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Learn from experienced homeschoolers how to write your own curriculum. It really is that easy!

"I have most of your books Beverley... Thankyou for your unending support for homeschoolers ... by sharing your experiences,
we are into our third year of homeschooling and enjoying it thoroughly." Marina

"Thank you for your generosity in helping me to make a start in my homeschool adventure. The information you supply is real and generous -
fantastic reading. I am so inspired... Your honesty is so rare. Most books do not really explain "how" as well as you do." Tracy

© Beverley Paine 2006

Here's a neat trick I learned the other week and it's already starting to pay dividends.

All too often achieving my goal is thwarted by negative thoughts and a sense of despondency when things don't work out the way I want them too straight off.

Instead of looking at the situation as it is, I've learned to say "what is this NOT like?"

Try it: pick something that regularly upsets or annoys you, or in some way blocks your progress or causes chaos in your life. When you ask "what is this NOT like" you cause a shift in your perspective that will help to show you the solution to whatever problem besets you.

This concept ties in rather neatly with the permaculture adage - "the problem is the solution".

By back tracking from this new state (what it is not) I can see the steps I need to take to achieve my goal.

For example, if I am frustrated by my child's lack of enthusiasm for her maths lesson and the day is quickly sliding into one of those 'bad days', I ask 'what is this NOT?' It's not the way I'd want her school teacher to handle the situation. In a flash I see an image of a patient and sympathetic teacher who eagerly takes the time to investigate what is causing the child's learning block. Straight away my heart softens and I'm back on track, focussed on the reason I'm teaching my child at home.

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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 in 1986 and three years later started the South Australian Home Based Learners network. Beverley continues to write for homeschooling newsletters and magazines as well as hosting several websites dedicated to promoting and supporting home education in Australia. Her aim is to demystify the education process and make it accessible to all parents. Enjoy Beverley's wealth of practical knowledge, homeschooling and unschooling tips and ideas through articles and books and online at www.homeschoolaustralia.com. Since the late 1990s Robin and Beverley have been building their home education publishing business - Always Learning Books - from home with the help of their son Thomas.

Please note that the opinions and articles included in the suite of Homeschool Australia websites are not necessarily those of Beverley and Robin Paine, nor do we endorse or necessarily recommend products (other than our own) listed in contributed articles, pages, or advertisements.

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