Are you ready to be inspired?
The Compendium is a robust collection of knowledge, wisdom, and lived experiences from practitioners of Self-Directed Education (SDE) around the world.
Whether you’re new to SDE or a seasoned practitioner, this experience will deepen your understanding, inspire new ideas, and connect you with folks dedicated to reimagining education.
ASDE has listed a variety of rates, if you still find it inaccessible, please do email us for further support.
SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR 2026 FULL COMPENDIUM EXPERIENCE COHORT!
Purchase the GUIDED COHORT option below, in either a one-time purchase or a 3-month payment plan, and you will get access to all four cohorts that run January-June 2026.
Meeting Dates:
Jan 18 • Feb 1 • Feb 15
Mar 1 • Mar 15 • Mar 29
Apr 12 • Apr 26 • May 17
May 31 • Jun 14 • Jun 28
Meeting Times: 12-130pm Eastern Standard Time
For full details read our page here.
Note: If you want to sign up for an individual six-week cohort, you can find the sign-up links for those here.
Example Curriculum
Welcome & Introduction
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Module 1: What is SDE?
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Module 2: A Day in the Life: The Varying Days of Folks Engaged in SDE
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- Module 2 Overview
- 2A: "It All Comes Back to Trust" by Annie Friday
- 2B: "A Day in the Life of an Unschooler" with Ash
- 2C: "Living, Learning, Thriving" by Aspen Thorn
- 2D: "Embracing the Natural Path: My Journey from Conventional Homeschooling to Self-Directed Learning" by Empress Zamakhuba
- 2E: Pause and Reflect on Module 2
Module 3: "But What About Math?" - Most Common Topics in SDE
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- Module 3 Overview
- 3A: "Intersectional Unschooling" by Zakiyya Ismail
- 3B: "Math Beyond The School Mindset" by Laura Grace Weldon
- 3C: "Navigating Screens Together" by Nollaig Rydz
- 3D: "Knowing When to Nudge or Let Go: Supporting Kids in Their Self-Directed Journey" by Radical Learning (Sari González & Becka Koritz)
- 3E: "But What About Socialization?"
- 3F: “Cracking Myths of Self-Directed Learning” with Sai!
- 3G: Laws/Legality
- 3H: Pause and Reflect on Module 3
Module 4: Intersectional SDE: Deschooling, Decolonization, and The Internal Work
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- Module 4 Overview
- 4A: "The Internal Work of Deschooling: Healing from Adultism, Ableism, Capitalism, and Colonization" by Iris Chen
- 4B: "An Invitation to Deschool" by Jonie Broecker
- 4C: "Unschooling as Cultural Work: Imagination, Resistance, and Renewal" by Akilah S. Richards
- 4D: "Anti-Adultism in Action: On Becoming Adult Allies" by Bria Bloom
- 4E: Pause and Reflect on Module 4
Module 5: Practices and Tools for Parents & Caregivers Invested in Youth Liberation
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- Module 5 Overview
- 5A: "Childism, Consent, and Children's Rights" by Adrienne Miller
- 5B: "Conscious Parenting Tools" by Vivek Patel
- 5C: "Let Youth Be Their Own Stuntkids" by Alexander Khost
- 5D: "Partnership Over Pedagogy - Ditching the Dogma in SDE" by Meghan Suniga-Davies
- 5E: “I'm Living Like an Afrikan: Going Back to Our Ancient Ways of Living and Learning” - An Interview with Mama Yolanda
- 5F: “How to be a Liberatory Parent Invested in Youth & Collective Liberation” by Ieishah Clelland-Lange
- 5G: Pause and Reflect on Module 5
Module 6: The Deep Work: Intersectional Considerations for Parents and Caregivers
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- Module 6 Overview
- 6A: "Intersectional Parenting for Collective Liberation and Social Change" by Yolanda Williams
- 6B: "Wounds and Triggers and Adultism, Oh My! 11 Stepping Stones on My Path Toward Oz" by Domari Dickinson
- 6C: "When We Unlearn We Grieve, and When We Grieve We Unlearn" by Chévanni Davids
- 6D: “SDE for Low-Income and Single Parents” by Lou Hollis (Luvenia Marie Wilkerson)
- 6E: "As Print is Our Witness: A Reading Instruction Lens for SDE Black and Brown Families" by Nikolai Pizarro de Jesus
- 6F: "The Value and Urgency of Intersectionality for White Parents Raising White Children" by Erin Jantz
- 6G: "The Things We Don't Know About Our Kids" by Radical Learning (Sari González & Becka Koritz)
- 6H: Pause and Reflect on Module 6
Module 7: Building Resilient Communities
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- Module 7 Overview
- 7A: The Various Types of SDE Spaces
- 7B: "A Calling Towards: Building Resilient Community" by Cassidy Younghans
- 7C: "Building Resilience Within Staff for Those Who Center Collective Liberation" by Anonymous
- 7D: "Building a Resilient (Decolonized) Community" by Raj Kanani
- 7E: "Co-Creating A Thriving Community Culture" by Sundiata Soon-Jahta
- 7F: Pause and Reflect on Module 7
Module 8: Being in Community: Decision Making, Conflict, and More
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- Module 8 Overview
- 8A: "Finding Our Way Together: Co-Creating Shared Agreements" by Spencer Babcock
- 8B: "Informal and Formal Structures in Democratic Self-Directed Education" by Charlie Morse
- 8C: "Conflict Engagement and Resolution - An Intersectional Lens" by Chantrisse Parks
- 8D: “Community Care: Center the Needs of Those Most Impacted”: An Interview with Antonio Buehler
- 8E: Pause and Reflect on Module 8
Module 9: Community Shows up ALL the Ways: Creative Solutions
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- Module 9 Overview
- 9A: "Building Community in a Variety of Ways (Outside of Centers)" by Ratna Shah
- 9B: "Socialization Goes Both Ways: Teens and Adults Influencing Each Other in Public Spaces" by Jupiter Perkins
- 9C: "The Importance of Being Earnest: How to Build a Nurturing Community as an SDE Parent" by Gruff Madrigal
- 9D: "Dreaming Up Non-School Gathering Ideas Together"
- 9E: Pause and Reflect on Module 9
Module 10: Neurodivergence, Disability (ND&D), and SDE
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- Module 10 Overview
- 10A: "Ableism in Conventional Learning Environments: The Invisible Truth" by Andria Smith
- 10B: "Healthy Boundaries: How to Expand Tolerance and Lower Unnecessary Demands" by Je’anna Clements
- 10C: "Self-Directed Education As Post-civilizational & Neuroqueer Praxis" by mk zariel
- 10D: "Learning While Unwell: Self-Directed Education on Off Days" by Dominique Paloma Bible
- 10E: "Unschooling with cPTSD" by Laura Schroeder
- 10F: Pause and Reflect on Module 10
Module 11: Deschooling: ND&D
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- Module 11 Overview
- 11A: "What Parents Need to Know: A Teen's Perspective on Self-Directed Education" by Teo Velasco Koritz
- 11B: "Unschooling with Neurodivergence: Centering Family Wellbeing and Humanity" by Demetria Wilkinson
- 11C: "Self-Directed Education and Special Interests" by Taisa Jenne
- 11D: "My Journey from 'Good Mother' to Crip Mom" by Maria Epp
- 11E: "Living Over Learning" by Micaela Hoops
- 11F: Pause and Reflect on Module 11
Module 12: ND&D: Creative Ideas for Supporting Our Brains and Bodies
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- Module 12 Overview
- 12A: "Non-Directive Play Therapy" by Nadia Lynn Erlendson
- 12B: "Common Sensory Tools and Support for Neurodivergent Families" by Whitney DiFalco
- 12C: "First Aid Kit for the Nervous System" by Amanda Sanborn
- 12D: "Spectrum of Sound" Playlist by Soliheen
- 12E: Pause and Reflect on Module 12
Module 13: Supportive Community Within SDE: ND&D
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- Module 13 Overview
- 13A: "Why Do We Have to Make a Distinction? Neurodiversity in SDE" by Daveed Jacobo
- 13B: "Creating a Strengths-Based Community with What You Have" by Lane Clark
- 13C: "Touring an Adaptable Space for ND Youth" by Eleanor Ford
- 13D: "A Space to Be: Finding Connection and Self in a Neurodivergent Unschooling Journey" by Melissa Crockett-Joyoue
- 13E: Pause and Reflect on Module 13
Module 14: Resources for Going Deeper
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- 14A: Intro to SDE: Modules 1-4 Resources
- 14B: Parents & Caregivers: Intersectional Considerations & Collective Liberation: Modules 5-6 Resources
- 14C: Building Resilient Community in SDE: Modules 7-9 Resources
- 14D: Neurodivergence and Disability in SDE: Modules 10-13 Resources
- 14E: Contact Info for Contributors
Closing
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