Poetry Competition

Bookmarking

John Betjeman Poetry Competition

Free Online Homeschool Curriculum

I stumbled across a free curriculum, where a Home Educating mother is putting together lesson plans and has  sorted it out. she has done this for her own children to use, but kindly offered it free to Home-Schooling families.
It is a work in progress, but there is plenty to get started with.

It's called Easy Peasy - All in One Homeschool

Free Online Math

Free math

MasterMath

XtraMath

Khan Academy - Good for homeschool

By browsing other HE blogs, I've come across a few that have been using 

Khan Academy

I have put it here to bookmark.

Planning for the 2013-2014 Academic Year

Annie will be going back to her primary school to complete her primary schooling, she will be in year 6, the year they get them to practise SATs and them take them. The plan was that she would go back, but secretly I was hoping she would stay at home with me. We have really enjoyed our 6 weeks together, she has built up her confidence, we have learnt so much, but in reality done little 'school work' and yet education has taken place. There has been lots of baking, she follows recipes of quite complicated cakes with little or no input from me. This is Maths and Science at a basic level, the measurements, timing, sourcing ingrediants, temperatures, what tools to use,, cleanliness and hygiene, looking at healthy options for food, exercise and so on. She has written stories using Story Starters by Karen Androla she has done some Math in text book and online, what has jumped out to me was how she struggles at Math, she is apparently on per with where she should be at her age, but is going to have to work hard to make it a level 4. I feel if she comes out then, I need to go back to basics, I want her to be comfortable with Math, not dreading it. At the Moment I'm looking at Math Mammoth specifically the blue series which is topic based rather than level based. I have just drafted a rough plan of when I want 36 weeks, starting in the September of 2013, since I have a son in high school, it will follow alongside for the most part his school holidays, although we will have extra time. Planning will be key, as for me it's the only way it will work, as these 6 weeks have shown that having ideas is not enough, a lot of time is wasted. I'm seriously considering the file crate idea, the best place I've read ablout it is at By Sun and Candelight dawn the author is so organised! The Americans call them file crates and they seem easy to buy over in the US, but here in the UK I'm struggling, I've found this at Staples

It doest look like it comes with the suspension holders though, it's just got the groves to hang them on, so I'm looking for something a bit cheaper.

Jotting down ideas for a Charlotte Mason homeschool...

I still don't know if both girls will be in school in September, or if they will be back at school, or rather Annie will be back at school. So I need to prepare something. I really like Charlotte Mason's ideas,








 see more about her HERE on wiki. 


 More info can be found at CharlotteMason Help Simply Charlotte Mason and the excellent curriculum Ambelside Online 
 Everyone has their own take on it, for the moment I'm going to adapt the ideas as I go along.
A Charlotte Mason Education in a Nutshell 


 So I need to cover Maths, Language Arts (reading, writing, spelling, and grammar which is basically Literacy!) and Science, these are the core subjects. I'd like History, Geography and Bible Study, to be integrated. This would include Nature Study. I like the idea of Artist and Composer Study, but will probably include them in the history, unless I can find a simple schedule. Then there's learning another language, we've chosen French, as a recent trip there has instilled enthusiasm, and Tom is doing GCSE French as one of his options. I have plenty of source material, I just need to make or find lesson plans to tie it together. I've ordered a couple of books on Latin and Greek root words, to help with Vocabulary, will review when received and used.
Pyhsical Education, will take the form of swimming, walks, cycling (must dust off bike!)and exercise dvds. We have proper hula hoops, they are good fun too. Art, will include artists materials, and mediums, I may tie in history and studying an artist in this. Ideally I'd like music to be learning the keyboard.It will be watch this space as I personally have no musical ability what so ever.


That leaves handicraft, which in Charlotte mason's terms was sewing, baking, woodwork, all things I think are important but I'm going to encompass  more into it and call it house-keeping with diy thrown in, that's a bit of a mouthful need to come up with a better name...


Looking back on what I've written, it doesn't look too bad, but it's the scheduling, finding out how much needs to be done, I need to keep it simple and light, to allow for free time and to be able to concentrate more on the things we enjoy, as in Annie's case that would be baking.


This is my starting point, off to do more research.


The above websites are brilliant resources to learn about Charlotte Mason, but I also own many books about her, I do own the Original 6 volume series, but it's rather pricey, if you click on the picture, you will see that

. 


  You can instead read her writings for free HERE

A gentler introduction to CM is the books by Catherine Levison ,

                    


or this book by Karen Andreola

  

How time has flown...

Just a quick update, Tom is at the end of year 9, now starting year 10 work at school. Annie has come out of school for the last 6 weeks of summer term to trial Home-Education, she may finish year 6 back at school, but the plan is she comes home for year 7 onwards. Ruthie, has remained at school, where she is in year 1, depending on what Annie does, will dictate when Ruthie comes back home to be educated too. I'm restarting this blog, to plan and document how we are all doing. I'm looking forwarding to reading all other Home-Educators experiences.

Very pleased

I think I've about sussed the basics now for Tom, this September, ( I may start him in July...shh don't tell him)
He will be in yr7, so age appropriate between 10-12

I've already posted about getting Maths and English sorted. Click on highlighted links to see what I've put.

Now for Science and History

I've just sorted Science



I wanted something that backed up God as Creator, rather than pushing evolution as fact, when it is only a theory. I also didn't want anything preachy! Something that was going to have good grounding for future exams, possibly IGCSE or GCSE.

I came across various curriculum's mainly US based, and finally plumped for Apologia Science you can find sample chapters there.

I bought mine from Conquest Books, they posted the same day as I ordered and I received the books the next day, excellent service!

Apologia is pricey, but I worked out the cost over the year, then divided it between 3 kids , and it seems reasonable then. Although we haven't started it I looked thoroughly through it, just some tiny points that I may adapt or leave out, but that's to do with personal preference nothing more.

It is very good, and covers quite a lot, I'm very pleased with it, I just hope it reaches my expectations, when Tom starts this.

I will use along side where appropriate with Galore Parks, So You really Want To Learn Science Bk 1 found here
It seems quite tame in comparison with Apologia, but it is in it's own right a very good book for yr7 ish Key stage 3, and one of the best I've seen from the UK.

Now for History, I wanted something to follow chronologically with World history and British history.

For World History I'm going to use the Story of The World books.
Book1,
Book2,
Book3,
Book4

There are 4 years worth of books there, I shall start with Book 1, when appropriate I shall use Galore Park History books I have all the junior and the two SYRWTL books here is junior book3
The Galore park books will be my spine for British History along with Our Island Story
With both World History and British History I shall use Encyclopedias to help with research along with any biographies and fiction books along the way.

Just got to get Geography sorted(nearly there with that) plus the very hard job of scheduling lessons plans , making workable schedules...that is what's going to take the time.

Thank you to Anthony.

Some of you will notice I have changed my profile picture. I wanted something that depicted what my children were all about. Initially I was looking at old paintings, then I came across this picture on Anthony's blog. I fell in love with it straight way,because for me, it just so looks like my 3 children!

I emailed Anthony for his permission to use his picture and as you see, he kindly gave his permission :-)

Thank you Anthony.

They are Anthony's kids in the picture, you can see what they painted here just scroll down to Nov 7th

Anthony has done some wonderful pictures, make sure you check his blog out.

One of those moments

When the kids were quietly working either side of me on the sofa, Annie with her spellings, and Tom with his new fraction book, which thankfully has proved to be a hit.

I bought the fraction, decimal and percentage workbooks from *here*

Ruthie, played happily by herself playing shops. Then she curled up on my lap at the end, so we were altogether. It was a nice moment, it doesn't happen as often as I'd like it too, but it does prove they are capable of doing it together.

Annie had started off on her FLL book, lesson 8, she begs to do more, I find it strange as it is a repetative book, but she seems to love it and it's working so I shouldn't grumble.

While they are on 'school' holidays, I want Annie to master the spellings she has, and to be confident with her 2's, 10's and 5 times tables, plus adding on 10 from any point from a number square.

With Tom I think I may get him started on Writing Strands 3 continue with the fractions book and do some Galore Park SYRWTL 1

We will lots of meets with friends, family and have sleepovers. The next 2 weeks will fly by.

I shall not post again until the new year now.

Full of cold & Plans

The whole family has gone down with very bad colds, the ones that go onto your chest and leave you with horrible coughs.
I'm lying on my bed surrounded by scrunched up tissues, ruminating about what I wanted to do with the kids during the holidays.

Since their going back to school last spring, the time has just flown by. I have pockets of time that I feel we did some 'HE' together.

With Annie it has been using First language lessons

That has been a success it's hard though as I feel she has to keep up with her school work, but for the time she is happy doing FLL along side school.

Tom as has been noted in previous posts, has both Maths and English sorted.

English mainly from posts from the SHE forum, which incidently has gone AWOL, if any members from there, pass by this blog , then do pop on and say hello.

I'm musing now what to sort out for the rest of the subjects for him. Science is the next on my list.

I have Galore Park Science SYRWTL 1


I like what Ive read so far, but I am wondering what else to supplement it with, perhaps Apologia General Science which is supposed to real thorough science. I'm not quite sure on that yet, as it is rather pricey!

That leaves, History, Geography, ICT, Art and Music, and maybe a language.

Maths now sussed - well just about.

English seems to be sorted, now it's the turn of Maths for Tom.


So You Really Want to Learn Maths Book 1: A Textbook for Key Stage 2 and Common Entrance (So You Really Want to Learn)along with the answer book that goes with it So You Really Want to Learn Maths Book 1: Answer Book (So You Really Want to Learn)

Next to help back up Galore Park is ConquerMaths I have the 2 discs, but many go online and pay monthly, I've been impressed with what I've seen so far, and I know quite a few from the HE community have used Conquer maths

then I'm hoping to use MEP which is from the University of Plymouth, it's free although you can buy the practise books for £3.00 which I'll think I'll probably do.

There sorted!

Some good links

I've posted below some good links from my old blog, I've posted them seperately as it helps if someone is looking on google search engine. I will be posting more over the next few days, hopefully there will be something that may be useful to someone.

Scott Foresman Reading - Online Grammar and Writing -Free

I came across this programme a little while ago, and I've just recently used it again. Thus reminding myself to put it on here.

It's called Scott Foresman Reading - Online Grammar and Writing by Pearson Education, Inc.

It's a great little scheme, you can take it 'grade' by 'grade' (yes it is American) you can check what year/grade your child would be in *here* It goes from Grade 1 to Grade 6

There are 6 units within each grade, you can pick and choose or do as I have which is take a couple of bits out of two or 3 of the grades (in this case it was on Proper and Common Nouns ) for some extra practise work. This is what makes this a great site it's very adaptable and flexible to what your child may need, and best of all it's FREE!

Coxhoe Primary School

This website for Coxhoe Primary School takes you from reception year up to year 6. They list their curriculum, but also have lots of resources and ideas too.

Click on either the classroom link or curriculum link.

Scholastic Free Printables

*Scholastic Magazines* is a place that has some free printables, these are activity/worksheets that are published in their magazines. Some are very good indeed, such as these *here*

English sussed!

I have been preparing for when T comes out of school. I wanted mainly Maths and English sussed first, I think I've just about sorted English.

1. Galore Park English
   
2. First Language Lessons level 3
3. Writing Strands 3
4. Spelling Book
5. Story Starters

Some he will be able to work independantly ie, Galore Park, Writing Strands, and the Spelling Book, with me just then testing the spellings. FFL3, will be done along side myself as it requires parent/teacher participation. Finally with Story Starters, this will not be done every week, but as and when needed.

Writing Strands is something I'm keen for him to do, with him still in school, I may add FFL3 to that, but I'll see.

Now to sort out the Maths

First Language Lessons - English

The latest buzz at the moment on SHE is First language lessons by Jessie Wise from The Well Trained Mind

I already had First languages Lessons (FLL) 1-2, but at the time A wasn't ready for it, and she showed no interest at all.



A has had this week ill off school, so I decided to start FLL 1-2 with her, she has done really well, she has had to memorise a poem by Cristina G. Rossetti, called The Caterpilillar and I have to say she learnt it pretty quickly. She has also been asking any adult about if they know what a Noun is. Then she will proceed to tell them, A Noun is a Person, Place, Thing, or Idea. This is only 3 lessons in! As a parent or teacher you have to play an active role in teaching it, but the lessons are scripted out, which makes it incredibly easy. There is 2 years worth of lessons in FFL 1-2

I've just bought FLL level 3 for T,


along with the workbook that goes with it


They are huge books, and I feel they are value for money, as I will be able to use both books with the other children, the workbook is consumable, but after looking at it, I think I can adapt it easily enough for the excersixes to be to in a notebook, while viewing the workbook. There is a years worth of lessons in this book.

I've enjoyed this week with A at home, I feel I've had a taste for HE again and it's a nice feeling to have.

*edited to add*

If you go to peacehillpress.com This gives you the blurb about First Language Lessons level 1-2, it also gives you sample pages, the link is just below the authors name (Jessie Wise). There is the list of contents, and the first 8 lessons listed, plus a couple of later lessons.

I love Enid Blyton, I've read so many of her books starting from when I was about 7 years old, when my dad started to read theAdventurous Four to me.

Shipwrecked! (The Adventurous Four) (Adventurous Four)

Enid Blyton is considered by some, a tad old fashioned, and in some cases non PC, ones would argue we have a wealth of brilliant modern day authors, who provide some great books to read therefore why read Enid Blyton?

Why indeed! - well for one I loved her stories when I was a child brought up in the 70's, most of her books were written in the 40's and 50's, so perhaps could have been considered old fashioned even for my day. But I was a bookworm, my friends were, and we just thoroughly enjoyed reading them. We enjoyed them for what they were, some great adventure stories.

Thus I'm enjoying them all over again, along with my children, we read all sorts of books, modern and older, enjoying the stories for what they are.

Which brings me to this book, Nature Lover's Book



I ordered it purely because it was Enid Blyton, well OK, because it was about nature too, which is something I love. I also knew it was a hard to get book, so I was delighted to see that it has been reprinted.

Well my copy arrived a couple of days ago, and I have enjoyed reading it. It will be a book that gets lots of use, that's why I am recommending it on here.

It's a hard back book with a dust jacket. There are 255 pages.

The contents consist of these headings;

NATURE WALKS

There are 2 stories to each month of the year, we are introduced to Janet, John and Pat and 'Uncle Merry' who takes them on these walks. They learn something each month

POEMS OF THE OPEN AIR

12 poems by Enid Blyton, one for each month

SOME INTERESTING THINGS TO DO

6 nature crafts to make

DO YOU KNOW THESE FLOWERS?

100 Flower descriptions, there are no illustrations, but the flowers are listed by what you might see in certain months

DO YOU KNOW THESE BIRDS?

24 birds listed along with a black and white illustration

DO YOU KNOW THESE POEMS?

One poem for each of the months by famous poets, including; Sir Walter Scott, John Clare, Wordsworth, Keats, Morris

DO YOU KNOW THIS TREE?

24 trees in black and white illustration, along with illustrations of their leaves and berries/seeds

NATURE STORIES

6 short nature stories by Enid Blyton to finish the book off.

It's a nice chunky book, I'm looking forward to breaking the months up next year, and searching for the flowers and trees in season.

Some might call it Twee, with it's old fashioned middle class roots.

I call it a cosy dip in nostalgia, with the added bonus of learning about nature in a simple and delightful way.

The past few weeks

I can't believe we are now at the end of May, where has the time gone?

The past few weeks have whizzed by, the children spent about 3 weeks at school, before we went on our holidays, it is now half term.

Annie just loves school, in fact when she found out that she was not going back after our hols she was quite disappointed! I think this is due to the fact, that she is very much a social person and has enjoyed making friends.

Tom enjoys the footie at break time , he has made a couple of nice friends. He has coped with the work very well, including taking the SATs and something called PIPs which monitor the children.

I have been given confidence in myself and the way I taught the kids, as they are not really lacking, and are coping very well with the academic side of school.

Annie does need to improve her reading, not something her teacher told me, rather something she has observed herself. So I need to help her in a way, she doesn't feel pressured in.

Tom's writing, is not the huge problem I thought it might be, although it does lack quantity.

Annie's teacher told me, that I've taught my children well, although not perhaps the things the school teaches, but I've given them a much broader education. (she taught her kids at home)I've found her to be very supportive.

Tom is wavering about year 6, I think he's inclined to give it a go, but he's adamant about not going to High School, something I'm rather relieved about.

I feel I have the confidence, that I can teach them at home. To stick with my instincts on things as this has served me well so far.

Something that has been talked about is to take Tom out for High School and keep Annie in. I know this wont be easy as it's juggling the two, but it's something that can be reviewed as we go along. Ruth will be going to nursery, which is linked to the school, so it would be just Tom at home.

Never say never though, the beauty of Heing is knowing I can take them out immediately.

To keep on top of how they are at school, and how the school works, I've volunteered my time to go in one afternoon a week.


Butterfly update
I've not been on the PC much, plus I'd had trouble getting my photos on the PC, but, they all hatched from their pupas into beautiful butterflies.

An empty pupa


Looking at freedom


Enjoying the view




Freedom at last





Sorry these took so long to upload...it was enjoyable to do, and we will definiately do it again, but with caterpillars from our garden.