Resources that guide us

We are constantly reading, listening, watching and engaging with the world, it is so hard to provide a short list of our most-used resources because it’s always changing! So we’ll do our best to update this list also. Here is our current list of go-to resources.

Books we love

Free to Learn by Peter Gray

This book was the foundation to We Learn Naturally.

Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg

We use this book in our facilitator training and parent support workshops. It is the language that unites us.

It’s OK to Go Up the Slide: Renegade Rules for Raising Confident and Creative Kids by Heather Shumaker

When we are unsure how to navigate tricky young child conflicts we refer to this book and its predecessor “It’s OK Not to Share”

Project-based Homeschooling: Mentoring Self-Directed Learners by Lori Picket

This is a practical guide to how we facilitate “the learning” in our programs.

The Whole Brain Child by Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

We appreciate the scientific explanations of how the brain works, what we can do to support difficult moments when “the upstairs brain” is highjacked, and the wheel of awareness.

Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn

We actually like several of Alfie Kohn’s books but if we were to recommend just one, this would be it.

People and organizations we love

The Alliance for Self-directed Education
The Alliance for Self-directed Education is a hub of information and international community support for people interested in SDE.
Pam Laricchia
Pam Laricchia’s podcast is a favorite. She also writes and curates. Plus, she is from Ontario!
Janet Lansbury
We like Janet’s approach to dealing with boundaries and conflict in young children. Her articles and podcasts are helpful.
The Trauma Project
Curated by Carol Anna McBride, this page provides resources for those individuals and organizations who wish to be trauma-informed.

Blogs we love

Akilah Richards
Akilah Richards writes and produces a podcast that will help you wake up in ways you didn’t know you needed to!
Teacher Tom
Tom Hobson inspires us as he weaves gentle parenting and social justice into his preschool classroom!
Lulastic
This unschooling/parenting blog is both entertaining and informative.
Happiness is Here
This unschooling/parenting blog challenges parents to think critically – great for deschooling the adults!

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