Unschooled

“Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom” by Kerry McDonald is a book that champions self-directed education and community-based learning instead of traditional schooling. Drawing on research, interviews, and her experiences as a homeschooling parent, McDonald describes unschooling families who let children pursue their interests with support rather than imposed curricula. She addresses concerns about socialization, college admissions, and structure while emphasizing trust, intrinsic motivation, and real-world experiences. Families considering a more child-led approach use Unschooled to imagine alternatives to school-like homeschool and to gather practical ideas for loosening control while still honoring goals and responsibilities.