Episode #7: Beginning Unschooling During a Pandemic – Part 2
This was originally a conversation recorded for and posted to the Stories of Unschooling Families online community in Spring of 2022 and we decided to include it as an episode.
Ashley and Erin had an opportunity to talk to Jenna Reich of Rogue Learner podcast and website and Jenna Reich Photography about Ashley’s and Jenna’s journey into beginning home education, specifically unschooling or self-directed education. This was an interesting opportunity to discuss beginning homeschooling during and/or because of the pandemic with two parents who also happen to have worked in the education system.
We Discuss:
Whether beginning homeschooling during a pandemic is easier as far as it being accepted
Being a certified teacher and home educating
How the pandemic gave the space to do research and find what really worked for an individual family
Increased questioning about homeschooling around the time of certain milestones: eg. Kindergarten, Grade One, Junior High years, High school
Explaining what we do (with or without the word “unschooling” and depending on how much time we have, level of listener’s interest)
The benefit of having a spouse working from home during the pandemic giving the opportunity for both parents to see living and learning in action
The explosion of online information from newer home educators and whether people are more confident and knowledgeable in sharing
The role of sharing experience on social media and in online groups
The desire to share as a way of offering possibilities and information to others, but also the consideration of privacy in sharing about one’s family
Home education as just part of a wider life, interconnected with decisions and thinking about other systems
The beauty of having a wide range of voices in the podcasting, blogging, authorship world
Decentering school – supportive and connected parenting regardless of where kids are being educated
Resources mentioned:
The Homeschool Project Podcast
Honey, I’m Homeschooling the Kids Clubhouse