We have narrowed down the resource list to several books that we strongly recommend you read before considering enrollment.

First of all, please note the following:

  • We are a Self-Directed Education community. Children are in the driver’s seat of their education. They decide how to spend their time.

  • There is no prescribed (or adult-driven) curriculum.

  • In our environment, children either teach themselves to read through engagement in their specific interests or they ask us for support when they want it and are ready for it. We are 100% confident that any person living in a literate rich world will understand the importance of being literate. We allow reading to emerge for each child on their own timetable.

Here are some key resources we recommend you dive into to better understand the philosophies and key ideas that ALC Mosaic is organized around:

Summerhill by A.S. Neill – This book has been a “gateway” book for many who have started democratic free schools and ALCs. A.S. Neill is brutally honest and shares exactly what he is thinking as he describes the children and experiences at Summerhill, a democratic free school that opened in the 1920s and still exists today. Those who have an education background will most likely be blown away by this book and appreciate the insight he shares. Those who are parents will get a glimpse into another world of what is possible for children. If you want to sample the book you can read an excerpt here and a very excellent forward to the book by Eric Fromm here.

Free to Learn by Peter Gray – If you appreciate logical and scientific thinking and want to see the research that backs our philosophy, this is the book for you. Gray is known as an evolutionary psychologist and is a research professor at Boston College. The book opens with a scene where Gray realizes his son needed a change in schooling, and from there he found democratic education and has been studying and researching this topic ever since.

Dumbing us Down by John Taylor Gatto – If you have always had a sense that public schooling isn’t best for children, but couldn’t articulate the depths of that feeling fully, try this book out. Two of our staff members here that used to teach in public schools but quit found this book quite validating for why they just couldn’t stay in that world any longer. This is a small book and a quick read.

Anything by Akilah S. Richards – While focusing on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Akilah’s work is essential for understanding the deeper work of liberation that Self-Directed Education can offer us all. She has articles and a podcast, Fare of the Free Child. On her website, she shares that for her family, “unschooling is a tool for decolonizing our education and liberating ourselves from oppressive, exclusive systems.”

Either Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn or Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves by Naomi Aldort – Both of these books address how the adults in our space strive to treat children with respect. All of the adults in our space are continually working on ourselves and not project our stories, baggage or trauma onto the children. We strive to have positive and healthy relationships with ourselves internally, each other, and the with the children.

A Thousand Rivers: What the Modern World has Forgotten About Children and Learning by Carol Black. This is one of our favorite articles about Self-Directed Education.

The Alliance for Self-Directed Education

  • ASDE’s main website, self-directed.org contains a primer on Self-Directed Education (SDE), as well other videos and resources to better understand SDE.

  • ASDE’s online magazine, Tipping Points is full of stories and first-hand experiences from the diverse perspectives that make up the SDE movement.

For those of you are visual, here are two intro videos:

How do they learn how to read?

 

A culture of liberation and anti-oppression

Our practice of Self-Directed Education is rooted in a larger commitment to work for the liberation of all people. While we center children in this work, adults must understand the ways in which their experiences, biases, and privilege can perpetuate the of oppression of the next generation unless intentionally investigated and disrupted. We ask that families interested in ALC Mosaic review the following resources to understand the liberation and anti-oppression values that we hold in our community.

 
 
 

Books related to Self-Directed Ed

 
 

Classics

 
 
 

Books that ALC Kids love and recommend!

Fantasy

Amari and the Night Brothers (series) by B.B. Alston

It’s completely magic. -Prince, age 7

Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas

It’s good and it’s magic. How they dealt with the villain was… a surprise ending! -Prince, age 7

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

It’s shorter, just the right length, if you need a shorter book for some reason. -Roxy, age 9

Wings of Fire (series) by Tupi T. Sutherland

They should read Wings of Fire because it’s fantasy. There are dragons. -Kavi H, age 10

It has so many books in this series, 17 books! Well there are 15 books in the series, but there are two extra books. I like long series. -Roxy, age 9

Harry Potter (series) 

It is also a pretty long series. I like the story. It’s fantasy. -Roxy, age 9

The Land of Stories written by Chris Colfer 

It is a pretty long series, fantasy. I like the story of it. Fantasy! -Roxy, age 9

Wizards of Once (series) by Cressida Cowell

Fantasy! The story is good. It’s a bigger series, not just one book. -Roxy, age 9

Science Fiction

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

It’s exciting. It’s kinda cuckoo. It’s a good book! -Roxy, age 9

The Wild Robot (series) by Peter Brown

It’s interesting to me. I like those because of the journey. -Ava, age 11

It’s a good book. I like the story. A lot of people at our school have read it and all like it. It’s not a long series, but each book is pretty long. There is more exploration in each book. -Roxy, age 9\

Realistic Fiction

The Islanders by Mary Alice Monroe

This book is about friendship, the meaning of home/living on an island. - Jordan, age 14

The Islanders Search for Treasure by Mary Alice Monroe

This is the second book of The Islanders, where they are searching for treasure. -Jordan, age 14

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

It’s a good book. I like it because it’s a long book. -Roxy, age 9

Babysitters Club  (series) by Ann M Martin

I like the Babysitters Club because they care for people. - Kavi H, age 10

Realistic Fiction: Graphic Novel

Go With the Flow by Karen Schneeman and Lily Williams

I think people may read this book because it is teaching girl stuff. -Abigail, age 11

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

I like this book because it inspires me to do my hair. - Kahiry, age 11

Realistic Fiction: Inclusive Fiction 

Ghosts by (Graphic novel) Raina Telgemeier 

I like this book because it talks about spirits, and the holiday called, Day of the Dead, and what is special about Day of the Dead. -Kahiry, age 11

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

[This book] is similar to Wonder. There is also a movie. -Willow, age 12

Out of My Heart by Sharon Draper

This is the second book of Out of My Mind, where Melody goes to summer camp. -Jordan, age 14

Wonder by RJ Pollacio 

This book is about a boy with facial differences. It’s about friendships, fitting in, especially in school. -Jordan, age 14

The kid [in this book] has differences. Maybe if someone else is going through [something like] that, they would like it. -Willow, age 12

It’s just good. -Roxy, age 9

Auggie and Me by RJ Pollacio

Read Wonder first. This book has more Julian, and I like Julian. -Willow, age 12

Graphic Novels

(also see sub categories for other sections and/or graphic novels noted in purple!)

Dog Man (series) by Dav Pilkey 

It’s a really good book. It has a lot of things kids might like… dogs heads sewn onto a man’s body! That’s funny! -Prince, age 7

It’s very funny and entertaining. -Ryder, age 13

I like Dog Man because it’s funny. -Kavi H, age 10

It’s a very good book. The characters are very good. - Ryder, age 13

Lumberjanes by ND Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Brook A. Allen and Grace Ellis

It’s funny and has a lot of adventure. -Brodie, age 14 

Spider Man Comics

If you like super heroes, you will like this book. - Ryder, age 13

Manga

Mao by Runniko

It’s an entertaining book and very fun. -Malcolm, age 14

Solo Leveling series by Chugong

It’s about a guy who levels up and gains money. -Austin, age 14

Frieren Beyond Journey’s End series by Kanehito Yamada

It’s about an elf who goes on a quest. - Austin, age 14

Cat Gamer series by Wataru Nadatani 

It’s so good. - Malcolm, age 14

Non-fiction

Diary

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

If you like things from the first person perspective. If you’re interested in books from the holocaust. -Aria, age 12 

Non-fiction- Memoir

Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis

This book is more for older kids and adults. It’s a memoir about a woman who walked the Appalachian Trail. -Jordan, age 14

Mexikid (graphic novel!) by Pedro Martin 

I like Mexikid because they’re on a road trip. -Kavi H., age 10

Non-fiction- Informational

Sprawball: A Visual Tour of the Era of the NBA by Kirk Goldsberry

Very detailed basketball book. If you like to deep dive into stats this is good. -Brodie, age 14

Young Reader

Bunnicula and friends “ready to read” by James Howe

The little bunny is a vampire. The dog that saved it. Jacob, age 7

Picture Books

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Because it teaches a lesson. - Ryder, age 13