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folklaur
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Can anyone share what they feel is the best book for learning how to implement unschooling?
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Barbara C.
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Well, I don't know for sure there are books about "implementing" unschooling. I think the major point of unschooling is that you don't "implement" anything. 
I like the books by David A. Alberts, particularly "Homeschooling and the Voyage of Self-Discovery". He unschooled both of his daughters.
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folklaur
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Barbara C. wrote:
Well, I don't know for sure there are books about "implementing" unschooling. I think the major point of unschooling is that you don't "implement" anything.
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I knew it wasn't a good word choice!
I guess, what I mean is, I know / understand the philosophy. But DH wants "practical" examples of how it works in action.
Most of the books I am finding focus on telling why the theory is good, not so much how to "do" it. I have to be able to explain more how it works.
Am I making any sense at all? 
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cornomama4
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I liked The Unschooling Handbook by Mary Griffiths
cm4
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lapazfarm
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cornomama4 wrote:
I liked The Unschooling Handbook by Mary Griffiths
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I agree. That book is not as "inspirational" as some, but does have some practical advice and examples, which is nice.
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Mary G
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Y'know the one that really spoke to me (as I'm a vicarious unschooler) is Debra Bell's Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling -- she's got such a natural shift to student-directed and trusting your child to tell/show you what works ... and her kids have all gone on to wonderful things.
I also like the Call to Brilliance which is another of those "this works and my kids (all of whom were taking college classes as young teens) prove it" books but it has tons of facts, data and research to back it up ... it's very secular and written from a professional teacher's experience and really speaks to proving letting the kids have their "head" as it were.
The David Albert books, Have Fun, Learn Stuff, Grow and Homeschooling and the Voyage of Self-Discovery and And the Skylark Sings with Me are all great reads and again, the author has "prove" in his daughters' accomplishments.
Hope those help some ....
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SuzanneG
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Mary G wrote:
I also like the Call to Brilliance which is another of those "this works and my kids (all of whom were taking college classes as young teens) prove it" books but it has tons of facts, data and research to back it up ... it's very secular and written from a professional teacher's experience and really speaks to proving letting the kids have their "head" as it were. |
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I just finished A Call To Brilliance the other day, and have been thinking about it non-stop ever since. It’s really fascinating and there are so many great things to ponder! [/quote]
I read this last year after this thread: One Book on Unschooling and really liked it.
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JodieLyn
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I also liked The Unschooling Handbook
I think (it got loaned out and I don't know where it is now) that it has a lot of what you're looking for.. less of why and more how to.. some examples.. stuff like that.
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folklaur
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Thank you!
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SallyT
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There's a new book out, Home Schooling: A Family's Journey, by Gregory and Martine Millman, which is both a memoir and a how-to. I just read and reviewed it, and I highly recommend it. In particular, they give a lot of time to high schoolers and college admissions, and how their eldest three went about applying to colleges, from a very out-of-the-box academic background. (Their girls have gone to Brown, Clark University, and St. John's in Annapolis, so their eclectic approach didn't hurt their shot at good colleges).
Anyway, a good book.
Sally
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Willa
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SallyT wrote:
There's a new book out, Home Schooling: A Family's Journey, by Gregory and Martine Millman, which is both a memoir and a how-to. ...
Anyway, a good book. |
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Since I went and looked it up, I thought I would go ahead and post the quick link --Homeschooling: A Family Journey
Looks good -- and my library system has it !-- though I am third in line 
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mama251ders
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I ended up buying the Millman book. It just has way too much stuff that I want to underline and come back to later! I am really enjoying this book. I have also been reading through John Holt's books. What Do I Do Monday? has tons of great ideas for implementing teachable moments with your kids. We've used it several times in the2.5 weeks since we started school.
Blessings,
Bets
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Mary G
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YEAH!  -- my library has both and then I can see if I want to buy them (which is usually YES! )
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MaryG
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Wendy
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I'm halfway through the Millman book and can second Sally's recommendation. It is wonderful! 
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Leonie
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I also like reading unschooling blogs - lets me see how it works in the homes of others, gives me ideas, gives me reassurrance. 
Unschooling Catholics
Unschooling nearcircle
Unschooling blogs
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Leonie in Sydney
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hereinantwerp
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Recently I have enjoyed old issues of "Home Education" magazine from the library. Lots of different voices here. I have also recently enjoyed one called "Fundamentals of Homeschooling: Notes on Successful Family Living" by Anne Lahrson-Fisher which this magazine publishes (tho I bought it very inexpensively used). Lots of creative ideas and encouragements.
you all must have nice libraries! mine has had the same old homeschooling books for eons. is the Millman book really THAT good??? I just got a $25 Amazon points certificate in the mail and have been delierating what to do with it!
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SuzanneG
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SallyT wrote:
There's a new book out, Home Schooling: A Family's Journey, by Gregory and Martine Millman, which is both a memoir and a how-to. I just read and reviewed it, and I highly recommend it.
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Carmie and Sally reviewed this book over at the Book Club Forum.
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Suzanne in ID
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websterm
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cornomama4 wrote:
I liked The Unschooling Handbook by Mary Griffiths
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I love this book! It was one of the first books I read when I was starting to read / research homeschooling.
At some point I will just go ahead and buy it.
Once I am actually homeschooling, I doubt I will totally unschool, but I think there is a lot to be learned from natural learning.
Marcia
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Barbara C.
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I just read the Millman book. While it is an interesting book, I don't think it really deals with implementing unschooling. Their three daughters were somewhat unschooled after learning how to read in schools. But they don't really talk as much about their three sons that were only homeschooled, other than they allowed their youngest until age 8 to learn to read.
I get the impression that they were very "unschooly" but not really unschoolers despite joining one of the first unschooling/homeschooling groups. They admit that they started out more structured and became less structured over time, but I'm not sure that they were ever really unschoolers by the standards of most unschoolers today.
For instance, they talk about how their daughters picked up grammar naturally by reading but their boys needed more help, but they don't say what kind of help exactly. They also starting teaching their girls rhetoric and debate. Most unschoolers would not do this unless the children asked to do it.
I think the Millman's are probably more eclectic homeschoolers who do not let structure interfere with interest-led or opportunity-led learning.
I agree that the chapters about college were enlightening. They focus more on selecting a college to fit your child with a few tips about applying. Cafi Cohen's book I think is better for handling the specifics of documenting and applying.
The book was pretty good, but it's focus was more "intro. to homeschooling" than memoir ("this is how we did it") in my opinion. I've read a ton of the "intro." books, and I really prefer pure memoir at this point. I think the David Alberts books are better for that.
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Barbara
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hereinantwerp
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thanks for the book reviews, I don't think I'll buy it
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Angela Nelson
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Topic: best book on implementing unschooling?
