LOL, I've just realised that this is my very first post that's actually about HOMESCHOOLING!!  (LOL, actually I did one post on our journey to home education but that's it!) So...I thought it was about time I did!

Actually probably the main reason I haven't posted about homeschooling is because we've been doing a lot more HOME than SCHOOL if you see what I mean!  My children were in PS (the dreaded PUBLIC SCHOOL!) last year...my ds did 18mths hard time and my dd did about 8 weeks.  My son didn't do well at school at all...I mean academically he did okay for his age, but he was ALWAYS getting into trouble...he's just one of those children who don't do well at school...he doesn't fit the mould, and the school system didn't suit his type of personality and needs...he always wanted to "help" the teacher and had trouble sitting, writing and reading for the amount of time required at school.  He's very intelligent...but he wouldn't have learnt much if he'd stayed at school, although he would've gotten to know the principle pretty well LOL!

So this year as been more de-schooling than anything else!  We haven't done a lot of academics...my son hated reading and writing at the beginning of the year (actually he hated anything that resembled school)...so I decided to back right off and give him a chance to get back his LOVE of learning, which is far more important to me than the fact that he might now be slightly behind his "peers" with his writing and reading skills.  He actually picks up a pencil nowadays (of his own accord!!) and writes little notes and lists, and both of the children will sit down (or lie down at bedtime) and "read" for an hour or more at a time...they LOVE books!

I absolutely love this article by Raymond & Dorothy Moore, which is about education for under 8-10 year olds! I really agree with their philosophy of having more of a focus on physical work (chores, ministry and such) than academics in the earlier years.  I think the most important thing at this stage is to cultivate their love of learning...I want them to have a life-long love of learning!

So although we haven't done a lot of academics this year, I can really see how much the children have grown...they are happier, their imaginations have just EXPLODED (they don't watch TV anymore, which really helps!) and they are developing a real love for God and His Word!  One thing we do do (almost) every day is read aloud from our children's Bible (The Children's Bible in 365 stories...haha the children make me read about 10-15 days worth every day!) and I aim to read to them for 2 hours a day (okay, so I don't get there every day!).

We will be moving into more of a routine after Christmas and New Year's...at least that's the plan!  I aim to take my routines to the Lord (on a daily basis) and ask Him to guide our learning and life!  Anything that's not on His schedule for the day can go!!  I am just learning to hand over all areas of my life to the Lord Almighty...it's hard to let go, but I'm trying.

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