Homeschooling in Colorado

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A Letter to Concerned Relatives
An explanation of natural learning and the reasons for pursuing this in a family.
Colorado Unschooling
An inclusive group geared towards unschooling in Colorado, with an emphasis on child-led, hands on experiences.
Unschooling from an African-American Perspective
A look at unschooling as a philosophy of life from an African-American perspective.
Ten Signs that You Need to Find a Different Kind of Education for Your Child
Because our public school system has now considerably deteriorated, many parents, teachers, and individuals have taken it upon themselves to create public and private alternatives to that traditional system which is definitely failing. It is important for parents to know that they now have choices, alternatives to the neighborhood school. How do you know that it is time to look for another educational approach for your child? Here are some of the signs.
West River Academy
West River Academy is a fully accredited independent private school in Colorado designed for families who desire the benefits of private school enrollment but minimal oversight over their educational activities. Families may follow the curriculum and/or learning style of their choice, or may receive assistance from us in designing or choosing a program that fits their needs. Grading of students is optional and if desired, it is done by the parents. West River Academy enrolls students of all ages, including adults who would like to earn their high school diplomas. They are fully accredited by the National Association for the Legal Support of Alternative Schools (NALSAS). Note that West River Academy caters to unschoolers.
Homeschooling Creatively
This list is a place where parents can come to understand and give value to our creative children as we home/unschool with them. The focus will be on discussing alternative ways (versus public school methods) to help our creative children learn which best suits their learning style and respects their complex personality traits, taking a look at creating a success-based learning environment that draws on the strengths of our creative learners while providing support-based opportunities to gently guide their intense natures.
Unschoolarama in Northern New Mexico/Southern Colorado
Here unschoolers in New Mexico and Southern Colorado can discuss life and the possibility of get-togethers.
8 Powerful Reasons Why I Unschool My Kids

Nina Palmo explains the benefits of unschooling by looking at the benefits this model offers. These benefits include better learning, innovative thinking, passion about learning, good preparation for college and the workforce, and even more what the exact point of learning is (hint: it's not just to go to college or enter the workforce). Unschoolers don't have all the answers, but they do dig deep to find the best way to help their children find joy and power in learning. 

Unschooling.com Email List
This discussion list is the companion communications forum for the Unschooling.com website.
Western Region Unschoolers
The Western Region Unschoolers is a group for unschoolers who live in the Western U.S. covering: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and California. This is a forum to announce and organize conferences, travel, camping, and other places to get together.
Child-Led Learning
The term "unschooling" was coined by John Holt to mean not sending children to school. The term has been stretched and changed since then, and those of us who refuse the entire school model have taken the word "unschooling" for our own. Other terms associated with unschooling are natural learning, child-led learning, discovery learning, and child-directed learning. We don't divide our day into "school" parts and "non-school" parts, because there are no school parts. We live; we learn; we try new things; we go back to things we've loved a long time.
HEM-Unschooling
This list is for the broad-ranging discussion of unschooling. It is sponsored by Home Education Magazine.
Colorado Springs Unschoolers
This is an email group for those who live in Colorado Springs, or areas near to Colorado Springs, who unschool their children. Offers scheduled monthly activities, support, and ideas.
A Few Words About Unschooling Math
A wonderful list of things that can lead to math learning.
Unschooling or Homeschooling: What's the Difference?
Ask around at your next homeschool conference to compare what people answer when this question pops up: "What does it mean to unschool?" Some will answer that unschooling is homeschooling without using a pre-packaged curriculum. Others will say it's simply the degree of freedom that the parents allow the child in his learning. Still others will say that unschooling defies definition because each child is unique and will go at learning in his own way, in his own time. So what's the big difference between homeschooling and unschooling? In homeschooling the parents make decisions on how to best educate the child, while in unschooling the child somehow makes those decisions for herself.
Homeschoolers Outside the Box
This is a diverse, inclusive group and welcomes all homeschoolers, unschoolers, and anyone who provides a home-based education for their children in the greater Colorado Springs area.
Beware the Curriculum Mentality
One of the most important duties of parents is to help their children to discover and pursue new interests, retaining the love of learning that is almost universal in young children and almost universally extinct in conventionally educated adults. Standardised curricula, and the stultifying educational hoops that schoolchildren have to jump through, sabotage this aim. This can cause trouble for parents who have to satisfy other people ... that they are educating their children properly. Under pressure, they may slide into a "homeschooling" mentality that distorts and damages their children's education.
Classical Lite Homeschoolers
Classical Lite is a group for families that like many parts of Classical or Charlotte Mason methodologies, but choose to have a less restrictive learning environment for their children. This list is for families who see the merits in both, Classical education AND Relaxed-Unschooling methodologies— families who wish to incorporate more of the later methods in their home or have children that learn best with Classical educational methods and the other family members are relaxed-unschoolers. Those who utilize child-led Unit Studies are also encouraged to join.
Unschooling Forum at vegsource.com
Unschoolers meet to talk and share ideas at this vegsource.com message board.
Unschooling Radicals of the Front Range Elevating Education (UR-FREE)
This group is designed to bring together and provide support for families interested in unschooling/freelearning in the Fort Collins and surrounding area. It is intended as an unschooling/freelearning haven to remind families that learning happens all the time and empower us to make choices that respect 1) the rights, needs and aspirations of our children, 2) us trusting and assisting our children on their journeys, and 3) the right of families to make informed and desirable lifestyle choices that enhance togetherness, lifelong love of learning and respect for others.
Meet the Unschoolers

Unschooling has gained in popularity in recent years. This look into the lives of unschoolers is a celebration of the unschooling way of life, where children live and learn on their own terms and at their own pace. Offers a look into how unschooling works, and then details some of the successful educations and careers that unschoolers go onto pursue. 

Deschooling on the Road
A homeschooling mom travelled 3500 miles cross-country with her son and found educational experiences in some unexpected places. Drives home the point that learning can happen in many different ways and that we cannot always plan how our children will learn.
Nature's Classroom Homeschool Group
This support group in Colorado Springs focuses on learning through living, especially through exploring the world around us.
Can a Single Parent Unschool?
These days, many parents find themselves alone, whether by choice or by circumstances. Many of these parents assume that homeschooling is not an option for them, but like many other assumptions, this can be self-fulfilling. Happily, homeschooling in single parent families is easier now than it has ever been. With commitment, creativity and support, single parent homeschooling can be not only possible, but very rewarding. Unschooling addresses the needs of both the homeschooling parent and the child in a single parent household.
A Comparison of Traditional and Natural Learning
This is a chart that explores the differences between traditional and natural learning. It compares how the child and parent are viewed, how learning occurs, the role of textbooks and curriculum, how learning disabilities fit in, and how various school subjects are viewed.
Colorado Christian Unschoolers
A Colorado support group for Christians who use unschooling, delight-led, child led, spirit led, relaxed, delayed, and/or natural learning in their homeschool. This group also stands for traditional conservative Christian values.
African-American Unschooling
African-American Unschooling is the resource for African-American homeschoolers with an Africentric approach to learning all the time. African-American Unschoolers encounter math, science, reading, writing, art and history in the real world because real living leads to real learning.
Boulder Lifelong Unschooling Enthusiasts (BLUE SKIES)
BLUE SKIES: Boulder's Lifelong Unschooling Enthusiasts Simply Keeping Independent Education Special is a support group for those unschooling, beginning to unschool, or interested in the philosophy, in Boulder and surrounding areas, including Niwot, Lafayette, Longmont, Lyons, Nederland, Jamestown, Ward, Erie, and anywhere else you are willing to travel from.
Blue Skies: Unschooling in Colorado
Unschooling support group serving the Front Range from Denver to Fort Collins. Offers weekly park days, moms' night out, and other support. The purpose of this group is for parents and children to get together to play and to support unschoolers and people wanting to unschool in Colorado.
Poudre River School

Poudre River School is an independent, private school for homeschooling families in Colorado, also known as an umbrella school. PRS provides legal enrollment in a private school while parents direct the daily education of their children. Enrollment is open to students in kindergarten through high school. PRS believes that parents/guardians are capable of educating their children according to their individual needs and should be trusted to provide a high-quality education for their children. All styles of instruction are honored and accepted, including unschooling.  

Colorado Home-Unschooler
This list is designed for anyone in Colorado who is interested in or is currently homeschooling or unschooling their children.
Unschooling: Learning through Life and Adventure
Picture this: It’s Tuesday morning. You and your children get out of bed and eat a hearty breakfast. You all get showered and dress, and prepare to learn. One child pops in the Lord of the Rings – Return of the King for the 5th time, looking to see how closely Peter Jackson has matched the movie to the book of the same title that they’ve just finished reading. Another child has decided to go outside and tend to their garden – they are growing some vegetables that are in season, and want to make sure that all is well in their patch. Yet one more child sits comfortably with you, in your lap, while you read every Dr. Seuss book that there is to find in your home. Welcome to the world of unschooling.
Unschoolers' Circle
The Unschoolers' Circle is an inclusive list for anyone interested in home education with unschooling leanings.

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