Radical Unschooling - A Revolution Has Begun-Revised Edition [Paperback]

Dayna Martin (Author), Martin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2011

Full of brilliant common sense! Mrs. Martin takes us behind the curtain to see in rich detail what alternative education really looks like when it bestows upon its subjects the freedom to choose. Every parent who feels compelled to give their kids into the care of total strangers should read this book. --John Taylor Gatto, Author: Dumbing Us Down And Weapons of Mass Instruction Product Description Radical Unschooling is a progressive parenting philosophy, which includes children learning at home. It is different from homeschooling in that children are not forced to follow curriculum lessons and tests. Radical Unschooling philosophy focuses on trust of a child's innate ability to learn without coercion and invites children to explore their passions. The parent's role is to facilitate their interests and curiosity. Radical Unschooling - the book - focuses also on the evolutionary aspect of parenting and human consciousness. We are parenting and educating our children today to succeed in a joyful, productive life by following their passions, not someone else's agenda. The main presentations are - School is only one of many choices for our children in our technologically advanced world. - Forced learning isn't effective and causes more damage than formerly thought. - Respecting a child's choice and autonomy is an evolution of understanding and birth right of every human. - Learning and life are not separate. Learning is pleasurable if it is not forced on us. - Separating life into subjects isn't necessary or natural. - Humans learn from all that they do and experience in life, not just what our culture deems ''educational.'' - The main focus of parenting today is obedience and meeting the needs of the parent. This has to change if we want our children to live in a peaceful world. Moreover, Radical Unschooling is just radical enough to herald a wake up call to our culture because of the truth the philosophy speaks.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (February 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1460939980
• ISBN-13: 978-1460939987
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (90 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! March 7, 2013

By Cathy Benjamin

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

What a wonderful book about unschooling. Finally a book about unschooling that really spells out what unschooling is all about. Dayna is so upbeat and positive. She calmed my fears and made me realize that not only have I made the right decision to unschool my son but that I am not alone on this journey. Great book.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on unschooling. March 18, 2013

By SueZen

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book explains the unschooling lifestyle in depth. Which includes parenting from unschooling perspective. This is not a how to book. Unschooling is a natural process. I would say this book has given me a lot to think about. I feel empowered to better help my child learn after reading this book. I would definitely recommend!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome tome! February 6, 2013

By Margot K

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved hearing all the real life stories and knowing that the author has been to the places that I am in right now- decision, indecision. This was just what this HSing mom of four for the past 6 years needed to jumpstart the unschooling process at home!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Eye Opening March 12, 2013

By Tyson Eberly

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Dayana Martin has written a book that helps give courage to those thinking of taking the alternative homeschooling approach to education for their children.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good start on an important subject April 17, 2013

By Linda Wyatt

Format:Paperback

I really wish people would read the book before "reviewing" it here, rather than coming here to make negative comments based on their interpretation of something they have very little information about, from what they saw on one TV show.
This book is a heartfelt offering, from someone who is experiencing the profound difference it makes in a family's life when they let go of many cultural assumptions of what, when and how children must learn. School is so pervasive in modern culture that many, many people really can't see any other way, and reject the very thought of not sending kids to school, without any further thought on the matter. There is a lot of fear around the idea of "not getting an education," and very little first hand knowledge of an education that does not involve school. Many negative comments seem to come from this fear, rather than from any real understanding or evaluation of unschooling.
There are many people out there who are unschooling, whose kids don't go to school, and don't do "school at home," but who are, nevertheless, actively living and learning in an ongoing, relaxed and exciting way. There are families where adults and children LOVE learning, about all sorts of things, all the time, rather than only in certain ways, during school hours, and who continue this love their entire lives. The range of things they are learning, and ways in which they learn them, and the timeframe of what is learned at what age is extremely wide, and for every unschooled child out there who is focusing on things other than reading, and not reading fluently at the age of 11 or 12, there are others who learned to read at the age of 2 or 3.... For every unschooled person who has not yet needed advanced math (and some people may not, ever), there are others who are learning calculus at the age of 7 or 8 because they LOVE it.
But somehow, people who are afraid of stepping outside the cultural "norm," or who simply do not wish to, always seem to latch onto any "aberration" they see in what they think a child should know at a certain age, and focus on that, as if that one moment in time defines that child forever after. In a school situation, it DOES hold kids back if they aren't reading well early on - but that isn't an issue when there is freedom to learn about things in ways other than reading. Schools focus on learning-by-reading MUCH more than the world outside school, where there may be demonstrations, apprenticeships, and much more one-on-one sharing of knowledge than is possible in a school setting. Far more important than the age at which someone learns to read, is whether they go on to enjoy reading. Consider the number of conventionally schooled people who do not read for pleasure, at all, and/or do not read anything that is not assigned.
I think many people, especially those who are NOT unschooling, and who have no intention of doing so, could learn a lot from this book. Read it as one family's experience, along with encouragement for focusing on what is working for your family, on what feels kindest and happiest, rather than on someone else's ideas of what you should be doing.
Before pronouncing unschoolers as "illiterate," do some research, read what is out there, get out and meet real people. Think about your own education, and how much you remember- or have forgotten- from your school years. Consider how that differs from how much you know about things you learned on your own, for fun. Base your opinion on a wide variety of information, not just one source. This book is a decent place to start, especially coming from having seen the family on TV, where much was edited out. It may fill in some gaps for you, and help you understand much more than was shown. Are they "perfect"? No one is. Are they doomed to certain failure for not going to school, and not doing things in the order people seem to expect them to? Absolutely not. Read more ›

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome! March 19, 2013

By M. Miller

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've read quite a few unschooling books and I usually end up with more questions than answers. This book did just the opposite. Martin covers everything neatly getting to each point with swift ease. I will read this and recommend it again and again!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary approach to education March 16, 2013

By Kimbo9697

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is the most simple yet profound read on unschooling, education, and interaction with children I have ever read. Dayna and her family are revolutionizing what a real eduction is. The respect and education this family gives and receives is what we as other parents should model to truly make an impact on our future of the world and our children. If you ever wanted to learn how to educate and coexist harmoniously with children and other family members, this is the book. Thank you so much for sharing your bravery in this newly explored concept of raising children and educating them!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Want to know what Radical Unschooling is? Read this book! March 7, 2013

By Robert Gottlieb

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you want an easy book to read that gives you great insight into Radical Unschooling, this is your book. Just read it! Seriously, it's the best book to help you learn about unschooling. Dayna has an awesome way to relay ideas to you in plain english. If you're even curious, please buy this book. Your children will thank you!