have been listening to some unschoolers recently and I have to say that there are some great lessons that we can all learn from them. I have listed some of the ted talks from these unschoolers that I think are inspiring.

Unschooling - Alice Khimasia

Alice chose to homeschool her kids, she says that little time is given to creative subjects in schools. She says that in our culture it is believed that education is important so definitely schools must be good, we think that we went to schools and we turned out well so what's wrong with sending kids to school? But what if schools are not a place where kids are learning instead they are anxious, where children are not safe, they are loaded.

She asks what if we let kids decide their learning, we follow their interests instead of choosing a strict curriculum, narrow expectations of teachers, and predictable worksheets.

She says unschooling does not mean isolation, they get to plan and play with their families, go on vacations, go to the library, visit museums, and make friends. Unschoolers depend on the communities to support their learning, children are free to read what they want, and they have easy access to resources.

She says unschooled are led by intrinsic motivation, they want to learn because they are curious not because they want good grades or to please their parents. They have the option to be lifelong learners, and problem solvers, they can make the best of what they have.

Finally, she says we need a new vision to reinvent learning with technology, and adults who can mentor, fellow learners. They need learning hubs, and communities, they need support to be free to dream. They need help to acquire the skills they need in the 21st century, for jobs and work they don't even know exists.

Children are not meant to be quiet in classes, they are not born to be tested, or to get good grades. They have their unique gifts and talents, we need to support them in their journey. Classrooms are shutting down their creativity, and their thirst for knowledge.

Learning Through Unschooling - Callie Vandewiele

Callie was unschooled along with her other five siblings. According to Callie, Unschooling is letting kids do what they do best, providing resources to aid in their learning process.

She says we need to raise children who are ready to face challenges in the coming times but our education system is still following the same methods that were used in the industrial age, Our present education system waits till the child completes high school to figure out their interests, talents and match them to a college or university.

"While unschooling allows kids at an early age to be creative and find what they are passionate about"

Our children don't need an education that is packed and served in classrooms but education where children can seek, explore and find themselves. 

How will I educate my children | Joshua Steimle

Joshua homeschools his kids, and he starts his talk with this line, "Homeschooling is the future of innovative education", he says if someone wants a world-class education it is just the internet away from their homes.

He talks about the Trends that are leading to homeschooling

1. Parents are choosing to work from home-
2. Demand for individualized/personalized education-
3. The cost of traditional education
4. The alternative education quality is going up
   

Joshua says that the predominant myths about homeschooling

Homeschool Children do not socialize- Children get to join the communities, they join sports groups and classes.

Homeschoolers can go to universities- children are not required to have 12-year schooling to enter universities, many colleges and universities accept credits from various other institutions.

Teachers can educate better than parents can- Parents spend more time with kids and they know their kids more than anyone else.

Parents need to be extraordinary - You don't need to be a supermom or dad to home-school your kids, you just need to know your kids by spending time.

He says Homeschooling helps kids connect with real life when they spend time with younger siblings, and older grandparents, helping parents at home. They understand work and the value of money.

They are not confined to school hours and they can learn anytime, anywhere.

He also mentions that Homeschooling is not for everyone but it has many benefits if you take out time to understand it.

He finishes his talk by saying that we need to challenge the status quo, though homeschooling may not be for everyone it might be a fit for someone.

Homeschooling can work for parents who are willing to step out of their comfort zone, it takes time, energy, and dedication to make it work. 

The Perks of Being a Homeschooler | Esther C. Walburg

"You live at school, you work abroad and you come home for vacation"

Esther has been home-schooled and she gives the pro and cons of being home-schooled. She shares her experience of learning anywhere irrespective of where she was.

She says homeschooling is about loving education not ticking boxes and templates that you need to learn. Homeschooling is about loving something and then getting deep into it to learn many other things associated with it.

Homeschool lets children work at their own pace, some will be quick in learning while some will take their time. 

Skipping School: Lua Martin Wells at TEDxCharleston

Lua Martin's kids dropped out of school quite early. She says that unschooling is an adventurous journey where kids are free to follow their interests. Like her daughter who loved animals as a child and she volunteered with an organization as a child, later on, she interned with a law firm. She chose to become a librarian later on in life.

Her son Patrick was a roller coaster and had a love for speed, he volunteered as a paramedic and later joined a paramedic team. She says it's important to find a mentor for kids to inspire them.

She says that since her kids had figured out what they liked from early on, they created their transcripts to apply to colleges.

She concludes by saying that unschooling is the path less traveled and it can give the freedom to kids to explore their world.