Demystifying Unschooling | Sterling Jaquith: How Catholic Moms can decide if unschooling is a good fit for their family or catholic homeschool

Today we have a special guest, Sterling Jaquith, of Made for Greatness who will be sharing her expertise on unschooling – a unique approach to homeschooling that empowers children's natural curiosity and interests. We'll dive deep into the concept of unschooling, its benefits, and how it can be applied in a Catholic homeschooling environment. Check out the Masters Program at Made for Greatness

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Episode Highlights:

1. Exploring Unschooling:
Sterling shares her journey into homeschooling and unschooling, even before her religious conversion. She recounts her fascination with midwives and waterbirths, which led her to explore countercultural living. This early interest in alternative approaches to learning laid the foundation for her eventual exploration of unschooling.

2. The backstory:
Sterling explains how her views on education were shaped by the history of traditional schooling, particularly its origins in World War II-era factory-oriented education. This historical context highlights the need for a more personalized and child-centered approach to learning, which is central to unschooling.

3. From Skepticism to Embracing Unschooling:
Transitioning from a traditional homeschooling approach to unschooling wasn't an instant decision for Sterling. She reflects on her initial skepticism when introduced to the term "unschooling." Over time, as she faced challenges and resistance in traditional homeschooling methods, Sterling was drawn to the idea of child-led learning through unschooling.

4. The Essence of Unschooling:
Sterling breaks down the concept of unschooling – a child-led learning approach where children's interests guide their education. She highlights how her children's passions, such as chickens and baking, become avenues for learning various subjects, including math, science, and even writing.

5. Overcoming Concerns and Nurturing Independence:
Kelsey and Sterling discuss common concerns about unschooling, including worries about chaos, disorganization, and delayed learning. Sterling emphasizes that while it may appear chaotic initially, children catch up quickly as their interests drive them to learn independently.

6. Navigating High School and College Preparation:
Sterling provides insights on addressing concerns about unschooling's compatibility with high school and college preparation. She encourages parents to focus on nurturing emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and critical thinking skills. For college-bound students, Sterling suggests teaching essential skills like test-taking strategies, preparing for standardized tests, and exploring dual enrollment opportunities.

7. Embracing the Future:
In a rapidly changing world influenced by artificial intelligence and technology, Sterling emphasizes the importance of cultivating skills like asking insightful questions. She cites AI-powered chatbots as an example of how knowing how to ask the right questions will become a valuable skill in the future.

8. Trusting the Unschooling Process:
Sterling wraps up the episode by reaffirming the transformative power of unschooling. She encourages parents to trust the process, embrace uncertainty, and recognize that children's innate curiosity and desire to learn will naturally lead them to knowledge and growth.