1st week of School Holidays

Monday 26th March.

The first thing we did was enter the receipts for the business accounts, which only ended up taking an hour. We then planned painting the dining room. I think this is going to have to be very led by me for the time being and I need to plan out their days for them.

We went and bought the cloths to cover the furniture and that was as far as we got because it was getting late in the day and I did not wan to start painting and have the doors open all evening. Jacqueline got a heap of books out of the library, mostly Enid Blyton school stories.

Whenever I have caught glimpses of programmes on the TV, they seem to be showing children in school.- Hmm, is someone trying to tell me something?

We had quite a physically fit day. We started out just before lunch by doing a warm up dance to “Summer of 69” and then did some yoga stretching animals. In the afternoon we went for a walk with the dog around the fields.

Once we start regular activities, hopefully that will then lead them into exploring things of their own and really developing their own interests.

We measured the dining room ready for painting. We then measured Jacqueline and discovered she is already 155cm or 5’2”. At 10 going on 11 years old, she is only 4 ½” shorter than me!


Tuesday 27th March 2007

We got up a bit earlier this morning, 9am instead of 10am. We have now started having breakfast together, which is a great habit to get into and one we never really managed before. It was a dull, misty, overcast day so did not start painting the back dining hall.

Everyone seemed tired today, so we did not do very much. The kids played on the computer and watched TV. Stephanie looked on TV to see if there were any interesting educational programmes they could watch and there weren’t any. Stephanie seems to be really enjoying the Little Mermaid films at the moment.

We got out for a walk again with the dog this afternoon. It was a bit of a sulky, stompy walk. I ended up shouting at Jacqueline and she ran off. Not a good start.

Things picked up when we got home. The girls thought of some of the topics they would like to explore in North Devon. There are so many things to do with history, geography, science and nature in that area that we could spend months there and still not cover it all.

We have decided to properly start home schooling when we come back after Easter. That will also give me some time to find some Maths and English work for them.

I think they need to keep a journal and a scrapbook of everything we have done in Devon, to include written work and photographs.

I will get in touch with the LEA in Staffordshire after Easter about them being home-schooled.


Wednesday 28th March

I got up for about 8am, but the kids did not emerge until around 11-11.30am. They must have been shattered. Perhaps it was all the walking.

We went have a skin care analysis for Stephanie as part of her birthday present. The therapist said she thought Stephanie might have digestive disorders and possibly a wheat allergy or stress, judging by where the spots were on her face. We need to look into that.

When we got back we had some lunch and then got to work painting the dining room. It was really terrific fun. The kids did most of the walls with Magnolia paint, which is water based and then I did the woodwork with the gloss paint.

They had a great time. Only thing is, we did not think to look for the camera to take any pictures until we had nearly finished. They did a really good job. After baths all round, we took the dog on a long walk and walked all round the 2nd meadow, as we had promised Jacqueline we would.

We got back and had tea. We are doing very well so far. We have had very few cross words and there has been very little falling-out between the girls.


Thursday 29th March

The kids did not do very much today. They watched TV most of the day. It was a dull day. I had my Tarot course in the morning, where I was teaching a lady to read the cards and I had a coaching call in the afternoon. The girls went into town to do some shopping.

Friday 30th March 2007

Jacqueline went to play with her friend, Tilly, from school and I had a long chat with her mum over a cup of tea while Stephanie stayed in bed until about 11am.

When we got back, we planned out some subjects to cover while we are away on holiday in Devon next week. It looks like everything we do is going to be a very interesting educational experience.

More soon
With love and abundant blessings
Amanda

Getting Started

We have started the Home schooling at the start of school holidays, so at the moment nothing much has changed from before.

Both Stephanie and Jacqueline have planned themselves out a timetable, including setting up and running their own profiable online businesses.

Aims:

My aim is to make everything we do an educational experience.
The more we can encourage their enquiring minds the better.

To develop well rounded, independent, questioning, free-thinking young women who can pursue their own interests

To make education a FUN, happy experience that is practical

To encourage the girls towards their personal dreams

I will shortly be posting a diary of our experiences as we get started properly.

Catch up soon
With love and abundant blessings
Amanda Goldston

Journey into Home Schooling begins

Home Schooling diary

Friday 23rd March 2007

This was the last day of formal schooling for the girls and it was a strange one.

Stephanie came home with loads of goodbye presents from her friends and birthday cards because that was also her birthday.

Jacqueline came home really upset because several of her friends had promised her a leaving present and none of them actually gave her one.

It was very strange and we even got an end of term envelope with all the stuff for next term.
It was almost as if they were not even leaving.

Part of me is really looking forward to this and another part is thinking what on earth do I do wit them at home all day?
When do we get started? Do I give them a bit of a break for a couple of weeks?
How much structure do we put into it?

I have found loads of resources to use in a classroom type situation. T
he kids have also done themselves a timetable.

Jacqueline’s is much like she had at school, but a shorter day and Stephanie’s is a bit more fluid. I think we will probably start properly the week after our holiday when Greg goes back to work.

It amazes me how quickly this has all happened.

From going back to school on 16th February to a month later being home schooled.
What a change!
More on the reasons behind it another day!

As I look at it now, I realise it was the best thing that could have happened.
It is a golden opportunity for our family to really grow together and for the children to learn what they would like to learn in a way that suits them.

Over the weekend Jacqueline, my youngest, has found herself some other friends on MSN who are home schooled so that has made her feel better.

It is a learning experience for all of us.

I would be delighted to hear of any of your experiences of home schooling. I would also love to connect with people who homne school their children.

With love and abundant blessings
Amanda Goldston