Unschooling

Instructions:

Listen to the video carefully and answer the following questions. Choose the best answer for each question. Click “Submit Answers” when you’re done to see your results.

Unschooling – Listening Comprehension Exercise

Unschooling – Listening Comprehension Exercise

Instructions:

Listen carefully about unschooling. Choose the best answer for each question. There is only one correct answer per question.

1. What is "unschooling" as described in the transcript?
  • A style of learning that relies on self-directed education
  • A way of avoiding education altogether
  • A method that uses strict lesson plans and frequent testing
  • A program where parents hire private tutors for all subjects
2. How do the parents in the transcript view traditional school?
  • As an excellent option they plan to use later
  • As a necessary step for socialization
  • As more effective than unschooling
  • As "jail," implying they see it as restrictive
3. How does unschooling differ from homeschooling?
  • It uses online teachers instead of parents
  • It has no formal lesson plans or testing
  • It requires standardized tests every year
  • It is legally recognized as public school
4. What do the children do instead of sitting in a classroom?
  • Attend tutoring sessions daily
  • Go to libraries for structured lessons
  • Take online courses
  • Spend five to six hours outside in parks and nature preserves
5. How do the parents address subjects like math if the kids are not interested?
  • They make it fun by using games like Pokémon
  • They delay it until high school
  • They hire a math tutor
  • They skip math entirely
6. What percentage of U.S. school-aged children are currently homeschooled, according to the report?
  • About 1%
  • Nearly 6%
  • Around 20%
  • Over 30%
7. What concern do education experts express about unschooling?
  • That it is illegal in most states
  • That it is too academically demanding
  • That it may create gaps in foundational skills and limit socialization
  • That it costs too much for families
8. According to one expert, which type of student may benefit most from unschooling?
  • Students who struggle with motivation
  • Students with learning disabilities
  • Students who prefer strict schedules
  • Students who are very self-driven
9. How do the parents prevent their kids from spending all day on TikTok or eating pizza?
  • They ban phones altogether and control what toys are available
  • They give their children phones but limit screen time
  • They use educational apps to keep them busy
  • They send them to part-time school for discipline
10. What do the parents say about boundaries in unschooling?
  • There are no boundaries at all
  • Boundaries are still present
  • Children decide all rules themselves
  • Boundaries are enforced by teachers
11. What phrase does the reporter use to summarize the children's experience?
  • "A mix of lessons and leisure"
  • "A complete rejection of education"
  • "A little play and a lot of curiosity"
  • "A risky educational experiment"
12. What is the overall tone of this segment?
  • Strictly critical of unschooling
  • Overly promotional of unschooling
  • Dismissive and sarcastic
  • Balanced, exploring both enthusiasm and concerns

Your Results

Unschooling: A New Way to Learn – Quiz

Unschooling: A New Way to Learn – Quiz

Instructions:

Choose the best answer for each question. There is only one correct answer per question.

1. What is the main difference between homeschooling and unschooling?
  • It has strict lesson plans and testing
  • It uses online teachers and video classes
  • It allows children to learn through their own interests
  • It only teaches reading and writing at home
2. What is the mother's main belief about her children's learning?
  • They must take online exams regularly
  • They should study like traditional students
  • They will learn naturally when they are ready
  • They should only play all day
3. According to the report, what kind of activities replace traditional lessons?
  • Watching documentaries every day
  • Field trips, nature walks, and games
  • Computer games and TV shows
  • Formal science experiments
4. What does the Pokémon example show about the mother's teaching style?
  • She doesn't like math
  • She connects learning with her children's interests
  • She avoids using fun to teach
  • She prefers video games over school books
5. How do the children feel about unschooling?
  • They miss having teachers and classmates
  • They dislike it and want to go to school
  • They think it's boring and repetitive
  • They feel lucky not to attend traditional school
6. What evidence is given about homeschooling in the U.S.?
  • It is banned in many states
  • It has more than doubled since 2019
  • It has become less popular since 2019
  • Only adults do it now
7. What is one concern experts have about unschooling?
  • It requires too many books
  • It is too expensive
  • It may not teach basic skills
  • It is too focused on science
8. What type of student might succeed most in unschooling?
  • A child who learns only with teachers
  • A student who dislikes learning
  • A very self-motivated learner
  • Someone who prefers rules and structure
9. How does the mother make sure her children stay focused?
  • She gives them total freedom
  • She forces them to follow a schedule
  • She sets clear boundaries and limits
  • She gives them phones for study
10. What does the mother say about technology use?
  • She gives her kids phones for learning
  • She uses tablets to teach reading
  • She never allows them to have a cell phone
  • She lets them watch TikTok for fun
11. What tone does the reporter use when describing the family's lifestyle?
  • Sarcastic and humorous
  • Judgmental and negative
  • Neutral but curious
  • Strict and critical
12. What can be inferred about the mother's view of traditional schools?
  • She thinks schools are safer
  • She believes they limit creativity
  • She wants more testing and grades
  • She wishes her kids could attend them

Your Results

MORNING WITH TODAY’S TALKER.

MANY STUDENTS PREPARE TO GO

BACK TO THE CLASSROOM NEXT WEEK

BUT SOME FAMILIES ARE KEEPING

THEIR KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL.

>> IS NOT HOMESCHOOLING, PER

SE.

THEY CALL IT UNSCHOOLING, AN

ALTERNATIVE FORM OF EDUCATED

>>> STARTED IN THE 1970s.

>> Reporter: MILLIONS OF KIDS

ARE RETURNING TO CLASSROOMS.

FOR RAVEN AND HER FOUR

CHILDREN, THIS

IS WHAT THE

SCHOOL YEAR LOOKS LIKE.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THEIR

SCHOOL.

>> THIS IS THE SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE

CLASSROOM?

>> THIS IS THE CLASSROOM, THE

WORLD.

THE FAMILY HAS ADOPTED A STYLE

OF LEARNING CALLED UNSCHOOLING.

>> YOU DON’T HAVE TO SEND YOUR

KIDS BACK TO JAIL, I MEAN,

SCHOOL.

>> UNSCHOOLING IS TRUSTING

YOURSELF AND TRUSTING YOUR

CHILD.

>> Reporter: UNLIKE

HOMESCHOOLING, UNSCHOOLING

INCLUDES NO LESSON PLANS AND NO

TESTING.

INSTEAD, RELYING ON SELF-

DIRECTED EDUCATION, LETTING

CHILDREN LEARN WHILE FOLLOWING

THEIR OWN INTERESTS IN THEIR

EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENT.

SPIKY YOUR EYES SHARP, OKAY?

>> UNSCHOOLING IS, I TRUST MY

KIDS THEY WILL LEARN WHAT THEY

NEED TO LEARN WHEN THEY NEED TO

LEARN IT.

>> HAD YOUR KIDS BEEN IN A

FORMAL CLASSROOM, INTERSCHOOL?

>> NO, THEY HAVE NOT.

>> Reporter: INSTEAD, SHE SAYS

THEY LEARNED THROUGH DAILY

OUTINGS, LONELY GAMES.

AND SOME TRADITIONAL LESSONS,

LIKE READING AND WRITING, ALL

WHILE BOTH PARENTS WORK FROM

HOME.

>> WE ARE GOING TO NATURE

PRESERVES, WE ARE GOING TO

PARKS, WE ARE GOING TO PLAY

PLACES.

WE ARE OUTSIDE FIVE TO SIX

HOURS A DAY.

>> Reporter: IF YOUR CHILD SAYS

I DON’T WANT TO LEARN MATH,

THEY ARE JUST NOT TO KNOW

THERE?

>> WHERE NOT TO WEAR THAT DAY,

WE WILL FIND A WAY TO MAKE MATH

MORE FUN.

POKIMON IS AN EXTREMELY

MATHEMATICAL GAME.

>> CAN I SEE WHAT YOU’RE

LEARNING?

>> Reporter: TO YOUR FRIENDS GO

TO TRADITIONAL SCHOOL?

SOME OF THEM.

>> Reporter: WHAT DO THEY TELL

YOU?

>> THEY TELL US, YOU ARE LUCKY

YOU ARE HOMESCHOOLED.

THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

THERE IS NO NATIONAL DATA ON

UNSCHOOLING BUT NEARLY 6% OF

SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN IN AMERICA

ARE NOW HOMESCHOOLED, WHICH HAS

MORE THAN DOUBLED SINCE 2019.

>> SO WE DON’T TEACH OUR

CHILDREN ANYTHING.

>> Reporter: STILL, THE

MOVEMENT HAS ITS CRITICS.

HER SON IS SIX.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

>> Reporter: SOME EDUCATION

EXPERTS ARGUE IT CAN LEAD TO

GAPS IN FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS AND

LIMITS AND SOCIALIZATION.

OTHERS SAY THERE IS SIMPLY NOT

ENOUGH RESEARCH YET.

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND

THAT THIS MODEL MAY WORK VERY

WELL FOR PARTICULAR TYPES OF

STUDENTS WHO ARE VERY SELF

DRIVEN BUT I WOULD ALSO GUESS

THERE ARE MANY OTHER TYPES OF

STUDENTS WHO MAYBE NEED MORE

STRUCTURE.

>> Reporter: SOMETHING THE

FAMILY SAYS THEY HAVE ACCOUNTED

FOR.

>> I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PARENTS

WOULD SAY, IF I LET MY KID SELF

DIRECT, THEY WILL EAT PIZZA AND

WATCH TikTok ALL DAY.

>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU AVOID

THAT?

I WOULD NEVER GIVE A CHILD A

CELL PHONE, NUMBER ONE.

UNSCHOOLING DOESN’T MEAN NO

BOUNDARIES.

THEY HAVE FREE PLAY ACCESS ONLY

TO THE TOYS AND THINGS I HAVE

AT HOME.

I KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR MY

FAMILY.

I HAVE SEEN THEM THRIVE IN IT.

>> Reporter: A NEW STYLE OF

LEARNING.

>> THE BLUE CRABS, WE KNOW, THE

MOST FEISTY OF THE CRABS.

>> Reporter: A LITTLE PLAY AND

A LOT OF CURIOSITY.

MORGAN RADFORD,