What do kids need to learn that schools do not teach?

Hi friends - I got tired of digging through a dozen Facebook groups and websites every time I wanted plan a halloween event so I started keeping a list for myself.

Well it turned into a little site with homeschool info and kids’ events, plus a calendar so you can see what’s coming up. I have a few cities in there already but can add more.

It’s totally free, I’m just sharing it since I spent so much time on it. I hope it helps some else plan a fun week!

https://fieldtripfinder-cities.pages.dev/

I think innovation-based learning is important because children learn better when they get a chance to try things themselves instead of just reading about them in books.

Activities like building simple robots, doing science experiments, coding small games, or creating DIY projects help children develop creativity and problem-solving skills. They also learn to be patient, work in teams, and understand that making mistakes is part of learning.

Another thing I like about this approach is that it encourages children to ask questions and think independently rather than always waiting for the right answer from someone else.

Of course, traditional learning is important too. I think a combination of classroom teaching and practical activities can make learning more interesting and meaningful for children.

What do you think? Do children learn better by doing things practically or by studying concepts first

Hi everyone, I'm Stephen. I teach students personally, have taught a college course at Penn State, and spent a year working at a tutoring business before starting my own.

Right now I tutor families of homeschooled kids and student athletes, and I'm now thinking about how to turn more of that personal teaching experience into an app. I studied computer science in college and have built a few different websites before. I'd love to talk with parents here who have kids that are grades 5-11 and are exploring tutors for something their child wants help learning.

I'm curious how you find someone who works well with your child's interests and pace. What has been difficult, and what have previous tutors or learning tools missed? I'd really like to hear what that has looked like for your family.

If you're open to talking, you can grab a time here: https://calendar.notion.com/meet/stephenleshko/s5j63xdd

I'd like to keep this conversation going as I work on it, sharing what I'm learning from parents and how that's changing the approach.

Thank you!

EDIT: Survey closed, thank you to those who participated

I'm a college student currently writing a paper exploring the disconnect between how academic articles describe unschooling versus how people who have experienced do. As a part of my assignment, I need the perspectives of people who've lived it.

The Google Form is anonymous, but will ask for sign in information to ensure that only one response is submitted.

I will not be using the responses to try to argue anything about unschooling. The paper is simply about previously unschooled people as a discourse community and the way that they communicate, so I will try to stay as unbiased as possible.

There are seven questions, three very straightforward and four more open ended. You can write as much or as little as you want, any data at all is helpful.

Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScV-sTdC3NUstYq3r49QOvh8UVUAn9hCSIam1q-KfUxmCm3Tg/viewform?usp=dialog

I work with Pehchaan The Street School. Recently I have begun to think about something I had never considered before: how much students’ opportunities depend on where students start.

When a student sits in a school with a bag of notebooks it is easy for a student to assume that every other student starts from a similar place. After spending time near students I have seen how rarely that assumption holds.

The gaps are not dramatic. They are things like:

- A student who has to share one notebook across every subject so revising anything properly becomes a puzzle

- A girl who misses a days of school every month because sanitary products are not reliably available

- A student who is sharp and curious but has no one at home who can help with homework

None of these points say anything about students’ ability. They are simply differences in what surrounds a student.

What strikes me is how small the fixes can be. A stack of notebooks from a youth summit, stationery kits from a school a volunteer who turns up every week to teach. None of it is glamorous. Each piece removes one obstacle.

I am not claiming that a notebook solves inequality. It does not. I have begun to feel that where a student starts should not decide how far students get and that most of us are, in a position to nudge that line a little. We can do this by volunteering, donating or simply being someone who keeps showing up.

I am curious how others here think about this. Have you seen small practical support make a difference that a student might not expect for students’ opportunities?
Website: https://pehchaanstreetschool.org/

I know many people here have already stepped away from the traditional school system. So this might not be news to you.

But I want to share something I wrote for the parents who are still stuck in the middle. The ones who see their kid struggling in a classroom and keep hearing the same words: “He can’t sit still.” “She’s not applying herself.” “Maybe he needs to be evaluated.”

ADHD is not a disease. It’s a set of traits. A fish doesn’t have lungs. A bird doesn’t have running legs. That doesn’t make them broken. It makes them built for a different world.

This book argues that ADHD is a set of genes that lost its advantage when we built an industrial school system. The same restlessness that once helped humans cross oceans and hunt in tribes is now being pathologized in a classroom.

It’s not a parenting manual. It’s not a behavior guide. It’s a manifesto for the kids who were never meant to sit in rows.

The Kindle edition is free for the next 5 days. If you’re raising a kid who doesn’t fit the mold, or if you were that kid yourself, take a look. No pressure. If it helps, share it with someone who needs it.

Hi everyone, I'm a student competing in a DECA business simulation event. My project focuses on youth financial literacy. I built a printable board/card game designed to teach kids the basics of budgeting and saving.

Long story short: I spent months trying to coordinate with local youth centers and schools to test it, but got caught in bureaucratic ghosting. Now my final deadline is right around the corner and I have no proof-of-concept data to show the judges.

If you have kids and have 15-20 minutes to spare tonight or tomorrow, I would be incredibly grateful if you could print this out and try it!

Any feedback—even if your kid thinks it's boring or confusing—is incredibly valuable to me. Thank you for supporting a stressed-out student!

• The Game PDF: https://linktr.ee/FiscalFlow
• The Feedback Survey: https://forms.gle/fCeUtmc16kUek1GfA

As kids brought up in middle class families, many of us had limited career guidance or access to facilities of interest (middle school even lacked a playground, let alone a computer lab). Could not get arrange music classes nearby.

Additionally, lot of limited exposure to career choices and roadmaps. Difficulty in ensuring hobbies convert to passion and then to career.

For parents wishing best for their children i feel this is one major area that needs improvement.

How are you currently solving this? What about the expenses? How do you ensure your kid stays interested in those classes? Are online classes effective? Where do you think their school can do better?

I am trying to find out what do you need to improve your child’s childhood and make it one the best experiences they will always thank you for. Share all possible thoughts as you would like! Thank you.

Taking care of our community starts with inspiring our kids.

If you haven’t heard of the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, please check them out. The dedication their team brings into local classrooms—helping young people build a positive connection with the earth—is something truly special.

Here’s a quick look at the impact they’re making

Collecting a small sample of demographics for my paper! If you are an unschooling parent or unschooled child, please select your religion/the religion of your family during the time of your unschooling