Why did you choose to home-school?

April 25, 2017 by Barbara

Why did you choose to home-school?

education

Do you home school your children?

Seven per cent of New Zealand’s school population are taught at home. Last year, 5558 children from nearly 3000 families were home-schooled.

Canterbury has the third largest home-school community of 764, after Auckland’s 1214, and Waikato’s 818.

Home-school parents need approval and regular checks from the Ministry of Education, and must educate their children to the standard they would receive at a registered school.

So what is it about home schooling that attracts parents? Quality time, better managed health needs, freedom to individualise learning?

Or is it a perceived failing of the public education system? What does home schooling offer that public school cannot?

Do you home school your family? What was the reason behind your decision? What challenges have you faced since home schooling your children? Share your story with us in 300 words or more.
View all contributions:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/why-did-you-choose-to-home-school

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

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:

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

and

Information on getting an exemption: 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/

Beneficiaries: http://hef.org.nz/2013/where-to-for-beneficiary-families-now-that-the-social-security-benefit-categories-and-work-focus-amendment-bill-has-passed-its-third-reading

Filed Under: Home Educators Did It, NZ Families, NZ Media

Arthur Family Orchestra

April 12, 2017 by Barbara

The Arthur family from left: Shantae, Marie, Brontie, Kayla, Hayley Smith, (Nick's fiancée) Nick, Caleb, Brianna, Josiah and Sophia. Missing is dad Blair and eldest daughter Caitlin. PHOTO/LIN FERGUSON — The Arthur family from left: Shantae, Marie, Brontie, Kayla, Hayley Smith, (Nick’s fiancée) Nick, Caleb, Brianna, Josiah and Sophia. Missing is dad Blair and eldest daughter Caitlin. PHOTO/LIN FERGUSON

In a long dining room the windows and french doors open onto farm land and an orchard where labrador escapee Jack is snuffling against the fence.

Pigs shuffle round a paddock and sheep wander under the trees; the Arthur family’s day is underway.

Marie and Blair Arthur’s nine children range from 25 to 6 years-old, they all live at home, are all home schooled and are passionate about their home, their parents and each other.

Three go off to work, so that leaves six at home on the farm in Marton, situated in the Manawatu-Wanganui region.

Described in the Marton community as a “musical prodigy”, eldest Caitlin is a violin and piano tutor and also teaches at Nga Tawa Diocesan School. She also instructs her younger brothers and sisters in music.

Read a lot more about the Arthur family here: https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://nchenz.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u%3Db416e2b4275353dcb9a29c8c0%26id%3D5503ac4d06%26e%3Dc730ed307e&source=gmail&ust=1492046746561000&usg=AFQjCNFJVjV3indVuADqrFrfW-aNgqorNQ

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

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:

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

and

Information on getting an exemption: 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/

Beneficiaries: http://hef.org.nz/2013/where-to-for-beneficiary-families-now-that-the-social-security-benefit-categories-and-work-focus-amendment-bill-has-passed-its-third-reading

Filed Under: Home Educators Did It, NZ Families

Growing Knowledge pays

April 11, 2017 by Barbara

Alex Dixon’s passion for gardening has paid off in spades.

The 7-year-old Hampden boy recently won the best garden in the child category of the Yates Spring Veggie Growing Challenge, receiving $500 plus a hamper of Yates products.

Educated at home and a first-time entrant, Alex was keen to learn more about gardening as part of his science projects and spent hours researching in order to create the optimum growing conditions for his vegetables.

“I learned about different soil conditions, micro and macro nutrients, pH testing of soil and climate effects on germination so that when I planted my seeds they would all grow really well,”said Alex.

He successfully grew a range of vegetables including lettuce, Chinese cabbage, spinach, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, cauliflower, spring onions, red onions and his favourite, courgettes.

Alex’s mother, Kirsten, said the competition had been wonderful for his learning and just for having fun.

“Alex got so much encouragement from the other gardeners in the competition through the online blogging and he also connected with another boy his age in Northland and they did a seed swap. The sharing of knowledge from the more experienced gardeners really helped Alex sort out a couple of problems he had along the way.”

One of those problems was every gardener’s nemesis – aphids.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.oamarumail.co.nz/community/growing-knowledge-pays/

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

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:

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

and

Information on getting an exemption: 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/

Beneficiaries: http://hef.org.nz/2013/where-to-for-beneficiary-families-now-that-the-social-security-benefit-categories-and-work-focus-amendment-bill-has-passed-its-third-reading

Filed Under: Home Educators Did It, NZ Families

Kiwi Vicki Wilson takes out prestigious colt starting world title worth $100,000 in Kentucky

March 28, 2017 by Barbara

Former NZ Unschooled student has just won The most prestigious colt training competition in the world.

It’s a reminder to us all … let our children follow their passion!

Vicki Wilson has claimed the World Championship of Colt starting.

Vicki Wilson has claimed the World Championship of Colt starting.

A shoulder injury hasn’t stopped Northland’s Vicki Wilson from leaving her mark on the Road to the Horse event as she took out the $100,000 colt starting competition in Kentucky, USA.

Wilson, of Keeping up with the Kaimanawas fame, sustained a dislocated shoulder early on in the four-day competition, but soldiered on to ride her horse, named Kentucky, to beat four other hopefuls and walk away with the World Championship of Colt Starting title.

For the competition, competitors were given three hours to tame a horse that has run untouched for three years before putting it through its paces through various equestrian disciplines.

“It wasn’t something I ever dreamed I could do,” Wilson said after the event.

“To be able to come here to American, to Kentucky, and to walk into that grandstand with Kentucky, that horse, and to be able to pull off what we did today, that was amazing.”

After given their time to tame the horses, the riders were expected to take them through various obstacles, and Wilson said Kentucky’s trying attitude rewarded her on the final day.

“I want my horse to love everything that he does and yesterday he overcame a few things. He was scared of a lot of things but by the time we left that round pen I think he’d conquered a few things.”

Wilson said while her shoulder was causing her some issues, with her arm in a sling on the final day, while she was competing the thrill of being there and the atmosphere of the arena took her mind off it.

“It was worth every part of it – he didn’t quit, I didn’t quit and that’s what cowgirls are all about.”

Wilson was so happy with the partnership she had built with her horse in such a short time that she decided to purchase him and planned to work with him as a show pony.

“Kentucky’s coming back to New Zealand. It’s a bit of a trip for him but I think he deserves it.”

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

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:

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

and

Information on getting an exemption: 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/

Beneficiaries: http://hef.org.nz/2013/where-to-for-beneficiary-families-now-that-the-social-security-benefit-categories-and-work-focus-amendment-bill-has-passed-its-third-reading

Filed Under: Home Educators Did It

Golden Bay High School prizegiving: high achieving students honoured

January 17, 2017 by Barbara

Golden Bay High School's dux Yerren van Sint Annaland

Nina Hindmarsh

Golden Bay High School’s dux Yerren van Sint Annaland

In the news November 8, 2016

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/86175288/golden-bay-high-school-prizegiving-high-achieving-students-honoured

This year’s Golden Bay High School’s dux wants to pursue a career in computer programming.

Yerren van Sint Annaland, 17, was recognised as the top scholar at the school’s senior prizegiving on Thursday.

Along with the dux award, van Sint Annaland also won the University of Otago’s Academic Excellence Entrance Scholarship of $45,000.

He was heading to Dunedin next year to start a computer science degree.

The award is given to just a few high school graduates who display not only outstanding academic results but also community service.

Van Sint Annaland said he was chosen for his involvement in a number of different areas including work for the conservation group Project Janszoon. He was on the student advisory board and helped his school adopt a section of the park.

He was also involved with sporting groups representing his school in tennis and football, as well has leading the production and design of his school’s magazine.

He also tutored younger students in maths, English and tennis, as well as helping to make the school magazine and looking after the school’s 3D printer.

Van Sint Annaland said he has kept busy this year with maths, digital technology and physics.

“I managed to complete my level three English last year, and I also did level 3 statistics last year so this year I got to really focus on the stuff that I actually enjoy,” he said.

As part of his digital technology course, van Sint Annaland redesigned Golden Bay’s weather mapping page.

“The old one was was really outdated,” he said. “I had to re-design it more or less from scratch, it was all code and scripting.”

He said home-schooled by his father until Year 9.

“It taught me that you just have to enjoy what you’re doing to learn,” he said.

“When I was home schooled I didn’t do anything except what I wanted to do, so I learned so much about computer programming, which I got into really early on.”

He said he was never taught to read, but just picked it up when he was ready.

“It was the same for maths. It just happened when I was ready.”

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

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:

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

and

Information on getting an exemption: 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/

Beneficiaries: http://hef.org.nz/2013/where-to-for-beneficiary-families-now-that-the-social-security-benefit-categories-and-work-focus-amendment-bill-has-passed-its-third-reading

Filed Under: Home Educators Did It, Ideas of what to do