As everyone who knows me knows, I like lists.

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I seem to have a plan, and a timetable for everything - and, although we rarely comple everything I will plan to on a certain day, it is very important to me to have that plan visible, so I can see what it is we're aiming for.

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With eight children all of 'school' age, it became quite a juggling act to fit everything in on our homeschool timetable, but, it's proving quite successful, and most things are actually being acheived!

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So, after hours of planning and re-arranging, here is our current timetable:

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*GTG = Galloping the Globe

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While we don't necessarily complete everything 'on time' or in the suggested order, this is 'THE PLAN' - and for the most part, it's working well thus far.

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We also have Literature in the evenings - currently, we're reading 'The Silver Chair'.  And, each child is expected to read one 'Classic' book, one Australiana book, and one Saint's book each term.

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Have a great day!

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Well, it was the first day of the new school term today, and we have begun our High School Latin course. 

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I feel like we've really achieved something - after so many years of chopping and changing as we searched for the 'right' resources for us, we finally found a Latin course we liked (Latina Christiana), and we have now completed the series.  So, we're moving right on into Henle Latin! 

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And, the little ones have begun Prima Latina, so it's Latin all round - Henle with the oldest four, and Prima Latina with the younger ones.

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One thing about working through a book the 2nd time around, you feel like you know a little about what you're doing! 

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Honestly, some days I feel like by the time I have this whole homeschooling thing figured out, my last child will be grown and gone - it's true what they say, it's a journey for all of us.

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Have a super day!

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On Sunday, we took some time-out to take a ride on a steam train, through the Pichie Richie pass, which is just over an hour's drive from our home.

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It was a marvellous afternoon, and we were blessed with wonderful weather for the trip.  All up, it lasted nearly three hours.

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Here's a photo I took from our window:

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It was great fun - certainly a 'different' way to spend the day!

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Well, it's been holiday time in our house - not that we went anywhere - the children have been ill, I've been ill as well, but, we're getting there!  We have had a nice break from the 'norm', though, and I've been able to attend to my oil paints once more.  Here's my latest painting, of our local natural springs:

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I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.  I'm continuing to enjoy oil painting, and I'm learning new things about it all the time.

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Keep smiling!

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The Springs are BACK!

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We paid a visit to our local springs on Tuesday - they had all but dried up after a whopping great flood did some major damage last year.  We have had some rain of late, and were delighted to find water in the springs - so much so, that it is almost back to its original level!

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The water is happily flowing from the springs to the rockpools, and we even found mini waterfalls along the way.  The birds were back, as were the frogs, the crickets - and the moss!

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I can't tell you the different place it is now to when we visited a few weeks ago - it's beautiful again - praise the Lord!

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Linda.

The Scene:  All eight children are sitting around the table, working at their own, individual workbooks.  Mum enters the room.......

Mum:  How's everything going? You all right, Jessica?

Jessica:  Yep, going fine!

Mum:  How about you, Emily?

Emily:  I'm fine!

Mum:  Lizzie?

Lizzie:  I'm doing OK

Mum:  And you, Aimee?

Aimee:  {sighs}  I want a biccie......

The children are back happy and healthy, meaning this week we really 'were' able to start school.

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We covered most subjects this week;  didn't get to music appreciation, and I only completed one lesson of science with the little ones instead of the three planned, but, we're off to quite a good start.

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I'm really impressed with our new history programme (The ABCs of Christian Culture), and thus far, it has been well received by the older children.  The younger children will be studying about Australia - we're pretty much writing the program as we go;  it will be in the same format as 'Australia, the Wide Brown Land for Me', but it will focus more on geography, landforms, animals and birds, etc.   We made a good start this week, working out the introductory lesson.

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And, we also returned to Little Athletics and tennis.  All were a little 'sluggish' after the holiday - but aren't we all??

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Oh, and the idea of having the older ones take care of their own checklists is working beautifully!  Each day, they phsically need to 'tick' off each lesson as they complete it;  and then tick again to say their books have been put away.  I'm already seeing that this is making them feel more responsible for their own lessons, and not once did I have 'oh, I forgot to do science...  or maths... or English....'  because it's all there, to be checked at the end of the day;  and they simply KNOW if it has not been done.

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So, we're off to a great start!

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Well, we're here.  The new school year has begun.  The books are handed out, the timetable is up on the wal, and today was marked as 'the day'.

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So, this morning (well, beginning last night, actually), my children began coming down with a tummy bug. 

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Currently, I have FIVE of my children lying around groaning, chucking, and all of that WONDERFUL stuff. 

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As well, I seem to have developed an in-grown toenail (ouch), so I'm hobbling around in bare feet, trying desperately not to whack it on any furniture as I escort little ones to the toilet, clean out bowls, offer a cuddle when needed, and such.

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One has to wonder if it's not some sort of conspiracy;  suddenly, on the 'return to school' day, we're all ill! 

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Ah, well;  I did read to them, and we did the 'introduction to history' cd - it's just a classic example of 'the best laid plans'.  I'm sure we'll get through it - and next week, NEXT week...........

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Well, here we are;  nearing the end of January, and school begins next week!       

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I 'think' I'm ready for this juggling act - 8 children, all of school age this year!  But, my older ones are quite independent, so it does make things easier.

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Some of the resources we'll be using are:

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Signpost Maths (Gr K-6), or Teaching Textbooks (gr 7+)

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Voyages in Phonics

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Phonics is Fun Workbooks

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Voyages in Language and Literature, and then 'English for Australian Schools' (gr 8+)

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10 year old to also do 'Student Writing Intensive, Level A'

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The Phonetic Zoo or Essential Spelling List (some of my children enjoy the first, others prefer the latter)

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Catholic Mosaic combined with St. Joseph's Catechism

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The ABCs of Christian Culture (with the 4 oldest children), combined with

Teaching Writing, Structure & Style (IEW), and also

Ancient History Based Writing Lessons.

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Galloping the Globe (with the 4 younger ones)

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Language is going to be interesting!  We're finishing up Latina Christiana 2, and then moving onto Henle Latin.

But....  my oldest daughter wants to learn French, so she plans to begin 'First Start French' as well,

AND...  my youngest 4 want to learn Spanish.  I have this Spanish prgramme called 'Puertas Abiertas (Open Doors) Spanish Kit', which we've had for a while, so we'll begin with that.  I'd rather have begun 'Prima Latina' with them, but well, they have an interest in Spanish (thanks to Dora the Explorer!), so we'll see how it goes.  We may go through this one programme (about 20 weeks worth, maybe), and then move onto Prima Latina.

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Science will be Dinah Zikes 'The World of Insects and Arachnids', and the older ones will be doing Apologia, Physical Science.  My son, who is around grade 7, will be using 'Science For Young Catholics', from Seton.

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I'll also set them each a reading list for literature;  maybe four books a term, and I'll be reading to them in the evenings, also.  Hopefully we'll finish up the Narnia series, and "John of Sydney Cove" & "John and Nambaree".

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Art and Music will be a combination of things;  How Great Thou Art Workbooks, Meet the Great Composers, Colour the Classics, and so forth.

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And no doubt there's a host of other things I forgot to mention;  I keep trying to cut back, but there's just so many good resources out there!

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God bless,

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We live near a natural spring - or at least we used to.

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Last November, our area experienced two floods - the first was very severe, followed by another, less severe, but still we had a good 'drenching'.

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It seems the effects will be long-lasting.  Yesterday, we took a visit to our local springs, and were dismayed and shocked at what we found.

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Here's a photo taken of the springs in flood.  This is the second flood, and you can see where the level of the first flood was, by the twigs and leaves lodged in the tree in the foreground.

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Now, here's a photo of the same springs, taken yesterday, 13 of Jan 2008 -  two months after the floods.

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That's the same tree on the left;  but this shot is taken from the opposite direction.  You can see the line on the rocks where it changed colour;  this line is where the water level of the springs has been for as long as I can remember - the springs are gone!  There's only a small amount of water left in the bottom, and it seems that it is slowly evaporating.

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I'm not a naturalist, so I don't know exacty how these things happen, or whether the springs will somehow restore themselves, but it is very sad to see.  These springs are the life-source for a host of plants, birds and animals.

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Here is one more photo, which was taken in April, 2005.  The children are on the very rock that was pictured in the photo above, showing the previous water line.  You can see how calm the water was, how the reeds grew, and now we can see just how deep the water used to be.

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It's so amazing how a flood can change a landscape so much.

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So there you are…  zooming along life’s highway.  Things are mostly going fine – good days, some bad days, and then it hits.  Like a ton of bricks, it smacks you down with a vengeance.  You realise with horror that you have just turned forty.  Ack!  Half way to eighty!

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So you think;  ‘Well, it’s only half-way – I’m still young, really”.  You try to convince yourself of that, but don’t really succeed.  What ever happened to twenty-one?  Gone.  Gone forever.

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I look around, at the things that make up ‘my’ life.  I’ve not done too badly, really.  Sure, we don’t own our own home, but we don’t have any loans with a bank, either. We own whatever we have, including our vehicles.  We have eight beautiful, happy children, who are fast turning into teenagers (and by the way, nobody told me ‘forty’ also meant dealing with horrid teenagers – one side-effect they neglected to mention).  But, life is pretty much OK.

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Mind you, there are the health issues.  After those eight babies and the forty years, the body simply doesn’t ‘go’ like it used to. I’m tired, the muscles ache and groan, and I carry around far too much weight. And try as I might, it just won’t seem to go away.  The doctor has me on various medications for a number of ‘things’ – and all of these were prescribed in the last year.  Not to mention the grey hair; man!  You’re zooming along just fine, and then it’s one, two, three; FORTY grey hairs!  No fair – they could have waited, just a little while longer.

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They say ‘life begins and forty’.  I hope they’re right.  For me, I’d just love to make it through one bush dance without collapsing.  I have, however, made it through all the nappies, and all the screaming toddlers.  The children are older, and while it terrifies me in once sense (time with them is running out), it’s also allowing me the freedom to pursue some of my own interests, like art, especially oil painting.

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So often in my life, I’ve quoted the line from ‘When Harry Met Sally’: 
“And I’m gonna be FORTY!”  
“When?”  Harry asks.
“Some day!”  sobs Sally.

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Well, so much for ‘some’ day.  Here it is – I AM forty.  I tried to avoid it, to deny it, and just to ignore it.  But it happened anyway, darn it all.  When I turned thirty, I spent the day in tears.  No tears today, although I am trembling a little; more from fear this time – I see why people go through a mid-life crisis! 

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Ah, well – it comes to all of us, I guess.  Unless you’re dead, of course.  And when you look at it like that, I’d rather be forty.  I’m still young enough to have dreams, plans and goals.  I’m still young enough to loose that weight and increase my fitness.  I’m still young enough to laugh and enjoy life.  And by golly gosh, that’s just what I’m going to do.

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Linda Maher
12 January 2008

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Just after Christmas, we packed our bags and headed for Melbourne.  We had a wonderful time, catching up with other homeschoolers, and also with dear hubby's family from all over Australia;  as his mother now lives in Melbourne, it has become the 'meeting place' for the family once a year.

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On our way home, we visited Sovereign Hill, near Ballarat, where they have a tourist village set up to remember the 'Gold Rush' days of Victoria.  We panned for gold, went 'back to school', and took a ride on an old, horse-drawn wagon.

(Panning for Gold)

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(Back to School)

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Then, we visited a wildlife park, where we were followed around by deer and kangaroos - it was just lovely!  Kind-of gave one the 'Snow White' feel, really - although I suspect the animals were really only interested in the little bags of animal food we were carrying with us!

(patting a kangaroo)

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All in all, it was a wonderful trip, and we are now glad to be home safely again.

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God bless,

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Well, it's another New Year.  We're just back from tripping over to Melbourne to visit family - as soon as I'm organised, I'll post some holiday snapshots;  we did quite a lot on our travels!

I'm still oil painting;  seem to have caught the bug, and I find it a very relaxing pastime.

I'm playing with a web-site to showcase my work thus far, you can view it at:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~billlinda/

Certainly a work in progress;  I hope to add more during the year.

God bless,

Today marked the official 'end' of our school year for 2007.

My little munchkins are growing so fast!  We've now homeschooled for eleven years, and yet, I still remember that first year so clearly - how time flies.

I now have three teenagers in the house;  and, at the opposite end of the scale, three at the 'learn-to-read' stage!  So, it's quite a challenge at present, but, we're making good progress.

I guess it's good to take a break, but I'm a bit saddened this year that we have finished - however, I have a couple of new resources to use next year, so I'm looking forward to that.  Also, I just found out my iron levels are very low;  the blood tests showed them at a level of 8, when they 'should' be somewhere between 11 and 15!  At least I can take a few weeks to take a break, rest, and take the time to ensure I'm eating right.

Christmas is now less than two weeks away - we're having a quiet one this year, and I think we're almost organised.  After, we may take a trip interstate to visit the relatives - the children love to visit their cousins, as well as the water-park, aquarium, and all the other exciting 'things to do' that Melbourne has to offer.

For now though, I can actually take some time to get this house clean!  I find with homeschooling that this is the one area that really suffers - so, we have our schedule made out - a couple of rooms each day, and working all together, we'll have it done in a week. (Well, that's the plan, anyhow!)

I hope you have a blessed Christmas, and that the hussle and bussle of it all does not get too much - don't forget to remember 'the reason for the season'.

God bless,

Linda.

Well, the end of the year is looming...  mostly, this has been a successful year with our homeschooling - which has been wonderful!

I now find myself planning for the new year...  figuring out what we'll continue to use, what new resources we'll use, and what to let go.

Mostly, things will stay the same, although, I've decided it is time to give my older three a little more responsibility, and to encourage them to take more control with their own education.

Currently, I keep a 'record book', where I write down everything that each  child does in their day, and I ensure that all schoolwork has been completed.  But next year, I've decided the older three will have their own record books;  and they will responsible to push themselves.  I will still set their work, and they will have a certain amount to complete each week;  but it is their responsibility to ensure that the work is completed.  I'll still keep a check on it all, and mark the work, of course, but it's a step towards independence, as they are now all teenagers.

Hopefully, this will also allow me more time to concentrate on the younger ones;  it has proved a 'bit' of a challenge this year, fitting in all the lessons!  We will still study History together, and have shared Latin classes, but the rest will be mostly 'independant learning' for my 7th graders and up.

I hope your year has also been a success - God bless,

There is a famous Australian poem, written by Dorothea Mackellar, entitled:  'My Country'.

Part of one verse reads:

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains

of ragged mountain ranges,

of droughts and pouring rains.....

Well, it certainly is!  All of this year, we have prayed desperately for rain - there have been prayer meetings in our community like never before;  and it has been a trying time, and yet, a time where our small community seemed somehow joined in our prayers.

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, the heavens opened - and did it pour!   We received in one hour several months worth of water for our property - and as we run  ONLY on rainwater tanks - it was a welcome relief!  The creeks in our area came down like nothing I have ever seen - the local natural springs completely overflowed, covering not only the roadway in the picnic grounds, but went right up into the picnic grounds as well - it was incredible!

Amazingly, though - just two days later, we were able to drive down to the springs, and only stare in wonderment at the altered landscape - and stand next to the trees along the banks:  when the flood came, if I had stood in the same spot, the water would have covered my head!  The water came, and left just as fast - and today, as I drove along our road, a cloud of dust sprang up behind me - the road is THAT dry, after only a couple of days!

Still, the tanks have water, and many of the surrounding dams are full and overflowing, and we are very, very thankful.

Sadly, many farmers in the area has just begun reaping, so there was much crop damage;  we continue to pray for those farmers who are really having a tough year all round.  One local farmer had just finished putting up new fences - and they were completely swept away.

I'm still in awe at the power and suddeness of the downpour, and we continue to hear amazing stories - caravan parks that had to be evacuated, flooded houses, and so forth.

Amazing times we live in, eh?

It's so hard to believe another year is almost over! 

We're (mostly) back on our feet, although headaches and weakness still persists somewhat;  still, we did start back at school this past week.

This year, I feel we have really settled in with several resources, which over time, have become our 'favourites'.  Some of these books are:

Signpost Maths (an Australian Maths programme)

Teaching Textbooks for grades 8 and up

Prima Latina / Latina Christiana

Memoria Press Copy Books

Voyages in Phonics

Phonics is Fun Workbooks

Voyages in Literature

Institute for Excellence in Writing - we've used the SWI B course, TWISS, and this year have used 'Medieval-Based Writing Lessons'.  This programme has truly had a real impact on us.

The Phonetic Zoo - has been excellent for my 15 year old especially, who is a very 'hands-on' learner.

Catholic Mosaic

Story of the World series with Activity Books

God's Design Science

Apologia Science for High School

Galloping the Globe

How to Use Child-Size Masterpieces for Art Appreciation

Color the Classics

Meet the Great Composers

Critical Thinking Co - Mind Benders

Critial Thinking Co - Building Thinking Skills

I'm sure there are more, but these are some of the absolute favourites - ones that I simply would not be without.  Beginning in January, we will also beging the 'ABCs of Christian Culture' - a programme I have newly discovered for history.  After months of research (as we homeschool Mums do!), I've found it to be exactly what I was after, so, we hope it is!  Time will tell.

It's only taken ten years - but I feel like we're 'in our stride' right now - I feel more confident, and have more knowledge about what 'is' and 'isn't' important.  Still, there is so much more to learn, and I'm often left struggling with those very same issues.  Sometimes I think it's a pity we can't go back and start all again - with all the knowledge and experience we have gained over the years.  Ah, well - good thing our children love us, faults and all!

There are times, like the past couple of weeks, when I really, really, appreciate the flexibility of homeschooling.

We have been so ill these past 2 or 3 weeks - with high temperatures, flu-like symptoms, and just, well - weak, absolutely no energy.  It's taken so long for me to be back on my feet, let alone being able to cope with a house full of sick children - wow!  Things sure have been challenging here.

But, it also does make me appreciate the flexibility of homeschooling - we are able to take the time out to simply 'get by', and do only what 'has' to be done.  Now that we are all recovering, we've also been able to take a couple of days to simply relax, and take the time to simply watch some television or whatever, and catch our breath.

Hopefully, we're now over the worst of it - I'm pretty much exhausted from it all, but we were back at 'school' today, so we shall see how we cope with the rest of the week.  There is, of course, a lot to catch up on - housework, bookwork, emails, etc. - but, slowly and surely, we'll get there!   I hope to write some more soon, once things are caught up somewhat.

God bless,

One thing that has always helped me along my homeschool journey was to see how others actually 'do' their homeschooling.  What resources do they 'really' use?  And what sort of timetable to they adhere to?

So, with that in mind, here's our current 'plan'.  We dont' always stick to it - in fact, it's quite a rare day when everything gets done, but it is our plan, our goal, and over the years, we've found this programme to work the best for us.

  8.30 - 'Move to Learn' exercises (activities to help with learning difficulties - rolling, etc.)

  9.00 - Latin

  9.30 - Morning prayers and worship (with a little help from Pay TV)

10.00 - Maths & Arithmetic Drill

10.40 - Building Thinking Skills

11.00 - English

11.30 - Spelling

11.45 - Poetry

12.00 - Science

12.30 - Writing

  1.00 - Lunch

  2.00 - Religion

  2.30 - History

  3.00 - Art / Art Appreciation / Music Theory / or Music Appreciation (one each day).

  3.30 - Done, but some silent reading is expected during the later afternoon.

NOTE:  During the 10.00 - 12.00 period, the older children work mostly independently, while the younger children work with me, doing Phonics, Maths, Reading, and perhaps some Art.

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On Wednesdays, the morning timetable is the same, but the afternoon is spent on Art and Computer Studies, leaving me free to take a 'coffee break' with a neighbour.

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I also try to spend some time around 6.30pm reading aloud to all the children - we're still working on the regularity of this one!

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And there's our basic timetable - in summer, we also fit in athletics, tennis and swimming.

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I'll post some of our favourite resources next time.

My hubby has just discovered in our house a paper with a 'quiz' included - one of the questions was:  

'Which fictional detective lived at 221B Baker St, London?'

One of my children, obviously proud to know show off their knowledge, has written in the answer:

'Basil' 

(As in Basil - the Great Mouse Detective)!

Oh, dear - I seriously think we need to do some more Literature studies in this house!