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Home schooling is a viable, educational alternative which appears popular in other countries, especially the United States, and which seems to be gaining increasing popularity in Australia. Home schooling provides an alternative educational solution for people holding particular beliefs, or having genuine concern about specific circumstances relating to an existing situation. It is most certainly not just a simple and easy solution for any problem that may exist.
Those considering involvement in this process must understand there are not only potential benefits but also responsibilities associated with such a decision. Removing a student from a situation causing major concern is only the first step. Then come the obligations linked to legal requirements and most importantly, the effective ongoing education of your child, as this will affect not only their education but future life. It must be done with due care and understanding for it to be effective. Done properly, it can work very well. Done wrongly, it may have devastating consequences.
This page looks at beginning home schooling, home schooling blogs, magazines and journals, research, specialist areas and other general information. Some Australian material is included in these sections.
The First Page looks at Home Schooling programs, registration, support groups and other information for all Australian states & Territories. Registration and Support Group information is provided at the top of each section.
The Home Schooling Resources page provides a range of resources from Australia and overseas.
Select the relevant page for information by using the links above or the page number links at the top of this section.
If you are aware of any worthwhile information which is not included, suggestions or additions are welcome and will be given due consideration.
Specialist Areas
Catholic Homeschooling
- Crombsathome
‘We are a Catholic homeschooling family living “downunder” in Australia. We have 7 children, 3 of whom have graduated from our homeschool’. Blog format. - Catholic Homeschool Support
US based. Blog, Catholic Curriculums, curriculum approaches, online resources, getting started, more. - Love2Learn
‘Favourite Resources for Catholic Homeschoolers and others who “love to learn” ’. US Based. Review these by subject areas, look at educational theory, more.
Christian Homeschooling
- Australian Christian Home Schooling
‘Australian Christian Home Schooling exists to provide families with access to Christian curriculum and support services o they can both educate and disciple their children throughout their schooling years. Please take the time to explore our content-rich website’. - Virtual Web School
May be of use for those with an Australian, Christian emphasis.
Gifted Children - Homeschooling
- An Introductory Guide for Parents
Homeschooling Gifted Students.‘Basic information on homeschooling for parents of gifted children considering this option. Challenges and opportunities of home schooling are identified and include a large time commitment, expenses of educational resources, flexibility in providing the student with academic challenges [and] social considerations [offers suggestions for meeting social needs].’ An ERIC Digest. - Before You Decide to Homeschool Your Gifted Child
Article with embedded links. Common sense information. - Beyond School : Provisions for Gifted and Talented Students
Research project carried out at Massey University in New Zealand. Presentation to the NZAGC. - Gifted-Children.com.au
Home Schooling. Annotated links. Information, resources, organisations and more. - Homeschooling Gifted Children
Annotated links for this topic. US-based. Several already included here. - Homeschooling Gifted Children [About.com]
Annotated links. - Homeschooling Gifted Children [Austega]
‘Some ideas on the nexus of homeschooling and gifted children.’ Article plus links. - Homeschooling the Gifted Child
Article with blog link. - Home Schooling the Gifted Child [Hoagies’]
Overview, links, other sections. Use the left-hand menu. - Some Reasons for Home Schooling Gifted Children
Article with links. Also How Do I Homeschool My Gifted Child ?. Other information on Homeschooling Gifted Children is found via the Home School Association of California home page.
Montessori Homeschooling
- Montessori Home Education
Questions and Answers, links, further information. - Montessori Information for Homeschoolers
‘A list of resources that may prove valuable to these homeschooling parents. Most of these titles are available from NAMTA.’ All are Fee-based, though not expensive - Montessori Mom
‘From homeschoolers to parents, you should find the information you need to educate your children the Montessori way.’
Muslim/Islamic Home Schooling
- Islamic and Muslim Homeschooling
Annotated links to information and resources. US-based. - Islamic Home Educators
‘Aims to bring you a glimpse of Islamic Home Education in Australia from the view of the Home Educators themselves. You can check out the Blogs and read more about the day to day life of Home Schooling, browse through our Lesson Plans, make use of our Free Downloads or have a look at the Curriculum Review Forum.’ There is a good collection of links to resources and lessons as well. - Mission Islam
Originally also hosted the Muslim Home Education Network, but now ‘Mission Islam will host information on Home Education as a whole.’ Diverse information is provided. - The Muslim Home Education Network
‘Hopes to provide information and support on the viable and responsible option of Home Schooling, theoretically and practically. Our [email] List is restricted to Muslim Women Only, living in Australia.’ Very extensive. Check their Australian Home Education Online Resources and their Teacher Contributed Links.
Highly Recommended !
Special Needs Children - Homeschooling
- HESpecial
‘This is the web site of the HE-Special-UK mailing list. We are a group of families who Home Educate children with Special Educational Needs’. - Home Schooling Children with Special Needs
Information for home schooling this group. - Home Schooling Children with Special Needs [HSN]
Links to further information, articles, etc., covering multiple special needs. - Homeschooling Kids With Disabilities
A Huge site. Use the left menu to access general disability information and specific homeschooling information. Does not appear to have been updated in some time.
Note disclaimer at the bottom. - Homeschooling - Special Needs
‘Homeschooling your special needs child : Able but Challenged, ADD, ADHD, Autistic, Blind, Deaf, Dyslexic, Gifted.’ Links grouped under specific headings. - Homeschooling : Special Needs [Suite101]
Provides access to a suggested course, plus lessons to help you develop material. - Homeschooling Your Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child
‘Another Path is a comprehensive guide to homeschooling for parents who are considering homeschooling, or who have decided to homeschool, a deaf or hard of hearing child.’
Highly Recommended ! - Special Needs Corner
Information, resources and activities. Sectional information for specific needs is provided, as are links to specific Learning Disabilities. - Special Needs & Learning Differences
‘Links to resources that we hope you will find useful if you are homeschooling a child who has a specific difficulty or aptitude or whose learning, for various reasons, does not match the typical learning curve. Some of these resources are geared to special physical needs, others to different learning styles.’ Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents.
Unschooling
- Radical Unschooling
Sandra Dodd. US based but referred to by many Australian homeschoolers interested in this area. Extensive range of information much of which is international in application. - Unschooling
Philosophy, History & usage of the term, home education, socialisation, criticism, other forms of alternative education, prominent advocates, adult unschoolers of note, references, other links. From Wikipedia.
Research
Research
- Does Homeschooling Research Help Homeschooling ?
Larry and Susan Kaseman. 1991 article. - Home Schooling Case Study
‘It describes home schooling, explains the reasons why families home school, outlines the regulations and procedures involved in home schooling, and investigates the support and resources available to families who home school’. Australian. - Home Schooling [Education Week]
Article with embedded links and links in other menus on the page to further research. - Home Schooling [High Beam]
Article with references, and links to other research and articles relating to homeschooling. - Home Schooling and Socialisation of Children
An EricDigest article. A little dated, but covers all relevant points. Socialisation : A Great Reason Not to Go to School is a more recent review page. - Home Schooling Goes Mainstream
‘Reporting on the increasing popularity of home schooling in the US.’ - Homeschooling Research
‘The best one-stop-shop for homeschooling statistics, studies, and information !’ From the US-based HLDA. Links to other resources and information. - Homeschooling Research Notes
‘Discussing research about homeschooling history, policy and practice’ from many countries around the world. Part of a larger Blog on the same topic. - Homeschooling Research & Scholarship
‘The purpose of this website is to provide an overview of homeschooling as well as a comprehensive look at the growing body of research and scholarship in this area’. You can also Research by Topic from this page. - Homeschool Search Engine
‘Search the best home school sites on the internet with one click !’ - How Western Australian Parents Manage the Home Schooling of their Children with Disabilities
- Investigating Young Children’s Perceptions of Homeschooling®
While a decade old, this Australian review looks at an area that is usually forgotten. - National Home Education Research Institute
‘Conducts and collects research about homeschooling [home-based education, home schooling], and publishes the research journal called the Home School Researcher. The institute has hundreds of research works documented and catalogued on home schooling.’ US based. - Questia
‘Read complete books and articles on Home Schooling. 14 of the Best Books and Articles on Home Schooling as selected by Questia librarians.’ - Research Facts on Homeschooling
Brian D Ray. Point based article from the President of the National Home Education Research Institute. - Research Resources on Homeschooling
‘Find research on homeschooling and resources to conduct your own research.’ Links from About.com. - Scholarly Research On Home Schooling
A variety of research. US -based. Documents in PDF format. - Summary Of Australian Research On Home Education
Very extensive, well compiled listing of references to a variety of resources in various formats. - Understudied Education
Toward Building a Homeschooling Research Agenda. ‘Beginning with a brief history of homeschooling in America, this paper discusses literature describing today’s population of homeschoolers.’ An EricDigest article. A little dated, but covers all points.
Other Information
Beginning Homeschooling
Advice and recommendations regarding things to think about Before you actually start. Some sections included within other sites.
- 10 Tips for New Homeschoolers
Common sense thoughts from the people at Hubpages. - Design Your Homeschool Approach
‘Are you ready to design your own homeschooling approach for your unique family ? View this website as your guide to plan and create an approach which suits you as a family. I am here to give you homeschooling information and help you find your homeschool solutions … ’. Australian source of information. - Guide to Homeschooling
Article covering what it is, why homeschool, legal status, advantages and disadvantages, whether it is right for you and your child, getting started, curriculum, teaching approach, keeping records, will there be tests ?, and other resources. Fairly brief but covering all essential points. Embedded links throughout. - Home School FAQs
‘How do I start homeschooling ?’ to ‘How do I cope with the stress of home schooling ?’. Each opens, often to multiple pages, of response. Links to other home school material and information from the menu. Each leads to further tips and advice. - Homeschooling In Australia :
Where Do I Begin ?. Short article, links to further information. By a homeschooling, natural parenting mother. - How to Start Home Schooling
From the Canadian HomeschoolingSupply site. Common sense thoughts and several links. - Is Homeschool for You ?
Homeschool Decision - 10 Things to Consider. ‘Making the decision to homeschool is usually very difficult and not one to be taken lightly. It is a personal decision that I can’t make for you, but maybe I can help in the thought process. When making the homeschool decision, consider these things.’ - Kidica : Home Schooling
Information, articles, links to resources and curriculum, especially for those considering homeschooling. US-based. - Practical Advice for New Homeschoolers
Homeschool Central. Though US-based, points are relevant everywhere.
Blogs
Blogs from around the world on aspects of homeschooling. As with much home schooling material, most emanate from the US. Many also have a strong, religious ethos.
- 1+1+1=1
From a homeschooler who wanted to give back as a result of getting so much from other blogs. Multiple sections, ideas, resources and more. -
AussieHomeschool Blog
‘The purpose of the Aussie Homeschool Blog is to unite Australian homeschoolers regardless of differing ages, schedules, methods, curricula, locations or preferences’. Dominantly Montessori based. - Aussie Pumpkin Patch
Blog containing ideas, book lists, shop, links to other homeschooling resources, recipes and more. - Belinda Moore
‘Began this site with the intention of sharing resources in her role as a contact person for those researching homeschooling. The site has grown to encompass more of her interests.’ Australian site. - Bruggie Tales
‘Tales of an Australian Homeschooling family since 2003.’ - Education and Homeschool News
‘Links and Information in the News about Education and Homeschooling.’ - Educating the Muslim Child
US-based, but much is usable if appropriate to your beliefs. - Enduring Prize
A ‘blog about Australia, history, homeschooling, sunday school, books and lots of other goodies’. Australian based. - Hedjumacation
Not exactly a blog, but lots of helpful information and support from a long-time homeschooler from the ACT. - Home School Blogs
A lengthy listing of home school blogs compiled by the Home Education Association of Australia. - Our Worldwide Classroom
‘Our world is full of fun, cheekiness and learning’. - What Motivates You ?
‘Elma’s Place’, a blog that is part of the Home Based Learning Network. - Why Homeschool ?
‘We explore why homeschooling can be a better option for children and families than a traditional classroom setting. We’ll also explore homeschooling issues in general, educational thoughts, family issues and some other random stuff.’
Magazines & Journals
- Home Education Magazine
‘Information, news and views, Free online newsletters, networking lists, selections from Home Education Magazine including articles, interviews, columnists, resources, reviews and more.’ - Homeschool Australia
Free weekly newsletter [online], or subscribe to a print version. - Homeschool World
‘The official web site of Practical Homeschooling Magazine. Articles, forum and more. Fee-based US magazine. - Home School Researcher
Subscribe to access full articles. Summaries of all articles available online. - The Old School House
Online magazine with information, sites of interest, contacts and equipment suppliers.
Other Sites
- American Homeschool Association
‘The American Homeschool Association has been serving homeschooling families with advocacy, support, information and networking since 1995. The AHA supports, encourages and promotes all approaches to bona fide homeschooling’.
Site being redeveloped. - Answers to Objections to Home Schooling
A US, 2000 article looking at the main objections to homeschooling and responses to these. - A to Z Home’s Cool [Homeschool]
Articles, information guides, beginning to home school, regional and world wide support and more. Extensive and high quality. US based. - Design Your Homeschool
‘Every family is different and the exciting part about homeschooling is that you can design your own approach to learning by writing a tailor made program to fit your children’s needs, abilities and personalities. As a family, you can decide what is important, what educational goals to pursue and how to go about it. View this website as your guide to plan and create an approach which suits you as a family.’ - Easy Homeschooling
Free resources, advice, reviews, links, techniques, companion, ezine and more. Some Fee-based materials. - Home School Portal
‘A comprehensive listing of educational resources, websites, and businesses that provide support to the homeschooling community, parents, teachers, educators, and students.’ US based. 100s of links in directories from Audio to Tutorials. Worth visiting for resources and ideas alone. - Home School
‘Your virtual home school’. Getting started, online courses, resource guide, articles, materials/equipment, newsletter, monthly lessons. - Home School Enrichment
‘Homeschool help for encouragement, family relationships, teaching ideas, getting it all done, starting homeschooling, homeschool highschool, early learning and special needs’. - Home Schooling Information
Sections grouped under headings including starting home schooling, resources, pros and cons and general information. - Homeschooling - International Status and
Statistics
‘Homeschooling is legal in many countries. Countries with the most prevalent home education movements include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Some countries have highly regulated home education programs as an extension of the compulsory school system; others have outlawed it entirely. In other countries, while not restricted by law, homeschooling is not socially acceptable or considered undesirable and is virtually non-existent’. - Homeschool Links
Links as part of a larger site run by a family of homeschoolers. Each link clearly annotated and grouped. - Home School Zone
News, articles, links, bible activities, reading methods and project ideas are among the areas. - How to Homeschool
‘What are the benefits of homeschooling ? Learn why more and more families are deciding to teach their children at home.’ American site which has a range of sections from Is Homeschooling for You ? to Getting Started, Know Your Child, Before You Begin, Managing Problems and Making Transitions. While allowing for specific American requirements there is much sense to be had. - Let’s Homeschool
‘This site offers articles on a variety of curriculum, homeschool ideas, statistics and more. These include how-to articles, informative articles, and other homeschool issues. We’ve listed our favourite resources and products for those that love homeschooling’. - My Homeschooling Web
‘Home schooling site developed to provide visitors with valuable information relating to home education. Numerous comprehensive articles, lots of useful materials and resources, countless helpful recommendations and more is available for you right here’. US based. - Parent Best - Home Schooling
A range of articles dealing with various aspects of home schooling, from How to deal with being home schooled to How to go from home schooling to public school. This is one section of a range covering different aspects of parenting. Other sections such as Nurturing Talent and Raising Children with Special Needs may also prove of value. - Webrings
Enter Homeschooling in the search box and be amazed. There are multiple web rings [almost 40 at time of inclusion] with descriptors and site numbers listed for each. They cover information, resources, special groups and more.