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Save time and simplify your homeschooling life... |
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"Thank you... The information you supply is real and generous - fantastic reading. I am so inspired... Your honesty is rare. Most books do not really explain 'how' as well as you do." Tracy "I cannot seem to get enough of your writings on the whole home ed subject! You portray a lot of wisdom, knowledge and experience..." Marie
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"Every time I read your writing it feels like a pat on the shoulder, and that feels really good...Thanks!" Maaike
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© Beverley Paine
Recording can include just about anything you do in your daily life, not just those things normally associated with 'school work'. It will save you a lot of time if you become clear about what it is you really need to have a record of, and for you to develop a system of recording which is simple, quick and well organised. It also needs to be done in a style you feel most comfortable with, or your resistance to keeping records will cause much frustration and feelings of failure!
What you record may include anything, although preferably not everything, your children do in the process of learning, either spontaneous, organised or solicited. Some parents often find themselves keeping most of the art and written work of their children, as the children's output is sometimes low in these areas, particularly for boys. Experience has shown home schooled children tend to produce less 'paper' work, but when they do, it is generally of a very high standard. Other parents will select only the best work, or examples which demonstrate milestones, new abilities, or desired outcomes of activities. A collection of such samples provides a basis for comparison over time, allowing you all to see how each child has progressed. It is important not to compare children against each other. Such comparisons are not relevant to each child's learning process and can be harmful to developing self esteem.
Most of the children's activities will not involve written or drawn work, and you may need to be creative in recording the most significant of them. Craft work can present particular problems if you are short on room to store finished products. Try encouraging the children to record their masterpieces as photographs which they can then date and caption, and may launch them into photography as a hobby!
The questions children ask offer an important insight into their existing or modified concepts and understandings. By keeping a record of these questions in your journal or evaluation folder you provide yourself with an extremely useful aid in planning future and follow up learning opportunities. Jot them down at a convenient time.
Anecdotal records are an excellent way to record, and often take the form of a journal. Journals, diaries or calendars become more useful if they record children's comments and responses as well as simply listing the children's activities. Anecdotal comments reveal your reactions or insights into not only your children's learning processes, but how you are learning from being the educational facilitator.
Such recording is made easier for you if you place a notebook, or your journal, open somewhere in the kitchen or family room with a pencil or biro next to it.
Recording and evaluation plays a pivotal role in educating your children at home. It may seem tedious and time wasting at times, but as you take the time to record, you are learning about how your children are growing and developing, and how they perceive their world. You are also reflecting upon your own role as their parent and educator, and how you can adapt and improve your methods to provide the best education possible. All this takes conscious effort and time.
Recording and collecting selected products of learning - the finished or half finished projects, workbooks, art or craft items, photographs of activities or events, etc., helps with immediate evaluation and planning, but can also provide a long term evaluative perspective.
Looking back on what your child did a month, a year or more ago, can illustrate how the child is building concepts and progressing with their acquisition of skills and knowledge in a way impossible to determine or remember from day to day. This long term view is invaluable at allaying nagging doubts about the effectiveness of your home learning program.
Not only will your recording efforts delight you when looking back over them in the years to come, your children will treasure revisiting their younger selves time and time again. Children enjoy reviewing collections of their work, which tend to evoke more detailed memories than any photograph album!
Scroll down for a complete list of available books. We accept Personal Cheques and Money Orders (Aust only) or PayPal for credit card orders.
HOW TO ORDER
ALB Newsletter
Getting Started
Learning Without School
Language Series
Practical HS Series
Ebooks
Educational Games Series
Natural Learning Series
Sample Learning Programs
Unschooling Books
Diaries
Portfolios/Report Cards
Homeschool DVDs
Interested in homeschooling, but still not sure? Read
'All You Need Is...'
Looking for educational resources?
Home Education Directory
Questions about homeschooling?
Browse the Homeschool Australia Article Library,
or join our Frequently Asked Questions
online support group.
Wondering what to teach? See
Australian Homeschool Curriciulum
What's new on
Homeschool Australia? Subscribe to our mailing list.
Children Learning Naturally
Online Support Group
Travelling and homeschooling? Keep in touch with Aussie Homeschool Campers!
Home education is a legal alternative
to school education in Australia.
State governments are responsible
for regulating home education.
Different states have different
requirements, however
homeschooling families are able
to develop curriculum and learning
programs to suit the individual
needs of their children.
For more information:
Home Education Association
Text & Images on this site
Copyright © 1999-2008
Beverley Paine.
All rights reserved
Email
Thank you
for visiting!
Please note:
The information on this website is of a general nature only and is not intended as personal or professional advice.
Pioneering members of the home education movement in Australia, Beverley and Robin Paine are passionate advocates of true educational choice for families. They began homeschooling their children in 1986 and three years later started the South Australian Home Based Learners network.Beverley wrote several books and booklets on home education through her self-publishing business, Always Learning Books. Beverley balances spending time helping home educators with working in her garden and renovating her home, as well as continuing to build her collection of ebooks on a variety of homeschooling subjects. retired from actively supporting home education in July 2008 to allow her to spend time on her garden and writing projects. She maintains an extensive collection of websites as well as several Yahoo groups supporting families teaching their children at home. Beverley continues to support the Home Education Association of Australia as a committee member and helps to produce the HEA Newsletter, publications and annaul Resource Directory. If you'd like to keep in touch with what Beverley is up to her in her life, sign up for either the Always Learning Books mailing list or the Homeschool Australia Newsletter.
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How to Order ~ Orders from Outside Australia
Click on each title to read reviews and brief descriptions of each book. |
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Getting Started With Homeschooling: Practical Considerations ISBN 1876651008, Paperback, 132 pages, AUS$25.00
Home Education Student Portfolio Reports Early Childhood Student Report Middle Childhood Student Report Early Adolescence Student Report
covers approximately year/grade level 7 to 10 (ages 12 - 15) A4, Spiral bound, 130g $6.00 (free postage)
Weekly Homeschooling Diary Naturally Learning Diary
Learning in the Absence of Education
The Homeschooling Trail:
Unschool~Kidz! Visit the Unschool~Kidz web site
also by Beverley Paine Aquadome, an underwater research station in the year 2024, is shrouded in mystery, hiding controversial genetic experiments and treacherous secrets. Psychic links draw teenagers, Katya and Coen, into an international conspiracy which threatens their very existence. 2002 Book store price...
Learning to Let Go
ISBN 1876651288 A5, stapled, 60g, 30 pages.
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PRACTICAL HOMESCHOOLING BOOKLET SERIES
Practical Homeschooling Exploring Approaches This booklet combines the notes of seven speakers at the Adelaide 2008 Homeschooling Seminar and Curriculum Fair.
Chapters in this booklet cover Charlotte Mason, Natural Learning, Unschooling, Discipleship Based, Relational homeschooling, Steiner influence, Unit Studies, and more! $4.50 (free postage)
The first in a series of booklets sharing Beverley's reflections, experience, tips and suggestions to help you become a more effective home educator.
Take the frustration out of everyday homeschooling.
Motivation in the Homeschool "If I knew twenty years ago what I know I know now about motivation home educating my children would have been a breeze! What I can say is that it is never too late to make adjustments... Despite all the 'mistakes' we made in the early years we couldn't ask for a better outcome. Our now adult children make us proud every day." Beverley packs in a lifetime of learning about how to overcome motivation obstacles into this 36 page booklet.
Answering Objections to Homeschooling
by Beverley Paine How do you answer all the questions people ask you about home education? These could be friends, family or total strangers. Beverley offers a selection of well-worn answers to over a dozen of the most popularly voiced objections to homeschooling you are likely to encounter. Includes a section on dealing with unsupportive relatives.
Write Your Own Unit Studies
Learning Maths Naturally
Frequently Asked Questions
by Beverley Paine Over 60 fundamental questions asked by families new to homeschooling are answered by Beverley in this 36 page booklet. 2004
The Spelling Process
The Writing Process
Learning to Love Reading
Developing Handwriting
Language Games You Can Play
A Sample ‘Approved' Learning Naturally Homeschooling Program & Review
Natural Learning
Learning Materials for the Homeschool
Translating Every Day Life
into Educational Jargon
by Beverley Paine . 2008
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2007 National Home Education This 4 DVD pack includes over 8 hours of conference speeches by John Taylor Gatto, Alan Thomas and Eleanor Sparks as well as the Brisbane Conference Question and Answer session. Includes Conference Notes from many of the Workshop Presenters. NHED Conference DVD $50 for International Orders [Please ensure that your TV and DVD player will handle DVD-R disc in the PAL format before purchase.]
Let's Play Together Traditional Children's Games Kathi Wyldeck's very practical Educational Games Booklets draw on her extensive educational experience with children and will help supplement your children's learning across the curriculum. Fast Games and Quiet Games
Physical and Mental Games for Families Book One Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651385, 70g $4.50 (free postage) Outdoor, Campfire, Water and Theme Games
Physical and Mental Games for Families Book Two Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651369, 70g $4.50 (free postage) Maths, English, Music and Art
Educational Games for Families Book One Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651350, 70g $4.50 (free postage)  ScienceEducational Games for Families Book Two Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651342, 70g $4.50 (free postage) History Geography, French, German and Latin Estimation, First Aid, Health, Tracking, Safety, Knotting and Navigation
Life Skill Games for Families Book One Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651377, 70g $4.50 (free postage) Character Building, Handcraft, Aussie Flags and Emblems, Discovery, Nature and Conservation, Cooking, Self Expression, Tools and Construction
Life Skill Games for Families Book Two Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651393, 70g $4.50 (free postage)
STOCK TO CLEAR EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE Take advantage of this opportunity to fill in any blanks in your collection of this great homeschooling magazine no longer in production.Education Choices featured columns by well-known, experienced home educators in various practical departments, such as:
$4.45 (plus postage) Issues available:
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More than 60 essays covering a wide range of homeschooling concerns and issues, such as late readers, value of play, socialisation, learning maths, part time school, and thoughts on testing. Follows the Paine family's progress from homeschooling to unschooling. An intimate and honest look at the day-to-day life spanning several years. Illustrated with clear black and white photographs and children's drawings. 
Designed to take the worry out of education and to reassure parents, these booklets are a valuable aid in the homeschool. Written by experienced home educators and teachers, each booklet offers ideas, activities or tips on how to help your children learn at home in the different subject areas. All prices include postage.
by Beverley Paine