(old pic) Last week we focused on Australian history, always a personal favourite of mine, though the children moan they know it all, not true. It was the third last week of the school year and a definite feeling of winding down. However we forged on and managed to continue with maths, independent studies for the older three, a little writing (emphasise little) and reading continued happily. Independent studies included, Church History and Science Matters for Einstein, he loves Science Matters! Lots of maths for Michelangelo, he is trying to finish up a large portion of his maths CD. Princess is loving the freedom to read as much as she…

(old pic) Into a rhythm now with our ‘Leap into Literature‘ focus, not to say we’re achieving everything planned every  day, but that is par for the course at the end of the school year.  It’s hot, we’re winding down and expecting a baby in less than a month, so all things considered I’m happy with what we’re achieving. Most exciting Jelly Bean’s reading has picked up a few paces.  Having an older child still working on reading skills is not ideal, you feel like a hamster on a wheel, stuck there for years and years, any little progress is hugely celebrated.  Added to the mix is Jack Jack who…

 Our previous efforts ironed out the wrinkles in our organising and the past fortnight saw us in a settled rhythm.  Although we did take a few days off for socialising, not something we lightly do preferring to leave socialising for afternoons. However at this stage of my pregnancy I’m ‘knackered’ by the afternoon, but as I’ve been a hermit and have been ignoring everyone, I really needed to catch up with a few friends, afterall socialising is important too. Our best days are when we start our lessons at 8.30am, for various reasons though we kept starting late, therefore skipping our ‘Gathering Time‘.  Not a great idea, not only does Gathering Time…

Previously I shared that our Leap into Literature ‘was a resounding success!’, I really should have known better.  We’ve been homeschooling for a decade and a half now and I know that ‘first days/weeks’ are always followed by an adjustment period. In this case it wasn’t over-ambition, I have finally learnt not to over-schedule, though it took many years to learn that lesson, but simply life. Although the life interruptions were ones that I also know how to avoid, outside appointments should always be made for afternoons, and telephone calls should never be made/answered in the mornings.   Consequently our one week focus on Science ended up being a two week…

We launched our Leaping into Literature plan this week and it was a resounding success!  With its focus on literature and the 4Rs we had a structure which still allowed for a relaxed atmosphere. No ‘completing work with a tick box mentality’, it was so lovely, the atmosphere was what we used to have years back and I have missed for so long:):):) We didn’t achieve all I’d planned, but that was fine, I implemented a rolling plan (thanks Ruth) and it worked beautifully.  The rolling plan meant if everything I wanted to achieve each day wasn’t, we simply started with what hadn’t been accomplished the previous day.  ie if one day we…