If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to pull together a meaningful homeschool plan, you’re not alone. That’s why I’m thrilled to introduce you to Erin — a homeschooling mother of 10, grandmother, and passionate advocate for living books, who founded Wattle Gum Homeschool, a true literature-based homeschool program.
In our recent YouTube interview, Erin shares how Wattle Gum Homeschool offers both full curricula and supporting resources rooted in quality Australian literature. Her passion shines as she explains how living books cultivate cross-curricular learning, critical thinking, and meaningful educational experiences.
Prefer to watch or listen? You can do so on the Homeschool Resource Finder YouTube Channel by clicking on the image below.
Who is Erin?
Erin has three decades of homeschooling experience to pull from. She’s someone who deeply understands the ups and downs that come with choosing to home educate your children.
Erin is a real encourager. She brings a calm, steady presence to the online homeschooling space and has a deep heart for connection. She knows that homeschooling isn’t always picture-perfect—and she’s not trying to sell that image. What she offers instead is grounded encouragement, practical support, and a strong sense of “you can do this.”
What is Wattle Gum Homeschool?
Wattle Gum Homeschool was born out of Erin’s deep love for literature—especially Australian books—and a desire to share that love with others in the homeschooling community. At its core, Wattle Gum offers two distinct pathways for homeschoolers wanting a literature-based homeschool:
- Resource Support – This includes book lists, literature-based units, and other tools to help parents build their own rich and engaging homeschool experience.
- Ready-to-Go Curriculum – For families who want a comprehensive plan, Wattle Gum provides fully developed curriculum options that are also literature-based.
Both streams are grounded in Erin’s philosophy of using quality literature as the foundation for learning. What began as friends and fellow homeschoolers asking for book recommendations—particularly Australian literature to support topics like Australian history—evolved into a free, searchable database of Australian books. This resource is still available today and continues to be a cornerstone of Wattle Gum.
As more people reached out asking for book lists and eventually entire curriculum plans, Erin responded by building something bigger. Wattle Gum Homeschool grew organically from this community need. Erin’s genuine passion for sharing her knowledge and helping others thrive in their homeschooling journey shines through.
How Wattle Gum Homeschool Hopes to Support the Community
Erin’s vision for Wattle Gum Homeschool is to empower families to grow in their knowledge and confidence—especially through the use of rich literature. She’s passionate about helping home educators recognise how much learning can be drawn from high-quality books. A literature based homeschool can serve as a powerful cross-curricular tool, touching on English, history, science, nature, art, and more—all through the pages of a true living book.
Erin encourages families to explore Australian literature but also to embrace a wide range of literary works. Through good-quality literature, children develop grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, analytical thinking, and even logic. When reading thoughtfully chosen books—whether historical narratives or nature stories—children naturally engage with language and content in meaningful, connected ways.
At Wattle Gum Homeschool, Erin offers two key streams of support:
- Supporting Resources – These are designed for families who already have a curriculum or method in place and simply want enriching, literature-based resources to complement what they’re doing. These include curated book lists, unit studies, and specifically developed resources to accompany popular homeschooling texts such as Our Sunburnt Country.
- Complete Curriculum – For families looking for an all-in-one option, Erin has developed a full curriculum from Foundation through to Year 6. Using the Australian National Curriculum as a guide, she selects living books that align with key subject content and outcomes, ensuring that families can educate with depth, purpose, and joy.
Importantly, Erin emphasises flexibility and accessibility. Many of the books she recommends can be found through libraries or interlibrary loan systems, and she’s always willing to help parents find suitable substitutions if needed.
Ultimately, Wattle Gum Homeschool is a resource built not just to inform, but to encourage. Erin wants parents to know they can homeschool confidently, without having to do it all alone.
Wattle Gum Homeschool Offers:
- A free, searchable Australian book database
- Literature-based units and booklists (including Our Sunburnt Country)
- A complete Foundation–Year 6 curriculum
- Library-friendly sourcing and book substitution guidelines
Thanks to Erin from Wattle Gum Homeschool for sharing a more in-depth overview of the resources available. To find out more about Wattle Gum Homeschool, see their detailed listing in our Homeschool Resource Directory
