What would I know?
Well here is a little about me... I have been a teacher for over 10 years working across a range of year levels. For the past 4 years I have been passionate about private tutoring and HOMESCHOOLING.
OMG have a learnt a lot! I am now such an advocate for homeschooling now because I have seen it working so well for so many families. Most of the children I have worked with in the past 4 years have not only been academically doing well but also thriving socially and emotionally.
As a parent myself, I only wish I knew more about homeschooling when my children were younger. In saying that, I now get to work with many amazing families across the Sunshine Coast who are kicking goals! GO YOU!
Here is a brief look into homeschooling. If you would like more information or personalised advice, please feel free to reach out. I am more than happy to offer a complimentary phone/zoom call to help support you on your homeschool journey!
But first... What can it look like?
Every family is different!
It may seem obvious but for many concerned homeschool parents or guardians that contact me, they always have the same worries. "Am I doing enough?" "I wasn't very good at school, I don't know if I am doing the right thing." Guess what... You are doing an amazing job! You may be doing things a little differently from other homeschool families and that is OK! Not every family is built the same and neither should the way you homeschool your child. If you are having troubles, there are plenty of resources out there to help you fine tune learning, extra curricula areas, planning, reporting etc.
Here are the 2 most common homeschooling options in Queesland.
Distance Education
What is it?
Distance education is where a family chooses to enrol their child/ren into a distance education school. These schools have a set curriculum aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
What does it look like?
Each school is different in the way they manage their content and have differing attendance expectations. Some expect the children to be online during school hours, where others have set work for the week and have minimal online classes.
Pros:
This can work really well for busy families as the curriculum is set for them, assessed and they receive reports from the schools.
Cons:
The curriculum is aligned to the Australian Curriculum and there is minimal flexibility around modified learning.
Home Education
What is it?
In Queensland, we have a regulatory system called Home Education Unit (HEU) who approves the parents education plans and reports to ensure they are offering a high-quality education
What does this look like?
By choosing to approach homeschooling this way, parents/guardians declare that they will be the primary educator their child/ren. In saying that, they can outsource tutors, focus lessons/workshops, interest-based activities, and drop-off days.
Pros:
Learning can be adapted and aligned to the vast needs of the child/ren. It allows significant flexibility in how and what the families choose to teach.
Cons:
Parents can find planning, reporting, finding resources and frequent external activities overwhelming (especially for the first year).
Like I mentioned above, this is not an exhaustive list, so please free to add a comment to this blog and share your personal experiences.
One thing I have really learnt is..
"It takes a supportive community to homeschool children"
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