It might seem like an extravagant claim; that all children can learn to read and write to very high levels of competence. However, I believe that existing research shows how to do just that.
Phonological Awareness: The Essential Prerequisite in Learning to Read.
Over the years many myths have developed about how to teach reading. One [...]
Archive for the 'Otherways Magazine' Category
Teaching All Children to Read
Otherways – Issue 108 – May to June 2006
In this issue:
The New Education Act Becomes Law.
Intelligence, Schools and Failure. Words of wisdom from the late John Holt.
Self-directed Education. Lyn reflects on her children’s education and her own.
An Argument between Friends. Shay Seaborne argues with a long-term friend about compulsory education and home education.
Gifts of Home Education. Rachel Phillips reflects on the benefits of [...]
Intelligence, Schools and Failure By John Holt
When we talk about intelligence, we do not mean the ability to get a good score on a certain kind of test, or even the ability to do well at school; these are at best only indicators of something larger, deeper, and far more important. By intelligence, we mean a style of life, a way of behaving in various situations, and particularly in new, strange, and perplexing situations. The true test of intelligence is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don’t know what to do.
The intelligent person, young or old, meeting a new situation or problem, opens himself up to it; he tries to take in with mind and senses everything he can about it, he thinks about it, instead of about himself or what it might cause to happen to him; he grapples with it boldly, imaginatively, resourcefully, and if not confidently, at least hopefully; if he fails to master it, he looks without shame or fear at his mistakes and learns what he can from them. This is intelligence. …
Read the rest of this entry »Self Directed Education – Life’s Greatest Adventure
By Lyn Loxton
At the recent HEN symposium, a member of the audience asked the question, ‘How can I give my child a high level of education when I didn’t do very well at school myself?” This is not only one of the most asked questions, but many adults today assume that, just because they failed [...]
Otherways – Issue 107 – February 2006 to April 2006
In this issue:
Steiner in the home. We look at weaving Waldorf education into home learning. Many different aspects are covered including the practical day to day ideas, resources and high school options.
Home Educating Teens. Ideas and resources for teaching Maths and Science to teens at home.
Our kids grow up! Parents share their stories. Stories from [...]
Head, Heart and Hands: Weaving Waldorf Education into Home Learning
Receive the children in reverence, Educate them with love, Send them forth in freedom
I watch our nine-year-old daughter as she eyes the many baskets of wool yarn in the small store near our home. The rainbow of naturally dyed colored skeins is plentiful as we search for the “right yarn” needed to complete her next [...]
Exploring in Maths
Kevin Lees has been supporting home education for a long time. He has now been contributing to Otherways for twenty years! We thank him for his continued and enthusiastic support of home education.
by Kevin Lees
Many parents have told me they were put off maths at school, and probably most people regard it as hard, or [...]
Other Ways
By Dindy Vaughan, Ringwood Victoria
Not every child is happy at school.
Some struggle along grudgingly, some fight the system, some opt out and refuse to achieve; and mostly their parents worry.
In many cases it comes down to ‘school refusal’. The state of Victoria currently has not hundreds, but thousands of school-age children who are simply refusing [...]