Support thread for new home educators

[ToffeeWhirl]

There seem to be a lot of us around at the moment, so I thought it might help us all to have a place where we can swap ideas, chivvy each other along on the bad days and cheer for each other on the good days.

I have two boys, the oldest is 12 and is just starting out in home education. My youngest is 6 and is still at school. Fortunately for me, he has just told me he's missing school and looking forward to going back .

We have had a good summer, with lots of dog walking, excursions, get-togethers with friends and family and minimal rules on television watching and computers. I have had a lovely time ordering books for our home ed library (failed to reign myself in on this ) and planning what we are going to study .

The plan at the moment is for DS1 to do a bit of Science, Maths and English every morning. He has a tutor for English once a week and we are going to get him a Maths tutor too. We will spend the rest of the time doing projects, reading together, practising handwriting, art, etc etc. Fridays are going to be 'free' days for informal learning, such as excursions.

I have been in touch with the local HE groups and we are planning to meet up with other HE families.

I'm spending some time today organising everything - plans, timetables, files, folders, lapbooks, etc. We have a visit from the LEA next Thursday, which gives me a good deadline to work towards.

I would love to hear how the rest of you newbies are getting on. And words of wisdom from the more experienced home educators are very welcome too!

Hello, more. I'm glad you're enjoying home ed and not worrying. And that DD is happier.

It was sweet boy's video on YouTube that gave me the idea of the Incredible Edible Cell cake. We just made a normal sponge cake, then arranged sweets on it. We had already chosen sweets that were roughly the shape of the components of an animal cell. At 13, DS1 doesn't need to know anymore than the basics, but I decided it wouldn't do him any harm to know extras, so we covered reticulums, vacuoles and so on. My aim was for us to have fun together and for DS1 to simply become familiar with the words and maybe pick up some of the functions as a bonus.

We also got to eat cake and sweets .

Next week, I'm going to stick a photo of the cake in our project book and get DS1 to label the sweets with the names of what they represent. Thought I might have the photo as a flap, with a diagram of a cell underneath.

It was our day off any formal learning today. I was exhausted (came down with a cold this afternoon), so decided we'd have a really easygoing day. We had a quiet morning, then DH and I took DS1 bowling. Getting him to go out is always a challenge, so I was glad that he managed it. Bowling has the potential to be fun for DS1 once he has overcome his anxiety, but it was quite stressful for him today and we felt like we were walking on eggshells with him. I hope it's an activity we can do with him again, though. It would be a good thing for him to bring a friend to (and get him off the computer/XBox ).

Hope you all have a great weekend.

DS2 keeps noticing evidence of DS1's home learning and wanting to join in. I found a plastic 'build-your-own' human body whilst I was clearing out a cupboard today and put it out to look at with DS1 next week. Then DS2 spotted it and spent the next hour pretending to be a doctor and inserting plastic with tweezers. He also asked if we could make an Edible Cell cake together one day. I am now beginning to see how people home educate children of different ages. I can see how you can explore a topic and each child takes what they need to from it, according to their level.

DS1 started programming his Raspberry Pi today, with a little help from DH. We are hoping he'll learn to a useful skill like programming, rather than just how to kill people on his XBox .

I think it's been a good week for us. DS's much happier and more loving and interestingly, he seems to be focus on the extra curric activities he does much better. If anything, I thought it would have been the opposite because of a lack of focus and discipline but maybe he's less tired or eager to get out the house. It's also nice to see him almost being top of his peer group. I don't mean academically but socially. There are a few other boys who have good social skills but DS is good at chatting to adults and "charming" others and some of his HE peers are fairly quiet. I'm sure it's purely down to personality and not a reflection on HE or parenting styles.

We've done no formal work other than Latin and his first French tutorial. Once a week he's been doing the Wizard's apprentice but it's really music practice, socialising and the Xbox. Its quite possible we will do at least a term of this. I'd like to do it until March but I'm aware of the weather improving and us being outdoors for hours from March onwards so I don't want the first time we do formal work to be next September so will hopefully start in January.

That's great, Colleger. It must be doing your DS's confidence good to be in a position of strength socially. And the fact that he is so happy and loving shows how much he is enjoying his new lifestyle. You sound really happy with the situation too .

I m happy. Music practice is doing my head in though and I feel quite tied to house because he has to do so much each day spread over a period of hours. I need to start working out how I can get out and leave him to it. But he wouldn't practice if I wasn't there!!!

I know what you mean about being tied to the house, Colleger. I also have to supervise DS1 to motivate him to work or he won't do anything. It's partly down to his lack of self confidence and partly down to his lack of interest in the work. Left to his own devices, he would just play Minecraft or XBox all day.

Maybe this will get better as they grow up and develop more confidence in themselvs and self-motivation?

For those starting out on Home Education with little ones, have a look at
4.10 year Soren happily engaged in reading - these BRI books are used by a lot of Home Education people in the States and they go at just the right pace for little kids and those children with special needs or dyslexia. And the interaction of the little animal characters really gets young children engaged.

One of the nicest things about Home Education is the fact that so much basic skills work can be packed into the morning - leaving afternoons free. I used to tutor a Home Education family and realised how lovely it was that they had such freedom. It seemed to help them focus on 'school' work in the morning, too, knowing that it wouldn't swallow up most of the day.

Colleger.

Just a thought, not sure if it will work but what we have started doing with dd is:

All instruments rather than one then the other. So exam pieces, scales, followed by ensemle/choir pieces, etc.

Then at least the technical and important stuff has been covered. Then the rest of their practice you can leave to them. The obvious exceptiion is aural and sight reading or theory, but these don't have to be done daily all the time? If nothing else is achieved the essentials have been practised.

I don't sit in on his practice but he has five sessions a day: 3 bassoon, 1 piano and 1 organ. I have to tell him to go and do it and a phone call wouldn't suffice if I went out for the day because I don't trust him! Sigh...

I'll see how the next couple of weeks go and I'll try and escape and go short walks for my sanity when he's playing! ;)

Colleger.

Just a question, not a criticism at all.
Why 3 sessions of bassoon a day? Also while I'm here, your vocal experience please.
I am looking for a grade 7/8 vocal for dd for competition. Its not for a while yet and thought you might know of something sacred rather than opera as these tend to be easier on the voice, I don't see her teacher too much to ask, its not ideal really. Thought you might know of something?
I think they all go through a spell of either missing practice, or crap practice. DD played 3 scales today and shouted through, done scales now. Then 2 exam pieces and the same. She is so lazy sometimes, other times she'd practice all day, lol.

DS has been told to study bassoon for two hours per day. Ideally the tutor wants 4x30mins with long breaks but that really messes up my day so I do 3x40mins instead. He then does between 15-30mins on piano depending on attitude and about 10 mins organ practice.

I can't really help with music but I would have thought the grade doesn't matter but the way she sings and performs the piece. Faure's Pie Jesu is a nice piece but DS only did up to grade 5. A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square is nice as is Linden Lea, or a good old fashioned hymn. They probably don't get included very often now.

Thanks for the music suggestions I had seen these and thought Nightingale a bit old for her yet. Pie Jesu, fantastic, heard it on classic fm last week.
I'm so cultured, no radio 1 here, lol.

I wondered whether bassoon practice was down to lip and reed pressure. Don't know much about bassoons but know double reeds can play havoc with sinuses, and cause fainting and nose bleeds. They are the best parts of playing a bassoon. They sound awful at times, almost as bad as viledins.

DD is just getting over the squawking, honking sound on alto and can now play without the squeeks. Dh is pleased with her progress but its understandable as she has a lesson daily, lucky mare.

She is lucky. I once employed a tutor for seven days solid to get through an audition. I'm not sure it really made a huge difference in the end but your hubby can correct mistakes instantly. Just make sure she has time to be creative on her own and that her personality is stamped on her playing and not hubby's.

I love the bassoon now...when played well. We've never come across any of the medical issues but sometimes DS lips can hurt but that's quite rare now. I wouldn't suggest two hours at DD's age! Lol!

I will heed your advice as hadn't thought of her own style. its ok with viledin as neither of us know anything about strings, so its all hers.

Bassoons are beautiful instruments, but in the beginning they are awful sounding like any woodwind instrument. DD is only doing half an hour but sometimes does 3x 20 mins, but no more on sax. She does at least an hour viledin and Singing though, so it takes most of the morning for practice. I try and alternate by giving her some afternoons but dh tends to have pupils in afternoon. We have very understanding neighbours.

You just have to do what works for you at the end of the day. I wish DS played violin but he refuses. :(

Am quite relieved I appear to have entirely unmusical children after reading your posts, Colleger and morethan - not sure I could cope with the strain! (My one term of experience with DS1 and Suzuki violin was harrowing, to say the least ).

Dh was in charge of home ed today because I went on a school trip with DS2. DH was shocked at how much chivvying he had to do with DS1 to get him to do any work. Not news to me...

Managed to get DS1 to his first proper session of farm therapy today. He complained of feeling ill, but that's normal for him when he's anxious, so we insisted he went. Turned out he really didn't feel well, so we had to leave early. Nevertheless, I spied him smiling now and again, so he enjoyed it in spite of himself.

Tonight, DS2 asked me to home ed him too. Uh oh.

We have cello and piano practise but we're talking grade one so waaaaay more relaxed than you lot!

I'm also learning the piano secretly. DH is grade 8 and he'll interfere if he knows so I'm having secret lessons.

HE is still going well. I can see an improvement in DD's writing and she's finally got fractions!!

We move on December 3rd and I think HE next month might consist of a lot of "let's talk about weather / Victorians / electricity / whatever while we pack some boxes".

I had secret lessons too but had to tell DH when out for lunch once and the piano teacher said she'd found an amazing piano for sale and could we come now!

at secret pianists!

Glad HE is still going so well, Helen. I have noticed an improvement in my DS's handwriting too - and this is after various professionals told me not to bother with getting him to practise because it wouldn't make any difference . Well, it has.

Good luck with all the prep for moving, Helen.

Not sure what we'll do today, but it will probably involve a game of this, which was a spontaneous purchase from Amazon the other night.

Hello Toffee, Colleger, Helen.

I have secret practice not lessons. This is because dh would teach me but I play for a few weeks then stop then 6 months later start again. So he and dd just think I'm a quitter, so I bribe her not to say anything. It must be hard for young dc to understand undercover practice .

Glad everybody seems to be doing well atm, long may it continue. Not long to your move now Helen, are you excited?

Toffee Ha Ha, music lessons can be a strain financially but not to bad otherwise with dd.
I think we put so much emphasis on music as it was the main reason for H.e, and I feel that if I don't facilitate her reaching the required level for her to fulfill her ambition, then not only would we have wasted our time but I'd have failed.
I know this may seem mad to some, but she just knows its what she wants. She is very lucky to have the opportunities she does and she does usually work hard, but it is the be all and end all in our house.

So many people think she is doing it for us though or we are pushy parents even more so now she is H.ed. She knows its not like that though and thats all that matters. Her 2 much older siblings think its mad, but are supportive. They were not interested in music much and gave up at first opportunity. It just wasn't for them, lol.

hi all we have not been doing much only took ds (13) out of school last week just wanted to ask can anyone recommend any good web sites for doing some maths . although he is 13 the tests in school showed his maths age as 9 -10 so i want to start at that level.
any suggestions would be great thanks.

toffee whirl what's a raspberry pie? i had a look but i'm confused by it look, but looks like it could be interesting:)

Hello Foxy, and if you haven't yet been welcomed. WELCOME.

I'm not sure of your story and hope your ds hasn't suffered a great deal from his school education.
I have heard many mention Maths wizz, but personally I didn't buy it as had invested in lots of exercise books, lol.
Also my dd used to use Mathletics when at school, but this may be a bit young for your ds.
Your main problem may be that whilst you want the work aged 9+ your ds is alot more mature, grown up than 9 year olds.
There are a couple of us who went down the exercise book route and covered stickers/ ripped age ranges off front covers so dcs weren't constantly reminded they were doing work for younger dcs. Sometimes it bothers them, but others it might not.
Perhaps if you use the book option, as he improves which he will do in leaps and bounds I'm sure, then you can look at something more age appropriate, if that makes sense.

Welcome, foxy6. My home-educated DS is also 13 and he likes mangahigh because it's learning maths through playing computer games. To join, you set up as a home school. Customer services said:

Simply go to the Mangahigh home page, enter the name of your home school (anything you like really), click register and then you can just register yourself as a home school (there is no difference from a proper school account), with yourself as the teacher. Then you can add your son as a student on your account so you can track his progress and set challenges, etc.
A guide to getting started with all this can be found here:
start.mangahigh.com/

I am also working through a Galore Park Maths book with DS - one or two exercises a day. Book 2 starts with basic adding, subtracting, etc. so DS can catch up on stuff he's missed.

Got to rush off, but welcome to home education.

Toffee, my dd2 told me yesterday that she wants to be HEd and doesn't want to go back to school after half term! So I am gulping too.

I personally would like to, she is only 17 months younger than dd1 although 2 school years apart, but as she is way ahead of her class she could easily be taught at the same level as dd1. I've told her that we can discuss it at half term but we won't be making any decisions until Christmas as her sister needs time to settle into HE. I dunno if it's right to stall, but I know that (once again) DH will be reluctant, although he is now totally convinced that HE was the right decision for dd1.

I'm slightly daunted too - dd1 is doing better at home than she was at school, but dd2 is a super-high achiever at school and is also very sociable and likes being one of the girls, whereas dd1 enjoys her own company.

I'm also wondering what it would mean for dd3, who is eagerly looking forward to starting 'big school' next September. The rules of admission to the school have changed since my elder two were accepted, and dd3 would be admitted purely because she has a sibling already at school. HE is an option for her, but there is a 5 year gap between her and dd1, not sure how that would work out, especially if all three were home!

Also, I have done very little socialising with mums with similar aged children whereas I did loads when the others were little, so I have been kind of relying on pre-school and (in future) school to provide a social life for her, other than playing with her sisters and their friends.

What's the age gap between your DC, Toffee? Is it an option for your ds2 to be HEd?