MICK HOLMES was homeschooled until the age of nine and wished he had returned to homeschooling in high school. His experience working as an English-as-a-second-language teacher in elementary school and as a private tutor then deepened his appreciation for exactly how and why his homeschooling experience was valuable.
This prompted him to write Home Time.
Mick spent his time at home before regular school age just playing, like most children. He continued living and having fun in the same vein while homeschooling from age five until almost nine years old.
His parents didn't start “giving lessons” or use any curriculum, even though they were both school teachers. He directed his own learning adventure, with his parents offering support and guidance along the way when asked. He was unschooled.
Mick spent four years in Australian elementary school (3rd-6th grade) which he excelled at both academically, socially and in the sporting arena. He was a positive and enthusiastic student.
In his final year, he was elected school Captain, became the school Dux (Valedictorian) and was also the swimming champion, athletics champion, cross-country running champion, while also joining almost all of the school sporting teams.
Mick started high school (7th grade) with the same enthusiasm he held in elementary. However, by 9th grade he had grown tired of how much time was wasted as well as the topics being taught.
He asked his parents if he could return to homeschooling. Unfortunately, due to a miscommunication, he continued attending high school for the last three years, becoming increasingly despondent about school and learning in general. He still fudged admirable end-of-school grades.
Mick began work as a school teacher of young learners, teaching English as a second language in Turkey. His experience teaching in schools and private tutoring deepened his appreciation for exactly how and why his homeschooling experience was valuable.
Mick began writing down his thoughts and experiences. This would eventually become his soon-to-be-released book, Home Time.
He then focused exclusively on private tutoring. In this way, the kids who had lessons with him wanted to be there and never thought they were “having a lesson”. Instead, they were just playing naturally, which is the best kind of learning environment.
Mick works as a remedial massage therapist, Wing Chun instructor and Foundation Training practitioner.
He has amalgamated all three of these modalities over the last two decades to correct muscle imbalances and postural issues in his own body. Now he enjoys helping others in a similar vein to relieve pain & chronic tension, and feel more relaxed in their physical bodies.