Lessons From Unschooling Families: The Smiths

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

16 Aug 2007 04:17 PM

I had asked last week in the forums for suggestions on blog topics. Mary Ann Romans wanted to know about unschooling and essentially how kids will learn everything they need to know if there is no plan in place. Yesterday I talked about unschooling as a philosophy, our own experience leaning towards unschooling with our son (although we are definitely not unschoolers) and I gave an example of one family I knew, and how they incorporated unschooling into their learning environment.

Today, I am going to talk about the Smiths, another unschooling family I know with a slightly more radical approach to unschooling than the Jones family. The Smiths knew before their child was school aged that they were going to unschooled their children. They deliberately bought their house with accompanying acres to create what they thought would be the ideal learning environment. Although they have enough bedrooms for each child to have their own room, they decided to have the children share two rooms in part to promote family closeness and in part to convert the other two rooms into 'schoolrooms' of sorts.

There are no lesson plans at the Smith family home. One of their 'school rooms' is a math/science room. It has a microscope, several guidebooks along with their 'textbooks' which include Usborne science and the Magic School Bus series. It also has several tubs full of things to experiment with. The other school room is set up with tables and chairs, paper, art materials, pencils, pens, a globe and a wall map, a chalk board and just about any other 'classroom' type material you could reasonably think of.

You won't find lots of 'trade books' or literature in either classroom. Mrs. Smith believes that good literature should be a much larger part of their lives and so the bookshelves are located where the family spends most of their time when they're indoors: in the living room and dining rooms. Their collection of books by the way, is substantial.

There is not really any 'real' schedule and there are no lesson plans so how do the children learn anything you wonder? In part because the goal of the Smiths has been to provide a rich learning environment. While there's no schedule, neither are the children allowed to watch television during the 'school day.' They all have chores and they all volunteer their time in some fashion. Even the little ones spend time making birthday cards for a nursing home. I've watched Mrs. Smith in action and although I know she would say that she simply lets them explore at their free will, you should never underestimate the influence of an involved parent.

The 'trick' here seems to be two things: as I mentioned the learning environment is rich. But the other trick seems to be the Smiths themselves and their ideals. It is hard not to be excited about learning new things when you are around someone who is excited about learning. And as far as reading and math? The kids all have goals to go on to college, or own their own business and so the children themselves provide the intrinsic motivation needed to study what they need to know to achieve those goals.

While the style of learning looks different, this is a family where I would say unschooling has definitely been successful.

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Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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Nola Redd (7081) 16 Aug 2007 08:17 PM

I think I would like to move into the Smith's home. What a wonderful place! Although I know this was more of an 'experience' blog than a specific pointer one, I have to say I love the idea of kids making birthday cards for nursing home folks. I can think of a couple of people from our church that my kids could show that love and service to, who could really use it. So thanks!

Valorie Delp (49340) 17 Aug 2007 03:24 AM

I LOVE their school rooms. LOVE them! They're awesome and I wish I had the space to do it.

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 17 Aug 2007 05:25 AM

Any chance that you could post some photos of the school rooms? i would lvoe to see them.

Valorie Delp (49340) 17 Aug 2007 05:40 AM

They live about 2 hours away from me. My in-laws live in CT so we do visit but it's not like we'd see them every time we go. . .and gas is soooooooo expensive in the summer--we're trying to limit our trips. But. . .let me see what I can come up with of other people that have classrooms. Theirs are especially nice--but lots of homeschoolers set up classrooms.

Nola Redd (7081) 17 Aug 2007 08:24 PM

We are looking at a house right now, and one of the draws for me is the fourth bedroom. I am pretty much planning to put my two girls in one room and my two boys in another, and use the last one as a classroom. I am excited about the idea of moving, and one of the biggest sources of excitement for me right now is having a 'classroom'-type room, although I do want to be sure not to restrict learning ONLY to that room. It seems that might be the only possible drawback of having such a great space. Then again, if it instills a love of learning ina child, they are more likely to learn wherever they are.

Valorie Delp (49340) 18 Aug 2007 04:09 AM

I think classrooms are very helpful when you're homeschooling. We don't have one--we live in a three bedroom apartment. But they're helpful on several levels. . .wait. . .I feel a blog coming along. . .