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The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom [Paperback]

Mary Griffith (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Unschooling, a homeschooling method based on the belief that kids learn best when allowed to pursue their natural curiosities and interests, is practiced by 10 to 15 percent of the estimated 1.5 million homeschoolers in the United States. There is no curriculum or master plan for allowing children to decide when, what, and how they will learn, but veteran homeschooler Mary Griffith comes as close as you can get in this slim manual. Written in a conversational, salon-style manner, The Unschooling Handbook is liberally peppered with anecdotes and practical advice from unschoolers, identified by their first names and home states. The book also includes resources such as one teenager's sample "transcript," a typical weekly log of a third-grader's activities, and helpful lists of magazines, online mailing lists, Web sites, and catalogs. Griffith, a board member of the Homeschool Association of California (and the author of The Homeschooling Handbook), names Margaret Mead and Thomas Edison as two examples of those who have profited from unschooled childhoods, and further claims that research validates support for this controversial form of education. The "evidence" she cites, however, is predominantly theoretical writings from noted educators about the benefits of child-centered learning. The handbook suffers from a mild case of the Lake Wobegone syndrome--every unschooled children is seen as an above-average self-starter on the verge of genius--yet despite this overly rosy approach, the book is a well-organized guide for homeschoolers and other families contemplating the "un" life. --Jodi Mailander Farrell

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To Unschoolers, Learning Is As Natural As Breathing -- Review
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1st edition (April 29, 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0761512764
  • ISBN-13: 978-0761512769
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #50,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #65 in  Books > Nonfiction > Education > Homeschooling
    #32 in  Books > Nonfiction > Education > Education Theory > Contemporary Methods > Experimental
    #57 in  Books > Parenting & Families > Parenting > School-Age Children

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More About the Author

Mary Griffith
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
IMAGINE TWO STUDENTS, each about fifteen years old, seated at a table working on geometry problems. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
unschooling ideas, unschooled kids, unschooling families, other unschoolers, unschooling parents, unschooling approach, other homeschoolers, homeschooling families, unschooled children
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Unschooling List, Growing Without Schooling, Klutz Press, Home Education Magazine, United States, Finding What You Need, America Online, Basic Books, California Unschooling, Little House, Lowry House, Miquon Math, Star Wars, Anno's Math Games, Good Stuff, Holt Associates, John Allen, Native American, Paper Star, Penguin Books, The Teenage Liberation Handbook
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Customer Reviews

47 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (47 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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187 of 189 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read, understand and implement in your kids lives., March 9, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom (Paperback)
As a homeschooling mom of two boys, we had heard about the unschooling method but were a little unsure of its effectiveness until we read this book. Mary Griffith does a wonderful job of explaing the concept of unschooling, and the numerous families quoted throughout the book make the concept seem so natural.

There are chapters on math, science, reading and writing, and how to use the world around your children to foster these skills without "doing school". Using the unschooling concept has made the boys' curiosity and wonder of the world around them just explode and has made learning exciting for them. The unschooling philosophy has made learning a 24/7 event at our house, thanks to this wonderful book.

Any family considering homeschooling, or "doing school" at home, or using a curriculum needs to read this unique and fabulous book.

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44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars As a 16 year old I have found this book to be inspirational, July 13, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom (Paperback)
I am currently a junior in high school, and I have been looking for an alterantive to public schooling for over a year. This book provides a lot of helpful background information on how to get started and continue with your unschooling. The whole idea behind unschooling is a very creative and revolutionary way to improve the current education system. I would highly recommend this book to any adult looking to better their child's learning experiance as well as to any child who, like myself, has felt that they have been unchallenged by the public schooling system.
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44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wish I had this book 8 years ago, April 15, 2001
This review is from: The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom (Paperback)
This book was a godsend. At long last a book detailing the way my daughter learned. As a former (public school)teacher I was at loose ends how to educate my daughter. Two private schools, two years at a public school and she was still bored. This book helped me to realize that there was another way to educate her than to duplicate in homeschooling, the way the schools had failed her.This book is well worth the read and the price, if for no other reason than to let you know that you are not alone. Along with Grace Llewellyn's Teenage Liberation Handbook it should be read by every parent and educator.If for no other reason than a different way of looking at the "how to educate children"problem.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than I hoped for
This book was in better condition than I thought it would be. Came in a timely manner. Very pleased.
Published 9 days ago by Krysti

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Reference.
This is really a great book to have on hand when lost for ideas. It is one of many that I use for reference during the homeschooling year. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Reign Chelsin

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written book. Easy to read.
Hi, I really like this book. It is easy to read and get into. It is very well written. We unschool and I just enjoy reading books about things that I like. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Cherub

3.0 out of 5 stars Just okay...
It has been several months since I read "The Unschooling Handbook" but what I remember is being disappointed. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Kerri

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring!
I found this book to be exciting and inspiring! I had already made the decision to homeschool my children and unschooling seemed to be the approach I was looking for, but it was... Read more
Published 11 months ago by K. Carlson

1.0 out of 5 stars Scary Choice for Children
I homeschooled my children for four years. It was an okay experience and a lot of hard work. I then unschooled them for one year and it turned out to be the worst thing I ever... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Estellita

5.0 out of 5 stars Provided me with the confidence I needed to unschool my kids
This was my first time learning about Unschooling. Although I have always loved the idea of educating my kids at home, I'd been hesitant to try homeschooling because the... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Zoe Norcross-Nu'u

2.0 out of 5 stars Turned me off of unschooling method
I was very disappointed in this book. I found Griffith's other book, The Homeschooling Handbook, to be extremely helpful, so I read this book. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Kind Bean

2.0 out of 5 stars Paints a picture of bohemian unschooling
As many other reviewers have mentioned this book uses stories submitted from unschooling families to build a picture of unschooling. Read more
Published 14 months ago by p31Mom

2.0 out of 5 stars This book turned me AGAINST unschooling!
I purchased this book because I was considering unschooling my son. After reading the first section about the benefits and philosophy of unschooling, I was nearly convinced that... Read more
Published 15 months ago by jaet

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