We know not everyone is familiar with the concepts and philosophies that form the foundation for this type of education. Here are some resources about self-directed learning to help you get started on the journey! You can also check out our guiding principles on our website!

• YouTube Videos:
  • Sir Ken Robinson: Changing Education Paradigms
  • Ken Danford: School Is Optional TEDx Talk

• Books:
  • Peter Gray: Free to Learn
  • Blake Boles: The Art of Self-Directed Learning
  • Blake Boles: Why Are You Still Sending Your Kids to School?
  • Ken Danford: Learning Is Natural, School Is Optional
  • Grace Llewellyn: The Teenage Liberation Handbook (This book is sadly out of print, but the link takes you to a free PDF.)

• Articles:
  • Ken Danford: 8th Grade Out
  • Jerry Mintz: The Ten Signs You Need to Find a Different Education for Your Child

• Podcasts:
  • Blake Boles: Off-Trail Learning
  • Exploring Unschooling
  • Raising Free People
  • Unschool Files
    • Liberated Learning with Catina Franklin Sweedy: Season 1, Episode 7 – Embark staff member, Catina Franklin Sweedy is featured in this podcast interview about what it’s like to work at and attend Embark Center for Self-Directed Education.)

• Websites:
  • The Alliance for Self-Directed Education: This is the best “one stop shop” for learning more about self-directed education on the web. The resource page is extremely comprehensive.
  • Alternative Education Resource Organization: AERO’s mission is to help create an educational revolution to make learner-centered education available to everyone. One of AERO’s areas of expertise is democratic process and democratic education, but equally important is the networking of all forms of educational alternatives. Towards this end, AERO provides information, resources and guidance to families, schools and organizations regarding their educational choices. AERO disseminates information internationally on topics such as: homeschooling, public and private alternative schools, and charter schools.Eclectic Learning Network (ELN): A secular, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) centered network; dedicated to providing resources, trainings, and workshops to families and learning spaces that shift ways toward learning as a lifestyle and partnership-based relationships through unschooling and self-directed learning approaches.
  • Raising Free People: Raising Free People Network helps families, organizations, and corporations to examine, assess, and solve big issues in education, leadership, and personal development. By tapping into techniques and philosophies from the unschooling and deschooling movements, [our] network uses independent broadcast media along with live trainings and events to sustain cultures of belonging, equity, and confident autonomy.

• Facebook Groups:
  • Northern Virginia Self-Directed Education
  • What on Earth Is Self-Directed Learning