Education Report 2012

Rebecca ad Daniel are both studying Maths,English, Biology and ICT with the intention of taking iG.C.S.E.s in the near future. Rebecca is also studying Spanish and Daniel Chemistry.

This is the only structured approach we use, and both children are happy with this.
The rest of their education is formed by using their home and the world around them as their learning environment..
We go to a lot of effort to expose the children to new ideas, subjects and experiences, allowing them to follow up anything that interests them.

As our approach to James' education is opportunity based, child centred and flexible, it is not possible to submit a timetable, or to specify in advance all the activities he will be undertaking.

All three children are given plenty of time to explore their own interests. We listen constantly to what the say and request and try to provide learning opportunities within their interests. We believe that they are naturally inclined to learn and that they can be trusted to do so.
They are free to explore their own interests and we make sure that they have practise at essential elements of learning.
We work hard to provide an educational environment that keeps their interest and also allows them to be free to be independent learners.
Where a topic becomes popular, we use it to access a variety of subject and opportunities so that a broad education value is achieved. Discussion plays a great part in our approach. They have full access to books,  music, television, radio and Internet (monitored) and we will always discuss anything that they take an interest in.We have a good supply of books, pens and paper, toys, craft supplies, laptop and space to work. We have broadband internet access and the children all have the opportunity to help us find the answers to questions they ask as well as playing Internet hosted games on education and fun sites.


Rebecca 

Rebecca studies each subject for 2-3 hours each morning.

Monday Mathsk

Tuesday English

Wednesday Spanish

Thursday Biology

Friday     ICT

Each afternoon she does the following:

Keyboard practise

Cooking

Art

Social Groups.

She also walks regularly and uses Wii Fit.

Resources Rebecca uses:-

Maths:-

CGB Key Stage 3 Mathematics Numeracy Strategy

GCSE Mathematics Edexcel Modular - Revision Guide

Online Maths Quizzes - http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/

English:-

CGB Key Stage 3 English Literacy Strategy

GCSE Englsih The Revision Guide

Weekly spelling test using Key Stage 3 Spelling List - http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/dick/tta/spelling/ks3list.htm

Rebecca also does tw A4 pages of Copy Writing each week.

Online Grammar Quizzes - http://www.funenglishgames.com/grammargames.html

Rebecca reads daily and she also reads one classic fiction book a month.

Science/Biology:-

CGP Key Stage 3 Biology Topic-based Practice Questions

CGP Key STage 3 Science Life Processes and Living Things

ICT:-

Letts GCSE Success Revision Guide

Spanish:-

BBC Bitesize GCSE Spanish - http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/spanish/

Daniel Martin DOB 01.08.00

Daniel studies each subject for 2-3 hours each morning.

Monday English

Tuesday Maths

Wednesday Biology

Thursday ICT

Friday Chemistry

In the afternoon Daniel does the following:-

Guitar Practise

Art

Science Experiments
Social Groups

Resources Daniel uses:-

Maths:-

CGB Key Stage 3 Mathematics Numeracy Strategy

Online Maths Quizzes - http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/

English:-

CGB Key Stage 3 English Literacy Strategy

Weekly spelling test using Key Stage 3 Spelling List - http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/dick/tta/spelling/ks3list.htm

Online Grammar Quizzes - http://www.funenglishgames.com/grammargames.html

Daniel also does two A4 pages of Copy Writing each week.

Daniel reads daily and he also reads one classic fiction book a month. He is currently reading

Science/Chemistry/:-

CGP Key Stage 3 Chemistry Topic-based Practice Questions

CGP Key Stage 3 Science National Strategy

Science Experiments using Chemistry Set and experiments from http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html

Science/Biology:-

CGP Key Stage 3 Biology Topic-based Practice Questions

CGP Key STage 3 Science Life Processes and Living Things

ICT:-

Letts GCSE Success Revision Guide

Daniel also plays rugby for Crediton U13's and is currently trying out for the Devon Trials. In the summer he attends athletics sessions, entering competitions for Discus and Shot Putt.

James Martin  

Our approach for James's education is child led. At the moment he is learning through play and everyday life. He has shown an interest in learning the alphabet and numbers and will occasionally do the odd page in a workbook for his age.

James attends football sessions in Crediton, which is run by Exeter City Football Club,and he also attends Rugby Tots in Exeter. In the summer he attends athletics club.

October

Still not into the routine I would like, home education wise, but working on that.

After going to the College open day last Tuesday with Becky, we have had a re-think about what exams she should be studying for  now, in preparation for College.  Having talked to the nice Head of Englsih Teacher, Becky can now apply to go onto the English A Level Course, along with English Lit, RE and possibly Sociology.

With this in mind, she doesn't know if she should continue with Biology.  So she is mulling this over during her half term break,taken early as she has a week off of dog walking.

All very please though that the English teacher was impressed with Becky's A Grade in English.

Danny will be studying English, Maths, and three Sciences over the next two years.  I think though it is difficult for him to get into a studying routine, but I think the recent rugby upset from leaving Crediton to Topsham played on his mind a lot, and I think now that he is happy at Topsham (has been from the start, but was nervous about his first few games) that after this half term Mike and I will talk to him about his study routine.

James is not into the routine I would like, but that is probably my fault.  When I get up I tend to be washing, cleaning etc and I let him watch TV, and then I find it difficult to get him away from it.  So during this half term I will be working on a routine for him and getting myself more organised housework wise.

Mike has now adjusted to his role at the ruby as parent and supported, as opposed to Head Coach, and is much more relaxed now, as we all are, that Topsham have played Crediton and got that out of the way - and of course WINNING 27-19!  Very pleased, although at the time we all said it doesn't matter if Tops lose, as long as Danny is OK.  Which is true, but it was an added bonus winning.

I have also been taking James to the Group, which he seems to really like, and this week we are all going in, as Mike has the day off to take Danny to training as they wouldn't let him change his shifts and my Dad couldn't really take him as it is my Mums birthday. There is also a talk on Islam which will help Becky with her RE study.

At the moment I am on day 2 and a half of not feeling well, head cold, bit achy, so not sure what to do today, so may rest another day and plan routines, including study, allotment time, James's routine, Halloween craft ideas, finances and books on Amazon for English Lit and RE.

That aside, October is going OK, but as I said at the beginning of this post, would like to get into more of a routine all round, which will also include daily posts here, which is now for my own personal use and  no one else can read - so crap shit bollocks, bogies poo and wee!!!   LOL.

Also from next week will update my HE Diary for James, but going over there now to update for September and October and do some planning.

Menu Planner for October

Breakfast - Cereal/Toast

Lunches

Sardines on toast x 2 for Danny

1. 
   

Term begins

All of the schools in our part of the world are starting the Autumn Term, and so are we,

B started with Maths, Probability, using  GCSE Maths Revision workbooks and BBC Bitesize and D worked from the GCSE English workbook in the morning and did copy writing and reading in the afternoon.

J and I went on a nature walk at our local University, starting off at Reed Hall Cafe for a Latte and J had a bite to eat

Then armed with clip boards, identifications sheets and binoculars we headed for the University grounds.

Tuesday

B made a start on iGCSE English revision, reading from Touching the Void by Joe Simpson and D studied Probablilty from a GCSE revision workbook.

For J we covered Geography, Science and a bit of local history.

Science Experiments

First one - taken from An Ordinary Life Blog Fireworks in a glass:-

Using water, oil, food colouring and salt.

Next Absorbing Science

Which didnt quite turn out as it should like this

(from All for Kids TV )


Next try, the Apple Experiment from here

Will check on the results today.

Geography

We posted two postcards as part of our Post Card Swap.  Going to China and Russia.  Also we had a message to say that two of our post cards had arrived in Torrington, USA and The Netherlands.

Just in time the Map of the World I ordered arrived the day before, which also has various stickers, so J spent a while allocating the stickers to different countries, and we also looked at the countries where we had sent our post cards too, and where they travelled and how far (it tells you all of this on the post card swap updates).

History

We followed part of the Town Trail leaflet for our town, J on his scooter, which of course wasn't at all stressful with lots of pedestrians (usually old) to get in his way and mow down.

We looked at the Town Hall which was a Police Station over 150 years ago, and the old Market Square.  That is as far as we got as it clouded over and looked like it was going to bucket it down.

Art and Craft

J made a paper robot, which I forgot to take a photo of, but he is very proud of it and takes it everywhere with him.

From the Weekend:-

The rugby team that M coaches and D plays in won their first game of the season, with D scoring a Try!

Plans for today:-

Biology revision for the older two this morning, planning on making a weather chart and a weather station with J, then a visit to our local Home Education Group in the afternoon.

Primary Home Education

J has a new desk.

Yesterday M picked up a desk from Free-cycle for J, it is now in the kitchen, as most of B and D's studying is done sitting at the kitchen table, and J is well chuffed with it (what an eighties saying).

Its in good nick as well, another great free pick up, and he sat at it straight away, making things from his book, and drawing pictures.  This was all at 8.30pm.

So I have a lot of printing to do and a few plans in mind for J.

English

I like the story telling project ideas, they seem to be mainly from American sites, so most of the books I will probably have to find free online or order from Amazon as they do not seem to stock these in our UK libraries.

I have got this book though, and J loves it - The Giant Jam Sandwich

There is a Unit Study available at Homeschool Share which includes map skills,problem solving, rhyming words, art, science and cooking.

Dr Seuss - quite a few activities to go with the Dr Seuss books.

Fairy Tales - will be looking at The Gingerbread Man, so we can make Gingerbread Men.

Also lots more ideas on Pinterest

We were also given a big bundle of learning to read books, and I alsopurchased from ELC in their sale, Alphabet writing cards, which are wipe clean which is handy.  J is enjoying practicing his writing at the moment, and has great pride in being able to write his name, as shown in his latest piece of art work

Maths

As with my other two children, I do not like to force anything complicated to do with maths on them at an early age.  Both my older two covered the basics of adding,subtracting, multiplication and division up until the age of 10, and then I started to introduce fractions, algebra etc.

So with J, will be following the same method, using printables from here and workbooks on the odd occasion.

(good article here about teaching maths)

J gets pocket money each week, and has recently made himself a money box, as we are trying to teach him that if he wants the more expensive toys he has to save for them.  This is good Maths.
(although, he was going to save this weeks pocket money, but blew it in one go on a Playmobile magazine as it had a really cool figure in it apparently)

Science

Experiments for our experiment jar:-

• Raindrop experiment
• Colours
• Dry Ice
• Colours and milk
• Absorbing
• Amazing milk
• Magic Ketchup
• Why apples turn brown
• Ice Cube Experiment
• Water Cycle Experiment

I have to get a few more bits and pieces, and have a science box which I keep most of the materials in:

kitchen roll

food dye

elastic bands

plastic bottle

rubbing alcohol (still to find)

vinegar

lemon

apples

plastic plates

plastic cups

ice cubes
string

Autumn - Also a science experiment related to Autumn, once I have found the rubbing alcohol - leaf science activity.
This is a great booklet to print out which we will be using Autumn Leaves Activity Booklet.
Another printable - Autumn Scavenger Hunt

Geography

I have signed us up for the Postcard swap. and have on order a World Map.  We will send the postcards, and hopefully receive too, and look at the different places on the map. We have just sent cards to Russia, USA, Netherlands, Germany and Belarus.I also found a map of the UK in Poundland.

(bit of a wonky photo)

There is also a good free e book here

 It covers  9 different countries from around the world, and has  information,  photos and  activities for children for each country.

J has recently shown an interest in the different forms of clouds, and whether it may or may not rain, so thought it would be a good time to talk to him about the Water Cycle.
There is a good video here on You Tube and will use the raindrop and water cycle experiment alongside this.
Also will attempt to make a Weather Kit and track the weather with this printable.

History

After M and J made this fabulous castle the other day

J has shown an interest in Castles, so we have booked a visit to one of our local castles through the English Heritage Site, (free educational visit).

I always think the best thing for children of this age to do is to get out and about and look at all the History around them.
We will be following the History of the our own town, and any other towns in our area which have a town trail.  Also Museums, National Trust Sites and making use of the Heritage Open Days next week.

And of course watch Horrible Histories as it is such fun.

Art

He has access to lots of art and craft materials, and does this every day (I know this because of all the mess).

PE

He runs around like a lunatic all day - end of!

Think I have covered all the subjects now- so this blog post should double up as a report  to give to the LEA.


My plan for J and his Home Education Journey may vary a little from how I did it with B and D.  I steered away from workbooks, learning to read books, phonics and writing until they were around 7 and 8.  It worked well as both of them had learnt to read and write by the age of 8, mainly teaching themselves.

J seems to like the workbook approach, but I am not sure how much of that has derived from seeing his older siblings work in that way, so it maybe that I will set him some structured tasks each day, and then that will be his school work, as he likes to call it, done and dusted.

Then we can begin on the important task - learning through everyday life!

Almost There

Almost finished preparing for the start of term next week, and its only taking me a few hours each morning before everyone wakes up (advantages of going to bed at 9am (ish) means you wake up ready to start the day at 5am, when everyone else is still sleeping).

Having sorted out Maths and English for my older two, I have now found the relevant sites needed for Biology, plus I picked up a Biology revision book in the charity shop yesterday for 60p.

Sites they will be using:-

• iGCSE Biology revision checklist
• Another iGCSE Biology revision site
• Making Sense of Biology
• Revision notes Blog
• Mr Gaynors Class iGCSE Biology
• Games

For B, Biology will be once a week on a Wednesday, as she will be mainly concentrating on Maths and English for this year.

B will need to be studying 6 hours of Maths and English each a week towards her exam next June, and she will be drawing up her own study plan and times for this.

D will be splitting his studying hours equally between Maths, English and Biology preferring that I work out his study plan, which will be 4 hours Maths and English each and 2 for Biology.

I have also given them a list of books to read in addition to their own choice, and am encouraging them to read this every afternoon, before X boxes, Facebook TV, Chart shows etc as well as making sure they read before they go to bed.

Plus they will have to keep persevering with the boring old copy writing every day, as well as  a weekly spelling test.

Lou x

Studying starts - almost

September is here and I am in the final stages of putting together study material for my teenagers, mainly though for B as she is aiming to take her iGCSE English Language and GCSE Maths exams next June. Also they are both studying iGCSE Biology one day a week.

Also getting together bits and pieces for my little one too.

Starting with English.

B will be working  from her various English textbooks and will be studying the following, from the Edexcel iGCSE English Specification:-

From ‘Touching the Void’ — Joe Simpson 

‘Your Guide to Beach Safety’ — RNLI leaflet 

Climate Change webpage — Greenpeace 

‘Climate Change: The Facts’ — (adapted from an article by Kate Ravilious in The Guardian

Science Course) 

From ‘A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat’ — Emma Levine 

From ‘A Passage to Africa’ — George Alagiah 

From ‘The Explorer’s Daughter’ — Kari Herbert 

‘Explorers, or Boys Messing About’ — Steven Morris (The Guardian) 

From ‘Taking on the World’ — Ellen MacArthur 

From ‘Chinese Cinderella’ — Adeline Yen Mah

Disabled — Wilfred Owen 

Out, Out — Robert Frost 

Refugee Blues — W H Auden 

An Unknown Girl — Moniza Alvi 

Electricity Comes to Cocoa Bottom — Marcia Douglas 

The Last Night (from Charlotte Gray) — Sebastian Faulks 

Veronica — Adewale Maja-Pearce 

The Necklace — Guy de Maupassant 

A Hero — R K Narayan 

King Schahriar and his brother (extract from The Arabian Nights) 

The following websites cover most of the above:-

iGCSE Anthology Texts 2013/13   This is a quite a good blog which covers:

• A Passage to Africa
• Chinese Cinderalla
• Your Guide to Beach Safety
• The Explorers Daughter

Mohammad Younis Farids Blog - Lots of free past papers on here.

Teachit - Lots of iGCSE English help on here, you have to register first but it is free.

Pearsons School - help with:-

• Touching theVoid
• Your Guide to Beach Safety
• Climate Change - The Facts
• A Game of Polo with A Headless Goat
• A Passage to Africa
• The Explorers Daughter
• Explorers, or boys messing about? 
• Taking on The World
• Chinese Cinderella

English iGCSE - covering the same as the above link.

Mr Hoyes IGCSE's Website  - Lots of good info on here.

Bibliomania - lots of free online literature.

Cambridge Students - exam advice.

Englishbiz - poetry essays exam advice plus lots more

BBC Skillswise - Grammar

Sparknotes - Literature study guides.

MATHS

Study Maths - Revsion Notes, Worksheets and Maths Games.

S-cool  GCSE Revision

Revision World - All subjects

Mathsrevision. - Maths Revision, as it states.

School Workout - Revision Material

Will be working on Biology revision today, as well as putting together a bit of structured education for J.