Getting Started with Homeschooling
Practical Considerations for Parents of School-Aged Children
© Beverley Paine
Index
Homeschool
Australia
Identifying Resources
(continued)
- Public Institutions. These are the museums, parks, galleries, libraries and public utilities. Most run information days, exhibitions, lectures, information or support groups, and maybe some courses, and provide a wide range of resource materials. There are many educational ‘clubs’ for children you can access. Pick up newsletters or ask the Publicity Officer in each place. Local Councils may offer a Community Information Service - if not it may be found in a library or have a separate office in a community or shopping centre. Most Cultural Museums are listed in the telephone directory.
- Department of Education and Children’s Services Centres. There are Resource Centres parents can access for ‘school-type’ materials and information. Ask the education officer for information about them during your registration interview, or telephone your regional educational office.
- Telephone Book: The White and Yellow Pages are an excellent source of information, listing:
· Companies who put out information that describes their activities and services they provide (sometimes tours);
· Teachers, tutors, mentors of every sort;
· Educational institutions;
· All types of groups catering to a variety of interests - from charity to sport and leisure, hobbies and craft.
- LETS - Local Exchange Trading System. Become a member and be able to access a whole range of services, goods and tuition for barter. LETS is a non-profit Community Organisation and provides a way for people to trade their skills, talents, knowledge, experience, labour, energy, time and resources within their local community. It is a Community Exchange rather than individual barter.
- People. Especially friends and family, are great educational resources and home schooling families have found their community is alive with older (and younger!) citizens who are anxious and happy to share their skills and knowledge with enthusiastic and respectful children.
- Community and Charitable Organisations. Once again your local Council should be able to provide you with a list of these organisations which are usually happy to have your assistance or contributions. Many home schoolers actively participate in voluntary experiences in their community as part of their learning programs.
- The Mass Media. Used creatively and intelligently the mass media - television, radio, print publications for public broadcast, and computer network systems; provide an excellent and useful aid to education. Learning to obtain and meaningfully interpret information from these sources is an invaluable skill. Critical and active, not passive, use of the mass media produces much better quality learning experiences.
- Sales. All manner of sales, such as garage sales, opportunity shops, libraries, etc., provide opportunities to access a wide range of inexpensive educational resources.
- Competitions and Awards. There are several national competitions which are held annually and sponsored by the business, educational, arts, or science community. Information about these can be obtained from newspapers and educational magazines. Alternatively, inquire at your local school. Many schools encourage students to participate in these competitions.
When families are just starting out home educating it is very tempting to duplicate the school environment in the belief this will facilitate learning. Many families spend lots of time carefully selecting educational materials which they hope will assist them with the teaching learning process. Often many of the items chosen will remain unused, or seldom used, as the learning process unfolds in the home.
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Excerpt from Getting Started with Homeschooling, Practical Considerations
© Beverley Paine, 1997
