Homeschooling progress
Some may be wondering about our homeschooling journey. I looked back through my posts and realised that for something that is a major part of my life, I don’t really write about it much. So I’m going to give a little update as we draw near toward the end of the school year.
This last “term” (the past 3 or 4 weeks) I’ve been really impressed by the way the girls have been getting stuck into their work. I think it’s like the end of a marathon for them, eyes on the finish line (Christmas!). They’re getting into their work quickly and asking for help if they feel a little out of their depth (instead of hoping that bit will disappear!). For instance, this morning it was just after 10am and I said they need to start soon, they went and got their books and took themselves out to the caravan to work. (I only just realised that they took Chloe their 1yo cat with them…she’s now inside.)
They’re allowed to work at the kitchen table, at their desks in their rooms, at the study desk, in the lounge room (no TV), on the swing, on the trampoline or in the caravan or anywhere else that they can concentrate properly. Sometimes I tell them where they have to work because I can see one is not settling and annoying the other, or one has to write a report etc.
They work independently on their basics books (maths, journal, english, health and spelling) and then we come together (usually after lunch) for unit work. This is the first year we’ve been able to really get into units. I’ve found that lapbooks work well for us. What are lapbooks? You study a subject (we’ve done; China, Sled Dogs, Metals/Rocks and Bees.) You use minibooks for a small aspect of the subject (usually about 10-20) then using 1 or more manilla folders refolded to maximise presentation, the minibooks are glued in similar to scrapbooking (I’m guessing as I’ve never scrapbooked, but I’ve seen it!).
We are currently making a Jesse Tree. A Jesse Tree is something I’d never heard of until I started to research for the Christmas Unit. It is a constructed tree (made of dowel or sticks or an old bush) on which you hang symbols which represent different times of Jesus’ ancestry from Creation onward. There are different ways to do it, but it’s basically an Advent activity. Each day the appropriate scripture is read out and that symbol hung on the tree from the first Sunday of Advent until Christmas Day. We have printed off the symbols which the girls have coloured (beautifully!) and glued onto discs I cut (from the old Business Directory Calendar! Perfect card!). Next we will cover the backs of the discs with either christmas paper or another disc (we haven’t decided yet) and glue on a small reference to the appropriate scripture. Add a hanging ribbon/bit of wool/thread to each and then begin this Sunday. Yup, it’s only 5 weeks until Christmas!!!
So that’s us for now.
Tags: Christian, Family Journal, Homeschool, Life