Tag Archives: bloke

The end of Bloke School?

Posted on June 20, 2015 by

When my friends decided to return their kids to school, my eldest boy was angry and upset. His (probably legitimate) complaint was that we would never see them again. This is not the first friend he has lost. His great … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching and learning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Space is big

Posted on June 13, 2015 by

We have been studying astronomy this semester. A lot of what we have been looking at has been inside the solar system. Brief descriptions of the planets, the nature of eclipses, seasons, moon phases, that style of thing. One thing … Continue reading →

Posted in Science | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Mathseeds

Posted on June 6, 2015 by

Just before the end of last year, I stumbled onto Mathseeds. I have found this to be a great program for young kids. This year it has formed the backbone of our maths curriculum. I spent most of last year using Miquon maths … Continue reading →

Posted in Math | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

When its time to stop homeschooling

Posted on May 20, 2015 by

I was a bit saddened and a bit disappointed to hear that after a year and a half of homeschooling, a friend of mine is sending her kids back to school. Like the decision to start homeschooling, there are lots of … Continue reading →

Posted in Life experiences, Teaching and learning | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Are monsters real?

Posted on May 13, 2015 by

We have been reading a lot of mythological stories from Ancient Greece lately. I have always found them to be great adventure stories, and have read countless translations and retellings over the years. In all the magic, nobility and high … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Teaching and learning | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Building your own curriculum under strict guidelines

Posted on May 6, 2015 by

A large part of the reasons behind why we chose to homeschool was that it allowed for individualised teaching. Even working within the guidelines, there is still a good deal more flexibility to work around the rules than it initially seems. … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching and learning | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

The Minoan bulls

Posted on May 1, 2015 by

Our history lessons are shifting away from Egypt and the fertile crescent and into the Aegean Sea. We spent a morning looking at the ancient Minoans. The morning began with a deal of time looking at maps. The island strewn … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

ANZAC day – My grandad’s war stories.

Posted on April 25, 2015 by

Anzac day is a hugely important holiday in Australia. In many ways, it has become the de facto national day. Unlike Australia day, which is somewhat arbitrary and often divisive, Anzac day has a much deeper sense of purpose to … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life experiences | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Return of the assessor

Posted on April 21, 2015 by

As part of the requirements for homeschooling where I live, we are visited by a government assessor every year or two. This is frequently the cause of a great deal of angst for people. I have heard frequent complaints from … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching and learning | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The cost of homeschooling

Posted on April 15, 2015 by

The most recent figures I could find show that where I live, the state spends just over $14,000 p.a. educating a primary school child. This idea of ‘How much does education cost?’ comes up often enough in homeschooling forums. The numbers change … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching and learning | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments