LAST UPDATED: August 15th, 2017
When we started unschooling and worldschooling, I pretty much floundered for the first while. It wasn’t until I found many of these unschooling resources listed below that I started to make sense of it all.
Now that we are travelling full time, we get asked often about what groups and websites we’ve found the most helpful. I’ve complied this list of unschooling resources to help you start to navigate your journey through the confusing world that is unschooling and worldschooling!
Unschooling Resources
Becoming unschoolers was our first step in this life of travel. By definition, unschooling means that your child’s education is derived from interest driven and child-led experiences. For us it literally means that we learn from the world around us, and focus on using REAL life lessons to form the ability to live a successful and meaningful adult life.
It is still a relatively new line of thought, so is understandably confusing for many. These links are great resources to help you learn what this term could mean for your family, and help point you in directions to learn more if you think this might be a good fit for you and your family.
Getting Started:
Unschoolery by Leo Babauta
-This blog is my favourite for new unschoolers. Leo has a number of posts designed to help calm the common fears of those new to this lifestyle.
Unschooling Mom 2 Mom
-AMAZING resource for anyone beginning a life of unschooling. They will be a huge help as you begin the process of deschooling
People to Follow:
Idzie Desmarais
-22 year old unschooler & lifelearner from Montreal, Canada. Also follow her Facebook Page
Sandra Dodd
-unschooling advocate, mom of 3 unschooled kids, and former English teacher. Sandra speaks at many events, including this years Free 2 Be conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
Pat Ferenga
-father of 3 grown kids, Pat has published many articles and books on homeschooling and unschooling and remains an active advocate and consultant.
Sue Patterson
-father of 3 grown kids, Pat has published many articles and books on homeschooling and unschooling and remains an active advocate and consultant.
Books:
Prefer audiobooks, like me? (AWESOME while travelling!!) Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks
OR See if it’s available on Kindle! Get a free month when you use this link
Big Book of Unschooling by Sandra Dodd
Learning all the Time by John Holt
How Children Learn by John Holt
Homeschooled Teens: 75 Young People Speak About Their Lives Without School by Sue Patterson
The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child’s Classroom by Mary Griffith
Better Than College: How to Build a Successful Life Without a Four-Year Degree by Blake Boles
Facebook:
–Unschooling/Worldschooling Single Parents
–Unschooling Mom2Mom
–Whole Life Unschooling (this is for Radical Unschooling Families)
–Unschooling
–Unschooling Canada
–(Un)Schooling the World
–Respectfully Unschooling
Worldschooling
This term coined by Eli Gerzon is meant to address those that take unschooling one step further, and encompass the whole world in their daily learning experiences. In his words.. “It’s when the whole world is your school, instead school being your whole world.”
The families below all practice worldschooling, so will be great resources when exploring this as a possibility for your family, or just for interests sake!
Blogs to Follow:
Travel with Bender Blog
Having been to over 65 countries with their 2 kids since 2012, the Bender family has definitely earned the title of World’s #1 family travel blog! Whether you need inspiration, information, tips or support, this blog has it all.
Crazy Family Adventure
2 parents, 4 kids, 2 dogs… 1 RV! This family of 8 travels around the US in their home on wheels, unschooling and practicing peaceful parenting along the way.
Wanderschool
Wanderschool follows a mom who travels solo with her 4 kids, often RVing, while hubby stays home. She focuses her writing on homeschooling along with the wandering, and even has a section that her teens contribute to!
Travel Deep and Wide
Stacey, Brent and their 9 kids are worldschoolers, and world travellers, and they are making a difference everywhere they go with Mission Travel Deep and Wide. Four of their 10 children are adopted, and they have been slow travelling together full time since 2007. Read their blog to learn about travel life with gifted children, and to learn more about their mission.
Kid World Citizen
Former teacher Becky created this site to help her multi-cultured family connect to their heritage and the outside world, all from their own home. Follow for educational recipes, activities, crafts and much more!
Y Travel Blog
Created by travellers, for travellers, to help you get started and plan your first adventure. They share advice culled from 17 years of travelling the world. Read their blog for the top things to do in hundreds of cities, tips for saving money & budgeting, and find several travel guides about Australia.
Facebook Groups:
Unschooling/Worldschooling Single Parents
Conferences
Conferences are invaluable resources for anyone, especially unschoolers. So many of us spend much of our time struggling to explain why unschooling is amazing, often finding it difficult to explain to those that just don’t GET IT. Join dozens, if not hundreds of other unschooling families at one or more of these conference each year to help recharge your tank!
Life Without Instructions
Held near New York City each year, this was the first conference we ever attended. Now we’re hooked! Join us there this September 22-26, when we join the Our Lives without Instructions panel. Check out the website to register, and see all the amazing things they have planned– for both kids of all ages and adults!
Rethinking Everything
This is probably the most popular conference amongst unschoolers. It is currently in it’s 20th year, and is held in different locations each September, on Labour Day weekend. We haven’t attended yet, but have heard so many amazing things from friends that it’s definitely on our ‘must do’ list!
Un in the Sun
Un in the Sun happens at a waterpark resort in St Pete’s Beach, FL each year. I had the pleasure of meeting the organizers, and their unschooling co-op group this year, and have since added this conference to our must-do list for next year. It happens right after the Life Without Instructions conference, so timing is great to hit both in one trip if you’re able!
Free to Be Unschooling Conference
Join Free To Be in Arizona each September as they help you celebrate and embrace the differences that make each individual unique.
To find more:
Unschooling Events Facebook Group
Unschooling Mom2Mom Conference List
Unschooling Lifestyle List
My Favourite Ted Talks
Ted Talks are hugely inspiring resources for me. Hearing someone talk about something they are clearly passionate about helps to draw out and cultivate that passion in me. In this lifestyle it’s not uncommon to feel like an outsider, or ‘abnormal’, so finding others that are teaching the world to believe in what you do is so powerful.
Hackschooling Makes me Happy – Logan LaPlante
How Great Leaders Inspire Action – Simon Sinek
Schools Kill Creativity – Sir Ken Robinson
Bring on the Learning Revolution – Sir Ken Robinson
If I Should Have a Daughter – Sarah Kay
How to travel the world with almost no money – Tomislav Perko
Sell your crap. Pay your debt. Do what you love. – Adam Baker
Travel
We started to travel full time in the summer of 2015, and the journey has been amazing! Leading up to making the decision, and throughout our travels these groups and people have been some of the strongest resources for me.
Facebook Groups:
–MOTM- Moms on the Move Group
–NOMADS- a Life of Free/Cheap Travel
–Part-Time Traveller Talk
–Fulltime Families
–Worldschooling Central
People to Follow:
The Points Guy
Facebook page
Website
World Nate
Facebook Page
Website
Travel Fashion Girl
Facebook Page
Website
Nomadic Matt
Facebook Page
Website
Books:
Prefer audiobooks, like me? (AWESOME while travelling!!) Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks
OR See if it’s available on Kindle! Get a free month when you use this link
How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Revised: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter by Matt Kepnes
Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel: Our List of the 500 Best Places to See… Ranked by Lonely Planet
Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts
The Rough Guide to First-Time Around the World by Rough Guides
Any Lonely Planet Guide book
Entrepreneurship
Being an entrepreneur is something that I have been cultivating for about 8 years now. I’ve gone through several stages in this, but all have led me to where I am now. These people have all been inspiring and educating resources throughout this journey.
People to Follow:
Timothy Ferriss
Facebook Page
Blog
Gary Vaynerchuck
Facebook Page
Youtube Channel
Facebook Page
T’arlese Trainer
Facebook Page
Website
Marie Forleo
Facebook Page
Website
Daymond John
Facebook Page
Pat Flynn
Website
Dale Partridge
Facebook
Books:
Prefer audiobooks, like me? (AWESOME while travelling!!) Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks
OR See if it’s available on Kindle! Get a free month when you use this link
Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk
Jab, Jab, Jab Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk
The 4 hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
The Millionaire Upgrade by Richard Parkes Cordock
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
Small Time Operator: How to Start Your Own Business, Keep Your Books, Pay Your Taxes, and Stay Out of Trouble by Bernard B. Kamoroff CPA
Born for This: How to Find the Work You Were Meant to Do by Chris Guillebeau
Flights
As a low budget traveller, finding cheap flights is a must for me! Over the years I have tried out many sites and booking agents. The ones listed below are the ones I am consistently finding my lowest fares on.
Skyscanner
Also compares price from several different sites.
Skiplagged
Use the website or the app (iOS or Android) to compare prices from a number of different airlines. This one is my favourite, as it includes a pricing graph with 2 months of prices
CheapTickets
Often I will find my prices on skiplagged or skyscanner, then hop over to cheaptickets to compare. I usually end up booking through this one. They offer up to $20 per order in hotel credits. Unfortunately though, credits are only valid for 30 days.
Dealray.com
Get deals sent to your phone periodically. They only text maybe once a week. Use this link to get your first 2 months free, then share your unique link to get 2 months free for each friend that joins with your link. Only good for flights originating in the USA.
Google flights
Use the ‘Explore Map’ feature to see prices for multiple destinations if you are open on destinations
Accommodations
Finding low cost accommodations has become something I’ve realized I am quite good at! The list of sites below are the ones I use, listed in the order that I use them in. Airbnb is by far the most common!
Airbnb
Live like a rental when you rent on Airbnb. Use this link to save $35USD/$45CAD on your first booking
Hotels.com
My go-to booking site, since each night you book counts towards earning a free night!
VRBO
Vacation Rental by Owner. Similar to Airbnb
Couchsurfing
Join the website and create a profile to meet people where you plan to travel to, and get a local experience by staying in their spare room or couch
Priceline
Use the ‘Deal’ or ‘Make an Offer’ feature to save on your room
Equipment
See my FULL Must Pack Items list HERE
I’ve used a Galaxy for years now, and this one doesn’t disappoint! It’s sleek, fast and comes with a built-in case that makes it water-proof, slush-proof and dust-proof. Perfect for a life of travel! Mine was bought through AT&T, but you can find unlocked versions online pretty easily.
My favourite coffee mug. It keeps drinks cold or hot for 4-8 hours, and has a perfect seal so no worries about spills. It also comes in many colours, so each family member can have a different colour so no arguments about whose is whose!
Perfect to load up with movies, as well as to store all your photos and files on. I bought a waterproof and shockproof case for it, that fits both the harddrive and the charger, so everything stays together. I don’t want to take the chance that my computer or phone my break or get stolen with all of our photos on it, so I upload them to this drive regularly.
With 2 sleeves for waterbottles and a front zippered pouch, this quickly became my go-to bag for daily outings. Plenty of room for a shawl umbrella and snacks,,
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