She has been doing a lot more with numbers, so much in fact she has zoomed through my flash cards & one of the work books already, I didn’t really want to push her. I wanted to make learning fun for both of us, I wanted her to want to do it. For the most part she does.
We have our first visit from the EHE & EWO (Elective Home Education & Educational Welfare Officer) tomorrow, I’m a bit nervous – who wouldn’t be?
We’ve baked some cookies in advance, cinnamons ones, in the shape of dinosaurs.
I have printed out some information for them timetables, bullet point list of answers to their bullet point list of things they would like to see, because no doubt I will be given plenty from them I’d like to return the favour. I have read a lot, had advice from many sources, home education groups, forums, leaflets and when I got the appointment letter from the EHE & EWO they had another little booklet in there. I feel totally prepared for any questions. I am commited to Eldest for life already, technically as parents we teach them daily, turning it up a notch from answering basic questions to ‘real’ education isn’t a giant leap.
I have tried as much as possible to stick to what they give as an outline, so that our transition in to home education doesn’t get too clouded. I have made a list of all the materials I have now, a list of the subjects we are covering, a list of special interest projects that I hope to do and in some cases have started. I know there is no financial aid for Home Educators, and I believe for the most part this is a good thing, this means that parents like me do it because they really want to, almost like a need. There is no motivation other than your own, and seeing your child learn something new and know that it is because of you. You have switched on a little light.
Among the perks of home schooling are – Free time, you can really really maximise it, turn it into adventures, shopping can become a learning extravaganza (supermarket math!), cooking can become a lesson, you can test your own knowledge in little games, you can surprise yourself daily with your own creativity.
Downfalls? I can only think of two.
1) You will have to arrange child care if you have something private or classes to attend or anything that involves only one child or no children – it’s not always easy, if OH is at work & you don’t have any friends available it can be very very tricky. If they used to be in school like mine, well it’s something you aren’t used to having to consider anymore. It is worth thinking about this if you are on the brink of making the decision – but don’t let it deter you. There are ways and means.
2) Socialising (for them not you), now this is quite a big one really for me, you’d like your child to not be isolated, to be able to interact well with others, to take part in social activities, to have friends and to learn that dynamic for themselves. There is only so much as a parent we can do, and I’m not sure the process of it, but I’m pretty sure this is an integral part of developing into and adult. The ability to work within teams, I am sure can derive from being in a family environment. Making friends? I’m not sure on that one.
