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Getting Started with
Home Schooling:
Practical Consideration

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Learning In The Absence of Education

Essays on Home Schooling

Beverley Paine

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

AUS$22.95

Save $5!
now only $17.95

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.

Unschooling takes 'education' out of learning - allowing learning to occur in a natural way, led by interest, passion, need, want, desire, to satisfy some immediate demand or long term goal. Learning becomes personally meaningful to the learner. This doesn't take the 'teacher' or 'mentor' out of the picture - home learning, in whatever form it takes, is a family and community affair. Decisions made about learning activities are generally cooperatively decided after consultation and shared brainstorming sessions. Sometimes learning becomes an intensively personal affair; at other times the whole family will pursue an interest together with avid interest.

THE BOOK THAT WILL CONVINCE YOU TO RELAX...

What readers think...

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

"I should say thank you for your wonderful book, “Learning in the Absence of Education”.  About 3 years ago, I conveniently left it lying around, hoping that my husband, who was extremely doubtful about natural learning, would read it. I was outside in the garden a few days later, and he came out saying, “Have you read this?”  I thought he was angry about it, and I tentatively said, “Yes…”  I waited for his reply, which was - amazingly - “It's BRILLIANT!” 
He loved your writing style and what you had to say, and it gave him the reassurance he'd been looking for. He's had a few anxious moments since then (as I think we all do), but nothing like it was. He's learned to trust in the natural drive to learn that children have, when they live in freedom with interested and supportive parents walking the road with them.
Thank you for your part in helping our family find joy in the freedom of learning naturally!" Karen

"I really like Learning in the Absence of Education. It's so real. Discussing your life and feelings so honestly made me realise i'm not the only one.  I particularly liked 'The Ups and Downs of Home Educaton' and 'Why Home School'. Thanks for writing this book. " Anne-Marie

"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

• 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

SEARCH this site:

If you like what you read here, you can order Beverley's books!

	Getting Started with Homeschooling - how to write your own learning programs
	Beverley's E-books
	Learning Without School - how 30 families homeschool
	The Homeschooling Trail - Christian unschooling life
	Learning in the Absence of Education - over 60 articles
	Practical Homeschooling Booklet Series - your questions answered!
	Educational Games Booklet Series - make learning fun!
	Practical Homeschooling Booklets Language Development Series
	Natural Learning Series
	Homeschool Diaries
	Ready to use Portfolios / Report Cards
	Fridge Magnets - handy reminders!
	Homeschool DVDs
	Sample Learning Programs
	Stock Clearance

HOW TO ORDER

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Home education is a legal alternative to school education in Australia.
State governments are responsible
for regulating home education.
Different states have different
requirements, however homeschooling
families are able to develop curriculum
and learning programs to suit the
individual needs of their children.
For more information:
Home Education Association

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