adult unschoolers

153: More Unschool Writing Ideas and Resources

My author daughter Imogen joins me for a bumper episode about unschool writing.
In episode 148, we talked about how unschooling children learn to write. This week, we continue the unschool writing discussion by answering a couple of listener questions and then sharing some ideas and resources for anyone, young child to adult, who wants to improve their writing skills.
We also talk about:
The Global Homeschooling Summit and give a taste of Imogen and Sophie's interview.
My soon-to-be-published unschooling book Radical Unschool Love.
My daughter Charlotte's new design project: her Red Bubble shops.
 
Show Notes
 
Go Teen Writers
Go Teen Writers blog
Go Teen Writers book: How to Turn Your First Draft into a Published Book
Go Teen Writers Facebook Group
 
NaNoWriMo
NaNoWriMo
Camp NaNoWriMo
NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program
 
Blogging
Blogger
Wordpress
 
Books
Plot and Structure: Techniques and Exercise for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish by James Scott Bell
Revision and Self-Editing (Write Great Fiction) by James Scott Bell
 
Bird by Bird: Some Instruction on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
 
Podcasts
Episode 148: Our Writing Unrules for Unschoolers
Writing Excuses
 
Charlotte Elvis
Charlotte's Redbubble Shop
The Stories of an Unschooling Family Red Bubble Shop
Instagram: charlotte.elvis
 
Imogen Elvis
Website
Write.Rewrite.Read
Youtube
Imogen Elvis
Write. Rewrite. Read
Imogen's novel
The Crystal Tree
Instagram
Write. Rewrite. Read
 
Sue Elvis
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
Youtube
Sue Elvis
Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
 
The Global Homeschooling Summit
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about this episode. Or you could just stop by and say hello. And please join me on Instagram!
 

148: Our Writing Unrules for Unschoolers

This week, my daughter Imogen and I are chatting about unschool writing. How do unschoolers learn to write? We share my writing unrules which are based on my observations of my children who all love writing.
We talk about:
Imogen's writing story: how she learnt to write, her university degree, how she is turning her passion for writing into YA novels
How free play is the foundation for creative writing
How drawing is a form of writing
How we learn by following someone else's example
How motivation for writing must come from within a child
Books and reading
How English workbooks are unnecessary
The progress of my unschooling books
And lots more!
 
Show Notes
 
Imogen Elvis
Website
Write.Rewrite.Read
Youtube
Write. Rewrite. Read
Imogen's novel
The Crystal Tree
Instagram
Write. Rewrite. Read
 
Podcasts
Homeschool Solutions with Pam Barnhill
Episode 150 of the Exploring Unschooling podcast with Pam Laricchia.
 
Books and Authors Mentioned
Jackie French
Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak
Rick Riordan
Alice in Wonderful by Lewis Carrol
 
My Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything we talked about in this episode. You could just stop by and say hello. And please join me on Instagram!
 

147: A Big Chat About Unschooling Teenagers

My daughters Imogen and Sophie join me to talk about unschooling teenagers:
What do teenagers need?
Should parents introduce more structured learning during the high school years?
Or do teenagers need to be free to continue to explore their passions?
What should we do if a teenager doesn't appear to have any particular passions?
What about university?
Do parents keep teenagers safe by keeping a tight hold on them? Is this the responsible thing to do?
Or do we keep teenagers safe by giving them their freedom to discover who they are?
Should parents be friends with their teenagers?
Is it never too late to build close relationships with our teenagers?
Is it essential we do this?
These are just a few of the many questions we discuss during our big chat about unschooling teenagers!
 
Show Notes
 
Imogen Elvis
Website
Write.Rewrite.Read
Youtube
Write. Rewrite. Read
Imogen's novel
The Crystal Tree
 
Sophie Elvis
Instagram
thetechnomaid
tough.turtle
Youtube
Sophie Elvis
 
My Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything we talked about in this episode. You could just stop by and say hello. And please join me on Instagram!

146: Finding Unschooling in Unexpected Places and Other Things

This week my daughters Imogen and Sophie join me to talk about:
Imogen’s novel ‘The Crystal Tree’ and its sequel ‘The Shattering Song’
YA or Young Adult novels
Imogen’s book review videos
How parents hold the key to a child’s happiness
How some parents push their kids to fulfil their own dreams
The YA novel ‘A Thousand Perfect Notes’
Imogen’s opinion of my first unschooling book ‘Curious Unschoolers’
How we’re getting on with the formatting and publishing of my unschooling book 
A progress report for my second unschooling book ‘A Radical Unschool Love’
How Sophie is teaching Imogen photography
The joy of sharing passions
Creativity and learning 
How we all have bad days
How our family isn’t perfect
Sophie’s new job
Sophie’s transition from unschooling to structured learning
Sophie’s beta personal training clients
How it can be difficult for parents to accept help and advice from their children
How kids can outlearn their parents
 
Show Notes
 
A Novel
A Thousand Perfect Notes by CG Drews
 
Imogen Elvis
Youtube
Write. Rewrite. Read
Imogen's novel
The Crystal Tree
Instagram
Write. Rewrite. Read
Website
Write. Rewrite. Read
 
Sophie Elvis
Instagram
thetechnomaid
tough.turtle
Youtube
Sophie Elvis
 
My Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or you could just stop by and say hello. And please join me on Instagram!
 

138: Is Unschooling More Than a Method of Homeschooling?

This week, I'm discussing the question: Is unschooling a method of homeschooling? Or is there more to unschooling than that? Could it be a way of life?
I'm sharing and discussing a story, Why Unschooling Isn't Just Another Method of Homeschooling
I'm also talking about
the issue of unlimited screen time again
criticism and the power of love
how can we encourage kids to become the people they are meant to be?
 
Show Notes
 
Blog Post
Why Unschooling Isn't Just Another Method of Homeschooling
 
Podcast
Episode 70: Trust, Respect and Love Unconditionally
 
Article
 Unschooling 101 by Bridget Bentz Sider:
 
Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or just stop by and say hello!

129: Unschoolers Earning Money, Following Passions

In this week's episode, I'm talking about:
How my daughters are earning money while they continue to pursue their passions
Why it's okay not to finish everything we start
What I've been doing recently
Why I left Instagram
Why Gemma-Rose is painting the interior of our house
Imogen's first novel and where you can buy a copy!
 
As usual, I have some stories to share and a resource as well.
 
Show Notes
Imogen
Blog: Write, Rewrite, Read
Novel: The Crystal Tree, available as a paperback or Kindle ebook.
TV Series
The Great Interior Design Challenge
You might find some episodes on Netflix or other sites.
Podcast
Episode 86: Are You an Unschooling Multipotentialite?
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. 
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or just stop by and say hello!

124: Does Unschooling Work?

This week, I'm discussing the question Does Unschooling Work? The answer, of course, depends on what we mean by the word 'work'.
I'm also talking about:
 
My fabulous Patreon patrons and the work I hope to do with their help
Camp NaNoWriMo
How kids learn new things when they have a need
How younger siblings think they are just as capable as their older siblings
How sorting out a problem isn't always as difficult as it seems
A new podcast idea which involves collaborating with other unschoolers
 
Show Notes
 
Patreon
My Patreon page
 
My Instagram Account
stories_ofan_unschooling family
 
My Unschooling Newsletter
 
Blog posts
Does the World Needs Unschooling?
Are We Incomplete Without Our Passions and Interests?
 
Youtube channels
Sue Elvis
Imogen Elvis
Sophie Elvis
 
Videos
What is Unschooling?
Mission: Surviving Holy Week
 
Music
Podington Bear's Sound of Picture
 
Writing
'NaNoWriMo
Camp NaNoWriMo
4theWords
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. Maybe you'd also like to support my work by becoming a patron!
.
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or just stop by to say hello.
 
 

116: Why it's Important to Allow Kids to Follow Their Passions and Interests

 
This week, I'm discussing the following questions:
Does planning have any place in unschooling?
Can we make attractive planners using Evernote?
Will I continue my Evernote workshop series?
How does balance fit into an unschooling life?
Why is it very important that we let our kids follow their passions and interests?
Is it okay to acknowledge our kids' talents?
Can we praise our kids?
Are we obliged to develop and use our own talents?
Can reality, lifestyle and documentary TV series provide us with lots of wonderful learning experiences?
How do we make homeschool record notes about TV shows we've watched?
 
Show Notes
 
My Evernote workshop series
50 Coloured Evernote Background Note Templates (to download)
Evernote and homeschool record keeping
My unschooling book series
Are We Incomplete Without Our Interests and Passions?
Should Unschooled Kids Live Balanced Lives? 
Unschooling Sausages
The Big Painting Challenge (episodes available on Youtube at time of posting)
Blog posts about The Big Painting Challenge
Imogen Elvis on Youtube
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing a review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment on today's episode. Or just stop by to say hello!
 
 

107: Is Unschooling for Everyone?

A note before you listen to this week's episode:
Episode 107 is only a conversation starter. I'm sure my thoughts are incomplete...Sometimes we have to work at jobs that we’d rather not do because we have families to support. My husband Andy was in this situation for many years so I understand how it might not seem possible to resign from such a job to follow a dream. However, perhaps there’s still room in our lives for a little unschooling. We might find a way to use our talents in whatever kind of job we have. Maybe we can watch out for an opportunity to turn down a different pathway. Whatever we do, we need to keep learning and keep striving to be the people we are meant to be… just like our kids.
Yes, this week I'm asking:
Is unschooling for everyone? Can anyone unschool? Should we all, whatever our situations, live an unschooling way of life?
Also:
Why do most of us have a need for 'likes'? Why is our self-worth dependent on the opinions of other people? And is it different for our unschooling kids?
Should parents be friends with their kids? Is it okay for parents to demand obedience? Or does obedience, no questions allowed, destroy the connection between parent and child?
 
Show Notes
Nancy Shuman
Blogs:
The Cloistered Heart
The Breadbox Letters
Book:
The Cloistered Heart
 
 
Imogen Elvis
Youtube
Facebook
The Rains of Castamere music video
 
Podcast
Episode 91: How Unschooling is About Being Connected with Our Kids
 
My blog is Stories of an Unschooling Family.
You might find me on Instagram at sue_elvis. 
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling! 
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)

106: Changes

 
This week, I'm talking about changes both in my online and offline lives.
I'm sharing:
Some further thoughts on kids, screen time and Internet usage
The future of my unschooling blog and podcast
A few resources
More about learning from life
Some family news including the fur coat story
 
Show Notes
 
Blog Posts
Is it Really Okay to Give Unschooling Kids Unlimited Access to Screens and the Internet
Why This is the End of the Line for Me
Why Becoming an Ex-Unschooling Blogger is a Bit Scary
 
Michael Mosley Resources
The Truth About Sleep
The Truth About Exercise
Guts
Infested
Eat, Fast, and Live Longer
 
Imogen Elvis
Youtube
Facebook
The Rains of Castamere music video
 
I apologise for the 'different' sound quality. I forgot to check the mic settings before I started recording and the podcast was recorded with my computer's internal mic instead of my USB one. I think the audio is clear, but maybe I sound like I'm in my bathroom! 
 
My blog is Stories of an Unschooling Family.
You might find me on Instagram at sue_elvis. 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling! 
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)