# alternative education (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 2 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover alternative education. Page: Feed: --- ## [Mentoring Now Available](https://www.progressiveeducation.org/mentoring-now-available/) _2026-07-02 · Jo Collins · Progressive Education_ Are you questioning conventional schooling? Do you need support in exploring the world of alternatives? Questioning the mainstream can feel isolating, and it’s often difficult to know where to begin to search for answers. But you’re not alone. A growing number of people are looking for options outside of the mainstream education system, and one \[…\] The post Mentoring Now Available appeared first… ## [A Civic Leap: Schools as Practice Fields for Democracy, by Will Gowen](https://www.progressiveeducation.org/a-civic-leap-schools-as-practice-fields-for-democracy-by-will-gowen/) _2026-06-27 · Jo Collins · Progressive Education_ Democracy. For most of us it’s something that happens to us, not with us. We vote, maybe. We protest, write a letter, show up to a council meeting once. But it’s rarely something lived. And for many of us, we’ve stopped imagining what it could actually be. What if that changed? And what if schools, \[…\] The post A Civic Leap: Schools as Practice Fields for Democracy, by Will Gowen appeared first on… ## [How Do You Teach Your Children to Love Learning?](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2019/2/23/teach-your-children-to-love-learning) _2026-05-28 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ It’s not difficult to knock the curiosity out of a child. ## [New Film: Alternatives to Conventional Schooling](https://www.progressiveeducation.org/new-film-alternatives-to-conventional-schooling/) _2026-05-26 · Jo Collins · Progressive Education_ If you are questioning mainstream schooling and looking for something different, do check out our new video! This 9 minute film includes clips from each of the ten modules in our new online course, showcasing ten ways to approach education in the 21st century! Even if people don’t need the full course, this video alone could be \[…\] The post New Film: Alternatives to Conventional Schooling appeared… ## [7 Ways Homeschooled Children Get Ahead](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2024/2/22/7-ways-homeschooled-children-get-ahead) _2026-05-21 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ According to the research on homeschooling, homeschooled children are ahead of their schooled peers intellectually and socially. They learn more and they socialize more, the latter putting them ahead emotionally too. If you are homeschooling using sound methods , you know this is true because the proof is in the pudding; you can see it for yourself. But if you aren't homeschooling, here's 7… ## [End Your Homeschooling Year Positively: Top Tips](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2017/6/8/end-your-homeschooling-year-positively-top-tips) _2026-05-13 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ Now that the homeschool year is winding down, are you worried your children didn't finish everything you had mapped out for them? ## [3 Reasons Abridged Children’s Books Are a Waste of Time](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2023/3/23/children-should-not-read-abridged-books) _2026-05-08 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ Should you let your children read abridged books? It’s a question worth asking. ## [The 6 Purposes of Modern Schooling No One Told You About](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2025/6-purposes-modern-schooling-john-taylor-gatto-social-conditioning) _2026-05-06 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ What is fundamentally wrong with school, and why should we think twice before sending our children off? John Taylor Gatto answers these questions for us. What follows is a short excerpt that summarizes 6 disturbing purposes of modern education. It is excerpted from his essay in the book, Education’s Not the Point . In John’s Own Words “Theorists from Plato to Rousseau knew well, and explicitly… ## [Watch Our New Animation!](https://www.progressiveeducation.org/watch-our-new-animation/) _2026-05-04 · Jo Collins · Progressive Education_ Check out our new animation. It shows what we do, why we do it and how we help! Our new short film illustrates how school is the area of life that children and young people are most commonly unhappy with (The Children’s Society’s Good Childhood Report 2025). It also shares various other alarming statistics, such \[…\] The post Watch Our New Animation! appeared first on Progressive Education . ## [New Introductory Course on Alternatives to Conventional Schooling](https://www.progressiveeducation.org/new-introductory-course-on-alternatives-to-conventional-schooling/) _2026-04-25 · Jo Collins · Progressive Education_ We are excited to announce that we have launched a new online course to help you find alternatives to conventional schooling! If you are questioning the mainstream school system and are looking for something different, check out our new online course which showcases 10 ways to approach education in the 21st century. There are 10 \[…\] The post New Introductory Course on Alternatives to Conventional… ## [PixelRift — Platforming with Level Editor (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/4hbgI2yv1BBp) _2026-04-25 · **Sponsored**_ Includes a built-in level editor, campaign with elemental heroes, and boss encounters. ## [I Have a Dream, by Je’anna Clements](https://www.progressiveeducation.org/i-have-a-dream-by-jeanna-clements/) _2026-04-22 · Jo Collins · Progressive Education_ Here is one vision of what a truly decolonised universal state-funded community-owned no-fee education system capable of being rolled out (and in fact, first of all grown up from the bottom) in many different contexts, might look like. This vision has grown in me over the course of my fifty three years of life, fed \[…\] The post I Have a Dream, by Je’anna Clements appeared first on Progressive… ## [5 Ways to Nurture Your Child’s Curiosity](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2023/3/30/5-encourage-childs-curiosity) _2026-04-22 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ A friend showed me a clip of her nine-month-old baby. I looked into the baby's eyes as I watched the video. The intense alertness and the acute observation of each facial move she saw in her mother's face was fascinating. The baby wanted to know how to make the same expressions her mother was making. It's the intense desire to know that all healthy children possess, yet why do so many children… ## [The Steve Jobs Habit Every Homeschooling Parent Should Adopt](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2025/the-steve-jobs-habit-every-homeschooling-parent-should-adopt) _2026-04-15 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ Steve Jobs had a habit homeschoolers can benefit from. But first, consider this: on average, we make 35,000 decisions in a single day. As homeschoolers, it’s likely that we make even more of these than the average person. After making thousands of decisions, we begin to experience what the theorists refer to as “decision fatigue.” When decision fatigue kicks in, the quality of our decisions starts… ## [11 Ways to Convince your Spouse to Homeschool!](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2024/05/02/11-ways-to-convince-your-spouse-to-homeschool) _2026-04-09 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ If your husband or wife’s mind is already set against homeschooling, you have to approach the situation very gingerly. It’s not wise to push our views on someone, least of all a spouse. “ It is time that we squarely face the fact that institutional schoolteaching is destructive to children. ” — John Taylor Gatto Usually when a spouse doesn’t agree with homeschooling, it’s because he doesn’t… ## [Raising Hopeful Children in Turbulent Times](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2026/3/19/raising-hopeful-children-in-turbulent-times) _2026-03-19 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ “Hope is the thing with feathers,” wrote Emily Dickinson. During a dark time like the one we are living through, it’s a poem that’s worth memorizing. If you’ve ever lost hope, then you know it’s a very scary place to be. Without hope, we lose our will to live. Suicide rates are some of the highest in America, with its youngest victim, Samantha Kuberski, being six years of age. She hung herself… ## [Your Invitation to Our Free Online Event](https://www.progressiveeducation.org/your-invitation-to-our-free-online-event-2/) _2026-03-16 · Jo Collins · Progressive Education_ We are delighted to announce that another free event is coming up! Taking place online on Wednesday 22nd to Friday 24th April, the EDUCATION: Past\> Present\> Future event celebrates the launch of our new introductory course on alternatives to conventional schooling. Speakers and Schedule: Wednesday 22 April 11am BST – Kelly Rigg: School was designed \[…\] The post Your Invitation to Our Free Online… ## [Don’t Be Afraid to Homeschool: Here’s Why…](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2020/6/24/dont-be-afraid-to-homeschool) _2026-02-25 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ The ‘Not Enough’ Syndrome As women, we tend to think we are not enough as we are. Add homeschooling into the mix and our list of not enoughs now includes neither smart , nor patient , nor educated enough to homeschool. The thought of homeschooling conjures up fears that you may fail, disappoint your family, or even worse, hinder your children's chances of success. You might think that… ## [A Homeschooler’s #1 Enemy: The Comparison Trap](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2019/1/28/comparison-trap-homeschool-enemy) _2026-02-19 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ My kids are behind! Now what? ## [Phonics App or Phonics Book: Which Wins?](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2026/02/12phonics-app-or-phonics-book-which-wins) _2026-02-12 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ Should you buy a phonics book and teach your child to read, or should you hand the task over to your computer? ## [Are You Maximizing Your Child's Natural Genius?](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2026/2/4/are-you-maximizing-your-child-natural-genius) _2026-02-04 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ Throughout history, there are stories of the influence of a mother in the life of an accomplished figure. Thomas Edison was one of them, as your child may be too. His mother, Nancy, pulled him out of school after he was labeled "addled" by his teacher. Mrs. Edison was told that her son could not think clearly. He was only eight years old. What an unjust misdiagnosis for an eight-year-old who had… ## [Refer a Friend, Earn Rewards (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/FvaeIEgVPZF2) _2026-02-04 · **Sponsored**_ Earn rewards when friends get the Graphite Business Card through your referral. ## [Children Can Increase Intelligence by Increasing Focus](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2025/1/23/children-increase-intelligence-with-better-focus) _2026-01-28 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ The ability to focus leads to faster comprehension, better memory retention, and more efficient study habits which equates to higher intelligence. The Problem Children, however, are losing the ability to focus for sustained periods of time because we’re failing to raise them in ways that develop this skill. Then, when they are too easily distracted, we are very quick to cry "ADHD!" When you… ## [Psychologist Blames Zuckerberg for his Parenting Skills](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2026/1/22/psychologist-blames-zuckerberg-for-his-parenting-skills) _2026-01-22 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ I'm not going to mention names but I was listening to this reel about screens and children from someone whose work I respect. This time, I hit the "watch again" link. "Did I really just hear that?" I asked myself. So I played it again, and yes, I did really just hear that. Below is the transcript of what he said, and then I'm going to analyze it. The problems inherent in this message sum up what… ## [New Year, New Plans and a New Way to Keep in Touch](https://www.progressiveeducation.org/new-year-new-plans-and-a-new-way-to-keep-in-touch/) _2026-01-13 · Jo Collins · Progressive Education_ Three projects coming soon. Sign up for notifications! Happy New Year! Wishing you all the very best for a happy and fulfilling 2026. Thank you for your continued support. We are delighted to share with you some exciting projects coming up this year, including: 1. New look directory More will be revealed in the next \[…\] The post New Year, New Plans and a New Way to Keep in Touch appeared first on… ## [# 1 Most Intelligent New Year's Resolution for Parents](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2026/1/8/-1-most-intelligent-new-years-resolution-for-parents) _2026-01-08 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ In 2026, so many parents have caught on to the dangers of screen use for their children, thanks to the work of people like Jonathan Haidt and his book, The Anxious Generation . The Resolution Consequently, many parents have made it a New Year's resolution to severely limit screen time and not just for their children. For themselves too! Each wise parent knows that her children will imitate her… ## [10 Gifts for Your Child to Love and Learn](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2024/12/19/ten-gifts-holiday-children-education) _2025-12-18 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ 10 holiday gifts for children that are both educational and fun! ## [Webinar Schedule 2026](https://www.progressiveeducation.org/webinar-schedule-2026/) _2025-12-02 · Jo Collins · Progressive Education_ Are you thinking about setting up your own school or learning community? Or perhaps you’ve been running for a while but you’re looking to connect with others on a similar journey. This webinar series aims to support you on your path to creating a learning environment where young people can thrive outside of the conventional \[…\] The post Webinar Schedule 2026 appeared first on Progressive Education… ## [The Secret Ingredient of Gratitude](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2023/09/07/secret-ingredient-to-gratitude) _2025-11-28 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ Thanksgiving is a holiday of gratitude, and it's a day that serves as a reminder to count our blessings. What is astounding about blessings is that once we start naming them, where do we stop? Blessings are infinite, and we all have plenty of them. That doesn't mean that life is always easy, but no matter how difficult our lives can seem at times, there is always plenty to be grateful for. “ It’s… ## [Raising Children Who Will Be in Demand Later](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2023/09/07/raising-kids-to-be-independent-thinking) _2025-11-20 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ Today, I came upon a reference book on Amazon that I wanted to buy. But I didn't buy it because it was a paperback book selling for $35.00, even for a used copy. Why? It was overpriced because it had sold out only a few years after being published. "How strange," thought I, that a book on the subject of creativity would be in such demand—or was it strange? Raising children in the 21st century of… ## [Some Scary Facts About Public Schools You May Not Know](https://www.smarthomeschooler.com/blog/2023/09/07/some-scary-facts-about-public-schools-you-should-know) _2025-10-30 · Liz Hanson · Homeschooling for maximum intellectual and character development_ During the last few years of his life, John Taylor Gatto and I exchanged a good number of emails, and in one of those emails, for the first time, I believe, he wrote emphatically that it was time to get our children out of government schools. Until then, he painted the picture of why we should get our children out of government schools, but he never told the parents what to do. “ School is a… ## [Hire AI-Powered Professionals (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/ALV5iic52AVO) _2025-10-30 · **Sponsored**_ Browse public gigs, message candidates, and run video interviews — free to start. ## [Free 3-Day Challenge Event: For pioneers starting or running their own schools and learning communities](https://www.progressiveeducation.org/free-3-day-challenge-event-for-pioneers-starting-or-running-their-own-schools-and-learning-communities/) _2025-10-08 · Jo Collins · Progressive Education_ Exciting news! We have organised an empowering event with some incredible speakers, to celebrate one year of running our membership for start-up schools and learning communities. Are you thinking of setting up your own school or learning community? Or do you know someone who is? Or perhaps you’ve been running for a while and would like to connect with \[…\] The post Free 3-Day Challenge Event: For…