Homeschool VS Unschool — What’s The Best Homeschool Style?
What is the difference between homeschool and unschool?
What are the main differences and similarities between homeschool and unschool?
Is there such a thing as an unschool curriculum?
Check out the video for this post below!
I’m going to share with you the main differences and one similarity between homeschool vs unschool and help you figure out which one is better for your family.
Stick around and read until the end of this post for special invitations that I have for you and your family that will help your homeschool replace standardized education drudgery for math and science learning fun.
Homeschoolers Nadia and Ursa enjoying an aquatic hike during our unschool program, Heathcote Art and Science Center (HASC).
What is homeschooling?
Homeschooling is child instruction at home led by parents as teachers, which can include help from in-person tutors or online teachers guided by curriculum. Home education curriculum and schedules are usually more relaxed than in public or private schools and can be individualized according to each child’s interests and needs.
Unschool Definition
Unschooling is child self-directed education according to their interests. Parents and other adult mentors facilitate the child’s learning with resource rich learning environments at home and beyond.
What is the Core Value For Unschooling?
The core value and belief for unschooling is that adults trust the child that they can take responsibility for their own education along with the gentle guidance and facilitation from the adults in their lives when the child asks for help.
How it possible for children to self-direct their education?
Children are born with an innate desire and ability to learn about the world around them. Children are empowered during unschooling to choose what they want to learn, when, where, how, and why.
Here my homeschool student, Dimitri, voluntarily picked marigolds during our math and science unschool program.
How is Homeschool Similar to Traditional School?
Homeschooling is similar to public or private schools and taught through:
- Divided subjects using…
- Grades
- Tests
- Homework
- Schedules
How is Unschooling Different From Homeschooling And Schooling?
Unschooling sheds all forced elements of education including compulsory learning led by teachers or parents.
Although, unschool children often request to have teachers or mentors teach them both in person and online, the following are typically dropped by unschoolers:
- Divided subject learning
- Grades
- Tests
- Anything else that kids are compelled to do in schools, unless the child wants things like grades or tests, they are given up.
Usually the unschool child chooses to drop all or most schoolish ways.
What Do Unschool Children Choose To Learn?
Unschool children are free to learn through chosen:
- Self-directed activities
- Courses
- Mentors
- Apprenticeships
What is the Unschool Parent’s Role in Their Child’s Education?
Parents facilitate their child’s learning by providing the resources specifically to enhance their kiddo’s chosen learning interests.
How Are Homeschooling and Unschooling Alike?
So far, we’ve learned about how homeschooling and unschooling differ from each other. But, how are they alike?
Both homeschooling and unschooling can be individualized according to the child’s interests.
So, no sweat if you’re not ready to be an all out radical unschooler! OR, if your family is ready to unschool, jump in! The waters of unschooling can feel sooo refreshingly great for families that are ready for it!
What homeschool style resonates with you?
Is it traditional homeschooling, unschooling, or another homeschool style? I’d love to know!
Share about your preference in the comments below!
What If Your Homeschool Child Is Resisting Curriculum?
Is your child struggling or resisting learning from curriculum? Would your kiddo rather hyper focus all day everyday on a particular topic of interest like skateboarding, science experiments, or reading certain books?
What if your child wants to read certain books most of the day?
Some homeschoolers want to spend many hours per day skateboarding until they master it.
Does your child have a passion for science?
Check out the video for this post below!
Do your kids feel like they’re being interrupted from their other learning passions when they have to stop to complete compulsory curriculum lessons?
These are signs that your child might be a great candidate and is ready to take on the responsibility for their education by unschooling.
Is there a such thing as an unschool curriculum?
Yes, it’s whatever curriculum or resources an unschool child chooses learn with.
What If Your Family Is Best Suited For Homeschooling?
If you are best suited for homeschooling, find the style of homeschooling that best suits your family. There are many other homeschool styles including:
- Unit study
- Eclectic
- Charlotte Mason
- Classical
- Wildschooling
- Montessori
- Waldorf
There are many more homeschool styles sprouting up almost every year, it seems!
And now, just as I promised, I have a special invitation for you and your learner.
I invite you and your child to enroll in my Sharks Online unit study.
ENROLL IN SHARKS ONLINE UNIT STUDY NOW!
The Sharks Online Unit study is specifically for homeschool or unschool kids that want to study sharks or marine life for ages 8 and up. The link for the Sharks Online Unit Study is in the description below.
Are you tired of the math blues? I also invite you to grab my Math Learning Secrets eGuide.
ORDER MATH LEARNING SECRETS NOW!
Although my Math Learning Secrets eGuide is geared for parents, you’ll also receive an invitation to join my unschoolish math program called, MathArt.
Conclusion
Today you learned the main differences and one main similarity between homeschool and unschool. The main difference between homeschool and unschool is the philosophy of education. Traditional homeschoolers yet believe, similar to public and private schools, that the child must be strictly watched over and forced to learn most anything. Likewise, today’s global culture systematically believes that children need to coerced to learn anything.
Unschooling go back to ancient human culture’s roots knowing that children are born with an innate desire and curiosity to learn and master the adult tools of the age. In today’s age, the main tools of the culture are computers. Thus, most children want to master computers and technology.
Before compulsory education, parents mainly homeschooled their children. Indigenous cultures have always and continue to unschool their children.
Are you a candidate for unschooling or other homeschool style?
Share what style homeschool you use or want to start using in the comments below.