One of the biggest lessons that we have learned, from our own trials and errors and from tips from others, is to not make things more difficult than necessary. Sometimes society thinks that unschoolers are just a bunch of kids running around, doing whatever they want, and not learning. Our self-directed learners DO have the ability to run around (shouldn’t everyone have access to movement?), participate in the activities and subjects that are of interest to them, AND they are learning! As part of this learning journey, we have utilized several resources that we would like to share. Below is our list:
Academics:
- Outschool
“Outschool connects motivated learners, parents, and teachers together to create great learning experiences.”
We have taken so many great classes on Outschool. There has been a class for almost everything of interest to our children. Whether you choose a one-time class or a class that lasts for several weeks, there is a little bit of everything. Plus, your children may have the opportunity to interact with children from all over. - Varsity Tutors
“Our vision is to seamlessly connect experts and learners in any subject, anywhere, anytime.” - Sankofa Homeschool Collective
“Our mission is to create a community from which family and educational relationships will be built and resources will be shared. Sankofa is homeschooling community of families who want to grow, learn, and build together. Sankofa Homeschool Community is dedicated to creating a rich, supportive homeschool community through a combination of social outlets, enrichment programs, access to co-operative courses, and the sharing of academic resources.”
We participated in classes offered by the Sankofa Homeschool Collective back when they were an in-person co-op. They offer many amazing classes, the community is uplifting, and I enjoyed seeing the students interact with each other. Since the pandemic, Sankofa has transitioned to an online presence. Now, people all across the world are able to participate in Sankofa’s courses. - DC Public Library (or your local public library)
We are fortunate that our local library, provides access to a multitude of free, educational products and services. Check out your library to learn what resources are available. - Kamali Academy
Afrikan-centered curriculum; Homeschool coaching; Online courses.
Books:
- The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life – by Julie Bogart (Fun fact: this is the first homeschooling book that we read, front-to-back)
- Homeschool Gone Wild – by Karla Marie Williams
- The Makings of the Little Indigo House by Kiara Diggs
Podcasts:
- Fare of the Free Child – by Akilah S. Richards
Websites or Social Media Pages
There are so many websites and social media accounts that we follow and love but here is a short list of the ones that we use the most or that we used first.
- Khan Academy – “…a nonprofit with a mission to provide a free world-class education to everyone, everywhere.”
- Time 4 Learning – “…an online PreK-12 curriculum, covering math, language arts, science, and social studies. Unlike virtual schools with teachers, we empower you to take control of when, where, and how your child learns.”
- Living Joyfully – by Pam Larrichia – “…an online resource for parents wanting to live joyfully with their children through unschooling.”
- Abundant Freedom – formerly, Hip Hop Homeschoolers (check out their website and Instagram Page)
- Sandra Dodd – there is SO much useful information on her page!
- Honey, I’m Homeschooling the Kids – I like her Instagram page and her website has some good resources (I haven’t yet listened to the podcast but the topics sound interesting).
- YouTube
- Netflix; Disney+
Note: This list will continuously grow. We only shared resources that we have read, watched, listened to, etc. If you have a book, website, podcast, or anything else that you want us to check out, please share it with us in the comments or send us an email at unschoolingindc@gmail.com.
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