Despite my best intentions it’s been three weeks since I’ve recorded any of our learning notes.  The length of time and my patchy notes mean that the following is only a partial of all we’ve learnt. My logistical issue of finding time to work with the older children was solved by PC’s suggestion of focusing on the teens 2 days a week, where the glitch now lies is my self-discipline of sticking to the plan. Two weeks in the last three saw interruptions and both times these fell on the Wednesdays. I had a choice; let the lessons go for the day or try to fit the plans into the…

The last fortnight we settled into a ‘full load’ of learning, well mostly, though a few areas aren’t happening due to lack of organisation on my behalf and a mis-communication between myself and some of the children.  On the whole though we’ve settled into solid, productive learning and we actually had a whole week with no interruptions!  To the mix has been added after school activities with swim squad and lessons, and dance lessons keeping us out three afternoons a week, not feeling stressed at all as we currently have Anna Maria’s assistance. One area that continues to be a challenge is finding time and energy for me to work…

The new school year here in Australia begins this week but we started lessons early this year, two and a half weeks earlier than our local schools and it was an excellent decision.  We I desperately craved routine. We began with a ‘half load’ of language arts and maths then added in history.  Plan is to be on a ‘full load’ in the upcoming week. As usual there were a couple of days off for ‘life’: a meeting and an orthodontist appointment, just life so we did our best to just keep flowing along. Reading Exciting news:) Jelly Bean has progressed to the Magic Tree House books, reading at least five…

In my mind this week will always be dominated by two major events; Einstein sat for his STAT test and informed me he that he has formally finished his academic studies at home, and Jelly Bean galloped away with reading, gulping down piles of books a day and begging for more. After Einstein sat for his STAT test he informed me he had finished his secondary studies, in his words, “I’ve slaved away for 13 years and I’m done!” I had mixed thoughts; the first was, “slaved away, really!!??” but he enjoys talking in italics, actually I think his studies were harder on me than him;) Second panicked thought was, “have…

With the older children still away I’d had high hopes for a wildly productive academic week after last week being a disrupted one. The week however evolved into an un-ordinary week again with yet another dental visit and our monthly get together with our local homeschool group.  Our focus this month was The Human Body in Sculpture.  Each month throughout the year a different family organises an activity, they have included; print art, felt making, science activities, orienteering, lawn bowls, library tour and our annual sports day. Our group started meeting again this year after a hiatus and has been quite successful with our numbers increasing and many wonderful friendships being formed.…

Our second week back, though despite my plans it turned out not to be an ordinary week, but then is there such a thing as an ordinary week with a houseful of children and a homeschooling lifestyle, I think not. One morning I spent a couple of hours with one child as they talked and talked about D&M topics (remember D&M? – deep and meaningful, 80s code word), always a precious gift to share a child’s heart and time must always be made to listen. Unexpectedly the School Dental Clinic rang with appointments (no cost!) for the younger children on Wednesday morning and the older children shopped and packed for…

This week was our first week back studying, our last term of the year, I’d be less than truthful if I said it was all plain sailing.  I wrote an email on the first day to a new homeschooling mama encouraging her, words that are true for myself too, “… never expect too much your first day, usually a few tears all around, so hugs and prayers today.” After nearly two decades of homeschooling I have finally learnt to tone my hopes down to realistic bites. When PC asked how our day had gone, I was able to answer happily, “really good” and it was, even though we had only put…