Big Book of Unschooling

Opened this to multiple pages of opinionated dribble. I am considering unschooling. This is not the right book to get started with. Sandra Dodd pushes her views on divorce, special education in public schools, etc. This book came off as pushy and rude. It will be going in the trash.

Unschooling can seem a little lonely when you are that one family in a sea of schoolers. It's nice to have something to reference. I like the layout of this book because you can digest big ideas in small (usually about one page long) portions. Of course, you could just read this all on her website, but I don't mind having a real book to lead through!

This is a great book on unschooling. I love what she has to say about family life. This book covers just about anything and everything regarding the unschooling life. Great for newbies and seasoned unschooling parents. You can skip around and read what you are needing at the time. :)

Sandra Dodd clearly conveys the need for a mental paradigm shift in how children learn (no "teaching"or "educating" necessary). As a parent it is very tempting to prod, manipulate and control the process of the development of my children. This only leads to stress, frustration and many cases, unhappiness. As a believer in the sovereignty of God, I trust that He sets in motion the very desires, interests and pursuits of all mankind....Provide a nourishing learning environment in the home and means for outside experiences and then watch them flourish!!! Great work Sandra!

This book has inspired me to rethink how we were approaching homeschooling. It's also inspired me to be a better parent and encourage my family to be more peaceful.

My unschooled kids are grown now. I bought a copy of this book when it first came out, and found it clear, helpful, well-organized and to the point. It's a Big Book, all right, and I read straight through it while our family was on vacation, pausing to read excerpts to my husband. (I'm writing this review on his account, hence the name.)Like many of my unschooling books, my copy of this one was lent to one of the young moms I meet who ask about unschooling. I hope whichever mom I lent it to keeps it or passes it on, but I want another copy for myself, so I just ordered one. It's well-worth the money. There are a lot of "unschooling" books out there these days. Some of them are poorly written, and it's rather sad that people looking to understand unschooling may begin by reading one of these. I hope they find their way to The Big Book of Unschooling. It's the real deal.

This is a terrific book to read as part of your unschooling journey. It really keeps you in the right mindset and provides new ideas and perspective.

Little novelty compared to Sandra's website (which is one of the bestbestbest unschooling resources ever), however I am an oldschool type of person and just love to be able to keep it in my hands, to be able to just take it off the shelf and look up a topic I need to look up.

Reader be aware! This is not a "book". It is a collection of copy and paste bits and bobs from the author's website put together without much consideration for the reader...The style is "bloggy" (in the bad sense of the word) and feels so lazy. It talks about the experience of one family that home schools in the USA, and everything is sort of anecdotal. One feels a bit patronised by the overconfident and forthcoming style of the author that is about to tell you "the right way" of unschooling! I would have returned my copy if my youngest daughter had not damaged it with water! I would not even have bothered writing a review, if the book had cost us 1 or 2 pounds, but at £15, I felt cheated.I bought a good bundle of books on "unschooling", home schooling and free learning, and they were all brilliant and much cheaper! My own fault for buying a book without having a look inside (amazon did not have the option for this one) And I must admit, I bought it judging the book by the cover, (as it reminded me a little bit of the front cover of the book Shelter (a wonderful book if you do not know it, although not on the same subject). So I guess I have learnt my lesson!

Reassuring, fun, and I love Sandra's basic premise of always asking, seeking your own version of truth rather than accepting other people's. So many bits of received wisdom are questioned in a brilliantly engaging way, you learn how to trust your own knowledge of your own family, you absorb her process.I have felt like shouting from the rooftops at times, with the happiness and joy of it all, but heed her words of small quiet steady change. The 'workbooks' have been put on shelves, the 'reward jar' quietly ignored. I have not proclaimed us dramatically an 'unschooling family!!!', I just say 'yes' more and am paying more attention. I wonder where the questions and the 'yes' will lead us.... will watch and see. It's definitely an adventure.She doesn't shy from presenting you with challenges, she can be forthright, but only to ask you to think, not to boss you about.The book is all on her website. There is nothing new here. But it's a pleasing, chunky book and really lovely to dip in and out of, and somehow more of a 'friend' than the website for an old-school book lover like me. Plus my husband hates me on the computer in bed!

Not recommended for new Unschoolers. Unfortunately, Sandra Dodd’s tone can be harsh and absolute, making strong statements about whom she believes can and cannot Unschool. Perhaps if you are a seasoned Unschooler and settled in your journey this book will be helpful but I strongly caution anyone new to or investigating Unschooling to tread carefully.

most inspiring book on radical unschooling! full of 'philosophical' how to's. it's very much a parenting book as an unschooling book. beautiful parenting that will create beautiful children who will transform our world; their world!

Full of wonderful philosophy