A new article has been added
The Correspondence School (TCS) and the homeschooling allowance.
Author Archives: Tarnya
New Article
January 13, 2010
New additions to the website
December 31, 2009
On the Qualification page
Some notes on NCEA by Kay ( These were given as a supplement for an audience who heard Kay speak.)
HASCA google calendar
November 5, 2009
NCHENZ is hosting the HASCA calendar. HASCA is a friend of NCHENZ.
If you would like a calendar for your local group on the web, NCHENZ will happily host it for you.
If you would like some help to get a presence on the web for your local group let me know.
October’s Links Around the Web
October 1, 2009
A selection of links
From New Zealand
Mad Hatter Books Mad Hatter Books specialises in second hand, collectible and out-of-print children’s books
Auckland Zoo’s education programmes which are individually priced. www.aucklandzoo.co.nz
Freecycle is a worldwide movement aimed at reducing items – both working and non-working – which would normally go to the landfill, in a not-for-profit way. You can either wait for items to come up (be very quick to make contact for a chance of getting them); or you can place a “Wanted” note which has to be very short.
www.freecycle.org/group/NZ/New_Zealand/Auckland – for Auckland
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ManurewaFreecycle/ – for South Auckland
I am sure there are other groups around the country.
Around the world
Exploring Homeschooling the ins and outs of the BIG decision ( Christian ) www.exploringhomeschooling.com/
Making a timeline using Excel www.microsoft.com/education/createtimeline.mspx
FREE e-book for those interested including stuff from Ruth Beechick, FIAR,
Amanda Bennett and Old Schoolhouse www.knowledgequestmaps.com/The-New-School-Year.html
Database of Free online curriculum
Spelling City A wonderful resource for free.
Audio science snippets for kids ( Thanks to Darnia )
A conversation with Greg Harris . Greg Harris has a blog here
www.brainpop.com ( approx 10yrs and over) and www.brainpopjr.com (approx 6-10 yrs)
Aspire Scholarship
September 16, 2009
The Government announced details about the Aspire Scholarship which is available to home educated students.
The criteria is strict: income includes working for families and you can’t have a family trust. Net worth includes your family home.
The scholarship is for full fees and $1500 towards uniform and trips.
Applications close 14th October and a second round on the 28th October 2009.
Students are chosen at random.
Links around the web
September 4, 2009
From New Zealand
Winz and Home schooling and the DPB
http://hef.org.nz/2009/home-schooling-and-winz-dpb-in-new-zealand/
Help in filling out an exemption:
http://hef.org.nz/category/applying-for-exemption/
Around the World
Click on the headings.www.khanacademy.org The Khan Academy is a not-for-profit organization with the mission of providing a high quality education to anyone, anywhere.
We have 800+ videos on YouTube covering everything from basic arithmetic and algebra to differential equations, physics, and finance which have been recorded by Salman Khan.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ Free on-line writing school
http://www.mes-english.com/ Printables – great helps for homeschooling: free flashcards, worksheets and handouts to match, free phonics cards, free ESL games, an international project exchange library, printable certificates, printable stickers and activities all ready for printing
http://www.urthemom.com/ Homeschool Planner and help with self teaching and mastery learning. She runs a Yahoo group called Raising Self-Learners 4 Life! (US based but open to New Zealanders) and a blog
http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/educational.php Astronomy. An excellent, free download open source program runs in planetariums… it is called Celestia. If your computer is not too old and your graphics card is more than 256K then this should work very well on your computer. This page will take you to the Educational version download, which has had activities programmed and documented for it. And, yes, those activities and worksheets are downloadable too. It pays to print out the overview to give you a starting point, and this will help you learn to navigate without too much overload. There is also an updated full version, and extra models and objects that can be uploaded – including spacecrafts from real life, and fiction ie. Star Wars, Star Trek.
http://www.livingjoyfully.ca Unschooling
Handbook of Nature Study available free online version http://www.archive.org/details/handbookofnature002506mbp
There is also a great blog with challenges/activities etc based on the book http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com
Sites to feed a hungry mind: list of sites that can be visited daily for students
Twin City Home Educators
August 12, 2009
Have a look at the Twin City Home Educators website
Full of great resources. Well done!
Twin City Home Educators is a loose-knit network of 60+ families in the greater Hawkes Bay region, New Zealand.
Our members represent a diverse range of pedagogies from unschooling, through eclectic materials, thematic units, overseas vs NZ, christian vs non-sectarian, living books to monitored curriculum.
New Member Group and Updates
August 12, 2009
Welcome to our new member group
Tauranga Support and Networking Group
contact Colleen Brown ph 573 4145 jhandcm@clear.net.nz
Updates made to :
New Zealand Home Educators Blogs and Websites
with new additions
Homeschool Fun was created by Rhonda Albom (from north of Auckland). It contains over 85 links to fun educational websites. The links are organized in five categories: general; arts (including music) and crafts; science, history and geography; maths; and, language and reading. It also includes a bit of “me” and a few other homeschool related links – including the funniest homeschool video I have ever seen. It is created to be a useful resource for all homeschool families, so please pass it on.
Books To Read A blog listing books to enjoy together as well as some suggestions resources for home education. Also included are some videos on how to teach phonics and beginning Math. All the children’s books have links to the National Library catalogue listing and the Auckland Libraries catalogue listing. Written by Tarnya Burge Mother of 8.
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and new look
The Broad Room “The Broad Room: Inspiring and Equipping Parents to Educate Their Own Children” This is where you can get ideas and inspiration for enjoying life with your home-educated children. We started teaching our children at home in 1985, and it’s a lifestyle I can heartily recommend. It’s not hard and it is fun, Let me show you how. Each week you will see new articles which will build into a complete and up to date guide to home educating. I am using the material that I previously have offered at my courses, and I am also including chats, advice, tips and reviews. You are invited to add comments, tell me what you think and what you would like to see here. Join me today: sign up for the free newsletter.
If you you know of a website ( especially a New Zealand one) that should be our resource pages, let me : leave a note in the comments.
Added
Masita Clay Art ‘At-home clay activities for kids, provided with NZ made materials and step-by-step instructions to our
New Zealand Businesses and Educational Suppliers
ERO Review Changes
August 7, 2009
“In the past the Education Review Office has reviewed the education of homeschooled students according to a schedule set annually. From 1 July 2009 ERO will carry out reviews only when requested by the Secretary for Education, or in other particular circumstances.”
Please read full notice published on the ERO site and See page 4 of this government review (pdf file)
A quote from the government review document
This programme is considered to be low risk to the education priorities of the Goverment. In 2007/8 ERO completed 644 homeschool reviews from a total of 6169 homeschooled students. ERO could not provide assurance that the terms of the exemption where being met in only 35 of the 644 reviews. This has been the pattern over many years
Each year ERO carries out up to 35 reviews at the request of the Ministry of Education where the Ministry is concerned that the students’ education might be at risk. ERO carries out between 600 to 640 homeschooling reviews every year. This range would reduce to between 25 to 35 reviews(estimated) if only thise requested by the MOE are carried out
“This programme [home education] is considered to be low risk to the education priorities of the Goverment. In 2007/8 ERO completed 644 homeschool reviews from a total of 6169 homeschooled students. ERO could not provide assurance that the terms of the exemption where being met in only 35 of the 644 reviews. This has been the pattern over many years
Each year ERO carries out up to 35 reviews at the request of the Ministry of Education where the Ministry is concerned that the students’ education might be at risk. ERO carries out between 600 to 640 homeschooling reviews every year. This range would reduce to between 25 to 35 reviews (estimated) if only these requested by the MOE are carried out.” emphasis mine
The Ministry of Education has noted that home educated students in the vast majority, having been reviewed over many years, have and are receiving a very good education ( as least as well as a registered school) and so the Government will no longer spend $238,000 on reviews except when a concern is raised.
You may like to read Craig Smith’s comments
NO MORE Home Education ERO REVIEWS!!! and A Bit of Political Advice to Home Educators
Networking Page
July 27, 2009
Thank you to everyone who has helped me get the Networking Page up to date and running. It has been enjoyable process because many people have helped by emailing me their updated information and letting me know about groups I didn’t have on the list. The web makes networking much easier. Please if your details change please leave a comment on the page and I will try and keep it up to date.
I also added
“Dayspring Resource Library : Yearly membership is $40 which entitles access to newsletters, discounted events fees, and borrowing from the resource library. We also post resources to members nationally and have science and stationery supplies for sale. The resource centre is located at 82 King Street, Palmerston North Open Mon-Wed-Fri 1-4pm Contact details are: dayspring07@slingshot.co.nz Robyn Beals 06 3550721″
to our resources pages.
If there is a link, esp. to a New Zealand Resource that is benefit to home educators please let me know.
