Greenparent

maths resources/curriculums etc what do you use?

2013-05-14T13:18:46+01:00

Hi Im looking for something to supplement the everyday kind of maths we do. So atm we just do stuff as and when it crops up & most of what we do has been hands on type learning. We will continue with this approach but I would also like something a bit more ‘concrete’ to follow as weirdly both my two enjoy maths work books! So what do you use? I don’t want on-line stuff really, Im more thinking of a book they can work through. Ive just purchased one Miquon maths book to go with our cuisinnare rods but its pretty dull. Im looking for something which is based in practical work, so gives them little challenges etc We did some mathstart books for measuring/weight activities and they loved doing them, but those are a little too ‘young’ for them now. I want something that’s visual too if poss, not rows and rows of sums!

Ideas please if possible or tell me what you use and what its like.
Thanks

MathsUsee

2012-11-26T16:25:57+01:00

does anyone use MathsUsee resources at home? A friend has just started using it and i looked at it when visiting the other day.. it seems like a good system..maths makes me freeze and its my weakest subject but i instantly connected with the dvd and actually learned something form the little lessons which were all about numbers 0-9 lol..there was just something about the way it was explained! I’m a visual learner too so the little blocks and seeing the man do it on the screen appealed to me..
Just wondering if anyone else has used it and what they thought of it?
cheers
mummyk x

Any help or advice regarding visit from Education officer

2013-04-17T23:08:08+01:00

Hello ladies,

Just looking for any help or advice you can give me for my friend. She has had a visit from an Education officer and wasn’t very happy. She wants to respond but needs some help. The officer seemed very intent on insisting that her children (5 + 7) should be doing a lot of academic work. He was comparing them to targets for children their age at school. He was telling her they should be doing very specific things such as the eldest should be doing decimals and joint up writing. He told her they should be doing reading, writing and maths everyday. He asked the children lots of questions to test them. My friend likes John Holt and she doesn’t believe in making them do academic work that they’re not interested in. Particularly the oldest is more practical than academic and one of her reasons for home edding was to tailor the education to the children.

He has given her recommendations and while their education is considered adequate now he has suggested that when he sees her again in a year if the recommendations haven’t been followed then the children’s education might not be considered adequate. She wants to stick to her beliefs but doesn’t want to have problems with the officer. Any advice?

Charlotte x

Anyone started HE at secondary age?

2013-04-15T08:33:21+01:00

Dd1 (11) is really unhappy at school at the moment although she’s always loved it before and this is mostly due to difficult friendships at present. HE-ing ds, who is only reception year, almost 5yo, just makes so much sense to me and feels really right and I love it when dd1 is off during the holidays - BUT, she’s extremely hard work too, hates me most of the time and has taught the others to say they hate me… could we all cope with the extra pressure? Is there even any need to consider it for a small blip like this? She’s halfway through her first year at secondary right now.

I’d really love to hear all perspectives and views on this, I feel very mixed!

Claire xx

Is home ed really this expensive?

2013-03-24T16:11:54+01:00

After reading another thread (http://thegreenparent.co.uk/forums/viewthread/24682/ ) about after school activities, I was wondering if anyone on here is home educating on a low income, with little disposable cash for home educating activities/ resources/ etc and can share any advice?

My eldest has just turned 5 and the only thing we pay for is swimming ( two adults, two children which is subsidised by my friends membership) and a small drama class once a week, £12 altogether. As he and my ds2 get older i am expecting us to spend more money but to be honest I’m not sure how much more we could afford to spend every week at the moment.

How much do you spend? Any ideas for free/ low cost activities?

I should add that we do lots of things as well, seeing friends, library, activities at home! I’m just looking for ideas really! X

HE and tax credits

2013-04-13T12:19:50+01:00

Given our recent tax credits cut, we have been on the phone to them and I couldn’t help wondering when I heard in the recorded message at the beginning “don’t forget to tell us about any changes in your child’s education” or something similar, is there a difference in your child tax credits if you HE compared to if the child goes to school? Do they still count as being in full time education? I know the governments all mess about with definitions and it will probably change in the next year before Cerys is school aged, but I’m just curious.

Struggling with home ed

2013-04-12T15:42:00+01:00

I feel like I’ve hit a bit of a brick wall lately, it’s perhaps seeming worse because of the illness that’s hit us for six this week, but I’m finding home ed a real struggle!

Putting this past week of sickness aside, the kids don’t seem to want to do anything! I’m trying to bring back some of the old rhythms & rituals we used to have & enjoy so much but the kids just seem so…. lazy! We go through phases, I think all home ed’er do to some extent but this time I feel I’ve hit a brick wall with them!

I don’t know where to go from here really. Do you think I need to shake things up completely or just reintroduce our old rhythms gradually? What do you guy do if/when you feel like this?

anyone near Dartmouth?

2013-04-01T21:47:45+01:00

Hi we moved to Dartmouth last June and have made contact with the torbay group but all the meets so far have been impossible to get to :( We home ed or 8 year old daughter and would love for her to be able to meet up with other HE kids but she seems to be the only one in town?

Flexi schooling has been banned!

2013-02-26T22:27:38+01:00

Hello all,

A new document has come to light over the past two days and flexi schooling is now illegal! The link to the document is here http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/a/advice on school attendance - final cleared.pdf page 22.

My daughter has been flexi schooled for the last year attending a fantastic school which saved itself from closure by opening its doors to home educators. She attended 1-2 days per week but since me and her dad split up I’ve not been able to get her there as it’s very remote. She was due to start a new school tomorrow 2 days per week but now can’t because of the change in law.

Apparently the person to write to is Elizabeth Truss MP (elizabeth dot truss dot mp at parliament dot uk), and/or your local MP. I shall be writing and hopefully things will change.

Learning Spanish

2013-03-17T01:10:11+01:00

S (who will be 5 on Monday) is fascinated by Spanish and keeps asking how to say phrases in it. Unfortunately, neither DH or I know more than a few words so we’re struggling a little bit! Are there any resources you’d recommend? I’m going to have a look in the bigger library on Monday to see what they’re got too, but it would be great to have something to look for. Thanks!