Homeschool Australia

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Homeschool Australia!

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	Home educate the easy way... simplify and save time... Learn from experienced homeschoolers how to write your own curriculum.
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Defining Natural Learning, Unschooling, Deschooling and School-at-Home

by Beverley Paine

I'm very interested in the discussion on definitions as I'm writing an introduction to homeschooling at the moment...

I've always felt that learning naturally is simply learning. It doesn't matter how you do it - what tools you bring to your life to help you learn what it is that you need to learn, or when you use them. I've always found that more conscious the process is the more effective it is. Learning can inlclude tutors, books, television, institutions and it can include fitting in with other people's agendas as all learning is in some way a social act. This understanding of natural learning I have uncovered through analysing the learning processes of myself and those around me.

Unschooling to me has always meant rejecting the notion that one has to be taught to learn. It perplexes me to see unschooling described as 'child-led' - though it is imperative that the child participate fully in the responsibility for his or her education. I see unschooling as 'family-centred'. I see the family - no matter how structured - as the central socialising unit, and thus cultural centre, in society.

Deschooling to me means that period of time between leaving school and finding one's innate learning style and preferences and working out the best way to move forward with educating outside of the school environment. It is the shedding of the assumptions about education and how it is delivered to both children and adults.

The terms Home Education and Homeschooling encompass not only children learning at home, but children learning in the community and the environment. For many of us this community has been broadened by the use of the Internet and cyberspace. Some of us are privileged to travel extensively with our children. Home Education is not HOME based in most situations.

School-at-Home - which is the most dominant form of educating children at home - is the application of school methods of education in the home environment. It's a very successful alternative educational approach and for many it is the first step in a wonderful journey that moves slowly but surely towards trust in learning naturally.

I personally embrace all kinds of education - even school education - and wish that all people had the ability to chose what suits their individual children and family situations. We have the ability to support, rather than judge, each other. I am wary of saying that one person's approach or choice is less suitable than what I do or what I see others doing.

I personally have moved through all the above 'approaches' and have settled on learning naturally as it allows me to do whatever I feel is necessary to learn. I definitely don't define natural learning as 'child-led' as at 46 I am natural learner!

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

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March 13th-18th 2012

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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		Please join one of our yahoo groups if you want to know more about home education or have a question. Homeschool Australia Facebook Group Homeschool Australia Newsletter Homeschool Australia Frequently Asked Questions Yahoo Support Group Natural Learning Yahoo Support Group Australian Homeschool Campers Yahoo Group

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

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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 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.