A2Z Homeschool – Ann's Blog

Homeschooling From Ann's Perspective

Growing Without Schooling Magazine

September14

Growing Without Schooling Magazine: You Don’t Have to Go to Grow

Medford, MA, Sept. 14, 2011: Holt Associates Inc. announced today that all issues of its historic magazine, Growing Without Schooling (GWS), are now available for free public access at its website. Growing Without Schooling is the nation’s first magazine about homeschooling, unschooling, and learning outside of school, founded by the late author/teacher John Holt in 1977.

“Now, when teachers and tests are getting all the attention in education reform, the complete issue archive of GWS is more evidence for the public to consider that learning is a result of the activity of learners; it is not necessarily a result of teaching,” says Patrick Farenga, president of Holt Associates Inc.

www.holtgws.com also contains significant amounts of new information about John Holt and his work, including never-before-released video footage of Holt, photographs, and newly digitized audio files of interviews and lectures by Holt where he discusses how schools could be improved.

At a time of conformity and standardization in school, unschooling proves that there are many different schedules and ways to individualize education for children. GWS also shows how it is things like good health, good food, solid relationships, caring adults, and freedom to explore the world that make a positive difference to the lives and learning of children, not expensive school technologies.

GWS documents 24 years of personal stories, news articles, research, books and the strong flowering of the homeschooling movement from 1977 to 2001. In 1977 there were perhaps 10 to 20 thousand homeschoolers and in 2001 it was estimated there were about 1.2 million homeschooled children. In 2011, estimates put that number over two million,” says Farenga.

HoltGWS.com presents many resources for helping school-age children, from teens to kindergartners, learn in their own ways, including getting into college or finding work worth doing without a conventional school background. Holt Associates is an education consulting company committed to freedom for learning.

For more information contact:
Patrick Farenga
Holt Associates/Growing Without Schooling
13 Hume Avenue
Medford, MA 02155
781-395-8508
patfarenga@holtgws.com
www.holtgws.com

In Memoriam: Ned Vare

July28

It is with great sadness that we inform our supporters that a great friend and homeschool freedom champion, Ned Vare, has died.   Ned was a fearless fighter for educational freedom.

I first met him in 1990 when he was in the forefront of the effort to defeat government regulation of homeschooling in Connecticut.  He was wise to all the background, history, and rationale behind public schooling and homeschooling.

Over the years, he not only educated me on the ways of the educational world, but educated untold others.  He and his soulmate, Luz Shosie, met in 1973 at Ned’s ranch in Silt, Colorado.  Together they raised their son, Cassidy, without schooling, with what is not called UNschooling.  In essence, they wisely guided Cassidy in educating himself, an experiment, they say, that surpassed all of their expectations.

Ned and Luz were inspired by the writings of John Holt, and together, they started a support group for unschoolers and operated the Unschoolers Unlimited Newsletter for many years.  More recently Ned penned a blog entitled, “School Is Hell”.

Ned could always be seen supporting the right to educate in freedom at every gathering across the state, from his hometown in Guilford to Hartford and beyond. Ned was never afraid to confront any government official whom he believed was acting in any way to deny parents their rights.  Ned was tireless in his ability to engage legislators in quiet, polite, but persistent conversation educating them as to the rights of parents and why they should support educational freedom.  Ned was extremely successful at this endeavor and was instrumental in persuading many key legislators to support the rights of parents in Connecticut.

We are also fortunate that Ned, with Luz, wrote his thoughts about educational freedom in a book that I proudly keep in a most prominent place in my home.  It’s called “Smarting Us Up, the Un Dumbing of America”.  Ned was a true inspiration, who had a keen wit, a most engaging personality, and always the nicest smile.  I was proud to call Ned my friend, and he will be sorely missed.  A memorial service is planned for him at a date to be announced in the fall.

-    Deborah Stevenson – Exec. Dir., National Home Education Legal Defense

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My Homeschool Tweets

Recommended books to help you Homeschool

First Year of Homeschooling Your Child:
Your Complete Guide to Getting Off to the Right Start
by Linda Dobson
Many of today's families are opting to teach their children at home. The first hurdle these families face is getting started.
kindle edition
 
The Unschooling Handbook:
How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom
by Mary Griffith
Unschooling is a homeschooling method based on the belief that kids learn best when allowed to pursue their natural curiosities and interests.
kindle edition
 
The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas:
500+ Fun and Creative Learning Activities for Kids Ages 3-12
by Linda Dobson
Kid-tested and parent-approved techniques for learning math, science, writing, history, manners, and more for your homeschooling needs.
kindle edition
 
100 Top Picks For Homeschool Curriculum:
Choosing The Right Curriculum And Approach For Your Child's Learning Style
by Cathy Duffy
Christian. Widely-recognized curriculum expert Cathy Duffy walks you through the curriculum selection process.
Older edition
kindle edition
 
Home Learning Year by Year:
How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School
by Rebecca Rupp
A structured plan to ensure that your children will learn what they need to know when they need to know it, from preschool through high school.
kindle edition
 
Home Schooling Children with Special Needs
(3rd Edition)
by Sharon Hensley
This book would be very helpful to any homeschooling parent with a "high needs" child, whether or not the child has a disability label.
 
Homeschooling: The Teen Years:
Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 13- To 18-Year Old
by Cafi Cohen
This book reveals the adventure and rewards as well as the special challenges of working with this age group.
kindle edition
 
Homeschooling for Dummies
by Jennifer Kaufeld
If, like many parents, you're wondering whether homeschooling can be the solution you're looking for, then you'll be happy to know that the answer is yes.
kindle edition
 
Creative Home Schooling:
A Resource Guide for Smart Families
by Lisa Rivero
Features interviews and tips from many homeschool parents as well as long lists of resources.
 
Homeschooling the Child with Autism:
Answers to the Top Questions Parents and Professionals Ask
by Patricia Schetter, et al
This practical, highly accessible guide answers parents' and professionals' questions about teaching children with autism spectrum disorders at home.
 
The Homeschooling Handbook:
From Preschool to High School, a Parent's Guide
2nd Edition
by Mary Griffith
In this revised edition of her groundbreaking book, Mary Griffith tells you everything you need to know.
kindle edition
 
Free Range Learning
How Homeschooling Changes Everything
by Laura Grace Weldon
Eye-opening data about the meaning and importance of natural learning.
kindle edition
 
Pagan Homeschooling
A Guide to Adding Spirituality to Your Child's Education
by Kristin Madden
Pagans and other metaphysical parents are enthusiastically exploring this option to typical compulsory school education.