In simplest terms, an unschooling curriculum consists of what an unschooler plans to do. The plan may involve meeting academic requirements or reaching any particular goal. In order to achieve the goal, the unschooler may follow a conventional curriculum program, assemble a custom curriculum, or create a unique course of study.
Some unschoolers do follow conventional curriculum programs and use packaged educational materials. Of course, they don't use these products because a parent or teacher assigned them, but because they want to use them for a personal purpose.
Custom Do-It-Yourself Curriculum
Unschoolers may collect and assemble a "Do-It-Yourself (DIY) curriculum, or "out-of-the-box" curriculum as Deschooling Gently author Tammy Takahashi calls it, to meet legal homeschooling requirements or simply because they enjoy a structured approach to learning.
Some unschoolers do like to plan and organize their courses of study. While common behavior patterns and complaints among children in general suggest that most people prefer a playful and spontaneous approach to learning, some children including unschoolers do respond well to the linguistic and logical learning styles supported by conventional schooling programs and homeschooling curricula.
Wouldn't These Children do Better in School or With a Formal Curriculum Program?
...Not unless the children want someone else to choose the curriculum and make assignments. Children who prefer structure in general, for certain subject or skill areas, or just sometimes, can benefit by creating or assembling their own curriculum, picking and choosing "cafeteria-style" from the abundant supply of commercial curriculum programs and educational products.
These children get to use curricular materials and methods without the compulsory aspect of conventional usage.
"Allowing curriculums, textbooks, and tests to be the defining, driving force behind the education of a child is a hindrance in the home as much as in the school - not only because it interferes with learning, but because it interferes with trust." says Earl Stevens ("What is Unschooling?" NaturalChild.org).
A DIY curriculum can include video games, television programs, classes, tutors, volunteer positions, or anything else that helps the child move toward the desired goal, i.e., learning to read or figuring out how to budget income and expenses or earn and save money for the cost and care of a puppy. These goals matter personally to the child.
Unschooler-Friendly Curriculum Guides
Unschoolers who want to create a custom curriculum, but don't know where to start may benefit from a look at curriculum samples created by unschoolers.
On her unschooling website, Sandra Dodd posted Carol Narigon's "Unschooling Curriculum," created to satisfy the legal requirement to submit a curriculum plan. Some states carry this requirement. Narigon's curriculum features the translation of her son's activities into the educational jargon preferred by schools and related institutions.
Available through FUN Books, Unschoolers Network founder Nancy Plent's "Living is Learning Guides," provide unschooler-friendly guides for preK through 12th grade to meet the highest state academic standards.
Unschoolers can and do use curricula and other explicitly educational products when it suits their learning styles or particular needs. Some goals can be most easily met through such means. In this way, unschoolers use rather than follow curriculum.
You might also enjoy: The Unschooling Collection
Sources:
Takahashi, Tammy. Deschooling Gently, Los Angeles: Hunt Press, 2008.
Stevens, Earl. "What is Unschooling?" NaturalChild.org, 1994, reprint.
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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