We are going to home educate out 5 year old next year...Curriculum help 4 Australia?

Question

We are looking for a sound foundation for the early years of schooling both in education of the mind, body and soul, and yet as naturally progressing (self teaching/learning) as possible.

Answer 1

I have a 5 almost 6 year old daughter that I started "officially" homeschooling last year.  I started out with all kinds of curriculum and tried to do school at home.  Well I found out that wasn't going to work for us and found some local hs groups.  I took her to park days and on field trips and observed the other families that had been hsing for awhile.  They were all so relaxed (at least the group that I decided my style fit with best) in trusting the children to learn.  I offer tons of opportunities and then let he gravitate to what interests her.  She has been in dance and gymnastics then decided to take a break from those. Now she is in karate, soccor, a chess class, art, Spanish, science & math club and history club.  I know that it sounds like a lot but she like to keep active and not all these things are weekly.  Then I read to her everyday books that are a little more substantial than the suggested reading age.  She plays a lot.  I have purchased several games that are educational and she learns a lot that way.

Some people like to follow a certain way...Montessori, Waldorf, Charlotte Mason...etc.  I like to take a little here and there and come up with what works for us and not get bogged down with the "right" way.

My advise is to not worry so much about curriculum at this age but to focus on playing, using imagination, being outside in nature as much as possible.  Expose her to all kinds of experinces and see where she gravitates...museums, sports, performing arts...or???

Answer 2

Hi! I'm 14, live in Oz and am one of 9 siblings all of whom are homeschooled - we're unschoolers so we don't use any curricula as such.



If you haven't done so already, check out the Home Education (Australia) website @ http://www.hea.asn.au

Other websites I found include:

http://www.kepl.com.au/links.html

http://www.leapingfromthebox.com/hs/elis...

http://homeschoolaustralia.beverleypaine...

http://www.homeschoolzone.com/yp/austral...

You may also want to take a look at Susan Bauer's book: 'The Welltrained Mind'. That contains an outline for a curriculum for classical education (and so could satisfy your requirement for an 'education of the mind, body and soul'). It is written for Americans though so has a strong American bias; however we know of other Aussie families who have taken her curriculum and succesfully 'Australian-ised' it to make it more relevant to them.

Answer 3

I homeschool a first grader in the U.S.A. and do not know much about the homeschooling laws in Australia.  However, following is a link to a yahoo group for Christian (secular homeschoolers are welcome too) homeschoolers in Australia:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianH...

Following is another link with information on Australian homeschooling laws, how to pick a good homeschooling program, etc:

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regi...

I hope this information is helpful.

Answer 4

If any country I would NOT homeschool a child it would be Australia and New Zealand. Because of whole language VS Phonics- these two countries teach only whole language and the reults of PISA (A World Literacy Organization) Australia ranks number one in the world!

See  http://www.pisa.oecd.org/document/39/0,2...