the hedgehog's balloons.

the_cross_rabbit

The essay is finally finished and sent in (whoop, whoop). Was quite an interesting subject, looking at how infrastructure shapes the lives of its inhabitants. Only 2 more to go and then that will be it for the next 2 years until DD2 goes to college. Home schooling contiues to be going well. The school are being a bit naughty they've asked me to go in as there is some paperwork to complete. I now know from people on the home educators site that I don't have to have any contact with the school and the only paperwork I need to fill in will come from the LA. Lots of home eds parents have warned me that the school may be trying to encourage me to send her back in, DD2 would lynch me if I did she is so much happier now that she's not been rammed into a tiny round hole when she's a lovely big heart shape. However I'm going for several reasons,
1) you never know what the future will hold and we may need them to write a report etc.
2) Common courtesy
3) Interested to see what they have to say for themselves, wondering if they are panicing that we've left with the simple explanation of her constant tiredness is having a massive impact so will home educate. Although there are reasons linked to school that were the final straws that broke the camel's back.
DD2 doesn't want to come. 
Attempted to sort out some voluntary work with the local food bank and had arranged to meet someone yesterday at a local cafe. They didn't turn up, but after speaking to a couple of people in the cafe they said that he usually comes in on a Friday to pick food up. Rage walked the 40 minutes home, checked emails to check I'd not made a mistake. I'd not, so went down again to same cafe again today and the person picking stuff up didn't know anything about it so took my name and address. Was miffed but it turns out that the person I was supposed to meet sister had given birth yesterday, so I will demiff myself as think he had more important things to think about.
Been to get some shopping and people are panic buying para's and ibruf, so the hubbster will have to have calpol if he gets a headache. Plus I have a question so why are people buying anti bacterial spray and hand gel when its a virus or is it only when taking medication e.g. antibiotics will only clear up a bacterial infection that rule applies?
Tilly tidy of 12p
Positives of the last 48 hrs
1) essay finished
2) nice chat with random people in the community cafe
3) DD2 is happy
4) the sun is shining
5) have managed to find DD2 a perch stool so she can stand or sit when cooking.
Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine
CRx  

themadvix

No CR, you’re quite right re anti-bac... think a) people are stupid (these will be they who demand antibiotics for viruses...) and b) people are panicking....

Glad homeschool is still going well and well done for finishing the essay - it does sound interesting!

[Deleted User]

Sounds like the home schooling is going to be much more appropriate for dd2 😁 hopefully the reduction in stress will have a positive effect on both her mental and physical wellbeing 😉 
Make sure you get some time for you too though - make sure you treat it as a job and do set hours otherwise it could take over all your 'spare' time! 
Anti-bacterial hand-wash which has at least 60% alcohol is actually effective against most viruses (not norovirus or rhinovirus) and works against coronavirus as it's an 'envelope' virus - meaning it has a coating around it which the alcohol can attack, thereby eliminating the threat. 
Personally, I'm not using the stuff though - I honestly think that this is being massively blown out of proportion- but each to their own I guess 😉

the_cross_rabbit

Thanks for the info squirrelgirl, was wondering what the big fuss was all about. Knowledge is the key.
CRx

themadvix

I stand corrected, Squirrelgirl! Thanks for the explanation!

the_cross_rabbit

Its been 2 weeks since we started home schooling and so far is going fairly well, I think I'm starting to feel abit more confident in my approach. She's so far learnt her 6, 7 and 8 x tables off by heart, 9 is almost there and we've talked about how her brain secretly knows her 11 and 12's as they are part of the other tables she has learnt. We had a little go at them and she was chuffed to bits that she actually knows some of them. Such a simple adaptation to something she had built up to be huge in her head. I actually feel that my 15 years of experience of working with adults with learning disabilities is coming in to play, although need to shake some of the dust of other things i can use. She gave a power point demonstartion at the weekend to my dad etc on what she's done so far on her project. We've decided to do a growing my tea science project as well and will do a time lapse video of basil growing which my sister downloaded her an app  and she wants to set it to music. Its certainly turning into a learning processes for both of us. Well best go as lunch is now over and we have photos that need printing for her recipe book.
CRx

Looby_Lou

Home schooling sounds like it much the best thing for your daughter.  Our local college takes 14-16 year olds on vocational courses for one afternoon a week.  The kids end up with a qualification at the end of it, they can do animal care, health and beauty, catering, motor mechanics and a few others.  It really suits some kids and gives them a head start on deciding what they want to do eventually.  Would something like that help?

coldcazzie

Looby_Lou said:

Home schooling sounds like it much the best thing for your daughter.  Our local college takes 14-16 year olds on vocational courses for one afternoon a week.  The kids end up with a qualification at the end of it, they can do animal care, health and beauty, catering, motor mechanics and a few others.  It really suits some kids and gives them a head start on deciding what they want to do eventually.  Would something like that help?

There are usually some boxes you have to check for the ECT courses (the 14-16 provision that is available to home educated students) - namely that they do a GCSE at the same time as their vocational course, and that you've been "approved" by your LA in terms of the education you provide for your children. (I use approved in inverted commas because it's a bloody awful word AND  the LA don't have any say over your home ed provision; they don't even have the right to monitor you. Nevertheless, that is one of the hoops that is in place for many ECT courses, so it means ensuring a good relationship with your LA and making sure they think you're doing a good job.)

coldcazzie

Just finished reading your diary from start to finish @the_cross_rabbit and I am so glad you've joined the home ed community! Welcome Honestly, it's so freeing once you get past that initial "what are we doing/can I actually do this/what about socialisation/how much is too much or too little" bumpy start. We've been home edding nearly 8 years now, and we will NEVER go back to school, but we will be availing ourselves of the ECT courses at one of the local colleges for the younger two, who are 10 and 13; the eldest is 15 and moving into 16-18 provision in Sept.

Our kids probably do an hour or two per day of focused work stuff (the oldest does more than the others) and then all their regular groups - gymnastics, dance, science, writing, woodwork etc. Some of the groups we've attended over the years have been run by local businesses/community projects/museums and some are run by other home ed parents - eg the writing group is run by a parent who is a published author. We're not out every day (we'd be exhausted if we were) but we could be if we wanted - there's so much going on all the time.

themadvix

Hey CR, have been thinking of you. Hope all is well with you and you're all safe... you've been quiet lately. It seems you weren't the only one to embark on homeschooling this month! 

Take care x