Home Education Foundation

Serving, promoting, defending and publishing for Christian and secular home educators in NZ and overseas.

Public submissions are now being invited on the Inquiry into engaging parents in the education of their children.

A reminder that submissions are due in by 7 November 2013

Home Educators could have quite an impact on this submission process. Please put in a submission.

From http://blog.greens.org.nz  Select Committee Inquiry into Engaging Parents in the Education of their ChildrenCatherine Delahunty

by Catherine Delahunty

This Inquiry needs to hear from as many parents, students and teachers as possible. We need to hear about the excellent initiatives that already exist to build relationships between parents, schools and students. One such initiative is the three way conferences between teacher, parents and student held in many schools early in the term each year.These conferences allow all parties to discuss learning goals and issues at the beginning of the year.

We also needs to hear from parents, students and teachers about the deeper challenges faced in education. This was reinforced to me by a parent I met at a public education forum who pointed out to me that her children were struggling at school because she and her husband had several part-time jobs each to pay the rent and that she was never home at the right time to help with homework. She said if the minimum wage was lifted she could work less and support her children better in their education. We need to hear from parents with students with special needs who cannot get sufficient support for their children to experience inclusive education. We need to hear from families who have struggled to walk through the school gates because of their previous culturally hostile reception and how and whether this has actually changed.

We want to hear about best practice formed everyone’s point of view including the students and the tricky issues for a really good relationship. This Inquiry is not just about individual schools who have best practice in this field it’s also about what parental engagement means in our current highly unequal society. When teachers have to keep extra food and clothing in the classroom for hungry and cold children and charities have to provide breakfast we know parents are struggling. We need to hear great ideas to address this, some of which could be about political change and the need for equity as a goal in education. The Inquiry needs to hear a broad range of voices. Here is a link to the terms of reference and the November 7 deadline for submissions.

 

Home Educators could have quite an impact on this submission process. Please put in a submission. I welcome your comments on this.

Previous posts on this:

Inquiry into engaging parents in the education of their children

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From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated: 30 September 2013:  One year on (Craig Smith’s Health) page 7 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Exemption Form online:https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-exemption-form-now-online/

Coming Events:https://hef.org.nz/2013/some-coming-events-for-home-education-during-2013-2/

HSLDA: The Annual Essay Contest is Back!

The Annual Essay Contest is Back!

Go deeper into the school year with HSLDA’s annual essay contest! A great way to get students excited about getting  into writing, this contest offers cash prizes for the top five essays per age group. The contest runs through December 1. Don’t forget to request the HSLDA’s free writing resource! Read more >>

UPDATE 9/10/2013

Free Writing Resource for Essay Contest Participants

The HSLDA Store is offering a free writing resource for each family that participates in this year’s essay contest. Writing: The Bridge Between Us by Marcy McDonald is a step-by-step guide to writing well and a valuable addition to any homeschool library. Read more and register >>

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From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated: 30 September 2013:  One year on (Craig Smith’s Health) page 7 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Exemption Form online:https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-exemption-form-now-online/

Coming Events:https://hef.org.nz/2013/some-coming-events-for-home-education-during-2013-2/

South Island Life Learners Camp 30 Jan – 2 Feb 2014

South Island Life Learners Camp 2014

Live and Learn

Announcing:
Camp Free Space 2014 – Raincliff, South Canterbury
For a second year running the South Island Unschoolers/Life Learners camp is happening and it’s going to be AWESOME!

Where: Raincliff Youth Camp, South Canterbury –  http://www.raincliff.freeservers.com/

When: 30th Jan- 2nd Feb 2014
Who: All families with whom the philosophy of unschooling/life learning/natural learning/child led learning etc resonates with,  and their extended family/wh?nau/supporters.

Why: To have a gathering place to meet other life learners from across the south island
         To build long term friendships and support networks with others on a similar path of living
         To grow a community specifically around whole life learning/unschooling and respectful parenting
         To have relaxing, inspiring and rejuvenating fun!

Cost: TBA – All attempts will be made to keep costs affordable for all.

If you would like to be involved in the co-ordinating of this camp please contact Elizabeth on e(dot)johnsen(at)xtra(dot)co(dot)nz.

To learn more click on the below:

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From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated: 30 September 2013:  One year on (Craig Smith’s Health) page 7 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Exemption Form online:https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-exemption-form-now-online/

Coming Events:https://hef.org.nz/2013/some-coming-events-for-home-education-during-2013-2/

Inquiry into engaging parents in the education of their children

Public submissions are now being invited on the Inquiry into engaging parents in the education of their children.

The closing date for submissions is Thursday, 7 November 2013

The terms of reference for the inquiry are to investigate the elements of an effective strategy for engaging parents, families, whanau, aiga, and communities in education; to identify the best practice examples of approaches, locally and internationally, that support parents and communities to encourage their children’s learning; and to identify ways to leverage the strength of communities to lift the educational achievement of children and young people in their community.

Read more here: Inquiry into engaging parents in the education of their children

The only other information is this press release: Inquiry into engaging parents in their children’s education

“The importance of parental engagement in children’s learning is well documented in national and international research,” Dr Calder said. “For most children, their parents are the one constant factor throughout education from early learning to tertiary education, and the primary caregivers of a child have an immense impact on their learning and development. While the focus of this inquiry is on strengthening the role of parents and caregivers, it is also understood that this happens within the context of families, wh?nau, and aiga, and as such is an intervention that has the potential to improve the education outcomes of all children within a family system and within a community.”

The terms of reference for this inquiry are to

• investigate the elements of an effective strategy for engaging parents, families, wh?nau, aiga, and communities in education

• identify the best practice examples of approaches, locally and internationally, that support parents and communities to encourage their children’s learning

• identify ways to leverage the strength of communities to lift the educational achievement of children and young people in their community.
Submissions close on Thursday, 7 November 2013, and can be made online at http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/SC/MakeSub/ . Alternatively, they can be sent to the address below. If a submitter wishes to appear before the committee, they need to state this clearly and provide a name, daytime phone number and email address. Submissions generally become public and are published on the Parliament website. For further guidance on making a submission, read the publication Making a submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee on the Parliament website, or contact the secretariat at (04) 817 9469.

Home Educators could have quite an impact on this submission process. I welcome your comments on this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated: 12 September 2013:  One year on (Craig Smith’s Health) page 7 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Exemption Form online:https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-exemption-form-now-online/

Coming Events:https://hef.org.nz/2013/some-coming-events-for-home-education-during-2013-2/

2013 NZ Shortstory Homeschool Year Book

Exciting news from Kylie Gordon:


Hi everyone! My name is Kylie Gordon. I’ve been homeschooling for 14 years now. I have always thought it was such a pity that NZ’s hardworking and talented little authors and illustrators don’t always receive the recognition that they deserve.  I’m talking about our own homeschooled kids of course. So I thought I would attempt to compile a 2013 NZ Shortstory Homeschool Year Book. I imagine if there is enough interest I could even see if there are some established New Zealand authors who would lend their time and expertise to judge the stories by age group and choose one as a winner for best written and interesting short story. My vision is to publish short stories and poems written in 2013 of up to 500 words, with an illustration if your little one wants to add one, for 5 to 17 year olds who homeschool here in NZ. The deadline would be 1 November 2013 so that, hopefully,  I could sell them by Christmas to . This is a bit of an experiment because the only other similar project that I’ve taken on is my high school yearbook, a long, long time ago. But I fully understand how important it is to our children to receive some feedback and recognition when they send their work away to strangers, so I will send out regular emails to all who submit stories with their email addresses to keep you up to date with progress. If I receive little or no interest, then perhaps we could try again in 2014 because I know how busy homeschooling is and us mums don’t always have the time to post or scan and email stories and pictures!  I don’t mind if entries are handwritten or typed, it’s up to the author, but I do ask that all spelling and  grammar are corrected because I won’t have time to edit. Also, I won’t publish anything that other families would object their young children to reading, for example blood and guts, demons, witches etc., etc., so let’s keep it wholesome and fun for everyone! Please forward this email to any homeschooling groups who you think may be interested because there isn’t a lot of time, and if you have any questions, then I’d be happy to answer any via email nzshortstorybook@outlook.com. I have attached a simple flyer NZ Homeschool Short stories and poems 2013 if anyone would like to print it off for their group. Please send your entries to this email address nzshortstorybook@outlook.com, preferably scanned or attached as a Word file or you are welcome to post it to: Kylie Gordon, 82 Purvis Road, RD 8, Whangarei, 0178.

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Please feel free to repost, forward or pass on  this Link/email

Please do so with the whole post. Thankyou

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated: 12 September 2013:  One year on (Craig Smith’s Health) page 7 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational: https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Exemption Form online: https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-exemption-form-now-online/

Coming Events: https://hef.org.nz/2013/some-coming-events-for-home-education-during-2013-2/