educating keira

an update!

2009-09-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

We have been having lots of fun around here. We have more time because we're not rushing out the door twice a week for drop off and pick up, we get on with our errands that we would normally do on keira's pre-school days without too much extra effort. We water the garden and our new plants everyday and this is one of our favourite activities at the moment

and we've just started ballet....so we're busy busy busy, always doing something! Retro daddy has an extra $600 a month in his pocket as there are no pre-school fees to pay and I've already earmarked it for a new front fence and some tree removal before the year is out!

but best of all we've lost the really bossy behaviour towards the twinnies (ok most of the time). We actually play, roll around and want to play with the twins! Yay, we've stopped picking up bad behaviour from pre-school like pushing them over and because we're spending more time with them we're actually enjoying them. Now by 'we' I mean keira so well done keira, I'm so proud of you!

the latest....

2009-08-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

Well we're not moving overseas which is kind of a relief. The weather has been balmy and beautiful here so a summer spent at home by our pool is much more enticing than a cold winter abroad. My little miss finishes up pre-school this week and hubby has agreed she can be kept at home.....

he does say she will go to big school when she's a big girl and I've had to agree to disagree on that point as I still can't decide where she will go and I would much rather have her at home longer, but baby steps. Here is keira showing off her new little singer....she loves to tinker around with it like her mummy!

a brief introduction

2009-08-09T21:39:00.001-07:00

Home schooling.....whats the first thing that springs to mind? For me it was huge families that I'd see on the discovery health channel who had over 15 children and taught them all at the kitchen table. Lets just put it out there that before I had children I never thought I'd even contemplate home schooling. In fact I have an almost finished Graduate Diploma in primary school teaching which I took up when I was over my investment banking job and spending all my life in the office.

Everyone I knew went to school and sent their children to school. I have all of mine down for top Sydney schools and pretty much had their education all mapped out for them because that is what you do if you want to give your children the best education and opportunities. But now we are faced with a potential move overseas where my little darling would be required to start school next September at only 4 years and 3 months. This is way too young to make a little child spend 5 days a week at school. I would much rather have Keira spend her days with me where she can play, read, draw and learn rather than spend her days in a classroom with 25 other children. There is plenty of time to go to school.....

Combine this with the fact that she is already bringing home worksheets from pre-school, which I have a problem with! Worksheets on matching, last time I checked we learn matching at home with coins, buttons, beads and like objects not from a photocopied worksheet. It said well done keira on the bottom, I couldn't stop thinking about it because it just didn't feel right. Ask Keira why she loves pre-school and she tells you playing with barbies. Ask her what else and she says playing with barbies. Ask her for a third time and she'll tell you the same! Whats next, formal written tests??????

So we're opting out for a while, perhaps homeschooling is just an extension of being a stay at home mum and that is why it just feels right for me. My husband, well he thinks its a bit radical and out there and is insisting I have to send her the following year when she's 5.....she'll probably be ready but I'm not sure I will be!!! If you think its a bit radical and out there.... thats ok, I'll still love you. You can hang out at my retro mummy blog. But if you're interested then come back again, I'll be sharing our thoughts, activities, favourite books and what we're doing!

keira

2009-08-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

This is Keira and this is my blog where I will be sharing our homeschooling journey.....