I attended public schools and 3 years of University but I consider myself self-educated. I am passionate about learning, typical of a strong " abstract sequential". I learn for the love of learning, for the joy thereof, not for external rewards. Most everything I have ever done (career-wise) was self-taught. I am thus to a great extent the product of natural, delight-directed learning - a case of "not letting my education interfere with my learning".
I have three young adult sons that never attended institutionalised school, but instead were home educated their entire lives. Most everything I know about learning (and teaching) I learnt alongside them through observation, enquiry, experimentation and innovation.
We live at "Avalon" on 1,5 hectares at the foot of the Amatola Mountains in the Eastern Cape of South Africa where homeschooling was legalised the year that my eldest was born. We were relaxed homeschoolers, dipping into unschooling or autonomous learning every now and then.
I served on the Executive of our Homeschooling Association for many years, have been quoted in the Media (regarding homeschooling) multiple times, have written articles and occasionally speak at homeschooling events (something I love doing!).
I am currently a HOD, teaching Grade 6, at an independent rural Primary School. For these children school is a safe place, it is a place where someone notices them and cares and it is a place that is stimulating, unlike many of their homes. I have compassion for these children and am challenged to make their learning real within the confines of the curriculum and timetable.
Parenting, homeschooling and teaching have been a few of my strongest interests that have taken me on some of my most rewarding journeys of exploration. These are the journeys that I wish to share.
Adele thank you so much for your presentation you gave last year at the Home school info session in East London. When I went I was very overwhelmed with the idea of home schooling. Especially knowing my child who was in "grade R" and not a child who was keen on drawing/writing and spending time sitting still. Three days in a conventional school and I knew this wasn't for him as much as I knew it wasn't for me when I was in school and could do nothing about it. Anyway , I was very overwhelmed and your presentation has just stuck with me. It has taken me this long to realize that "child directed learning" is the only way my son is going to thrive as he is intelligent but rebels at forced learning. It is just to hard to let go of the control. Again thank you for your presentation and courage to put yourself out there and help us.... I am getting there with letting go of my "institutionalized" view....one day at at time.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Tanya