Getting Started and Keeping Going in Home Education Prepared and presented by Barbara Smith

Some thoughts come to mind? Can I do it? Can I do it? Is it Legal? Is it Legal? I don’t have a teaching degree. Can I really teach my child? I don’t have a teaching degree. Can I really teach my child? How do I do it? How do I do it? What about pulling children out of school? What about pulling children out of school? Where do I find curriculum and materials? Where do I find curriculum and materials? How much time will it take? How much time will it take? What if I have several children at different levels? What if I have several children at different levels?

More thoughts What about my child’s special needs? What about my child’s special needs? Are you sure I wont ruin my child? Are you sure I wont ruin my child? What about socialisation/special interest enrichment activities? What about socialisation/special interest enrichment activities? What about exams? What about exams? How do I tell my relatives? How do I tell my relatives? Where can I get support? Where can I get support? What does it cost? What does it cost? How do I fill out the exemption form? How do I fill out the exemption form? What about ERO reviews? What about ERO reviews? Will my children be able to get into University Will my children be able to get into University Will my children be able to get a job Will my children be able to get a job

Radical Home education is a radical departure from accepted norms Of family structure Of family structure Of family organisation Of family organisation Of socialization (and we don’t mean learning social graces) Of socialization (and we don’t mean learning social graces)

Political Home education is a political Act

Getting Started Unload, turf overboard most pre-conceived ideas of school Unload, turf overboard most pre-conceived ideas of school Home education is tutoring/mentoring Home education is tutoring/mentoring Education is NOT schooling Education is NOT schooling Schools not required to teach anything in particular Schools not required to teach anything in particular Home educators do not have to keep to the National Curriculum Home educators do not have to keep to the National Curriculum Count on comprehensive change to lifestyle Count on comprehensive change to lifestyle Take one month off for every year that your child has been in school Take one month off for every year that your child has been in school

2 basket approach to Curriculum Learn to Read – thereafter, Read to Learn Skills Skills Enthusiasm Enthusiasm Curiosity Curiosity

Tailor-made You have the opportunity to design curriculum tailor-made to YOUR child’s learning style YOUR child’s learning style YOUR teaching style YOUR teaching style

Schooling and Education There is a big difference between schooling and education. In New Zealand schooling is compulsory, education is not. In England education is compulsory

Can I do this? Most definitely yes Most definitely yes Mentoring/tutoring is superior to the classroom Mentoring/tutoring is superior to the classroom Take it one year at a time Take it one year at a time No back door No back door Your own life becomes the role model. Your own life becomes the role model. (If not yours, it is the teacher at school plus the peer group) (If not yours, it is the teacher at school plus the peer group)

Parents are best qualified You know child the best You know child the best Child most secure with you Child most secure with you Home education builds on and exploits all natural advantages Home education builds on and exploits all natural advantages No-one more committed than you No-one more committed than you No-one more motivated than you No-one more motivated than you No-one with better observation No-one with better observation

Not necessary to stay ahead Learn along with your child/ren Learn along with your child/ren Just impart what YOU know and all those life skills and most important lessons in life-the wisdom, the big picture Just impart what YOU know and all those life skills and most important lessons in life-the wisdom, the big picture Attitudes, values, standards, concepts of Attitudes, values, standards, concepts of 1. Right and wrong 2. Good and bad 3. Wise and unwise

Is it legal? Parents and caregivers who wish to educate their child at home must first have approval from their local office of the Ministry of Education. Under the Education Act 1989 Section 21, a homeschooling applicant must demonstrate that: their child will be taught at least as regularly and well as in a registered school their child will be taught at least as regularly and well as in a registered school their child, if they would otherwise be likely to need special education, will be taught at least as regularly and as well as in a special class or clinic or by a special service. …MoE website their child, if they would otherwise be likely to need special education, will be taught at least as regularly and as well as in a special class or clinic or by a special service. …MoE website

Exemption Form Please go to this page to download the exemption form: ts/AllAges/EducationInNZ/Homesc hooling.aspx ts/AllAges/EducationInNZ/Homesc hooling.aspx ts/AllAges/EducationInNZ/Homesc hooling.aspx

Filling out Exemption Form Download from MoE website Download from MoE website Get help from someone in your local support group Get help from someone in your local support group Keep it short Keep it short Expect to be asked for more information Expect to be asked for more information Your statement of your curriculum Your statement of your curriculum Wont be held to what you write Wont be held to what you write Don’t mention any special needs of your children Don’t mention any special needs of your children

Pulling children out of school Detoxify Detoxify De-institutionalise De-institutionalise Re-establish relationships Re-establish relationships Establish chores and routines Establish chores and routines Take off one month for every year that your child has been at school Take off one month for every year that your child has been at school

What do we still need to cover? Can I do it? Can I do it? Is it Legal? Is it Legal? I don’t have a teaching degree. Can I really teach my child? I don’t have a teaching degree. Can I really teach my child? How do I do it? How do I do it? What about pulling children out of school? What about pulling children out of school? Where do I find curriculum and materials? Where do I find curriculum and materials? How much time will it take? How much time will it take? What if I have several children at different levels? What if I have several children at different levels?

What about my child’s special needs? What about my child’s special needs? Are you sure I wont ruin my child? Are you sure I wont ruin my child? What about socialisation/special interest enrichment activities? What about socialisation/special interest enrichment activities? What about exams? What about exams? How do I tell my relatives? How do I tell my relatives? Where can I get support? Where can I get support? What does it cost? What does it cost? How do I fill out the exemption form? How do I fill out the exemption form? What about ERO reviews? What about ERO reviews? Will my children be able to get into University Will my children be able to get into University Will my children be able to get a job Will my children be able to get a job

Three helpful booklets by Craig Smith

Negotiating the Curriculum Maze by Carol Munroe

Training Our Children By Craig and Barbara Smith

Home Education Foundation