This last week we have had a guest. He is a great kid my kids have known all their lives. He is 12, the son of my husband's ex wife, and the brother of my step daughter. He (D)is having a hard time at home, his parents recently separated and he has been taking a lot of anger out on his mum. My dh and I offered to have him for a few weeks to help her and help him have a break, give him a taste of homeschooling, some playtime with my kids, and also have my dh really bring him into line and teach him how to manage his anger, and behave better (dh is a therapist).
Well, so far, he has been well behaved, and all three kids have been having a ball all week. I must admit we have been doing a bit less work than usual, but still, it has really helped my kids see what a good time they have homeschooling. D is amazed, we are usually finished by soon after lunch. Before school they get to go bikeriding and swimming as long as they are ready to start at 8.30. For lunch break they can again go bike riding and swimming. Reading is considered part of school.
D's mum said he wouldnt read. So my first priority was to put a book in his hand and tell him to read it. I searched my shelves and came up with the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. Not hard to read, a great classic, short enough to not be overwhelming. Well, what a hit. He is asking to read it. He loves it. The kids are in bed now, all reading thier own books. I am happy he is loving it. My son, who turns 10 tomorrow, has just received Eldest, the sequel to Eragon, this evening as an early present. He is so happy. I am so glad my love for reading is catching on to my kids, and then they can share that with D.
I hope we have D for a while. He seems to be a good influence, he is easy to have around (because he is pretty scared of dh and is behaving very well, even does his own chores here) and I think my kids are helping him a lot. I don't know what it would be like for him going back to school after tasting the love and freedom of a healthy homeschool though.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Monday, September 19, 2005
Kids' Chores
I thought I would write a post about the chores my kids do.
Both kids have been doing dishes for a few years. The youngest started seriously when he was 7.
On odd days of the month, my son (age 9) gets to sit in the front seat of the car. He also only has to clear and wipe down the surfaces, while his sister (11) does the dishes- every meal. On those days he also unpacks the top shelf of the dishwasher while she unpacks the bottom. On even days, obviously , this is reversed. The convenience of having 2 children! When their big sister stays with us, she just helps them.
Jared- apart from kitchen duties, he empties all the bins and puts new liners in them. The kitchen bins are a few times a week, the other bins around the house are just once a week before rubbish day. He also feeds the dog and cleans the pool, and puts chlorine in the pool every 2nd day.
He also does his own washing, which he is capable of doing alone now, although I usually supervise still (and remind him to hang it up, bring it in, put is away etc).
Genevieve: apart from kitchen duties, she feeds the cat, and the chooks. Feeding the chooks involves water, chook feed, and taking the scraps bucket out to them once a day, and washing the scrap bucket. Of course she also brings in the eggs.
She also does her own washing. She must keep her room clean- we are working on that.
Each week, usually Saturday morning, we do our House Blessing. That involves: vacuuming, dusting, basic tidying, and bathrooms. We swap and change jobs frequently and take less than an hour altogether.
I do the Flylady system, so other cleaning jobs are spread throughout the week, including deep cleaning. Theoretically, anyway, but it helps to have a system.
Both kids have been doing dishes for a few years. The youngest started seriously when he was 7.
On odd days of the month, my son (age 9) gets to sit in the front seat of the car. He also only has to clear and wipe down the surfaces, while his sister (11) does the dishes- every meal. On those days he also unpacks the top shelf of the dishwasher while she unpacks the bottom. On even days, obviously , this is reversed. The convenience of having 2 children! When their big sister stays with us, she just helps them.
Jared- apart from kitchen duties, he empties all the bins and puts new liners in them. The kitchen bins are a few times a week, the other bins around the house are just once a week before rubbish day. He also feeds the dog and cleans the pool, and puts chlorine in the pool every 2nd day.
He also does his own washing, which he is capable of doing alone now, although I usually supervise still (and remind him to hang it up, bring it in, put is away etc).
Genevieve: apart from kitchen duties, she feeds the cat, and the chooks. Feeding the chooks involves water, chook feed, and taking the scraps bucket out to them once a day, and washing the scrap bucket. Of course she also brings in the eggs.
She also does her own washing. She must keep her room clean- we are working on that.
Each week, usually Saturday morning, we do our House Blessing. That involves: vacuuming, dusting, basic tidying, and bathrooms. We swap and change jobs frequently and take less than an hour altogether.
I do the Flylady system, so other cleaning jobs are spread throughout the week, including deep cleaning. Theoretically, anyway, but it helps to have a system.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Back again.
Here I am again at my blog. Its been a while. I just managed to put up a photo, why was it so hard before? Dont know.
Homeschooling. We have been changing. Simplifying. I am really doing more Latin centred these days after reading Climbing Parnassus. I was heading that way before, too. It sounds terrible- Latin centred- but really, it's a concept that helps prioritise, rather than the fact we spend all day doing Latin.
Why? Well, I think I came to see that 'modern' education isn't really doing a very good job, and the more traditional way was held the same way for centuries because it DID work well. It produced deep , clear thinkers, noble men and women, and decent leaders. What we have replaced it with - well, to me, it lacks integrity and depth. And, we don't have a clue where we come from, our Western heritage, let alone our place in the world. We have no context for our lives and we have become so trivial and self centred, and pleasure seeking.
However, its not all dry and boring (as accounts of schooling in the past can certainly sound), we have lots of fun, and we learn to live in our modern world too- by living in it.
We don't sit around conjugating Latin verbs till we are sick of it. In fact both kids notice we are more relaxed, and doing less. But, it is more focused, more effective, I feel. Less trying to cover everything in 12 years, as trying to get a good foundation to set them up for a life of learning.
So lately, a day looks like:
8.30- musical instrument practice. Jared, treble recorder, Genevieve, piano.
9.00- memory work. Both are memorising Shakespeare's Sonnet 18- Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Nearly got it (and just by getting them to do it, I nearly have it down too!).
9.15- Maths. Singapore Maths.
10 Latin. Now we are all doing Latin for Children and loving it. We chant the chants, watch the DVD, and it's fun. Gen also does her Cambridge Latin homework from her class. Definitely not a subject any of us dread- why they made it so deadly boring when I was at school, i do not understand.
10.30 Grammar, 3 days a week. Rod and Staff- highly Christian but oh so thorough. And handwriting practice. Not so fun here, but there you go, mum is mean.
11.00 Writing. Gen is doing Writing Strands, Jared is about to start Classical Writing Aesop. Also, any other writing, such as projects, history reports, dictations etc.
11.30- whatever- French, Poetry, catching up.....
12.30- Lunch
After lunch we do Science or History- Medieval, Australian and Classical History, one afternoon each. But I am much more relaxed about it. We have fun. We read together, colour in. We all love History, so it doesn't get left off, but I am not so history centred now. Thats a relief in itself.
Art is informal or integrated into other subjects.
I am much happier doing it this way. I was spreading us so thin before, and always felt we couldn't get it all done. Now I feel even if we dont get to the afternoon work, we have done a good day's work.
Life is good. What a blessing to be able to homeschool.
Homeschooling. We have been changing. Simplifying. I am really doing more Latin centred these days after reading Climbing Parnassus. I was heading that way before, too. It sounds terrible- Latin centred- but really, it's a concept that helps prioritise, rather than the fact we spend all day doing Latin.
Why? Well, I think I came to see that 'modern' education isn't really doing a very good job, and the more traditional way was held the same way for centuries because it DID work well. It produced deep , clear thinkers, noble men and women, and decent leaders. What we have replaced it with - well, to me, it lacks integrity and depth. And, we don't have a clue where we come from, our Western heritage, let alone our place in the world. We have no context for our lives and we have become so trivial and self centred, and pleasure seeking.
However, its not all dry and boring (as accounts of schooling in the past can certainly sound), we have lots of fun, and we learn to live in our modern world too- by living in it.
We don't sit around conjugating Latin verbs till we are sick of it. In fact both kids notice we are more relaxed, and doing less. But, it is more focused, more effective, I feel. Less trying to cover everything in 12 years, as trying to get a good foundation to set them up for a life of learning.
So lately, a day looks like:
8.30- musical instrument practice. Jared, treble recorder, Genevieve, piano.
9.00- memory work. Both are memorising Shakespeare's Sonnet 18- Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Nearly got it (and just by getting them to do it, I nearly have it down too!).
9.15- Maths. Singapore Maths.
10 Latin. Now we are all doing Latin for Children and loving it. We chant the chants, watch the DVD, and it's fun. Gen also does her Cambridge Latin homework from her class. Definitely not a subject any of us dread- why they made it so deadly boring when I was at school, i do not understand.
10.30 Grammar, 3 days a week. Rod and Staff- highly Christian but oh so thorough. And handwriting practice. Not so fun here, but there you go, mum is mean.
11.00 Writing. Gen is doing Writing Strands, Jared is about to start Classical Writing Aesop. Also, any other writing, such as projects, history reports, dictations etc.
11.30- whatever- French, Poetry, catching up.....
12.30- Lunch
After lunch we do Science or History- Medieval, Australian and Classical History, one afternoon each. But I am much more relaxed about it. We have fun. We read together, colour in. We all love History, so it doesn't get left off, but I am not so history centred now. Thats a relief in itself.
Art is informal or integrated into other subjects.
I am much happier doing it this way. I was spreading us so thin before, and always felt we couldn't get it all done. Now I feel even if we dont get to the afternoon work, we have done a good day's work.
Life is good. What a blessing to be able to homeschool.
Friday, June 24, 2005
update
I finally get back to my blog.
It's the end of term 2 here in Australia. We have 4 terms a year, 10 weeks each. We are in winter, it is cold and wet and rainy and WONDERFUL which you can probably only understand if you couldn't remember the last cold AND wet, rainy winter you had. There's been a drought here- for years (well, we do live on the edge of a vast semi desert, but still!). Its been raining for weeks. Everything is coming alive. And our roof is leaking, in fact, my bedroom roof is leaking. Nothing a bucket can't handle.
I am happy with the way the homeschooling is going. I feel we have a good rythmn and routine going. I am feeling more confident, and at the same time I am still always tweaking.
This seems to be our routine at the moment:
First music practice, usually. Genevieve does piano. She won an eisteddford recently, for her own composition. Jared plays treble recorder, and his teacher is brilliant- she has him absolutely loving it- and he's not easy to please!
Both kids then do maths. First some sort of drill, then Singapore maths. Both like Singapore Maths, and so do I. It is so clearly presented, and not too much work. Still, they do usually spend about an hour on maths.
Then I work with Jared, age 9, while Genevieve, now a big whole 11, does independent work. She can do her Latin alone, plus Logic puzzles, Word Roots worksheet, one of her writing programs (Wordsmith Apprentice). Probably other things I cant remember.
Meanwhile, I will work intensely with Jared for about an hour. I will do Rod and Staff grammar 3- mostly orally, but he will do the worksheets- including some whiteboard work. Then, either Dictation or Copywork. A full page now (in his sprawly handwriting, anyway). He has come so far this year, and he really wants to write well. Then, its Latin- Prima Latina. I think we are both bored with this now, but he has learned a lot of vocabulary this year, and he is quite proud of it.
Then his reading out loud to me. We use a McGuffey reader mostly. He reads well.
Then, he is on his own to read for 40 minutes while I work with his sister.
I will do Rod and Staff with her. She hated it a while back. Now I think she is enjoying it a bit in spite of herself. She is very language orientated and enjoys sentence diagramming. But in the end, I think what she enjoys is the fact that I sit with her for a lot of it. I enjoy it- I am learning too. She and I are quite similar in our love for language.
Then I will mark her maths, go over any mistakes with her, and mark any other work she has done. Then I may help her with her outlining. She is struggling with this a bit. I may also get her going on her writing assignment- either from Writing Strands, or Imitations in Writing- Medieval Legends. She needs just a boost to get her started, then she is off writing on her own, and usually loving it. Well, not so much the Writing Strands.
We do History together on Mondays. SOTW 2, Medieval, listen to the CD chapter, do mapwork, colouring in together, and answer the questions in the AG. Then Jared has to give me an oral narration. He needs practice on this- I have been focusing on his writing skills. I feel he needs more practice doing oral narration before can write them down. So I write them for him still.
And Genevieve has to do outlining from Kingfisher. Yuk. Sometimes from SOTW instead. This week I relented and let her do a report from SOTW instead. I am going to work harder on outlining with her next week though. We have to get through this block.
Science is meant to be weekly but we have done only 6 chapters from RS4K Chemistry this 10 week term. We all enjoy RS4K. It is meaty, the experiments are well designed and explained. It feels deep, but doable. Some weeks we just dont get to it. However, once a month we go to the Power Museum and they learn all about physics with other kids, so I dont feel so bad.
I really had a burn out stage a few weeks ago. I felt it was all hard, dry work and no joy. I realised, what I was missing was the reading with them. We just didn't have time, except a few evenings, when we are tired anyway. I looked into Sonlight. At least now I know a lot about Sonlight, but I decided not to completely upheave and change curriculum (from the TWTM guidelines that I follow) and just ordered a whole lot of Sonlight books from the library. And we have been reading them, together. Some days, we miss another subject, just so we can read together. Even if the book isn't related to anything else we are learning. This shift has really helped me a lot to enjoy homeschooling again, and brought more joy back. They still do their own reading, but we all love snuggling on the couch and reading together. And the weather has been conducive to that too.
So, mid year for us and I am feeling good about it all. Gees, if only I knew what I know now, when I began homeschooling 2 years ago. Its been hard work doing all this learning, although I have been so passionate about it. There's no substitute for plain ol' experience though.
It's the end of term 2 here in Australia. We have 4 terms a year, 10 weeks each. We are in winter, it is cold and wet and rainy and WONDERFUL which you can probably only understand if you couldn't remember the last cold AND wet, rainy winter you had. There's been a drought here- for years (well, we do live on the edge of a vast semi desert, but still!). Its been raining for weeks. Everything is coming alive. And our roof is leaking, in fact, my bedroom roof is leaking. Nothing a bucket can't handle.
I am happy with the way the homeschooling is going. I feel we have a good rythmn and routine going. I am feeling more confident, and at the same time I am still always tweaking.
This seems to be our routine at the moment:
First music practice, usually. Genevieve does piano. She won an eisteddford recently, for her own composition. Jared plays treble recorder, and his teacher is brilliant- she has him absolutely loving it- and he's not easy to please!
Both kids then do maths. First some sort of drill, then Singapore maths. Both like Singapore Maths, and so do I. It is so clearly presented, and not too much work. Still, they do usually spend about an hour on maths.
Then I work with Jared, age 9, while Genevieve, now a big whole 11, does independent work. She can do her Latin alone, plus Logic puzzles, Word Roots worksheet, one of her writing programs (Wordsmith Apprentice). Probably other things I cant remember.
Meanwhile, I will work intensely with Jared for about an hour. I will do Rod and Staff grammar 3- mostly orally, but he will do the worksheets- including some whiteboard work. Then, either Dictation or Copywork. A full page now (in his sprawly handwriting, anyway). He has come so far this year, and he really wants to write well. Then, its Latin- Prima Latina. I think we are both bored with this now, but he has learned a lot of vocabulary this year, and he is quite proud of it.
Then his reading out loud to me. We use a McGuffey reader mostly. He reads well.
Then, he is on his own to read for 40 minutes while I work with his sister.
I will do Rod and Staff with her. She hated it a while back. Now I think she is enjoying it a bit in spite of herself. She is very language orientated and enjoys sentence diagramming. But in the end, I think what she enjoys is the fact that I sit with her for a lot of it. I enjoy it- I am learning too. She and I are quite similar in our love for language.
Then I will mark her maths, go over any mistakes with her, and mark any other work she has done. Then I may help her with her outlining. She is struggling with this a bit. I may also get her going on her writing assignment- either from Writing Strands, or Imitations in Writing- Medieval Legends. She needs just a boost to get her started, then she is off writing on her own, and usually loving it. Well, not so much the Writing Strands.
We do History together on Mondays. SOTW 2, Medieval, listen to the CD chapter, do mapwork, colouring in together, and answer the questions in the AG. Then Jared has to give me an oral narration. He needs practice on this- I have been focusing on his writing skills. I feel he needs more practice doing oral narration before can write them down. So I write them for him still.
And Genevieve has to do outlining from Kingfisher. Yuk. Sometimes from SOTW instead. This week I relented and let her do a report from SOTW instead. I am going to work harder on outlining with her next week though. We have to get through this block.
Science is meant to be weekly but we have done only 6 chapters from RS4K Chemistry this 10 week term. We all enjoy RS4K. It is meaty, the experiments are well designed and explained. It feels deep, but doable. Some weeks we just dont get to it. However, once a month we go to the Power Museum and they learn all about physics with other kids, so I dont feel so bad.
I really had a burn out stage a few weeks ago. I felt it was all hard, dry work and no joy. I realised, what I was missing was the reading with them. We just didn't have time, except a few evenings, when we are tired anyway. I looked into Sonlight. At least now I know a lot about Sonlight, but I decided not to completely upheave and change curriculum (from the TWTM guidelines that I follow) and just ordered a whole lot of Sonlight books from the library. And we have been reading them, together. Some days, we miss another subject, just so we can read together. Even if the book isn't related to anything else we are learning. This shift has really helped me a lot to enjoy homeschooling again, and brought more joy back. They still do their own reading, but we all love snuggling on the couch and reading together. And the weather has been conducive to that too.
So, mid year for us and I am feeling good about it all. Gees, if only I knew what I know now, when I began homeschooling 2 years ago. Its been hard work doing all this learning, although I have been so passionate about it. There's no substitute for plain ol' experience though.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
being organised
Yesterday I cleaned the house, I decluttered ready for our swap meet this morning (which was sucessful), I wrote up the kids' schedule for the week including everything I normally leave till the last minute like what are we going to do for dictation today, and I read through all the lessons in their books to have an idea what we are going to cover this week. I wrote a poem up on the whiteboard. I thought of everything. It feels so good.
Of course, its all I did all day, cleaning and organising, but I had fun. And it just feels so good to be organised. Why dont I do it more often? Why do I leave things till the last minute then stress? I am normally semi-organised. And thats ok. But an hour on the weekend saves a lot more than that during the week, I am sure.
Flylady is having a month of getting into the habit of doing 15 minutes of de-cluttering a day. Its really helping me. I love de-cluttering. Mostly I have decluttered the school room and the kids toys this month. Next is my office/computer room.
Of course, its all I did all day, cleaning and organising, but I had fun. And it just feels so good to be organised. Why dont I do it more often? Why do I leave things till the last minute then stress? I am normally semi-organised. And thats ok. But an hour on the weekend saves a lot more than that during the week, I am sure.
Flylady is having a month of getting into the habit of doing 15 minutes of de-cluttering a day. Its really helping me. I love de-cluttering. Mostly I have decluttered the school room and the kids toys this month. Next is my office/computer room.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Into March we go...
I am generally really happy with how things are going. I wasn't happy with my dh telling the kids it is a long weekend this weekend and they have Monday off. I was waving my arms in the background and putting my finger to my lips, tying to get him to be QUIET! Oh well, now I guess I just have to accept it. I did so want to just carry on as usual.
The schedule is going well. Jared is still doing Maths for 45 mins, then writing, then Latin, Spelling, Grammar and reading. Its going really well. He really needs this time to consolidate his writing. He tries hard. He is doing a dictation almost every day, sometimes he will write a letter or do some creative writing instead. But the regularity of doing dictation every day is improving his writing a lot.
He also demanded to do Spelling, I think thats funny.
Genevieve is really beginning to work independently. I am thrilled. She can do her maths usually independently, then her Logic puzzle, her Vocab from Classical Roots, and Wordsmith Apprentice, and, at her insistence, her handwriting book, then her reading. Sometimes she does her Latin alone too, sometimes we do it together. Together we do R&S grammar (she does any worksheets alone), any outlining (she is still learning this and needs a fair bit of supervision), and I set her up ready to do her writing from Writing Strands, or a History report, which she does alone on the computer when everything else is done. I am really happy at her independence though, it frees me up to work with Jared.
This week I started our days with Science, and that worked well. Its too easy to drop off the end of the list, but I wouldnt drop anything else off . I am feeling ok about Science this week. We did about half an hour every morning, including looking through our telescope at the moon, and lots of reading and discussion. Genevieve did outlining from How the Universe Works.
It feels so good that everything is running smoothly.
Geneiveve is now in Water Scouts, which has been a great experience so far. Jared has been in Cubs for ages, but she changed from Brownies straight into Scouts this term. It's walking distance from where we live, and she goes out boating on Cats, yachts and canoes most weeks, but also on Saturday afternoons. They are thrilled with her. She had literally never been on a boat before this (poor deprived child) but they have asked her to go in their big yearly competition, they reckon she's a natural. She also pitches in and works hard. I am happy for her, it is really giving her something challenging and worthwhile to get her teeth into.
Poor Jared is jealous but he still loves his Cubs. He doest get to go to Scouts for another 18 months.
The schedule is going well. Jared is still doing Maths for 45 mins, then writing, then Latin, Spelling, Grammar and reading. Its going really well. He really needs this time to consolidate his writing. He tries hard. He is doing a dictation almost every day, sometimes he will write a letter or do some creative writing instead. But the regularity of doing dictation every day is improving his writing a lot.
He also demanded to do Spelling, I think thats funny.
Genevieve is really beginning to work independently. I am thrilled. She can do her maths usually independently, then her Logic puzzle, her Vocab from Classical Roots, and Wordsmith Apprentice, and, at her insistence, her handwriting book, then her reading. Sometimes she does her Latin alone too, sometimes we do it together. Together we do R&S grammar (she does any worksheets alone), any outlining (she is still learning this and needs a fair bit of supervision), and I set her up ready to do her writing from Writing Strands, or a History report, which she does alone on the computer when everything else is done. I am really happy at her independence though, it frees me up to work with Jared.
This week I started our days with Science, and that worked well. Its too easy to drop off the end of the list, but I wouldnt drop anything else off . I am feeling ok about Science this week. We did about half an hour every morning, including looking through our telescope at the moon, and lots of reading and discussion. Genevieve did outlining from How the Universe Works.
It feels so good that everything is running smoothly.
Geneiveve is now in Water Scouts, which has been a great experience so far. Jared has been in Cubs for ages, but she changed from Brownies straight into Scouts this term. It's walking distance from where we live, and she goes out boating on Cats, yachts and canoes most weeks, but also on Saturday afternoons. They are thrilled with her. She had literally never been on a boat before this (poor deprived child) but they have asked her to go in their big yearly competition, they reckon she's a natural. She also pitches in and works hard. I am happy for her, it is really giving her something challenging and worthwhile to get her teeth into.
Poor Jared is jealous but he still loves his Cubs. He doest get to go to Scouts for another 18 months.
Friday, February 25, 2005
Science
Well its been a while since I blogged.
The issue thats been fired up in the last day or so on the WTM boards is how to do/ get to Science? It seems many of us love history and find it difficult to teach, or find the time to teach, Science.
Its been an issue that I have thought about a lot.
I love Science. I just don't like the mess, the making it into work, the dryness of turning it into a subject.
I think Science is Life. It's real, it's nature, it's the world around us, and you have to get out there and touch, feel, taste, listen to it. Thats why I dont like 'studying' it. I don't want to turn my own love of nature or my kids' into a subject. I dont like doing Science experiments, like growing beans in different environments, because they are too contrived, and my kids already know the result, because we have a garden. Anyone with a garden knows.
All right, there are other things we could do as experiments that they wouldnt know, maybe. But it just seems so messy. I think I want to learn Science naturally. Or, get someone else to teach my kids, someone who is passionate and loves to teach it.
However, we are doing Science. Apart from the nature walks, and the discussions, and the documentaries. We do 'do' Science. Genevieve is outlining Science from How the Universe Works. Jared is reading lots. We read together.
We do it on alternate weeks to History. That way, we do it. But I am still not happy with it. We all prefer history. We can sit on a couch and be enraptured by the story of history. We can read it ourselves and be fascinated. But my kids do not naturally pick up a National Geographic or any book on Science and just read it. I have to make them. Yes, they will watch documentaries.
I read Science. I like it. My dad is a scientist. But its just not cosy and comfortable to teach.
Maybe its because I dont have a good curriculum, but I dont think so. I have tried a few 'good' ones and I still dont even use them, they dont excite me. Even maths excites me nowadays. Even grammar. Wierd. Just not science. I love it for myself, just not to 'teach'. Maybe I should let my kids loose a bit more with it, let them find their own passions, and go from there. Maybe.
OK, I am getting myself down about this. We are ok. I know I am not alone in this anyway.
The issue thats been fired up in the last day or so on the WTM boards is how to do/ get to Science? It seems many of us love history and find it difficult to teach, or find the time to teach, Science.
Its been an issue that I have thought about a lot.
I love Science. I just don't like the mess, the making it into work, the dryness of turning it into a subject.
I think Science is Life. It's real, it's nature, it's the world around us, and you have to get out there and touch, feel, taste, listen to it. Thats why I dont like 'studying' it. I don't want to turn my own love of nature or my kids' into a subject. I dont like doing Science experiments, like growing beans in different environments, because they are too contrived, and my kids already know the result, because we have a garden. Anyone with a garden knows.
All right, there are other things we could do as experiments that they wouldnt know, maybe. But it just seems so messy. I think I want to learn Science naturally. Or, get someone else to teach my kids, someone who is passionate and loves to teach it.
However, we are doing Science. Apart from the nature walks, and the discussions, and the documentaries. We do 'do' Science. Genevieve is outlining Science from How the Universe Works. Jared is reading lots. We read together.
We do it on alternate weeks to History. That way, we do it. But I am still not happy with it. We all prefer history. We can sit on a couch and be enraptured by the story of history. We can read it ourselves and be fascinated. But my kids do not naturally pick up a National Geographic or any book on Science and just read it. I have to make them. Yes, they will watch documentaries.
I read Science. I like it. My dad is a scientist. But its just not cosy and comfortable to teach.
Maybe its because I dont have a good curriculum, but I dont think so. I have tried a few 'good' ones and I still dont even use them, they dont excite me. Even maths excites me nowadays. Even grammar. Wierd. Just not science. I love it for myself, just not to 'teach'. Maybe I should let my kids loose a bit more with it, let them find their own passions, and go from there. Maybe.
OK, I am getting myself down about this. We are ok. I know I am not alone in this anyway.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
books and reading ability
Well, I am sitting here, and I only wrote on my blog yesterday but I feel like writing again.
I am about to go and read the kids the next chapter of The Hobbit. They are so into it. Less than a year ago I tried it and they just begged me to stop, they didn't like it. Now, they beg me to read it at mealtimes and late into the evening. Just goes to show what a bit of extra maturity will do.
I went to a private Christian girl's school (where we learnt Latin and had to wear hats AND gloves)
but we must have had a good English staff because in my first year of highschool, which is year 7 where I grew up, I was 11, we had to read The Hobbit. Well, of course I loved it, we al ldid, my best friend called her dog Bilbo.
We also had to read a book called The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart. If you havnt read it, and the next 2 books in the series (the Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment) I highly recommend them. The first is the story of Merlin, or rather the Arthurian legend through Merlin. Its so wonderful. I remember finding it a little bit of a challenge (as was the Hobbit) but VERY worth it.
I have just given it to my 10 year old, as we are doing Medieval this year, and told her, dont worry, if its a bit too much for you, (it is an adult book), you dont have to read it now, you can wait till you are older. She is hooked, she loves it, and says its not too hard at all.
Which really makes me think, all this reading we do is definitely helping their reading skills- and I was a prolific reader as a child, but I remember finding the Crystal Cave a little challenging, at 11-12, yet my daughter is only 10. Thats good!
As for myself, what am I reading? I have a pile of spiritual books next to my bed. However I am not at the moment really INTO any particular book. I miss getting into a good novel, but I got out of the habit many years ago and have only read non fiction since then. As in, reading for a reason, rather than just for pleasure, for the comfort and joy or enrichment of being into a good book. There are so many good ones out there, but I dont know any at all. Sounds silly, but I am looking.
I did read Siblings Without Rivalry recently, that is still next to my bed. I highly recommend it. My kids were really fighting a lot over the summer holidays (Christmas hols here in Australia) and I was at my wits end knowing how to deal with it. The book really helped. They really just want to be heard. I listened, and threw the solving of it back to them, and it was miraculous. I dotn always have the patience for it, but it really does work.
I tried Don Quixote and perhaps I will try it again. I found it surprisingly good, yet not good enough to be a high priority for my time, and the library needed it back long before I finished.
So, I am still on the lookout for a good book. Its unlike me to not have one. Maybe its all this homeschool reading I do.
ok, time to go read The Hobbit. over and out for today
I am about to go and read the kids the next chapter of The Hobbit. They are so into it. Less than a year ago I tried it and they just begged me to stop, they didn't like it. Now, they beg me to read it at mealtimes and late into the evening. Just goes to show what a bit of extra maturity will do.
I went to a private Christian girl's school (where we learnt Latin and had to wear hats AND gloves)
but we must have had a good English staff because in my first year of highschool, which is year 7 where I grew up, I was 11, we had to read The Hobbit. Well, of course I loved it, we al ldid, my best friend called her dog Bilbo.
We also had to read a book called The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart. If you havnt read it, and the next 2 books in the series (the Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment) I highly recommend them. The first is the story of Merlin, or rather the Arthurian legend through Merlin. Its so wonderful. I remember finding it a little bit of a challenge (as was the Hobbit) but VERY worth it.
I have just given it to my 10 year old, as we are doing Medieval this year, and told her, dont worry, if its a bit too much for you, (it is an adult book), you dont have to read it now, you can wait till you are older. She is hooked, she loves it, and says its not too hard at all.
Which really makes me think, all this reading we do is definitely helping their reading skills- and I was a prolific reader as a child, but I remember finding the Crystal Cave a little challenging, at 11-12, yet my daughter is only 10. Thats good!
As for myself, what am I reading? I have a pile of spiritual books next to my bed. However I am not at the moment really INTO any particular book. I miss getting into a good novel, but I got out of the habit many years ago and have only read non fiction since then. As in, reading for a reason, rather than just for pleasure, for the comfort and joy or enrichment of being into a good book. There are so many good ones out there, but I dont know any at all. Sounds silly, but I am looking.
I did read Siblings Without Rivalry recently, that is still next to my bed. I highly recommend it. My kids were really fighting a lot over the summer holidays (Christmas hols here in Australia) and I was at my wits end knowing how to deal with it. The book really helped. They really just want to be heard. I listened, and threw the solving of it back to them, and it was miraculous. I dotn always have the patience for it, but it really does work.
I tried Don Quixote and perhaps I will try it again. I found it surprisingly good, yet not good enough to be a high priority for my time, and the library needed it back long before I finished.
So, I am still on the lookout for a good book. Its unlike me to not have one. Maybe its all this homeschool reading I do.
ok, time to go read The Hobbit. over and out for today
Friday, February 04, 2005
week 2- Science woes, and new schedule
Well, we have managed to get through our second week of the year of school.
I had a mid week crisis about Science and posted on the WTM boards about it. I got so many beautiful responses. I thought I was fine, that I had my act together with science, but I dissolved into tears in frustrations after one science session with the kids, which surprised me!
I am not so good with experiments, messy things they are, but I tried one and the kids were bored. That triggered it. But more, it was the writing I was expecting them to do. I got lots of great ideas from the posts, and I decided to relax and just take it easy, even to unschool science until I could find a better way. (or a better curriculum - that endless search for the perfect curriculum!). I love Science myself, and my dad is an astronomer, and we are doing astronomy this term, (dad lives on the other side of Australia though). I just couldnt get the kids excited though.
We have a great planetarium here in Perth- but of course, when we went this week , it was closed for yearly maintenance. grrrr
Then someone emailed me privately and asked if they could help me, perhaps I was getting overwhelmed with my schedule. I took them up on their offer and emailed them my kids' schedules. Well, am I glad I did that!
So many wonderful suggestions for my son.
I have been trying to do too much, but not very effectively, I can see that now.
My new schedule for ds9. He seems to be doing mostly U.S. 3rd grade material. My pencil allergic, doesnt care a fig about punctuation, often very difficult to work with son, bless him.
Maths- Singapore, 2 lessons a day. Also times tables and Saxon drill sheets. 45 minutes. He likes maths.
Grammar- Rod and Staff- orally and with a WHITEBOARD- why did I never think of that myself? 10 minutes a day.
Spelling Power, because he wants to! He actually likes spelling, he is a natural speller.
Latin- 10 minutes mostly, longer at beginning of week, orally and with flash cards.
Writing- either dictation, copwork or written narration The trick is, to repeat the dictation or whatever each day till he gets it right. I started this this week with a science dictation , and he did it 3 days in a row- it was his only writing, apart from 2 lines of copywork for handwriting practice. It was amazing, I could really see his weaknesses. He corrected the punctuation by today, the 3rd day, but made 2 new spelling mistakes! But he liked doing it, no resistence except for constant happy chatting and losing focus, and it felt much more effective and satsifying to work on the same passage than just showing him the mistakes and moving on the next day. So, I have a new attitude with him, to work on perfection, the quality of his writing, rather than quantity.
So, I am happy. I needed to let go of what I thought he was supposed to be doing, and find a way to help him improve, starting right where he is at! He can do memory work, reading, listening to me read etc- I tend to think only 'writing' counts, but its not true at all.
Of course, today he read a Childcraft book for Science, and he learned something very exciting that he didnt know before, that our sun is actually a star. He didnt even believe it at first! He came to check with me. Now, thats the sort of thing I want to see with Science- a child jumping off the couch to come and find me to check if what they read could possibly be true!
So, its been a good week.
I had a mid week crisis about Science and posted on the WTM boards about it. I got so many beautiful responses. I thought I was fine, that I had my act together with science, but I dissolved into tears in frustrations after one science session with the kids, which surprised me!
I am not so good with experiments, messy things they are, but I tried one and the kids were bored. That triggered it. But more, it was the writing I was expecting them to do. I got lots of great ideas from the posts, and I decided to relax and just take it easy, even to unschool science until I could find a better way. (or a better curriculum - that endless search for the perfect curriculum!). I love Science myself, and my dad is an astronomer, and we are doing astronomy this term, (dad lives on the other side of Australia though). I just couldnt get the kids excited though.
We have a great planetarium here in Perth- but of course, when we went this week , it was closed for yearly maintenance. grrrr
Then someone emailed me privately and asked if they could help me, perhaps I was getting overwhelmed with my schedule. I took them up on their offer and emailed them my kids' schedules. Well, am I glad I did that!
So many wonderful suggestions for my son.
I have been trying to do too much, but not very effectively, I can see that now.
My new schedule for ds9. He seems to be doing mostly U.S. 3rd grade material. My pencil allergic, doesnt care a fig about punctuation, often very difficult to work with son, bless him.
Maths- Singapore, 2 lessons a day. Also times tables and Saxon drill sheets. 45 minutes. He likes maths.
Grammar- Rod and Staff- orally and with a WHITEBOARD- why did I never think of that myself? 10 minutes a day.
Spelling Power, because he wants to! He actually likes spelling, he is a natural speller.
Latin- 10 minutes mostly, longer at beginning of week, orally and with flash cards.
Writing- either dictation, copwork or written narration The trick is, to repeat the dictation or whatever each day till he gets it right. I started this this week with a science dictation , and he did it 3 days in a row- it was his only writing, apart from 2 lines of copywork for handwriting practice. It was amazing, I could really see his weaknesses. He corrected the punctuation by today, the 3rd day, but made 2 new spelling mistakes! But he liked doing it, no resistence except for constant happy chatting and losing focus, and it felt much more effective and satsifying to work on the same passage than just showing him the mistakes and moving on the next day. So, I have a new attitude with him, to work on perfection, the quality of his writing, rather than quantity.
So, I am happy. I needed to let go of what I thought he was supposed to be doing, and find a way to help him improve, starting right where he is at! He can do memory work, reading, listening to me read etc- I tend to think only 'writing' counts, but its not true at all.
Of course, today he read a Childcraft book for Science, and he learned something very exciting that he didnt know before, that our sun is actually a star. He didnt even believe it at first! He came to check with me. Now, thats the sort of thing I want to see with Science- a child jumping off the couch to come and find me to check if what they read could possibly be true!
So, its been a good week.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
we have started for the year
Well, it was a rough start with both kids resisting big time to getting back into it. They both couldn't understand how I could be so cruel ! I mean, fancy getting them off playstation and computer games to do WORK! I try to be so nice, but in the end, they just gotta do it. Then its all over and we can do the fun stuff. But no, they had to do it the hard way.
Well, dh and I read the riot act, said no more bullying mum, whinging etc, and lo and behold it worked. The rest of the week has gone beautifully, we covered lots of work, and they are enjoying it! We discovered Jared can remember his times tables up to 7 (all he has studied, apart from 10 and 11) even though he hadn't heard or looked at one for 3 months. He also remembered the words to the Owl and the Pussycat even though we hadn't really tried so hard to memorise it. And, he can write more than he could last year, and took an interest in it. Amazing. Such a thrill to see them improve. It sometimes seems like, particularly with my pencil allergic son, we are never getting anywhere. Then, wow, there's a jump in ability.
My daughter loves calligraphy, poetry, and writing stories on the computer (and finding ilustrations for them). She doesn't like Saxon maths, but I mix it with Singapore and she does it. She doesn't seem to have any weak areas particularly, just clear preferences! But she is such a joy to work with, because she is very responsive and enjoys a large part of her work.
So, its been a good week. Only thing missing are the social activities, the music/ gym/Latin/Scout classes. That starts next week. I am so looking forward to the school kids going back to school so we can have the supermarket, the pool, the beach, the parks etc back to ourselves during the day!
We just finished reading King Arthur and the Round Table, and we are just starting the Hobbit together. I just love that part of the day. Jared is reading Dr Dolittle and Gen has just finished the King of Ireland's Son. We are all enjoying Medieval History. We didnt enjoy Beowulf so much, but it was ok. The kids are doing big artist sketch book projects for history this year, and they are already looking great.
OK, I need to get off the computer now. Today I got off most of my yahoo groups. I need to back off and stop doing so much research and online socialising, its time. Its so addictive. I feel like I have my act pretty much together this year, I can just relax and coast and begin.
Well, dh and I read the riot act, said no more bullying mum, whinging etc, and lo and behold it worked. The rest of the week has gone beautifully, we covered lots of work, and they are enjoying it! We discovered Jared can remember his times tables up to 7 (all he has studied, apart from 10 and 11) even though he hadn't heard or looked at one for 3 months. He also remembered the words to the Owl and the Pussycat even though we hadn't really tried so hard to memorise it. And, he can write more than he could last year, and took an interest in it. Amazing. Such a thrill to see them improve. It sometimes seems like, particularly with my pencil allergic son, we are never getting anywhere. Then, wow, there's a jump in ability.
My daughter loves calligraphy, poetry, and writing stories on the computer (and finding ilustrations for them). She doesn't like Saxon maths, but I mix it with Singapore and she does it. She doesn't seem to have any weak areas particularly, just clear preferences! But she is such a joy to work with, because she is very responsive and enjoys a large part of her work.
So, its been a good week. Only thing missing are the social activities, the music/ gym/Latin/Scout classes. That starts next week. I am so looking forward to the school kids going back to school so we can have the supermarket, the pool, the beach, the parks etc back to ourselves during the day!
We just finished reading King Arthur and the Round Table, and we are just starting the Hobbit together. I just love that part of the day. Jared is reading Dr Dolittle and Gen has just finished the King of Ireland's Son. We are all enjoying Medieval History. We didnt enjoy Beowulf so much, but it was ok. The kids are doing big artist sketch book projects for history this year, and they are already looking great.
OK, I need to get off the computer now. Today I got off most of my yahoo groups. I need to back off and stop doing so much research and online socialising, its time. Its so addictive. I feel like I have my act pretty much together this year, I can just relax and coast and begin.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
my latest thoughts
First thanks to those who commented on my rantings. I havnt worked out how to talk back to you yet, but I appreciate your comments.
I also havnt worked out how to put links down the sidebar of my blog. Can someone tell me?
I have been limited by my family to 2 hours computer time a day. They convinced me I was addicted, and after answering a Sunday Newspaper quiz, I realised I probably am. The kids are restricted to 2 hours, so so am I.
I thought that would be a breeze. It takes my about an hour and a half to read and answer my emails and read the WTM boards. So thats half an hour for other stuff. I realised though that I used to just leave my computer on most of the day and come back to it whenever. Now, I turn it off after my 2 hours, and write myself notes about what I want to do or look up next time I get online. I do crave it, and I don't know what to do with myself sometimes. I think I was addicted. More cleaning is happening though!
I downloaded Homeschool Tracker Plus a couple of days ago. That is great, but is taking more time to fill in all the information.
Today however, I wanted to make time for my blog. I barely have looked at other people's blogs yet. I think I will have to cut back on my email groups.
We are supposed to be starting back to 'school work' next week, a week earlier than the school kids here in Australia. My excuse (not to appear too enthusiastic) is we get started early in order to take a week off mid term (we have 4times 10 week terms here). However my husband spat the dummy yesterday when he found out my intentions- he just loves it that we are hanging out at home all day (he works from home). He wants that extra week! Once I get back into working with the kids, the whole vibe of the house will change. He thinks I push them too hard, they need the full 6 weeks of school hols to just be kids and play. He thinks I am obsessed with homeschooling and need to learn how to relax and do nothing. He's very sweet. We will see what happens though, I am very keen to get started!
I have been reading a lot. I joined the Latin centred curriculum email group, just to see where they are coming from. But I am heading back towards Classical Lite I think, and I am more open to using the more modern resources (can you tell I am a bit burned out on CW?) I am still wondering whether to do CW at all. No, I dont own CC, and in Australia its not so easy to get hold of, although I would love to compare.
One thing I was inspired by recently though is to roll Literature, History and Science into one subject called Reading/Writing. I really want to focus on writing with my kids this year and that seems like a great way to do it. I am also thinking to do History and Science on alternate weeks.
Well, its another hot sunny day here in Perth. We have had bad bushfires here the last few days, with the heat and the wind. At the moment the cit is thick with smoke from the fires just outside the city, the smoke is so thick I have a headache. The heat here is dry, actually Perth is really on the edge of a desert. The weather is great normally, and we do have air conditioning.
What a lucky lucky life.
I also havnt worked out how to put links down the sidebar of my blog. Can someone tell me?
I have been limited by my family to 2 hours computer time a day. They convinced me I was addicted, and after answering a Sunday Newspaper quiz, I realised I probably am. The kids are restricted to 2 hours, so so am I.
I thought that would be a breeze. It takes my about an hour and a half to read and answer my emails and read the WTM boards. So thats half an hour for other stuff. I realised though that I used to just leave my computer on most of the day and come back to it whenever. Now, I turn it off after my 2 hours, and write myself notes about what I want to do or look up next time I get online. I do crave it, and I don't know what to do with myself sometimes. I think I was addicted. More cleaning is happening though!
I downloaded Homeschool Tracker Plus a couple of days ago. That is great, but is taking more time to fill in all the information.
Today however, I wanted to make time for my blog. I barely have looked at other people's blogs yet. I think I will have to cut back on my email groups.
We are supposed to be starting back to 'school work' next week, a week earlier than the school kids here in Australia. My excuse (not to appear too enthusiastic) is we get started early in order to take a week off mid term (we have 4times 10 week terms here). However my husband spat the dummy yesterday when he found out my intentions- he just loves it that we are hanging out at home all day (he works from home). He wants that extra week! Once I get back into working with the kids, the whole vibe of the house will change. He thinks I push them too hard, they need the full 6 weeks of school hols to just be kids and play. He thinks I am obsessed with homeschooling and need to learn how to relax and do nothing. He's very sweet. We will see what happens though, I am very keen to get started!
I have been reading a lot. I joined the Latin centred curriculum email group, just to see where they are coming from. But I am heading back towards Classical Lite I think, and I am more open to using the more modern resources (can you tell I am a bit burned out on CW?) I am still wondering whether to do CW at all. No, I dont own CC, and in Australia its not so easy to get hold of, although I would love to compare.
One thing I was inspired by recently though is to roll Literature, History and Science into one subject called Reading/Writing. I really want to focus on writing with my kids this year and that seems like a great way to do it. I am also thinking to do History and Science on alternate weeks.
Well, its another hot sunny day here in Perth. We have had bad bushfires here the last few days, with the heat and the wind. At the moment the cit is thick with smoke from the fires just outside the city, the smoke is so thick I have a headache. The heat here is dry, actually Perth is really on the edge of a desert. The weather is great normally, and we do have air conditioning.
What a lucky lucky life.
Friday, January 07, 2005
change of heart
Today I have really been re-evaluating my determination to do Classical Writing, both Homer and Aesop. I have spent so many hours planning, re-reading and preparing from both books, ready for our new term in February. I have been very excited about them- and we have started them both at the end of last year. The kids love them. I find them hard work.
Ideally, yes, i think they are great. In reality, they may just be too much for me. Actually, Aesop doesnt seem like too much at all after starting Homer!
I am quite happy with Rod and Staff. Even though I have to be present for both kids while they doing it, because a lot of it is oral, its straightforward for me to teach.
I realised at the end of last year that my kids do really well when they know what to do, and they thrive on workbooks and projects they can just get into. They had their dad be their teacher for a couple of weeks, and I was shocked how much work he got them to do (I had set a bare minimum, and he had far exceeded it). The key for him was to raise his (originally my ) expectations and then bribe them with tv and computer and probably sugar!
What I am concerned about is that too much of our curricula is dependant on me teaching it, and yet my kids do well with workbooks, to a certain extent.
So CW is not heading in that direction, it is heading in the opposite. However, my kids love it. Particularly Genevieve, the oldest, she just loves writing out those stories, she asks for it!
So I will probably just keep going with it and stop trying so hard and just do it at the level we can, comfortably. What a process this has been. I imagine when Harvey's arrives ( I have ordered it) I will re-evaluate all over again.
I dont want to make this homeschooling harder than it needs to be.
Ideally, yes, i think they are great. In reality, they may just be too much for me. Actually, Aesop doesnt seem like too much at all after starting Homer!
I am quite happy with Rod and Staff. Even though I have to be present for both kids while they doing it, because a lot of it is oral, its straightforward for me to teach.
I realised at the end of last year that my kids do really well when they know what to do, and they thrive on workbooks and projects they can just get into. They had their dad be their teacher for a couple of weeks, and I was shocked how much work he got them to do (I had set a bare minimum, and he had far exceeded it). The key for him was to raise his (originally my ) expectations and then bribe them with tv and computer and probably sugar!
What I am concerned about is that too much of our curricula is dependant on me teaching it, and yet my kids do well with workbooks, to a certain extent.
So CW is not heading in that direction, it is heading in the opposite. However, my kids love it. Particularly Genevieve, the oldest, she just loves writing out those stories, she asks for it!
So I will probably just keep going with it and stop trying so hard and just do it at the level we can, comfortably. What a process this has been. I imagine when Harvey's arrives ( I have ordered it) I will re-evaluate all over again.
I dont want to make this homeschooling harder than it needs to be.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
my unusual life
I have such an unusual life.
This weekend my kids went to my stepdaughter's mother's place in the country (my husband's ex's) and we missed them today so we went for a country drive to visit them. They were a bit shocked, they were very worried we had come to pick them up early! Nope, we just missed them and wanted to give them a hug and say hello. They were relieved. We had a cup of tea and drove home.
My husband is a spiritual teacher, thats pretty unusual and not always a very comfortable thing to tell people, so I thought I would get it out here. He is very passionate about it, and he works from home. We live on the riverside in a city, and its beautiful. We rent, we dont own much at all. Our kids are very lucky. But, it is unusual and we are a bit odd for our neighbours.
Homeschooling has meant I dont have to worry about what the local mothers at the public school think when I forget to wear any shoes to pick up the kids up from school. Its a snobby, rich suburb, and i am pretty down to earth. I do feel, even though the homeschooling community can be quite conservative, and I am not, that I can be myself and not get wierd vibes. I feel more accepted than I did by the local school mums. I am so glad to be out of that environment, and that my kids are out of that environment.
We have been homeschooling for 18 months. I found the Well Trained Mind about a year ago and thats my rock, my spine, the thing I lean on to stop me completely drowning in the sea of information and beliefs about homeschooling that exists out there. In the first months I didnt know there was anything but natural learners out there because they are very loud on the net.
Its funny though, because I dont look like a classical homeschooler. I didnt realise that till the other day when I met a fellow homeschooler in a bookshop and they said they thought I was a natural learner, when I asked them about Latin. I fit that image more, I think. I am a bit of a hippy, a nature spirit, health nut, I wear colourful clothes- probably more your natural learner image, just to stereotype them all! However, thats not my inclination at all. I am not sure why, its just not! I think I myself had a fairly classical education (I did Latin for 2 years, went to a private Christian girl's school) and I come from an academic family, perhaps thats why.
Back to my unusual life. My husband runs spiritual groups from upstairs most evenings and some mornings. He teaches people how to be happy. The teaching is similar to Eckart Tolle's The Power of Now. Its good stuff, but hard to explain to people! Just over a year ago I quit my part time job, and stopped doing naturoapthy, to be with the kids full time, homeschooling. I just love it, and my husband loves having them home too, we feel so blessed.
We dont have a lot of the stresses other people have in their lives. We both love doing what we do, we have enough money, we walk along the river every day, we have dolphins out the front of our house, and we have plenty of free time to just hang out together. Unusual in this day and age.
Well, I am going to try and do this every day or so, and get into this blogging. I havnt worked out how to download pictures yet. I downloaded the program Hello but havnt worked the rest out yet.
This weekend my kids went to my stepdaughter's mother's place in the country (my husband's ex's) and we missed them today so we went for a country drive to visit them. They were a bit shocked, they were very worried we had come to pick them up early! Nope, we just missed them and wanted to give them a hug and say hello. They were relieved. We had a cup of tea and drove home.
My husband is a spiritual teacher, thats pretty unusual and not always a very comfortable thing to tell people, so I thought I would get it out here. He is very passionate about it, and he works from home. We live on the riverside in a city, and its beautiful. We rent, we dont own much at all. Our kids are very lucky. But, it is unusual and we are a bit odd for our neighbours.
Homeschooling has meant I dont have to worry about what the local mothers at the public school think when I forget to wear any shoes to pick up the kids up from school. Its a snobby, rich suburb, and i am pretty down to earth. I do feel, even though the homeschooling community can be quite conservative, and I am not, that I can be myself and not get wierd vibes. I feel more accepted than I did by the local school mums. I am so glad to be out of that environment, and that my kids are out of that environment.
We have been homeschooling for 18 months. I found the Well Trained Mind about a year ago and thats my rock, my spine, the thing I lean on to stop me completely drowning in the sea of information and beliefs about homeschooling that exists out there. In the first months I didnt know there was anything but natural learners out there because they are very loud on the net.
Its funny though, because I dont look like a classical homeschooler. I didnt realise that till the other day when I met a fellow homeschooler in a bookshop and they said they thought I was a natural learner, when I asked them about Latin. I fit that image more, I think. I am a bit of a hippy, a nature spirit, health nut, I wear colourful clothes- probably more your natural learner image, just to stereotype them all! However, thats not my inclination at all. I am not sure why, its just not! I think I myself had a fairly classical education (I did Latin for 2 years, went to a private Christian girl's school) and I come from an academic family, perhaps thats why.
Back to my unusual life. My husband runs spiritual groups from upstairs most evenings and some mornings. He teaches people how to be happy. The teaching is similar to Eckart Tolle's The Power of Now. Its good stuff, but hard to explain to people! Just over a year ago I quit my part time job, and stopped doing naturoapthy, to be with the kids full time, homeschooling. I just love it, and my husband loves having them home too, we feel so blessed.
We dont have a lot of the stresses other people have in their lives. We both love doing what we do, we have enough money, we walk along the river every day, we have dolphins out the front of our house, and we have plenty of free time to just hang out together. Unusual in this day and age.
Well, I am going to try and do this every day or so, and get into this blogging. I havnt worked out how to download pictures yet. I downloaded the program Hello but havnt worked the rest out yet.
My first blog entry
Wow my first blog.
I have two gorgeous kids, Genevieve who is 10 and Jared who is 9. We Classically homeschool, we started 18 months ago. I love it, I am passionate about it, I am so glad I found homeschooling and the Well Trained Mind, and all the wonderful other things we do. Life is blessed.
I have two gorgeous kids, Genevieve who is 10 and Jared who is 9. We Classically homeschool, we started 18 months ago. I love it, I am passionate about it, I am so glad I found homeschooling and the Well Trained Mind, and all the wonderful other things we do. Life is blessed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
