An Introduction

Top 2. Jul 31, 2001 8:24 PM

» bwheather - What a relief!

Hi Belinda,
So relieved to see this topic up here. I'm an Aussie h/s mum and this is only our second term. It's still new to me, even if I'm getting the hang of it every day. I've subscribed and will be checking in often. Thanks for Stepping Stones, in all my online searches I can't think I saw it.

BTW, welcome to the Suite. It's great to see more Aussies.

-- posted by bwheather

Top 3. Aug 2, 2001 5:57 AM

» gemsmama - Re: Hi Belinda

Hi Jo!
Thanks for the welcome and interesting questions. Yes, we use the Internet often. We have only had access for about a year, at home, but it has proved to be a valuable tool. On-line I can access many lesson plans, worksheets, charts, articles and ideas to implement in our home learning situation. The children occasionally look at web sites pertaining to their current interests or study (same thing for us!)... They are too young to be using it themselves for much research, but do like the web experiences they have had.
I don't know any families who feel their kids "miss out" socially by learning from home. Occasionally kids lament that they would like more social contact, and parents seek avenues to provide this. Home educated teens in rural areas are generally the ones who would like more social contact. Personally, I think that school is an unnatural form of socialisation - forced association rather than true social learning. Our children know and spend time with many people from babies to 80+ year olds. Each has valuable social lessons for our children. They interact with the community as you or I would - going to shops, the library, local events and travelling. We interact with schooled friends (after school) and also home educating friends regularly. We attend camps and have weekend visits with other home educating families, which are always empowering and enriching experiences. To answer your question - social learning isn't really built into our "structure" as such, it is just a part of life - like most of our other "subject areas"...
Sorry to go on for so long, this is such a complicated topic - it is hard for those in the school community to imagine life without that network, and it is hard for us to imagine how those with a school commitment have time for things we enjoy each day.
Kindest Regards, Belinda

-- posted by gemsmama

Top 4. Aug 5, 2001 6:23 PM

» Terrie_Bittner - Re: Re: Hi Belinda

In response to message posted by gemsmama:

Welcome to the Suite! I'm a long-time homeschooler in the United States and am absolutely thrilled to have a chance to learn how it works elsewhere. You mentioned you must obtain permission. Is it hard to get permission where you live, or is it almost always given?

About the socialization issue, my children have been in public schools, fully homeschooled and half-and-half (half a day in public school and half at home.) They find they prefer to make friends outside of school where they can find kids they have more in common with. In school, they found themselves hanging out with kids they didn't really like just to have someone to have lunch with or something. Now they find friends at church, in their volunteer work or in their neighborhoods. They choose better friends that way, and they are more likely to have friends who share their values or academic skills.

-- posted by Terrie_Bittner