Getting Started with Homeschooling
Practical Considerations for Parents of School-Aged Children
© Beverley Paine
Index
Homeschool
Australia
Putting It All Together
It is always a good idea to start with the children’s interests as the initial focus for learning activities. Beginning at this point will guarantee the children’s motivation. Include the children in the planning process and be careful not to ‘take over’ with suggestions or ideas. This will mean their enthusiasm for exploring their hobbies and interests as part of their educational program will not wane.
It is very easy for parents to become ‘carried away’ when home schooling, and take on the role of ‘teacher’ in a traditional sense. The model for this type of education is derived from the parent’s own educational experiences in the past, sometimes decades beforehand! Home schooling gives families the opportunity to create an entirely new model of education, one of true democratic participation by all members. It is impossible to duplicate school conditions in the home, and trying only generates frustration and disappointment. It is very important to allow your children some sense of ownership of the direction and content of their learning. Involving them in decisions about what, and how, to learn does this.
Pick a time suitable to both you and the children to talk about what areas of interest they would like to explore. You can introduce subjects or areas of learning you feel are important. Often these can be integrated with the chosen interest area to provide novel ways of learning. For example, if your children are keen cyclists you can ‘teach’ map reading skills, direction (compass), measurement, velocity, time, planning, health and safety requirements, friction, force and energy, bicycle maintenance and use of tools. You have just covered content and skills in several traditional curriculum areas, simply by riding bikes!
When planning, brainstorm all the possible activities and directions you could investigate related to your children’s interests. Brainstorming allows you to wander into the realms of fantasy - what may seem impossible at first glance can often work out with a little creative thought and planning!
It is a good idea to get used to thinking of things which are at, or just challengingly above, your children’s levels of knowledge and existing abilities. Too sophisticated or difficult tasks and concepts will only result in bored children, and can ‘turn them off’, not only to learning, but also a favourite area of interest. Maybe even you as their learning guide! Once this happens it takes time to regain their confidence, and can set back learning considerably.
Another starting place when writing a learning program is to look carefully at what is already happening in the home. You may be planning a holiday, a new room, a garden, perhaps a new baby! These are areas ripe for extended learning opportunities. Even if this is not the case, many of the everyday activities of home life can be extended to help you teach your children.
There are many areas you are competent in that the children can learn to do, and will enjoy doing if the responsibility is at first shared. Learning by the ‘apprenticeship model’ is the first and possibly best method of education. Talk to your children about what you are doing, and why, exploring different aspects of your task with them thoroughly. Sometimes they will simply choose to watch, and as they grow confident ask to help you, or perhaps for instructions to do things for themselves.
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Excerpt from Getting Started with Homeschooling, Practical Considerations
© Beverley Paine, 1997
