Our Homeschool Days - 2009

Go on a Learning Adventure - Take your family with you!

Our Homeschool Days - what we love doing as a homeschooling family!

Updated Family Photo:

For those who have followed my website for a few years, you might like to have an update on what our homeschooling family is doing now.

Since beginning this website, our homeschooling family has decreased from 6 students to 4 - as our eldest two have now finished their home school studies (...but.... education never stops!) and they are now entering the work force.

So, here's is an update as to what we are doing, enjoying and planning to do.

I really enjoyed putting together the above powerpoint with Smilebox because it reminded me of the benefits of homeschooling and what makes it so special and I tried to capture those benefits into four main points.

Here's a photo preview of what we love to do!

Make a Smilebox postcard

Expression of Individuality

The whole premise on which this website is based is the fact that your children and your family are unique! That is why this site is not out to sell you any type of curriculum or push you into a certain direction. Rather, the aim is that you discover your uniqueness as a family as far as goals, direction, children, personalities and therefore learning styles and curriculum.

I stand in amazement continually as I watch my children as individuals. Not only do they learn differently and at different paces, but their interests are so varied.

Their individuality spans from making bows and arrows, fixing up computers, setting up sound systems, creating games and planning big events, to performing, giving speeches and dancing in front of the family as an audience.

My daughter, Talitha, for example will love to write a puppet play and perform it and is happy to plan the draft and re-write the final copy. However, her older brother, Joel, would be in agony if I asked him to do that! He is happy to watch and enjoy what she does, but he loves to go on his free-lines outside, make a bow from the bush, and take time to perfect an arrow.

Another son, Micah, will fiddle with computers and speakers and sound equipment constantly. He hardly ever gets to use his computer on his desk, which he made from odds and ends, because he always has it open and is in the process of adding or trying another piece!! How many times Joel and Micah have installed and re-installed all sorts of programs and re-formatted the harddrive I don't know!

Ben, is the creator of games, card games, board games, people games and he is forever walking around with a scrappy piece of paper is his hand which is the beginnings of a new idea. Not all of his ideas come to fruitition,but his ideas are boundless! He loves statistics, timelines, genealogies and history writings and he has the most wonderful History Books in which he adds all sorts of interesting details. He loves putting on history days - especially in his head - and hopefully we will soon see another day coming up - the Trojan War Day! Go the Greeks and the Trojans!

So, I love the fact that as we homeschool, our children have time to develop their own creativity and enjoy expressing their own personality.

Of course that leaves us as parents with the challenge of giving our children time... and also realizing that our children will express their learning in different ways.

Oral narration, written narration, puppet shows, powerpoint presentations, book work, art expression, creative sculptures, video editing, play writing, performance can all be equally valid ways to express understanding of a given concept. We need to think creatively.

Stimulating Learning

Home education to me has always been my second education and what I have found over the years is that my enthusiasm is a great encouragement to my children.

Of course, the inverse is true too. When I have been preoccupied (and that does happen!) and I lose focus and just go through the motions of making sure my children have ticked their boxes, their joy is zapped too.

So, I have learned in my situation and in my family, that I need to be fully on board and excited about the process of learning in all sorts of areas.

How do I make that happen in my family?

• Family Learning - the best part of our day is when we learn together. We read, discuss, draw maps, enjoy literature, draw, create art, make tables, memorize things, order timelines, play games.
• Work in a History Framework - We love to delve into a time period of history and that is the hinge that so much of our other work comes from (writing, literature, reading, geography, government, Bible)
• Exciting Homeschooling Resources - We are using Tapestry of Grace again this year and the more I use it, the more I benefit from using it. My family can all read on their own now so they have their own reading and writing assignments as well as things which we do together. We are also enjoying Teaching Textbooks, Math U See, Phonetic Zoo, Wordly Wise, Winston Grammar, Latin for Children, Rosetta Stone. These have worked well in our family.
• Read Aloud !! The best part of our homeschool day! When the children have completed their individual work, we sit together in the lounge. They gather around with pens, pencils, charcoal, drawing pads, history books, finger knitting, etc and I read aloud. I read literature, poetry, history - both non-fiction and historical fiction, Science. Look at other homeschooler's favourite read alouds. We also enjoy listening to audio books at this time. Thanks to librivox.org.
• Plan my week ahead of time - I write all the details for the next week into my homeschool planner. I use a Unit Study and Table format (Look here) to enter my details.
• Add details into my children's homeschool planners - I add all their specific assignments into their planners so they can mark off what they have done.
• Keep a check on their workload - I hover around the children as they progress through their individual work in the morning assisting as needed.
• Check their planners at the end of the week - We add up all the completed assignments and make a score at the end of the week.
• Reward good efforts - We have "Friday Shop" at the end of the week in which the children can trade their points for certain items such as muesli bars, lollies, pencils, pads, computer time, a video/dvd, drinks and so on.
• Focussed attention in the mornings - limit outside interruptions as much as possible. I am very careful not to make appointments in the morning and keep away from my own computer! :)
• Organize and Set up our Homeschool Learning Environment - I wrote more about bookshelves, special corners, desks on this page.
• Be involved in a Support Group - We all need to connect somewhere with others who are on the same journey. Join my ezine if you like.
• Keep to a Routine - Although I have tried all sorts of routines, this is the one which we always revert back to.
  • Breakfast and Chores
  • Bible (personal), Bible (together)
  • Memorization time (different things on different days - this is something which I will make available on my website in the months to come)
  • Individual Study Time - music, Math, latin, spelling, vocabulary, computer programs, Dutch, Science Reading
  • Read aloud Time - includes drawing, maps, discussion, literature, non-fiction and fiction reading.
  • Lunch
  • Book Box time - individual reading time from their Classics Book shelves; Time for older children to complete individual study time if needed.
  • Free afternoon time - interests, playing, games, sports, clubs,

Time in Nature

Although my aim is to enjoy weekly nature walks, it does not happen in that organized way. Instead, our nature studies come up spontaneously and we delve into the subject at hand when it arises. The nature study may continue through the life cycle on an animal or just be a short topic of interest for 15 minutes.

But, the best part of all, is the time we have to be outdoors enjoying the sun, the experiences that do come our way, the ability to research those which interest us and to add it to our online nature journal.

Experiments and Excursions

As I reviewed my own photos I was pleasantly reminded of some of the experiments the children have conducted over time arising out of their own interests.

We also really enjoy our excursions. The children are involved in Drama and Choir on a weekly basis and this is certainly a highlight in their week!

We have also been Zoo Friends in 2009 and have enjoyed many Zoo visits, seeing the baby elephant born at Taronga Zoo this year. Joel wrote about that here. We have also enjoyed our Museum visits and are looking forward to the antiquities museum soon.

So how can you organize your homeschool?

How to Homeschool - Organization Sitemap

Read the details here:

1. What: Homeschool Planning: Organize and Write your Homeschool Long and Short Term Goals
2. How to Homeschool: What method suits your family? This will affect your physical space.
3. Where: Organize your homeschooling supplies - materials and physical space
4. When: Homeschooling Schedules - Organize your homeschooling schedule or routine.