Real Talk About Unschooling Teens (Part 1 of 4)

As unschoolers, we felt that teaching our daughter how to learn things for herself was one of the most important things we could do for her.

I really enjoy hearing Ruth speak about her experience. Especially so if she can speak uninterrupted. :)

Loved getting to hear from Ruth, but I'd like to hear from her uninterrupted. I know that she speaks more slowly than is typical for a YouTube video, but maybe you could cut long pauses or have the questions asked ahead of time so she can answer concisely. Or just accept that her answers will add more time onto the video. I really liked hearing about her two math class experiences!

Loved hearing from Ruth! I was kind of unintentionally unschooled. My brother and I had a single mom who worked from home and she used a very hands-off video religious curriculum. My brother and I naturally dove into subjects that interested us and blew off ones that didn't, which she wouldn't notice until the end of the semester when we'd fill out all the tests from the teacher's manual so she could turn them in. When I tested into college at 14, it became a flex for her to show off how good a homeschool mom she was. I was taking 21 credits at 18 to cram in a senior semester before state funding ran out and, like you, lived for grades. It resulted in ulcers and a benign stress tumor. I'm thankful to homeschooling for making me very good at independent research on topics of interest but am glad you can recognize your parental performance anxiety so that your kids don't have to assuage it for you.

I hope you speak soon on the ways you have taught your kids how to learn. As a product of public education, and parents who weren't much involved in my education, I still manage to learn so much on my own. At 56 I'm doing quite well plumbing the depths of the rabbit holes. On a tangential note, I have also learned that knowing how to learn is often not taught in schools.

Mom you need to take a class about not interrupting people. Let your daughter talk.

Yeah, Ruth! I know exactly what you mean. At the tender age of 49 I took a job as a high school math/physics tutor. I could not even make sense of a simple algebraic equation like x+6=12 (I dropped math in high school because I could) but my work ethic is strong and I was up to the challenge . The amount of on-the-job learning I did that first year was exhausting and exhilarating. I love all things math now and am on a quest to continue that learning. Also, I just want to say, Angela, that I commend you for being willing to learn from your kids. This obviously gives them a safe space to grow in.

I am a Conservative Christian and I unschooled my kids and loved it. There is so much fun and freedom in it. Right now my kids are at a nature school for a year because I am doing my clinicals as an LMFT and then I will take them out to unschool again. I hope to become a remote LMFT so that we can do Worldschool; traveling the world with my family and letting the world be their classroom. :)

Let the girl speaks :), your point is clear, let her expalin hers

Very much looking forward this series. 💜 We’ve be floundering the last few years and this gives me so much hope that we can still change our approach to fit the needs of our kiddos.

This mini series was fantastic!

Fascinating. I was public schooled and found most classes so easy due to natural ability, love of reading, intense curiosity and yes, a bit of people pleasing to be seen as 'worthy'. In my adult life learning was/is easy especially for the subjects I love, gardening, public speaking, animals, nature, ecology, herbs and more. These are subjects I 'learned' on my own and have retained so much. To me it is easy to weave all I learn into a tapestry that fits together seamlessly. I love learning about your unschooling journey and can see that you and your children thrive by unschooling. Hopefully more families will consider this option. Looking forward to the next chapters on this topic. Thank you. And thank you, Ruth for sharing your thoughts. I love your art.

This us a great discussion, a really hot topic, quite encouraging to know we can have confidence to find our own way that's customized to one's family. Getting into meaningful college studies towards being able to earn well for a good lifestyle, will be a positive motivator.

We’re eclectic unschool leaning and it’s definitely been challenging to step out of the norm even though we do it in so many different ways. Mine are young teens and it’s been challenging lately but we take it one day at a time. I appreciate this video.

Thank you for this series! My 14yo is currently doing horribly in school. He hates it and sees no point, and honestly neither do I. He’s had the same career trajectory mapped out since 7th grade (join military, use sign-on bonus to buy a duplex, and join the fire department when he gets out.) I think it’s solid and definitely doesn’t require college. Right now he is reading the teenage liberation handbook. We live in a restrictive state and I told him he needs to present his plans and wishes to his dad and his aunt in an articulate way. His aunt is a teacher and in Pennsylvania you need a sympathetic evaluator to write up a report saying they reviewed your work samples and all required subjects and that you are meeting the requirements. But in reality all he wants to do is read and watch videos about ww2 history and play video games. Thank you for easing my anxieties and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series!

I find this quite interesting. Homeschooling and unschooling are, with some exceptions, illegal in the Netherlands. I started watching your video out of curiosity and was very sceptical, but I see some good points. I do think that a lot of knowledge and skills that people around me (and me myself) have, derives from their "pet projects". I still struggle to see how that works without the broad mandatory knowledge of school, but having more time to just explore, even if it is in video games and at 2 AM, like you say, could be really worth it. We'd just have to look out for addictions and poor circumstances that lead to criminal activities, but it sounds like your personal approach leads to open communication without shame. And that, I think, is the best way to avoid or deal with those problems. Thank you for the lesson you taught me while I was "wasting my time" watch YouTube videos!

Found your channel by accident and I Unschool my son. Thank you for opening up my eyes on the gaming aspect of Unschooling and more. I will watch more of your videos in this series. New Subscriber

I'm loving reading everyone's comments! As a single mum to my 8 year old boy who has a significant physical disability it has always been on my mind to homeschool him but my fears of him spending ALL his time playing on his Playstation and then turning into an unmotivated adult has stopped me so far. I went to a very prim and proper girls college throughout my entire school years and I hated it the whole way through but the thought of doing education differently is still hard to wrap my head around sometimes. These comments are giving me the fuel I need to nudge me to homeschool. Angela, I simply LOVE all your videos. Thank you!

Hi, today I just came across your channel and it was great! Looking forward to watching all of parts 2-4 as well. I have a concern and I'm hoping that you will be covering that in the other videos or if not you can probably tell me if you have a video that covers my concern. Did your eldest daughter have to provide a transcript for college admission and if so your tips on creating a transcript for unschoolers. Grateful to have been able to hear your daughter's responses. She seems to be a wise, caring and sweet young lady. This is our 2 year of homeschooling and we have transitioned to unschooling this year. My son is 14 and would be considered a 9th grader. He says he is not planning to go to college but I would like to prepare a transcript for him just in case he changes his mind. I'm looking forward to hearing back from you. By the way, they way you described yourself is exactly the way I lived my school years. Thank you for your channel!

Thank you for this and for sharing your experiences with the public like this on social media. You have a new sub. It is so hard trying to break out of the mold and the brainwashing society has placed upon us. Specially when we are completely alone on this journey as far as actual people in our immediate community and families. This video helped me feel not as alone and that what I am doing for my child is okay even though it isn’t common or is considered alternative. Many thank yous to you and your family. 🙏🏻