2018 - that's a wrap...
- Sparrow Home School
- Dec 10, 2018
- 4 min read
I'm sure every year goes faster than the last. Is it because kids seems to grow up so fast? Is it because we always have so much on that sometimes there is not enough time in the day? At any rate, our 8th year of home schooling is done.
I wondered what I would say about this year then I came across an old Facebook post of mine that I wrote at the end of our first year of home schooling back in 2011.
Here it is...
First year of home schooling nearly finished and everyone is still alive. We did not make mistakes, we just learnt what works for us and what does not. The children learnt so much, had a lot of fun and I believe had the opportunity to drill down deeper on some subjects. I've lost count of how many excursions and hands on experiences they have had to enrich their learning.
Term 1 for 2012 brings even more now that we have found our feet. I have learnt there is no such thing as a child who does not want to learn, you just need to find how they like to learn and give them the opportunities to discover in that way and stand back and watch in wonder as they flourish and grow. I have learnt to not be so controlling, to trust my childrens natural wonder, need and want to learn and discover.
We've had some dodgy days and days where I asked myself why am I doing this. Then I look at my children, see how much happier and relaxed they are and I'm reminded that we are exactly where we are meant to be. I find it hard to explain to people why we home school, I just know it's a feeling and an observation. I have two clever cookies and I see my role as a director to guide and assist them learn what they need to know and want to know and to help them reach the next stage of their lives.
I want to teach them that life is a journey and not a destination and that they don't have to work 9 to 5 for someone else until they retire then go on a cruise (if they don't want to). I love watching them make friends in a way that suits them and enjoy everything that this world has to offer. These two teach me every day (as children do) and I see in them what I need to learn in myself. Thank you to my two boys and the opportunity and honour to be near you every day.
All of that above still applies today here in 2018. They are older (truly, I've not aged a day) and wiser and are an absolute joy to be around. They make me laugh and I love to see how they as brothers learn and grow together, they are close and they look out for each other. They are a gift, one that I hope never to take for granted.
My eldest is at that age where he is starting to wonder what he might do when he finishes his formal education and sometimes it troubles him that he does not know. I've said to him he does not need to decide now and when he does decide, he can change his mind, he does not need to stick with his first choice forever. We are going to spend 2019 going to lots of open days at uni's, TAFE and other specialist learning institutions to see if anything sparks an interest. There just might be something that intrigues him, perhaps something he did not even realise could be a career.
I'm pretty much organised for 2019. We have our Education Department Moderator Meeting early each year. As always, it's not until I finish the report for that meeting that I realise how much we really do. Lots of hands on which I always believes makes learning much more fun and interesting and leaves the lads with better retention.
Numeracy and literacy always play a decent role in their learning, I believe no matter what you choose to do with your life, these areas are always used.
Science and history played a larger role during 2018, geography and other cultures will feature more widely in 2019.
Most other things are decided based on their passions and interests - one of the biggest parts and one of the most important parts of their learning.
I'll leave it here with a very, very brief pictorial snapshop of a FEW of the things we've done this year. It does not nearly cover all the excursions, adventures, hands on learning and socialisation we do (to put it all in would make for a MASSIVE blog post)... It does not include all the science, computer building, reading, gaming, the pondering of math equations etc.
I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Be safe, be merry, be kind...
~ Sparrow Home School
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