Friday, November 24, 2017

Term Four: Week Seven ~ Registration and Child Led Learning

I was very light on the photographs this week - but there was a valid reason for that.
Because we live in NSW, we have to register with the Department of Education to inform them of our plan to homeschool.  In our history of homeschooling we have ALWAYS achieved a two-year registration period (the longest you can have) so it is really no drama.
For my readers who may not know the process, every two years, you must send a form to the Department of Education to either initially register, or to renew your registration. This year I sent in an initial registration form for Munchkin (as he turns 6 next year) and renewal forms for both Monkey and Monster. Once you have sent in your form, the Department of Education sends out an "Authorized Person" to do a "home check". This person is generally a retired principal, and their job is simply to make sure that you have a plan that is based on the national curriculum, a suitable place for the child(ren) to study (the dining room table is sufficient) and access to adequate resources (either in the home or through the local library or in our case, both).
Our AP is ABSOLUTELY wonderful. She adores the boys, is extremely understanding or and supportive of homeschooling, and recognizes that learning at home is MUCH different than learning in a school environment.  
Our AP stayed for an HOUR this time, but that was mainly my fault as I had a million questions for her to make sure that I planned adequately for Monster to officially begin high school next year - though in reality he has been doing plenty of high school level work already this year.  She was EXTREMELY pleased to see the improvement in Monkey and Monster's writing over the previous two years and she is already looking forward to the learning they will do in the next two years.
Now, with all that said... on to the few photographs I did manage to take this week.


As I spent the week getting resources ready for our Department of Education home visit (which was Thursday morning) and also continued to push through maths with Monster, the Munchkin found many ways to learn during the week.  First he set up his own water measuring experiment in the kitchen.  He wasn't particularly accurate... real scientists would cringe... but I was thrilled to see his excitement and initiative. 

Then he spent some more time during the week creating his own puppets for a puppet show.  He drew the pictures, cut them out, and glued them to paddle pop sticks. 

Meanwhile Monster and Monkey have found a new obsession... origami! We found some WONDERFUL books at the library that are Star Wars origami books (nothing like combining two passions/obsessions) and the boys have been going crazy.  I am still learning how to manage the paper storm it creates... but I love their creativity and enthusiasm. 

My usual (though not very good) photo of my set up for our registration visit. I basically put all our resources from last year on the left-hand side of the table, this year's work in the middle, and the books I've already prepared for next year on the right.  Our AP spent a bit of time looking through the boys completed work and complimenting them on the wonderful learning they have been doing.  I always get just a little bit nervous about our registration visits, but really I shouldn't, because I KNOW we are doing a good job. Now if I could only convince our AP not to retire until Munchkin finishes school!!!! 

 We didn't get much reading done this week... 
Monster and I did finish another government book though. We both agree that there is so much information in each book that our brains nearly explode, but we ARE learning and it IS interesting.  We hope to finish up our government unit over the summer holidays!!

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Term Four: Week Six ~ Science Excursion

An exciting week for us!
Our besties are back in town for a few weeks so we ditched school and had a science excursion in the city... spending the day at The Powerhouse Museum.

Waiting for the train to arrive... 

 I tried to get a good photo of Munchkin and his bestie.... BUT this happened!!

The boys and I had NEVER seen this clock before... our friend's pointed it out to us! It has some pretty impressive historical significance. 





Another space we had never seen before... and we had it completely to ourselves since we stayed until closing.  There were a couple of school groups there but they left after lunch.  We arrived at lunch time, so perfect for having the whole museum to ourselves!! 

The older crew enjoyed folding origami hearts and skulls. 

Munchkin and his bestie took turns putting together the skeleton puzzle. 

 Life size Operation game... SO COOL!!

 We are keen to go back to The Powerhouse Museum to have a closer look at Project Baxter. But by this time we were seriously crunched for time.

I love the look on Monkey's face in this photo... all three of my boys LOVE this experiment. 

Having to pedal to light up the lights on the fire engine is ALWAYS popular with my boys. Munchkin is just about tall enough to get it moving himself now. 



It took them awhile, but the boys finally figured out they needed to work together to get the arch built. Again, something that would have been more enjoyable if we had more time. 

Monster and I finished these books during our evening read aloud time. 

 Monkey and I finished another Series of Unfortunate Events book...

A fun lunch time read aloud... 





Munchkin's read aloud selections for the week.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Term Four: Week Five ~ Halfway There

Back to the grind!
We can't quite believe that our last term of the year is half over.
Where has the time gone?


Munchkin still LOVES his maths.
He is going at a bit slower pace now, as the concepts are getting more difficult, but he still does pages and pages a day if I let him. 

 Monkey worked hard on his math and his writing paragraph this week.

Only photo I took of Monster this week... working away at another math unit. 





 Munchkin's selection of picture books... some read during the day and some were his bedtime selections.


 We did some science and technology reading at lunch times this week.

Monkey has discovered the Horrible Science books at the library! 

 More lunch time reading selections ~ I decided we needed to get some of our library books read before the term ends.

 Final read aloud selections of Munchkin's.