Sandra Dodd

Clips from interviews with Sandra Dodd that didn’t get put elsewhere.

Clips from interviews with Sandra Dodd that didn’t get put elsewhere.

Extras with Sandra Dodd

Extra bits and pieces that didn't get included anywhere else.

Extra bits and pieces that didn't get included anywhere else.

Extra Bits

Unschooling can repair damage done by traditional parenting and schooling approaches.

Unschooling can repair damage done by traditional parenting and schooling approaches.

Healing

While my kids were in school, we could easily go several days without laughing together. When we were unschooling, hardly an hour would go by without at least a giggle.

While my kids were in school, we could easily go several days without laughing together. When we were unschooling, hardly an hour would go by without at least a giggle.

Laughter

How does unschooling affect sibling dynamics? 

How does unschooling affect sibling dynamics?

Siblings

Where did it come from? And where is it going?

Where did it come from? And where is it going?

The Word Unschooling

Sometimes people worry that, if children don’t follow a set curriculum, they will have gaps in their education, or that they will be behind.   Is this a valid concern?

Sometimes people worry that, if children don’t follow a set curriculum, they will have gaps in their education, or that they will be behind. Is this a valid concern?

Gaps and Being "Behind"

What do unschoolers do when they encounter hard times?

What do unschoolers do when they encounter hard times?

Hard Times

For many people, unschooling as a single parent would be way too hard. But today we hear from some “solo mums” who are unschooling successfully, with joy, learning, abundance and partnership. Katie O’Connor is the director of the Talking Stick Learning Center. Danielle Owens is on the board of DrMomma.org and Saving our Sons. Brie Jontry teaches online classes for West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Tanya Marinelli runs Wellness and Empowerment Camps for Kids.    Lainie Liberti facilitates World School Retreats for unschooling teens.

For many people, unschooling as a single parent would be way too hard. But today we hear from some “solo mums” who are unschooling successfully, with joy, learning, abundance and partnership. Katie O’Connor is the director of the Talking Stick Learning Center. Danielle Owens is on the board of <a href="http://DrMomma.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DrMomma.org</a> and Saving our Sons. Brie Jontry teaches online classes for West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Tanya Marinelli runs Wellness and Empowerment Camps for Kids.  Lainie Liberti facilitates World School Retreats for unschooling teens.

Single Parents

When relatives don’t support unschooling… what then?

When relatives don’t support unschooling… what then?

Relatives

Discover the innumerable wonders &amp; challenges of the unschooling life. Featuring interviews with unschooling families recorded and edited by Amy Childs. Show your support at patreon.com/amychilds

I’m extremely new to unschooling and this podcast was especially helpful. Would definitely recommend this podcast. 

The only thing I haven’t found is tips on how to be a successful unschooling parent when one is EXTREMELY introverted (gets their energy from being alone. Gets easily tired by being out and about).

Really good!

I am sooo happy I came across this podcast. I am currently unschooling my daughter, but had few questions and concerns ever parent has for their child&#39;s future. I learned so much from all the interviews. I have a much better understanding on what unschooling truly means. I just hope I will be as good as I envision it. Thank you Amy for taking your time and making this for us.

LOVE IT!!!

Discover the innumerable wonders &amp; challenges of the unschooling life. Featuring interviews with unschooling families recorded and edited by Amy Childs. Show your support at <a href="http://patreon.com/amychilds" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">patreon.com/amychilds</a>

The Unschooling Life

Learning to write without pain and suffering.

Learning to write without pain and suffering.

Writing

What's it like to be an unschooling teen?

What's it like to be an unschooling teen?

Teens

Ama Mazama is a professor of African American studies at Temple University, a homeschooling mom, and author of the recently published a book African Americans and Homeschooling: Motivations, Challenges, and Opportunities. Today we will hear why she believes homeschooling is the best educational option for African American children.  I asked Ama about her decision to educate her own children at home, and why she felt the local public schools were not a viable option for her family.  We also talked about Ms Mazama's survey of African American homeschoolers, and about how schools perpetuate the oppressive status quo. Finally, Ama offers words of encouragement to families considering this option. Welcome to The Unschooling Life Podcast.   .

Ama Mazama is a professor of African American studies at Temple University, a homeschooling mom, and author of the recently published a book African Americans and Homeschooling: Motivations, Challenges, and Opportunities. Today we will hear why she believes homeschooling is the best educational option for African American children.  I asked Ama about her decision to educate her own children at home, and why she felt the local public schools were not a viable option for her family.  We also talked about Ms Mazama's survey of African American homeschoolers, and about how schools perpetuate the oppressive status quo. Finally, Ama offers words of encouragement to families considering this option. Welcome to The Unschooling Life Podcast. .

African Americans & Homeschooling

Principles and priorities (rather than rules) create the framework by which unschooling can work

Principles and priorities (rather than rules) create the framework by which unschooling can work

Principles

Peter Gray

Children who are free to play learn to regulate emotions, overcome narcissism, be empathetic and creative, think abstractly, discover and develop their passions.

Children who are free to play learn to regulate emotions, overcome narcissism, be empathetic and creative, think abstractly, discover and develop their passions.

Peter Gray on Play

Can even meal times be time of joy and harmony - and learning?   Unschoolers say, absolutely YES!

Can even meal times be time of joy and harmony - and learning? Unschoolers say, absolutely YES!

Food

When they first hear about unschooling, many people ask “is that legal?” Every country is different, and in the US, every state is different.  But usually the answer is yes.

When they first hear about unschooling, many people ask “is that legal?” Every country is different, and in the US, every state is different.  But usually the answer is yes.

Is Unschooling Legal?

Everyone knows that kids HAVE to have bedtimes, right? I mean … come on. Right?     Welcome to the unschooling life podcast… and to a world where the things that "everyone knows" are often under suspicion.

Everyone knows that kids HAVE to have bedtimes, right? I mean … come on. Right? Welcome to the unschooling life podcast… and to a world where the things that "everyone knows" are often under suspicion.

Bedtimes

Welcome to mess!     For as long as I can remember – maybe since I was four years old, I liked things to be tidy. So I had a lot of personal growth to do, to get to a point where I could be okay with mess...   and to where I saw my kids preferences as at least equal to my own... and I could put my relationship with them above my compulsion to have things be tidy all the time. I wish I learned sooner but at least I learned it before it was too late.

Welcome to mess! For as long as I can remember – maybe since I was four years old, I liked things to be tidy. So I had a lot of personal growth to do, to get to a point where I could be okay with mess... and to where I saw my kids preferences as at least equal to my own... and I could put my relationship with them above my compulsion to have things be tidy all the time. I wish I learned sooner but at least I learned it before it was too late.

Mess

Can unschooling work for a child with learning problems? What about gifted children? Or children with health issues?   Today we hear from....   Ami Fountain - an Awesomism Ambassador, an austism advocate, and an unschooling mother of two boys.   Nina Haley - a yoga teacher, paddleboarder and mother of three.   Sandra Dodd - "teacher" and "minister" of unschooling.   Brie Jontry - unschooling wise woman in the middle of a move from Alaska to Pennsylvania.

Can unschooling work for a child with learning problems? What about gifted children? Or children with health issues? Today we hear from.... Ami Fountain - an Awesomism Ambassador, an austism advocate, and an unschooling mother of two boys. Nina Haley - a yoga teacher, paddleboarder and mother of three. Sandra Dodd - "teacher" and "minister" of unschooling. Brie Jontry - unschooling wise woman in the middle of a move from Alaska to Pennsylvania.

Special Needs

Unschoolers don’t segment life into categories, don’t follow a prescribed curriculum and don’t see quote “academic” learning as different or better than all kinds of learning.   People who still have a school mindset worry that this means unschooled children are not learning the important things.

Unschoolers don’t segment life into categories, don’t follow a prescribed curriculum and don’t see quote “academic” learning as different or better than all kinds of learning. People who still have a school mindset worry that this means unschooled children are not learning the important things.

Academics

Quitting and learning; learning and quitting.

Quitting and learning; learning and quitting.

Quitting

Parents worry a child might be too “bored” or “lazy” to unschool. Is this possible? My conclusion is - not only are boredom and laziness not reasons or proof that unschooling doesn’t work  - they can be great opportunities to learn new things, to have more bonding experiences, giving a chance for parents to pay closer attention to their child and find out more that is going on deep inside.

Parents worry a child might be too “bored” or “lazy” to unschool. Is this possible? My conclusion is - not only are boredom and laziness not reasons or proof that unschooling doesn’t work  - they can be great opportunities to learn new things, to have more bonding experiences, giving a chance for parents to pay closer attention to their child and find out more that is going on deep inside.

"Bored" and "Lazy"

The flexibility of an unschooling lifestyle makes it possible for some families to travel and learn all over the world. It's hard not to be jealous of them, but maybe they can inspire us to realize the world is an amazing place and wherever we go we can have a learning adventure. And maybe we can discover traveling is more within our reach that it may seem.

The flexibility of an unschooling lifestyle makes it possible for some families to travel and learn all over the world. It's hard not to be jealous of them, but maybe they can inspire us to realize the world is an amazing place and wherever we go we can have a learning adventure. And maybe we can discover traveling is more within our reach that it may seem.

Travel

"I strew their path with interesting things."

"I strew their path with interesting things."

Strewing

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