Kerry McDonald is an author and education policy writer. She is also the founding board member at the Alliance for Self-Directed Education. Her 4 children have never -been- schooled.

Kerry'a book, Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom will be released in the Spring of 2019.

Kerry McDonald was on the right path. She received a BA in Economics from Bowdoin College. Next, her Master’s degree in education from Harvard University. But it was with an independent study project that her path started to veer. She had a classmate that had a family member that homeschooled. The family allowed her to shadow them for her senior project.

Kerry became enchanted by what she saw at the home. The child was curious and interested. Articulate and at ease talking with adults. She played violin and was part of the community. It shattered the stereotypes Kerry had of homeschooling.

At the same time she was doing a teaching practicum at a local elementary school. The teaching practicum became a stark contrast to the homeschool experience.

Her eyes opened to alternatives to schools. But it wasn't until she became a mom that she re-looked at homeschooling.

In this episode Kerry shares her insights on unschooling and self directed learning. Do Children need to be taught in order to learn? We explored:

What it means to Unschool

Why Homeschooling is Showing No Signs of Slowing

The Impact of Technological Change

What Self Directed Learning Looks Like In Her Family

The Future Of Education

What Our Economic Future Relies On

Let us know what you think about the ideas shared.