|
Maintaining Confidence as a Home Educating Parent
© Beverley Paine
In my early days of homeschooling I suffered from a bad bout of lack of confidence. It is hard enough going against the flow, being different from everyone else in the neighbourhood, without the approval of those I hold most dear to myself.
I remember live in fear of being "caught out" as a bad mother by my own mother and mother-in-law who both disapproved of home education in the beginning and still voice some reservations, despite fourteen years of our homeschooling practice. This was compounded by my early departure of regular school methods and immersion in a natural learning style of education.
Those early days were peppered with 'back to school' activities to keep my sanity from tipping the scales. I desperately needed some reassurance that my children were learning as well as their schooled students. If only to provide ammunition for the barrage of questions I faced whenever I stepped outside the home, or when the relatives came to visit.
I believe that whatever keeps you sane and secure, keeping insecurity and lack of confidence at bay, is a good thing. Often we tend to put ourselves down, criticise ourselves unfairly, because we aren't using a particular approach, educational materials or engaging in certain activities, or pushing our children as hard as we can... it doesn't matter what we do, some days we just seem certain to fail - fail ourselves and our children and our homeschooling practice!
John Holt was pretty clear about what resources and methods to use - anything that works for you and your family! That makes sense. He didn't mean rigidly adhere to any one approach or material either. Pick up what works now, and discard it when it no longer seems to work. Even 'natural learners' learn from text books from time to time, or teacher led classes. I have always turned to John Holt's books for a few words of wisdom when things begin to look bleak and homeschooling life starts heading downhill.
In our home we always resorted to school type activities when my confidence and security in our chosen and preferred approach was low. A school based education is what Robin and I grew up with; it is what we know best, and have seen working well - so we are comforted. When we feel confident about the children's growth and development and educational progress we relax and let more experimental approaches dominate. This way we grow and develop, in a very natural way ourselves!
I haven't learned to do this in a vacuum. I keep researching information on education - in magazines, books, the library and more recently on the internet. I swap anecdotes and information with homeschooling friends, attend workshops and conferences, even ones for school teachers when I can. I try and learn as much as I can about the learning process, mostly by observing my own children, but also other children, and from the words of researchers and other parents. I am continuously learning about homeschooling and education. This helps my confidence levels enormously. I can't overstate how much this has helped.
I've made it my business to read up on many different styles of educational curriculum, keeping up with current trends. Being able to converse with teachers and education bureaucrats has helped boost self confidence. I regard myself as a teacher, on par with other teachers. My training isn't a four year course - it is ongoing. I can't afford to fail my students so I have to stay on the ball. In the early years I happily used checklists and activity guides, even though we didn't set the same kind of activities they did in schools or learn in the same way. All of this helped formulate the vast amount of knowledge I now have and share with others.
Keeping records has been my greatest ally in overcoming lack of confidence, and in persuading others of the effectiveness of our learning style. I'd recommend it to anyone. The only proviso is to do the record keeping for yourself, as an evaluation tool for your homeschooling program and practice - not as assessment on your children, or to get 'approval' to continue to homeschool. That corrupts the process and doesn't offer the best confidence boost available. With respect to relatives, in-laws and close family members, my most effective tool in convincing them we are okay and know what we are doing, is time. Time helps as it lets them see for themselves our children's educational progress. Not report cards or certificates, although writing up a few in the first year is an interesting exercise and helps everyone to feel more 'normal'. It is the children themselves, in the way they present themselves, with their natural curiosity, interest and conversational skills, who with ease convert others to the cause.
So take a deep breath, pour yourself a cuppa and sit back, knowing that time is going to help out. The first rule in homeschooling is relax, second is relax some more!
Was this article helpful? Was it worth $1.00 to you?
Your gift of $1 or more helps to keep this site operating
offering encouragement
and reassurance to families
wanting
better outcomes for their children.
Beverley Paine with her children, and their home educated children, relaxing at home.
Together with the support of my family, my aim is to help parents educate their children in stress-free, nurturing environments. In addition to building and maintaing this website, I continue to create and manage local and national home educating networks, help to organise conferences and camps, as well as write for, edit and produce newsletters, resource directories and magazines. I am an active supporter of national, state, regional and local home education groups.
"You've been an inspiration to me, I love the way
you really listen to people." Vanessa
"Whenever I read your writing I always come away
with increased confidence in my ability to provide and
share a wonderful learning journey with my family!" Davina
"Your guidance, understanding, support and words of
wisdom changed our lives. We now offer support and
organise many homeschooling events for others." Lesley
"Thank you once again for your prompt and friendly service.
I am convinced that your books are going to add
quality and peace of mind to my journey of teaching my kids
at home! Just from studying your website, until almost
2am
in the morning, I 've been encouraged!" Louisa
"Thank you for all your many,many reassuring words
over many, many years. You probably don't know exactly how
valuable you are to the Australian Home Education community.
I've been reading your stuff for maybe 8 years or more now.
And I'm very grateful." Gythaa
Want to learn how to write your own education plans to suit
your unique children's
individual learning needs?
Looking for quality curriculum and teaching tips ?
Over 1000 reassuring and
informative articles to help
build your confidence as an Educating Parent
|
|
Welcome to the World of Home Education
and Learning without School!
We began educating our children in 1985, when our eldest was five. In truth, we had helped them learn what they need to learn since they were born. I am a passionate advocate of allowing children to learn unhindered by unnecessary stress and competition, meeting developmental needs in ways that suit their individual learning styles and preferences. Ours was a homeschooling, unschooling and natural learning family! There are hundreds of articles on this site to help you build confidence as a home educating family. We hope that your home educating adventure is as satisfying as ours was! Beverley Paine
3 ESSENTIAL STEP BY STEP GUIDES
Let experienced home educators Beverley, Tamara and April walk you through HOW to create a learning plan that builds on solid foundations that works for YOUR family AND ticks all the boxes for home educaton registration!
|
|
 |
"Your guidance, understanding, support & words of wisdom changed our lives." Leslie
"I feel specially inspired by Beverley's words and, the more I read her comments, the more inspired I feel, since
my need for support, respect for different parenting styles, and information are fully met." Marijo
|
The information on this website is of a general nature only and is not intended as personal or professional advice. This site merges and incorporates 'Homeschool Australia' and 'Unschool Australia'.
The Educating Parent acknowledges the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners, the Custodians of Australia, and pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people viewing this website.
Home education is a legal alternative
to school education in Australia.
State and Territory governments are responsible
for regulating home education and have different
requirements, however home educating families
are able to develop curriculum and learning programs
to suit the individual needs of their children.
Without revenue from advertising
by educational suppliers and Google Ads
we could not continue to provide information
to home educators. Please support us by letting
our advertisers know that you found them on
The Educating Parent. Thanks!
|
About
Thank you for visiting!