Homeschooling (it's what we do)

I know that the title might seem just a tad obvious but for me that one word, "homeschooling" was ridden with angst, pondering and much soul searching this past year.  When we first de-registered Benedict from the school system as a result of his ongoing medical needs, someone mentioned to me that, "homeschooling becomes a way of life" and my inward reply at the time was "not likely!"  You see I had every idea that he would eventually enter the "system" and in turn Pip would follow in his footsteps.


Over the course of these past few years, I've enquired about schooling for Benedict and in my darkest moments even threatened to send him to school when he's not doing what I want him to do!!  I'm a bit of a slow learner in this respect and God is ever patient with me, much more patient than I could ever hope to be with Benedict or Pip, but as time has gone on I've realised that learning in an efforced and regimented way just doesn't work.  The brain shuts down, the listener switches off and nothing is gained whatsoever. 

 This doesn't mean that I do not value education but it has to be from where the child is at and taking into consideration their own individual learning styles, strengths and weaknesses.   Education is not a one size fits all policy.  With this in mind an interesting milestone was by-passed this week, for you see I had until January 15th to register Pip for a school place starting in September.


  Throughout the course of the previous autumn term I vascillated between homeschooling and sending her to school and in the month of December I nearly drove myself mad trying to reach a conclusion.  It was only during the course of the Christmas break that I was able to truly "grasp the nettle" and wrangle with this concept and I realised that the Good Lord was only able to help me once I had placed my feet firmly on the intended ground:


"If any of you lacks wisdom , he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given unto him.  But when he asks he must believe and not doubt , because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord, for he is a double minded man and unstable in all he does."

James 1 v 5-8

Once the decision had been made a peace swept through me and a silence enveloped my being.  I know there will be difficult days, there always are!  God doesn't promise us freedom from adversity, what he does promise is that he will hold our hands through trials and tribulations.  We are never alone.

So here's to another year of letting go of preconceived notions and ideologies and embracing our family learning journey wherever that may lead:

Impromptu den building complete with a makeshift "campfire" consisting of a rolled up towel and flannel!  That boy sure has a whole heap of imagination!

A surprise Telephone Call

I had a lovely chat with my blogging friend over on here:

The Barefoot Crofter 

Jacqui was very surprised to hear my voice at the end of the line!  Considering she really is way up North there was no crackling and the conversation was very clear... the wonders of technology and broadband cables!

Sara our youngest of the oldest brood is hoping to make a journey to the croft before too long and if you're nosy and want to see just where she'll be then hop over to Jacqui's and admire the view!

We are still on a learn as you go home school curriculum at the moment.  Benedict's blood sugars went crazy in the night and I was one tired mama again, struggling to keep awake!  They were also totally crazy first thing and when he's running high like that, I have to admit defeat and abandon any check lists!  Contrary to the planned learning he helped Dave plant asparagus and rhubarb crowns, put the seed potatoes in the workshop for chitting, re-designed his star wars space ship for the umpteenth time and chatted to the hairdresser Sam about the said model.

We had turkey and veg coconut and lime curry for tea courtesy of Lloyd Grossman!  Accompanied with rice and poppadoms.  He has just finished watching the last episode of Maps: Power, Plunder and Possession and we are now about to embark on the wooden hill to bed! 

{Pretty Happy Funny Real}

Joining Aunty Leila over on here:

http://ourmothersdaughters.blogspot.com/ 



{Pretty}

Big Sister Kath/Youngest Twin (eldest twin in the background picture) and baby sister.

A very large Valentine bouquet for Kath from her beau Steve. Inter flora must have done a roaring trade that day!

{Happy}

Happily counting coins with Grandad H

Happily Digging.

 Happy Lego Spaceship  Building...

... complete with pull down staircase and star wars storm trooper in the background.

Happily baking with Mummy.

Yummy Banana Coconut Oat Cookies with Chocolate Chips.

{Funny}

 Arabian Knights perchance? or...

... a Jedi warrior... it's amazing what you can do with a couple of muslin squares!

{Real}

Lego, Lego everywhere but thanks to the green storage trays it is an easy job to tidy up! 

A big thanks also to my friend Eva.

  This gal has helped me in so many ways since we began our blogging friendship well over a year ago.  Through her faithful postings I've gained insight and helpful links, she has blessed me with her words of encouragement and loving prayers and when I've been at a loss she's given her time through email contact too. 

  So it is entirely due to her that we used lap books as a means of learning this past week.  Benedict and I were both worn out from sickness management but I was acutely aware that, we also ideally needed to be doing "something".  Working on the long forgotten space lap book totally fitted that bill and I'm pleased to report that we have made good progress.

Information hunting.

 Colouring the space man for the front cover.

We also worked on our Valentine gifts once again Eva's Valentine blog post gave me the link I needed:

Home made matchboxes.

A box in progress.

 Paper Dali very kindly provided the St Valentine picture and the front cover verse.

As a passing nod to our Age of Grace Curriculum Benedict worked on some independent crafting of his own:

Construction in progress... totally love it that he still opens his mouth when cutting with scissors!!

One free form paper castle designed and constructed by Benedict.

I've learnt a lot these past few weeks of continued sickness, the primary lesson being that, learning can and does assume many forms.  All things considered, I think we're doing just fine.

Another Seven Days

We've still struggled... or should I say, I have, with ongoing sickness this week.  Desk work has been out the window and instead Benedict is currently on his seventh "Secret Seven" book which is one a day in my reckoning!  He attended a maths morning with Shein on Wednesday, swimming session on Tuesday and a play date on the Wednesday teatime.

Pip had fun with Debbie this week, they visited the butterfly and mini beast house in the park followed by a picnic, painted pictures, played games and attended "sing and play" on Thursday.  By Thursday afternoon Pip had spiked a temperature and fell asleep on the sofa, homeopathic Belladonna sorted her out though and by Saturday she was once more raring to go!

Happy Chap.

A hot chocolate treat at a local craft centre.

 Discovering a long forgotten book.

From this ...

... to this, our nod to St Brigid's Day.

 Den Building.

Sick Day Snuggles.

We have hospital and doctor appointments tomorrow so it will be another day of "light school" as for the rest of the week we'll take just one day at a time.

 

 

Blue Sky Thinking On A Grey Day

This morning we abandoned our nature walk as the rain was pouring steadily and heavily.  Pip and Benedict busied themselves with den making and soon it was time to take Sara to Myerscough College to hand in her bursary application.  Whilst they were away, I caught up with some sorting and planning for our learning activities this forthcoming week.  Here they are in the den area:

 Crazy Dudes!

We tackled our regular round of numeracy and literacy this afternoon. Benedict was visibly tired and blood sugars were a little unsteady, but despite this he soldiered on and we completed our target list in just over an hour and a half.

Our visual representation of the five times table using the Montessori ten and five bead bars.  Benedict finds it hard at times to grasp a pattern if spoken in rhythm or displayed in written format, so the beads are another valuable tool in depicting the required formation.

After shared reading and snack time, we worked on mini art project using  glue, salt and water colour paint.  We borrowed the idea from this talented mum: 

  http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2011/09/salt-and-glue-watercolor-paintings.html

and then worked in today's feast of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.  Here are Benedict and Pip working on their creations:

 Benedict working on the blue stripe in her Sari head dress.

 Pip making glue splodges.

 Pip's finished salt picture.

This evening Benedict has been working on a self orientated learning programme.  It all began last night when he was drawing a variety of musical instruments and talked about "being in a band", and how that would be difficult since his close friends were at school.  I told him about a band called "The Gorillaz" who are a group of non public - performing musicians and  are  represented by four cartoon characters. We watched some of their you tube videos and then Dad found the video to "Eleanor Rigby" by the Beatles and "Brick in The Wall" by Pink Floyd.  As a result Benedict has named the band, produced tickets using Microsoft Word with help from Dad and his next task is to find a suitable soundtrack for his video.  It is so good to see the cogs of enthusiasm whirring and clanging!