Our home education - part 1

Some changes in the home educating front.

I’ve started this blog post so many times but never finished it so I thought today is the day.

Last September (2010) we made a few changes on the home education front mostly coming about through chats with the children and finding out what they wanted.
Firstly we started a new work card system which is a bit like the workbox system but with more control for the children. We still roughly follow the Charlotte Mason principle.

Each child has a set of cards that lasts approximately 2 to 3 weeks. Each card has an activity some done on their own and some with me/Paul. I made the cards business card size with a different colour for each child and laminated. They like being able to choose what they do and when they do it. I like to think of learning new things as food for the brain. Like the food we eat it’s healthy to have a balanced diet and to allow time to digest it, especially after a big meal (I think I got the idea from Charlottte Mason). The children and I talked about this and they liked the analogy. Cameron reckoned the Wii was like chocolate and spelling was green veg, then the rest of them discussed their chocolate and green veg activities. We’re flexible with the card system and allow for home-ed outings etc.

So far it’s working really well, Fraser likes to get up fairly early and start before breakfast, Kirsty & Maisie do bursts here and there mixed in with playing and Cameron gets stuck in after breakfast (once he gets up) then usually has another burst in the evening.