New to Unschooling

[africabound]

Hello.  I have been home schooling for six years.  We have used many different  curriculum's and after years of frustration, stress, and always comparing my children to other children (home schooled and public schooled alike) a new friend introduced me to the idea of unschooling.  I read the book Christian Unschooling which was so helpful. I have a lot of fear that goes along with this method.  I do see the benefits and am willing to take the time to understand it and implement it.  I believe the biggest issue I have is DE schooling myself. I'm the problem, not my kids.  I will quickly get into, "gotta DO school" mode.  My girl is 10 and my son is 7.  Please give me some advice on this if you have some to offer.  

[Lillian J]

Hi! I think you might get more response in the Unschooling Subforum that's part of this forum.     Lillian

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by africabound 

Hello.  I have been home schooling for six years.  We have used many different  curriculum's and after years of frustration, stress, and always comparing my children to other children (home schooled and public schooled alike) a new friend introduced me to the idea of unschooling.  I read the book Christian Unschooling which was so helpful. I have a lot of fear that goes along with this method.  I do see the benefits and am willing to take the time to understand it and implement it.  I believe the biggest issue I have is DE schooling myself. I'm the problem, not my kids.  I will quickly get into, "gotta DO school" mode.  My girl is 10 and my son is 7.  Please give me some advice on this if you have some to offer.  

But to get back to your questions, it could take months, but there will probably be periodic anxiety attacks throughout, depending on a number of factors. Here's a thread that had to do with decompression and deschooling - you'll find links to helpful articles among the posts. And here's another thread:  Trying to trust the process..decompression, unschooling, finding a balance..

Take your time and read even more good books - just keep a stream of inspiration always coming through. Scroll about halfway down this page of the HomeSchool Assn. of California's booklist to the category called Natural Learning and Unschooling.

And a subscription to Natural Learning Magazine could be a helpful inspiration - there's an online edition - and you can find archived articles in their website. Also go to my (noncommercial) pages, BestHomeschooling - look over in the left hand column for articles and websites, and bookmark things for referring to as you go along. A wonderful resource is FUN-Books - they have "books, games and other materials to help you in your efforts to produce life-long learners," and they have a section of books about homeschooling/unschooling. 

You'll also find lots of great inspiration in the section of Sandra Dodd's site for getting started in unschooling, as well as decompressing and deschooling - don't miss these articles.
 

But the most direct and ongoing support right now will probably be the Unschooling Subforum of this forum, because you can find immediate responses there to your unschooling concerns. Have fun!  Lillian