Finally, we have deregistered! (Huge sigh of relief).

[ToffeeWhirl]

I never meant to home educate DS1 (12) and I have tried everything to keep him in the system, but he is just a square peg in a round hole and school makes him ill. Now that I have finally sent off the letter and made it all official, I feel really excited. I told him that his summer holiday starts today . Now he can just relax and I can start planning what we're going to do come September. We are going for a more structured approach (sorry to all you regular autonomous home edders ) because it suits us both. But I'm aiming to keep Fridays free for whatever we want to do - visits to museums, projects, long dog walks, etc.

My only concerns at the moment are:

1. How I'm going to persuade DS2 to stay at school (he's already asking to come out and I'd actually love to home educate him too, but DH and family are not supportive. He is actually fine at school, whereas DS1 has SNs).

1. How I'm going to get any time to myself at all .

But I'm so looking forward to doing fun stuff with DS1, instead of having to nag him to do work which is dull and meaningless to him. If all he gains from the next few years with me is to regain a love of learning, then I will have done my job. (Although gaining a few qualifications would be good too ).

Any tips on setting up are very welcome!

Sounds like our situation, lindy, although the individuals we have encountered professionally over the past two years have been very supportive (it was a different story before that). It's a systemic failure, I think. I suspect that if DS had had the support he needed during primary school, we would not be in this position now.

It's very encouraging to hear that your decision has had such a positive outcome for you all. Will you join us in our newbies thread?

Hi Toffee

Been away from MN as DD had second op - great to see you here and that you have de registered at last [waves flag]

Count me in to the newbie thread tho' will mostly lurk for a while as am doing nothing de schooling as you know.

cheers

I've bought my first resources!!!

We were at Pendennis castle yesterday and they had some great WW2 resources (DD has selected this as a topic she wants to learn about) so I bought a book on ration book cookery, a WW2 child's diary and a social history book about the era.

Then we went to the Tate at St Ives and I found a fabulous book with ideas for promoting creative writing. This is DD's biggest weakness so I'm especially pleased with this one.

I've just made a list of all the things that I need to research though and I'm and and . There's a lot for me to do!! It's very exciting though.

Helena! Those purchases sound brilliant.

I think the buying and research bit is the fun stuff. Dealing with a real, live child with opinions of his/her own is the tricky bit!

Did I spot you on the organisation thread a few months back, Helen? Any tips on organising home ed resources will be gratefully received .

Oh yes toffee that would have been me on the organisation threads! It's been my business for a little while. I'm scaling back to HE DD but I'll still coach people in the evenings and declutter some weekends for people.

I love organising - things, people, companies, houses - I'm not fussy! I'd it stands still long enough it'll be organised somehow!

You're not Sussex-based, are you, Helen? I have a constant battle with decluttering in my house. I usually end up piling everything into boxes and hiding it somewhere . I use the Flylady system to keep on top of housework.

I think I stumbled into a bit of autonomous home education yesterday . DS1 is on holiday now, so I'm not pushing anything overtly educational. However, I would prefer him not to spend 16 hours a day on Minecraft , so I keep on the lookout for other activities. Yesterday, he asked if he could research a spooky story he'd read about and I suggested he make a short book about it to explain it all. He did the research himself, organised and wrote the guide and added great illustrations, with explanatory labels .

MoreCats - sorry, I didn't spot you on the thread yesterday. I'm so glad to hear that your DD has had her second op and I hope she is healing well and feeling OK. I think the 'deschooling' period is as much for us as for our DC. I was finding it very stressful to keep DS1 up to date with his e-learning, so it's a huge relief not to have to nag anymore. It will be great to have you on the newbies thread .

MoreCats - just seen your recommendation for the 'Monarchy' card game on the other thread in home ed. I want to help DS1 gain an overview of history and have been considering doing Sonlight's one-year course on world history with him. This card game will add a great bit of variety and, hopefully, will be a good way to get my two boys playing together. Thanks for the tip.

Helena - we need you to design a HE resource/notes/evidence type system

So far I have a box file and a large spotty art folder with a huge crack in it

Yes, I agree, tree. I just have a big pile of home-ed books and papers in a wooden box.

MoreCats - I have phoned through an order for that card game.

I always thought a large box was organising home ed books and stuff.

what is this 'system' of which you speak? I don't recognise such a word?

Is it the big red box overflowing in the corner of every Home Ed house I have ever been too?

Glad to hear I am a proper home edder then.

I have hidden my box in a cupboard. I feel that is because I am highly organised and not at all because I am trying to sell the house

I was thinking colour coded files and custom made shelving. Am I doing it wrong?

helena are you based in Cornwall or just visting? Spent many a happy hour round Pendennis Castle - hoping to vist next month when staying with relatives. Have 'friend of friend' who got martied there and friends DS was knight type page boy - very educational too

Sorry- bit 'off topic'

I have dreams of colour coding and custom shelving. My dd has just got a new wardrobe, and independently and without any prompting colour coded all her clothes and where they go.

If I want to hang a cardi up, I am not allowed to just do it. I first have to be seen to consult the 'key' she has stuck to the inside door. I believe cardigans might be red lines. I then have to find the red lines sticker on the rail. I am then allowed to hang the cardi. Trousers have a particular space on the shelf, as do leggings, long sleeve and short sleeve tops.

Am so proud.

I might get her to do my linen cupboard. It could be learning around art&design and maths and stuff.

In reality, all linen and HE 'stuff' will probably end up in the same state easy to access styleee. Although I did buy 2 new box files today . Not sure what I think I'm putting in them but they are really pretty and will look nice on a shelf.

toffee and morethancats I was just on holiday in Cornwall. I live near the Lake District so I have to head south to see the sun!

Pendennis was fab. We went to Flambards too as we're doing WW2 and the Victorians for history.

We were unsure about geography topics at the start of the holiday but as we had a two hour conversation about hurricanes, storm surges and the jet stream on the drive home I think it's safe to say we're doing weather .

Have just bought a secondhand edition of Sonlight's one-year Science course on CD-ROM . I like the way it approaches Science through History, starting with the Ancient Greeks.

Also, last night I sent an email out on our local home ed board explaining that we were just starting out on home ed and detailing my son's main interests. I have already had two replies from parents of boys around my son's age with similar interests who want to meet up .

Helen - glad you've had such a great holiday. You should put it all in your home ed record, if you're keeping one, as it sounds like you have ticked off Georgraphy and History during your holiday.

tree - could you send your DD over to my house to organise us, please ?

I have a list of stationery supplies to buy. I'm going shopping tomorrow. I have a secret stationery fetish. I am going to be in heaven tomorrow!

I love buying stationery.

I am jealous

I did just buy some notebooks and pens though, so that'll tide me over until I can get some proper stationery shopping in.

I also love buying stationery. Enjoy your shopping trip, Helen.

Have just received our 'Monarchy' pack of cards. I hope DS1 will be interested as it looks a great way of learning.

Have just had an email from our local home ed group listing all the classes they are running from September - we are spoilt for choice. My son is probably not ready for any classes yet, but at least we know there are lots available.

We have folders and box files and colour coded stickers!!

I've been through DD's books that came home from school and kept all the useful things. There were some tests called maths minutes which look good so I'll see if I can buy more of those.

Everything is filed and in order. I am in 7th heaven!

DS wants to do home school as well as "proper" school so he did a French lesson with DH. Said French lesson proved how little of my O level (yes I am THAT old) French I have retained so I am brushing up.

Just posted a query about de-schooling.

It's much less scary now!

Hi all i am home educating 10 year old due to unsolvd bullying issues at school, no longer trust the system so decided to home educate. I belive i need to tell the school must i tell them i am home educating? Also do i need to notify anyone else like the local authority? and is it simple to find the best methods that suits you? where do i get resources ideally free for maths, English, languages and resources etc my child is 10 smart and i am ready to support her as she deserves the best education but schools letting her down as teaching standards low and dont motivate kids to think independtly and hinder childrens creativity please anyone one who is expereince in HE your advice welcome i am from dagenham Essex any one from those areas home educating thanks in advance