photos of home educating children learning in groups situations
Homeschool Australia!
Teach your children at home!
Have a homeschooling question?
Join our free support group
 

Home educate the easy way... simplify and save time...
Learn from experienced homeschoolers how to write your own curriculum.

cover of Getting Started with Homeschooling by Beverley Paine
 
  "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

"A fabulous source of information and inspiration. I am very pleased to have some of your titles on my bookshelf... providing me with wonderful, detailed information and resources." Faye

  "Every time I read your writing it feels like a pat on the shoulder, and that feels really good...Thanks!" Maaike
BONUS OFFER! FREE membership
'Getting Started Club' when you buy Beverley's manual on how to write your own homeschool curriculum! Still only $25...

Getting Started with Home Schooling: Practical Considerations
 

Home | Quick Guide | Articles Index | State Info | Resources | Blog | Beverley's Books | About Beverley

Limited places available at National Homeschool CampFest 13-18 March Bowna (Albury) NSW - book now!

 
Family Directed Education - A New Term

© Beverley Paine

My friend Nancy recently introduced me to the the term "Family Directed Education" because it covers all the many ways education can be attained.

I've met people over the years that have strongly chastised me for calling what we do 'homeschooling' because they object to the use of the word 'school'. We're not a school, we don't do school-at-home, so why call it homeschooling? However I don't mind using that term because it is well known and accepted.

Home education captures a wider audience than families teaching their children at home. It's used in the adult education industry. It has also become accepted as meaning parents teaching their children at home and is the term that seems to be preferred by educational authorities and governments around Australia.

Unschooling is an approach used by many, but doesn't capture those that use traditional educational methods and curriculum materials. It's not a generic term that can be used for all families teaching their children at home. Other terms, like child-led, delight-directed or natural learning, are useful for some families but not all.

Family-Directed Learning says it all. The emphasis is on learning as family -everyone in the family learning, and having some say over the direction and content of the educational process. This happens in all homeschool households!

Family-Directed learning is directed and controlled by the individual family, as opposed to an authoritarian and coercive government institution. The means materials and methods can be changed, combined, modified, or designed for the current needs of the learners. Using this term is inclusive of any of the vast range of opportunities for learning available: whether through using a prepared curriculum, trade books, field trips, tutors, co-op classes, apprenticeship, volunteer activities, or a specialty school.

That's why I like Nancy's suggestion to rename homeschooling Family Directed Education!


Click here for a full list of articles and pages on this website.

 

SEARCH this site:


If you like what you
read here, you can
order Beverley's books!
  Choosing Homeschool Curriculum
Getting Started - how to write your own learning programs
Natural Learning Answers
Beverley's E-books
Learning Without School - how 30 families homeschool
The Homeschooling Trail - Christian unschooling life
Learning in the Absence of Education - how we did it
Practical Homeschooling Booklet Series - your questions answered!
Educational Games Booklet Series - make learning fun!
Practical Homeschooling Language Development Series
Natural Learning Series
Homeschool Diaries
Ready to use
Portfolios / Report Cards
Sample Learning Programs
Stock Clearance

Be the first to find out about new
books, ebooks and booklets
by Beverley!

Beverley's LATEST book
was LAUNCHED at the
Unschooling Conference!

 

 


 

Please note:
the information
on this website is of a
general nature only and is not intended as personal or professional advice.

Need More Help?
Sign up for an exclusive
Skype Conference Call
with Beverley

Conference/Workshops

Spend a WEEK!
with
Beverley and Robin Paine
at the
Annual National Home Education CampFest
Workshops for parents, activities for children, time to relax and chat to us about our homeschooling experiences.
March 13th-18th 2012


 

animated Australian flag

The Homeschool Australia suite of websites is paid for by the revenue from Google Ads. Without this we could not continue to provide over 700 pages of information and articles to home educators.


Camp With Wings for Teens

15th-Sun 22nd Jan 2012
printable colour flyer

Life Learning Magazine link
Please join one of our yahoo groups if you want to know more about
home education or have a question.
Home education is a legal alternative to school education in Australia. State and Territory governments are responsible for regulating home education. Different states have different requirements, however home educating families are able to develop curriculum and learning programs to suit the individual needs of their children. For more information visit the
Home Education Association
Questions about homeschooling or wondering
what to teach? See the Site Map for our
full list of articles.
Interested in homeschooling, but still not sure?
Read
All You Need Is...'

Looking for educational resources?
Home Education Directory

animated smiling face
Thank you for visiting!

photo of Beverley and Robin PainePioneering 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 Getting Started with Homeschooling in 1995-97 and since then continues to write books and booklets on home education. She balances spending time helping home educators with working in her garden and renovating her home, as well as continuing to build her collection of writing on a variety of homeschooling subjects. Beverley maintains an extensive collection of websites as well as several Yahoo groups supporting families teaching their children at home. In 2007 Beverley joined the HEA and was a committee member for three years during which time she edited and produced the HEA Newsletter, Stepping Stones for Home Educators magazine, annual Resource Directory and other HEA publications. If you'd like to keep in touch with what Beverley is up to her in her life, sign up for the Homeschool Australia Newsletter or visit her Homeschool Australia Facebook page.
The opinions and articles included in the suite of Homeschool Australia websites are not necessarily those of Beverley and Robin Paine,
nor do they endorse or recommend products (other than their own) listed in contributed articles, pages, or advertisements.
Site Map. Text & Images on this site Copyright © 1999-2011. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions of Use. Advertise on Homeschool Australia