...We are going back to Aussie on Monday.  M'Honey is arriving Thursday night to pick us up.

So what have we been doing homeschooling wise??  Well the best part is that we've been back here and just seeing the country is a change for the kiddies, seeing the people, the different dynamics etc. etc.  And they are loving being with my mum and sister all the time.

We have been doing some bookwork, 'Merah and Gil Gway are coming along in leaps and bounds.  The kiddies have been going through all their videos and old dvds we had to leave behind.  The magic school bus videos have been the favourite, followed a close second by country mouse and city mouse, and the Peter Rabbit videos.

The great thing about homeschooling, is that, with a little moderation, you can basically carry on where ever you go.  We bought the main books with us, and just used what I had left here, which was a library load of books.

• We did alot of reading, started Five in a Row with the little kids and reading Winnie the Pooh at bedtime. 
• Decided that following a set reading schedule and timetable with specific pages assigned is definitely not for me.  Or Elise.
• Did carry on with the Sonlight readings at beginning, but we got stuck on Greece and have stayed in Western Europe for a while lol.  Sooo, we did a bit of reading on the Greek God's and legends, specifically Jason and the Golden Fleece.  We did a diorama based on when Jason gets the fleece of the tree guarded by the snake, which 'Lisey really enjoyed.  See below

Jason and Medea taking the golden fleece from the snake

• 'Lisey used a basic 'parts of a story' chart to plan a story.  ie Setting, Character, Plot, Conclusion.  Which I think help to organise her thoughts.  We are currently in the final draft phase, and 'Lisey is deciding what format she wants the book in, how she wants it illustrated etc.  All very exciting!
• She also had a math, break through just this week and she is now able to solve addition problems in her head.  For example 57 + 32, I had her say her working out, out aloud so her brain can hear as well as see what she is trying to work out, and it has worked wonders.  This is an enormous step forward, and she is finally starting to like maths again.  I couldn't stop her from doing her work today!!  At the rate she is going through her book we'll be on year 6 work by the end of the year (currently doing yr 4, but in school years should be yr 5)
• Have been using Calculadder with some success, and I definitely would recomend to others for drilling the basic facts.
• 'Merah at 5 is doing some addition sums also in her head, and absolutely adores numbers, I may have to do that maths course for myself sooner rather than later
• 'Merah and GG also are really enjoying five in a row.  We did The Story of Ping last week and are doing Madeline this week.   Their favourite part is getting to put the story disk onto the world map, now thats how to learn Geography! 
• We've done a bit of art, alot of playing outside and just running. 
• Went to the Stardome in One Tree Hill, Auckland for their seven wonders show, and the kiddles love it, my brother his partner, their kiddies, and some of his kids friends all went and we had a really worthwhile, enjoyable night, even my 5 and 3 yr old enjoyed the night.  It was the 9o'clock session, so quite late and aimed more at the adults, older children, but if the younger ones can keep quiet for 45 mins or so (Yeah RIGHT!!) then I'd recomend it for all ages.  After we had another film about the Mars landing that was coming up (has now landed), and then had a look at the moon through the telescope.  Combined with a pre show McDonalds stop the night was a complete success.
• Elise is now interested in all news reports, documentaries about the Mars landing, so guess what we're doing for the next few weeks in science?!, NOTE:  find out where the planetarium is in Sydney, you'd think I'd know by now, but I don't.
• We started English from the Roots up and are currently drilling 15 words, we learnt 5 a week.  For the next week we will concerntrate on these 15 drilling and testing, and at end of week will do a written test/exam which 'Lisey is looking forward to.

All in all the last 4 weeks has been very rewarding, busy, but rewarding.