Time to Learn: What Unschooling Children Need Most to Develop Literacy

• In Event: 58.083 - Roundtable Session 26
  In Roundtable Session: 58.083-17 - Transgressive and Transformational Learning in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

While the research literature on unschooling is still nascent, the growing unschooling movement suggests that educators have much to learn about this radically child-centered approach to learning. Unlike homeschoolers, who strive to recreate traditional schooling in the home, unschoolers value their children's freedom to learn and explore within their homes and communities. In contrast to some researchers' assumptions, unschooling seems to be possible even for families living at or near the poverty level. This case study of 8 unschooling families provides insights into how these families support the acquisition of literacy without overtly instructing their children, provided that the children were allowed the time and freedom to engage their own interests.

Authors

• Kellie Rolstad, University of Maryland

• Khara Schonfeld-Karan, University of Maryland - College Park