Unschooling

((aka Self-Directed Education aka Peaceful Collaborative Parenting aka Life-Long On-Demand Open Source Learning)

I started unschooling with my son in 2021. Unschooling is about so many more things than school and education for me. It forces me to interrogate my values, fortify my patience, and deepen my understanding and acceptance of who my child is.

Here are some handy resources I’ve found along the way. I will keep adding things as I remember or stumble upon them!

INSPIRING READS

• Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn
• Theater In My Head – Dan Cheifetz
• Untigering: Peaceful Parenting for the Deconstructing Tiger Parent – Iris Chen
• Deschooling Society – Ivan Illich
• These Wilds Beyond Our Fences Letters to My Daughter on Humanity’s Search for Home -Bayo Akomolafe
• Hold On To Your Kids – Gabor Mate
• The Undercommons – Fred Moten and Stefano Harney
• Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum Compulsory Schooling – John Taylor Gatto
• Free To Learn: Five Ideas for A Joyful Unschooling Life – Pam Laricchia
• The Utopia of Rules: On Technology, Stupidity and The Secret Joys of Bureaucracy – David Graeber 
• No More Work: Why Full Employment Is A Bad Idea by James Livingston
• Bullshit Jobs- David Graeber
• Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol
• What’s The Point If We Can’t Have Fun? – David Graeber

GREAT LISTENS

• Parenting Decolonized podcast
• Fare of the Free Child podcast
• Exploring Unschooling podcast
• Parenting For Liberation podcast
• Stuart Brown on Play, Spirit, and Character on the On Being Radio show
• Astra Taylor on the Unschooled Life (video)

SUPPORT GROUPS

• My Reflection Matters Village for parents of color
• Creating Confidence community
• Living Joyfully Network
• Conscious Parenting for Social Justice Collective
• Eclectic Learning Networks
• Alliance for Self-Directed Education

NYC UNSCHOOLER ADMIN AND RESOURCES

• NYC DOE Office of Homeschooling
• NYC Homeschooling Requirements Explained Step By Step
• Brooklyn Apple Academy
• Flying Squads
• Pam & Sue Homeschooling Q&A with great practical advice on handling paperwork requirement

ONLINE EDUCATION RESOURCES

• Khan Academy
• Omnis Education
• Outschool