Subject: English 2009

Name: Term:One

Key: FIAR = Five in a row, Son = Sonlight PK, W = Week

Seems alot of prep and sometimes I don't end up doing anything that is on the timetable, but for me I need to see where I am going in order to get there.  Nothing we are doing is set in stone, it is just a guideline for me.

I haven't tried being this 'organised' before, I usually prepare work weekly, and it sure is alot of work, but I think to do the work now before the year begins saves me alot of heart ache later, like not preparing the weekend before and thus not doing hardly any work for a week!!!  Plus we have a big year and organising our time is going to pay of in the long run.

I have Goals for each subject for the year, chosen books or other sources of info, and broken in down into weekly bits, As I use alot of American type curriculum that uses  35 week time table I'd just use the remaining 5 weeks through the year to catch up, extra projects etc.

After the quarter planners are filled out I transfer the work required for the term to a checklist (also available on Donna Young.org ) the checklist is just a list of work that needs to be completed daily/weekly etc., ie. handwriting, spelling, reading, math workbook,  bible narration etc. and you put a little tick each day that you do your work.  It is handy in that you don't have to keep turning pages back and forth minute of the day to see what you have to cover!  Thanks Donna. 

Well getting back to work.

•  petrol is at an all time high,
• consequently food prices are going up,
• owning our own house is out of the questin for now,
• the car registration is expensive and you have to jump through hoops to get the pre applications papers for it,
• its the middle of winter and realitvely cold,
• We've moved again
• The house is always a mess with 4 kids playing inside and out.
  
• We had to drop two of our homeschooling classes due to the move, missing too much of the term and getting use to looking after my nephew all day.
  
• my honey lost the keys to his fathers car and we found it on our car windscreen(???) 3 days later, of course it rained during those 3 days and now the 'beepbeep' on the key doesn't disarm the immobiliser on the engine, so we have to get an auto electrician to come our tomorrow and redo the key another $2oo plus on that,

• We've carried on homeschooling without too much interruption
  
• Merah's dance lessons have picked up where we left them
• Liseys netball is getting better
• We got a refund from an overpayment of a loan! 
  
• We cleared out all our paid storage and got refunds.
  
• We moved!!  And the kids are in a room of their own and they love it.  Oh did I mention we all used to live in one room where we last lived.
• The weather, even though freezing, is sunny outside and the wind, which makes it cold is drying our clothes in a day instead of 3.
• Im doing the 30 day challenge, which could lead to me finding a niche to market online and mabey make some money.
• I'm enjoying our homeschooling and having my kiddies with me all day, and we have set a clean up time (although it took the youngest 2hrs to do yesterdays cleanup, there was alot of laughing!!)
  
• Looking after my nephew is not too bad, he gets dropped of at 4:30am goes straight back to sleep, has a reasonable sleep in the day time, and is learning to crawl better everyday.  his daddy and mummy also said he doesn't wriggle around when he's being fed anymore, since he came to me which sounds like a compliment to me.

...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.

...well, the question is where are we now, before I can tell you where we are going!!

A few weeks ago my mother-in-law died of cancer, the whole family came back to New Zealand, but have now gone back to Australia.  Me and the kids though are still in New Zealand.  We are having an extended holiday and taking care of a few loose ends.  Namely the stuff we had in storage!

What are we doing:  Garage sale, online homeschool second hand curriculum site, giving some away, and Online Auction site, rest is just rubbish you know the papers, curriculum catalogues, screeds of stuff printed of the computer for later use, normal household papers etc. etc. etc.!!  Big job, but am getting through it.

Now amazingly, while I'm doing all this, the kids are doing MORE homeschooling than Ive managed most days when there is nothing else??  We have even started learning Greek and Latin root words while here.  'Merah is actually doing reading or I should say alphabet recognition.  They even do work at night.  We've done crafts, started a diorama of Jason and the Golden Fleece.  'Lisey is writing and she wants to.  As I talk 'Lisey is doing her drills that we missed today (went to the cemetery (or urupa) to their nana's grave to take flowers for a late mother's day visit)

I bought a minimum amount of stuff when we came over, just the main books we are using, some story books and the geography songs cd recorded onto the ipod.  But we are supplementing with books we have here, and doing quite well.   Luckily we have an abundance of books in both countries!!

So we are here, having fun, visiting friends and family, getting rid of stuff and hopefully blessing someone else with our stuff.  Learning alot and staying in touch with our roots.

It's all good

...haha, all those worries for nothing, first class of homeschool gymnastics yesterday, 'Lisey got there and really didn't want to go into the class, but I made her lol!  and she loved it, got to the car afterwards and she goes 'see I told you I'd like it mum' ggggrrrrr.  Made two new friends as well as one girl she'd already met.

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'Merah on the other hand as soon as her sister had second thoughts she walked out the door and wouldn't go in.  I had to sit in the class with her.  All through the lesson she was going, 'That's easy, I can do that, That's easy..'  I said 'I don't know if you can do those things, you aren't out there for me to see you.'  I think next time she will join in ... I hope!

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My son will not be joining in, he's unable to follow instructions yet, and would prefer to run around in circles, drink water and complain that he wants to go home!  I did take stuff for him to do next time we'll actually do it so we start a sort of routine for him, you know at gymnastics he does his preschool workbook or I read to him etc.

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Thats all, no pictures, I'll wait until I get to know the families better, in this day and age you need to ask permission before taking pictures of your child in a class just incase the other parents object!!  I know, if only that (unspoken) rule was in place when I was young, would have saved me from all those really embarrassing 'and this is my baby when she was 6, in her homemade recycled hat made from soft drink bottles, garbage bags, and milkbottle tops, at the school fashion parade'!!!!!

...Socialisation, I know I should be taking the kids out more to meet other kids, I'm fairly antisocial myself, which isn't good!, although not in a bad way, I just sometime prefer to stay at home instead of the endless rounds of extracurricular activities.  I'm not really a people person, not to say I'm nasty or unfriendly just not the social butterfly that I should be when homeschooling children!

HS activities haven't officially started yet, some social events have, but since we've been househunting we haven't got there yet.  Next week, Monday, we start gymnastics for the two girls, and the following week we start classical art classes.  I'm thinking of either doing the social get together on the Thursday, at a park, or the social get together at the pools on the Friday. 

Honestly, I don't know how some of you people do this, all these activities and the book work type stuff on top of that.  I am feeling a little overwhelmed, as you do, you know, am I doing the right thing or am I socially ruining my children.  I do know they can hold their own with other kiddies, and they get on great with all the extended family we have round here, but I still think I should be doing more. 

I'll see how next week goes and then mabey I'll realise I was just making a big deal about nothing, or mabey not!?  You'll just have to wait and see...

...very sunny today, cool in the shade though!  I promised the kiddles we'd go because we had two house viewings today early on.  So we picked up their aunty, got some hot chips, a greek salad and some fettucine and had lunch at the park,  I know not exactly healthy, but we have been really good. 

'Lisey packs the lunch boxes in the mornings,  but she didn't have time this morning, usually she has cheese and rice crackers, whatever fruit we have in the fruit bowl, a sandwich of some description, and a bottle of water.

When we got home a package was waiting for me, my digital camera that I'd won on Ebay for $31 delivered!  So you'll see alot more pictures on here.

These are the first three:

Just posing 

Posing and eating lollies

an iceblock for a hot day

...In NSW Australia where we live, each child of school age gets $50 to help with books, uniforms etc.  I mean $50 is $50 dollars better than nothing sometimes!!  So as 'Lisey is registered and 'Merah turned 5 last year I applied for both and we got a $100 cheque that I banked yesterday.

Yesterday

'Lisey is starting to think she's missing out going to school because all her cousins get new school bags and lunch boxes, pencil cases and she misses that.  So we went out yesterday, and did their 'school' shopping, I let them do their own choosing, and we added up their purchases, to make sure they were under their alloted amount.  Each girl got a lunch bag, (apparently they are packing separate lunches when we go to HSchool activities)  felts, pencils, etc. etc. all the new things little kiddies like to have.  Of course we already have all their stationary at home so really nothing was needed, but I think sometimes you need to feel you have something of your own, don't we all.

Today

Anyway today everyone had all their stuff set out, on my new couches!!   So I marched them quick smart to the dining room table and explained that NO stationary/felt pens etc. was to make its way to my light coloured couches in this lifetime or the next!!  With our rules set out the kiddies excitedly got down to teaching themselves. 

While I was getting books, 'Lisey started teaching the other two how to spell.  When I came back each little child had their own letter 'A' that they were colouring in, and 'Lisey was proceeding to teach them how to spell the words in her spelling book.

What they did

However I soon took control again as she would have loved to just sit there all day being a teacher and colouring in.  Lisey did her spelling, maths and reading, Merah had her reading done and maths matching game and workbook.  all before 1.00pm, oh did I mention we woke up at 10.30.  Late night last night.

Sonlight

Then we did our Sonlight reading: starting with Window on the World about Iraq.  We were all done by about 1.30 had lunch and I decided to do a deep clean out of the bathroom, you know bleach the grout in the tiles, scrub the floor that sort of thing. 

So that was the end of school for the day.  Short and sweet.  No one got bored, and really they are still running around now playing with their pencils and papers, cutting things, 'Merah is doing her Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons without me, she's quite independent lately.

I didn't want to overwhelm on the first day we did just have 6 weeks of holiday!  We played games, cleaned up, had lots to eat, bit of study, had fun.

...I feel funny, its the beginnning of a new school year next week, (southern hemisphere), and I am almost completely organised! 

OK so we technically havent got a house to call our own yet, but we are 95% packed ready to go, just need some of the houses we are applying for to come through.

I also have a plan, (you know that thing you write on a paper, on the computer, or on your blog in cyberspace, and then never look at again?!), except this time I am constantly referring to it,

NO. 1 rule ALWAYS check your plans on a regular even daily basis.

• helps you keep in touch with what your original goal was, and not get sidetracked
• helps you to see if your plans have changed and you need to make a new one

What our general plans include:

1. What room each packed box goes into, what is in each box, where the most important papers, remotes haha!, Nintendo Wii, homeschool books to start the year etc., are.
2. I know what areas of the house to set up first and the important boxes to unpack in each room.
3. We have our homeschool planned out not to the second, but so I am able to comfortably make it work without stressing.  And as I said before, I've got each box marked so I know exactly where the books are.  Its a good idea to pack all HS books to be used first term, into one box for each child, that way you just grab the box and everything is at your fingertips.
4. Just so you don't have to dig through the pile of boxes you've just packed, not only do I write, generally, what is in the box, I also write BOX 1, BOX 2, etc. on each box, and itemise what it contains in a separate excersise book or notepad.  especially helpful for your hs books, first aid kit, dvd, cds computer effects etc., remotes!! 

For example:

p 1 of 2           BOX 1       'Lisey's term one books     STUDY/SUNROOM

• timestable song cd
• maths book, term one
• Abeka science book and answers
• HS&IE book
• blah, blah, blah!

I know how many pages of items I should have, I know what box they are  in, I know what is in the box and I know what room it is going to once we move.

Well that's about it, fairly simple, but simple works for me, I feel calmer because I'm organised, and using a system that works for me.  Who would have thought that plans really do work , you just have to actually follow them!!

Luv and hugs world

...I didn't really plan to do any trips this holidays.  We did go with friends and families to the Blue mountains just west of Sydney, which was beautiful, we saw the three sisters and 'Lisey related to everyone the story (which we had read) of the three sisters.

We took the kids to the beach New Years day and just sat in the cooling water, its amazing how cool the sea can be even when the rest of the beach sizzles your feet if you try to walk bare foot.

We always go over to my sista in laws house so they can play with their cousins, and jump on the tramp, thanks to Unca Jardy, and thanks to Unca BJ they've been getting alternate excersise on the Nintendo Wii.

This week I've made an extra effort and tried to take them out to the park everyday or so, just to get them out of the house, Im pretty much on the phone most of the time looking for houses, and the rest we are out looking at houses!  so they enjoy just the time away from home.  We sometimes have a snack to eat and then I go home for a rest ( the Aussie heat sometimes gets to me)

The paddling pool is up in the yard, for a little while, but I think we might make an effort to go to the pools sometime this week.  We also are going to start HSchooling tomorrow, as the kids and I are wanting to get stuck in to this years stuff.  Imagine, me saying I want to start school!  I do however need to unpack a bit to get to some of the books, but we'll just do a small amount just to get back into it.  (For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, these are our Summer holidays so we have about 6 weeks off.)

The holidays have been slow, but the children have enjoyed themselves, very rarely asking to go anywhere, but just enjoying getting outside and making fun for themselves.  This holidays has helped me to decide one thing, unschooling will definitely be left to be enjoyed for the whole of the holiday period!   I do really like the fact that my kiddles can learn, play and entertain themselves and any little friends that come along.  But planning the HSchool is definitely for me.

...The Three P's

Praying for the house we need to find us soon!

Planning my girls school this year.

Packing the outside toys, balls, skipping ropes, skateboards, you know!

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I'm getting itchy feet now, I need to find a house, and I'm trying very hard to leave it up to the Almighty to find us the right house, but its so hard not to worry.  We went to see a house today, way too expensive, but the outside was so established it was almost a jungle, I could see the potential, and I loved the garden, overgrown as it was, but it just had way too much against it, including my husband , children, and sister in law!!!

Mabey next weekl

...Hope everyone finds something to be thankful for in the past year.

I know I'm thankful that we decided to come to Australia, and that we made it safetly.

I am thankful that all my family made it through the year without any major trauma, bar the cancer news.

I am thankful that we are finally able to be able to look at buying our own home.

I am thankful for my husband and my children.

I am thankful for the internet, skype and all technology that makes it possible for us to keep in contact with each other worldwide.

I am thankful for friends where ever they may be, and may the lord bless them this new year.

I am thankful that God led me to homeschool my children, and may he bless us in this coming year.

For all these things and more I am truly grateful.

...Well, well, well, its been a long time since I posted, but I think I might make it regular now.

Where to start:

1. My mother in law has lung cancer
2. It hasn't been easy, we are staying with them.  I know this sounds awful, but I want to move out, I don't think I can put the amount of time into my kiddies I want to if I remain here.  Its not all bad, she has a daughter living with us also and a daughter in law just down the road, so we should all be able to take turns.
3. We have homeschool just barely, but still made some great strides this term.
4. Had our second NSWbos review for the year and this time she gave me a 2 year HS certificate?? She was actually impressed with the work Elise has done.  Will put up some photos of the Lapbooks she looked at, thought they were a great idea, she thought it was something I made up myself!! I did set her right though, told her alot of HSers use them.  Obviously not many people are showing their lapbooks to the officials, do, theyll love them!
5. 'Lise started a new classical art class this term and loved it!  She has a natural talent I think, or mabey she is just the hands on type, but she does enjoy the creative stuff.  Painted pictures for her nana.  Is looking forward to next year because she wants to paint pictures for everyone.
6. Went to the Wildlife park on Darling Harbour to finish the Vertebrates Unit for Science, which went well, we caught the bus into the city, and the three of them got to see koalas close up for the first time.  The harbour is great, heaps of stuff to see and do, we're taking a trip to the Maritime Museum at some stage, and a trip on the little train.
7. Finally found a maths curriculum that 'lise responses to.  I purchased the Kookuburra Maths workbook 4 from the bookshop for next year, and I was having a look at it, Elise saw it and wanted to have a go and she hasn't stopped since.  Its just a colourful workbook, with lots of hands on stuff to do, I think she may finish it before next year even starts. 
8. We also have a book on how to calculate times tables into large numbers, easily, workbook also but black and white,  will do for drill.
9. Also getting alot of Maths type games, for practice:

• Monopoly
• Clue junior
• Chinese checkers
• checkers
• Pack of cards (can make up lots of games with a pack of cards)
• Uno

Thats the short version.  Will add pictures when I can find the camera connection!