Learning in the Absence of Education

Essays on Homeschooling

© Beverley Paine

Learning Maths Conversationally!

A real problem with many young children exposed to a traditional school approach to learning mathematics is an inability to read. Often the problems or tasks set in work books, although simple mathematically, require reading skills far in advance of the student's ability. More often than not this is overcome by the teacher or parent sitting with the child and reading the page aloud. Sometimes for older children with less developed reading skills this can cause frustration, for both adult and child.

A text books approach to learning mathematics is too abstract for young children. It is too far removed from the world of meaning of the child.

Our children initially learned to do math problems conversationally, that is, they didn't have to read them or approach them with pen and paper, until much later. Toddlers learn maths this way very naturally. We just extended this proven and successful method beyond five years of age, including mathematical word problems into our everyday speech. We knew it was important to keep it casual and related to what was going on in our lives at the time - e.g. baking (doubling amounts, halving, paring on the scales and adding on amounts, etc.), climbing stairs (counting how many, up and down, how many in multiple flights), sharing out smarties, etc., talking about shapes of buildings, packaging, patterns in the sand at the beach, on leaves and trees, etc. The opportunities to explore the world of maths in conversation are endless.

Using mathematical terminology and solving maths problems conversationally quickly became a way of life. I introduced more and more art and craft projects, knowing that these were building real maths skills in a concrete way. The children became involved in the planning and building stages of our house and garden, seeing us use maths everyday. Without realising it they quietly assimilated mathematical concepts and skills.

I didn't introduce 'paper' maths until I knew the children could work things out in the their heads. If anything was introduced on paper before the children fully understood the concepts I found they looked confused, or didn't retain the skill or knowledge. I found that at around age seven or eight they could do simple addition and subtraction on paper; at nine, ten and eleven they could tackle multiplication and division. Fractions were left until last, and decimals until they had done so much spending, measuring and constructing they already knew all about them and could do the sums easily. This was around leven to thirteen years.

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More than 60 essays covering a wide range of home schooling concerns and issues, such as late readers, value of play, socialisation, learning maths, part time school, and thoughts on testing. Learning in the Absence of Education is an intimate and honest look at day-to-day homeschooling life spanning several years. Includes articles on learning maths, reading and writing, spelling, socialisation, part time schooling, fathers and homeschooling, value of play, grading and testing, coping with stress and illness, and much more.

"These essays are the real life experiences of a long term home educator and activist and make inspiring reading... a valuable resource for all those interested in home education.... What I particularly appreciate are the personal day-to-day stories that are so specific in the incident or outcome These are essays written over time that reflect natural learning (read life) as it really happens.

I really enjoy Beverley's writing style in this book. It is very direct, sometimes even challenging the reader. She tries to be scrupulously honest always so we read of advantages and disadvantages of whatever topic she is discussing. She will also point out the ideal situation and how she thinks she falls short. Sometimes she is self-deprecating; sometimes she glows with enthusiasm for their successful lifestyle. There are touches of humour and sometimes wry cynicism.

Hopefully this book will answer many people's questions and fears about natural learning. It is all in here: how right it feels when natural learning is working well, what happens when we have insecurities ourselves, and the results so far. By presenting the natural learning case in this essay style, Beverley has been able to reflect the different moods, the ups and downs, that make the book a valuable resource for all those interested in home education, whatever their current style."
Janine Banks, home educator, Qld

ISBN 1876651016, 128 pages... $22.95

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Homeschool Australia SA HE Network Unschool~Kidz! About Beverley Paine

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