Homeschooling in Louisiana

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Why the Future of Education is Unschooling

According to John Holt, unschooling allows children the freedom to learn in the world on their own terms. He saw no distinction between learning and living a meaningful life. Learning is a natural process and works best when integrated into the spaces and activities of everyday life. This article takes a look at some of John Holt's philosophy of education and explains why unschooling is often the very best choice of educational model. 

Can a Christian Be an Unschooler?
Unschooling is an educational approach, an attitude towards learning. It refers to the ways in which we use books, materials, and experiences to learn and grow. The type of underlying structure you have inside yourself, your goals, value system, discipline, whether you watch TV or call parents by their first names, whether you use a patriarchal, democratic, or any other type of family structure, are not unschooling issues; they are parenting issues. Whether unschoolers or not, every parent must deal with these issues. Homeschoolers can agree on matters of how children learn and can even share a similar homeschooling style without agreeing on all of those personal issues; Christians can be unschoolers.
Why Unschooling Isn't Just Another Method of Homeschooling

What makes for a good education? It turns out that sometimes the best education comes from simply allowing a child to follow his or her interests and passions. A rich and interesting life lead to a child learning in a way that's important to them. 

Texas Unschooling
Texas Unschooling is the source for information on all things unschooling in Texas. At Texas Unschoolers, their mission is to educate and support those families who are exploring an alternative approach to life and learning. Many kids do very well outside the traditional public school model when they are allowed the time and resources to discover where their passions lie.
Unschooling.Info Forum
This message board is designed for unschooling parents to connect, ask questions, share information and ideas, and get support.
Can a Single Parent Unschool?
These days, many parents find themselves alone, whether by choice or by circumstances. Many of these parents assume that homeschooling is not an option for them, but like many other assumptions, this can be self-fulfilling. Happily, homeschooling in single parent families is easier now than it has ever been. With commitment, creativity and support, single parent homeschooling can be not only possible, but very rewarding. Unschooling addresses the needs of both the homeschooling parent and the child in a single parent household.
8 Powerful Reasons Why I Unschool My Kids

Nina Palmo explains the benefits of unschooling by looking at the benefits this model offers. These benefits include better learning, innovative thinking, passion about learning, good preparation for college and the workforce, and even more what the exact point of learning is (hint: it's not just to go to college or enter the workforce). Unschoolers don't have all the answers, but they do dig deep to find the best way to help their children find joy and power in learning. 

John Holt: Teach Your Own Children...at Home
An interview with John Holt from 1980 from The Mother Earth News. Holt discussed his own schooling experiences, how he discovered the key to real learning, and how the idea of homeschooling developed. He also discussed some concerns that parents new to the idea of homeschooling have. There is a short description of some of the legal issues that homeschoolers have faced and where the homeschooling movement is headed.
Unschoolers Online

Here you'll find lots of links, resources, and explanations of unschooling to help you decide if this method of education is right for you and your family. Unschoolers Online provides detailed and helpful information on everything related to unschooling. 

A Few Words About Unschooling Math
A wonderful list of things that can lead to math learning.
LA Unschoolers
This group was created to support and connect unschoolers in Louisiana. Although secular in nature, unschoolers from all walks of life are welcome. Beside planning physical get-togethers, this group explores unschooling topics such as natural learning, respectful/mindful parenting, joyful living, freedom and autonomy, living by principles vs rules, convincing family, surviving panic and criticism, living without fear, non-coercive parenting, deschooling ourselves, and letting go of controls.
A Paradigm Shift
Abandoning the institution of school and taking a natural learning approach is really a paradigm shift. Most people will not understand that natural learning does not involve children following a curriculum, taking exams, being socialised (through peers), using textbooks, etc. At best they will think that you are a bit daring, slightly unusual, experimenters.... at worst they will think that you are dangerous, putting your kids at risk or should be reported.... How can you show them that natural learning is OK?
Unschoolers and a "Christian World View"
Do Christian "natural learners" ("unschoolers") have a world view the same as other Christians? Some of them will, but not all.
A Comparison of Traditional and Natural Learning
This is a chart that explores the differences between traditional and natural learning. It compares how the child and parent are viewed, how learning occurs, the role of textbooks and curriculum, how learning disabilities fit in, and how various school subjects are viewed.
Ark-La-Tex Homeschoolers
This is an inclusive, informal group for the Southwest Arkansas, East Texas, and Northwest Louisiana area. This group is available for homeschoolers who are not religious based, and who would like to meet on a regular basis for educational outings as well as social events for the children and adults alike. They meet for Park Days and schedule several inexpensive group field trips a month. Homeschoolers as well as unschoolers are welcome.
Structured homeschooling gets an A+
A new study from Concordia University and Mount Allison University has found that homeschooling -- as long as it's structured or follows a curriculum -- can provide kids with an academic edge. "Structured homeschooling may offer opportunities for academic performance beyond those typically experienced in public schools," says first author Sandra Martin-Chang, a professor in the Concordia Department of Education, noting this is among the first nonpartisan studies to investigate home education versus public schooling.
Meet the Unschoolers

The conversation around unschooling has been driven largely by parents. But as a generation of unschoolers grows up, they have given a voice to their experiences and how it has shaped the way the learn and the choices they make as adults. What has often been thought of as a fringe movement is now growing into a new way of looking at how education works and what improvements can be made. 

Unschooling.com

This message board provides information, success stories, resources, and support for families who have chosen an unschooling approach to home education. Includes videos and podcasts links, stories and articles, and tool and resources. 

Wild Azaleas Unschoolers/Homeschoolers
The Wild Azalea group is a secular, inclusive support group that provides support and activities for homeschoolers and their families in the New Orleans area. The Wild Azaleas have been in existence for over 14 years.
Classical Lite Homeschoolers
Classical Lite is a group for families that like many parts of Classical or Charlotte Mason methodologies, but choose to have a less restrictive learning environment for their children. This list is for families who see the merits in both, Classical education AND Relaxed-Unschooling methodologies— families who wish to incorporate more of the later methods in their home or have children that learn best with Classical educational methods and the other family members are relaxed-unschoolers. Those who utilize child-led Unit Studies are also encouraged to join.
Unschooling from an African-American Perspective
A look at unschooling as a philosophy of life from an African-American perspective.
Deschooling on the Road
A homeschooling mom travelled 3500 miles cross-country with her son and found educational experiences in some unexpected places. Drives home the point that learning can happen in many different ways and that we cannot always plan how our children will learn.
Radical Christian Unschoolers
Feeling like you must be the only radical unschooler in the Christian faith? Tired of hearing those who claim to be Christian unschoolers discuss curriculum or how to make their kids do chores? Tired of hearing secular unschoolers say that you couldn't possibly exist? Look no farther! On this list there will be no talk of curriculum, spanking, chore charts, coercive limitations, forced respect, or anything else that doesn't jive with radical unschooling. This list is for discussing radical unschooling by people who already "get it" and want to connect with other radically unschooling Christian families.
Jewish Unschooling
A discussion and support group for Jewish homeschoolers and parents considering homeschooling who are using a relaxed, gentle, unschooling parenting approach.

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