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!

[Iris1]

Hi glad to hear so many positives from you all about how things are going!
Im making progress in that i have contacted some groups and im making it my aim to find out as much as possible on what is available here for the kids so I can show hubby that this is the right decision for our kids.
The schools round here are all outstandingpeople move fro all over but as such the schools are heavily over subscribed, have huge year groups and as its a very affluent area (lots of large familys) majority of placss go to siblings first anywya so i just dont see us finding and getting allocated a school we will be comfortable with. There is no way im sending my son into a school where at playtime he will be faced with 139 other kids (thats just early years- daunting or) what!

[Helenagrace]

We're doing ration book cookery. There are good ideas on the BBC schools site.

Are you anywhere near the North West morethan? it's just that the Manchester museum has some mummy masks on display at the moment (they are rarely on show) and the World Museum in Liverpool has a fab Egyptian display. Both are free.

[Iris1]

Also love alk your ideas for History just think how fun history can be for home ed kids, the freedom to choose a topic and learn all about it no nc guidelines!! I love history but in school it was positively dull! I would pick a topic and try and find a wide range of resources to use so documentaries, non fiction, fiction maybe a novel (if ww1/2 theres some great novels around and then you're linking eng lit) for the older/teens maybe id recommend Pat Barkers regeneration and other novels i studied at A level and found very good. Also the museums, films and websites. I remeber fir GCSE history having to copy pages from the textbook all the time and in primary i dont recall anything.
See this is why i want to home ed i dont want the beauty of learning sucked dry with textbooks and national curriculum rubbishl!

[morethanpotatoprints]

Helen. Many thanks for that. Yes we are equal distance from both Manchester and Liverpool and due to go soon.
Talking of Museums If you are around this area or London The War Museums are brill, if they are still going. I took older dcs several years ago and they loved it, but was a bit scary.

Iris you are so right and I have to admit sheer delight in the fact that dd shares my passion for History. I also think Geography will be fun for the same reason of non limiting nc topics. Although must admit Ks2 isn't too bad here.

I found it sad that at school they did so little Humanities and lumped topics and subjects together. The poor kids hadn't a clue what they were doing. My dd came home and told me about a topic she was doing in Godgery, honestly!
Was that RE, Geography ?

[Iris1]

Godgery!!- that made me laugh but thinking about it really isnt funny when you think why she was confused!!
All subjects are interesting in their own right and links can be made but children should have the freedom to explore subjects in depth and at their own pace!
Geography and science are two im determined to help my kids enjoy as in school I found them boring all the way through and now so intereting. We are learning quite a lot now but from a playful early years slant. Ds loves space so weve done things like black space playdough, making model space ships, he knows all planets and lots about them and is getting a telescope for his birthday! Both love nature and dd especially loves insects so i encourage them to dig in mud and pick up insects and just play. Ds is getting very interested jn seasons so trying to help him understand and hes getting there got a lot of ideas for Autumn crafts and a great tree print craft to show trees in each season might help him get it. Im trying to just nurture their interests as theyre so young its all play and crafts but seems to work great as they show me how much they learn all the time, like little sponges!!

In also really recomend manchester museum im planning on taking mine there soon as they have a huge t-rex and ds loves dinosaurs!! Also the museum of science and industry is well worth a visit.

Were off to the zoo tomorrow im very excited!!

[Helenagrace]

Oooh morethan so am I! I'm in between Liverpool and Manchester to the north. Near where the M61, M65 and M6 meet.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Helen.

I am useless with roads as a none driving dyspraxic. We are in Lancashire and I know close to m6. Cheshire is South to us .

[Helenagrace]

You can't be that far from me then. I'm south of Preston and north of Wigan if that helps.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Iris.
I laughed like a drain when she said it too but it is quite sad she was confused. I mean she was 8 at the time not an infant. I think you are right that all subjects are interesting, I'm not sure I will be able to muster up enough joy for some topics though. I am dreading Maths as I struggle so much with this subject. If the worst comes to worst I will have to consider a tutor. I am really looking forward to learning Italian together and we are thinking of living on beans for a year so we can afford a holiday there next Aug/sept time.

Apologies for last post if any dyspraxics out there managing to drive. I can't judge distances at all, even shopping trolleys are a nightmare, and I constantly fall over tables and chairs. The thought of taking dd anywhere in a car would terrify me, so I don't do it. Besides my poor knuckles go white as I grip the wheel so tightly, lol.

[Helenagrace]

morethan have a look at the Khan academy website fir maths videos. I've found some good ones on decimals. There's thousands of them!

[Helenagrace]

I'm planning a visit to the Stockport Air Raid Shelter for our WW2 project as well as the Imperial War Museum North.

iris we love MOSI and the Manchester Museum. The World Museum is still my favourite. The staff are so helpful.

[TyrannosaurusBex]

JustGettingOn thanks for the timetable advice, take you point about being assertive from outset.

Morethan, I'm a driving dyspraxic but I hate it. The speed limit is 35mph here which helps! Dd1 watched War Farm on iPlayer and made loads of notes to write about it on Monday. She loved it and wants the Victorian Farm DVDs dor Xmas.

Went to the beach with some of her school friends and their families today, everybody was so supportive, it was lovely. I had an hour to myself this morning and realised that despite a knackering week - 1st week of HE, back at work, trying to spend 1 to 1 time with other DDs, school/pre-school runs, new clubs, research - I felt completely at peace with myself. Didn't realise how long or how heavily this decision had been weighing on me. Feel really happy and, best of all, so does DD1!

[Colleger]

I feel a little down reading all your posts. As your kids are still young they have a zest for learning. DS is bored and cynical and doesn't find anything interesting. I hanker after the WW2 and ration book living or learning about the Egyptians but he refuses!

[Helenagrace]

colleger sorry to hear that. My DD is a bit like that, hence why I'm having to plan a lot more than I thought I'd have to. Your DC sounds bright and talented. Hopefully a bit of deschooling and all will be well. School has a lot to answer for!

I was quite inspired by your post about Latin. I'm now trying to find a way to fit Latin in.

[mam29]

Colleger hope you feel bit better soon.

teenagers and boys can be tricky,

im sure thers something out there of interest and you havent found it yet

Hubys always watching random stuff on documentry channels.

he usually likes army stuff, guns.

earlier there was crazy programme one crazy woman prepping for usa losing oil she lives in houston had stockpiles, guns, backpack pached and trained so many hours a week -total loon.

He loves this programme called gold rush where they did for gold -I find it quite boring.

How things are made can be interesting,

Also had convo other day how news rarly reports some countries they like a mystery you never hear much about canada or new zealand as if nothing goes on there.

[ToffeeWhirl]

Just popping in on my way to bed and it's lovely to see all the chatting that has been going on here today.

JustGettingOnWithIt - lovely to see you on here. It's really good to hear from someone who's already been through this early stage of home ed. I love your idea about turning round everything that's been done wrong to your child into a positive educational philosophy. Will have a look at Tudor education, thanks. Good idea. Was also wondering whether I should see if there are any reconstructions of the Battle of Bosworth on YouTube as a battle might hook him.

colleger - I'm sorry you feel down. My son is like yours. He's 12, going on 13. We have had a good start to home ed, but he would rather be left to pursue his Minecraft game online than deal with all the subjects I keep presenting to him. 'Bored and cynical' seems to be his default setting, although I have seen a few sparks of genuine interest recently, which is encouraging. Maybe we just have to give it time.

mam - get rid of that bucket!



No phone call from DS1 yet, so perhaps he's going to last the night at the birthday sleepover. He had to leave the swimming early, but then continued at the party, so that was brave of him. I'm sure being generally more relaxed because he's not coping with the stress of school is enabling him to cope better in the rest of his life.

Off to bed now (clutching phone, just in case). Night all.

[Helenagrace]

toffee maybe there is some footage of battle reenactments on YouTube? A local HEer is in the Sealed Knot and they do that sort of thing. Maybe he could look at tudor weaponry as a way in? Warwick castle has some replica weapons. Maybe look at their website. You might be able to do some science on the effect if gravity on a cannonball. Marcus du Sartoy did a maths series last year and he did an experiment where he calculated the effect if gravity on a cannonball and then sat in a deckchair just outside the spot where he'd calculated they'd fall whilst they fired things at him. I'm sure that would appeal to teenage boys. I'll see if DH can remember the name of the series.

[ToffeeWhirl]

Yes, that's a good idea, Helen. When I look at the Galore Park textbook, it is so dry and I know DS1 will simply switch off. The difficulty is making the history somehow relevant to him.

Following the suggestion of a friend, I was wondering whether to get DS to do a comparison between zombies and the living for his life processes topic! That ought to appeal to a nearly teenage boy ( of all of you with sweet, untarnished, innocent littlies).

Re: Maths. DS1 and I had an interesting conversation last week about numbers and how people long ago had no concept of numbers over three - they just used 'more'. It was the rise of trade that led to the need for more exact definitions. At least, that's what it says in the Galore Park Maths book. DS was very interested in that. I think I might try to find out more about that to lead him into Maths again.

No phone call from DS1, so he has coped with his sleepover. That's a big tick in the socialisation box!

[Helenagrace]

toffee the programme was called "The Code" and it features Marcus du Sautoy. I found one clip about gravity called "what is gravity?" on You tube. It features a trebauchet and a burning oil soaked projectile and explains gravity really well. He uses a sparkler to draw a graph in mid air (with a bit of special effects jiggery pokery). Surely that would appeal to a teenage boy? I can't link as I'm on my phone but I stuck "marcus du sautoy the code gravity" into YouTube and found it straight away. There are some more clips.

[ToffeeWhirl]

Thanks, Helen, that definitely sounds like something DS would enjoy.

He's back from his sleepover. Says he had four hours' sleep, but it was fun. He couldn't have managed this a few months ago. Am so proud of him.

[Helenagrace]

Yay to a successful sleepover toffee!

[TyrannosaurusBex]

Colleger it must be tough with a teenage boy, completely different kettle of fish to little ones. Something will catch his imagination soon, but it must be frustrating when you are full of such great ideas.

Toffee, great news that the sleepover went fine! Think I've read some of your posts in other threads, that must be a really big step forward for him.

Mam, the crazy woman preparing for oil to run out sounds like a slightly far far far more extreme version of my DH.


Just had a chat with DD2, she was in tears this week because teacher was angry with her over unfinished work (teacher cornered me at work following day and said DD2's work wasn't up to scratch and it wasn't working out having DD2 and another little boy - both G & T - working by themselves as they have been doing successfully and productively for past two years...strange decision 2 days into school year?). She also said DD2 and her friend would have to miss playtime to catch up, which I think is a bit much for 6 yr olds.

DD2 says that she and the little boy were in the book corner and they kept putting hands up to say they didn't know what to do but she didn't come over, then when DD2 went to ask for help, the teacher told her not to follow her around. She was really upset at being told off, she is a very obedient and sensitive little soul.

She was perfectly happy going to school while we tried out HE with DD1, but I can see that very soon she will not be. She is with the same teacher that DD1 was with when her work went drastically downhill.

My deal with DH was that we would review our HE progress with DD1 at Xmas and see where we are - don't think he envisages high-achieving DD2 leaving school, but I can see it coming. Neither of us were happy when we were told to hold her back while her classmates caught up with her.

I'm wondering whether I should start preparing DH now for DD2 possibly wanting to HE too, or keep quiet and work as hard as possible to make a big success of HEing DD1? Or am I just being daft - I guess once you know HE is an option it's more difficult to just put up with stuff like this? Reading this back, I can see how petty I sound!

[mam29]

t bex how many classes in dd2 year group?

could she switch classes?

I would book appointment with deputy or head as wouldent be happy the way shes been 2days into ter bang out of order,

Toffee fab news about sleepover.maybe now hes done it once he might gradually find it easier to be more social in a relaxed informal environment.

having a lazy day here-need to do housework.
kids in garden have to do hour of carol, read a book and some project work and havet even started my writeup proposal to head will try get that done tonight.

[TyrannosaurusBex]

Only 1 class in year, sadly. Also she was meant to be doing maths with Y3 but nothing has been done about it. Will talk to the (lovely) head tomorrow. Thanks Mam, good to get somebody else's perspective. Never seen her upset at treatment by a teacher before. Good luck with that proposal!

[mam29]

my dd went back wed dont think they did much lastv week was settling in getting to know each other, lay down the rules ect so think real work may start next week.

Thats not what worries me is way she communicated and dident listen or help when asked.

Also hate to say this as not sure what happened with dd1.
Any resolved anger/comflict on her part? did it end badly with you saying to head her teachings not up to scratch?

how many in class? does the class have a ta who can verify what was said?


I learnt with mine that they do bend the truth and exagerrate at times found that out to my peril as we just want to protect them.

Now when im mad I try have cooling off period before i approach head, teacher or parent.

This is what i done with the reading book this weekend i now rationally thourht it through, now know ginn level 3 is ort level 5 and thinking its 1st week let it go pick my battles.

Is it worth going on gifted and talented board and seeing if eligible extra ta time?

Hope you work it out maybe she was having a very off day.
dd year 1 teacher lovley lady but not so good teacher.