With the Internet at our fingertips and the fact that we have access to so much more information than previous homeschool generations, it can get quite overwhelming. Even the school-leaving certificates are quite a thing to wrap our minds around, now that there are a few more options than before.
You can use any of the approaches and curricula. Some paid-for curricula have a school-leaving certificate exam the child writes at the end of his studies and others you can follow and then embark on the journey of preparing for either a Cambridge certification (find information on Cambridge SA homeschool support at https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/,) GED, American High School diploma, IB or the National Senior Certificate (NSC) by yourself.
I have started with this list of approaches and where to find curriculum and support for your journey. This is by no means exhaustive, nor a comprehensive description of each approach. I will be adding to it as I do more research and find more information.
I have tried to tailor the resource lists for the South African family with what we have available, or have access to, here.
Facebook pages for support and second hand curricula:
Before subscribing to any curriculum, especially an all-in-one “Box Curriculum”, please search what people have experienced with that particular curriculum on the Facebook pages.
Successful Homeschooling in South Africa https://www.facebook.com/groups/757182914424530/
Homeschooling in South Africa https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeschoolinginSA/
Homeschool exchange South Africa (new and 2nd hand educational material) https://www.facebook.com/groups/311360395655385/
Homeschooling Christians in South Africa https://www.facebook.com/groups/Christianhomeschoolingza/
Pages with a specific focus: (some are South African and some International):
Cambridge SA Homeschool support https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=358203488251169&ref=br_rs
Cambridge Homeschooling Community in South Africa https://www.facebook.com/groups/heartguardian/
Cambridge Primary Support for South African Homeschooling Families https://www.facebook.com/groups/CambridgePrimaryHomeschooling/
Living Education in South Africa – Charlotte Mason Homeschoolers in SA https://www.facebook.com/groups/609682722534715/
Nature Journaling Thru The Seasons-Charlotte Mason.
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/798820646986484/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/naturejournalingthrutheseasons/
Marnie at Carrots are orange – Montessori https://www.facebook.com/carrotsrorange/
Montessori Moms https://www.facebook.com/groups/127298634107358/
Waldorf Homeschooling https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155664663482863&substory_index=0&id=87519337862
Waldorf Homeschooling South Africa https://www.facebook.com/groups/524960504265022/
Charlotte Mason Waldorf Homeschooling https://www.facebook.com/groups/1604066976582566/
Charlotte Mason Homeschooling https://www.facebook.com/groups/charlottemasonhomeschoolers/
Charlotte Mason Nature journaling https://www.facebook.com/groups/1240829525940870/
Charlotte Mason – The Early Years https://www.facebook.com/groups/478188832312045/
Homeschool Share https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolshare/
Homeschool Giveaways https://www.facebook.com/hsgiveaways/
Some handy sites:
http://www.homeschooling-curriculum-guide.com
http://tuisskoolinafrikaans.weebly.com/
http://www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com Preschool
https://m.facebook.com/pg/LifeGritLana/about/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0 At LifeGrit, we are passionate about equipping you, to equip your children and students. Seeing our children rise up to the challenges of this world they’re growing up in – and cultivating a beautiful story in their time, is one of my greatest dreams. Seeing parents equipped to mentor, lead and invest in their children-with peace, joy and enjoyment.
Approaches:
Classical: The Classical education movement advocates a form of education based on the traditions of Western culture, with a particular focus on education as understood and taught in Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages.
Classical education depends on a three-part process of training the mind. The early years of school are spent in absorbing facts, systematically laying the foundations for advanced study. In the middle grades, students learn to think through arguments. In high school years, they learn to express themselves. This classical pattern is called the trivium.
Watch Anelle Burger’s interview with Jennifer Hanekom on Classical Conversations and how she uses this approach in her homeschooling.
Watch the video on the Homeschool Lounge channel here : https://youtu.be/N7Qrm4urOrY
Resources:
Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn Teaches Christian Classical Education
http://www.classicalconversations.com/classical-homeschool-curriculum/
https://welltrainedmind.com/a/classical-education/
http://www.classicalcurriculum.com/ModelCurriculum.htm
https://thebookconnection.co.za/ sells Excellence in Writing
More info on the Classical Method: http://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling-styles/classical-homeschool.html
Charlotte Mason: The educator, Charlotte Mason believed that children were born persons and should be respected as such; they should also be taught the Way of the Will and the Way of Reason. Her motto for students was “I am, I can, I ought, I will.” The approach focuses on “living books” i.e., stories with heroes, life-lessons, and important socio-ethical implications.
Homeschool Lounge interview where Luzvie Reynolds talks to Anelle Burger about the Charlotte Mason Nature Study approach and how she uses it in homeschooling her children .
Watch the video here :
https://youtu.be/cw_OijlU7D4
Anelle Burger chats to Wendy Young on the Homeschool Lounge about using the Charlotte Mason approach to home education .
Watch here:
https://youtu.be/LVArVaw6T8A
Or listen to the podcast :
https://iono.fm/e/730940
Find the full Charlotte Mason series of books on her educational philosophy here:
http://amblesideonline.org/CMM/ModernEnglish.html?
Resources:
http://www.love2learn.co.za South African Charlotte Mason inspired all-in-one curriculum
https://www.sonlight.com/ Bulk Orders are organised on the Homeschooling in South Africa Facebook page
http://www.amblesideonline.org Free schedule with links to resources
http://www.homeschoolrealm.com/secular-charlotte-mason/ Resources
https://underthehome.org/ Free curriculum
https://simplycharlottemason.com/ They have their own curriculum, but also has many free resources and advice
https://raisinglittleshoots.com A very nature orientated approach
https://www.adelectableeducation.com/ Some free resources
http://www.charlottemasonhelp.com
http://www.charlottemasonsays.com
For some resources in Afrikaans, look at:
https://www.myafrikaanseavontuur.co.za/ It also has My Geskiedenis Avontuur.
Books:
Dr Raymond and Dorothy Moore Books
The Wholehearted Child – Sally Clarkson
The Way They Learn – Cythia Ulrich Tobias
Teaching from Rest – Sarah Mackenzie (Available at https://thebookconnection.co.za/)
Daylight – Heidi St John.
Ruth Beechick https://www.homeschooling-curriculum-guide.com/Ruth-Beechick.html
Dean and Karen Andreola books
https://momentswithmotherculture.blogspot.com/p/about-karen.html#.XaqnDOgzbb1
Montessori: Maria Montessori was an educator who believed education is
fundamentally a model of human development, and this educational approach is based on that model.
Here is an example of an average Montessori Morning (although this is in school, it can easily be implemented at home)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09Y-huCMjIc
Home School Lounge – Montessori .
Watch here:
https://youtu.be/D9-jVEHLKAY
Or listen to our podcast here:
https://iono.fm/e/727141
Resources:
http://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling-styles/montessori.html
https://childrenshouse.co.za/ Wooden toys
http://www.facebook.com/kleuterk Montessori curriculum – Afrikaans
https://montelion.co.za Curriculum
https://www.freemontessori.org/
http://www.montessoriteacherscollective.com
https://livingmontessorinow.com/
http://www.montessoritraining.net
http://www.mariamontessori.com
http://www.montessori.edu
http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com
https://justmontessori.com/
Follow Adelle Breedt on Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/queenofavalon/boards/
Teaching Montessori in the home: Preschool years – Elizabeth G. Hainstock
Unschooling: Unschooling is an educational method and philosophy that advocates learner-chosen activities as a primary means for learning. Unschooling students learn through their natural life experiences, including play, household responsibilities, personal interests and curiosity, internships and work experience, travel, books, elective classes, family, mentors, and social interaction. Catch Lowell Vickers’ blog post on Unschooling.
Homeschool lounge on Self Directed Education.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpkfKqLn47Y&t=43s
Waldorf: Waldorf education, also known as Steiner education, is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Anthroposophy. Its pedagogy emphasizes the role of imagination in learning, striving to integrate the intellectual, practical, and artistic development of pupils in a holistic manner.
Resources:
http://www.waldorfessentials.com Curriculum
http://www.christopherushomeschool.com Curriculum
http://www.jamieyorkpress.com Making Math Meaningful – you can buy these books on TakeAlot
http://www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com
https://waldorfinspiredlearning.com
http://www.waldorfteacherresources.com Free Curriculum
http://www.awaldorfjourney.com
https://earthschooling.info/thebearthinstitute/ Curriculum
http://www.waldorflibrary.org Free and paid resources
http://www.oakmeadow.com Curriculum
http://www.live-education.com Curriculum
http://www.waldorfeducation.org
Charles Kovacs https://www.loot.co.za/search?cat=b&terms=charles+kovacs
http://www.waldorfcurriculum.com
https://www.zukunftsstiftung-entwicklung.de/spenderinnen/download/?fbclid=IwAR11jJs0UypgskwkgN0K_vgq4oj-ChubeseN89604Om4lxY-A9Fzz1bFQVc Free Curriculum
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/waldorfhomeeducators Free Resources
School at home: (Always check what people have experienced with these curricula on the Facebook pages)
It is just using the national curriculum and teaching it at home.
http://www.clonard.co.za
http://www.brainline.com
http://www.impaq.co.za
http://www.homeschoolingsouthafrica.co.za LE-AMEN IEB accreditation
Afrikaans:
https://www.nukleusonderwys.co.za/
Eclectic: This approach takes elements from any educational philosophy and any curriculum and blends it into a personalized educational journey. One uses curricula for math, reading, and spelling, and takes an unschooling/unit study approach for the other subjects.
Homeschool Lounge on Eclectic Approach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ9wJ8qNHsU&t=29s
Resources:
www.goodandbeautiful.com Language Arts, Science, Handwriting, History, Math and more
www.oikosfamily.co.za Math you See, Apologia Science, Learning Language Arts Through Literature, Excellence in Writing, Italics Handwriting series, KONOS Unit studies
www.singaporemaths.co.za Math, Science and English
https://www.masterbooks.com/math-lessons-for-a-living-education-series But you can order from Take Alot and Loot
http://www.south-african-homeschool-curriculum.com/child-literature-lesson-plans.html Little Footprints is a South African homeschool curriculum consists of literature-based lesson plans that are designed to take you and your little ones on an armchair journey around South Africa, exploring the fascinating people, animals and places that make up our beautiful land
https://www.homeschooling-curriculum-guide.com/omvattend-afrikaans.html Omvattend Afrikaans vir Afrikaanse letterkunde Graad 1-3
http://toetentaal.co.za/ Afrikaans letterkunde vanaf Graad 4
https://bravewriter.com/ A brilliant creative writing arts program with in depth literature studies.
https://thebookconnection.co.za/ All about Spelling, All about Reading and Life Of Fred-Math
https://www.cimt.org.uk/projects/mep/index.htm Mathematics Enhancement Program – Free math program
https://oolfant.com Afrikaans
http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/ Math
https://www.goodneighbours.org.za/ Story of the World
https://antbooks.co.za/ Afrikaans Second Language, English and Math
http://www.thunderboltkids.co.za Science
https://kieswetterklaskamer.wordpress.com/ Afrikaans resources Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Kieswetter-Klaskamer-356248991247815/?hc_location=ufi
https://www.themeasuredmom.com/ General Resources
www.mathigon.org Grade 6-12 Math lessons
Unit study: Unit Studies typically encompass all of the scholastic subjects through the study of one topic.
Anelle Burger chats to Shirley Erwee about the topic of Unit Studies on the Homeschool Lounge.
Podcast : https://iono.fm/e/740133
YouTube video : https://youtu.be/T4ysZdXMcM8
Aticle on the benefits of learning via unit studies: https://www.edtechlens.com/blog/try-theme-based-learning?
Resources:
http://www.oikosfamily.co.za Konos
http://www.homeschoolshare.com
http://www.south-african-homeschool-curriculum.com/south-african-history.html?
https://homeschoolgiveaways.com
https://knowledgequest.leadpages.co/unit-study-of-the-month/?
https://www.aop.com/curriculum/weaver
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com
https://teachingresources.co.za/vendors/adventuredemic/?
http://www.freeunitstudies.com
http://www.homeschoolcreations.com
https://unitstudy.com/
Online Curricula: (No certificate at the end):
http://www.khanacademy.org Free
http://www.allinonehomeschool.com Easy Peasy online school – Free
http://www.time4learning.com Paid
http://www.ck12.org Free
http://www.mobymax.com Paid
http://openeducationsource.weebly.com/ Free
Online Curriculum with school leaving Certificate: (Always check what people have experienced with these curricula on the Facebook pages)
https://www.eduanywhere.academy Cambridge (developed by Erica Hugo, prominent SA homeschool mom. This is only a preparation, you need to organize the exams yourself)
http://www.cambrilearn.com Cambridge
http://onlineged.co.za/ General Education Diploma
http://www.campusnet.co.za American High School
http://thinkdigitalcollege.co.za/ NSC
http://www.acehomeschool.co.za/ Accelerated Christian Education offers IEB, NSC, GED and Cambridge
https://ivschool.co.za/ Cambridge
For a more comprehensive understanding of the approaches and their pros and cons, please refer to the publication at https://thebestschools.org/magazine/homeschool-style-right/
Before you decide on a school leaving certificate, please check with the University faculty your child would like to study at, to hear what the requirements are for that course. Please join the Facebook pages above to make sure you know what the requirements are to obtain university exemption for each of the school leaving certificates.
Please note that ECHSA does not endorse any of the above mentioned curricula or service providers, neither do we take responsibility for their content or conduct.
My brother suggested I might like this website. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
My Pleasure!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything
I’m glad you found it helpful Ann!
Hi,
I am feeling quite overwhelmed by all the info and options. My daughter is currently in Grade 9 at Victoria Girls High in Grahamstown. She has never been happy at school and endured more than anything else, often in tears even now at this age.
We also live far out of town which makes school going a daily grind. Leaving very early and often coming back late which causes more stress.
I have considered home schooling but was concerned about her self discipline and my ability to enforce it as I also work.
During lockdown she has been given alot of assignments and work to do as well as Zoom meetings and it was interesting to see how she coped and she has coped surprisingly well.
Her dad is in the UK and there is a strong possibility of her going over at some point to join him and finish her studies there so for this reason I would like to consider the Cambridge curriculum.
I have never been involved with homeschooling so please need assistance with how Cambridge curriculum works, where to register, cost, material,exams, subjects,tutor support etc as well as any other info I might need to make this decision.
Your help with this would be hugely appreciated.
Kind regards
Cary Clark
Hi Cary, thank you for contacting the Eastern Cape Home Schooling Association!
I’d be happy to assist but can highly recommend our Cambridge specialist Yolandi Garden.
Would you mind contacting her? She will be happy to answer all your questions and concerns regarding Cambridge.
You can contact Yolandi on (082) 853-8944.
Please consider registering with us by clicking on the “JOIN ECHSA” button on the right hand side of the page. I will then put you into contact with our Chapter leader in your area to get connected and put you onto our main WhatsApp group. Please join our Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echsa
Kind regards,
Erika Adendorff
ECHSA Secretary
http://www.echsa.net
Meandering Mzansi is a beautiful Geography curriculum for Homeschooled children aged 9 to 14. It fits in well with an eclectic mix.
Wow just what I need, Afrikaans resources websites! Thank you thank you thank you!!