Guerrilla learning: How to Give Your Kids a Real Education With or Without School

Guerrilla Learning: How to Give Your Kids a Real Education With or Without School, Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver, John Wiley and Sons, 2001

School is a place where young people are fed all sorts of meaningless information and forced to give it back on equally meaningless tests. This book aims to change that.

The authors show how parents can help their children can get a real education by helping the child find something about which they are interested, and proceed from there. The process includes five phases:

OPPORTUNITY-Don't just expose your kids to life's possibilities (arts, science, history, community, etc.) without overdoing it, but the parent should stay passionate and involved in learning. The enthusiasm will be contagious.

TIMING-If your child is not progressing according to some school bureaucrat's schedule, don't panic. Not every child learns at the same speed. Early bloomers may need extra stimulation to keep them interested. Late bloomers may simply need time and extra help.

INTEREST-Honor your child's passions, even if it is something of which you disapprove. Children are here to grow into the best person they can be, not what the parent or anyone else thinks they should be. Also know when to back off.

FREEDOM-Give the child the chance to take on projects and solve problems. Make it clear that promises are expected to be kept, and also make clear the consequnces for broken promises.

SUPPORT-Be there for your kids. Supporting children does not equal martyrdom. Check to see how much support they need or want. Make sure their goals stay theirs. Well-being is most important.

I learned a lot from this book. It easily reaches the level of Highly Recommended, especially for any parent whose child is having problems in school.