HEY! WHAT'S THE BEST HOMESCHOOLING PROGRAM TO BUY FOR MY CHILD?!

This is something I am seeing posted A LOT lately. You've realised (and the reason will be different for everyone) that traditional schooling isn't the right model for your child. So you land on the internet or onto a homeschooling support page and post the question: "Hey! What's the best homeschooling program for my child?! Any good recommendations out there?" And here's how I would answer that question if you asked me directly.

Firstly, I would say to you that YOU DON'T NEED TO BUY A HOMESCHOOLING PROGRAM.

I know. I know. It's sounds weird and wrong. "What do you mean I don't need to buy a program?! How the heck am I going to teach my kid at home then? Did I mention I'm not a teacher?!" I hear you say.

Yep I know. I've got you! See...you need to have a homeschooling program BUT you don't need to BUY one. You can create one yourself. And before you ask..."Did you not hear me when I said I'm not a teacher!"....

Yep! I did...but let me just hit you with this truth: Homeschooling is a LEGAL and valid educational option in Australia. Yes - you have to show (according to each state/territories guidelines - and these vary so it pays to check with your local state/territory body*) that you will provide quality learning opportunities for your child. HOW you do that, is widely up to you (within those guidelines). I'm in NSW and we are in our 16th year of registered home learning through NESA (actually when we started it was under the Board of Studies!) Every 2 years, I apply through the NESA Home Education Unit to homeschool my kids. I design a plan of activities, resources and concepts that we aim to cover in those coming two years of their registration period. I look at the NESA outcomes document HERE and use that to gauge the kinds of concepts my kids might be grasping or at least being exposed to in that stage of their learning. I use it as a guide only because I know that one of the things I value most about homeschooling is the ability to tailor a learning journey to a child rather than forcing a child to learn things 'by a particular age'. Again, in other states, ACARA or other learning curriculum and outcomes etc are used so it really does pay to check with your own state/territory* (I will link you to a doc at the bottom of this post that actually has ALL the links for each state/territory home ed unit in it for you).

"Ok - but then what happens next?" is probably your next question. The next best, most helpful thing I have found is to observe my child. If your child has been at school or even day-care for an extended period of time, you might need some time to just build rapport and trust. That is learning on its own! BONUS: HERE'S an old post about engaging a child's sense of curiosity that you might like to read. You might even find that you don't really know what makes your child tick (that's ok - just acknowledge that and make time and space to amend this). BONUS: HERE'S a link to a post you might find helpful about identifying a child's interest and tailoring learning to that end.

You have time and space on the journey of life to learn as you go. Read interesting books aloud. Go to fascinating places (especially ones that your child is interested in visiting!). Ask them to create their own 'learning bucket list' (listing things they'd like to know/experience) and then try and do them. Don't attach a 'school' type activity to it. But DO take photos or make your OWN notes about the when/where/how/what/why etc. BONUS: HERE'S a link about how YOU as the parent/carer become LEARNING DETECTIVE!

Ok so recapping: 1. You've had a look at the guidelines for your state/territory*. 2. If you're in NSW like me, you might like to check out the NESA Statement tool linked above, identifying some of the curriculum areas your kiddo might be covering over the coming 2 years. 3. Observe your child - see (when no demands are placed on them) how they like to spend their time. What are their interests? What is making them tick right now? If they had a 'spare day', how would they like to fill it? 4. Focus on relationship - yours and theirs, theirs within their family/community, theirs with themself even! Homeschooling gives so much time and space for this. You are NOT on the same clock as school! It's totally ok to go and sit in a park and have a picnic together, or go fishing or watch their favourite movie at the cinema. Life = Learning = A Life of Learning!

5. When you are ready to, you can begin to gather your own supply of resources and you can start to make a plan of the activities and resources you might use in the coming registration period. HERE are some templates you might find helpful if you are in NSW. It's getting late so I'm going to leave it there (since it's my first post back after a year's break. Working on Intertwined has been one of the most intense but rewarding experiences of my life! More on that another time!) * HERE IS THE LINK to the freebie registration download I made a couple of years back (and recently updated). I hope you find it helpful. Lusi x