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What is Natural Learning?
© Beverley Paine Natural learning is very similar to unschooling. Natural learning builds upon a belief that learning unfolds naturally from within the individual and grows to include social settings, such as family, close friends, community and society in general. Natural learning follows closely the patterns of activity already existing in daily life, building a rich and comprehensive educational experience. Children become intimately involved in all aspects of family life, often including family working life. They are not closeted away from the world of adults, but are welcomed, in 'apprenticeship' roles, and valued greatly for their contributions. Where skills and knowledge are needed, within these rich social contexts, resources are always found. On the Learning Naturally mailing list support group I asked the question: For me natural learning is giving myself permission to learn; to recognise and honour that no matter what I'm a learner, can't stop myself learning, and that each and every moment of every day I am learning something and it's up to me to work out what (if I want to!). Often I find that I'm learning several things all at the same time, and on different levels of understanding, as well as in different parts of my being. I can consciously learn: that is direct my brain and body to learn something that I want or need to learn. Most of the time the whole learning process goes on without me being 'in control'. That's why I like to spend a lot of time reflecting, to work out what I've learned. Often I find that I seem to be learning the same thing over again. I'm a slow learner! :-) Sometimes I am learning the same thing over, but in a different way, so it's actually a little bit new, or from a different perspective, or to a deeper level of understanding. I love it when the 'aha' moment happens in my head. I've found that by examaning closely how I learn I grew in understanding about how others learn, especially my children. What I don't think natural learning is ... is a style of homeschooling. Or a homeschooling method or approach. I believe that school kids and uni kids are anyone studying from a book or a teacher is learning naturally. One of the list members posted that learning naturally is allowing oneself to live totally in the moment... It's very much a child-like state, isn't it? I don't think we have to worry too much about our children not learning naturally. What I learned from reading John Holt et al is that our job is to get out of their way, to stop interfering in their natural learning process. I think a lot of people interpreted this as to mean "let the child do and learn whatever he wants". I don't think it's that at all. Children don't learn in a vacuum. They live within social units and their first lessons in life are about how to secure what they need from their parents in order to survive and thrive... Those first few months of life go so much easier when we, the parents, cue into the needs of the child rather than try to force them into fitting into our way of life. The dance between new born and parent is a wonderful one to observe. I love the way this aspect of parenting is honoured among many new parents - and wish I knew 20 years ago what I know now! It doesn't seem to matter at what age/stage we recognise the need to join this dance, honouring the needs of the child nestled within the social units of family nestled within social units of community and culture... What babies desperately seem to need is time... Time for us to take a breath, calm down, put away the imperative to fix, soothe, solve NOW and take the time to see the situation from a different perspective, empathise with others, pause and let a different section of our brain Children need us to pause too... We're in so much of a hurry for them to grow up, get it right, do the right thing, be successful, achieve, do the best they can, make us proud, make themselves proud, finish what they are doing... Living in the moment is taking the time to notice time passing... "What we need to do, and all we need to do, is bring as much of the world as we can into their lives; give them as much help and guidance as they ask for; listen respectfully when they feel like talking; and then get out of the way. We can trust them to do the rest." - Lisa Wood Natural learning ... allowing the process of learning to occur, unhindered by interference, in a social context where the learner is not isolated from the world of meaningful action. Natural learning ... is simply following common sense. |
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Please note: |
and support person Beverley no longer
takes phone call or email inquiries.
Please join one of her yahoo groups
if you want to know more about
homeschooling or have a question.
Beverley supports:
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Annual National |
Home Education Association
AussieHomeschool
Rockpool Homeschool
Joyous Learning
Life Learning Magazine
Parent at the Helm
books, ebooks and booklets by Beverley!
Interested in homeschooling, but still not sure? Read All You Need Is...'
Looking for educational resources?
Home Education Directory
Questions about homeschooling?
Browse the Article Library.
Wondering what to teach? See
Australian Homeschool Curriciulum
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Travelling and homeschooling? Keep in touch with
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HEA Resource Directory
to find some of the best Australian
home education resources available!
Including...
Always Learning Books
Downunder Literature
Spiral Garden
Australian History Pictures
Home education is a legal alternative
to
school education in Australia.
State and Territory
governments
are responsible for regulating
home
education. Different states have different
requirements, however home educating
families are able to develop curriculum
and learning programs to suit the
individual
needs of their children.
For more information visit the
Home Education Association
Thank you for visiting!
Pioneering members of the home education movement in Australia, Beverley and Robin Paine are passionate advocates of true educational choice for families. They began homeschooling their children in 1986 and three years later started the South Australian Home Based Learners network.
Beverley wrote Getting Started with Homeschooling in 1995-97 and since then continues to write books and booklets on home education. She balances spending time helping home educators with working in her garden and renovating her home, as well as continuing to build her collection of writing on a variety of homeschooling subjects. Beverley maintains an extensive collection of websites as well as several Yahoo groups supporting families teaching their children at home.
In 2007 Beverley joined the HEA and became a committee member in 2008: she also edits and produce the HEA Newsletter, HEA magazine, Stepping Stones for Home Educators, annual Resource Directory and other HEA publications.
If you'd like to keep in touch with what Beverley is up to her in her life, sign up for the Homeschool Australia Newsletter or visit her Homeschool AustraliaFacebook page.