Home school isn’t just ‘school at home’

Home school should not be just ‘school at home’. Unfortunately, many of the commercial programs out there are really offering Distance Education, not home schooling. There's a huge difference. They push kids onto screens with subscriptions and online lessons. They are boring, generic and an unnecessary waste of time. We find neurodiverse kids are particularly overlooked in the 'one-size-fits-all' approach of many providers. I am concerned that such programs actually turn kids and parents off home schooling, which is a great pity.

I'm an ex-secondary teacher and author. In the past decade, I’ve written 45 school books and resources for Australia’s biggest educational publishers, and those books are in use across the country. So, I’m very familiar with the Australian Curriculum. These days I write customised Home School Programs and create my own books and resources that I know kids will love – some pen and paper based; others very hands-on practical projects. And all properly guided with no need for parents to teach.

As a home schooling mum myself, I know it’s critical to address our kids’ genuine interests and tap into their current passions. They give us an access point so that truly valuable learning can happen. And there’s no need to artificially motivate them to work on topics they love. My two boys are in Stage 5 at the moment, and they’re thriving because of this approach.