The Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming the Wonder in Your Child's Education, A New Way to Homeschool

by Ainsley Arment

Overview

Allow your children to experience the adventure, freedom, and wonder of childhood with this practical guide that provides all the information, inspiration, and advice you need for creating a modern, quality homeschool education.

Inspired by the spirit of Henry David Thoreau—”All good things are wild and free”—mother of five Ainsley Arment founded Wild + Free. This growing online community of mothers and families want their children to receive a quality education at home by challenging their intellectual abilities and nurturing their sense of curiosity, joy and awe—the essence of a positive childhood.

The homeschool approach of past generations is gone—including the stigma of socially awkward kids, conservative clothes, and a classroom setting replicated in the home. The Wild + Free movement is focused on a love of nature, reading great books, pursuing interests and hobbies, making the entire world a classroom, and prolonging the wonder of childhood, an appealing philosophy that is unpacked in the pages of this book

The Call of the Wild and Free offers advice, information, and positive encouragement for parents considering homeschooling, those currently in the trenches looking for inspiration, as well as parents, educators, and caregivers who want supplementary resources to enhance their kids’ traditional educations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062916518
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Series:	Wild and Free Series
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	226,496
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Ainsley Arment is the founder and leader of Wild + Free and co-host of the weekly Wild + Free Podcast. As she leads this movement of raising her kids and homeschooling in a new way, she thinks deeply about making the most out of life and ensuring that her children have a fertile seedbed for their own uniqueness and creativity. She and her husband Ben are raising their five kids, Wyatt, Dylan, Cody, Annie, and Millie, in Virginia Beach.

Table of Contents

The Mission

1 The Light Went Out in His Eyes 3

2 Reclaiming Motherhood 11

3 The Call to Homeschooling 23

4 Preparing for Your Journey 35

5 Becoming Wild + Free 51

The Myths

6 Objections to Homeschooling 65

7 The Socialization Myth 79

8 The Qualification Myth 93

9 The Learning Myth 107

10 The Rigor Myth 123

11 The College Myth 133

The Manner

12 Discovering Your Homeschool Style 149

13 The Influences of Homeschooling 157

14 Finding Your Rhythm 189

15 Creating a Family Culture 207

The Method

16 The Wild + Free Way 227

17 The School of Nature 231

18 The Power of Story 253

19 The Pedagogy of Play 271

20 The Curriculum of Curiosity 287

21 The Magic of Wonder 299

Afterword 311

We Believe 313

Further Reading 314

Acknowledgments 316

Notes 318

Editorial Reviews

"Ainsley Arment has emerged as one of the most prominent voices in a grass-roots community that, long before social distancing, decided to reject mainstream schooling and rather educate within the family…. The Call of the Wild and Free, part memoir and part manifesto, encourages mothers who are considering home-schooling and those who are ready to give up… suggesting that parents are the most intuitive educators of their kids." — The New York Times

"If you’re curious about homeschooling or wondering if it’s something you might be able to do, this is a low-pressure, easy read that’s also super inspiring."  — Book Riot

From the Publisher

"Ainsley Arment has emerged as one of the most prominent voices in a grass-roots community that, long before social distancing, decided to reject mainstream schooling and rather educate within the family…. The Call of the Wild and Free, part memoir and part manifesto, encourages mothers who are considering home-schooling and those who are ready to give up… suggesting that parents are the most intuitive educators of their kids."

The New York Times

"Ainsley Arment has emerged as one of the most prominent voices in a grass-roots community that, long before social distancing, decided to reject mainstream schooling and rather educate within the family…. The Call of the Wild and Free, part memoir and part manifesto, encourages mothers who are considering home-schooling and those who are ready to give up… suggesting that parents are the most intuitive educators of their kids."

The New York Times

"Ainsley Arment has emerged as one of the most prominent voices in a grass-roots community that, long before social distancing, decided to reject mainstream schooling and rather educate within the family…. The Call of the Wild and Free, part memoir and part manifesto, encourages mothers who are considering home-schooling and those who are ready to give up… suggesting that parents are the most intuitive educators of their kids."

New York Times

"If you’re curious about homeschooling or wondering if it’s something you might be able to do, this is a low-pressure, easy read that’s also super inspiring." 

Book Riot