Home schooling!

[Rodz]

My son has a learning disability and due to the treatment he is getting at school, we are considering home schooling. Some of these Aussie kids are bloody rubbishes, i feel i can just throttle them. They have no respect or anything. He is very soft spoken and they humiliate, tease and bully him. It really breaks our heart because that is the ultimate reason we came over here was for him. He was even better off in his special school back home. A kids school years should be his best but unfortunately not for me son.

Thanx

[Jill]

Shame that is really sad, I don't really agree with home schooling normally but I can understand you wanting to take him out for these reasons. How old is he?

[Rodz]

Shame that is really sad, I don't really agree with home schooling normally but I can understand you wanting to take him out for these reasons. How old is he?

We have been contemplating it for almost the entire time we have been here, the schooling system is really great in accommodating kids like him, but its these over protected Aussie kids that creates the problem. My wife came close to slapping one of them 2 yrs ago. This is the second school he has been in since we are here and both he has had problems.

He is 12 and starts high school next year.

[Queensland Girl]

Hi Rodz

As a mother of a child with learning disabilities I can understand your frustration. My daughter was in a short term 2 year Remedial School in South Africa, and experienced similar problems when she returned to her mainstream education School, as she was seen as "she must be retarded" by the cohort.(This was in South Africa)

When we arrived in Australia in her Grade 7 year she simply refused to attend the "special needs assistance" offered by the school, as she was determined to not be seen as "retarded" again. I became her special needs tutor at home and in private.

She received a higher than average OP and is now doing extremely well at University( but I still have to assist with the reading component and organisation)

A friend of mine has homeschooled her child here in Queensland and this school comes highly recommended:

www.brisbanesde.eq.edu.au.Just had a look at their website. 90% of their matriculants received and OP between 1-15in 2009 with two of their students receiving an OP 1. They have done better than the top private schools in Queensland!

But obviously, if possible, depending in the nature of your child's disabilities, a Speech therapist and Occupational Therapist needs to be involved. The initial consultation is pricey, but the home exercises and programmes make it do-able.

Learning Disabled children do better one on one- so your input could be the greatest gift you give them.

Good Luck

[NotLookingBack]

Hi Rodz,

Good decision! I homeschool (started in South Africa already) because we did proper research in order to make an informed decision about it, and realised the vast benefits thereof vs sending our kids to a "normal" school.

Have a look at http://aussiehomeschool.com/.

A book to buy:

The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook by Dr Raymond and Dorothy Moore. You can buy it online, it will be on your doorstep within a few days of ordering it.

The homeschooling support in Aus is amazing, there are many homeschooling support groups in all areas.

Feel free to PM me.

[Alida]

I second homeschooling ! It's a wonderful life for the whole family. Friends of ours (in SA) has a little boy diagnosed as 'retarded', but the mom refused the verdict and homeschooled the boy. He 'turned out' to be a very teachable, above average child ! Learning disabilities are very often wrongly diagnosed and puts a mental-emotional block on a child that only needs another kind of tuition. Only 25% of all children are in actual fact really able to thrive in the academic surrounds of standard schooling. You can get yourself the little booklet: 'They way they learn' by Cynthia Ulrich Thomas - to identify your child's learning style. It's a huge help and relief to know that. My daughter is a physical learner - she NEEDS to move to be able to learn. She definitely would have been a Ritalin candidate if I should send her to school. But because she's home, I know to allow her to rather let her play a game in order to learn something (like gather her own pebbles for maths games), than to let her sit and listen while I try to teach her.

Another wonderful book that helped me immensely, was: How Children Learn, by John Holt. Try that, it will definitely make your homeshcooling way easier !

Enjoy, homeschooling is a wonderful life.

Alida

[TMB]

Hi, please have a look at ACC, Australian christian college. www.acc.edu.au. It is one of the fastest growing schools in Australia. It has a great homeschool curriculum. In WA it falls under Southlands it is just great. Have a look you won't be disappointed.

Mel

[CharmaineH]

I am so sorry to hear about your bad experience. Have you looked into a Montessori school? Montesorri schools are private and operate on standards used by all Montessori schools around the world. I have an emotionally sensitive child and struggled with bullying (back in SA). We moved her to a Montessori and it was the best thing we ever did. Bullying and bad behaviour are not tolerated and they deal with it in a very positive way. There are not many Montessori schools, but it may be worth your while to see if there is one in your area and whether it would be an option for your family. Good luck.

[AllisonW]

I second you looking at Montessori schools. My kids attend one here in SA. WOW, WOW, WOW! I have never worried about them for one second. The emotional development is amazing and my sons have flourished!

[Neola]

HI

My 2 cents worth... I home school my kids and its the best thing ever for our family. My hubby is getting involved now too and teaching them electronics and building go carts and stuff like that. People are usually very concerned about the socialization but that is nothing to worry about. There are so many home schoolers around and groups that you can attend that you can actually be picky about it. Why don t you try home schooling for one year and see what your child does with it. Usually they thrive on it.

Great read is I saw the angel in the marble.

[Rodz]

Thanx for all the great replies. I will definitely be looking at all my options. Does my wife or myself need to do a TAFE courses or something?

[Chocolate]

Hi Rodz,

I totally understand your frustrations.

My son, 8yrs Grade 2, is in a private school (in Joburg) and he does not exactly enjoy the environment.

He is also of softer nature, not aggresive, and does occasionally get bullied.

He also, according to the teachers, has a "learning disability" - cannot focus, doesn't finish work,

untidy handwriting blah blah blah. The school would be so happy if we medicate him, as I suppose this makes their jobs easier,

but my husband and I are so against medication. Professionals like to label

everything now, why must it be a "disorder"?

So, my point is, homeschooling should be considered, as another forum member stated, not all

kids thrive in a traditional school environment. Why do our kids have to fit into the "box" that

teachers approve of? Surely their individualities need to be nurtured and encouraged.

Well, that's my opinion - good luck with your son, let us know how he progresses.

I am hoping someone on the forum could reassure me that Oz schools are very supportive

for "different" kids??????

Regards

Chocolate

[NotLookingBack]

Thanx for all the great replies. I will definitely be looking at all my options. Does my wife or myself need to do a TAFE courses or something?

No, you don't have to.

Spend a lot of time looking into the different curriculums, what they offer, what you have to do in preparationg of lessons, etc. Read up about it before jumping in, and see if you can get hold of a homeschooling group and ask lots of questions before you buy anything.

[AAAZR]

No, you don't have to.

Spend a lot of time looking into the different curriculums, what they offer, what you have to do in preparationg of lessons, etc. Read up about it before jumping in, and see if you can get hold of a homeschooling group and ask lots of questions before you buy anything.

Hi!

Sorry I know this thread is a bit old...But I'm considering starting homeschooling in S.A as we might not be in Oz by the time my little girl goes to year1. So instead of sending her to Graad 1 in Afrikaans school I'm considering doing homeschooling based on Australian Curriculum. Can you suggest any good curriculums or websites that I can look into?

I would really like to start in S.A already but must be Australian curriculum.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. If we get sponsorship we will be moving to Victoria.

Regards

A

Edited March 17, 2011 by AAAZR

[Alida]

Hi AAZR - there are a few options, like ACE Homeschool: www.aceministries.com/homeschool/

It is a very high standard homeschooling curriculum, serving all the grades. The moms are thoroughly supported. It is an American based curriculum, but they function globally. I have quite a few friends here in South Africa who were educated on ACE themselves, and / or are educating their children with it. You will be able to start in here and continue in Oz without a glitch.

There is an Afrikaans curriculum as well, with international standards and accreditation (With the University of Belgium), nl. Impak Onderwys. You'll find them on www.impakonderwys.co.za.

I feel that homeschooling under most circumstances is most definitely an excellent option to consider. I won't have it any other way with my children.

[AAAZR]

Hi AAZR - there are a few options, like ACE Homeschool: www.aceministries.com/homeschool/

It is a very high standard homeschooling curriculum, serving all the grades. The moms are thoroughly supported. It is an American based curriculum, but they function globally. I have quite a few friends here in South Africa who were educated on ACE themselves, and / or are educating their children with it. You will be able to start in here and continue in Oz without a glitch.

There is an Afrikaans curriculum as well, with international standards and accreditation (With the University of Belgium), nl. Impak Onderwys. You'll find them on www.impakonderwys.co.za.

I feel that homeschooling under most circumstances is most definitely an excellent option to consider. I won't have it any other way with my children.

Hi Alida,

Thanks alot! Will definitely have a look at ACE.

Sounds like you are homeschooling..what curriculum are you following?

Anneke

[Alida]

Hi Anneke ~

I'm not yet actively homeschooling, my children are but 5 and 3 yrs old, but I do follow a few principles I learned from a great book I've mentioned before, "How Children Learn", by John Holt. I've mentioned a few other books as well, all books that I use to already introduce my little ones to the idea of happy, joyful learning. To give them a positive attitude towards learning.

At this stage, my completely Afrikaans children are literally teaching themselves English by watching Bambi, Winnie the Pooh and Cars over and over and over and over again, even hubby and I can sing the songs ! :-)

Then I've learned to be alert to what the children ask throughout the day and using their questions to 'teach' them stuff. We've already touched topics like language (Afr & Eng), Maths, Biology, History, Geology, etc, etc, etc, all by discussions, games and seeking answers to questions. They quickly learned that asking good questions leads to interesting conversations and a nice, purposeful time together, so they are becoming all the more skilled thinkers and investigators.

Regarding writing and reading, my girl played with sponge letters in the bath since baby days and are now almost writing all on her own. Her younger brother is learning from her, here a little and there a little, while they play. Reading is on the level of a single word at a time, sentences has not yet featured, but it will come.

So to answer your question short ( ): no curriculum yet and I suspect by the time it comes to 'school age', both my children will have their basic foundation laid down firmly and we can investigate topics and ideas, without spending years trying to learn to read and write and add, multiply and subtract. At least that's what I'm working on ...

Homeschooled children need to be 'tested' two or three times during the 'school age years' to appease the authorities that the parents are not letting their children run wild and illiterate in circles in the backyard , so we'll be sure to work to be up to scratch academically, while learning through having fun together.

I would like my children to see learning as a lifelong, interesting and fun experience, not something that all of us must do to get scores written on a paper. Learning to them must be life, and life is learning all the time. It must be fun, whether it's 10 am searching for the meaning of an unknown word in the dictionary, or calculating change at the shop at 2 pm, or discussing why clouds look like they look in the evening when dad waters the lawn.

Anyways, I'm rambling ... my weakness, when it comes to one of my favorite topics !

[AAAZR]

Baie dankie Alida! Jy klink omtrent soos superwoman want as ek reg onthou van die ander threads maak jy ook jou huis self skoon... Ek het nou al vir die laaste maand nie meer `n bediende nie en moet sê ek geniet dit nogal. Ek moet definitief bietjie meer FLY-Lady principles begin toepas in my huis maar babysteps

Ek sal jou laat weet as ek cirriculum het wat ek sterk oorweeg want ek sal jou input waardeer. Klink of jy al baie navorsing gedoen het!

Ek die saamsing van die kinderliedjies..Ek sing dit al deur die dag by die werk ook

Groete

Anneke

[Alida]

Hiehie Anneke ~

Ek moet my dalk eers uit die onderwerp van huis skoonmaak uithou vir 'n wyle, vandat baba gearriveer het is daar net tyd vir krisisbeheer en soms moet die spinnekoppe stof maar 'n dag of wat daar wees voor daar tyd is om dit te verwyder ! My ritme is letterlik: voed, winde, doek, slaap - kosmaak vir kleuters / gesin, dan alles weer van voor af ! Skoonmaak en winkel toe gaan veroorsaak groot stress in my kop, want dit vat TYD !

Ek sal jou my opinie 'privaat' gee as jy lus is vir 'n lang gesprek, PM my dan gee ek jou my besonderhede. Maar wees gewaarsku, dis my opinie en nie 'opvoedkundige evangelie' nie !

[Gemsbok]

Dit is vir ons baie belangrik dat ons kinders formele Afrikaanse onderrig ontvang, so ons sal as 'n minimum Afrikaans as bykomende vak deur tuisonderrig aanbied.

Ouerbetrokkenheid is die heel belangrikste faktor in 'n kind se ontwikkeling. Die bekommernis wat ek met skole, dagsorgsentrums ens. het is dat ouers as gevolg van hierdie dienste dikwels te maklik hul verantwoordelikhede abdikeer.

Dit is myns insiens daarom minder van 'n probleem om kinders te laat sosialiseer as om probleemkinders te moet remedieer.

Uit my eie ervaring was dit vir my glad nie 'n ernstige gebrek om in Engels te leer werk en met ander in Engels om te gaan nadat ek in Afrikaans gematrikuleer en gegradueer het nie.

Mense maak myns insiens te veel van 'n ophef daaroor om hul kinders in Engelse skole te plaas.

Hoe dit ook al sy, die finale verantwoordelikheid vir kinders en hul opvoeding lê by hul ouers en ek vertrou dat ouers wat voortdurend betrokke by hul kinders is, altyd goeie besluite ten behoewe van hul kinders sal neem.

Diegene wat in tuisskool belangstel kan gerus ook Kenweb se webwinkel besoek. Al hul programme en handboeke kan van die internet afgelaai word en is ook baie bekostigbaar.

[PackingforCanberra]

Hi

We also do the ACE system at home. WE still in SA. It is Christian based with good morals. We have a 17 and 7 year old. The older one goes to an ACE school now. The younger one is still at home. We want to put him in school in Aus next year. I am a bit concerned because he is also a very gentle and loving ( among other thingsthanks to ACE system ) boy. He does sometimes stutter a bit. I am so scared if we do put him in a school kids will break him down. He is already trying to come to terms with the fact that we moving.

Can someone maybe recommend a private school (not toooo expensive) that might be a better option than a pulic school. I dont want to home school next year. He is already happy to go to a school.

Thanks

Sandra

[PackingforCanberra]

Dit is vir ons baie belangrik dat ons kinders formele Afrikaanse onderrig ontvang, so ons sal as 'n minimum Afrikaans as bykomende vak deur tuisonderrig aanbied.

Ouerbetrokkenheid is die heel belangrikste faktor in 'n kind se ontwikkeling. Die bekommernis wat ek met skole, dagsorgsentrums ens. het is dat ouers as gevolg van hierdie dienste dikwels te maklik hul verantwoordelikhede abdikeer.

Dit is myns insiens daarom minder van 'n probleem om kinders te laat sosialiseer as om probleemkinders te moet remedieer.

Uit my eie ervaring was dit vir my glad nie 'n ernstige gebrek om in Engels te leer werk en met ander in Engels om te gaan nadat ek in Afrikaans gematrikuleer en gegradueer het nie.

Mense maak myns insiens te veel van 'n ophef daaroor om hul kinders in Engelse skole te plaas.

Hoe dit ook al sy, die finale verantwoordelikheid vir kinders en hul opvoeding lê by hul ouers en ek vertrou dat ouers wat voortdurend betrokke by hul kinders is, altyd goeie besluite ten behoewe van hul kinders sal neem.

Diegene wat in tuisskool belangstel kan gerus ook Kenweb se webwinkel besoek. Al hul programme en handboeke kan van die internet afgelaai word en is ook baie bekostigbaar.

Hi Gemsbok

Ek stem 100% saam ouers wat betrokke4 is by hul kinders sal nie eendag jammer wees nie. Ons het 'n 19 en 17 en 7 jarige.(almal seuns) Ons is betrokke by al 3 ewe veel. Se nie die 19 jarige is altyd happy met ons nie. Want dit is sy lewe en nie ons sin nie Maar ek dink die 2 oudstes het nou maar aanvaar ons sal altyd deel wees van hulle besluite omdat ons omgee en nie verwag dat ander mense hulle moet lei en ondersteun in hulle mislukkings en oorwinnings.

Ek moet se ons kinders is normaal soos ander tieners maar het ons nog nooit teleurgestel nie.

LOve my boys

SAndra

[Toitjie]

I am increasingly becoming worried about the schools in Australia, especially primary schools in Canberra. The more I read, the greater the worry.

It seems that the disrespect for other people is worse in Oz than SA, which follows the trend of Britian, which is insightful. And the website comparing primary schools in Canberra is also very good reading, but the schools I initially sort of "targeted" as possibles, now look as if they dont perform.

And you simply wont know what kind of pupils are there and how bullying is treated unless your child is enrolled there.

I never thought Id say this, but I think I'll investigate home-schooling a little closer

[PackingforCanberra]

I am increasingly becoming worried about the schools in Australia, especially primary schools in Canberra. The more I read, the greater the worry.

It seems that the disrespect for other people is worse in Oz than SA, which follows the trend of Britian, which is insightful. And the website comparing primary schools in Canberra is also very good reading, but the schools I initially sort of "targeted" as possibles, now look as if they dont perform.

And you simply wont know what kind of pupils are there and how bullying is treated unless your child is enrolled there.

I never thought Id say this, but I think I'll investigate home-schooling a little closer

Hi

Daar is so baie curricullums op die mark. Gaan doen eers navorsing op internet. Ons doen die ACE. Baie Godsdienstig. Ek voel met ouer kinders veral tiener seuns gaan daai soms moeilik. Ons 7 jarige leer baie daaruit. Tuisonderrig kan baie eensaam raak tensy jy 'n groep vind wat ondersteuning gee. In SA is dit nie so populer soos in ander lande nie. Hier word ons afgeskeep omrede ons ons kinders nie in die gewone skole sit nie.

Sterkte

SAndra

[Rodz]

Hey

Just some feedback, I know it's been a while. We are living on the GC now and enrolled our son with BSDE. It's great as my wife does the English component and I do maths. All his lessons are online and he has a teacher aid as well. He is also enrolled for Cert 1 in IDMT.

It was the best move ever because at his last school we had some heated exchanges with the weakened school system who protected the hooligans more than the innocent bullied students.