How to Unschool – Sue’s 3 Step Formula for Unschooling Success!
Are you wishing someone would show you
How to Unschool ??
Here's the help you need!
I started this as a podcast about
My Why.
Why am I doing all of this? - coaching parents, creating resources, building ways to help people understand unschooling better.
But it turned into something else!
I have a FORMULA for unschooling!
I know! Crazy right?
I can hear people gasping in horror at the audacity of it all.
But we don’t have to steer clear of “formulas” - they help things make sense.
We’ve always been keenly aware that...
- Every family IS different.
- Every situation IS different.
- Everyone’s baggage that they bring to the table, so to speak, is different.
And for those of you who wonder what the heck THAT means…
- Some people have to overcome a lot of People Pleasing habits. Maybe they learned how to do well in school but… either their kids haven’t hacked the code or now that they’re out of school, they can see the problems more clearly. Still, there’s a lot of misconceptions to undo, lurking in these people’s heads about what "good" means - "good" students, "good" kids, "good" moms… all of that.
- Some people are more anti-authority (or at least more prone to questioning authority) than others are. These people will have a different path to successful unschooling. They’ll have different things to unpack.
- Some people have a lot of outside resistance from friends and family or even spouses. As soon as they start to get comfortable, someone pops their bubble and they feel like they’re back to square one.
- And then people learn differently - some like to read, some like to watch videos or listen to podcasts. And some have a habit of simply collecting all the things but not getting back to it. I used to do that too. Interesting though… collecting is not the same as learning it! Lol I think that’s a school habit too. And, a way to procrastinate when you’re nervous and not sure what you’re supposed to be doing!
Even with all those differences - all those different bags for people to unpack, there are still unschooling principles that permeate all of it.
- About trusting that kids are hard wired to learn - that we all are.
- About seeing the opportunities that are all around us.
- About figuring how to parent in way that is focused on partnering and listening, instead of the familiar top-down my-way-or-the-highway approach.
These ideas weave through all of this.
So, let’s back up a little and then I’ll give you my FORMULA!
As the school year was wrapping up, I was doing more podcast interviews. And one of the questions that always pops up is
“Why are you doing this?”
I understand the question.
My 3 kids are grown.
I’ve already written a book.
Other long time unschoolers have faded out - or gone on to pursue other things.
But after years (decades really) of answering questions on email lists, social media, phone calls and park days - I just couldn’t walk away from all that information I knew people needed.
While everyone’s family situation is unique, many similar questions circle back around. And over the years, I’ve gathered and created blogposts and videos to help people see that unschooling really DOES work!
I love being able to tell you with 100% confidence that unschooling is the best approach!
I’m not sharing from a position of “It’s supposed to work,” or “I hope this works!”
It DID work.
Sitting here on the other side, because my kids are 33, 31, and 28, it’s crystal clear to me - and why I want to share it all with you!!
Every time I caved into fear (because I did that too!), those worst case scenarios I worried about never happened. And if I had spent more time tackling my fears, learning about how unschooling and deschooling really works - we could have had a bit smoother sailing.
And that’s really My Why.
→ I want to show you where the potholes in the road are.
→ I want to get you the reassurance you need to push past your fears - see what’s rational and what’s not.
→ I want to share example after example of how unschooling works - and could work for your family too!
I always tell people that it takes Knowledge and Support to be successful at Unschooling. But it takes Action on your part too. I spent way too many hours reading one more article or listening to one more person’s description of how unschooling worked at their house. It was a way to procrastinate - to keep me from diving in, engaging with the kids, or uncovering my own fears that were affecting me in ways I didn’t even realize!
So that’s the Action part of that equation.
All these years I’ve said there’s no formula for unschooling - but maybe there actually is!
Here’s what I want to share with you today:
Sue’s 3 Step Formula for Unschooling
- Get good information about how unschooling works. A lot of misinformation about unschooling is floating around the internet. And, often it's from people who haven't unschooled and/or don't really understand how the philosophy works in real life. This website was designed to help you have access to so much information about unschooling! You'll definitely want to bookmark it and return often.
- Surround yourself with people who are also on this unschooling journey. You probably know plenty of people who think you should put the kids in school or at least choose a more traditional homeschooling path! So it will help you to have at least one other unschooling parent in your corner, cheering you on. Inevitably, you'll have a day or two that doesn't go as planned. Having supportive unschoolers around to offer suggestions and brainstorm some solutions will be so helpful as you continue with unschooling.
- Do the internal work to help you become the best parent you can be. We don't have any Parenting Guides for this learner-driven relationship-focused approach to education and parenting. And, we all bring ideas from our own childhood with us into our adult lives that we may have to unpack. Some of these beliefs prevent us from embracing various aspects of unschooling. Let's figure out which fears are rational and which are just remnants of your own school conditioning!
My Solutions for You!
I have a few ways for you to be able to tackle each of these steps!
The DIY Unschooler Approach
Use this website to gather the information you need. It's huge! I have blogposts, podcasts, videos to help you get all the information you need. If you have a lot of self-discipline, you can do it! Set up a time each day for you to learn more about how unschooling works - and really examine your thoughts about it. Our fears grow when we lack knowledge and information - and you have access to so much of it here.
We have a webpage that can help you get connected with other local unschoolers
here.
The Unschooling Mom2Mom social media platforms can help you find other unschoolers so you can have more support. We have a really big
Facebook group,
Instagram following, and a tiny but hopefully growing soon
TikTok account.
A Little More Hand-Holding
My Creating Confidence membership group can give you information, support, and the coaching to help you work your way through various fears and worries that keep popping up. We have a huge members-only ever-growing library of resources to help you conquer specific issues you're facing. Worksheets for Parents, a private podcast, recordings from past workshops, various Unschooling Guides - all available to you immediately when you join.
Local communities are still bouncing back from the pandemic, where groups stopped meeting. You may not live somewhere with a lot of well-connected unschooling families. The private online community of parents on this unschooling path may be the perfect fit for you if you learn best with other people. Members have access to each other daily through a variety of platforms, where they can ask questions and share solutions they've found. And then on Mondays and Wednesdays, we have live zoom calls for group coaching. It's such an incredibly supportive community - I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to host this for you.
If you're looking for a blueprint to walk you through HOW to start unschooling,
join the Creating Confidence Membership group.
You don’t have to do this alone.
And actually - it would be better if you didn’t. Think of the time you’ll save and the mistakes you’ll avoid!
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
I want to make this as easy as possible for you to get the help you need.
There’s no long time commitment. You can come for a month, get some info and a boost of confidence!
Or stay and feel supported in this fabulous community as long as you’d like!
Tap into this membership. A year from now, you’ll be glad you did.
Think of all the curriculum money you’ll save - and you can use it for other fun family things to do!
Unschooling really does work - I’d love to help you see that!
So let’s be friends!!
Take care - happy unschooling!
Join Sue's Membership Group
If you're ready to enjoy all the benefits of unschooling, joining the Creating Confidence Membership will fast track you to success!
I've gathered everything you need:
- Coaching calls
- Supportive community
- Members-only library of resources
No longtime commitment
Get the help and support you need!
