Absenteeism is a way of learning that provides greater freedom and allows students to have more control over their own learning. Unlike public schools where lessons are made up of a very specific (and not always accurate) curriculum of lessons, with rigid rules that tend to focus more on teaching children about obedience than on encouraging their natural interests.
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Part 1 of 3: Learning about Not Going to School
Step 1. Find out more about not going to school
No school allows a child to learn in their own way, individual way, using their natural interests and curiosity. Instead of just sitting in a class for 8 hours a day, they are able to have interactive projects and constant learning opportunities.
- Not schooling is very adaptive, because this method changes and moves with the child and at the child's pace. This method teaches children that learning can occur continuously, not in a rigid structure of 'facts' and tests, but in a natural and non-stressful environment. There are no school activities because you are learning all the time.
- Providing opportunities and learning resources for children so that they can learn on their own will give them greater independence and ability to take responsibility and make decisions for themselves.
- Ordinary public schools tend to be places for flaunting and artificial boundaries drawn based on class, race, and gender are embedded in children's behavior and boundaries that have become a problem in the wider culture. Most kids learn little more than how to work in a system that doesn't even treat them as human beings (many students have stories of cheating on exams, lying to avoid trouble, and so on).
Step 2. Take charge of the learning process
Not going to school means that parents and children have to take over the learning process. This does not mean that parents are responsible for being 'teachers', so to speak, but rather being active participants in the child's learning process.
- This means working on an interesting project, seeking answers to the child's questions with the child (such as: why is the sky blue?).
- There is a good variety of books and useful spaces for parents who are not sending their children to school, which can help provide ideas and solve problems. Books such as John Holt's 'Teach Your Own' or Grace Llewellyn's 'The Teenage Liberation Handbook'. Or check out the reading list about not going to school at Self Made Scholar.
Step 3. Learn all the time
Not going to school means constant learning. This method sounds tedious, but it really means that more than setting aside a specific time to sit down and memorize a few facts, your child will continue to be exposed to the world and the learning opportunities that are available.
You'll start to find ways for both you and your child to learn things and will probably go through some trial and error to determine the most beneficial way for your child to learn, because there's not just one right way to learn
Step 4. Learn about not going to school and the opportunity to go to college
You might think that a child who doesn't go to school can't go on to college (and the same problem applies to homeschooled kids), but that's not really true. Of course, not everyone wants or needs to go to college, but most feel they do.
- Universities and colleges such as Harvard, MIT, Duke, Yale, and Stanford are actually actively looking for students who have alternative learning experiences, because these types of students tend to get more credit than regular students tend to do better, because they are more often exposed to learning with self motivation.
- Most colleges have adjusted their admissions policies to make it easier for out-of-school students to apply.
- The most important thing to do if you are a non-school student who wants to study in college is to keep good records on everything you do, make sure that you are aware of and meet deadlines on everything like SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and applications submitted, and focus on your application essay.
Part 2 of 3: No School
Step 1. Look for the child's interests
The point of not going to school is to focus on the child's learning and where that interest is taking them. It is necessary for them to be willing to read or count, but if they are allowed to work at their own pace, they will be more likely to learn on their own and retain the information.
- Encourage their natural interest in something. If they show an interest in cooking, find some fun cooking experiments and try them together, or let the kids try them out on their own. Cooking can teach a variety of things, such as math (with fractions and quantities) as well as practical skills.
- If your child likes to make up stories, do a creative writing project and talk about the different characters in their own play and the stories they (and you) may be reading. They will learn about characterization, writing skills, and they will have a lot of fun.
- If they want to learn more intensively about a subject you don't understand, there are some good free online courses they can take, such as Khan Academy. and Self Made Scholar. You can also find free online college courses in the Open Culture database.
Step 2. Use creative opportunities to learn
This is one of the most fun and exciting parts of not going to school. You and your child can have different creative opportunities to learn about the world.
- Check out museums in your area. Many museums have special days with free admission, or only free for children, and this activity can be a fun excursion. In addition, many large museums have online catalogs, so even if you can't physically visit the museum, you can still see amazing and interesting things.
- Libraries are a great source of learning. Libraries often have several ongoing projects as well as reading groups and lectures, it really does more than just have lots of interesting books! Check your library's events calendar to see what's going on and talk to children about what they might be interested in.
- If your child is interested in something and you know someone who has the right skills, see if you can let your child learn from them for a day, or a week, or even a few times a month. This could be anyone from a chef, a chemistry professor, or an archaeologist. This will not only provide the child with new knowledge, but it is also a great way for the child to see another point of view and become more involved in the adult world.
Step 3. Use fun games and projects as learning media
Since you'll need lots of creative and fun ways to learn, using different games and projects can be a great way to help facilitate learning.
- Get information about what kind of ecosystem exists in your area. For example, if you live near the ocean, learn about marine animals and different types of aquatic ecosystems. If you can, take a trip to the beach in search of shells and sea creatures.
- If you get or can build a telescope, you can use it to look at the night sky and talk about stars. You can even use it as a way to discuss mythology using the constellations as an example.
- Using a microscope, examine the dirt from the backyard and garden, then compare. Talk about why there is a difference between the two types of soil and what causes it.
Step 4. Answer the questions
It's important that you spend time answering questions with your child. You don't have to be an expert on every subject, but when they ask a question, sit down with them to find the answer.
- You can even point them to an encyclopedia (or the internet) and tell them to look it up and then let you know. If they can't find it in 10 minutes, work with them to find the answer.
- If there is no answer, or none of the answers are correct, you can discuss why and talk about ways you can try to find the answer for you and your child. For example, you could talk about what gravity is and how no one knows the exact cause. You can even experiment with gravity (because, who doesn't like throwing things from tall buildings).
Step 5. Be free from school (deschool)
Sometimes you have to be out of school before you don't go to school. This can sometimes be important if your child has been in the public school system for some time. Being free from school means giving them a break, for a few weeks or even a month, to break the school mindset.
As soon as they get into a more relaxed rhythm, talk about what they want to learn and how they want to learn it. They don't have to have anything definite right then and there, you can just introduce that no-school idea anymore
Step 6. Be patient
You may not see the effects of not going to school right away. Sometimes children can be stubborn and not want to learn anything, especially if they have been in the public school system for some time before. No problem with that. It takes time to adjust to the new system and dig back into their natural curiosity.
- You must trust your child to control their learning. Children are naturally interested in the world and want to know about things. Even if it takes time, they will start to learn, because they will not be able to hold back.
- Putting pressure on children to learn can make them restless and less eager to learn (as is often the case at school). Maintaining a stress-free and fun learning environment will make them more willing to learn for themselves.
Part 3 of 3: Reading When Not in School
Step 1. Realize that there is no “right” reading age
For parents who are considering not going to school, reading can seem like a big problem. Reading is often equated with intelligence. However, more or less, the usual school opinion about when children should be able to read is just fictitious information. Children learn to read when they want to.
Step 2. Enjoy the teaching process
Make the reading activity simple, like a serious game (not silly), but desirable and very easy. When children are being “trained” (not coaxed, not coerced) in reading games, they tend to have more consistently positive attitudes toward reading. This method will make it easier for them to learn to read when they choose to “play” reading.
Step 3. Play word search:
Show them common words like “on/off” on a light switch (spelled aloud also as “on/off”, and “off/off”, and so on.) Find the words “push/pull, walk/stop, enter/exit” on office doors and the like, two and three syllables, and add a few words with important syllables such as “EXIT” and “INTRODUCTION” found. When at home, show them about each individual letter and most importantly teach the "sound" of each letter, not just the name. A is the name, but “a, ah” are some examples of the sound, as if this would make for a funny sound.
Research has found that out-of-school students tend to start out unable to read and then become fluent in reading very quickly. So even if your child is 4 years old or older, each will learn to read at a time that is most convenient for them
Step 4. Make the process easy:
Avoid ordering your child to read something. The worst thing you can do is pressure your child so they hate reading. This is a boomerang that makes them less interested in reading. When a child is under stress, it is less likely for him to accept lessons quickly and easily. In fact, several studies have shown that children who have difficulty (or discomfort) with reading are more likely to pretend to behave sensibly at school, rather than learning happily.
For example, don't make young children write lists of words they need to learn. You will find that they are less likely to want to learn words than if they were left to learn at their own pace. Suggest how the letters sound to get new words, such as “k-u-c-i-n-g, ka u se en ge”, “cat”; "cats"! Don't force phonics as a lesson on them, but let the child have a moment, oh so, to feel the joy of understanding a word or idea. If your child tries to write, show satisfaction even if the writing is a bit italic and is spelled strangely and funny. Say, “Now you have made progress. Keep going!”
Step 5. Show how much you value reading
By reading something that is very far from everyday life, you will show your child the importance of reading. You don't have to talk about reading every second of the day, but have a book around the house, talk about the book you're reading to your child.
- Ask your child what kinds of books they like best and be sure to have plenty of them around (either from a bookstore or by going to the library and picking them with your child).
- Don't read all the readings for them. While it is important to help your child when they ask questions, by not always reading anything to them, they will realize the importance of learning to read. So, for example, if you're reading a story to them, read it at a pace that fits your schedule. If they want to get to the story faster, they will need to learn to read it on their own.
Step 6. Encourage interaction between family members of various ages
Children tend to learn better when they interact openly with people of different age groups, with reading and non-reading people mixed together. For example, with a group of children of various ages or a group reading together at home with the family.
- Children often learn to read through games between players who can read and those who cannot. There are many games that require reading comprehension and players who can read will interpret them for those who can't read. Players who cannot read yet begin to learn words as they play.
- Some ideas for a family with multiple age interactions might be watching television with captions so people who can't read begin to identify words and letters and have reading time together where the whole family can read aloud. In addition, you can also hold readings every night when parents or older siblings read to their siblings who cannot read.
Step 7. Learn through writing
Often children learn to read because they learn to write. They often learn to write because they want to write something interesting: captions on pictures they draw, their own stories, and notes for their family members.
Help your child spell something when they ask you for help. If not, this is a good time to let them sort the language on their own terms. Don't worry, they will learn to spell well, although it will take some time
Step 8. Listen to your child
These steps are just suggestions for things that might help your child learn to read. The person who knows your child's learning style best is your own child. Pay attention to how they learn things and what they want to do. After all, not going to school is about letting your child direct the learning process on their own.
Tips
- If you think your child needs to hang out with other kids more, ask if they like sports (like soccer) or if they'd like to join a club in the community.
- You can send your child to some 'no school' schools. If you work during the day, it might be useful to check around your area and see if you can find one.
- You can use a place like the Zinn Education Project to help with non-school learning ideas in history.
- Find other like-minded people, and collaborate with them. It helps a lot if you have a community of supportive people to share ideas and frustrations with. It's also a great way for your child to get peers to interact with.
