How we study and some achievements!

We seem to do some subjects in blocks, rather than itty bitty subjects every day of the week. I used to be concerned about this but actually it suits the children more to learn that way, and when I add together all that we have done and are doing, it seems to balance out in the right proportions.

Currently we have been having a bit of a science and music festival. The science has included the exploration of hovercraft technology, making some models with a motor and batteries from a little kit Matthew brought LittleH#1 back from his trip to Melbourne - our week without him is another story ;).

LittleHs 1 and 2 are learning the ukelele, as well as the guitar. They already knew a few chords on the guitar, and have been having lessons with DH, as well as music sessions. Matthew came back from his conference talking about a session they had with about 300 delegates all playing the ukelele and being taught for the first time how to play some chords. With only 4 strings it is easy for someone to pick up. So we bought 2, one cheap one and one good one - and now they are playing 4 chords (LittleH#1) and 2 chords (LittleH#2). They have been introduced to Bluegrass, and we are working on a VonH version of You are my sunshine. Got a few Colin songs we think they might be able to manage too. With practice! Meanwhile I'd like to think about getting LittleH#3 some Suzuki method violin lessons to see whether he'd like that. The ukelele playing is also improving their guitar playing too. Bonus.

We have also begun teaching them the music stave and note names. Whilst this is something I can do (and I want to teach them the recorder) it has been nice for Matthew to take on music a bit with them, so that's how we are dividing the work for now.

We are thinking about how we might make a bigger hovercraft model next, and also were amazed how LittleH#3 described what he thought was happening to the air underneath the takeaway box container that was the hovercraft body. He thought that the air built up and then tried to escape and that is how the box lifted up a bit and moved around. He'd be right! :)

Other achievements recently are that LittleH#3 has begun riding his bike without trainer wheels at only 3 1/2, and LittleMissH is standing up and threatening to cruise. She is talking a lot, and communicating even more. I haven't officially designated it homeschool but they are all enjoying a mix of Auslan signs and baby sign language with her, and that officially can count as LOTE if I want it to. It will certainly get a mention in dispatches next year!

I have just discovered how to 'right' the date and time I post things on the blog. That had been annoying me for a while. :) Edited to add: ah, no I haven't. I appear to have a technical problem but I don't suppose anyone minds (hardly a great following) and I am just going to have to live with it!

Magnificent Monday...!

I like the sound of that. It's not exactly a MEME I doubt I will be able to have a Magnificent Monday every week, although perhaps I should make it my goal to try.

I had an idea for some slightly different Bible studies this week - recently we have been reading the Bible every morning together once our school day starts, but not really "studying" together.

Today I decided we would study and learn the Apostles' Creed for a while. We began with a nice clean and tidy playroom thanks to last night's clean up before bed. So we sat on the carpet together and I first read them "You are Special" by Max Lucado, which I had thought about this weekend but wasn't sure which book case it was on... one of the boys found it and had it ready to read without me even mentioning it, so that saved a hunt around! Little Miss climbed around on me while I read it, the others listened (thought LittleH#3 was in a climbing mood so wasn't quite so easy a listener!). We discussed what it meant, and we had a few nice moments discussing that and remembering LittleH#3's special scripture "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Ps 139:14 I think, from memory.

We went from there to the Apostle's Creed, LittleH#2 read it out, then I read it line by line to LittleH#3 and he repeated each one after me (Godparents please note I am keeping my promise and teaching them this prayer!!!!), then LittleH#1 also read it and we said it all together.

Then, amazingly, the older 2 demonstrated just how much of the prayer they could remember. I'd say for LittleH#1 it is about 80% with prompts to get it all right. LittleH#2 isn't far off either.

We discussed the prayer and I told them a bit about it (hadn't got to Luther's small catechism but had got it out ready in case it was needed for us to sit and explain the different aspects of the prayer). LittleH#1 asked me whether it was a prayer to defend us against the enemy. I said that it is a prayer that describes our faith, what we believe. He said that was what he meant - he thought the prayer was like the shield of faith to defend us from fiery arrows (he held his arm as if holding a shield).

Well that amazed me actually. What a good way to look at a prayer that describes what we believe. The enemy does in fact tell us lies - about many things but does try to take away from what we believe. We can equip ourselves by learning prayers such as this - the basics of our faith on which the universal Christian church is agreed. I think teaching the children this summary of our faith now will be an invaluable tool, or weapon in their armoury, later.

As I washed up, I built on my original ideas and I think we can do something good with the Apostle's Creed, Armour of God, Fruit of the Spirit etc. A little H-production perhaps. Bit like the Sunday School one last week, except maybe a bit better organised and they won't be stuck at the back where no-one can see them!!!! ;)

So the copy work for today was writing out the Creed (LittleH#1), writing out the first 2 lines and doing a drawing (LittleH#2) and we are making the full written version of LittleH#1 into a shield display.

Other than that- we have done practical maths - baking - weighing and measuring (they are good, and surprised me with the sums I asked them to do while we did it), and money maths (counting and sorting the coins in the Peter Rabbit money box).

In between times, LittleH#2 has been devouring books today, I love that he can be a bookworm at 5. He's read predominantly Christian books today, actually, so it has been a good start to our week and perhaps a bit of a rededication to the Almighty God who has called us to this work.

Bad Day...

I should at least record something about bad days! Seeing as we have them, well, every now and again.

Last Friday, apart from the park gathering, was a total disaster from beginning to end. In fact the only reason I went to the park was because I wanted to go, to meet other mums. So I made sure LittleH#3 had a small sleep after an incredibly early lunch, it ALMOST all went to plan and then we went to the park.

But the rest of the day was a blur of badness. I broke things, dropped things, can't even remember what work they did, even though actually the day started really well. Matthew was out of the house before 8, and work commenced well before 9am and I felt a great big stretch of space ahead of me. Started ahead but still fell way behind. Matthew arrived home probably exactly 12 hrs later by which time my disastrous tea (which bless the boys they ate all up!!!) was over, (but still pretty much all over the table, the floor, the kitchen...), they were all in bed by 7.30pm (miracle) and the day was over. Not to be repeated. So a bad day, it did have school in it but all I can remember was how terrible I felt, how it all went wrong, and how it put doubts in my mind about what a good idea this is.

Shame, cos I started the day re-reading a few blog entries and being really encouraged about what I'd written before (main reason for writing blog = keep record for ourselves and if anyone else reads it, well that's ok and good). So I resolve to keep more records on here and hopefully the overall picture will once again be encouraging.

Today's been a haven of scholastic and domestic bliss (I exaggerate just to smile at myself) and I will record that separately. Then I can pick and choose what I come back to and read, according to my mood!!

But for now, the main lesson I LEARNED last Friday, was "take every thought and catch it" as Colin Buchanan sings around in my head. "think about J-E-S-U-S- fix your thoughts on him"...

Socialisation...

I made some good observations last week of the boys as we got together with other children of varying ages in different social settings. (Will keep that phrase for our next review, maybe??!).

This week:

-We had a playdate with a friend where they played card games together, construction time with different sorts of lego, outside play. It was great to see, they made their own fun, kept their own rules, and showed good one-on-one socialisation skills. Actually they played as a threesome and no-one was left out, so that is even better.

-We had a mass gathering in the park - a new park to us, so I gave them my groundrules before we went- where they would be allowed to go, etc. They have only met this group of children once before (a fortnight ago) and there were probably 30 or so children of different ages. As it is a group of families, there were slight variations in the attendance, so new children this week etc. All 3 of the boys fitted in - found other children to play with - discovered what their names were :o (!!) and played a long game all afternoon, climbing, running, balancing, improving on the heights they'd previously got to on the spider web. (I only had to rescue one of them (LittleH#3) once!). Each of them found children to play with, and I was most impressed by LittleH#3 doing his own thing with children of similar age, as well as joining in with the others.

-Saturday we had a visit from another homeschooling family with 5 children - and again - great play, no problems, and great social skills.

So we have had differing social experiences all in one week and what all of them have shown me is that particularly LittleH#1 is making new friends easier, is happy enough even the first time being introduced to a new group and finding children to play with within that group. He can enjoy that kind of 'mass play' (the first week they made a hideout with branches on the little climbing frame) and comes up with good ideas and can be part of a group activity without any anxiety or shyness. This is all very different from last year and shows great progress. In addition, he can interact with smaller groups (ie siblings from another family) and one-on-one with new-ish friends. He has the forethought to ask me to arrange to see people again, and has ideas about what they could play together.

I don't know whether these things are now much improved BECAUSE homeschooling is a better social environment for LittleH#1 (to use him as an example) than school (though I think it is entirely possible!). But what it does tell me is that he is in no way disadvantaged socially by being homeschooled, and that even in the year and a half he has been out of school, he is more confident and can socialise in big groups far better than ever before.

I also know from what LittleH#1 says (and what I see) from Sunday School - where he is in a class that I suppose could be compared to school if I was desperate to prove he still spends time in similar situations to the classroom - that he copes well in that environment and has a choice to be either a leader or a follower. I have talked to him about those choices, and really I mean in behaviour and contribution terms. He will tell me how the session went, where he sat, whether he contributed, and what the overall behaviour was like. Some weeks he sits at the front, some he sits at the back. Sitting at the back is not necessarily an indicator of his behaviour or contribution to the session but he will tell me how it went, and that he couldn't get a space at the front but sat at the back and sat still and listened (when others around him maybe have not - I have seen them!!!). So he's also learning when to follow others, when to set an example - and I am pleased to say that this practice seems to be good for him rather than not -but I am so glad he doesn't have to experience that setting 5 other days each week and we can experience all variety of social settings and do well in each.

LittleH#2 is still very quiet and reserved in Sunday School - doesn't say a lot, doesn't volunteer for things but somehow they know he can read and is beginning to write - I think he more than holds his own in those areas. I am not worried about the group thing - because I see him getting on with other children really well when we play - and I also see him knowing when he wants to withdraw - which I am happy with and don't want to force him to change. I am hoping gentleness and sensitivity to his needs at home will give him the confidence to improve on those group 'talking' skills when he's ready.

A few good days...!

By that I mean, we are finally getting back to normal and have had some days that feel full enough and have produced some good work (and great play!).

Highlights of this week have been sending LittleH#1 to scouts for spy night dressed up like a spy (though I do feel that a better spy costume is absolutely 100% normal clothes, I don't think that it would have felt very good... like going to school in the wrong clothes on non-uniform day - we've left all that behind now thankfully!).



The briefcase is full of interesting spy-ish type things - truth drug (Fisher Price Dr Syringe!), mobile phone, digi camera, walkie talkie, secret notes, code (we wrote the code and practised its use - I received a secret message that said "To Mummy I love you"), we made a spy ID card disguised as a credit card that flips open to photo and finger print, a newspaper... etc. Great fun. The dress ups get revitalised a bit through scouts (last year I had to make a Peter Pan costume that can double for Robin Hood). The jacket was a (probably very expensive!) David Jones jacket I chopped to size and hemmed so he could go a bit "Bond-ish" and moved the buttons across for comfort reasons. He seemed to think the jacket needed to fit!


LittleH#2 is writing AMAZINGLY. Really keen, has written a page of 'news' about the weekend, enjoying his (too easy but good practice) "Going on Eagerly" Rod and Staff book, copy writing Bible verses etc.


LittleH#1 is also getting much quicker at maths, has written a few letters to relatives, we have done a lot of Birthday and Special Day Blessing of others recently and in my book that is all good school. School of life as well as work I count as homeschool.


And LittleH#3 - well, he is really enjoying his "About 3" Rod and Staff book. Sometimes I can't stop him - the pencil control is amazing, he is pleased with the results himself, and I can see a new phase ahead of us with 3 children doing work at once! Wow! Only got to be careful I don't recreate at home what I don't believe in really, which is young children doing school before they are ready - although LittleH#3 doesn't sit at it for long and is still very 3 anyway. Have had some nice time with them all or just H's #2 and #3 together doing play dough.


We had a lovely visit from a friend yesterday, and it was great for the oldest 2 boys to have time with an older friend - L is 9, and they played Uno twice, lego, duplo and then some imagination stuff outside. LittleH#1 was beaming after, and thanked me and told me he'd had a fantastic time.


They've also done geography, some amazing world atlas drawing, inspired by a page in "Going on Eagerly", and today did a 150 piece big world jigsaw together- agreeing with each other who was doing each continent, amusing themselves with the characteristics picked out by the illustrators for each country.


I have been asked a question about water's surface tension, so am going to look for a decent bit of science to have some fun and build on that. Kind of back to our eclectic mix, instead of winging it 'naturally'. There is a season for everything and I am working back to a bit more formality and routine I think now.


Also feel its time for DH and I to do some proper praying about the medium and long term, instead of for the strength and ideas to get through each day. Need that too, but I want to re-energise the medium term goals and have a Vision as a family again.