Back-to-School (or not)...

Obviously for home-educated children there is no such things as 'back to school' in the traditional sense, but as we DO take traditional holidays there is a definite change when term starts up. Suddenly the idleness and non-routine of summer is gone and thinking caps go back on! If it were sunny, which it isn't, I'm sure learning would be happening in the garden and lanes, but as it is wet (no change there then) we are pretty much confined to the house and more formal learning, but that's OK ~ it gets us back in the swing of things, and away from excess square screen time..!


It's been an up and down kind of week.  Being now almost 28 weeks pregnant I am finding it a struggle to keep going all day, but I am also acutely aware of having had 8 weeks off and the children really needing to get back to some kind of routine ~ if only to make sure they get up and dressed in the mornings!! ;)


So, at the end of last week I sat down and went through resources with them and talked through my expectations for them for the year. Nothing as heavy as it seems, except that I did make it clear to both older boys that they needed to be working a bit harder than they had been. They agreed - in theory!! Then this week we 'started up' again.  Monday was a nightmare, but I think that was just settling in/down to the idea of using a pencil again. There was far too many 'Muuuummmmeeeeeeeeeee'-s in that day to be bearable!! Tuesday and Wednesday were loads better, but Thursday had some pretty awful patches again. Even though I decided at the beginning of the week that all the 'group' activities could start up next week to give me chance to get back in the swing too, it still seemed to a big stretch. Wednesday night Stitch joined us in our bed from the small hours onwards and I know my sleep was erratically broken, not because he was a pain, but just because he was there. I woke up still tired and far too early, which really did not help my mood for the day. So when the Bugs had a wobbly over something little and continued yelling at me after several warnings to stop - well I kind of lost the plot! That was right at the start of the day ~ good start! When we'd both calmed down (and talked) things were better for a while and he was certainly good as gold for the rest of the day! The girls were angels, but I didn't have enough patience with Lilo and her reading (or lack of it) today. We did have fun writing an opposite poem though: we read 'Bed in Summer' and reversed everything in it ~ which ended up, of course, like a poem written by someone who works a night shift and talked about how that might feel, so not a completely lost day!
She's also continued with Orange Miquon this week and has done some Headsprout. I decided it was time to challenge her though and get her to prove to herself that she is actually better at reading than she believes, so I set her THIS book to read over the weekend. There is nothing in it she can't sound out, so with a little concentration and determination I know she can read it! I've asked Paul to read it with her though ~ he has more patience than me atm!! I meant to do some Science with her too, but that didn't happen :( ~ next week..!


The little ones enjoyed games of Dotty Dinosaurs (big favourite with Stitch atm, and he knows all the shapes too) and played with shape pictures for quite a while. 

DD also did some colouring by numbers & some other number work (basically quickly revising concepts I know he already understands, ready to step up the game a little ~ he is good with numbers now). We also set up a little science experiment and talked about what 'science' actually is. He is BIG on asking questions at the moment, so this really appealed! Other stuff I have done with him this week;  read Three Billy Goats Gruff and did 'language arts' stuff related to that ~ talking about concepts & words in the story, re-enacting the story with finger puppets & playing with playdough mats (I even made the playdough!). A friend put me onto THIS website and actually it's looking like it might be a really great resource for Lilo and DD this year. I've also put Minnie and TP on Science & Language Arts streams too, but they can work through them more at their leisure than my instruction (although I will get involved where I need to of course) ~ it's just another resource for them to access to make life interesting :D ~ This is the Science page that Minnie made a start on, in case you are interested. 
At the end of Thursday Taz was doing a crossword based on collective nouns. It WAS challenging and tbh I couldn't have answered all of it without doing a bit of 'looking up'. His problem is that he approaches all of school (and life) like a test ~ he assumes, as I guess all 11 year old do, that he KNOWS everything he needs to know already and therefore he can answer anything worthwhile with the knowledge he already has. Problem is, of course, that he doesn't know that much really, so when he comes up against things he cannot answer easily he has a tantrum!! Despite having well stocked shelves of books and the internet readily at hand he thinks sucking answers out of me, or getting me to do the research is a much better thing to do than look anything up himself. He is approaching 12 ~ this is no longer an acceptable solution in my eyes and so I told him he had to find the answers for himself (especially as I would have had to have done the same) ~ cue major wobble, huffing, puffing, crying, slamming of the computer mouse when the first website he visited didn't have the answers he wanted... cue me getting rather annoyed with him... cue more tears and anger... (does this sound familiar to ANYONE, please tell me it does!!). Eventually he found all but two of the answers he needed, but was FURIOUS that it had taken so long! Welcome to life son ~ things do not always arrive on your plate so easily as the snap of your fingers!! 
There have been a few other issues with Taz this week too, but I am hoping that things will settle down as he gets used to this years work load..!


Bugs on the other hand ~ who used to give me SO much grief, has worked like a dream. Long may it continue! :D But we are beginning to think about the future for him too. He is worried (although I am not) about not taking any GCSE's (which quite simply we cannot afford to put him through, and in all honestly I am not sure would benefit him really for HIS future). He is NOT an academic ~ not stupid at all, really quite bright, but not 'sparked' by academic subjects. I cannot see him flying into a career where he is required to use Science, Maths, or English much beyond the normal everyday level that most of us use. I want him to be well grounded and 'up to standard' in those subjects of course, but I do not think an exam in them is necessary for where he is likely heading. He is creative and I want him to be able to enjoy his learning in a creative way. I think that school would stifle him and in reality, IF he went in next year with a view to doing GCSE's, he would hate it more than he realises. SO, what instead..? We like the look of this;  http://www.s-cheshire.ac.uk/newcamp/14-19/course14.htm 
He would look at doing the 'creative and media' higher diploma (equivalent to 7 A-C GCSE's), with a view to then going on to do the Photography AS/A2 course, but of course that would be optional, he could do pretty much anything else if he chose to at that point and of course he could do additional studies too. SO, here's hoping that this course is open to him (need to make some enquiries), because it looks absolutely up his street and I think college will be a healthier environment for him than school, especially as it is quite likely that some of his church friends are to be going there next year too.


Monday week I have my annual visit from out LEA lady ~ it doesn't worry me as  she is very nice and has been consistently visiting us for a number of years now, but still, it's in the back of my mind with recent events and all...


I think that's about all I can think to write just now; pretty 'schooly' I know, but life itself just ticks along, with me getting fatter and the kids getting bigger ~ that's just us!! I still struggle to envisage our family with another little addition in around about 12 weeks time... I am SO not ready for that!

At Long Last...

I thought I'd get around to posting a blog entry, but as most of you seem to have given up on me in blogland I guess I might be the sole reader anyhow :-(

Life ticks on -as does my pregnancy. I am now 25+ weeks by my dates, but as my scan put me forward twelve days I could be as much as 27wks! I was never very sure of my dates, so who really knows, but given my history of lateness I'd rather stick with my dates!

Kids are all doing fine. Phoebe is struggling to learn letters. She tells me she wants to learn to read, even though I really think she is still not ready. However, I have been introducing her to beginning and ending sounds and starting to work slowly on learning her letters. It took us two weeks to do a,b,c,d & e and she hasn't really got a firm grasp of them yet either. We are using Starfall.com and their materials and education city (of course) . I'm saving Jolly Phonics just yet as it is quite fast paced (I think) and she is not there yet. I'm really just killing time and waiting for September, by which time I think she might be ready - here's hoping!

Joel has completed 3A in Singapore maths, but I want to spin him out a little before we start 3B because I think he will race through that too (it's the more 'fun stuff' and therefore easier). I can't believe that my 8yo can do long division!!

Abbie is making good progress too and at last I can see that maths in particular is beginning to make more sense to her. I don't think it's ever going to be her strong point, but if she can get by I'll be happy. Her English skills are fantastic for her age and she is even beginning to join up in her handwriting :-)

All the oldest three have completely emersed themselves in my ACWW and the reading is good practice for Boo. We already have the third level house! I have bought Brain Training too, but suprisingly the boys are not so keen on that - they need to bring out one for kids because the fact that it assesses them as '80' is a bit discouraging for them! I'd love to be able to motivate them to do quick-fire maths and reading, etc... on the Nintendo, but at an age appropriate level.

We got DS Little Mermaid out the library for Phoebe yesterday (it's really sweet) as she was missing out and need something she could do on Mummy's game!

There's not really a great deal else to blog. It's been a nice half-term so far and the kids have managed to keep themselves busy for the most part - either at home with friends around, or out at friend's houses :-) I did take them all into town yesterday (with my Mum as helper) as they were fantastically well behaved. Joel spent his Christmas money on a mobile phone (sigh - my 8yo has a mobile!) and credit for it and Jake spent some of his pocket money on sweets!! The girls were a little more sensible, but we are going to Chester on Saturday to spend the bulk of their money (with the addition of their Birthday money), so we'll see what we come home with... I know P. wants to get a pair of 'Jasmin' shoes from the Disney store - so that will use up a big chunk of hers. She got the rest of the outfit for Christmas.

Oh, I know - another piece of BIG news - Paul passed his driving test last Thursday (first time if you discount the test he took at 17)!! So we are now officially mobile, but in reality not until we can get the car we own on the road. It has stood on our drive for 2 years now (it was given us) and we are not even sure it is going to be road-worthyable, but if it can be sorted then we will have ourselves a Ford Mondeo - which at least fits half our family in!! I guess it's my turn next - Hmmm - not so sure about that!

I'm going to take and post up some piccies of Joel's "Grinch" lapbook and the girl's "Merry Christmas" lapbook we did later this evening - on my Bubbleshare site (it's the easiest to use) - better late than never!!

Last thing - Abbie had her birthday. She's 6 now - WOW! and P. is about to turn 5 in a few days time. I can't believe my little princesses are growing so fast :-( !

Happy New Year -

- albeit rather belatedly!! I'm rather rubbish at this blogging business atm I'm afraid - sorry folks.

So far 2007 is going OK. We started back at 'school' this week and although I decided not to come down too heavy on the kids this first week, we've none the less done 'some'. Phoebe is now at home full time and, having all too keen to do school up till now, has suddenly decided that sitting down and working is not so great after all! So long as all I ask her to do is repeatedly write her name - like a million times over (!!) then that's fine, but I am lost if I ask more of her! I've pep talked her and said that I only really need her to do a little bit each day, but if I ask her to come and sit down for a bit then she must do as I ask. It's not that I'm intending to 'drive' her much atm, it's just that I want her to get used to the idea of not always getting to do exactly as she wishes in school-time. I truely do like 'self-directed learning' to a degree, but there is a point at which I'm afraid I expect my children to 'tow the line' with the directed stuff too! At not-yet 5 I know that P's world should be predominantly about playing, but she needs to get a flavour of 'school' too, because in all honesty I am not an un-schooling, un-structured Mum and I simply can't do it - it doesn't 'fit' with me and running a house with 6 (soon 7) smalls in it! I can do the odd day of 'lets hang loose', but the noise in unbearable when it goes on too long and then I need to add something constructive into the day. Winter is worse - when no-one is that willing to go outside to play and without the car they are cooped up too much and get bored with each other. Structured schooling actually keeps them amused and off each other's backs tbh!! One good thing I have noticed with P of late though is that she has at last begun to pick up books and 'read' them to herself on a regular basis - the first signs I believe of beginning to be ready for the real thing!!

Joel eventually finished his 'Grinch' lapbook, (pictures to follow shortly - when taken), but not unfortunately without much protestation! I had hoped it would be a 'fun' literature exercise for him, but he saw it as me presenting him with too much 'writing' under false pretences!! If only I did consider a couple of sides of A5 to be 'too much' at his age, but I simply don't and that was the most he had to do in any one mini-book! It's mad because he does more in his handwriting practice book and complains very little about that (maybe because of the the pride he takes in that?). I think it was more the having to think creatively and then out his ideas down on paper that was the issue (same old, same old..!) and he did complain about that too. I guess I will not be travelling that 'literature study' road again this year, even in the guise of a lapbook. He loves to read and I don't want to stifle that love by making him think and report on everything he reads. I would have hated that - no, sorry I DID hate that!! Now I don't really read much at all. One good thing though - he can recite chunks of The Grinch to me now without even really having to try that hard. Maybe I should work on 'recital' work instead for a bit. He might enjoy that - would be a new thing here though.

The pregnancy is going well and I'm getting 'fat'! I have my first midwives appointment on Tuesday (yes I know that's late, but that' s how I do it - avoid all the pushing of 'testing' until it's too late - and cut down on antenatal appointments that quite frankly drive me nuts!!). Paul wants to know the gender this time - he says it'll help us plan how we are going to arrange the house and organise where we are focus the attentions of our finances! I do tend to agree with him, but in all honesty, I like the 'not knowing' part - the surprise element! Then again - I would know whether or not it's worth sorting out Caleb's clothes in the loft or not. They have been put up there in a very jumbled fashion and would take some time to organise again (time is a precious commodity!!). Or whether it's the girls clothes I need to sift through! Ho-Hum... I'll have to decide pronto though as I am almost certain Mr L (consultant - I am a 'grand multip' now!!) will want an 'all is well with my soul' scan - like yesterday - if he is to agree without too much contention to my having another homebirth.

Other interesting goings on around here... well E is now at playgroup three mornings and even then I have to virtually drag her out of the door to come home! She simply loves it there. Then when she comes home she finds the biggest mischief she can. Yesterday she decided that watching all the pieces of our wooden 3D O&Xs game float in the fish-tank was fun!! Today - well emptying out all the pieces and cards from at least three games and mixing them all together under the dining room table (whilst everyone else 'took a break') was also really fun - until she was made to put a lot of it away again when she could be heard muttering to herself "I am a very naughty girl!!" She is adorable, but boy is she a little wild!

Caleb too is doing his best to be the biggest pain around atm, but perhaps understandably as he has effectively had to suddenly drop his morning sleep as we now have three playgroup runs a week to do and he simply would not get his sleep out, so it's better for him to get a proper rest after lunch, or sometimes before if he just can't make it through. Then he skips lunch, which he eats little of anyway, and snacks through till tea-time on cheese-strings! It's very difficult to keep him amused in the mornings though - he is simply too young to play by himself for very long and wants to be around the rest of us - preferably climbing right into the middle of the table where we are all at work! We as a family are all working on teaching him to talk right now as currently he says very little and makes no attempt really, other than screeching, which is becoming wearing, but it is interesting to note that he is 'watching' other things around him very closely. Tonight after tea he and I were the last ones sitting at the table and I started singing a couple of quiet songs to him (and he to me!!) before we went to join the rabble upstairs, who were supposedly on their way to bed. He incidentally blew a sweet wrapper across the table and laughed. So I did the same, but so gently he could hardly tell I was blowing - he was fascinated - I could see it in his eyes as he wondered, almost unnerved by this paper moving across the table without anyone touching it! "HOW is that happening?" I did it a few times - very softly - and eventually showed him that I was blowing and you could see him 'get it' and yet still he was wondering, I'm sure of it, just exactly how that worked. I'm beginning to see him now as my most curious child yet - the one who really will ask me "HOW & WHY?" and want to know the meaty answers. That'll be a challenge - a great one! :-)

One last thing - I got a DS Lite for Christmas (a pink one) - with ACWW!! I haven't set it up on the net yet - not quite sure if I can atm with the 'router' we have which is a Wanadoo one and it doesn't seem to recognise the DS ( :-( ), but when I do I want some visitors!! I caught an Octopus today :-) Any tips re the turnips? And how do I bury things - like the shovel?

That's it for tonight me thinks.