On Homeschooling

Posted by ohangelina ⋅ June 1, 2011 ⋅ 13 Comments

Filed Under form drawings, homeschooling, waldorf

: soil of the Kimberley

HomeSchooling Week 3 ::

Things I have learned. #1 – (dress for success) One day last week I came into our homeschooling room , sat down on my sheepskin in my pajamas , and got a very funny look from my Jackson. He says to me ” Well, , , , you don’t look very much like a teacher!!” Ok Ok.. I tried. Now, before I light the candle to begin our morning, I put on a pretty dress and my pearl earrings and Jack just smiles and says ” Now you look just like a teacher!!”

Things I apparently haven’t learned. #2 – (expect to learn yourself) As we are engaged in a G, g, gg phonics lesson, which I do admit can be not very easy sometimes, I tell Jack a double letter set comes in the middle of a word. He then says to me ” Well, what about EGG?” One smart cookie he is. So it appears sometimes he is teaching me.

Points of Interest to be noted :::::

SINCE HOMESCHOOLING BEGAN – – –

we have become much closer as a family. our days flow so nicely. we understand, communicate, respect trust and appreciate each other so,much,more.
the children play better together. much less squibbling. jack becomes a teacher of sorts to his younger brother (one of my favorite aspects of the waldorf + montessori learning approach – where younger children often learn from older children). everything is well relaxed, everyone is well rested. everyone sees the key role we each play in this family.
Television and Computer time has virtually eliminated itself, naturally. Something which bothered me and I spent energy wondering how to lessen in our lifes – has just dissapeared. Nobody asks for it now. There is so much fun going on. We still do watch a movie or something, but mama is so very happy this is not a problem in our lives anymore!

I am working on a weekly chart with our rhythms of the days. Usually we begin between 8 and 9. I light the candle. I burn GERANIUM. We sit on the sheepskins in a circle. We stretch, sing a song and have a Waldorf Lesson. Do a drawing of the story read and practice our letters. The new letter this week was W : and on the journey to visit the Wise Sophia in the mountain (M) – they cross a windy path (s), enter into a valley (v), and come out into a forest of trees (T). The family then enter into a section of the river which is large with rapids and waves (W) , thus too wild to cross without first making a boat.

My children are really into this ongoing tale – and the association of letters coming from earthly formations is magical indeed. Just yesterday Jack was drawing an M into the sand at the park with his stick. He then played with little rocks as they were climbing up to his ‘mountain’. (so it must be working!!)

Thank you all for your encouragement on this launch into our homeschooling, its a real boost for me! x

Discussion

13 thoughts on “On Homeschooling”

Your home schooling sounds like fun although what a shame you cant get away with doing it in your pyjamas:) Im so glad its going realy well

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Posted by karen | June 1, 2011, 6:44 am

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You are inspiring me as I keep debating this whole homeschooling thing.

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Posted by crooked little house | June 1, 2011, 3:17 pm

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oh this sounds so magical indeed angela. i can’t wait to start these waldorf lessons one day.

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Posted by Anushka | June 1, 2011, 5:07 pm

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Oh my! I think I’d like your day! Is that really the colour of your soil, or am I missing something?

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Posted by Cheryl | June 1, 2011, 10:28 pm

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- heehe cheryl..believe or not..yes its really that colour (so are all our clothes). the aborigonal peoples have used it for thousands of years to make red ochre in paintings (look here) …
  
  http://www.aboriginalartcoop.com.au/aboriginal-art/lyndsay-bird-mpetyane/red-ochre.php
  
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  Posted by ohangelina | June 2, 2011, 12:22 am
  
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  - That is amazing. We talk about the red soil of Devon, but it is no where near as red. Very colourful!
    
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    Posted by Cheryl | June 3, 2011, 10:24 am
What a beautiful day you are having. And so very inspiring too.

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Posted by Neen | June 2, 2011, 1:48 am

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thankyou for the birthday wishes:)

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Posted by karen | June 2, 2011, 8:45 am

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Oh I love it!

You have a very smart ,and observant,son :).

Hmm thinking maybe I should burn some geranium, sounds wonderful.

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Posted by dkjsv05 | June 4, 2011, 5:41 pm

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Ah, kids. They’ll always point out the one thing that makes us look silly. :) Sounds like a very successful journey for your family.

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Posted by gretchen/juneatnoon | June 5, 2011, 1:33 pm

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glad i found this blog! love this homeschooling section. i’m really trying to come up with some sort of organization for homeschooling. how old are your kids, if i may ask?

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Posted by Megan | June 9, 2011, 1:41 pm

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- Hi Megan, thank you! My kids are 6 and 3. :)
  
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  Posted by ohangelina | June 10, 2011, 12:49 am
  
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oh, i love all of the wonderful things you’ve found to enrich your family through homeschooling. amazing!

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Posted by kendra | June 16, 2011, 5:30 pm

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