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!

[ToffeeWhirl]

Quiet on here today....

AM: we shared the reading of 'Shadow', then struggled through Maths (DS1 has either forgotten anything school ever taught him or he just never learnt certain stuff), watched alien-like plants growing and moving on YouTube for Biology (DS particularly enjoyed the carnivorous ones, eg Venus Fly Trap) and practised handwriting. Whilst tracing over his letters, DS told me that he was once sent to detention when he was six because he didn't want to draw a 'k' with a loop . The school has, thankfully, abolished detention since then. It seems like a very odd thing for the teacher to get so het up about .

After lunch, we looked at a book about the history of art, then I read to him from a website about Leonardo da Vinci. It gave a good child-friendly overview of his life, plus suggestions for activities. DS1 said it was very relaxing listening to me reading. Soon after, he fell asleep . Hmm, maybe I need to work on a more dynamic presentation!

DS1 still suffering from his sleepover. He wasn't able to visit his grandma this afternoon or go to a dr's appointment because he felt too anxious. It's as if he's used up his week's quota of strength all in one go. Taking school out of the equation takes a huge burden off all of us. At least we can accommodate his needs at home when he's like this.

Quite a good day overall though. I can see that it will be a matter of 'little and often'. We don't spend ages on any one thing, but hopefully it will all add up to a significant amount of learning in the long run.

Hope everyone else has had a good day too.

[Helenagrace]

Mixed day here. Good morning - maths, English and science (static electricity & some fab YouTube videos). This afternoon we started the dress. I thought she'd be really excited but she found all the prep really dull. I don't want to do it for her - sometimes life is dull & she needs to learn that. She got a bit grumpy. I reminded her that she wouldn't have a choice in school. Eventually she changed her tune.

Ah well tomorrow is another day...

[ToffeeWhirl]

Well done for getting through it, Helen. At least your DD changed her tune in the end. DS1 complained that I was being too 'teacherly' today, but I did have to remind him, several times, to pay attention.

YouTube clips are great, aren't they? I had no idea what we'd find when I searched for clips on time-lapse photos of plants growing, but we ended up watching all sorts of good films. Must do more of that.

I have made plans for tomorrow. I'm falling into a routine of planning every evening. I like knowing what we're doing the next day.

[TyrannosaurusBex]

Hi everyone! Is anybody else neglecting the housework horribly because of HE? At the moment I'm flat out between work, HE, school, DDs, PTA, homework and getting food on the table and clean clothes on everyone's back, then spend my evenings planning what DD1 will do next day, looking at learning materials on the net, writing notes for my meeting with LEA and, ahem, doing this

Or is it just me?

[ToffeeWhirl]

No, it's not just you, TBex. At present, the dirty breakfast stuff just sits on the kitchen counters until the afternoon. We are lucky if any washing gets done. Forget hoovering.

I have to admit, though, that preparing for home ed is a lot more interesting than housework. And I often stay up too late googling materials for the next day.

[ToffeeWhirl]

and getting clean clothes on everybody's back. No clean school shirts for DS2 this morning . I had to squeeze him into one that was aged 5 (he's nearly 7 ).

[Colleger]

I would love to post a pic of what my son looked like doing his maths today. I didn't have a shower until 4pm!

[ToffeeWhirl]

Please describe it, Colleger!

I usually wash my hair everyday, but just didn't have time today. It really wasn't a priority.

Are we now all unwashed and living in untidy houses?

[TyrannosaurusBex]

Apparently so. HAPPY untidy houses, though!

[ToffeeWhirl]

[morethanpotatoprints]

TBex

My house is a tip but managed the shower. I am just so shattered but think it will get easier for us all when we either become more laid back, experienced or routined. It reminds me of my first days teaching in terms of concentrating on fitting things in, planning etc. That too became easier after a while. Huge difference theres no stress really with Home ed and if there is its only our own dcs.

[mam29]

tree delivery-dd lower stage of keystage 1 think she need to be hitting average level keystage 2 ie 2a to get on with galore park.
Glad everyones having ok day.

My house is a tip and im dont fully home ed.

Ahh tuesday and feeling bit burnt out already. took younger 2 to craft group.

took my preschooler to 1st ballet session-soo proud.

day the spoilt by bus system falling to standstill
speedwalking whilst carrying baby as toddler fell asleep in single bed,
Phone cal from freind tellinng me buses messed up like I dont know can I pick up her dd.

Get school on time

baby toddling round playground throwing tired tantrums.
preschooler asleep.
picked up 2girls
the got called into class room to speak teacher think oh god wht did I or my child do wrong today.
Told girls play on field together meet back at buggy.


Get out of classroom daughter comes running up to me and teacher shes lost her freind which means I lost my freinds child.
That made me look great in front teachers and other parents
careless enough losing my own child.

Panic over after 5mins trawling the plaground she ran off to junior playground walked all 4 home getting looks like look at that nutter with 4kids.Dont know how childminders cope.

anyway nitty gritty.

why was I called into class room?
Its because I dared write a note in homework book saying

1)daughter read this book well and comprehended the story.

I would anticipate her getting 2-3 reading books a night as we read daily to then be told that the teacher decided what book child should get!

I never said dd should be on this level.
What i meant was if she managed one book with ease she should go onto next book simples.

Which ties into conversation yesterday about not letting advanced reader told not to read whole book as they might get too far ahead.

so thats bday 5 over im and already stressed and confused.

wondering if heads mentioned in passing to dds teacher that I have an appointment.

She went on about how dd would get extra reading support.

But what abiout her blooming numeracy thats worse despite carols help.

I need to spend least 3hours at libaray tommorow preparing and printing off stuff for heads meeting.

Im quite nervous that he may say no.

dd seems tired and grumpy.

[ToffeeWhirl]

morethan - I'm sure you're right. Home ed is new to us all at the moment, so all our routines have changed. I am really enjoying it though, even the challenging bits.

mam - I have had that awful experience of losing a friend's child in the playground and looking like the worst mum ever (child ran off after I called him over to me, so I still insist that it wasn't my fault. GRR).

I don't quite follow the issue with your DD's reading book. But if school are not giving her challenging enough books for homework, I would just quietly let them get on with it whilst I borrowed the appropriate books for her from the library. Not worth falling out with the teacher over, in my experience. Your DD will get loads of exposure to books in your household, I imagine.

I hope you find all the stuff you need for the meeting when you go to the library tomorrow.

Just going to type up a page on plant life for DS1 to fill in tomorrow. It covers plant reproduction. Am intending to take him to our local park to collect and identify seeds, using a seed dial I printed off and made from The Woodland Trust website. Thought it would be more interesting for him than sitting at a table filling in worksheets. Am also going to suggest he try keeping a nature journal, like Leonardo da Vinci, but I suspect that will go down like a lead balloon. It would be so much easier if he were several years younger and a bit less cynical.

[TyrannosaurusBex]

That kind of day sounds horribly familiar mam. Can't understand the problem with your dd having more books if she's racing through them easily. It sucks so badly when you get shown up in front of teachers and parents, too!...
On a brighter note, baby ballet is so cute, isn't it? My DD3 started on Saturday. Aaaahhhhh!

Morethan, colleger and toffee, glad to hear we are all wallowing in HE filth together, I think Morethan is right that we'll adjust to the routine soon. Toffee's right about HE being more interesting than housework, but I have a horrible feeling that DD2's Pants With The Scratchy Label might get a rare outing tomorrow due to the laundry backlog.

[ToffeeWhirl]

I have a very unwilling, tricky pupil today. However, we have been for a walk in a local park and identified seeds and fruit as part of our studies on plant reproduction. DS1 was much more interested in telling me about how he planned to save up for a gaming computer though .

Have also read some more of 'Shadow'.

Getting DS1 to do any written work is proving more difficult.

[Colleger]

Learning maths and finance through computing - see, he is learning!

We got up a whole hour late at 8am and it really has scuppered some of our plans so we will be up at 7am tomorrow. I am still very sick though and just couldn't get out of bed.

We've only managed half the bassoon practice and piano isn't even started yet. He has done a work sheet and experiment on expansion of solids though (brass ball and ring), 30 sums and four Latin questions. Still to do Rosetta French, bassoon, piano, music theory, swim club, organ lesson. Something's got to give today and somehow I don't think it will be playing on the PC!!!

[Jamillalliamilli]

I don?t know if this is any help to those with older students or not, (mine has SEN?s, doing A levels and basics, and life skills all together) ime once they hit a certain age, you do very much have to run with what actually interests them (that includes watching films and gaming) and build on it rather than try to enthuse them into what you think they need/want or like. (Boy?s in particular)

Amongst our ?older? h/e is Cryptology, (Bletchley park and enigma as a starting point) 3d Max (professional computer animation programme) Electronics, (especially stripping down, rebuilding bits of computers) Mechanics (you can pick up old gear boxes etc for pennies) Driving skills (since 14) Sound engineering, (live and using sound forge software) Psychology (that was a big surprise!) Textiles and tailoring (we?re broke but he?s a bit of a peacock!) Film (especially directors and how stories are told) and Design (how engineers get from thought?s to product) it?s mainly very ?boy centric? which goes with the territory.

Toffee we got into mathematical modelling and programing (now dropped in favour of maths) starting with an interest in gaming. You might find something you could adapt here: nrich.maths.org/1374

H/E doesn?t half create clutter! (that?s my excuse and I?m sticking to it, I may just be a slattern.) Looks forward to seeing half the ?new H/Edders? on Fly Lady thread soon!

[morethanpotatoprints]

Colleger.

Please cut yourself some slack, you are clearly poorly. We only start at 8.30 and at present I don't think shes learnt anything. The history went down well as she did the bbc Egypt puzzle and games plus read a bit too. Its a great site.
Apart from that the only thing going well is the music practice and even there we haven't fit any aural or theory in this week.
I thought there would be alot more time to fit stuff in but if anything we are running out of time. I don't know where I am going wrong.
I was talking to dh about practice today and he advised me to make sure she does just 5 min on each piece, scale, sight reading etc and make sure it proper practice. I can't see it working but he seems to know what he's talking about so I'd better try it tomorrow. The philosophy seems to be intensive 5 min adds up to 30 min doodling around. Then if they want to doodle later the hard work/ learning has already taken place.
I'm still not convinced about the Italian but the cd has decoded now, all I need to do is fathom a way of loading it, which it seems to not want to do.

[ToffeeWhirl]

Hmm, Colleger, he may be learning something from computing, but I don't think it will help him get his GCSE Maths (he'd get a degree in Minecraft if it was available, though ).

We struggled through Maths and Biology today. Also did a bit of handwriting. DS1 was not in the slightest bit interested in any of it and his mind wandered all over the place. It was extremely hard to keep him focused. I had to go out to do some errands and left him some work to get on with, but he refused to do it whilst I was out. Said he could only do it if I went through it with him. I'm sure he should be able to do more independent work by now.

Colleger - you need to allow yourself to get better if you are so sick. If you are like me, you feel like you must keep going regardless, but it won't do you any good in the long run. Could you maybe have a rest in the afternoon whilst you are feeling so ill? In fact, a day off home ed wouldn't do your son any harm and it would probably do you the world of good. Anyway, I hope you feel better soon.

[Helenagrace]

Good day here. Trampolining then RE then English. DD was quiet in the car on the way back from trampolining and I asked her if she was ok and she said she was devising an A-Z of WW2 in her head to help her remember it!

Had a letter from LA as well today. Can't believe how positive it is! They also sent me a leaflet outlining the law (and only the law). It clearly states that I don't have to have a timetable, follow the national curriculum or have structured lessons. I don't have to give them any information and I can contact them if I want anything :0

Day off tomorrow for DD's birthday. I'm doing a mediation tomorrow (I'm a family mediator for a youth charity) and then we're off out to Blackpool illuminations - soooo much quieter in the week.

[Colleger]

The day has got easier. Managed to fit everything in and eventhough he didn't want to try the organ and was huffing - bear in mind he'd asked for lessons three months ago and forgot and is now denying it - he told me it was great and why am I always right about knowing what makes him happy. We will have a similar argument tomorrow over something else. Sigh...

I never knew how much could be learned with a half hour organ lesson. History, French and German (don't ask) and maths, lots of complicated maths. Then the physics of sound. More talking and less playing but I was impressed! :)

He's off to a home ed flexi school tomorrow i.e. playing in the woods all day, so I'm counting that as his day off! Well, from 10am onwards!

[morethanpotatoprints]

Helen.
Really glad its going well for you, it all seems to have slot into place. I think sometimes I am expecting too much considering its early days yet. Your dd is clearly enjoying her history topic as she is doing outside her normal school times, which is great. Huge respect to you.
I have written a letter to our LA, not sure we will get the same reception as you. They have a proposal form on website that you are supposed to fill in. It annoyed me that it asked how many hours and what subjects they were doing. What assessment techniques we would use. I wrote a nice letter asking if school had advised them we were H.ed, including a brief philosophy and why we had decided. I said even though we weren't following nc to the letter much of what we did regarding subjects were. I said if didn't hear from them in 3 weeks I would presume they were happy with info we provided. Also due to dh tutoring from home and other restrictions I would not accept home visits planned or otherwise. Hope you enjoy the illuminations, we have promised to go this year.

[chocolatecrispies]

I am a new home educator too but have so far found this thread too intimidating to post, is there anyone out there taking an informal learning approach or am I alone?

[Colleger]

Apart from the music, which is the reason we took DS out of school, I think I'm informal when it comes to academics. My son really does very little and it amounts to less than an hour a day and we aren't doing history, geography, English, French (well not in a meaningful way), RS. We may be doing some science but it takes about 10-15 mins max. So far, HE has really been him reading, playing on the PC and music practice with a sprinkling of academics.

[ToffeeWhirl]

Oh, chocolatecrispies, that isn't the intention of this thread at all! I'm sorry it makes you feel like that. It is for any home educators starting out, not just structured home educators.

Personally, I can't take an informal approach with my DS1 because I just can't live like that. I need to know what I'm doing every day. I also don't think it would work for him, as he needs a lot of boundaries and routines. And, finally, because he is nearly 13, I am aware of the possibility that he might need to reintegrate into school at some time (though I think this is unlikely) and that he needs to prepare for GCSEs. However, I know that informal learning works brilliantly for lots of home educators and I would probably be doing it more like that if DS1 was younger.

How old is/are your DC?