Introduction to Home Education

National and State Support Groups

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Always Learning Planner, Diary & Report Planning pages F-10 Curriculum checklists Diary pages Calendar pages Self Assessment pages “Ideal for homeschoolers and unschoolers to plan and keep track of what, how and when their kids are learning, excellent for planned and spontaneous learning. What a time saver!” Tamara Kidd

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Where to Get Cheap Homeschooling Resources.

© Beverley Paine, April 2009

It is easy to spend a small fortune when we begin teaching our children at home but it isn't necessary. There are many ways we can source free and inexpensive resources, or find appropriate substitutes. If this doesn't come naturally to you join a local homeschooling group - you'll soon catch the bug and begin to see the educational potential of just about anything!

If you can't find a local support group definitely make contact with any individual contacts in your area, or even go further afield. Download my free The Educating Parent Resource Directory, have a look in the Articles section under Resources and Learning Materials and also Preparing the Learning Environment for more ideas.

Online support groups are fantastic as the members regularly share information about educational places to visit, free or inexpensive subscription internet resources, tips on how to teach or learn different skills or subjects, etc. I belong to half a dozen different yahoo groups and forums. Join my online support group - The Educating Parents Homeschooling and Unschooling as your starting place - it is a lovely welcoming group with over 12,000 members from across Australia! If you are aren't on Facebook there is a Yahoo group (see link on this page), although it is lot less active.

There are a few homeschooling forums that specialize in trading resources. These three seem to be popular - each one has its own 'flavour' and some may be busier than others, but it is worth pinning a 'wanted' notice on any online support group or forum if you are looking for something in particular. You can find these listed in the Support Groups Resource Directory. You'll also find a couple of groups specifically set up to help you find group discounts to educational resources and programs.

Home educating families love to share tips about what resources, approaches and materials are working for them. Definitely find a local or online group or three and start tapping into their knowledge and experience! Groups are full of great ideas for developing your own curriculum, learning programs, unit studies and educational experiences and materials.

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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
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organise many homeschooling events for others." Lesley

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"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

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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

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.

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ESSENTIAL STEP BY STEP GUIDES #1 Create Your Own Curriculum #2 DIY Lesson Plans & Unit Studies Getting Started with Home Educating Series of PARENT WORKBOOKS $10.00 (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!
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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.

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