Homeschooling, Unschooling and Natural Learning Books... to Inspire and Encourage

Always Learning Books

Catalogue : How to Order : Fiction : Homeschool Australia

Homeschooling is easier than you think.

Save time and simplify your homeschooling life.

Learn from experienced homeschoolers
with decades of experience

HOW TO WRITE YOUR OWN CURRICULUM
It really is that easy!

"I have most of your books and regularly peruse them whenever I feel overwhelmed or tired... Thankyou for your unending support for homeschoolers ... by sharing your experiences, we are into our third year of homeschooling and enjoying it thoroughly." Marina

"Thank you for your generosity in helping me to make a start in my home school adventure. The information you supply is real and generous. It is fantastic reading. I am so inspired and your honesty is so rare. Most books do not really explain "how" as well as you do." Tracy

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Beverley's Weekly Homeschooling Tip

Maintaining Confidence

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!

Unschooling author John Holt was pretty clear about what resources and methods to use - anything that works for you and your family!
© Beverley' Paine

Beverley's Favourite Quotes

"Any child who can spend an
hour or two a day, or more
if he wants, with adults that
he likes, who are interested
in the world and like to talk
about it, will on most days learn
far more from their talk than he
would learn in a week of school."

John Holt


See more BOOKS by Beverley

A pioneering member of the home education movement in Australia, Beverley Paine is a passionate advocate of true educational choice for families. She began homeschooling in 1986 and started the South Australian Home Based Learners network. She continues to write for homeschooling newsletters and magazines as well as hosting several websites dedicated to promoting and supporting home education in Australia. Her aim is to demystify the education process and make it accessible to all parents. Enjoy Beverley's wealth of practical knowledge, homeschooling and unschooling tips and ideas through articles and books and online at www.homeschoolaustralia.com.

Please visit the following websites for information on homeschooling in Australia:

Homeschool Australia
South Australian Home
Education
Homeschool Australia
Newsletter
Unschool~Kidz!


A percentage of sales goes to the Australian Bush Heritage Fund and Trees For Life to replenish the resources the books take from the Earth during manufacturing.

 

How to Order

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Learning In The Absence of Education
Essays on Home Schooling

Beverley Paine

AUS$22.95

 

ISBN 1876651016
Paperback, 128 pages,
glossy paperback,
210mm x 290mm,
illustrated with black and white
photographs and drawings.
1999

More than 60 essays covering a wide range of home schooling concerns and issues, such as late readers, value of play, socialisation, learning maths, part time school, and thoughts on testing.

An intimate and honest look at day-to-day homeschooling life spanning several years. Includes articles on learning maths, reading and writing, spelling, socialisation, part time schooling, fathers and homeschooling, value of play, grading and testing, coping with stress and illness, and much more.

What readers think...

Write a review and share your thoughts with other homeschooling families.

"Easy to read, with valuable insights and tested experiences. Great for someone like me who wants to know the mechanics and others' experiences before deciding to dive in."
Carolyn


"As soon as received your book 'Learning in the Absence of Education' I dropped everything and read it. I really enjoyed reading it and I am inspired to go on, finally with a more positive, less dominating and controlling homeschooling style... I am writing TRUST, FAITH and PATIENCE in big letters on my wall and starting again. I have wonderful kids and I am going to them shine, in their own way, in their own time. I appreciate being able to share these experiences with you, and thanks to your book and others like it, I know we'll get there." 

Deanne, homeschooling mum


"Learning in the Absence of Education is sending ripples through the international community of young families I am connected with here in
India who are looking into alternative means of education for their kids (the school system here in India is far more frightening than in Australia!) especially some friends here from Israel, Switzerland and Germany, we are meeting regularly to discuss yours and John Holt's writing. I will have to order some more of your books soon to share with them!"

Anna Jahns, India


"Thank you for putting down in words your journey with homeschooling. All your 'ups and downs of education' are very well written, I like remembering/going over these things which reinforce why we home educate... your book has certainly given me food for thought!"

Karen Collins


"I had the pleasure of reading your book "Learning in The Absence". I really loved it and it gave me some great ideas and lots of confidence. I still have my moments of "oh my god can I really do this!!" but I guess that helps me to keep on researching and learning about learning. I found your book so honest and the love you have for your family radiates throughout. Thank you for sharing what has made my experience easier."

Davina Sayed


"These essays are the real life experiences of a long term home educator and activist and make inspiring reading. I really enjoy Beverley's writing style in this book. It is very direct, sometimes even challenging the reader. She tries to be scrupulously honest always so we read of advantages and disadvantages of whatever topic she is discussing. She will also point out the ideal situation and how she thinks she falls short. Sometimes she is self-deprecating; sometimes she glows with enthusiasm for their successful lifestyle. There are touches of humour and sometimes wry cynicism.
Hopefully this book will answer many people's questions and fears about natural learning. It is all in here: how right it feels when natural learning is working well, what happens when we have insecurities ourselves, and the results so far. By presenting the natural learning case in this essay style, Beverley has been able to reflect the different moods, the ups and downs, that make the book a valuable resource for all those interested in home education, whatever their current style."

Janine Banks

 

What's in this book? Contents...

  • Introduction
  • Reasons, Characteristics and Outcomes of Home Education
  • Why Home Education
  • Values
  • A Day in the Life of A Child ‘Damaged’ by the Modern World
  • On Doing Nothing...
  • Conversation is Learning Too!
  • Learning Maths Conversationally
  • Seriously Questioning the Importance of Reading
  • Movies As Curriculum
  • Worrying About Writing
  • Ideas for Helping Children With Writing
  • Thoughts on Spelling
  • What is all the Fuss about Reading (Fiction) Anyway!
  • "Is Thomas Reading Yet?"
  • Worrying About Late Readers
  • Computers and Home Education
  • Setting Up ‘School’ At Home
  • Finding Time
  • Better Than Average
  • Thoughts on Educational Experience
  • Natural Learning Defined
  • Practical Tips for Natural Learning
  • Learning At Our Place - August 1997
  • Home is Where Learning Happens
  • A Day at Home with the Paines
  • Home is Where Our Learning Happens
  • A Week With Thomas
  • Dads and Home Education
  • Robin and Home Education
  • Fathers in the Home School
  • Reflecting on Home Education
  • Dispelling A Myth - ‘Practice Makes Perfect’
  • Girls In Education
  • Home Learning Schools?
  • Time Spent at an Alternative School
  • Should I Give Grades?
  • Thoughts on Testing
  • Profile on a Teenage Homeschooler
  • The Role Diet Plays
  • The Grass Is Always Greener
  • Patience!
  • Children Learning At Home The Permaculture Way!
  • A Radical Educational Alternative
  • Homeschooled Kids Are Children Too...
  • Rites of Passage?
  • The Ups and Downs
  • Addressing the Problem Of Labeling - Learning Disabled
  • A Lego Curriculum
  • The Value of Play - Lego!
  • The Human Inclination to Mischief!
  • The Gobble Guts Pizza Game
  • Learning the Times Tables
  • More on Learning Times Tables
  • To Teach or Not To Teach!
  • Being On Call
  • Socialisation or Social Development
  • Problems with the "Learning Must Be Fun" Approach...
  • Flexi School
  • Life After Home Education
  • Socialisation
  • Home Education Continuity
  • Recommended Reading

Book reseller discount available,
please email for details.


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