Homeschooling Discussion & Experiences #1

**Heaven** · March 29th, 2012, 12:00 PM

**Shanti** · March 29th, 2012, 01:25 PM

Heaven,

I was just coming in to do this.... thanks.

Flying Butter - thank you for your post.

**Arcadia** · March 29th, 2012, 03:29 PM

I'm very interested and have done some reading about it too. There are loads of homeschool networks, although most seem to be religion based.

You need to be registered and have your teaching 'plan' reviewed regularly, but it seems pretty sight forward.

I would only homeschool of normal school doesn't suit my children, but I'm certainly going to be prepared just in case! I especially like the idea of homeschooling in high school.

**Arcadia** · March 29th, 2012, 03:29 PM

Double post

**Lady-bug** · March 29th, 2012, 07:19 PM

Have sent a PM

**Beach Mama** · March 29th, 2012, 07:38 PM

I wish I could! There is loads of Steiner/Waldorf stuff out there you could use and adapt as some of it is from the US. Check out The Parenting Passageway blog. She has wonderful parenting stuff on there as well as homeschooling info and links to many other blogs who homeschool. There are loads of networks around as well as websites where you can look up VELS frameworks etc. (Vic? - not sure what the other states are called -brain blank!)

Thing is for most homeschoolers, they do have a curriculum but it is nothing like a "school" curriculum as they teach through life. They may do maths in the garden while planting veggies and counting their harvest and then do storytelling and writing as a part of story time before nap time or while washing dishes etc. ITMS! That is what I love that it is life based and fits in around you rather than trying to fit a curriculum into your life! Good luck hun!

**Trillian** · March 29th, 2012, 08:01 PM

Thing is for most homeschoolers, they do have a curriculum but it is nothing like a "school" curriculum as they teach through life. They may do maths in the garden while planting veggies and counting their harvest and then do storytelling and writing as a part of story time before nap time or while washing dishes etc. ITMS! That is what I love that it is life based and fits in around you rather than trying to fit a curriculum into your life! Good luck hun!

That sounds more like Natural Learning than actual curriculum-based homeschooling

I think anything is possible Shanti. I don't homeschoo, but I do know a lot who do (IRL and online) and you don't have to be registered, but it is highly recommended and makes you look like you're doing the *right thing* kwim? But I would definitely follow a curriculum of some sort to give you an idea of what they are supposed to learn. All the syllabus' for each state are available online as there is some variation between the state but not much. One thing I do know a lot of HSers find hard is time management and fitting in all other daily household tasks etc so that is something to consider as well.

**wrena** · March 29th, 2012, 09:00 PM

I was homeschooled in a 'natural learning' style and if we homeschool that's definitely the approach I'd take. Despite no formal learning we all did really well at Uni and I think that the natural learning approach is a much more exiting way to learn. My only concern with homeschooling is whether I could hack being out of paid employment for years. We'll see what the future brings and what our kids need

**Tegam** · March 30th, 2012, 06:21 AM

I'd love to homeschool but I love the socialisation they get from mainstream. Dd1 & dd2 just had to have two weeks off school and the amount of stuff we got through was amazing.

The best thing I have heard of with homeschooling is that it only takes about three hours to do all the work a day. Woohoo!

Good luck

**Beach Mama** · March 30th, 2012, 07:01 AM

Trill most of the blogs that I have seen and read from homeschoolers seem to do their curriculum in a natural learning style as they disagree with the rigidness and the way curriculum is taught in schools and that is the reason why they are homeschooling ITMS??? Yes they would have a guide of what they want to teach but if you are simply going to try and replicate what schools do I would send them to school

Thats JMO though!!

**fromscratch** · March 30th, 2012, 03:08 PM

We homeschool have done now for 4 years.
I would say we follow a more structured aproach than those mentioned so far and are definatly more schooly then unschooly. I like to follow a clasical approach although with me being sick for the last few months with Hyperemesis gravidarum we did have a stint of natural learning although we are back to the workbooks now.
Depending on which state your in depends on the reporting and such. I am in Victoria and other than registering with the VRQA I have nothing else to do...well other than actully teach the kids.
Someone commented early on in this thread to obtain mainstream curriculum...or something along that line...sorry tired and short attention span today was up half the night with rather intense braxton hicks (though at one point I was sure I was in labour but all is well baby still where it should be, all be it mummy brain fog is severe today)
Ok back to the topic. Personally we found this approach rather stifiling and unproductive and rather damaging to our whole homeschooling vibe actully rather counter productive.... School curricula is structured for a class room environmet not on a one to one level..some of the activities are, well, less than ideal for a homeschool situation so we sorce our own curricula suitable for a homeschooling environment and each childs learning style (we taylor school for each child) and we choose to ignor the essential learning standards as well. The reason we avoid them is due to several different the main one reason being......for us we intent to homeschool indefinatly we have no intention to stop...therefore we encourage the kids to learn at the level they are at, not at where the system dictates they should be. For example ds has dyslexia and if still at school would be in year 7 at highschool....If we followed the standards he would be doing english well above his comprehension level and therefore not getting anything from it other than confusion and frustration, yet his maths is well above grade level so he would not be challenged and find school work bording at best. If we followed the standards we would be fighting an up hill battle to educate him. He spend a good few hours doing formal studies although the length of time he spends doing school work depends entirely on his level of commitment and focus each day.
DD is a bright 6 year old and would be in grade 1 now if she went to school. For her, I never looked at the standards till late last year due to a friend who is a school teacher and homeschools, stressing about her dd same age but thats a whole other story. Now if we had of followed and covered the standards she would have missed out, not florrished like she did. I discovered when I actully looked at the standards we had covered and exceeded the essential learning standards for the year with dd who at the time I looked was on grade level with all her subjects although was almost past with both reading and maths.

The standards are there for teachers to basicly check each child off against to make sure they are where they should be at, to make sure each student hasn't been lost in the system.
The standards have not been designed for a homeschool situation which is entirely different. As registered Victorian homeschoolers we are required to follow the 8 key learning areas which are totally different to the Essential learning standards and now of course with the advent of the Naional learning standards. Imo it's all just gobbildy gook to spook parents off homeschooling their children and to leave it to the Government. Personally I find this quite scary I mean would you let the government dictate to you your childrens bed time routine down to the one kiss only policy? No of course not.
Providing your children are learning and flourishing you have no need to worry about Essential Learning standards. Each child learns at their own rate and no standards can change that. Some kids learn quicker, others learn slower, it's just the way it is.
For dd6 when she was in prep formal school work only took around one and a half hours. What you have to concider is that I was not waiting for 24 other kids to set up and pack up, no keeping hands busy and no herd management. Just one on one time and formal learning takes no time at all. She loves it.

Socialisation is often bought up by non homeschoolers as an issue which it's not, and funnily enough when I was at school I was constantly being told I wasnt there to socailise so go figure?
There are many "social outlets" for homeschool children. In fact I would say the parents of homeschoolers try very hard to socalise their children. There are many opportunitys for homeschool children to socailse with other homeschool children such as park days and social groups specially designed for homeschoolers not forgetting to mention some groups also run excursion and group classes for homeschool kids only and usually run during schoolhours. Not to forget scout groups and sport groups and the like. My kids like their sports so are active with schooled children in swimming, basketball, horse riding, ballet and other groups and activities that involve homeschool kids. To begin with I found the homeschooling groups hard to find but since I have been homeschooling for a while I have found due to the level of difference out there homeschoolers tend to keep to themselves and can be hard to find at times.
Many groups are religious but there are just as many secular groups around it's all in asking the right questions.
A few homeschoolers in my local area discoverd we are all here and started up a park group, the majority are secualr (non religiuos teaching) and some are religious. We all respect each others differences so it works well but as we are all homeschoolers we all know it's about providing support to each other through homeschooling not based on your religion or lack there of. Not all groups are this way inclined.

Support forums there are a few australian groups online although I must agree most I have come across are of a religious nature.
There is one called Rockpoolhomeschool it is a dot com group no au. that is very inclusive. Actully I prefer this group to some of the other forums. Everyone is just so nice and inclusive and ready to assist you.
I do know there are several natural learning forums but as I'm not a natural learner I have not sought to find them.
There is also groups like Home education network and homeschool assocation there are fee to be paid for these two groups but they are an in valuable tool when you first start and I do know if your interested the Home education network can provide you with a list of names and detais of other members if you include yours on the list so you can network with others.

Homeschooling is a commitment, but well worth it.

**Shanti** · March 30th, 2012, 10:30 PM

Thanks so much everyone for your posts, particularly from scratch's post.

Fromscratch - I found that forum a few days ago actually and signed up! So far it's been very resourceful and full of info!! So much reading to do.....!! Thanks for your post.

Wow, it's such a huge decision whether or not to HS or do mainstream. There are sooo many advantages to HS over the mainstream system.

The big question for me is - "can I fully commit to it?" and how hard will it be?

Funny thing is, my Mum is actually a primary school teacher, so I'm trying to imagine what she's going to say when I (if I) announce that we'll be homeschooling the girls

**fromscratch** · March 31st, 2012, 02:48 PM

For me when dd was little and we decided to homeschool her I actully found it rather easy and a big relief. It's easy when they want to learn. Ds on the other hand had been in the system for some time and he's another different kettle of fish all together. He's hard to keep motivated. It was hard in the beginning trying to encourage him to want to learn again. School ruined his love of learning.

I must say the hardest part of homeschooling is dealing with others oppinions (often miss guided oppinions) of what homeschooling actully is and of course the fall out of that. But on the most part people are quite good about it. Family on the other hand can be different again.
My friends were initally quite scathing and I think as most were school teachers saw it as a knocking of their professions and took us homeschooling as an insult.
My dad has always been supportive as his education sucked! My Mum initally wasn't on board and kept trying to get us to do distance ed....she's cool now but I have to keep reminding her, just cause we are home she can't visit us in the mornings or even call as we are doing school....constantly reminding her actully!
My Inlaws were fine with us homeschooling ds as he is a stepgrandchild but when it came to dd wow they hit the roof. Poor poor them..it really is their problem not mine and I was quick to point out that they educated their children how they wanted and now as dd is MY CHILD I will educate her as I see fit.....I fight back unlike dh who is more of a roll over and show his belly type.
Both of our siblings one mine one his, are both strongly in the worst thing you could do camp. Mine has one school age child his has none.
My niece has been moved three times in three years as they moved for better work sits and she is not coping at all well so I scoff at mine's oppinion. Mine are settled in and learning to their potential and happy and content at home. Hers is constantly in trouble for nasty bullying behaviour and had fallen behind in a serious way.
His as mentioned is a s.i.n.k's bloke really has no idea.
I have pointed out to them all, that none of them actully know anyone that has been homeschooled so really they have no clue what they are on about. Us on the otherhand do know a woman in her 20's who was homeschooled. She is a lovely person, bright, articulate, everything you'd want in a child and a lovely grown up. so blegh!

I grew a very thick skin! and it sure does see me through just fine. I usually respond with something comical right back at them now when acosted. tee hee!

**Chrispe** · March 31st, 2012, 03:57 PM

As some one who was HS'd & grew up with lots of friends who where also HS'd, I can honestly say there are endless types of curriculum to choose from.

The curriculum I was taught from mostly is ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) it's very bible based workbook packs (PACEs) not the easiest to teach & originally American based. (not the best one out there but it's what my parents chose)

My favourite is the LEM phonics method (Light Educational Ministries) yes it started out as I religious based curriculum but you can easily teach it without the the religious aspects if you want.

My advice is to see what curriculum empowers you to understand what are teaching your kids & gives you confidence in what you are doing (some offer a course to help parents understand the curriculum & tips on teaching).

A tip from a friends who is a qualified teach & HS her own kids.
"if people give you grief about HS, point out that you are giving your children the one-on-one attention with their education that they won't get in a mainstream school." children thrive with one-on-one attention.

Chris
DS1
DD
DS2
#4 due Sep

**Shanti** · April 1st, 2012, 09:29 PM

Thanks so much Chrispe!

That last line is so true!!! I will definitely use that one if I decide to HS and I'm sure I will need to say that a few times indeed!!!!

Yeah it's good to know a lot of those religious curriculums can be taught with the religion components taken out as we are a non-religious family.

I can't believe how much there is to read on this HS topic, it's insane!!! I am a bit overwhelmed TBH, just looked at so many you tube videos and now I feel I have exhausted that, I am now looking at different homeschooling websites and then finding so many resources/websites on those sites!!

Good thing DD1 is only 3yrs old so I have some time up my sleeve to research and think about all this.

**fromscratch** · April 3rd, 2012, 08:42 PM

Chrispie brings up some very relivant points in her post.
I teach with prodominatly religious based curriculum and as a secular (non religious) family I delete the religious content from each relevant subject as we go.
I have found most secular families I know who are schooly do this easily.
It is very easy in the early days to become overwhelmed with all the information that is available.
Slow down and take one step at a time. Your little people are still little, so I suggest you have a look around at the different styles and see which apeals to you and then work from there. There really is no rush.
Please remember that if you do decide to homeschool your not locked into it for your childs entire academic life. If it dosn't suit your family or child you can always send your child to school. Same is true for schooled children. I took my eldest out of the school system when he was in grade three.
Good luck, take it slowly

**inky** · April 14th, 2012, 02:15 PM

Hi is this thread still active? I'd be interested to hear how homeschool is going for the op's. I'm reading Free Range Learning to get me started. The School system & it's naplan shenanigans doesn't interest me. I know there's a better way for all our children.