Podcast appearances and mentions of pat farenga

Episode 83 - Education Without Limits - Today's episode explores unschooling with Pat Farenga, a leading voice in alternative education and close collaborator of John Holt, whose work reshaped how we view childhood learning. Disclaimer: Please note that all information and content on the UK Health Radio Network, all its radio broadcasts and podcasts are provided by the authors, producers, presenters and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge. As a service to our listeners/readers our programs/content are for general information and entertainment only.  The UK Health Radio Network does not recommend, endorse, or object to the views, products or topics expressed or discussed by show hosts or their guests, authors and interviewees.  We suggest you always consult with your own professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advisor. So please do not delay or disregard any professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advice received due to something you have heard or read on the UK Health Radio Network.

INTROI'm chatting in this episode with Pat Farenga from Massachusetts. Pat is the father of three now adult unschooled daughters, and he worked with the late John Holt—the New York Educator who coined the term unschooling and wrote several books about learning. Pat worked with him on his magazine Growing Without Schooling and continued the magazine for many years after John Holt passed. We chat about his experiences with John Holt, how unschooling looked back in the '70s and '80s and how things have and haven't changed in the last 50 years.Connect with Pat at https://www.johnholtgws.com/who-was-john-holtPat mentions the following educators and authors in this episode:John Holt, author of How Children Fail, How Children Learn, Learning All The Time, Teach Your Own, Instead of EducationIvan Illich, author of Deschooling SocietyJohn Taylor Gatto, author of Dumbing Us Down, Weapons of Mass InstructionSugata Mitra, TedX talk School in the CloudYou can find my blog, workshops and courses at:www.esther-jones.comOr, connect with me onInstagram: @_esther.jonesFacebook:@theunschoolspace

Let's chat about John Holt & Pat Farenga's book, Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book of Home Schooling, and how it informs your homeschool life. John Holt wrote another small book, Why Children Fail, that revolutionized my approach to home education. You too? I've heard that I'm not the only one, so if you've… The post John Holt & Pat Farenga Teach Homeschoolers How to Learn appeared first on Capturing the Charmed Life.

It is no secret that we have not loved the overall message of this book club selection. But hooray... we have finally reached the end!!! Join us for a discussion about chapters 11 and 12. Our next book club selection is Normal Sucks by Jonathan Mooney and it is GREAT!!! Homeschoolers love a good rabbit hole! Dig in deeper with our helpful links: https://linktr.ee/homeschoolmomsunfiltered A HUGE thank you to our premier sponsor - Hub of Curiosity. They believe that learning begins with interest and offer an incredible variety of classes on Outschool. Check out their amazing classes here: https://outschool.com/teachers/Hub-of-Cuiosity?signup=true&usid=C19DrybH&utm_campaign=share_invite_link If you're new to Outschool, use code BUDGETING24 for $20 off your first enrollment! Would you like personalized coaching from Meagan or Amanda (or both)???? We offer consultation services. Feel free to take a look at our respective bios and book a time that is convenient for you. https://calendly.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered Let's be friends!!! Follow us on social media for giveaways and updates!! IG: https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered/ TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@homeschoolmomsunfiltered?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc FB: https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered

Join us for a discussion on chapters 9 & 10 of Teach Your Own. There's some interesting information in this section about the legal history of homeschooling in the United States. There's also a story about John Holt collecting leaves in the park with some young boys that had Meagan and Amanda envisioning a Dateline special. Ahh! Homeschoolers love a good rabbit hole! Dig in deeper with our helpful links: https://linktr.ee/homeschoolmomsunfiltered Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered

Each week, Amanda and Meagan will be discussing their current book club selection. Our first pick is Teach Your Own by John Holt and Pat Farenga. In this episode, we'll be discussing the introduction materials and chapters 1-3. Feel free to read along with us or join us for a Spark Notes-style review. Find links to the topics discussed during this episode in our LinkTr.ee: https://linktr.ee/homeschoolmomsunfiltered Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered

Each week, Amanda and Meagan will be discussing their current book club selection. Our first pick is Teach Your Own by John Holt and Pat Farenga. In this episode, we'll be discussing chapters 4-6. Feel free to read along with us or join us for a Spark Notes-style review. Find links to the topics discussed during this episode in our LinkTr.ee: https://linktr.ee/homeschoolmomsunfiltered Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered

Each week, Amanda and Meagan will be discussing their current book club selection. Our first pick is Teach Your Own by John Holt and Pat Farenga. In this episode, we'll be discussing chapters 7-8. (Spoiler alert.... chapter 8 is a total shit show!!) Feel free to read along with us or join us for a Spark Notes-style review. Find links to the topics discussed during this episode in our LinkTr.ee: https://linktr.ee/homeschoolmomsunfiltered Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered

Dive into an enlightening episode of our podcast where we explore the transformative world of alternative education models with Patrick Farenga, a luminary in the homeschooling and unschooling arena. This episode promises an in-depth look at the evolution of education, from traditional classrooms to innovative concepts like charter schools and micro-schools, and the impact of the global pandemic on educational approaches.Core Discussion in this episode:Historical Evolution: We journey through a century of educational shifts, witnessing the transition from conventional methods to modern alternatives.The Unschooling Philosophy: Unravel the essence of unschooling with Patrick Farenga, exploring its potential to reshape societal norms, parenting, and work-life balance.Debating Education's Value: Engage in a critical discussion on college education's relevance and financial implications, contrasting the tuition landscapes in the US and Europe.Insights from Experience: Drawing from Farenga's rich experience and our collective perspectives, we explore the challenges and triumphs of unschooling, highlighting its role in fostering trust and lifelong learning.We also touch upon the future perspectives of unschooling:Envisioning Educational Futures: We speculate on the potential future of education and work, considering the increasing shift towards unschooling and remote learning methodologies.Societal Implications: Reflect on how mainstreaming homeschooling could reshape educational structures, emphasizing inclusivity and breaking down age-based segregation in learning.This episode offers a rare opportunity to rethink education's role in our lives and society. Patrick Farenga's insights, combined with our analysis, present a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities within alternative education. Tune in for a session that promises to enlighten and inspire, whether you're an educator, parent, or lifelong learner keen on understanding the evolving landscape of learning.

Home school or State School? Pat Farenga joins me to discuss the work of John Holt. $ BTC 37,037 Block Height 816,322 Today's guest on the show is Pat Farenga from Growing Without Schooling, an initiative founded by John Holt in 1977. Who is John Holt and how did Pat find himself working with John and then carrying on his life's work? Why did John Holt quit his teaching career to dedicate his time to studying how children learn and champion the homeschool movement? Why has Pat dedicated his life to carrying on John's work and what has he seen change over the last 5 decades of fighting the narratives of homeschooling? Will Homeschooling ever be considered mainstream again or are we destined to simply hand over our children to a giant state brainwashing machine? A huge thank you to Pat for coming on the show, learn more about John and Pat here: https://www.johnholtgws.com/ ALL LINKS HERE - FOR DISCOUNTS AND OFFERS -  https://vida.page/princey - https://linktr.ee/princey21m Pleb Service Announcements. @orangepillapp That's it, that's the announcement. https://signup.theorangepillapp.com/opa/princey Thank you: @swanbitcoin @relai_app @ShiftCryptoHQ @wasabiwallet @hodlhodl @mempool @KonsensusN for your trust and support.  Support the pods via @fountain_app  https://play.fountain.fm/show/2oJTnUm5VKs3xmSVdf5n   Shills and Mench's: ORANGE PILL APP - https://signup.theorangepillapp.com/opa/princey SWAN BITCOIN -  www.swan.com/bitten  RELAI - www.relai.me/Bitten Use Code BITTEN BITBOX - www.bitbox.swiss/bitten Use Code BITTEN HODL HODL - https://hodlhodl.com/join/BITTEN  WASABI WALLET - https://www.wasabiwallet.io/ MEMPOOL - https://mempool.space/ KONSENSUS NETWORK - Buy bitcoin books in different languages.  Use code BITTEN for 10% discount - bitcoinbook.shop/discount/BITTENSTACKING SAT http://stackinsat.com/signup/?r=Bitten SATSBACK - Shop online and earn back sats! https://satsback.com/register/5AxjyPRZV8PNJGlM  HEATBIT - Home Bitcoin mining - https://www.heatbit.com/?ref=DANIELPRINCE - Use code BITTEN. CONFERENCES: BITCOIN ATLANTIS - @BitcoinAtlantis - @FREEMadeiraOrg - 1st -3rd March 2024. Use code BITTEN for a 10% discount on all ticket purchases. https://bitcoinatlantis.com/

Episode 20 - Homeschooling, Unschooling, Deschooling and The Re-evaluation of Learning with Pat Farenga who helps us relook at what it means to learn and whether or not the formal school system is the ideal place… Disclaimer: Please note that all information and content on the UK Health Radio Network, all its radio broadcasts and podcasts are provided by the authors, producers, presenters and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge. As a service to our listeners/readers our programs/content are for general information and entertainment only.  The UK Health Radio Network does not recommend, endorse, or object to the views, products or topics expressed or discussed by show hosts or their guests, authors and interviewees.  We suggest you always consult with your own professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advisor. So please do not delay or disregard any professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advice received due to something you have heard or read on the UK Health Radio Network.

In today's episode, Homeschooling/Unschooling expert, Pat Farenga helps us relook at what it means to learn and whether or not the formal school system is the ideal place for this to happen. Join us as we dive into this important topic and debunk some of the myths and fears that parents have around stepping outside of the conventional school system.   Highlights: Gain deeper insights into how we learn and whether or not formal schools are the supporting this process. Is it necessary that kids must learn to read by grade 3? And if not why? Learn some interesting facts about children that were “late readers.” Address some of the main fears parents encounter when they embark on homeschooling. Re-look at what it means to “fall behind.” Can you still go to college or university if you homeschool? How can parents foster an environment for their children to learn?   Connect with Pat Farenga:  Holt/ Growing Without Schooling Facebook Page   Check Out Our Preferred Air Purifier that We Use in Our Home here.  Sign Up for the Nature Care SoulUtions Course here. Check out my latest book Nature Care SoulUtions: Reclaim Your Power To Heal here.

Join us as we chat with Pat Farenga, who shares his journey with John Holt and Growing Without Schooling Magazine. We first met Pat Farenga when he interviewed us for the John Holt Growing Without Schooling website in 2018. Since then, we have become friends, and now it is our pleasure to introduce you to this wonderful man who has done so much for spreading the knowledge of unschooling and for John Holt's work in particular.Pat Farenga met John Holt in the 1970s and became a close collaborator and friend. Together, they worked on several projects aimed at promoting unschooling and helping parents navigate the challenges of homeschooling. Pat was an integral part of John Holt's organization, Growing Without Schooling, which provided resources and support for parents interested in unschooling.After John Holt passed away in 1985, Pat Farenga continued publishing the Growing Without Schooling magazine. A magazine he today is re-editing into books, so the many great stories of how you can live a life without school are available for even more people.In this engaging conversation, we explore the challenges and rewards of homeschooling and unschooling, as well as the societal implications of these alternative approaches. Pat offers valuable insights on navigating the noise of modern life while staying true to your educational values, whether you're a homeschooler, unschooler, or simply a lifelong learner. Learn how to balance personal passions, family responsibilities, and social expectations.We hope this episode will help you to reflect on your own educational experiences and explore the vast possibilities of alternative education. Get inspired by Pat's unique perspective on the homeschooling movement and learn how you can empower yourself and your family through unschooling.Thank you, Pat, for all the work you are doing to help families live their lives - free from school and free to learn.See show notes at TheConrad.Family/SelfDirected11

In this episode I share why I chose to stay home with my kids in the first place, before I even knew we would homeschool, and why I know it's worth it. Listen to my interview with Pat Farenga: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/dDuwjIebcvb Email me: beth@bethpavlik.com Follow my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachfromhomebeth/ If you're enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating and share it on your socials! Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWQtq9jJlsjZELiNnubjtEw --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beth-pavlik/support

I was privileged to interview Pat Farenga, an unschooling expert who worked with John Holt and ran the Holt offices after John passed. In this interview we talked about unschooling high school, the public school system, and lots of examples of how unschoolers have been very successful in their education and adult lives. The books we discussed: Teach Your Own: https://bookshop.org/a/85604/9780306926211 How Children Fail: https://bookshop.org/a/85604/9780201484021 Self-Directed Learning: Documentation and Life Stories: https://bookshop.org/a/85604/9780962959196 Homeschooler's Guide to Portfolios and Transcripts: https://amzn.to/3hvjWfC And What About College: https://amzn.to/3TsrgWw The Teenage Liberation Handbook: https://bookshop.org/a/85604/9780962959196 Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWQtq9jJlsjZELiNnubjtEw Email me: beth@bethpavlik.com Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachfromhomebeth/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beth-pavlik/support

It's Called Unschooling I don't like labels. I feel that as learners outside of the institution of school we don't have to rush putting ourselves into a new box or label.  Or that our learning life (unschooling life) is how we choose to define it. But as a friend recently shared with me (as we had a very interesting conversation about unschooling, control, trust and partnership), that having parameters around a word (or label) can be helpful. And I think that when it comes to unschooling, the waters are becoming muddied.  What Is Unschooling Let's start with the definition of Unschooling. John Holt originally coined the termed unschooling. Here's an excerpt from The Foundations of Unschooling, a Keynote given by Pat Farenga and found on the John Holt GWS website: “Holt never felt the word “homeschooling” was adequate to describe the learning he was talking about—learning that didn't need to take place at home nor look like school learning. John knew that many children want to be out in the world, to be in the community and learn the lay of the neighborhood because, like most healthy humans, they are social beings—it is in our nature to be social, curious, and to learn. So John used the word “unschooling” to describe this type of learning—after already trying out the word “deschooling,” coined by John's friend Ivan Illich, and found to be too harsh by the public. Unschooling didn't fare any better and John himself, by 1981, was using the word homeschooling interchangeably with unschooling.” Here are two different explanations or definitions that I think describe it best: “Before I talk about what I think unschool­ing is, I must talk about what it isn't. Unschooling isn't a recipe, and therefore it can't be explained in recipe terms. It is impossible to give unschooling directions for people to follow so that it can be tried for a week or so to see if it works. Unschooling isn't a method, it is a way of looking at children and at life. It is based on trust that parents and children will find the paths that work best for them - without depending on educational institutions, publishing companies, or experts to tell them what to do. Earl Stevens (The Natural Child Project) “Unschooling is when the learner chooses the how, what, where, when and why of their learning”. Judy Arnall Unschooling Isn't.. Unschooling isn't another method we can now use to get our kids to meet our hidden expectations under the false pretence of freedom. Unschooling is not another way to do school work or get that school work completed.  Unschooling isn't a method. But Unschooling can include a class or be school-like, as long as that is what the learner chooses. Sure unschooling can have academic goals, if that is what the learner chooses. But the ultimate goal of unschooling is trust. And trust takes time. And a whole lotta deschooling!  That Deschooling Work So parents, please do the work. That Deschooling work! This work is important because if you want a change, if your kids want a change, need a change, then you will need to do something different. But first, before we begin to do something different, we need to start thinking differently. We need to shift our perspective.So ask the questions:What does learning really mean to me? What is school? Education? What were my experiences? When did I truly get to learn for learning's sake? How did my educational experiences shape me today? My learning? Were these goals mine? Were they my parents goals? Obligations?  If I let my children choose the how, what, where, when, why of their learning, how will I feel? What if they only choose video games? Why is hours outside or reading a book or writing a story more important to me than hours on a video game (or substitute something else that pushes that uncomfortable button)? You really can't skip the Deschooling process. Well I guess you can, but why start on this journey to go halfway? And even if you choose not to unschool or even homeschool, or to go from unschooling to Classical homeschooling (I know families that have done that too) - you will NOT be a failure or wrong.  But what you will be is clear on is your reasons WHY. (I always come back to getting clear on your WHY) Resources Looking for more support in your homeschool and unschooling journey? I've got you! Check out my Patreon Community where I offer monthly Live Q&A on all your homeschool, unschool and self directed learning questions. For the summer of 2022- this live support is open to ALL Patron levels. You also have access to my downloads, special videos, insights and interviews with my family! https://www.patreon.com/honeyimhomeschoolingthekids Honey! I'm Homeschooling Club on Clubhouse App offer free weekly discussion groups and support. Follow me on Instagram Check out my episodes with Judy Arnall~ Unschooling and STEM and Pat Farenga~ On Homeschooling and Education Or explore DESCHOOLING. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you considering an unschooling approach for your children? If you are, chances are you have a lot of doubts, questions, and concerns. Our first piece of advice: don't stress! This is completely normal. We've pulled together a team of experts to answer your burning questions.  In this latest episode, we are joined by Gina Riley, Ph.D. who is a Clinical Professor as well as unschooling expert, Pat Farenga with more than 34 years of fieldwork and advocacy, as well as veteran revel educator, Peter Bergson. Dr. Riley has spent over 15yrs working with teens diagnosed with learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders. She is also a seasoned academic in the fields of special education, #psychology, school psychology, and mental health counseling.Dr. Riley is known internationally for her work in the fields of Self Determination and Cognitive Evaluation Theory, homeschooling, unschooling, and self-directed learning. She is also the author of two books.Pat Farenga is a writer and #education activist who addresses academic and general audiences about working with children, not on children, to help them learn. Pat has also founded numerous educational organizations and is the author of multiple books.Peter Bergson is a veteran educator who believes that formalized education is the problem, not the solution. Peter empowers students to direct their own educations, favoring dialogue, discovery, and self-discipline over tests, teachers, and timelines.Whether you are already in the unschooling process or are thinking about starting, this episode sheds light on the homeschooling experience. Let's keep the inspiring discussion going! Discover our events, articles, and more with these links:InspirEd MagazineInspirEd EventsJoin our mailing listYou Tube

Let's keep the inspiring discussion going! Discover our events, articles, and more with these links:inspirEd MagazineinspirEd EventsMailing listYou Tube

Guest Co-Host Jessica McGough Hi All! I am a nature enthusiast and aspiring adventurer and was born and raised in Sonoma County, California. I attended college in northern California and then spent five months in Massachusetts where I participated in an AmeriCorps/Student Conservation Association program to work on environmental education and complete trail work projects in 2010. I taught at the preschool level as a college student, which is where my passion for working with children was ignited. I possess my California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and taught kindergarten for three years, third grade for one year, and have also substitute taught in all of the elementary grades. My identical twin daughters were born in 2016 prematurely at 30 weeks gestation, and I have greatly enjoyed focusing my energy on them over the last handful of years. Taking a step back from teaching in the traditional school setting and having children of my own has been an enlightening process. In this phase of life, my thoughts and perspectives on education have shifted immensely. This transformation has led me to the exciting, innovative, and inspiring world of self-directed learning and unschooling. Thankfully, I have found my new place in education as a facilitator for Galileo, the amazing online self-directed global school. I am also an aspiring children's book author and hope to release my first book in the coming months. My family hopes to adopt a more fluid and adventurous lifestyle in the near future consisting of new and exciting places and experiences. Instagram @jessicadmcgough Clubhouse @jessicadmcgough Show Notes Jessica was an educator for several years, working with children in preschool thru elementary school. After having her twin girls, her perspective on education changed dramatically and she began researching and reading more about alternative education. She read ‘Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom' by Kerry McDonald, Teach Your Own by John Holt and Pat Ferenga, and The Call of the Wild and Free by Ainsley Arment. She's spent years immersing herself in alternative and self-directed education. She and her husband have chosen an alternative education path for their daughters when they become school-aged. She is so happy to have found an independent-study charter school in California where they live and they will be trying that out for the first year of school for their daughters. She has been so excited to find a job for herself as a facilitator at Galileo, a self-directed online global school. ($100 off your first month's tuition if you mention Rogue Learner) Jenna asks Jessica if there was a specific moment in her teaching career where she felt like something wasn't working or she didn't agree with the way things were done in the conventional school system? Jessica said she started out her teaching career teaching kindergarten. She was on a team of seven kindergarten teachers and found it difficult to implement some of her own ideas in the classroom because the more experienced teachers weren't willing to try new things. They were stuck in their ways and not open to change. She found that difficult. She also said there were times when kids were labeled “difficult” or “low performing” based on the fact that they couldn't sit at their desk for hours or didn't know their ABC's. Parents questioned her about that, and Jessica didn't have a good answer for the parents. She was just doing what she was directed to do. She had a student in kindergarten who could already read, but couldn't sit still. A third grade student she once had was an avid reader and would read his book during instruction. Jessica wanted to let him read his book, but felt as a public school teacher her job was to make sure he paid attention during her lessons, otherwise he'd miss something important. After she had her twins, she realized she couldn't return to work in a traditional school setting. She didn't want her own girls to be a part of the system, so she couldn't imagine teaching in it herself. She thought about sending her girls to alternative schools like Montessori or Waldorf, but again, that wouldn't give her kids the opportunity to really decide for themselves which learning style best suits them.  Jenna adds that she and her kids toured several schools as well; Montessori, Waldorf, and a Free School in Frankfurt. She says there seems to be an evolution that occurs in parents and educators where they realize kids don't need them in order to learn. Some take a more gradual approach toward self directed education, while others dive right in from the very beginning. Jenna adds that having your own kids really helps you to see that kids are learning all the time and are naturally curious.  For Jessica, one of her “aha” moments was while listening to episode 11 and 12 of the podcast where Naomi Fisher talked about how even Waldorf or Forest Schools can offer a great alternative for kids who enjoy that style of learning, but again, it has its limitations because it doesn't suit all learners. The best thing we can do is find the environment which is best suited for the individual needs of each child.   Jenna adds that as parents we need to be open to offering all the educational possibilities to our kids and let them decide for themselves which educational experiences are best for them. Whether that be through a Waldorf education or homeschooling, it's our kids' journey not ours. We need to trust them to make the right decision for themselves and learn to adapt to them as their needs change. Holding back options from our kids is contradictory to an unschooling mindset because it's a form of control. Jenna's daughter decided to go back to school because she missed structure, working with classmates and having a set curriculum. She felt out of control when all the decisions fell on her shoulders. It was just too much.  Jenna can relate to her daughter's needs for structure. Jenna says that when she went into entrepreneurship, she realized it wasn't the best working environment for her. It requires a lot of self-determination, motivation, and keeping to a self-inflicted schedule. This is hard for her.  If she was able to do her job as an employee, she thinks she'd probably prefer it because she thrives in environments where the schedule is set, her goals are clearly stated, and she's surrounded by inspiring colleagues. Just as adults are given the chance to try varying work environments, children need the same freedom to explore educational environments and see which ones work for them. Jessica says she thinks it's so great that Jenna is giving her daughter the chance to discover what's best for her. Jenna adds that she had the example laid out before her by her mother, who always let her make her own choices about school and trusted her as a teen. It was just the norm in her house growing up.  Jenna asks Jessica to share her first takeaway from the episode with Heidi Dusek, episode 020. Jessica's first takeaway was how she related to Heidi's comment about becoming a mom and  feeling the pressure to decide between motherhood and adventure. We're told in our society that we should get adventuring out of our system before we have kids, but Jessica thinks you can keep adventure in your life throughout parenthood. It goes in phases. Sometimes adventure just looks like going out to eat with your baby in their carseat. She shares how once her twin girls were one year old, they took a trip to Hawaii and it was tough, but the memories of that trip are still fun and she's still glad they went.  Jenna talks about Heidi's definition of adventure being any new experience or anything that feels a bit like a risk or that you could fail at it. Based on that definition, Jenna's very first adventure as a mom was an outing to Walgreens with her son. It felt really risky at the time and she was swelling with pride when she got home.  Jenna's first takeaway was about creating an environment where the kids can thrive. Jenna tries to offer up opportunities (without expectations) that lets the kids do what they will with it.  Jessica mentions her next takeaway was when Heidi mentioned how the community is a resource for our kids and provides our kids with meaningful social interactions. She also likes how Heidi mentioned the studies showing why some families don't adventure together; in that study, parents revealed that they are afraid of not having the answers to their kids's questions and refrain from adventuring with their kids because of it. Jessica notes how that's similar to parents thinking they can't homeschool because they lack the knowledge to teach their kids everything they may want to know. Jenna talks about how we need to rely on experts in our community to fill in the gaps where we aren't able to instruct our kids, or learn it together. New experiences are not only useful to kids, but they can serve as valuable learning opportunities for the entire family.  Jenna talks about how being a parent of an 11 and 13 year old, she has to find ways to create shared experiences with her kids where everyone is a willing participant and that gets harder as kids get older. At least, that's been her experience. They all have different interests and ways they like to spend their time. A shared adventure for her, may look like trying to play Fortnite with her son or doing a makeover with her daughter. Sometimes a fun shared experience comes from the parent taking risks or being uncomfortable, not the children.  Jessica says how she liked in the last episode how Heidi and Jenna talked about spending smaller chunks of time together that are meaningful as opposed to setting a specific amount of time to hang out together. She thought Heidi's comment about quitting an activity while everyone is still having fun was a really valuable tip and a great reminder to parents to be flexible and adjust your expectations. Jenna says there's a real balance we need to strike because we know our kids, and that's what makes each or our experiences unique. Sometimes our kids are not in a good mood, or aren't dressed well for the weather, and it's okay to end the trip early. But alternatively, we also know when our kids could benefit from a gentle nudge to keep going. Jenna shares a couple examples of when her kids have needed an early finish and times when everyone was having a good time despite the adventure taking way longer than anticipated.  Jenna mentions how Heidi talked about her experience with lockdown sort of gave her a peek into the world of homeschooling and provided her with the time to get to know her kids better. Jenna wonders how many families had a similar experience, because lockdown definitely played a role in kick starting the self-directed learning journey for her own family. Jessica says she has talked with so many families who found the system inflexible and learned that there are alternative methods to educate their children than through conventional schools, so she knows Jenna and Heidi are not alone. A lot of families saw their kids deep dive into hobbies and interests that they otherwise didn't have time for. Families got a chance to get to know one another better.  Jenna says that she was frustrated when people argued that school is necessary for kids to have social lives, because school does NOT have to be the sole provider of social interaction. Jessica said her experience teaching actually illustrated how socialization in schools is oftentimes a negative experience. For example, she had a 3rd grade girl bullied for her weight on the playground. There are so many ways for kids to socialize, and homeschooling provides socialization across age groups and backgrounds, which research shows is actually better for kids. Jenna says she likes that homeschooling provides kids with the option to choose who they spend their time with, as opposed to being subjected to forced socialization where it can actually be detrimental to their wellbeing. (ie; bullying, criticism, austrosizing) Jessica thinks many adults can't recall what type of socialization went on in schools and are slightly out of touch since they aren't working in schools. Most of the time, teachers are actually discouraging socialization in the classroom because they have a curriculum to get through. Or, socialization is forced and controlled. Many times, there are negative consequences for students when they do want to socialize in class.  Jenna liked Heidi's question for her kids; “what do you want this experience to look like?” Jessica also mentions how she liked the idea of creating “to go” bags or bins so you can just get up and go. She also thinks it's important though, even with all that forethought and planning, to keep some level of spontaneity in your life. She mentions the book “Memory Making Mom” by Jessica Smartt as a great inspirational book for adventure, tradition, and spontaneity. As a planner, Jessica needs reminders to be spontaneous and flexible at times, so she found the book very helpful.  Jenna feels like her family doesn't have any traditions to speak of. They change things up every single year, and she says as a multicultural family that's moved to three different countries, she finds it difficult to repeat traditions year after year. It's something she wants to work on because she does think they're important. Jessica feels like simple adventures can become amazing traditions, and a bit unconventional. You have to see what comes up naturally for your family and not put pressure on yourself to do it every single year. Jenna laughs about how she doesn't think her family has any traditions, but she'll let the audience know if she thinks of one.  Jessica liked the simplicity of the RV trip Heidi and her family went on. Jessica's family has recently downsized and they live very simply, so that part of the interview really resonated with her. Jenna agrees, she says the more stuff you have, the more stuff you have to take care of. Since her family has moved so many times, they have to keep their possessions to a minimum too.  The episode with Heidi was recorded a while ago, and Jenna wants to mention how Heidi recently went on a trip to Hawaii with her family of five for just $500.  You can connect with Jessica on Instagram @jessicamcgough. Jessica also wants to let the audience know about InspirEd, a global online event hosted by Galileo Online School. The event will be for parents and educators looking toward alternative and forward-thinking educational models, like self-directed learning. Some of the guest speakers for the event will be Kerry McDonald, Naomi Fisher, Peter Gray, Pat Farenga, and Michael Saylor. Go here for more info about that event and to register for the inspirEd global summit. (Register before July 12th and it's free!) You can listen to the interviews from the global homeschooling summit 2020 hosted by Galileo here.    Helpful Resources Mentioned in Today's Show ‘Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom' by Kerry McDonald Teach Your Own by John Holt and Pat Ferenga The Call of the Wild and Free by Ainsley Arment Galileo, a self-directed online global school ($100 off your first month's tuition if you mention Rogue Learner) “Memory Making Mom” by Jessica Smart Ordinary Sherpa - travel hacking with a family InspirEd, a global online event  Episode 11 and 12 with Naomi Fisher Global Homeschooling Summit 2020   Ways to Connect Join me on the Show! Leave a Voicemail! Email me: contact.roguelearner@gmail.com Facebook  Instagram Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rogue-learner/id1543224038 Google Play: https://podcasts.google.com/search/rogue%20learner Spotify: https://roguelearner.libsyn.com/spotify YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCocbWsxxAMSbUObiCQXPg Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/rogue-learner

Pat Farenga returns to talk about the second half of Harvard's “Post-Pandemic Future of Homeschooling” conference, after which we discuss a different, secret, *invite-only* Harvard summit (hosted by Elizabeth Bartholet and James Dwyer) that proposed extremely restrictive reforms to homeschooling laws. If you care about the future of homeschooling in the United States — and the reasons that some well-intentioned people may try to shut it down — don't miss this episode! Blake's notes from the Harvard Homeschool Summit are here: https://bit.ly/blake-cap-homeschool-conf-notes Recordings from the Post-Pandemic Future of Homeschooling conference are here: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/taubman/programs-research/pepg/events/future-homeschooling Patrick Farenga is the president and publisher of Growing Without Schooling magazine and the co-author (with John Holt) of Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book Of Homeschooling, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Learn more about Pat and John at johnholtgws.com.

In this special two-part discussion, Pat Farenga and I discuss Harvard University’s ongoing 7-week conference, the “Post-Pandemic Future of Homeschooling.” This free online conference brings together researchers and academics in the field of homeschooling, and Pat and I are here to share what they’re talking about, the arguments they’re making, and what we think of all this. In this first episode we discuss weeks 1-4 of the conference: Should homeschooling laws change? Who is homeschooling today? Are homeschoolers prepared for life? And—are homeschoolers socially isolated? We get into some spicy discussions regarding homeschooling regulation, Harvard Law Professor Elizabeth Bartholet’s ideas for protecting vulnerable children, the nature and limits of academic research, and political factions within the homeschool movement. Look forward to part two coming out later this month! Patrick Farenga is the president and publisher of Growing Without Schooling magazine and the co-author (with John Holt) of Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book Of Homeschooling, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Learn more about Pat and John at johnholtgws.com. Recordings of the Harvard conference are here: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/taubman/programs-research/pepg/events/future-homeschooling More about the Connecticut study: https://responsiblehomeschooling.org/36-of-students-withdrawn-to-be-homeschooled-have-past-abuse-reports-connecticut-report-finds/

Hear of the late great John Holt´s timeless understanding of how children learn (and fail) through following their own innate curiosity and endless creativity While working with John, Pat was able to appreciate the stark contrast of giving children respect and autonomy to understand the world around as opposed to cramming and regurgitating soon to […] The post Pat Farenga, John Holt and Self Directed Learning appeared first on Homeschooling and Liberty Podcast.

This week Amy chats with Brently from the Unapologetix podcast about his experiences being homeschooled in a religious home, while she continues to think out loud about unschooling.  As always, this episode contains (a lot of) salty language. Consider yourself warned. Please consider giving us all (or some) of your moneyz on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/secularsoup Or on PayPal at PayPal.me/delightfulbitchcraft Now you can call and leave us a message! (218) 270-8292 Go listen to our NEW SHOW, I'd Date Me! And tell your friends!  You can find everything at www.delightfulbitchcraft.com Facebook Secret Soup Talk Facebook group! Twitter secularsouppodcast@gmail.com Instagram  YouTube Channel! Buy our delightfully bitchy crafts! https://www.etsy.com/shop/delightfulbitchcraft There’s merch here: https://delightfulbitchcraft.threadless.com/ Check out Amy's other podcast - "Okay Then, A Fargo Retrospective"   Follow Amy’s cats on Instagram! @chappychouchou   We should probably thank Mr. Eli Bosnick for recording the Secular Soup Creed for us like a champ. He’s the cat’s pajamas. Thanks to our Golden Voice of the Pod, Deanna Joy Lyons, for making us sound more legit. Thanks as always to the World's Greatest Editor, Rich Lyons.  In 2003, in John Holt's book Teach Your Own (originally published in 1981), Pat Farenga, co-author of the new edition, provided a definition of unschooling: “When pressed, I define unschooling as allowing children as much freedom to learn in the world as their parents can comfortably bear.”

Golda David is a teacher, former school principal and homeschooling mom. Golda is the homeschool facilitator for our school division’s homeschool program, supporting families in alternative education, homeschooling and unschooling. She is also our family’s personal homeschool facilitator. And no surprise, she is an advocate for self directed learning. Golda shares how she went from public school principal to homeschooling her son and running a program that is unique to our province. And she does this all as a single mom. We talk about; Why and how the school system is due for a change Her biggest struggles to homeschooling as a single parent and public school educator Her advice to parents that are interested in homeschooling and in need of a confidence boost The 3 myths in education Standardized testing (are they an accurate measure of learning?) Reading-(Why it’s not the end of the world if your child is a late reader) Learning must be rigorous (When play and autonomy=rigour) Go to http://imhomeschooling.com/education-demystified-lessons-from-a-principal-teacher-homeschooler/ for show notes.  Resources Marie Battiste: Decolonizing Education   Teaching in a Cold and Windy Place: Change in an Inuit School   Ivan Illich: Deschooling Society   John Taylor Gatto: https://www.johntaylorgatto.com/   John Holt: https://www.johnholtgws.com/   Peter Gray: Free To Learn On Standardized Testing Alfie Kohn: https://www.alfiekohn.org/   W. James Popham (on Standardized Testing): http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar99/vol56/num06/Why-Standardized-Tests-Don%27t-Measure-Educational-Quality.aspx   Todd Farley: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/574656/making-the-grades-by-todd-farley/   Mark Garrison: https://www.amazon.com/Measure-Failure-Political-Origins-Standardized/dp/1438427786   Connect or hear more from Golda: Website: www.demystifyingeducation.com First Nation Education: A Study  https://firstnationsstudents.weebly.com/ Contact her via email: davidg@prsd.ab.ca or phone (1)780-219-2119 Ways To Support The Show Patreon: Your support helps make the show production possible. https://www.patreon.com/honeyimhomeschoolingthekids Leave a Review: Leave a review on itunes. Share the show on Social Media: You can tag me on Instagram or share on Facebook @honeyimhomeschooliongthekids If you want to learn more about some of the authors mentioned in this episode, check out my interview with Peter Gray or Pat Farenga (co-author with John Holt). If you would like to hear more from teachers turned Unschoolers, check out my episode with Leah McDermott.  

The Top 5 questions that I get asked about homeschooling and unschooling Not sure what the term 'Unschooling' really means or how it differs from traditional homeschool? Are you uncertain how kids can actually learn if life looks nothing like the traditional schooling structure? Would you love to homeschool or unschool but you just don't know how you can afford it? Would you love to homeschool but your life partner is not on the same page? What do you do then? These are questions that I receive often from listeners of the podcast. Questions and fears are natural, especially if you are creating a life of your own design that doesn't follow the normal routine of others around you. As much as I try to address these questions in interviews with my guests, there are times when it seems best to answer them directly. Which is what I am doing with this episode. So grab a cup of your choice and listen in on the top 5 questions that I receive on homeschooling and unschooling. Throughout the episode I reference many others, including past episodes and resources. All of those I have included at the bottom of this page. Question 1: What is unschooling? Question 2: Why did we move from traditional homeschooling to unschooling? Question 3: If we unschool how do we know if our children are actually learning? Question 4: How do parents afford to stay home and homeschool or unschool? Question 5: What happens when you want to homeschool but your spouse or partner is not on the same page? What did you think about the top 5 questions about homeschooling and unschooling that I receive? Do you need more explanation on a few things? If you do, write me and let me know. If there are other top 5 questions that you have about homeschooling and unschooling, let me know those too! For Show notes go to~ http://imhomeschooling.com/?p=3464 Support me through Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/honeyimhomeschoolingthekids Resources Mentioned In This Episode Resources For Parents ~ http://imhomeschooling.com/homeschool-resources/ Pat Farenga~ https://www.johnholtgws.com/pat-farengas-blog/ John Holt~ Website https://www.johnholtgws.com/ Honey I'm Homeschooling The Kids Episode with Pat: http://imhomeschooling.com/pat-farenga-on-homeschooling-and-education/ Leah Mcdermott~ http://www.yournaturallearner.com/ Rachel Rainbolt~ http://www.sageparenting.com/shop/ MicroSchool Builders Facebook Group~ https://www.facebook.com/groups/622539617933686/ MicroSchool Builders Website Past Episodes that I mentioned: Ranan Lachman~http://imhomeschooling.com/life-of-their-own-design-ranan-lachman/ Jaime Salonen~http://imhomeschooling.com/hihtk-episode-7-jaime-salonen-escaping-the-rat-race-and-worldschooling/ Leah McDermott~ http://imhomeschooling.com/natural-learning-leah-mcdermott/ Rachel Rainbolt~ http://imhomeschooling.com/natural-learning/ Mara Linaberger~ http://imhomeschooling.com/micro-schools-mara-linaberger/ Michelle Goulet~ http://imhomeschooling.com/wild-child-forest-school/

Can homeschoolers get "real" socialization? What happens when your spouse no longer supports your choice to homeschool? Is University one of the best measures of a successful homeschooler? Milva McDonald joins me on this episode. She shares her homeschool experience and knowledge. Milva is the mother of four adult children and proud grandma of one. She said goodbye to school and the PTA and began homeschooling in 1991. For three decades she worked for The Boston Globe and boston.com writing and reporting about arts and cultural events in the Boston area. She is a founder of Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts (AHEM) and served on its Board of Directors for more than a decade. Milva has two books, Unschoolers and Slow Homeschooling. She blogs at www.apotlucklife.com Homeschool Fears In this episode Milva tackled some of the biggest homeschool fears and criticisms. An unsupportive spouse, socialization, community and getting into college. Milva brings to this discussion her 21 years of experience homeschooling and raising a family. She shares her own personal stories of  how she worked through her obstacles and fears. What happens when your spouse no longer supports the choice to homeschool? Milva's family changed after she and her husband divorced. How did their family and homeschool adjust? Socialization~ Is this a real issue for homeschoolers? Or does the question of socialization border on intolerance? Milva references her own blog post that she felt compelled to write~ Is Socialization Overrated?  Well? Is it? Community was extremely important for Milva's family, especially because their homeschool journey began soon after homeschooling was legalized in the US. Is community still as important today?  How does community help us to flourish? Slow Homeschooling~Making conscious choices about how you spend your time. What does this mean to Milva and her family? How did they focus on relationships and pursue their passions? Unschooling~ Does the current meaning of unschooling reflect its original use? We have a vast amount of choice for home education and alternative learning now. How is this effecting the legal and political realm in her state? Success~What does it mean to be a successful homeschooling family? Because her children attended college and one graduated from Harvard, does Milva feel they have reached success? Is graduation from a top university the best measure? Do you need to go to college to lead a fulfilling life? "One of the great things about homeschooling is that it opens you up to the idea that you can do things differently" Milva ends with advice for parents that want to try homeschooling but are scared to take the leap. She encourages us to prioritize what's important. She says "homeschooling was successful for us because it's a great lifestyle. That spirit of curiosity and excitement that pervaded their childhood, continues." Resources Milva's blog: www.apotlucklife.com Milva's books, Unschoolers and Slow Homeschooling Boston Magazine~ Our Kids Don't Belong In School Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts (AHEM) John Holt John Taylor Gatto Interested in John Holt? Listen to my interview with Pat Farenga, writer and education activist.  

Pat Farenga: John Holt and Homeschooling | Steve Hargadon | Sep 11 2012 by Steve Hargadon

Pat Farenga is a writer and education activist. He is also president of John Holt GWS and homeschooling dad to 3 grown children.Teach Your Own I first came across Pat's work through the book Teach Your Own which he co-authored with the late John Holt. Teach Your Own was first published in 1981. It still remains a favourite for many homeschool families. When Pat first started working with John Holt, he estimated there to be approximately 25,00 homeschooled in the US. That number has now grown to over 2 million and grows further worldwide.In this episode Pat shared: Working with John Holt (early homeschool advocate and school reformer). Pat's personal journey into homeschooling with his wife and kids. How the word "Unschooling" came to be as we know it today and Pat's own definition of the word. I like Pat's definition.This is how he defines unschooling: allowing your children as much freedom to learn about and explore the world as you can comfortably bear as their parent. Pat bases his definition on his experience working with families. Everyone has different beliefs and backgrounds that they bring in. Sometimes the word "unschooling" scares them, not empowers them.Shifts In Homeschooling With the growth of homeschooling I asked Pat if he has noticed any shifts. He says yes. Technology has helped homeschool to shift. Homeschoolers are using technology as a tool to experience and connect. This experience has helped it to grow. Homeschooling is growing because of the experience it provides. It is in the experience, not the canned curriculum. That is the difference between homeschooling and mass education. You can't scale Homeschooling the way you can scale schools. Homeschooling is grassroots. "People are influencing other people not to create a multimillion dollar business, but to create a better community. Your intent is so important when you start a project." The intent in homeschooling is to re-create the communities, the relationships and the connections that people have between young and old. To re-integrate children into society. It is an important point because people are now starved for relationships and connection.Advice For Parents So what is Pat's advice for parents? Start thinking about homeschooling when your kids are young. Feel what it is like to be with your children when you don't feel "responsible" to teach them lessons. But if your children are older and in school and your family is thinking about homeschooling? Think first about what is stopping them from enjoying school. Is it lack of friends? Is it a difficult teacher? A learning struggle? Pinpoint what that is and make sure that you don't duplicate that at home. If you are not comfortable with the self directed model, you may have to be a little bit more of a mentor on their behalf. When your kids are happy then you are happy.   https://www.johnholtgws.com/pat-farengas-blog/ How Children Fail How Children Learn YouTube: Growing Without Schooling Growing Without Schooling Volume 3 Berklee School of Music: Unschooling and Creativity Wild Child In The Woods Forest School Listen to my episode with Michelle Goulet founder of Wild Child In The Woods Forest School here. Blake Boles Unschool Adventures

Pat Farenga is a leading unschooling advocate, and the father of three adult unschooled children. He worked closely with unschooling pioneer John Holt on the Growing Without Schooling Magazine, and in the mid-1980s he took over as publisher of GWS and the president of Holt Associates. Today Pat runs the website JohnHoltGWS.com, which archives all the issues of the magazine, plus a variety of unschooling books and resources. He joins me to discuss the history of unschooling (the idea and the movement), his experiences as an unschooling parent, his relationship with John Holt and the language we use to convey our ideas. Pat Discusses The Impact of John Taylor Gatto He met John in 1991 and they became friends. John spoke at several of Pat's conferences. Pat's Personal History of Unschooling He and his wife raised three girls, and while embracing the unschooling philosophy, they left the door into and out school open for them. The embrace was a very gradual process, from idealism about teaching to John Holt's impact on his ideas about learning. The importance of avoiding the creation of an adversarial relationship with school in the minds of children. A Mindset For Unschooling - slowing down, living consciously - The Legend of Zelda teaches reading - appreciation of choice - trying school The Language of Unschooling - We discuss the words we use in relation to branding and outreach. - My discomforting revelation about the low volume of searches for unschooling and deschooling. - John Holt's issue with the words "education" and "educator" - The interesting etymology of the word "Education" and how the meaning was changed The Professional Rejection of John Holt's Ideas - Holt: learning is not the result of teaching; it's the result of the activity of the learners; teaching can be helpful, but the prerequisite is the intrinsic motivation of the learner - Gatto: "professional interest is served by making what is easy to do seem hard" - Escape From Childhood (1974)- advocacy needs and rights of children and the ephebiphobic (fear of young people) response Other Episodes On Unschooling The Relationship Benefits of Unschooling – With Pam Laricchia [PODCAST #557] [PODCAST] #550: Unschool Adventures – Blake Boles (Part 1) [PODCAST] #101: Unschooling Liberty – The Halldorsons and the Unschool Bus Please Support School Sucks We do cool things! Thanks to your support. School Sucks is one of the longest running liberty-minded podcasts on the web, and the only one completely devoted to the issue of education (versus public school and college). Your support keeps the show going and growing, which keeps us at the top of the options for education podcasts and leads to new people discovering our work. Please help us continue to spread this important message further! Thanks for visiting this page. Before you do anything, please bookmark and use this link for your Amazon shopping: Shop With Us One-Time Donation Options: Paypal/Venmo; Donate DASH Donate ETHEREUM Donate LITECOIN Donate BITCOIN Donate BITCOIN CASH Donate ZCASH Recurring Options: Support Us On PATREON Help incentivize our production! Pledge $1 per content item and access dozens of Patron only audios and videos. Join the A/V Club If you're looking for more School Sucks content, the A/V Club option grants you access to a bonus content section with 400+ hours of exclusive audio and video. If you are a regular consumer of our media, please consider making a monthly commitment by selecting the best option for you... A/V Club - Basic Access - $8.00/Month A/V Club - "Advanced" Access - $12.00/Month Sigma Sigma Pi - "Privileged" Access - $16.00/Month   Crypto Addresses: DASH; XcZfPP6GZGVo9VKViNBVJZja5JVxZDB229 ETHEREUM; 0x3c5504CE3401C028832173506fa30BD4db4b7D35 LITECOIN; LKNp24f5wwvZ2QzeDbvxXgBxyVwi1yXnu2 BITCOIN; 1KhwY836cfSGCK5aaGFv8Q7PHMgghFJn1U BITCOIN CASH 1AmqLVxjw3Lp9KT5ckfvsqfN2Hn3B1hCWS ZCASH; t1by1ZGJ63LoLSjXy27ooJtipf4wMr7qbu4

Wild Child Forest SchoolMichelle Goulet Barteaux is a homeschooling advocate and Forest School Founder. Wild Child Forest and Nature School (Wild Child Alternative Education) is in Bragg Creek, Alberta. The school caters to homeschooling families but is inclusive to all children. Michelle became a homeschool and nature advocate because of her children. In particular because of her son.  The Homeschool and Nature PathThe birth of Michelle's oldest child changed their life trajectory. In utero the doctors diagnosed her son with Chronic kidney disease. He has a degenerative condition which will lead to dialysis and transplant. Due to his many conditions they have to be near a hospital and make regular visits to the hospital. He is also neurologically divergent. This means he is twice exceptional- gifted with severe learning disabilities. Michelle knew from the beginning that their son was not going to fit into a typical school program. Dyspraxia, Sensory Processing disorder, Anxiety, ADHD. She describes him as mesmerizing, shocking and shakes up the way you think.The Struggle of School LifeAt first Michelle and her husband didn't know there were other options. They started their son in a kindergarten class in a Calgary Charter School. An arts immersion program. Everyday was a struggle. Her son had behaviour problems. He had meltdowns. Suffering from severe anxiety he could not go to the bathroom on his own. Yet, in academics, he was years ahead of his peers. They would be working on an alphabet letter and he was finishing novels. Half way through the year Michelle met with his teacher. His teacher seemed shocked that he was so far ahead of his class. Michelle already was aware of this and it surprised her that the school was now realizing this. It bothered Michelle because she felt his teacher wasn't seeing him. The negative expectations were already set and hard to now overcome. She wanted to do something different. So both she and a friend decided to try homeschooling. They haven't looked back since. Forest BathingWhile researching Michelle learned about a Japanese term called Forest Bathing. It linked the health benefits of being outside in nature and in the forest. Inspired, they moved out of the city and into Bragg Creek, an area surrounded by nature and forest. They would go out into the forest and river once a week. They started bringing friends out. It did so much for their family and her son. For example, her son needs 20 hours/week of therapy. It was easier for her son to do his physical therapy when they were playing out in nature. Michelle found when they were out with friends in nature it evened out the playing field. It offered different levels of experiences for kids at the same time. This included her son. Seeing the opportunities she started looking for a space to create more of this. Forest School Philosophy Michelle's philosophy is in natural learning. The Reggio Emilia approach fits quite well and the Forest School approach is similar. Children are capable learners. Competent. Designed to learn. Adults with them follow the interest of the children. Forest school fits many age ranges. This allows sibling groups, and allows for different abilities. Forest schools are different from other programs because they are created around the natural outside environment. Learning, and even curriculum, is integrated to the outside. It is not an accessory to education. It is the education.Wild Child In The WoodsAt Wild Child In The Woods the days outside are always new. They have an indoor space as well as outdoor but 80% of their days are spent outside. Even in the winter! They may find a deer's foot (yes they found an actual foot), see eagles flying down the river, or see other animals in their habitat.And the school is growing. Wild Child In The Woods Forest School is a community and provides Michelle with a job she loves.The kids make so many connections. Her job at the school is to help form those connections. Michelle also makes a point to invite kids with exceptional needs to her program. Their space is inclusive and welcoming to everyone. She also understands first hand the major benefits it has provided for both of her children.Inspired Secular Homeschool ConferenceNext on the list for Michelle is another community space. The Inspired Secular Homeschool Conference. This year's conference will be September 14th and 15th in Calgary. This is the only secular homeschoolers conference in Alberta. The conference is a community building event for like minded people to come together. It's a chance to learn more about and celebrate homeschool as an excellent educational method. This year's keynote will be Education Activist, Patrick Farenga. Friday will be dinner and presentation with Pat Farenga. Saturday offers vendors, workshops and a Keynote. Michelle and fellow conference creator Alisha Brignall wanted a weekend that they would want to attend. The conference wasn't offered so they created it. Learn more about it here.  Michelle's advice to parents: Pick any wild space and visit. Listen to the episode to hear more about the unique benefits of forest school. You will also hear Michelle tell more about their journey raising a child with exceptional needs. Learn more about Wild Child Forest and Nature School.More Episodes About The Importance of Getting Outside With ChildrenTrust Your Kids With Natural Learning: Leah McDermott 

In this episode, I speak with Pat Farenga about the new edition of John Holt’s Freedom and Beyond (HoltGWS LLC, 2017). This book offers a broad critique of traditional schooling and its capacity for solving social problems. We discuss John Holt’s transition from classroom teacher to public intellectual as well as the broader implications of schools prioritizing job training over citizenship and self-actualization. He recommends the following books for listeners interested in Holt’s work and our conversation: The Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost by Jean Liedloff Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich The Changing Nature of Man: Introduction to a Historical Psychology by Jean Hendrick Van Den Berg Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Farenga joins New Books in Education for the interview. To share your thoughts on the podcast, you can connect with him on Twitter at @patfarenga. Trevor Mattea is an educational consultant and speaker. His areas of expertise include deeper learning, parent involvement, project-based learning, and technology integration. He can be reached by email at info@trevormattea.com or on Twitter at @tsmattea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I speak with Pat Farenga about the new edition of John Holt’s Freedom and Beyond (HoltGWS LLC, 2017). This book offers a broad critique of traditional schooling and its capacity for solving social problems. We discuss John Holt’s transition from classroom teacher to public intellectual as well as the broader implications of schools prioritizing job training over citizenship and self-actualization. He recommends the following books for listeners interested in Holt’s work and our conversation: The Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost by Jean Liedloff Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich The Changing Nature of Man: Introduction to a Historical Psychology by Jean Hendrick Van Den Berg Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Farenga joins New Books in Education for the interview. To share your thoughts on the podcast, you can connect with him on Twitter at @patfarenga. Trevor Mattea is an educational consultant and speaker. His areas of expertise include deeper learning, parent involvement, project-based learning, and technology integration. He can be reached by email at info@trevormattea.com or on Twitter at @tsmattea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I speak with Pat Farenga about the new edition of John Holt’s Freedom and Beyond (HoltGWS LLC, 2017). This book offers a broad critique of traditional schooling and its capacity for solving social problems. We discuss John Holt’s transition from classroom teacher to public intellectual as well as the broader implications of schools prioritizing job training over citizenship and self-actualization. He recommends the following books for listeners interested in Holt’s work and our conversation: The Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost by Jean Liedloff Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich The Changing Nature of Man: Introduction to a Historical Psychology by Jean Hendrick Van Den Berg Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Farenga joins New Books in Education for the interview. To share your thoughts on the podcast, you can connect with him on Twitter at @patfarenga. Trevor Mattea is an educational consultant and speaker. His areas of expertise include deeper learning, parent involvement, project-based learning, and technology integration. He can be reached by email at info@trevormattea.com or on Twitter at @tsmattea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We treat children differently than we treat adults. For example, if we would like children to do something, we use directives with them, rather than asking them. When we do ask them to do something, we expect them to do it, even if they are busy or uninterested. In fact, we would be surprised, annoyed, or angry if they refused. Although something said to a child might be phrased as a question, it is rarely a choice. Perhaps this is not a problem as long as adults have the best interests of children in mind. But what if they do not? Are we treating children fairly? Do they have any advocates without conflicting interests? In Escape from Childhood: The Needs and Rights of Children (CreateSpace, 2013), John Holt compares the plight of children to other oppressed groups and outlines ways for adults to show greater respect to children in their lives as well as his rationale for extending basic rights afforded to adults to any child who would like to invoke them. Pat Farenga, the president of Holt Associates, recently republished the text for the first time in 25 years, and he joins New Books in Education for the interview. You can find more information about his work with Holt Associates on its website. To share your thoughts on the podcast, you can connect with him on Twitter at@patfarenga. You can reach the host on Twitter at@tsmattea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We treat children differently than we treat adults. For example, if we would like children to do something, we use directives with them, rather than asking them. When we do ask them to do something, we expect them to do it, even if they are busy or uninterested. In fact, we would be surprised, annoyed, or angry if they refused. Although something said to a child might be phrased as a question, it is rarely a choice. Perhaps this is not a problem as long as adults have the best interests of children in mind. But what if they do not? Are we treating children fairly? Do they have any advocates without conflicting interests? In Escape from Childhood: The Needs and Rights of Children (CreateSpace, 2013), John Holt compares the plight of children to other oppressed groups and outlines ways for adults to show greater respect to children in their lives as well as his rationale for extending basic rights afforded to adults to any child who would like to invoke them. Pat Farenga, the president of Holt Associates, recently republished the text for the first time in 25 years, and he joins New Books in Education for the interview. You can find more information about his work with Holt Associates on its website. To share your thoughts on the podcast, you can connect with him on Twitter at@patfarenga. You can reach the host on Twitter at@tsmattea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We treat children differently than we treat adults. For example, if we would like children to do something, we use directives with them, rather than asking them. When we do ask them to do something, we expect them to do it, even if they are busy or uninterested. In fact, we would be surprised, annoyed, or angry if they refused. Although something said to a child might be phrased as a question, it is rarely a choice. Perhaps this is not a problem as long as adults have the best interests of children in mind. But what if they do not? Are we treating children fairly? Do they have any advocates without conflicting interests? In Escape from Childhood: The Needs and Rights of Children (CreateSpace, 2013), John Holt compares the plight of children to other oppressed groups and outlines ways for adults to show greater respect to children in their lives as well as his rationale for extending basic rights afforded to adults to any child who would like to invoke them. Pat Farenga, the president of Holt Associates, recently republished the text for the first time in 25 years, and he joins New Books in Education for the interview. You can find more information about his work with Holt Associates on its website. To share your thoughts on the podcast, you can connect with him on Twitter at@patfarenga. You can reach the host on Twitter at@tsmattea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices