Welcome to The Educating Parent Beverley Paine's archive of articles about homeschooling and unschooling written over a period of 30 plus years

HomeAbout Blog Articles Curriculum Resource Directory Shop Kids Pages Facebook

Download our FREE The Educating Parent Resource Directories today! Plus... more FREE resources!

Free download a quick guide to getting started with homeschooling and unschooling by Beverley Paine The Educating Parent in this excellent Resource Directory

 

Free directory of Australian homeschooling and unschooling support groups organised by national, state and territories

 
Plan, record and report all in the one document! Always Learning Books planners available in each year level to suit your homeschooling needs, includes curriculum checklists
Australia's original homeschooling manual from veteran home educator Beverley Paine, how to write your own learning plan and curriculum to meet your child's needs
Let Beverley and friends help you design and write your own curriculum to suit your child's individual learning needs, learn how to prepare lessons, unit studies and more, record and evaluate your children's learning in this series of 3 parent workbooks developed on Beverley's popular homeschool manual Getting Started with Home School Practical Considerations
Introduction to
Home Education
  National and State
Support Groups
  Yearly Planner, Diary & Report Beverley's Original Home Ed Manual Series of How To
Parent Workbooks

Support Groups: National SA VIC NSW QLD TAS ACT NT
Registration Guides: VIC NSW QLD SA WA TAS ACT NT

Looking for support, reassurance and information?
Join Beverley's The Educating Parents Homeschooling and Unschooling Facebook online group.

 

The Hidden Structure in Natural Learning

© Beverley Paine

"Is natural learning unstructured?"Ruth

A lot of people do think that unschooling or learning naturally is simply a matter of letting children do whatever they want, or not setting out anything for them to do - that is, completely unstructured learning. Some people think that natural learning means children are supposed to educate themselves.

However, it doesn't happen like that. We are a family who learn in a natural way, that is allowing life with all it's complexity guide the content and direction of our learning, rather than impose a rigid set of objectives to be reached by certain stages/ages, which is what a traditional curriculum does. Our home learning program isn't devoid of a curriculum - not at all - but from a casual perspective, from a visitor's viewpoint, it would look like it.

In order to feel confident educating my children in this manner I studied education and child development, both on my own (libraries, books, internet, talking to educators) and at University level (by correspondence, while I homeschooled my children, an unfinished degree). I knew what my children were learning and why, and how to help them set and achieve their learning goals. I discovered much about individual learning styles, about how learning occurs, and applied this to each learning situation. At the same time we constantly evaluated our values and life goals and designed activities that would move us in the direction we wanted to go, with life, learning and relationships.

Children are ego centric, but I'm not sure if this is the same thing as 'selfish'. I celebrate the early self centredness of young children - it is the only time in most people's lives that they really seem to know what they want and have some confidence about who they are. The process of socialisation quickly robs children of this confidence - this is a necessary part of growing up, but if too heavy a hand is applied to socialisation, such as in school, then self esteem can be irreplaceably damaged. I am guided by children's innate self confidence and understanding of who they are and what they want. When it conflicted with what the adults in the family wanted to achieve, or with what other people wanted, we negotiated solutions.

My children always learned - sometimes not what I planned, and sometimes exactly what I planned, but in a completely different way to how I envisaged such learning occurring. There lives were full of learning, and was tailored to their immediate learning needs and was personally meaningful and relevant to their lives within a time frame (sometimes this was an hour, other times the learning process on a particular theme stretched for years!). I learned to trust this - and to capitalise on what the children were passionate about, or interested in, to take their learning beyond what they might have managed for themselves. This is called scaffolding in educational circles - it's easy to do, parents naturally do it in the first five years of their children's lives.

It is important that children learn the basic skills, especially reading and writing, but with natural learning the emphasis in on child centred learning - getting the timing right, when to introduce challenges, when and how to consolidate knowledge and skills etc, is paramount. We were challenged by Thomas and his lateness in learning to read. What I find absolutely important in any learning environment is the presence of use (or practice) of skills by important adults and others - I write, I read constantly. My children grew up with one parent who writes and reads passionately and one who does not. Reading and writing are nonetheless valued in our home. Thom could see their importance in our society. His education was based on conversation, viewing, hands on activities as well as written material. Thom may never write as well as I - he may never have the passion or the need (and if he does get the need then he knows he can employ someone to excel in this area, while he fixes their computer or car, for example) - but he is literate, and that's the most important thing. This he accomplished without traditional schooling methods of learning.

Some people are worried that a 'relaxed' atmosphere to learning won't result in the gaining of wisdom, diligence or self discipline. Diligence is a skill that is acquired naturally through a child centred philosophy, because the time table for learning is internal to the learner and self set. Often tasks (whether initiated by the learner or someone else - all learning is a social after all) are abandoned unfinished - but only when whatever it was the learner wanted to know or learn is accomplished. Sometimes it's hard to know what draws us to particular activities until we've had time to reflect. The tasks a self learner feels most motivated to do are easily finished - and it through these 'successes' that self discipline and diligence are acquired. It is hard to build discipline to see tasks through to a satisfactory conclusion when the motivation for such tasks is external to the learning or, worse still, of little or no personal meaning to the learner. All too often doing tasks primarily to 'please' or 'impress' others (parents, teachers, examiner, course writer) can lead to a pattern of behaviour that promotes peer dependence and submission to peer group pressure.

As my children grew I realised that often they would abandon a project when it became apparent that they had learned the 'lesson' embedded in the task, and often this 'lesson' would be something I or they hadn't planned for, but through reflection and continuos evaluation we took notice. More often than not our projects were seen to completion. My children have, with their parent's guidance and help, built a house and a workshop. The boys, 16 and 20 are about to build a carport for themselves, having almost finished a pergola for their Nan. Roger is designing his house. This takes a fair amount of research - finding examples of architecture, working out what would be easily engineered and built, thinking about what he really wants, how space is used, etc. I've no doubts that within twelve months Roger will drawing blue prints and putting plans in to Council. This takes a fair amount of diligence, persistence, commitment. And wisdom. It is possible.

Was this article helpful? Was it worth $1.00 to you? Your gift of $1 or more helps to keep this site operating offering encouragement and reassurance to families wanting better outcomes for their children.

Thank you for your gift contribution!

Beverley Paine with her children, and their home educated children, relaxing at home.

Together with the support of my family, my aim is to help parents educate their children in stress-free, nurturing environments. In addition to building and maintaing this website, I continue to create and manage local and national home educating networks, help to organise conferences and camps, as well as write for, edit and produce newsletters, resource directories and magazines. I am an active supporter of national, state, regional and local home education groups.

"You've been an inspiration to me, I love the way
you really listen to people."
Vanessa

"Whenever I read your writing I always come away
with increased confidence in my ability to provide and
share a wonderful learning journey with my family!"
Davina

"Your guidance, understanding, support and words of
wisdom changed our lives. We now offer support and
organise many homeschooling events for others."
Lesley

"Thank you once again for your prompt and friendly service.
I am convinced that your books are going to add
quality and peace of mind to my journey of teaching my kids
at home! Just from studying your website, until almost
2am in the morning, I 've been encouraged!"
Louisa

"Thank you for all your many,many reassuring words
over many, many years. You probably don't know exactly how valuable you are to the Australian Home Education community. I've been reading your stuff for maybe 8 years or more now. And I'm very grateful."
Gythaa


CLICK HERE if you want to learn
how to write your own education plans
to suit your unique children's individual learning needs?

Or you are looking for quality curriculum and teaching tips...

Welcome to the World of Home Education
and Learning without School!

We began educating our children in 1985, when our eldest was five. In truth, we had helped them learn what they need to learn since they were born. I am a passionate advocate of allowing children to learn unhindered by unnecessary stress and competition, meeting developmental needs in ways that suit their individual learning styles and preferences. Ours was a homeschooling, unschooling and natural learning family! There are hundreds of articles on this site to help you build confidence as a home educating family. We hope that your home educating adventure is as satisfying as ours was! Beverley Paine

3 ESSENTIAL STEP BY STEP GUIDES

Getting Started with
Home Educating Series of

PARENT WORKBOOKS

#1 Create Your
Own Curriculum

#2 DIY Lesson Plans
& Unit Studies

#3 Recording and Evaluation Made Simple

$10.00 each (includes postage)

let experienced home educators Beverley, Tamara and April walk you through HOW to create a learning plan that builds on solid foundations that works for YOUR family AND ticks all the boxes for home educaton registration with part 1 of this getting started with home educating serioes of parent workbooks, Create Your Own Curriculum!
Let experienced home educators Beverley, Tamara and April walk you through HOW to create a learning plan that builds on solid foundations that works for YOUR family AND ticks all the boxes for home educaton registration!

To see the full range of Beverley Paine's books on homeschooling, unschooling and natural learning visit Always Learning Books

Tap into Beverley's experience
through her books

"Your books, your blogs helped me beyond words... they helped me to find comfort in knowing it is ok to choose exactly what is best for my family." Nisha

"Your books and information are mind blowing and already I am feeling good about this new experience." Diane

"Your guidance, understanding, support & words of wisdom changed our lives." Leslie

"I feel specially inspired by Beverley's words and, the more I read her comments, the more inspired I feel, since my need for support, respect for different parenting styles, and information are fully met." Marijo
purchase Beverley's practical and common sense books on homeschooling and unschooling
Connect with Beverley and ask questions
through her online The Educating Parents Homeschooling and Unschooling Facebook support group
.

The information on this website is of a general nature only and is not intended as personal or professional advice. This site merges and incorporates 'Homeschool Australia' and 'Unschool Australia'.

The Educating Parent acknowledges the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners, the Custodians of Australia, and pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people viewing this website.

Advertise on this site.

say goodbye to home education registration stress with this ultimate rego bundle from Fearless Homeschool

complete comprehensive step by step program that teaches you how to craft your ultimate homeschool

make homeschooling a lot easier, zero to homeschool's excellent course is here to help

Australia's best home education consultant, let Tamara Kidd guide and help you prepare your home education registration application or review

Twinkl downloadable Home education resources helping you teach confidently at home

Online science lessons for primary school aged home educating children

30% discount for purchases from ReadyEd Publications when you use the code 'homeschool' at  the checkout

reset your mindset for homeschooling success with deschooling essentials a quick course to help build your confidence as an educating parent

200 pages of templates, planning pages, tables, prompts and record sheets to organise your whole year!

subscription video art lessons by Australian artist

Australia's premier online annual conferences, lifetime access to video and audio recordings, freebies, notes and associated resource guides.

EVERY SUMMIT IS UNIQUE!

$29 each 2023 2022 2021
$25 each 2020 2019 2017

"Biggest and best Aussie homeschool event of the year!"

Home education is a legal alternative
to school education in Australia.
State and Territory governments are responsible
for regulating home education and have different
requirements, however home educating families
are able to develop curriculum and learning programs
to suit the individual needs of their children.

animated Australian flag

Without revenue from advertising
by educational suppliers and Google Ads
we could not continue to provide information
to home educators. Please support us by letting
our advertisers know that you found them on
The Educating Parent. Thanks!

Support Centre
Contact Us | Join a Support Group | Beverley's Books | Resource Directory | Blog | Donate

About The Educating Parent
Beverley Paine | April Jermey and Always Learning Books | Advertise with us

Sitemap

What is Home Education Why Home Educate Getting Started & Registering Different Ways to Home Educate
Life as a Home Educator Resources & Support Teens and Beyond Curriculum and Teaching Tips
Unschooling & Natural Learning Travelling & Home Educating Record Keeping Children's Pages

animated smiling face Thank you for visiting!

Beverley Paine, The Educating Parent
The opinions and articles included on this website are not necessarily those of Beverley and Robin Paine,
nor do they endorse or recommend products listed in contributed articles, pages, or advertisements.
This website uses browsing cookies and conducts other means to collect user information in order to display contextual ads.
Text and images on this site © All Rights Reserved 1999-2023.