby Way! Perfectionism, and the fear of criticism, and Marco Polo video messages The value of feedback, encouragement, and the most important people in our lives Show Notes Blog Post What I discovered When I Became a Video Gamer   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback The Angels of Wallaby Way: available very soon! My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Unschooling Community including Unschool Plus and Marco Polo My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing   Thank you for listening to this episode!