Homeschool Australia Teach Your Children at Home

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Homeschool Australia

Teach your children at home!

After 20 years of being a contact and support person
Beverley no longer takes phone call or email inquiries.
Please join one of her yahoo groups (see below) if you want
to know more about homeschooling or have a question.

	Save time and simplify your homeschooling life... Learn from experienced homeschoolers how to write your own curriculum. It really is that easy!
	"Thank you... The information you supply is real and generous - fantastic reading. I am so inspired... Your honesty is rare. Most books do not really explain 'how' as well as you do." Tracy "I cannot seem to get enough of your writings on the whole home ed subject! You portray a lot of wisdom, knowledge and experience..." Marie "A fabulous source of information and inspiration. I am very pleased to have some of your titles on my bookshelf... providing me with wonderful, detailed information and resources." Faye		"Every time I read your writing it feels like a pat on the shoulder, and that feels really good...Thanks!" Maaike Back in print for a limited time only! Beverley's manual on how to write your own homeschool curriculum! $25 Getting Started with Home Schooling: Practical Consideration

photos of children learning at home

photos of children learning at home

photos of children learning at home

photos of children learning at home

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The Nature of Children and Learning

by Beverley Paine

I used the following information when putting together our home education curriculum many years ago. It formed the basis of our home education philosophy. I've lost the original source of the information and inspiration that helped me create this list. I hope it is as useful to you as it was for me!

A child's learning begins at birth. Every child is born with his or her own individual personal characteristics. Likewise their learning occurs at individual rates and individual levels. The amount of learning will depend upon the child's age, intelligence, maturity, mental, emotional and physical health, interests, motivation, self concept, cooperation, time of day, weather and the environment. A child's learning environment can be anywhere - at home, in the playground, at a friend's place, in a classroom; anywhere the child is. A child's learning needs to be both structured, formal, unstructured, spontaneous and informal. Learning can be incremental and holistic.

Children learn when alone and when with others. They learn when they are with parents and family, friends, relatives, teachers, mentors, anyone and everyone. They learn individually, with a partner, in small groups and in large groups. Children need access to all kinds of social learning settings.

Children learn when:

it is relevant to them
it relates to their daily experiences of life
it is interesting to them
it is humorous to them
it is what they want to learn
it is serious and important for them
it is meaningful to them
it can be quickly understood
they have self confidence
they are following their own interests
they can benefit from new skills
they are satisfied with their efforts
they feel secure and non threatened
they can make their own decisions
they can take part in making decisions
they have responsibility for their learning
they can solve their problems
they are encouraged and helped
their efforts are accepted
they practice many different kinds of skills
they are engaged in activity
they are actively or passively participating
they are curious
they are personally motivated
they are asking questions
they are being entertained or are entertaining themselves
they are playing or role playing
they are talking, discussing and conversing
when they are exposed to new ideas, skills and concepts
when they reflecting, thinking about and consolidating acquired
skills and knowledge
when they are developing their hobbies and interests
when they are having fun
when they are practising
when they are allowed to take risks and make mistakes
when they are experimenting
when they notice similarities and differences
when they are making plans

After 20 years of being a contact and support person Beverley no longer takes phone call or email inquiries. Please join one of her yahoo groups if you want to know more about homeschooling or have a question.

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If you like what you read here, you can order Beverley's books!

	Getting Started with Homeschooling - how to write your own learning programs
	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
	Fridge Magnets - handy reminders!
	Homeschool DVDs
	Sample Learning Programs
	Stock Clearance

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Interested in homeschooling,
but still not sure? Read
'All You Need Is...'

Looking for educational resources?
Home Education Directory

Questions about homeschooling?
Browse the Homeschool Australia Article Library, or join our
Frequently Asked Questions
online support group.

Wondering what to teach? See
Australian Homeschool Curriciulum

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Children Learning Naturally
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Travelling and homeschooling?
Keep in touch with
Aussie Homeschool Campers!

Home education is a legal alternative to school education in Australia.
State governments are responsible
for regulating home education.
Different states have different
requirements, however homeschooling
families are able to develop curriculum
and learning programs to suit the
individual needs of their children.
For more information:
Home Education Association

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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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best Australian home education resources available! Including... Downunder Literature
Spiral Garden
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photo of Beverley and Robin Paine

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 became a committee member in 2008: she also edits and produce the HEA Newsletter, HEA magazine, Stepping Stones for Home Educators, 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 Facebook page.