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Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

TPP 146: Self-Directed Learning Advocate Blake Boles on Unschooling

Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

Debbie Reber

Education, Kids & Family, Parenting

4.81K Ratings

🗓️ 26 February 2019

⏱️ 42 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

My guest this week is Blake Boles, the self-directed learning advocate behind Unschool Adventures and the author of several books on unschooling, including The Art of Self-Directed Learning, Better Than College, and College Without High School, as well as the host of the Off-Trail Learning podcast.  Now… you may be reading this and thinking, I’m not homeschooling my child or “unschooling” isn’t my thing. But I’m going to encourage you to listen to what Blake has to say. Because regardless of your child’s educational circumstances, there is wisdom to be gleaned from Blake’s philosophy on self-directed learning and helping our kids grow up into intrinsically motivated humans who understand themselves and are driven to seek out the information and resources they need to achieve their goals. I also love that Blake’s approach beautifully challenges those traditional timelines that our differently wired kids often don’t meet anyway. So… have a listen and let me know what you think. I’m curious to hear how this lands with you.  Blake Boles is the founder and director of Unschool Adventures and the author of The Art of Self-Directed Learning, Better Than College, and College Without High School.  He hosts the Off-Trail Learning podcast, speaks for alternative schools, writes for The Alliance for Self-Directed Education, and has keynoted multiple homeschooling conferences.  Things you’ll learn from this episode  What unschooling actually is (in comparison with traditional or eclectic homeschooling) The most common myths and assumptions surrounding unschooled kids How intrinsic motivation is the key to helping a student learn what they want to learn when they’re ready to learn it The ways in which unschooling and self-directed learning respects a child’s unique timeline What the transition from a traditional educational model to unschooling might look like might look like What a transition to university looks like in the U.S. for children who’ve been homeschooled, and how to do it How parents who are homeschooling their child can play the role as “consultant” rather than teacher, and giving child the room to become truly self-directed Tips for parents looking to dip their toe into unschooling Resources mentioned for what is unschooling?  Blake Boles’ website Unschool Adventures Off-Trail Learning  The Art of Self-Directed Learning: 23 Tips for Giving Yourself an Unconventional Education  Better Than College: How to Build a Successful Life Without a Four-Year Degree  Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

If you're listening to this podcast, it's probably because a child you love and care for is differently wired.

0:07.0

Are they also struggling in their current educational setting, seen only for what they're doing wrong, while longing for positive relationships with peers and

0:14.8

others?

0:15.8

Envision a world where your child's unique abilities are not just recognized but celebrated.

0:21.0

A world where they can connect with others and their true potential is seen and

0:24.9

appreciated. The Strength-based Assessment Lab's mission is to build a world for your child just

0:30.7

like that. Through its innovative approach that aims to empower students, families, educators, and professionals

0:36.3

to create positive, effective, and collaborative learning experiences.

0:40.2

Be a part of shaping a brighter future for your child.

0:43.0

Visit W.

0:45.0

BGS.ed.

0:47.0

to learn more about what a strength-based assessment could mean for your family.

0:51.0

That's BGS. Edu. I call this the folk psychology of unschooling. The

0:58.7

principal is that when the kid really wants to learn something they have their own

1:02.4

chosen reason to learn it

1:04.4

then they will do it rather quickly and that's the power of self-directed learning.

1:09.1

Welcome to Tilt Parenting, a podcast featuring interviews and conversations aimed at inspiring,

1:17.4

informing, and supporting parents raising differently wired kids.

1:21.5

My name is Debbie Reaver and I'm the host of this show and I am really

1:25.3

excited to share this conversation with you. My guest is Blake Bowles, the

1:30.3

self-directed learning advocate behind Unschool Adventures and the author of several books on Unschooling

1:36.0

including The Art of Self-Directed Learning, Better Than College, and College Without High School,

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