"Buntis pa lang ako, nag-iisip na ako what are the possibilities. When we decided to move to Australia, instead of sending her to day care, I looked after her full-time," kwento ng photographer na si Josephine Sicad-Minerva.
Nagtuluy-tuloy ito at mula noon ay homeschooling lamang ang anak na si Pixie. Nasa Year 3 na ito ngayon.
"With homeschooling we really have the freedom and flexibility if we follow the kid’s phase.
Highlight
- Pinapayagan ang homeschooling sa Australia.
- Maaaring iangkop sa kakayahan at interes ng bata ang pag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng homeschooling.
- Isa ang anak ng photographer na si Josephine Sicad-Minerva sa 26,013 na bata sa buong Australia na nakarehistro bilang mga homeschoolers.
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‘Flexible' at masayang pag-aaral sa bahay
Habang muling nag-a-adjust sa online learning ang maraming pamilya sa New South Wales dahil sa ikalawang COVID lockdown at ikalimang lockdown sa Victoria, maituturing naman na bihasa na ang mag-nanay na si Josephine Sicad-Minerva at Pixie sa pag-aaral sa bahay.
Year 3 na ang batang si Pixie. Mula Kindergarten ay homeschooling ito.
"At the start, it was all playful learning; but the biggest benefit of homeschooling for us is having the flexible time," pahayag ng ina na isang dating Engineer sa Singapore.
"For example, you have a purpose for the day, if it doesn’t work, we have another day to do it and we don’t have a limit of our time."
"We used to live in Singapore and before moving to Australia, I’ve been researching about homeschooling and I loved the idea of it," ani Gng Minerva.
Dahil nga iba ang kasanayan sa Australia at lalo na't wala namang kapamilya o kamag-anak na makakatuwang sa pag-aalaga sa anak, homeschooling ang tila pinakamabuting opsyon para sa kanila.
"Homeschooling seemed to be the best option for us. We did not send her to day care and I can just do full-time mumma duties while I do part-time photography work," anang ginang.
Bagaman sinabi ng ginang na sa una'y hindi naging madali, mahalaga na aralin kung paano maayos na maisasagawa ang homeschooling.
'Homeschooling has enabled our family to spend more time together.' Source: Josephine Sicad-Minerva
"Of course, in the beginning it was not easy. But eventually me and my daughter found our rhythm."
"We really love freedom we have from doing homeschooling and flexibility of following my kid’s phase in learning."
"It gave us more opportunity to spend more time together".
Homeschooling sa Australia
Ang homeschooling o tinatawag din na 'home education' ay pinapayagan sa buong Australia sa ilalim ng Education Act 1990. May kanya-kanyang mga kinakailangang sundin sa bawat estado at teritoryo para makapag-homeschool.
Sa huling tala nitong 2020, sa buong Australia, mayroong 26,013 na bata na nakarehistro bilang mga homeschoolers o mga nag-aaral sa bahay. Ito’y 18 % na pagtaas sa dating 22,098 noong 2019.
Sa New South Wales, 7,032 homeschoolers ang nakarehistro noong 2020, tumaas ito ng 19 % mula sa dating 5,906 noong taong 2019.
Victoria naman ang nakapag-tala ng pinakamataas na bilang ng homeschoolers noong 2020 sa 7,296 na nasa listahan nito. ‘Yan ay 20 % na mas mataas kumpara sa 6,072 noong 2019.
In Australia, there were 26,013 children registered as homeschoolers in 2020. That's an 18 % increase from the previous 22,098 in 2019. Source: Josephine Sicad-Minerva
Para opisyal na gawin ang homeschooling ng iyong anak, dapat na mag-apply sa education board sa estado kung saan kayo nakatira, halimbawa sa New South Wales ito sa NSW Education Standards Authority.
“After you have registered to do homeschooling, you will be given a guide curriculum. The Department of Education just wants to make sure that you have that as a guide for the year,” paunawa ni Gng Minerva.
"As long as you kind of aligned what you are doing with the given curriculum, it doesn’t matter what resources you use. There is no specified time limit as well," pagbabahagi niya.
Tips para sa pag-homeschool
1. Alamin ang interes ng iyong anak
Hindi maikakaila na tulad ng regular na pag-aaral sa eskwelahan, mayroon ding mga hamon sa homeschooling.
"Siguro tulad lang din ng mga pinagdadaanan ng mga magulang na pinapasok ang kanilang mga anak sa eskwelahan. Mahalaga na alamin ang gusto ng iyong anak."
"You have to be more conscious too so you will be more aware of your child’s interests."
"Normal lang naman siguro na minsan hindi nakikinig ang bata. Sometimes when I tell her we do this and she’s not into it, I don’t force anything to her."
Your child's interest in music and baking can turn into a fun learning activity too, like learning about numbers and words. Source: Josephine Sicad-Minerva
I always encourage her with her activities; but whatever she can do I let her be and it worked out so far and we kind of enjoyed it too.
2. Subukan ang iba't ibang bagay
"If only I could push it harder, I would really prefer homeschooling. But for parents whose circumstances don’t allow them yet, it’s alright too," pagbibigay-diin ng ina ni Pixie.
Bago mag-pandemya, malaya ding nakakalabas ang mag-ina na si Josephine at Pixie at madalas na mga gawaing outdoor ang kanilang pag-aaral.
Minsan sila’y nasa tabing-dagat o kaya nama’y sa parke.
"If you want to prioritise too to give more chance and time for your child to explore more, it will be a challenge still, but you will find a way to have your routine and proper rhythm."
3. Gawing masaya ang pag-aaral
Homeschooling can also be outdoors where your child can enjoy the beauty of nature. Source: Josephine Sicad-Minerva
"If you plan to homeschool, it’s more of a one-step at a time and every kid is different. If you try to do and follow a lesson plan, always remember it does not work out for every kid."
Tandaan na hindi tulad ng pag-aaral sa paaralan, malaya kang maghanap ng iba't ibang aktibidad na magiging masaya ang pag-aarala ng iyong anak.
Gaya ng laging sinasabi ng marami, minsan lamang maging bata ang ating mga anak. Hayaan silang matuto at magsaya din.
BASAHIN DIN/PAKINGGAN
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