The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom | 
| Author: Mary Griffith
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy Used: $6.13
You Save: $10.82 (64%)
New (31) Used (21) Collectible (2) from $6.13
Avg. Customer Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 11668
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.6
ISBN: 0761512764
Dewey Decimal Number: 371.042
UPC: 086874512764
EAN: 9780761512769
ASIN: 0761512764
Publication Date: April 29, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Unschooling, a homeschooling method based on the belief that kids learn best when allowed to pursue their natural curiosities and interests, is practiced by 10 to 15 percent of the estimated 1.5 million homeschoolers in the United States. There is no curriculum or master plan for allowing children to decide when, what, and how they will learn, but veteran homeschooler Mary Griffith comes as close as you can get in this slim manual. Written in a conversational, salon-style manner, The Unschooling Handbook is liberally peppered with anecdotes and practical advice from unschoolers, identified by their first names and home states. The book also includes resources such as one teenager's sample "transcript," a typical weekly log of a third-grader's activities, and helpful lists of magazines, online mailing lists, Web sites, and catalogs. Griffith, a board member of the Homeschool Association of California (and the author of The Homeschooling Handbook), names Margaret Mead and Thomas Edison as two examples of those who have profited from unschooled childhoods, and further claims that research validates support for this controversial form of education. The "evidence" she cites, however, is predominantly theoretical writings from noted educators about the benefits of child-centered learning. The handbook suffers from a mild case of the Lake Wobegone syndrome--every unschooled children is seen as an above-average self-starter on the verge of genius--yet despite this overly rosy approach, the book is a well-organized guide for homeschoolers and other families contemplating the "un" life. --Jodi Mailander Farrell
Product Description
To Unschoolers, Learning Is As Natural As Breathing
Did you know that a growing percentage of home schoolers are becoming unschoolers? The unschooling movement is founded on the principle that children learn best when they pursue their own natural curiosities and interests. Without bells, schedules, and rules about what to do and when, the knowledge they gain through mindful living and exploration is absorbed more easily and enthusiastically. Learning is a natural, inborn impulse, and the world is rich with lessons to be learned and puzzles to be solved.
Successful unschooling parents know how to stimulate and direct their children's learning impulse. Once you read this book, so will you!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 29 more reviews...
 This book helped us to have the courage to Unschool! August 11, 2008
Since our daughters were babies;I knew I wanted to homeschool.
I have used an unschooling approach until the age of 5 when I had to make a real choice(due to my state regulations). This book helped me find myself as an unschooler, and have the courage to teach and learn with my kids our own way. The resource sections are wonderful as well!
 Useful For Any Homeschoolers Interested in Experiential Learning July 26, 2008
I'm not an "unschooler" but I was intrigued by the book's subtitle. I'm a big fan of experiential learning so I thought that the book might have some useful resources for hands-on exploration. In fact, it does have a number of good ideas for the various subjects in chapters 5-9 and for that reason, I'm glad that I decided to read it.
I noticed that a lot of what Ms. Griffith touts as benefits of "unschooling" are not specific to that particular approach but rather are benefits of homeschooling in general. Things like tailoring learning to the specific needs of each child, having a home environment conducive to exploration and experimentation, using authentic assessments such as portfolios rather than traditional grades and tests, interacting with people of many different ages rather than being segregated with their chronological peers, etc. The "day in the life of an unschooler" examples didn't really sound a whole lot different than what most homeschoolers I know do except for the hour or two of formal lessons.
Very Persuasive July 24, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am a parent of two who are not close to school age, but I have been looking into alternative education methods for the future, such as the Montessori method. This was recommended to me by Amazon, and I decided to read it because I thought the concept was interesting, to use the world around you as an educational resource. Let me tell you, I was blown away. This book presents the concept of unschooling in a very persuasive manner. It really got me thinking. This is not an instructional guide (which would be completely against the concept of unschooling whatsoever) so if you're looking at reading this to get a better idea of how to unschool, you'll waste your time. This is more of an encouraging resource for those who are currently unschooling, going to unschool, or considering it. The book has alot of testimony from parents and their children who are unschooling, and alot of other resources if you want to know more about what works in tandem with the unschooling philosophy. This book is also like an FAQ in regards to unschoolers (or potential unschoolers) biggest fears, "How will I teach them higher level maths?" "What about socialization?" "Will my children actually WANT to learn on their own??" I like this book because it didn't slam other teaching methods or throw a bunch of biased facts in my face (I admit a few of the testimonials kinda come off "a little Holier than thou" in regards to traditional schooling though) I would say that this book is very reassuring and comforting to have if you are considering this method of teaching. It's like a personal cheerleader. I loved it. I plan on discussing this method with my husband to see what he thinks, but I'll tell you that my heart is all for this method of teaching. This book will really make you sit back and rethink about education methods.
Also, keep in mind that this book was written in like 1998, so some of the resources provided to the reader may probably be outdated, but anyone who's remotely internet savy will probably figure this out anyway and know how to get more info on unschooling on the internet.
 Not really a handbook as much as personal stories and opinions! July 12, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
There was basically just a lot of "interviews" or opinions from unschoolers and not a lot of "structure" to the book - but that is what maybe makes if good for unschooling! I was hoping for a bit more specifics on what unschoolers do or how they go about using the whole world as their kids' classroom, but most of what I got out of the book was just that unschoolers just do whatever they feel like doing (whatever makes their kids happy). Perhaps the method itself doesn't work as well for kindergarten or the early years (when my son would just like to watch dvds all day) because I can't see a young child directing their own learning and still being able to learn the necessary basics (writing, reading, etc.) But aside from my lack of enthusiasm for unschooling as a whole, I still feel disappointed by this "handbook." When I bought it I was considering unschooling as an option for our family and wanted more direction and specific examples; this book seemed vague and incredibly wordy - it reads like a novel and I would have preferred more of a concise topical format, perhaps organized by subject matter or age level.
Wonderful Resource May 31, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I love this book! It helped be to better understand "going with the flow" of the educational process and not stressing myself out so much about it. The examples were very helpful for giving me ideas that might work for our family. Plus the resources of other books, websites, etc, will keep me busy for a while. Unschooling is really living a life of education. This is the tool to get going.
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