Starting an unschooling blog

I'm working on a new unschooling blog website, Unschooling Lifestyle.

Reader discount for Bioneers 2009 Conference

It’s the 20th anniversary of the Bioneers Conference. Attend this leading-edge forum on environment and social justice issues focuses on solutions inspired by nature and human ingenuity. It takes place October 16-18 (with intensives October 15 and 19) in San Rafael, California. Their goal is to turn education into action by connecting people with nature and each other. They provide collaborations and actions to create strategic impact. Here’s a Program Overview.

This year includes plenary speeches from: Michael Pollan, Amazonian Chief Almir, Brock Dolman, Kari Fulton, Jack Hidary, Sarah James, Jensine Larsen, Joanna Macy, Mari Margil, Jason McClennan, Jerome Ringo, Arturo Sandoval, Dr. Andrew Weil, and Lily Yeh, as well as a Sustainable Social Media Workshop and Panel lead by Michael Leifer, Cultural Anthropologist & CEO, influenceXchange.

These visionaries are already creating the healthy, diverse, and more equitable world we want to live in—our legacy for future generations. Connect with engaged bioneers, who are making a real difference.

Older trees breathe more deeply

According to studies of the breathing patterns of trees in 90 U.S. forests, old forests absorb more carbon than they emit, for up to 800 years.

Big revision to my unschooling book

The new edition of my unschooling book (formerly titled Jumping Into Unschooling) is now available in print and download versions through Lulu, Amazon, Kindle, and booksellers worldwide.



Press Release: Unschooling handbook on learning without school

The term unschooling is somewhat of a misnomer inasmuch as people tend to associate schooling with learning or education. However, let’s be clear. We’re talking about unschooling (with unlimited possibilities). We're not talking about unlearning or uneducating, and certainly not unparenting. We’re talking about living and learning without school. Let’s imagine a life without school.

In the absence of school, what do children do? They play. That is, they do what brings them joy. They do what calls to them. They do what they need to do to get from point A to point B, learning useful skills along the way.

[See What is unschooling?]

The unschooling approach to life, in general, describes the way we learn naturally when left to pursue our own personal interests. As unschoolers, we own our interests–our passions, dreams, and goals–and also the responsibility for pursuing and attaining them. We respond to our desires. We go after our dreams with enthusiasm.

Unschooling is for everyone;
We learn all the time;
All learning has value; and
We learn best by our own motivation, in our own ways.

Unschooling parents and their children live and learn together, helping each other, making discoveries, solving mysteries, and sharing adventures. Are you ready to have some fun?

Buy on Lulu (support independent publishers) | Amazon

Yakima, WA outlawed thong underwear

Seriously, they did, with threat of a fine and jail time. And yes, their mayor is a church pastor.

THE SUN: Cheeky thong flashers banned

Commencement Address by Paul Hawken

Awesome, inspiring commencement address by Paul Hawken to the University of Portland, Class of 2009.

Hey, Class of 2009: you are going to have to figure out what it means to be a human being on earth at a time when every living system is declining, and the rate of decline is accelerating. Kind of a mind-boggling situation… but not one peer-reviewed paper published in the last thirty years can refute that statement. Basically, the earth needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades.
read more . . .

Transgender child

This child's parents have chosen to listen to their child and let her be herself.