tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115260514178140021.post2477745621549694955..comments2023-05-14T06:20:54.641-05:00Comments on Sarah's Daughter: Dog joySarahsDaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11070845597474113030noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115260514178140021.post-19747431144098543962012-12-11T22:22:47.015-06:002012-12-11T22:22:47.015-06:00I should probably add that I'll look at this a...I should probably add that I'll look at this and more then likely ask you more questions.Aussie_Tomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115260514178140021.post-20192620033389241082012-12-11T22:20:54.662-06:002012-12-11T22:20:54.662-06:00Hi Daughter of Sarah,
You've given me a lot t...Hi Daughter of Sarah,<br /><br />You've given me a lot to process.<br /><br />Thankyou very much.Aussie_Tomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115260514178140021.post-35362517454902204962012-12-07T09:02:47.298-06:002012-12-07T09:02:47.298-06:00You need to find what works the best for you. We ...You need to find what works the best for you. We started out trying to do "school at home" and that just stressed my wife out. We ended up with a much more relaxed approach. Our children constantly begged to go to the government schools, but it was for the best they did not as the problems we faced in their teen years would have been multiplied if they had been there.<br /><br />My own children were not academic geniuses, but they did as well or better than their heritage (adopted) and know more than many of those with diplomas from the local government school.<br /><br />My wife used a multi-age curriculum toward the end, for what little time we could keep them in engaged. I can't remember the name right now, but it was in the process of being written as we used it, so we only used 2 or 3 of the 5 planned years. It had a good strong spectrum of topics. It might not be as applicable for you though since it also had a focus on the development of the USA, something that might be off for Australia. The best thing is to find what you child is most suited to and use that.Brad Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02449947300802682625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115260514178140021.post-52421712931594928742012-12-06T23:58:44.415-06:002012-12-06T23:58:44.415-06:00My son was a procrastinator when he was homeschool...My son was a procrastinator when he was homeschooling. He'd take all day to complete his work. My daughters, on the other hand, get right to it and keep their noses down until it's done - usually in four hours or less. Early on I would instruct for 10 minutes, have them work for 15 and then take a 15 minute break (recess). This made it very easy for me to take care of my younger children, clean, cook, etc. It also provided incentive to keep them focused and plenty of time for them to release energy. <br /><br />RLB was mostly needed for discipline on rough days. After he was home and relaxed, I would let him know how the day went. If it was a difficult day, he'd talk with the kids and lay down the law. Last year, when my son was in advanced science, he would wait for RLB to be available to ask questions about his work. RLB is a physicist. I'm not. He enjoyed helping in that area. Apologia offers lecture DVDs with their books. If I didn't have RLB, I'd have purchased those DVDs. Saxon math also offers CDs and DVDs. I haven't needed those yet but I will when we are on Trigonometry. <br /><br />My girls will be doing Home Economics for the next couple of weeks leading up to Christmas. We will be cleaning, decorating, shopping with a budget, making candy, cookies and various other Christmas treats, sewing, and a friend of mine is going to teach us how to crochet. <br /><br />Hope this has helped. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask. You're making a fantastic decision and I am thrilled to help in any way I can. SarahsDaughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11070845597474113030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115260514178140021.post-36926374722100084952012-12-06T23:49:32.700-06:002012-12-06T23:49:32.700-06:00No problem, Aussie_Tom!
Here in the states we hav...No problem, Aussie_Tom!<br /><br />Here in the states we have HSLDA - Home School Legal Defense Association. Here's a link to what they have on <a href="http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/Australia/200811030.asp" title="Link to example website" rel="nofollow">Australia</a>.<br /><br />Your first course of action is to find out what your state's requirements are for homeschooling. For example, our only requirement is that we have 180 days of instruction. <br /><br />There are so many websites that offer free homeschool material, I wouldn't even know where to start. When we started with our son, I felt most comfortable with a structured curriculum. I used <a href="http://www.homeschools.org/" title="Link to example website" rel="nofollow">Christian Liberty Academy</a>. My son would do the work and we'd send it to them for grading. The downside to this is that a child has to complete all of the work, even if he has advanced beyond it. That makes for some mundane repetition. I did like not having to question if I was covering all the bases. But it is the most expensive route and not completely necessary. Read through their site and take a look at their curriculum packages. <br /><br />I order all of my new books from <a href="www.christianbook.com" title="Link to example website" rel="nofollow">www.christianbook.com</a>. <br /><br />The key is learning how your child learns best. Also, how you teach best. I prefer a structured "school time." I write out a plan for the day and that's what gets done. I grade work everyday and go over corrections with them. We don't move on until they understand the material. <br /><br />Since there are several styles and preferences out there, I'll just let you know how we do it and you take what you like and leave the rest. <br /><br />Math - when my son was young, he learned math concepts best using hands on materials. We used peg boards and blocks. If he could see and feel 2 blocks + 2 blocks = 4 blocks, he could learn it. My daughters never needed to use blocks, paper and pencil worked fine for them. <br /><br />I am a huge fan of Saxon math. They use an incremental approach to teaching math. New concept, review old concepts, new concept, review old concepts etc. Instead of the new concept, new concept, new concept approach often taught in public school. My 11 year old (6th grade) is working on their 7/8 book and my 12 year old (7th grade) will be starting Algebra 1 in January, she finished pre-algebra in 4 months. <br /><br />Reading - we used Hooked on Phonics to teach all of them to read. Once they learned to read, they starting consuming books like crazy. I printed out the list of Hillsdale College's <a href="http://www.hillsdale.edu/images/userImages/esomerville/Page_4582/High%20School%20Reading%20List.pdf" title="Link to example website" rel="nofollow">recommended reading list</a> and have started checking them off as the kids read the books. For young ones, <a href="http://www.bookadventure.com/Home.aspx" title="Link to example website" rel="nofollow">Book Adventure</a> is a free online reading comprehension testing program similar to the Accelerated Reading program used in many U.S. schools. <br /><br />Grammar - I love <a href="http://www.easygrammar.com/" title="Link to example website" rel="nofollow">Easy Grammar</a>. It's a prepositions first approach to mastering grammar and literally the only grammar curriculum I've come across that makes sense to me. <br /><br />Vocabulary - We use <i>Vocabulary from Classical Roots</i>. <br /><br />Science - <a href="http://www.apologia.com/index.asp?proc=pg&pg=1" title="Link to example website" rel="nofollow">Apologia</a> <br /><br />Logic and reasoning - <a href="http://www.triviumpursuit.com/catalog/" title="Link to example website" rel="nofollow">Bluedorns' Trivium Persuit</a> <br /><br />I'm not going to recommend a History curriculum because I haven't found one I'm satisfied with (and am open to recommendations). SarahsDaughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11070845597474113030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115260514178140021.post-39583092745663297612012-12-06T17:10:45.109-06:002012-12-06T17:10:45.109-06:00Hi Daughter of Sarah,
I'm looking at homescho...Hi Daughter of Sarah,<br /><br />I'm looking at homeschooling in Australia and I think it is far less commonly done here then in the states. <br /><br />I'm struggling to find good resources to use. Do you have any that you would recommend? <br /><br />Also, on the homeschooling side, how much time did you spend a day homeschooling, what sort of daily structure did you use? Additionally, did you find you had to leave some topics alone till RLB came home?<br /><br />I know this is a short question with a long answer, but would be very appreciative.<br /><br />ThanksAussie_Tomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115260514178140021.post-90953413794929026572012-12-06T15:40:58.458-06:002012-12-06T15:40:58.458-06:00Home schooling is the best. We all were and my two...Home schooling is the best. We all were and my two sons will be too.stg58noreply@blogger.com