Life through the Lens of Unschooling

Life-Through-the-Lens-of-Unschooling-Cover-300

What does day-to-day life look like for an unschooling family?

Leaving the traditional education system behind can be scary, so it helps to have a solid picture of what your family is going to do instead. In this meaty and inspiring book, Pam explores how unschooling both enables us to nurture our children’s curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm for learning as well as encourages strong and connected relationships with them to blossom.

With more than a dozen years of unschooling experience, in Life through the Lens of Unschooling, Pam Laricchia looks at the many ways that unschooling weaves through life. Her practical examples and stories may make all the difference in your family’s life.

You’ll discover:

What to do instead of school
How children learn to read without lessons
What unschooling days look like, at home and out in the world
How to build strong relationships with your children
What’s behind a typical unschooling day
Why choice is key for learning
Answers to that ubiquitous question, “What about college?”
How unschooling grows far beyond “not school,” and much, much more!

The theme is life; the lens—unschooling.

Drawn from her popular blog at livingjoyfully.ca, Pam’s book will be a dependable companion on your unschooling journey. Go back to it whenever you find you need a bit of help or inspiration and you’ll be sure to find a timely essay.

Table of Contents | Reviews | Where to Buy | Goodreads

introduction

chapter one: deschooling

Some ideas to consider as you begin your journey to unschooling.

Why Deschooling?
What to Do instead of School
Do Classes Hinder Deschooling?
Shifting Philosophically to Unschooling
Don’t Get Complacent about Unschooling

chapter two: learning

What does learning look like in an unschooling family?

Unschooling Doesn’t Look like School at All
Learning to Read without Lessons
Learning to Write Is about Communicating
Math Is more than Arithmetic
What Does Lifelong Learning Look Like?

chapter three: days

What might unschooling days look like and why?

“What Will I Do Today?”
Unschooling Days: Inside the Nest
Unschooling Days: Out in the World
“Who Am I and What Makes Me Tick?”
Raising Children and Developing Character
Exploring Organized Activities

chapter four: parenting

Let’s talk about the kind of parenting that supports unschooling.

Attachment Parenting Flows into Unschooling
Transitioning to Unschooling with Young Children
Unschooling and the Power Paradigm
How Do You Measure “Fair”?
Communication instead of Discipline
A Bigger Picture: The Transition from Childhood to Adolescence
Teens Reap what Their Parents Sow

chapter five: relationships

What do relationships look like through the lens of unschooling?

The World of Siblings and Unschooling
Building Strong Relationships with Your Kids
Exploring Relationships
Finding Friends
Online Connections: Do They Count?
Five Unconventional Ideas about Relationships with Teens

chapter six: family

Looking at unschooling from the perspective of the family.

Are You Playing the Role of “Mother”?
The Unschooling Family: Considering Everyone’s Needs
Life with Children
What’s behind a Typical Unschooling Day?
Enjoying Visits with Extended Family
Supporting Our Kids’ Relationships with Their Relatives
When Negative Relatives Won’t Let Go

chapter seven: lifestyle

Musings on unschooling as a lifestyle.

Why Choice is Key in Learning Life Skills
Unschooling with Strong Beliefs
Chores for Cash — A Fair Exchange?
How Does Your Child Like to Learn?
Think, Think, Think …
Supporting Our Unschooling Children
Learning Is Learning No Matter Your Age

chapter eight: unconventional

Unschooling is decidedly unconventional.

“Learn to Say No or You’ll Spoil Your Child”
“If You’re Bored, I’ll Give You Something to Do”
“You Have to Limit Screen Time”
“Video Games Are Making Children Violent”
Chores and an Unschooling Childhood
How Do Unschooling Children Learn How to Act in Society?
What about College?

chapter nine: perspective

Some of the ways my perspective on things has grown through unschooling.

Unschooling Grows Far beyond “Not School”
A Positive Outlook Isn’t Turning a Blind Eye
A Lifetime of Living and Learning
Treasure Creativity
What Makes a Successful Life?
Mindfulness and Unschooling
Finding Joy

appendix

“I Can Read, You Know!”
All I Need to Know I Learned from Video Games

Reviews

Walks the Walk
“Pam Laricchia has been unschooling for years and writes a blog, and another book about it too. She knows of what she speaks. She is really informative and helpful, and I highly recommend her new book. Her book is helpful and inspiring, and I hope that many people decide to go ahead and read it, because it can make so much of a difference when your children truly understand the power of freedom in their lives. We live in a culture that has so many random schooling rules that infect the adults supervising children these days, and while that may not be our fault (as toxic adults, like ME for one) it is up to us to educate ourselves and learn to be better parents so that our children can truly thrive. This book is meaty and funny and enjoyable and helps me learn to relax more and let my son lead the way. Thank you Ms. Laricchia!” ~ Amazon review

“I finished Life through the Lens of Unschooling the other day. It is terrific! I feel with minimal editing it could be a beautiful general parenting book, whether or not the kids end up in government schools. Certainly I’ve been recommending it to people left, right, and centre!” ~ reader by email

Where to Buy

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