Kerry McDonald is an author and education policy writer. She is also the founding board member at the Alliance for Self-Directed Education. Her 4 children have never -been- schooled.
Kerry’s book, Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom will be released in the Spring of 2019.
Her Unschooled Path
Kerry McDonald was on the right path. She received a BA in Economics from Bowdoin College. Next, her Master’s degree in education from Harvard University. But it was with an independent study project that her path started to veer. She had a classmate that had a family member that homeschooled. The family allowed her to shadow them for her senior project.
Kerry became enchanted by what she saw at the home. The child was curious and interested. Articulate and at ease talking with adults. She played violin and was part of the community. It shattered the stereotypes Kerry had of homeschooling.
At the same time she was doing a teaching practicum at a local elementary school. The teaching practicum became a stark contrast to the homeschool experience.
Her eyes opened to alternatives to schools. But it wasn’t until she became a mom that she re-looked at homeschooling.
Unschooled Insights
In this episode Kerry shares her insights on unschooling and self directed learning. Do Children need to be taught in order to learn? We explored:
What it means to Unschool
Why Homeschooling is Showing No Signs of Slowing
The Impact of Technological Change
What Self Directed Learning Looks Like In Her Family
The Future Of Education
What Our Economic Future Relies On
Let us know what you think about the ideas shared.
You can contact Kerry through her blog Whole Family Learning (www.wholefamilylearning.com).
Follow her on Facebook and Instagram @wholefamilylearning, and on Twitter @kerry_edu.
Resources
Alternative Schools
Unschool San Juan (Public High School)
Powder House School Somerville, MA (Public High School)
Educators and Books
If you would like to hear more about educators that left the traditional classroom to help support self directed learning check out my interview with Mara Linaberger
