The most basic principle of unschooling is that children are born with an intrinsic urge to explore -- for a moment or a lifetime -- what intrigues them, as they seek to join the adult world in a personally satisfying way. Because of that urge, an unschooling child is free to choose the what, when, where and how of his/her own learning from mud puddles to video games and SpongeBob Squarepants to Shakespeare! And an unschooling parent sees his/her role, not as a teacher, but as a facilitator and companion in a child's exploration of the world.

Unschooling is a mindful lifestyle which encompasses, at its core, an atmosphere of trust, freedom, joy and deep respect for who the child is. This cannot be lived on a part-time basis. Unschooling sometimes seems so intuitive that people feel they've been doing it all along, not realizing it has a name. Unschooling sometimes seems so counterintuitive that people struggle to understand it, and it can take years to fully accept its worth.

The purpose of this list is to move out of our own comfort zones as we critically examine our beliefs, ideas, and viewpoints about learning, and seek a deeper understanding of unschooling and more respectful relationships with our children.

Please read for at least a week or two, before posting, to get a feel for the list. New members are on moderation, to avoid spam and other disruptions. "List Posting Policies" can be found in the files area of this list or, along with other list information, at: sandradodd.com/lists/info.

Discussions will include such topics as: Getting Started Unschooling, Deschooling, Supporting Kids' Endeavors, Finding Support, and much, much more. These boards are easy to search and are conveniently organized to allow on-topic, in-depth discussion.

This group is for unschooling families. The focus here is on listening to our body and finding what feels joyful to eat, recognizing how additives and nutrients affect your body and discovering delicious nutrition consensually!

Consider that... We live simultaneously on three planes... 1) We each live in a physical body; 2) We each have a marvelous mind; and 3) We are spiritual beings ...

Radical? Discover that everything is connected.

creative visionaries discovering and designing our futures.

The A - Z Steps to Life: Acceptance, Appreciation, Awareness, Balanced Living, Being, Creator, Dreams, Energy..., Family, Friendships, Gratitude, Heart, Imagination... Intention... Intuition..., Joyful, Kindred, Law of Attraction, Magic, Networking, Opportunity, Prosperity, Questions, Relationships, Servant, Sharing ... , Transformation, Universe, Value... Vision, Wellness... Wonders, ... Ying/Yang, Zen (vt. To figure out something by meditation or by a sudden flash of enlightenment!)

Wanting to come out of your box?

Join us -- "What the Mind of {Women-Men-Children} can CONCEIVE - and BELIEVE - IT CAN ACHIEVE!"

We are an inclusive list and we represent a wide spectrum of faiths, life philosophies, and geographic locations. All levels of familiarity with the Waldorf philosophy are welcome though a basic, working knowledge of the core tenets is assumed and appreciated.

This group is open to all homeschoolers who are interested in learning more about classical education methods. Therefore, although religion may be mentioned, it is not to become a point of contention. The focus of the discussion is to remain on-topic, with short friendly side comments allowed. We will discuss one main topic per week, along with whatever items members want to bring to the group (questions, successes, comments).

In order to protect the sense of community, comfort and semi-privacy of the participants, this list requires approval from the moderator before you may post. So, after you indicate your desire to join, you will receive an e-mail with a request for a short introduction telling the group about yourself and your schooling methods.

If you're using "The Story of the World Volume 1: Ancient Times – From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor," (SOTW 1 or SOTW1) please also join Story of the World Vol 1 Discussion.

In addition, if you're reading "The Story of the World Volume 2: The Middle Ages – From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance," (SOTW 2 or SOTW2) we'd love to have you join us Story of the World Vol 2 Discussion.

Also, there's a group for "The Story of the World Volume 3: Early Modern Times – From Elizabeth the First to the Forty-Niners" (SOTW 3 or SOTW3) at Story of the World Vol 3 Discussion.

Finally, for “The Story of the World Volume 4: The Modern Age – From Victoria’s Empire to the End of the USSR” (SOTW 4 or SOTW4) Story of the World Vol 4 Discussion.

Let's talk about our "tricks of the trade," our children's favorite books (and ours), and general homeschooling tips.

Please respect each others' opinions. No flaming and, please, no religious or political discussions/debates.

We will allow FOR SALE/WTB posts on the 5th of each month. FOR SALE/WTB posts should include FOR SALE, FS, or WTB in the subject line. Sale/WTB posts placed anytime other than the 5th of the month will be removed by the moderator. NO DEALERS! Advertising is not allowed!

IF YOU POST ANY SPAM OR LINKS THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE YOU WILL BE BANNED AND REPORTED TO YAHOO. Membership is by approval.