Addressing Homeschoolers on Two Continents

Some thoughts about about unschooling and homeschooling after speaking in Dublin, Ireland and Brooklyn, NY recently, plus an article, "Awakening Ourselves to New Possibilities in Education."

Ireland, Unschooling, Unschooled Adults, Learner-centered curriculaPatrick FarengaJune 16, 2016Irish homeschooling, unschooling, second-generation homeschooler Comments

The Rights of Children Gets an Airing

Children's rights are not a conversation starter in most circles, but this recent interview I did goes there in-depth.

Children's Rights, Homeschooling Current Issues, Learner-centered curricula, Legal Issues, Public School Issues, Parenting, UnschoolingPatrick FarengaOctober 28, 2015Escape From Childhood, Children's rights, Pat Farenga, New books in education, Trevor MatteaComment

Starting to Homeschool with Pat Farenga

Over the last few months we created this series of six videos, handouts, and a private member's forum to help you start and continue homeschooling in your own way. I wrote a new book, How to Report Unschooling to School Officials, as a capstone to this project (you can get the book separately). But you can get a special price on the complete package . . .

Unschooling, Learning and Teaching, Learner-centered curricula, Homeschooling, high schoolPatrick FarengaOctober 15, 2015starting to homeschool, unschooling, unschooling webinarComment

In Remembrance: John Holt

September 14, 2015, marks the 30th anniversary of John Holt’s death and I’ve been conflicted as to what to write about it . . . As I thought about this anniversary I went through various books and files for inspiration and I came across the documentary slide show we created for the Growing Without Schooling 20th anniversary conference in 1997 . . .

Homeschooling Films, John Holt, Learning and Teaching, UnschoolingPatrick FarengaSeptember 15, 2015John Holt, John Holt video, A Life Worth Living videoComment

Don't Follow the Crowd: Let Teens Sleep Late

People may criticize you for it, but strong evidence continues to emerge that letting your teenager sleep late and do their tasks and learning when they're well rested is a biologically and educationally sound practice. The problem is, school schedules and adult expectations undermine people who want to do this—unless you are homeschooling!

high school, Homeschooling, Unschooling, School reformPatrick FarengaSeptember 11, 2015Teenagers, Sleep deprivation, Education researchComment

Unschooling Increases Its Global Reach

Unschooling and self-directed learning are gaining advocates around the globe . . .

Europe, Learner-centered curricula, School reform, UnschoolingPatrick FarengaAugust 6, 2015unschooling, Edu on Tour, Learning Cultures 3.0, unschooling the worldComment

Starting to Homeschool and Chat with Pat

This photo shows our living room during a typical day of homeschooling. I'll talk about how moments like this add up to powerful learning and enhanced self-esteem for children in my next Starting to Homeschool webinar . . .

Unschooling, Parenting, Learner-centered curricula, Learning and Teaching, CommunityPatrick FarengaApril 28, 2015starting to homeschool, Elsa HaasComment

Homeschooling the Elementary School Years

Homeschooling Current Issues, Learner-centered curricula, Legal Issues, Public School Issues, Religion, UnschoolingPatrick FarengaMarch 22, 2015starting to homeschool, unschooling webinar, Homeschooling in AmericaComment

Starting to Homeschool

This series of starting to homeschool webinars presents homeschooling as a flexible, vibrant, and social way to learn with children. Homeschooling is an option open to anyone willing to try it. Even if your children are happy in school and you are satisfied with how your home and school work together, it is good to know what your modern educational options are as your family grows up.

Homeschooling, Learner-centered curricula, Learning Resources, Media Appearances, Parenting, UnschoolingPatrick FarengaFebruary 16, 2015starting to homeschool, unschooling, homeschooling, Pat FarengaComment

In Memory of Elsa Haas: An Individual Who Helped Many Homeschoolers

Elsa Haas was not a well-known figure in homeschooling/ unschooling circles, but she was a model of the power of the individual to affect large social changes . . .

Homeschooling Current Issues, Spain, Unschooling, ObituaryPatrick FarengaJanuary 2, 2015Elsa Haas, New York Homeschooling Comments

Cool Science Resources

You see children making things a lot when you learn at home with them, and many deep lessons are embedded in these projects. Here are some interesting DIY projects made possible by the Internet . . .

Technology and Education, UnschoolingPatrick FarengaOctober 28, 2014science, google cardboard, 3D vision, periodic tableComment

The Homeschool + Conference: Should It Continue?

All the presentations from the 2014 Homeschool+ conference are available for free! Speakers include Blake Boles, Oliver DeMille, Pat Farenga, Jamie McMillin, Jerry Mintz, Carlo Ricci, Monica Cochran, Matt Hern, Ken Danford, Ocean Robbins, and many more!

Community, Homeschooling Films, Unschooling, VideoPatrick FarengaOctober 1, 2014homeschool conference, online learning, video Comments

Slow Reading

Pew Research Center: "Screens have changed our reading patterns from the linear, left-to-right sequence of years past to a wild skimming and skipping pattern as we hunt for important words and information . . . " One solution to this is slow reading.

Learning and Teaching, Unschooling, Learner-centered curriculaPatrick FarengaSeptember 23, 2014reading, Wall St. Journal, Slow reading, slow homeschooling Comments

Treating Children As Less than Human

Trying to break the cycle of child abuse seems like a gargantuan task, not just because all sorts of experts, institutions, laws, and religious beliefs encourage and support corporal punishment but also because the majority of adults don’t think children are capable of having deep thoughts and feelings . . .

Parenting, Children's Rights, Community, Legal Issues, UnschoolingPatrick FarengaSeptember 20, 2014Children's rights, child abuse, Adrian Peterson, Jake ChapmanComment

Deep and Personal: Two Parents Write about Becoming Unschoolers

Fin and Rye drying foraged chokecherries. The boys know where to find wild mushrooms and berries, "and Lord knows what else [they] are eating out there," Hewitt writes on his blog . . .

Learner-centered curricula, Parenting, UnschoolingPatrick FarengaAugust 14, 2014Homeschooling in America, Ben Hewitt, Kerry McDonald, unschoolingComment

The Education Jargon Generator

From the creator: "My inspiration comes from the College Board's new AP Chemistry framework that includes this gem—'The student can connect phenomena and models across spatial and temporal scales.'"

Alternative schooling, Homeschooling Current Issues, Learner-centered curricula, Parenting, UnschoolingPatrick FarengaJuly 25, 2014Education, report to school, school jargonComment

Alternative Education Film Festival Coming in August!

As part of the homeschool plus conference, we're also holding a virtual Alternative Education Film Festival . . .

Homeschooling Films, Learning and Teaching, Unschooling, VideoPatrick FarengaJuly 23, 2014homeschool conference, alternative education film festivalComment

Give and Let Give: Homeschooling from the Ground Up

"Homeschooling is more than just freedom to learn. It’s more than just awesome classes or innovative learning centers. It’s time with family. It’s building close relationships with your kids. It’s going through real life ups and downs with the support of your friends, your community. It’s kids finding their own mentors by virtue of living an authentic life . . . "