Learning
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This Week in Learning: September 11th, 2015
As I reflect back on this term I’m extremely happy with the progress made; not only in academic skills but lessons learnt about consistently completing tasks. It’s certainly been the best term we’ve experienced this year. One week until the holidays, planning a little something different for the week, perhaps quizzes and competitions; a Spelling & Geography Bee, an essay competition etc. Confident the children will enjoy a fun, competitive approach. Speech Therapy Remember we were given three weeks of homework instead of weekly lessons, well we’re due to go back for a follow up lesson next week and we’ve done one practice session, yikes, not good. Faith Jem made…
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This Week in Learning: August 29th, 2015
As the last fortnight drew to a close I realised with surprise that we have only three weeks of Term 3 left. It’s been a solid term of learning and we’re rather proud of how hard all the children have worked. Speech Therapy Yippee, we’ve graduated weekly lessons. Well we have a huge pile of homework but no regular lessons until next year. Plan is: we were given three weeks of homework, we do it and return to show progress. Mmm already missed first week of homework, time to ‘crack the books.’ Faith Jem made his First Confession!!! He did it, declaring it not as hard as he thought, in…
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This Week in Learning: August 14th, 2015
Continuing to be excited about the learning that is happening this Term. Solid, consistent progress, lessons not only about King Alfred and Japan’s closure to the West but lessons about diligence and time management. A friend and I were chatting yesterday, we’re both long term home-educators with graduates and several children still to educate, we shared how when we were young and dewy-eyed we wanted our children to love learning, well we still do, truth is though, these days we’d settle for application. Actually a whole series in the making there once I’ve formulated my thoughts. Speech Therapy I suspect the speech therapist twigged that I was not being consistent…
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This Week in Learning: July 31st, 2015
We began Term 3 strongly and have continued to power along in the two weeks since. Rather excited as this is the most intense and productive our learning has been all year, lots of terrific learning happening:) Though admittedly it’s been a little challenging having to compete for their attention with the new chooks as they are checked regularly in case they have yet laid an egg;) Having our adult children still home visiting has also been a slight attention stealer. Speech Therapy Bass is back at weekly speech therapy, therefore speech ‘homework’ is on the ‘must do’ list again, I’m failing miserably here, which doesn’t make the therapist happy, wince. Whilst big…
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‘Winter Workshops’ Create Enthusiasm
Term 2 came to a close yesterday here in New South Wales, though we aren’t stopping for a break yet. Partially because we haven’t achieved as much learning as optimal in the past month due to life’s interruptions. Also we’re waiting until our two City boys come home in a fortnight to be able to enjoy their visit for the two weeks they’re here. One of the benefits of home education is we can be flexible and work around family time. Truthfully though we’re all feeling a little stale, students and teacher, and in need of a change of pace. I’m always of the mind that ‘there’s more than…
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A Fishy Activity
It’s been months since we enjoyed A Book and Activity, so when Bass asked for a craft activity I obliged. Searching Pinterest for inspiration I found Rainbow Fish Craft. Template was supplied and only paint and celery sticks were needed. A fish craft was entirely doable. Looking through our picture books I found, The Rainbow Fish – Marcus Pfister. Years ago I read Elizabeth Esther’s thoughts about redistribution and since then I’ve been uncomfortable with the author’s intent. I can’t find the post but EE has a satirical video which I haven’t yet watched. After reading I asked Bass, “What did you think of the book?” He answered “I didn’t…
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This Week in Learning: May 24th, 2015
Hard to believe we are half way through Term 2 already, five weeks of study and nary a post have I shared. We have been learning, but I’ve been engaged in my usual struggle, record keeping, therefore only have snippets and reflections of the past five weeks to share. Speech Therapy Bass is having weekly lessons with a speech therapist which means I’m given ‘homework’ to do with him. It’s not onerous, nor time heavy, but it is one more thing on my to do list. sigh Reading Jelly Bean exploded into the world of reading at the end of Term 1. She has continued to read an average of…
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This Week in Learning: March 20th, 2015
Maintaining a regular record of our learning continues to elude me. Sharing the highlights of the past three weeks albeit a rather patchy recording: Reading Jem has powered through the first book of AAR Level 1, however I currently have him revising all the word cards he has covered thus far. I tend to skip the revision but now can see how important regular revision is. Whilst Jack Jack is faithfully reading Hey Jack and Zac Powers, he hasn’t get ‘exploded with enthusiasm’ and taken up reading on his own When I noted to Jelly Bean she hadn’t been reading for a while she explained she had ‘nothing to…
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This Week in Learning: February 27th, 2015
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…
