What is unschooling?
From the Wikipedia page: “While there is significant variation in what is meant by “unschooling”, generally speaking, unschoolers believe that the use of standard curricula and conventional grading methods, as well as other features of traditional schooling, are counterproductive to the goal of maximizing the education of each child. Instead, unschoolers typically allow children to learn through their natural life experiences, including game play, household responsibilities, and social interaction.”
In general “unschooling” could be considered the process of learning by living, life schooling, or interest led schooling, where the child learns as adults learn–by pursuing their interests, and seeing where those lead them.
The best explanation I have found is here at Life Without School.
What is radical unschooling?
Radical unschooling most often is used to mean an intentional 100% child led education, including in terms of character development. A good article on radical unschooling can be found here on Sandra Dodd’s site.
What is Christian unschooling?
Because, as Christians, we are called to:
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Because of this we look to God to show us the way to train our child, and allow them the freedom in Christ to find the way that He has laid out for them. In other words, we train them about Him and His ways, help them develop Godly character and trust God to show us and them what they will need in order to do His will in this life. In order to do this we look to what He is doing in their lives and the interest and passions He has given them, and gently guide them and follow their lead in the directions, knowing that HIS plan for them is better than anything we could come up with. You could say that Christian unschooling is God led instead of child led, as we watch and help the children grow towards His best for them, using what He has placed in them as a guide. It is definitely trusting Him to show us the right way, whether it includes book work or not, whether it seems “traditional” or not. A wonderful article on this can be found here.
The best part of being a Christian unschooler is not being bound by other’s opinions of what home education should be but being free in Christ to grow together with our children into what God has called for us as individuals and as families. We can adjust to where He has us, keep our eyes on Him, and go where He leads.
An excellent response to the question of whether Christians CAN unschool can be found here.
What is relaxed home schooling? What is eclectic home schooling?
Relaxed home schoolers range anywhere from nearly traditional home schoolers to nearly radical unschoolers. Wherever on the spectrum they fall they tend to not fit in with scheduled, curriculum focused home educators, preferring to choose according to need what is taught and learned and when it is taught and learned. Many Christian unschoolers find themselves at some point or another in this category, not sure what to call themselves.
What is interest led education?
Whether relaxed, eclectic, or unschooled, most of us (those who do not fall in the scheduled school at home category) deal in interest led education. We follow our own interests and our children’s interests and see where they lead us, recognizing that God has provided those interests and passions that we may grow closer to Him. Sometimes that looks like a traditional text book and sometimes that looks like a day playing out of doors or pretend. As Christians we have the freedom to go in the way we should go without being forced into the standards of this world.
Does this really work?
Leaning on God completely for all things takes great faith. If we expect Him, Jehovah Jireh, to provide then why not trust Him to provide the very best for our children. Consider Matthew 7: 9-10
9“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
In fact, if you are looking for the way to go in home educating your child then may I suggest that praying for wisdom, both for yourself AND for them is the very first step.
4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:4-6
