Love and Physics
This morning I asked Charlotte what she was planning to do today. “I might have a look at a periodic table video,” she replied. More chemistry. My third daughter is certainly a keen unschooling chemist. “Why don’t you broaden your horizons,” I suggested. “You could try some physics. I studied physics when I was at school. I had this…
A Better Way to Get into University
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Real Maths Running
At the bottom of our road, only 100 metres away from home, is a park surrounded by bushland. And winding through the bush are fire trails and tracks where the girls and I run. A few times a week, we head towards the gum trees to enjoy some exercise. We usually run along the same circuit. We have made up…
My Homeschool Records Book
Tomorrow is the first day of the final term of the school year. Andy is busy preparing lessons for his school class (he is a primary school teacher). And I am not busy preparing lessons. I have hardly thought about the new term. I don’t really need to. Andy will get up early and head off to school, and we’ll slip back…
An Education at the Museum
I have read stories about teenagers who’ve dropped out of school and into the world, in order to obtain a real education. They spent their days, not at home behind a desk, but out and about, visiting places of interest such as museums and galleries… seeing the world. And I’ve always thought, “What a wonderful way to get an education!”…
Another Unschooling Holiday
Last night I said to the girls, “Tomorrow is the last day of the school term.” Sophie and Gemma-Rose groaned. Years ago, we used to count down the days to the holidays. We’d limp through the last week of term desperate for a break. Sometimes I’d call a halt early. “That’s enough,” I’d declare. Everyone would cheer. No more school…
Remembering to Trust
Our family is problem solving. The oven is broken so we can’t cook scones, muffins, cakes, and biscuits: all those treats we really enjoy. We talked over the problem while we ate lunch. “We do have a microwave…” I started to say. And then someone mentioned the donut maker, the toaster and the sandwich toaster. We wondered what treats we…
A Main Course of Reading Out Loud
This morning we took a trip into town. While Imogen and Charlotte had piano lessons, the younger girls and I made the most of our waiting time, and did some grocery shopping. It was gone 11 am before we arrived back home. We carted all the shopping bags into the house and unpacked them, before putting on the kettle. A…
So How Do You Feel On a Monday Morning?
When I was a child, I’d awake on a Monday morning with a pain in my stomach. I was always reluctant to get out of bed and face the week. Five days of school stretched out ahead, and the weekend seemed so far away. I lived for Saturday and Sunday. The rest of the week was to be endured. My…
Some Maths to Share on One of Those Tired Mornings
Last Friday morning, I had to take Imogen to an appointment. When I returned home, Sophie and Gemma-Rose were waiting for me, hoping I’d spend some time with them. But what I really wanted to do, after driving to and from town, was sit quietly with a cup of coffee. I looked at the girls’ hopeful faces and then I…
Perhaps I Shouldn’t Have Told You about Our Typical Unschooling Day
In my last podcast, I spoke about our typical unschooling day. Every day we get up early, do our chores as a team, and then say prayers together before getting on with the work of the day. We eat regular meals, sitting around the same…
Unschooling: Dishes
This evening, after dinner, I didn’t want to help with the dishes. I just wanted to relax on the sofa and leave everyone else to clean the kitchen. I could have done that. I could have taken advantage of my position as parent. Or I…
Making Unschooled Kids Learn Maths Just in Case
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My Unschooler’s Homeschool Registration Visit
It seems like a very long time since I last wrote a blog post. Maybe you were beginning to think I’d abandoned my blog.…
Why We Have to Take Risks
Today I posted my very first podcast. “Do you want to listen to my podcast?” I ask my girls. They nod and soon we’re…
Learning from Life
Today I am tired. I don’t feel like strewing. I don’t feel like discussing or watching or listening. I don’t feel excited or enthusiastic.…
What if…?
What if instead of doing what you usually do, you did some of those things your children have been wanting to do for ages.…
Saying No and Other Things
I wonder why we get so afraid of saying yes to our kids. Perhaps we think they will get spoilt if we respond to…
And Now For Something Completely Different
I’d like to welcome Jay Hvidsten to my blog. Thank you, Jay, for this post! In the 1970’s, British comedy group Monty Python released…
What to Do When Strewing is Rejected
Recently I found all kinds of things to strew in front of Charlotte. I came across a website and DVD series that has an…
Turning My Teenager’s Unschool Learning into Homeschool Records
How do we turn our unschoolers’ learning into homeschool records notes? What do we write? What educational language can we use? If we haven’t…
What I Discovered When I Became a Video Gamer
Discover how video games helped one person cope with difficult times and how finding the right game can offer a chance for success. Explore…
Reluctant Spouse: Unschool Bits and Pieces
Reluctant Spouse What does my husband Andy think of unschooling? Was he always in favour of it? Or did I have to convince him…