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!

We're fine thanks, the car is not!

Toffee whirl-you doing a fantastic job as you not just planning you having to adapt and change for your dds needs when hes doesnt want to go out ect.

Its great your dh is so supportive.

when eldest left nursery she was only doing day a week and had huge a4 ring binder full of photos and observations-they were not lengthy as early years but did think the format might be good home education journal as dont think it needs to be hugely detailed and like school where they accessing work to work out what national curriculum level hes demonstrated.

www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/EYFS-Learning-story-format-6054378/

In reception it was one large a3 scrapbook so coloured paper.
with dds picture on front
photos on each page, explanation what she did and what skills she was using and lovley keepsake and lovley and visual.

The other notebook of just logging subject -topic and time per day i bet if added it up whole week you be surprised how many hours you done not including planning.

How are you presenting the tudors? in traditional form or lapbook?

The book you reading the shadow-are their any teaching resourses, questions or study guides availiable to test comprehension of the story?

so you doing shadow -english
some mahs
tudors-history
nature/biology

sounds like you doing loads and its only end of week 1 for most schools.

Think one to one its more time effective so less time can be spent
as schoos factor in register, breaks, luches , assembly.

What you doing about pe if anything? only ask as if he doesnt like to go out it might be tricky. maybe get big trampoline in garden.
Our local park has basketball court and tennis courts boyh open and free and emty during term time.

Swimming drives me mad as some leisure centres closed for schools lessons msot of day.

I nee dto look at keystage 1 music this weekend and see if can replicate at home as if had chosen day off she be missing the gym and music specialist.

Hope everyones having fab weekend.
sunny here hope stays that way tommorow for toddlers 3rd birthday as broughts her sand/water table for garden.

mam29

Have you joined any of the yahoo HE groups? I've joined three because my location borders three counties/boroughs and there is so much going on: a weekly swimming class, sports groups organised at sports centre, more costly activities such as ski-ing, canoeing, wall climbing too. Afterwards the kids tend to play so it's a good social occasion too.

Colleger - glad you are both ok, but sorry about the car. Does that mean you are without a car at the moment?

mam - thank you for your encouragement. It really helps. It's difficult to know how I'm doing and I worry that I'm not doing enough or not doing it right. Then I remind myself that DS1 has to be learning more than he'd ever learn at school because he was in such a state of anxiety there that he couldn't learn anything.

The learning story sounds like a great idea. My DS2's childminder did a learning journal for him which sounds similar. She added photos of him doing activities, wrote down what he was learning from each one and then added ideas to help him progress on to the next step.

We are not doing so well at the PE side of things, which I knew would be an issue. DH and I said we'd take both boys swimming every Friday after school, but we haven't done it yet. Trouble is, neither of us are particularly keen, so we have to make ourselves go and then it's so easy to find excuses. I do take DS1 out walking a bit and we walked our neighbour's Collie dog again this week, so that gets him out. No room for a trampoline in our little garden! We used to have a mini trampoline, which I bought mainly for DS1 to destress, but he never used it. He just wants to sit in his room and play Minecraft!

I bought this package for music, but we haven't listened to it yet. I think I bought it from Amazon though. Sonlight do lots of music stuff for home ed. There's more here. The p&p is expensive though, so it might be possible to get cheaper elsewhere, as I think I did with the classical music CD.

I hope your toddler has a lovely birthday tomorrow. I'm sure she'll love her sand/water table. We had one for ages and it was very popular and good for when DC's friends came to visit too.

Not sure what we are doing today. I think we might be taking it easy. DS1 doesn't want to go anywhere (surprise!) and as he is going for a sleepover with his friend tonight, I think that's probably a good thing. We might take DS2 out tomorrow morning as his big brother will still be out. It's nice to go out just the three of us sometimes because it is always so stressful with DS1 worrying and wanting to go home all the time.

Cross fingers for sunny weather for the birthday tomorrow, mam.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Hi everyone sorry not posted much have been following just with mine being so young not got much to contribute!!
mine are 4 and 2. Trying to stay playbased and make sure they get everything and more than they would in preschool/nursery.

Glad to see some of you gettting good news and doing well.

toffee your son did so well at sleepover sorry its affected him so much afterwards must be kind of bittersweet for you, proud of hin doing well but then seeing him like this after.

Booked my kids on an experitots session at MOSI themed space as my boy obsessed, its for under 5's. He got a telescope for birthday last week he loves i and is learning so much.
Can i ask does someones child play minecraft? heard its educational but my hubby plays it 4 year old loves helping him on it (loves comps) and hubby doesnt know why LEA would find it educational??

Talk of learnjbg journals fab idea and what i plan on doing. Already do scrapbooks, have since birth. Anyone know where to purchase good quality scrapbooks that dont cost the earth?? Paperchase is lovely but expensive!!

Did someone mention Minecraft? Yes, Iris (nice to see you back, by the way), my DS1 is obsessed with loves it. I wouldn't say it is at all educational for very young children and I am keeping DS2 off it (he's only 6) as I don't want him wanting to play on that and not do anything else, like his big brother. Also, if it is played online you don't know who you are playing with and the language can be unsuitable. DS1 did have an incident where he was being bullied online, which was horrible for him (we sorted it by him changing his user name). It is possible to play on a closed server, but once the children work out how to use everything, they tend to steam ahead doing their own thing.

I encourage DS2 to play online Lego instead, as this is similar, but designed for younger children. And he loves real Lego too. (Funnily enough, Lego have just produced a Minecraft Lego pack, which DS2 is getting for his birthday in November as a compromise whilst he is too young to play the real thing).

The game can be used for educational purposes for older children. There's an interesting website on that here. It has to be tailored to fit the purpose though. There was also a thread discussing it a while back. I'll see if I can find it.

DS1 loves building on it (he says it's like a computer version of Lego) and also works collaboratively with his friends online. It is a social game for him, as much as anything, and keeps him in touch with boys his age at his old school (real-life meet ups are too difficult for him at the moment, unless it's his closest friend).

I have just been printing off some worksheets from this website and it has all sorts of lovely stuff for little kids. Might be good for your little ones.

The MOSI workshop sounds great fun. I hope your DC enjoy it.

Thanks for your kind words on DS1. Yes, he did do well. He has just come back from another sleepover with the same friend, but this time there were just three of them altogether and, interestingly, he came back earlier than necesssary this morning, saying he was tired. Hopefully, he is learning to monitor himself and know when he needs to leave. He is in a very good mood and bought me a big bag of Minstrels from the corner shop (with my money, but never mind ).

Sorry, am not much help with the scrapbooks because I have been having the same problem. Finally, I bought a Daler A4 art sketchbook for 5.99 in our local art shop. Have just found it for just £3.85 on Amazon here. Grr.

Spent some time this morning preparing for work with DS1 tomorrow. I have printed out more practise worksheets for him and found a MangaHigh game for him that is on the same topic. Also ordered some more stuff from Amazon: a couple of textbooks on Maths and English, plus David Attenborough's 'Life of Plants' to tie in with our Biology stuff.

DS1 promises that he will do his best to attend his English lesson with his tutor tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed.

Hi toffee.
I was more just wondering about minecraft i have no intention of letting my ds play it alone, however he does like to do it with his dad (on a closed server) i presume its a mixture of wanting to do it cos dad is and also his love of lego and building!
I will look at lego website!
I understand where you're coming from with not wanting your ds2 playing too much. My hubby was v addicted to computer games and still would choose playing over most things if he could get away with it!! I dont want my ds being same but he so loves the computer, hes learnt a lot using cbeebies and bbs bitesize and going on word and paint. Im trying to make sure his time is monitored and im going to buy a sand timer to help him know when its time to come off.
Because of his autism he doesnt play much with conventional toys so i feel bad limiting the pc when he loves it so much! its so hard!

Thanks for link ill have a look!
Also will try amazon for scrapbooks hadnt thought of that!

Sounds like your ds1 is doing well and learning how to manage what he can cope with.

Hi guys

toffee whirl-

yes its same kind of thing child minder would do.
could use that as a paterrn.
Just dont want to get bogged down by paperwork like the teachers say they are im sure breif learning journal and sugested log for you to reassure you so you can look back and say I really did do quite a lot last week when you felt you dident do enough.

fab news about son seeing his freinds.hopefully wil gain confidence in time.

I had never heard minecraft before came here, I have a 14year old stepson and unsure what computer games hes into will ask him next week.

Iris-have you tried place called the works for books ells book and art materials cheap. or try poundland/poundworld ect.
I brought my last few from local newsagents think 1.99 each buy they nothing fancy just coloured paper a3 size..

Im flagging today dd2 3rd birthday was up until 2am baking and decorating lounge.

Shes made up loved her pressies. even made hm pizza in shape mickey mouse. Hoping they too full on cake to want a big dinner.
House looks like bombs hit it.
weathers been rubbish so not been out.
I have a cold and babys cold/cough and grouchy.

managed to get my eldest to do some maths factor.we have 15days subscription left.

Last week they did shapes in school so trying to find stuff on that so did the ixl free stuff think need to join as looks bit more comprehensive than maths factor thinking doing them both.

dd has 3lots homework

reading will do soon.
spellings will do in week as test friday
numeracy -might leave to daddy as havent got energy for a battle.

weekends are hard as hubby worked all weekend and younger ones full on on which means eldest easily distracted and some places would like to take her to visit not suitable for the younger 2 so a having 1 weekday off school im sure will make all the difference.

Another hectic week planned.

definatly getting early night later as not feeling my best and all 3kids whiney and overtired.

Iris - difficult if your DS has autism because I can see that conventional toys won't hold much appeal and the computer will be much more appealing to him. That's why I had to relax more about letting DS1 on the computer so much (he has ASD traits, though not enough to meet diagnostic threshold apparently). There's loads of great stuff on the internet - it's just you have to keep an eye on what they go on (or maybe it's just that DS2 learns too much from watching his big brother).

mam - you are working too hard, but I know what it's like to want everything perfect. So sorry you have a cold. Any chance of an early night tonight? Sympathies being on your own with three small children all weekend. DH used to work weekends and I remember how difficult it was.

I have had such a lovely time today working on my home education scrapbook and a Science journal. It has made me feel so much better. I was worrying that we weren't doing enough, but now I have it all laid out in book form I can see that we are getting somewhere. The Science journal is following the format of the textbook we are using, but I'm filing the worksheets separately and using the journal for more creative stuff, eg. photos of our trip to a local field to find seeds and berries for the plant reproduction topic. It will serve as a revision book for DS1, as well as a nice reminder of all we have done together.

DH pointed out that DS1 should be compiling the book, not me, but that's unrealistic as DS1 would hate to do that. I am in charge of the presentation, but it's still his work on show, just as the teachers do with primary-school topic books.

It was great to start putting together the scrapbook as well, with lots of photos and notes on what we've been doing.

I have also planned what we're doing tomorrow. Am hoping the David Attenborough DVD arrives first thing, as it would be good to watch that and skip a worksheet for tomorrow.

If you hate Maths, skip the next paragraph:

Had an idea to teach subtraction. DS1 can, obviously, do basic subtraction, but he's still struggling with 'exchanging' numbers (or borrowing), eg. if you have to take 4139 from 6004, which means you can't take 3 from the 0 and have to borrow from the next whole number. DS1 really struggles with this, so I thought I'd buy a packet of Cheerios and set them all out in units, tens and hundreds (with the latter two in sandwich bags, tied up). Then he can see the units being transferred and, hopefully, understand that when you borrow from the 'tens' column, you are actually borrowing ten units, not just a single unit. I think that makes sense.

Phew.

There just seems no point in going onto more difficult maths until I'm sure that DS1 understands all the basics.

I have completely neglected the house again. Managed one load of washing so DS2 would have some school uniform to wear tomorrow. Have promised to make an apple pie with DS2 now. Actually came on here to look up a recipe, but became distracted!

Did someone on this thread say they used Manga Maths?
How much does it cost?

Thanks :)

Yes, me. It's Mangahigh.com. We can only use a few games at the moment, as the membership page says you have to register as a school to use the full website. I have emailed our LEA contact to ask her if she can let us have a password (she was kind enough to provide one for MyMaths). There doesn't seem to be any facility for home educators. I was wondering if I should just pretend to be a school.

The website appears to be free.

Hmmm tomorrow might be interesting as I have a rotten head cold. I fear DD might be spending her day watching recordings of programmes about WW2 and reading her book. I had 10 hours sleep last night and I still felt exhausted this morning. I have a sore throat, sore ears and I ache all over. Bleugh. I have planned some things but whether we'll get around to doing them is anybody's guess.

Roll on bedtime!

Thanks for the tip mam im going to do an order from the works tonight when hubby gets off computer and i can do it properly ( struggle using my phone touchscreen evades me!)
toffee great idea with the cheerios its definately better to master basics.
what you say about your son being borderline but not enough traits for diagnosis - this really annoys me! Who knows if the powers that be believed enough to help you and him out in the first place and support him in school it may have been a better experience for him! This happens to way too many kids its so unfair. MY son is very high functioning and i kniw we are sooo lucky to have got the diagnosis and it only came because of the support of a great pre school teacher and my ability to tell peadiatricians the whole truth about him despite it being upsetting! they will do anything to get out of diagnosis a child i feel.
Im happy knowing that if he does end up in school at least we have a label to help, to get him support and hopefully understanding.

Anyone rant over but the politics of asd diagnosis get me so wound up!!!

I have spent tonight working on my daughters scrapbook and im about to go place a photobox order as ive hundreds of pics to get developed.

You ladies are so organised honestly from what i read you all do so much, you work vey hard and your kids are so lucky. If you're ill just rest. Provode the kiddies with a film/documentary/ book/ arts and crafts materials whatever they're interested in and just talk to them. They will still be getting so much more from it than school, the odd laid back day will do no harm, in fact i bet it will benefit your kids to take a little responsibility for learning and sitting and talking to you about anything will have them learning lots!

Oh, poor Helen. I think the DVDs/books idea sound very appropriate. Maybe DD can practise some life skills and bring you some cold drinks now and again?

Iris - you are so right about the ASD diagnosis issue. We tried so hard to get him a diagnosis and were just fobbed off over and over again. The children we were told were more needy than him got their diagnoses and statements and are now doing well at school. Whereas we are in this situation. It's the best thing for DS1 considering how he is now, but I'm sure that if he had had the support he needed early on, we would never have got to this stage. Also, he wouldn't have had to go through so much anguish (and us with it).

Anyway, mustn't get started as it unlocks a bottomless pit of anger and resentment!

Except that I must just add that DS1's psychiatrist recently said she thought he probably would get a diagnosis now, but that there was no point because he had so many diagnoses already that he didn't need another one to access any help. Was so tired of fighting by then that I just couldn't be bothered to argue. We may go for a private diagnosis one day as we have had no luck on the NHS.

Incidentally, I'm very pleased your son got his diagnosis and well done to you and that pre-school teacher for achieving it. It is no easy feat.

DS2 just made me laugh. He decided to make Hallowe'en decorations just before bathtime. I sighed and protested that there wasn't time and besides, I didn't know what he could use to make them. DS2 just grinned and declared, "I know what I'm going to use! This", (patting his head), "amazing thing called a brain! Just watch me!"

(And he did too. Made them out of sticky labels!).

ToffeeWhirl, Thanks for the information

I tried to access the site and I couldn't find any information about a parent subscription. I think they are missing out on a market. I also read that you managed to get a password for MyMaths. I am going to see if I have similar luck with my LEA :)

Iris1 It is so hard giving all the negatives for a ASD diagnosis isn't it. Especially when the children have to hear it. I wish the doctor had told me that DD didn't need to be present during the appointment. It is difficult to make her feel positive afterwards and we haven't even got a diagnosis yet :(

Sorry you are not so good Helen, I'm sure its time of the year. All my lot have it or have had it or coming down with it now, yuk, hope I don't get it.

I just thought i'd add another suggestion for the extra time we gain during the day. Somtimes it could take me between 5 and 10 mins to settle the class for work and these were 16+ I'm sure primary children are the same if not worse. Also I'm sure many do this anyway but when I was a TA any art, design, cooking etc that needed setting up was always done a lesson after a break, so during break or lunch we set up.

DD having a bad time atm, and although I know deep down we made the right decision I am a bit worried.
At dancing yesterday she was clingy and needing a cuddle, so unlike her. Then today went to birthday party where all girls from last school there. They all were lovely and its clear they want to keep in touch.
She started a string group this week which I think is the main problem. She couldn't play much of the music and apart from one boy aged 11 they were all older teens. She was well out of comfort zone and was heart broken today and said she was rubbish. I tried to console her, i.e they were all new once, they aren't expected to play pieces till end of term, shes at the right level etc. Her confidence seems to have taken a dive, is this normal?

I think our kids go through all sorts of emotions. A life without boundaries and expectations must seem a scary place when kids are used to the very opposite. I think it's worth making sure our kids are environments where they can be at the top and the bottom, being guided and leading to help the grow. :)

Thanks colleger. You are very wise, it was funny to see her so quiet at the ensemble.
It will do her good as she is usually so confident and a bit cocky at times. I don't mean she is nasty with it or like this outside the home but she can be with us.
I'm sure she'll be ok but secretly inside I really felt for the poor kid as she felt out of her depth. I know she'll manage though or wouldn't take her again
How are things with you atm, I hope this week is good for you?

All fine. I have a headstrong boy but his moments of loveliness are even more lovely, as are his outbursts! Arghhh!

I have noticed though that his attitude is worse when my husband is around. Not sure why as my husband is the most placid and lovely guy. But I need to try and notice and remember it before flying off the handle at his rudeness!

I'm finding it impossible to fit in what I'd hoped mainly because my son operates at snails pace. Everything is sooooo slow, even the way he walks! If I sit in the same room while he works it's done in half the time but I want him to do it without me being there.

Music-wise, I can't seem to fit in all the practices. Theory wise, I've decided to start with a grade 1 book and have him do two pages per day so he finishes grade 5 by the end of January. The plan is then to keep going with a little and often until he eventually gets to grade 8 theory, which is beyond A'level. He may as well do these things early and without too much effort.

He started organ lessons last week so yet another instrument to fit in a practice slot! :/

Intersat - good luck with your LEA and with the diagnosis.

morethan - Don't despair. It's still very early days and I'm sure we all have many ups and downs to go through yet as we get used to our new situations. It does sound as if your DD's confidence has taken a knock at the new music class and it must have been so difficult for you to see her feeling so uncomfortable. I'm sure she will adjust to it in time - she obviously has the ability - and then she will feel so proud of herself. It must have been hard for her to see her old friends today and wonder where she now belongs, but how lovely that they were all so pleased to see her. Can they meet up again soon?

Colleger - it's up to us to provide all the daily boundaries and expectations now, isn't it?

Just having a short google at home ed resources (my new hobby) before bed.

Hope you all have good days tomorrow.

Morning guys.

I did get earlish night yesterday when hubby came home, felt guilty as promised him a roast burnt the potatoes, had hardly any veg, smoke alarm set off woke up younger 2 and house wasent that tidy.

Eldest messed me about yesterday afternoon. she dident ant to do anything she only had 6more skill check to get another badge.
Homework had to do but couldent be bothered to read then when hubby came in she read book perfectly.

new strategy is no matter ho much she whines mornings will be maths, reading, homework as by afternoon shes too tired and wont concentrate.

Toddler had lovley birthday.

iris -I forget the works have a website.

I love scrapbooking which Is why I love pinterest

Toffe whirl-I get a lot of links on resources from pinterest

just search

maths
science-loads of experiments
lapbooks
literacy
classroom
homeschool or schooling.
crafts

A lot is american but still found some great stuff

Lol at manga high-I can see the toffeewhirl freeschool/academy appling if its good enough for toby young-in a loose way homeschool is a free school and driven by the parents

best get eldest out of bed as havent been late once this term.

Think it was colleger who suggested groups.

joined bristol home ed forumwhich is harder to get into than high security prision, had no luck with local yahoo group.

ringing bristol council today as my neighboring la might be helpful info for head and need alternative way to supplement music curriculum so can argue thursdays the best day.

Looking foward to meeting.

busy week here toddlers 2nd week preschool,ballet, eldest school, rainbows, gym and cheerleading oh and sports say hopefully.
no toddler/babygroups this week as im too tired but trip to farm and wales hopefully plus pta meeting and meeting with head but hubby has 2weeks holiday in which hes got long list things to do round house including setting up learning zone and roleplay area in girls room.

long term wondering what to do about younger 2 education.
homeed for infants appeals.

have a good day everyone.

I may be wrong best check out with someone more knowledgebale like fiona.

But im sure last home ed revewi stipulated some support for home ed parents in terms of resources.

I joined well trained mind forum interesting read and lots home ed in states through charter schools which provide free online subscriptions to websites and loads money for resources but imagine their curriculum may be more set.

Im definatly signing up to ixl maths.
also need huge push on timestables as hoping that will unlock so much other maths. Does everyone else think that?

focus on tables and telling the time?

Morning all. Glad you got an early night, mam. I was thinking of joining ixl maths too - it looks good. I'll try pinterest again for resources. Really need to find alternative ways to teach Biology to supplement the textbook we're using. We have done a couple of excursions, which look good in my new Science topic book, but I need to find more ideas. We are moving on to organs of the body soon, but I want to stick on plants for a bit first.

Do you do stuff with your eldest before she goes to school, mam? I can barely get breakfasts done before school, let alone anything else.

Must go as I am walking DS1 round to his English tutor in a minute.

Am hoping David Attenborough DVD comes today, as it would be great to let him do the teaching instead of me this morning.

See you all later.

God no toffee can barly get eldest out of bed and dressed in morning shes like kevin the teenager.

we occasionally do spellings 1st thing friday morning as thats when test is asked her 2weeks later she wont remember

Eldest has homework every night .

reading book-becoming more frequent

numeracy-weekly-so trying to do on weekend
writing-think this being added this year
spellings-once a week.

Today by some miracle we were on time left house late speed walked with girls on scooters made it mins to spare as year 2 teacher opens door on time.

stopped by spar and got reduced cookies and coke on way home.
younger 2playing in sandpit.
toddler has preschool today so joy of 4times to school and back only 15mins then rainbows for eldest after school if only i could attach myself with elastic.

tonight hubby has to do numercacy and reading with her.
might do spellings wed, thur, fri morning as easier nearer the time.
need to get her to try with her maths factor again this week as summer course ends soon and she wants all the badges and want her to complete every skills check.

Think ixl lookjs good as outlines everything they do in that year group all way through primary and senior. we did free practice shapes as eldest been doing shapes and properties last week and at 59 a year its probably chaper than lots of workbooklets and textbooks,.
eldest seems to prefer computer based learnings as loves the free games on bbc website.

But im dual subscribing to vordmans maths faxctor as can see they good for differnet things wish could find similar for science.

I do think its hardly asking much for las to support online subscriptions as look at the money home ed is saving them.

Pinterest -I have lots on mine under education,l learning spaces and few other subjects as my education board became to big.
I can pm you my pinterest name but most of mine is primary specific so may not be as much use.

I know can be pricey but if you had sky or virgin tv some of the documentry channels are fab and eden project even have own channel I imagine there be some stuff on you tube too.

Right best desand lounge and sort laundry and ring bristol la.

toffee-not sure this any good

www.lesson-library.com currently has about 6000 educational resources in all school subjects, from kindergarten to age 16.

We're currently offering homeschoolers a 25% discount on our regular membership fee of £40/year (new price - £30.) Just quote HOMESCHOOL25 on the registration page.

Also, there are over 100 free lessons and resources available to take away in the Sample Area of our website. Please visit and collect your free lessons.

could be good for home ed resource addict,

Thanks, mam, I will go and have a nose at that link right now. Am just back from English lesson, where I had a long and very helpful talk with the teacher's wife, who is a retired primary school teacher. She gave me lots of helpful hints about teaching maths to DS1.

On the way home, I told DS1 I was going to set up the Cheerios for our Maths lesson and his face lit up. "Oh, are we doing Nibble Maths?" he said. "I used to love that!" You wouldn't know he was 12, going on 13, sometimes .

I'd forgotten Cheerio are produced by Nestle and I boycott them and have just broken my boycott .

Am relieved to see that you don't do lessons with your DD before school, mam . DS2 is meant to be reading every night and will be getting spellings this year - he's not keen on doing any of it. May need to set up some sort of reward system to encourage him.