Getting Started with Homeschooling
Practical Considerations for Parents of School-Aged Children
© Beverley Paine
Index
Homeschool
Australia
Examples Of Learning Programs
The following collection of learning programs are taken from records spanning several years. It isn’t necessary to stick to one approach, and trying out different ideas and evaluating them can help to evolve the ideal method for your family.
In addition to these examples, there are several illustrated in Part 6, Planning Methods, which serve as records of learning programs in their own right.
The first example is an overview of the author’s learning program. This program is kept in a folder with a copy of the philosophy, goals and overview statements as detailed in Part 3. The program covers a period of one year, and was recorded for the purposes of obtaining registration, and as a permanent record of the family’s approach to education. This program was supported by a collection of learning plans in individual topic or skill-based areas, developed as the year progressed.
Home Based Learning Program - 1997
Program Outline - Roger
Roger will complete selected studies in the ‘8 Plus’ mathematics text, with additional practical work based on real life situations given. Work covered will be in the areas of fractions, decimals, probability, calculators, geometry, percentage, measurement, algebra, including numbers. Assessment will be by completion of tests in the text, and reference to Maths Curriculum Guidelines. Upon satisfactory completion of this text, he will progress to using ‘Business and Social Mathematics’ text, focussing on statistics, networks, spreadsheet computing, earning and spending, and investment and borrowing.
In addition, Roger will be involved in planning, designing and building renovations to our house, including kitchen cupboards; involving completing scaled drawings and calculation of materials required for the construction and probable cost.
Roger will continue to manage his own finances, preparing a personal budget using the computer, and opening a bank account.
To supplement his own writing and reading work, Roger will complete selected
lessons in "Basic Reading Skills" according to need, and participate in an
individualised spelling program. He will be encouraged to read fiction, with
an emphasis on discussions relating to intent of author, personal response,
bias and style, and will participate in shared family reading sessions. He will
be encouraged to critically read a variety of material, particularly
newspapers, journals and magazines of his own choice, and to identify bias,
and distinguish between fact and opinion. Roger will become a skilled user of
information sources such as the library, encyclopaedias, thesaurus, dictionaries, atlases and other maps. Roger will keep a personal
journal, and also be required to make entries in the excursion scrap book as
appropriate.
There will be a focus on developing telephone skills, including answering and making all types of calls, emergency calls, information accessing (consumer, information, businesses, operator), and using the White and Yellow Pages.
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Excerpt from Getting Started with Homeschooling, Practical Considerations
© Beverley Paine, 1997
