Homeschool Covid Isolation

I'm starting to grieve the lost year with my teen son.  At the start of the year I was enjoying watching his independence grow, new friendships being made and high school opportunities begining to open up.  All snatched away in what began as a four week flatten the curve exercise which has now morphed into something that words fail to describe. Here I sit six months later under what is effectively house arrest in Melbourne along with a fifth of Australia's population when...

A fellow homeschool Mom in a local homeschool group penned the following words which resonated with my heart and I would like to share with you today. (Shared with her permission.)

My heart is as heavy as yours.

 

As we joyfully see all other children returning to day care and school - enjoying their friendships and social time, and lessons as normal - but we privately mourn for our own children.

 

Because for the first time in history, group home education programs are considered socialisation. While all other children enjoy seeing their friends and learning together, our children remain in total isolation, not able to resume any of our cherished group learning programs. 

 

Homeschooled children need connection with friends too. They need normalcy too. They need their education to return to normal too. Homeschooling mothers need a break too. 

 

People may say things like “We’re in this together”. But it doesn’t feel like that right now. We feel excluded from the togetherness.

 

My gut tells me that I won’t see my children participating in their homeschool education programs until 2021. We haven’t had anything running since March, and while the past eight weeks of canceled day care and remote learning have been so hard for families... it’s been six months for us. Please think of us.

 

“All the world is my school” (George Whitman), if only it could be right now

 We are in plain sight yet forgotten.  What most families do not grasp is that this is not normal for us either.  We enjoy all the aspects of homechooling and covid schooling restrictions impact us too.  

 

How are you all coping with 'covid normal' and home educating?  

Chareen

 

Quarantine-schooling is NOT Homeschooling and other thoughts.

I recently came accross and shared the following thought on Facebook:  "Non of us are truly homeschooling; we are quarantine-schooling.  Homeschooling involves visits to libraries, parks, the ice-skating rink, play dates, museums, co-op, gymnastics, etc ...  This is completely different."  Some families are emergency schooling at home or have found themselves with children at home due to early school closures.  I wanted to say take a deep breath and please do remember that homeschool/education is NOT school at home.  You do not need to school for eight hours a day.  I will be sharing more on Monday.

I got thinking about this new normal that we are all struggling with and decided to blow the dust off my blog and start sharing some resources as I find them whilst ambling through too much social media!

One of the biggest blessings in my life is the homeschool friends I have met through being a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.  My friend Michele from over at Family, Faith & Fridays has set forth a fabulous challenge:  A Letter a Day.  I think I will be taking this one up starting on Monday. I really love the idea of posting a letter, yes a snail mail letter to someone.  Social distancing does not mean disconnection.

Here are some great ideas and articals

• The Great Indoors Challenge - Fabulous ideas for your children to do indoors.  There are over 100 activities to access and they can be found here.
• Use toys at home and the sun to create shadow drawings 
• Education Unboxed has some fabulous resources listed to help with Math etc. 
• Ronit Bird is a website dedicated to help parents who have children with special needs (dyscalculia, dyslexia and other specific difficulties)
• Stream Shakespeare via Globe Player. 
• Audible have launched a FREE Stories for kids division.
• Homeschooling is not the same as crisis schooling - Advice during the coronavirus covid 19 Shut downs.

Oh my I have just found a lovely old book on Google Books.  It's a free eBook called: Grand-Papa's Arithmetic: A Story of Two Little Apple Merchants. 

Are you wanting to purchase books to be home delivered?  Take a look at these companies:

• Book Depository 
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Audible 
• Books A Million

If you are looking for some quick links to specific areas be sure to check out my page of Homeschool Help links.

In anticipation of more regular blogging and wondering how you are all holding up with the lack of social contact.

Blessings
Chareen

Linking with Homeschool Highlights.

Week 3 April {HSMJ}

The weather is cooling and autumn is beginning to show her lovely colours here in Melbourne. Unfortunately on this side of Melbourne there are very few deciduous trees so it's not really possible to appreciate the variety of autumn colour in all it's glory.  Paul and I joined another homeschooling family this week and took a drive over to the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens.  If you are in Melbourne I would encourage you to pack a picnic and go and take a look at the stunning autumn garden in all it's splendor.

I really hope that many families will read this: What We Mean When We Say We Need a Break She puts so much into perspective.  I think this is something partners should really discuss with one another :)

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

• 15 Science YouTube Channels Children Love
• John Muir Laws FREE Nature Drawing Tutorials 
• 4 Easy Steps to Teach Your Kids to Outline 
• Glue Art on Canvas with Watercolors 
• A Stanford dean on adult skills every 18-year-old should have 
• How to Teach Geography to Tactile Learners 
• Why Your Child Should Memorize Poems - "In his essay, "In Defense of Memorization," Michael Knox Beran makes this mighty claim, "poetry turns on kids’ language capability. It not only teaches them to articulate English words; it heightens their feel for the intricacies and complexities of the English language—an indispensable attainment if they are to go on to speak, write, and read English with ease." " 
• Win a copy of How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare on Walking By The Way.  This is open world wide!  There are ten copies being given away. 
• Why My Kids Read Aloud Every Day 
• If you are wondering whether your children can go to college/university in Australia if you home educate - then wonder no more. Carpenter’s College Graduation  
• Why Kids Should Keep Using Their Fingers to do Math "Stopping students from using their fingers when they count could, according to the new brain research, be akin to halting their mathematical development. Fingers are probably one of our most useful visual aids, and the finger area of our brain is used well into adulthood. The need for and importance of finger perception could even be the reason that pianists, and other musicians, often display higher mathematical understanding than people who don’t learn a musical instrument."
• Form I: History Timeline 
• Students Who Learn About Famous Scientists’ Struggles Do Better In School 
• FREE Printables {Round Up} 

In our home school this week…

• We spent time watching the trilogy of movies The Note, The Note II and The Note III. So many many heart healing issues addressed and beautiful uplifting stories.
• First time I've seen Flushed Away.  Cute movie.
• We read Caterpillars and Butterflies 
• Nathaniel is reading David Livingston the Explorer Missionary to Africa to me from Hero Tales.
• We started a free trial of the Veritas Bible curriculum.
• I'm learning to be more hands off and allowing Nathaniel to follow his passions and interests.  One of them is movies and projectors.  He has saved, worked for dollars and spent countless hours comparing projectors and finally purchased one for himself.  
• It was time for his monthly orthodontic check up too.  The dentist is pleased with his progress.
• We started the second book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy: The Two Towers.  
• A good homeschool friend recently introduced me to Stitcher.  This app allows you to either stream or download podcasts to your phone to listen to.  I'm so pleased.  Now I need to make time so I can listen to some great homeschool content.
• The first podcast I listened to was from the Morning Basket: Plutarch 101.
• I took Timothy to the airport as he is off on a three month adventure.

My favourite thing this week was…
I'm so very proud of my sister Nadeen. She has walked 60 kilometer's in order to fund raise to help end woman's cancer.  She is still in need of some once off donations in order to reach her goal.  Please take some time to consider donating and helping her reach her donations goal.  You can make an Australian tax deductible donation here: Participant ID: 131063-0.

 On the WWW I’m reading…

• My Worst Nightmare — What If I Accidentally Raise The Bully? "It’s simply not enough to instruct your children to, “Be Nice!” You’ve got to be more specific than that. Kids think if they aren’t being outright unkind, they are being nice. We know better. Connect the ugly dots. Explain the Darwinistic social survival instinct that’s often motivating and guiding their impulses."
• No Disrespecting Mommy (or Daddy!) – Ever! 
• Photographer Chronicles the Beauty of Childhood Spent Free from Modern Electronic Devices 
• The Best Secret about making a home 
• 6 Proven Ways to Lose Belly Fat 
• Doctors Explain Why Going On A Hike Changes Your Brain.  
• 5 exercises every woman should do ... often! 
• I'm totally stunned and shocked at the anti- New Zealand culture in Australia.  It was the one thing I was totally oblivious to when we moved here.  I was under the impression of an ANZAC relationship between the two.  Sadly I know this to be true: New Zealanders in Australia are still treated like second-class citizens and Kiwi mum left alone to raise Australian twins after partner's death 
• Loved reading this The Kind Gesture that Helps Elizabeth Gilbert Find the Light On Her Worst Days 

 I’m cooking…

• I'm wondering if this baking blend recipe is any good Kris’ Baking Mix ~ copycat recipe for THM Baking Blend (FP)
• I'm thinking this one will be better to try Nili’s Baking Mix
• Mushroom Brown Rice ... 

 A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

"Once Intellect admits us into the realms of History, we live in a great and stirring world, full of entertainment and sometimes of regret; and at last we begin to understand that we, too, are making History, and that we are all part of the whole; that the people who went before us were all very like ourselves, or else we should not be able to understand them. If some of them were worse than we, and in some things their times were worse than ours, yet we make acquaintance with many who were noble and great, and our hearts beat with a desire to be like them.” - Charlotte Mason

Blessings
Chareen

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April has arrived ... {HSMJ}

 In my life this week…

This morning I took a drive across Melbourne and discovered the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens.  IF you're ever in Melbourne I strongly recommend you take a drive out there and enjoy a morning strolling this beautiful place.


Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

• Spend more time outdoors.  I love this Finish maxim: "There is no bad weather. Only inadequate clothing."  read more here This is why Finland has the best schools
• Ambleside Schools - Sample Narration Grade 3 
•  Free Printables: 21 Easter Egg Coloring Pages
• 8 Actors on Books and Reading.
• Are you doing Shakespeare in your homeschool ?  Have you seen Shakespeare: The Animated Tales [DVD]
•   What I Learned from Charlotte’s Schedule

Are you on Instagram ?  If so we've been invited by The Schoolhouse Review Crew to participate in a IG challenge for April

My favourite thing this week was…

• A Broken Hallelujah
• I'm looking forward to building this with Nathaniel Lego Resurrection Garden scene
• I loved this encouragement from Lori Do Careers Give Meaning to Women? I confess I've struggled with this sometimes and I'm grateful for all I've learned over the last two decades being at home and I'm looking forward to many more.   

 Things I’m working on…

• Become Equipped: Know What You Think and Why.
• Finding Your Rhythm  and keeping to it.
• Buy some Ice Cream - Dealing with difficult days.
•  Tip FOUR - One Step at a Time 
• Tip FIVE - Read Aloud Together Every Day 

 On the WWW I’m reading…

• Interesting watch - All I Need TV show I didn't know that in Australia is known for some of the biggest homes in the world. 
• It's always great to read encouraging love stories Love and War: From Marines to Marriage
• I love beautiful dresses and recently discovered this site Holy Clothing
• This new colouring book looks interesting  Restore My Soul A Coloring Book Devotional Journey
• This is one of the saddest things I've come across in a long time  How 4 teens became murderers without killing anyone 
• Easter Is Not Named After Ishtar, And Other Truths I Have To Tell You  
• Chocolate cake for breakfast? Research says it's good for both your brain and your waistline
•  ‘I’m Hitting The Road’: 90-Year-Old Chooses Road Trip Over Cancer Treatment
• 7 Things Moms Should Do for Their Kids Every Day 
• Some  homeschooling encouragement Is Homeschooling Not Good For Boys?  
• Sydney Seige hostage survivor on how Jesus teaches her to love her neighbour 
•  

 I’m thinking of cooking…

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars
• Briana's House Low Carb Chocolate Chip Cookies 
• Paelo Hot Cross Buns 
•  Creamy Pecan Pralines
• Sunday Pork Chops 
• Banana Cream Pie Shake 

Blessings
Chareen

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March 19 {HSMJ}

 In my life this week…

It's been a much needed week of rest.  Today I will share you a few photo's of our week and over the next few weeks I will share in depth about our explorations.

Enjoying the Murry River

Every day the sky was painted

Nathaniel enjoyed swimming each day.

Capri Waters Country Club.

Paul fishing in the Murry River

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

• We're all invited to start Poetry Teatime.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

• Mulwala and Yarrawonga

My favourite thing this week was…

• Exploring new areas.
• 7 Things Moms Should Do for Their Kids Every Day 

 On the WWW I’m reading…

• Blind Mom Takes Care Of 3 Kids In Total Darkness
• I'm totally shocked to read that this is even happening in Australia No jail for mum and midwife found guilty of female genital mutilation of young girls

 I’m cooking…

• I think I will give this a go Banana Cream Pie Shake { Low Fat | Sugar Free | THM E }

Blessings
Chareen

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Week in Review
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Homeschool projects
And anything homeschool related.

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March 12 Homeschool Mothers Journal.

 In my life this week…

• We are New Zealand citizens who are currently living in Australia under a bi-lateral agreement.  Recently the Australian government announced a new pathway to citizenship for NZ citizens who arrived in Australia between 27 February 2001 to 19 February 2016.  Please be in prayer for us over this as this is something we desire for our family having a pathway to citizenship.  For my New Zealand friends who are in Australia here is some information for you: Additional citizenship pathway for New Zealanders
• I'm still on a mission to regain health and strength this year.  I just found a wonderful post by Dolly: How to get started on THM on a budget. 
• Goodness I'm looking forward to next week we are going away for a weeks holidays!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

• Favorite Librivox Stories for Kids 
• Shakespeare for Kids: An Easy 5-Step Plan 
• Check out this fabulous YouTube channel:  How it's Made.  Most are 5 min in length and answer the age old questions we all have on How do they make that?

In our home school this week…

• We learned how to make our own home made yoghurt. I'm so pleased we did as now 800 grams of greek yoghurt will only cost me $1 to make ...
• We completed the second class of the Repeated Sweets DVD.
• Nathaniel was blessed with a Stopmotion Explosion kit and has been experimenting with it ever since.
• Our mushrooms reached maturity and we were able to harvest and cook them.
• Started reading some Usborne Beginners Science books. (Weather and Tadpoles and Frogs)
• Commenced a new missionary biography from YWAM - William Booth
• Finished reading Joseph Haydon - the Merry Little Peasant.
• Went on a field trip to Cooks Cottage
• Started reading Egypt in Spectacular Cross-Section  

My favourite thing this week was…

• Erin from over at Seven Little Australians shared this post that spoke to the heart of what I think and feel lately about my little blog and my homeschool journey.  How to Find (or Re-find) Your Passion
• I can so identify with my friend on this.  This is a post written by a missionary friend who is currently 'home' on furlow  Every step I take I take in you…
• I was reminded how blessed I am and how much God takes care of this when I read this on a new friends blog 10 Years of Provision
• Oh I loved seeing this post: Sorry, You’ve Been Using Post-Its All Wrong… Here’s The Right Way now I know why my notes would never lie flat! 

 Things I’m working on…

• The Virtual Curriculum Fair - Week 2 Science, Math and Logic
•  Places to Explore near Melbourne
• Step ONE of our Repeated Sweets Project 
• Why did you start blogging (and why do you keep blogging)?  

 On the WWW I’m reading…

• On Graduations, Mom, and a Throw-Back Thursday too
• This could be awkward or a blessing: How Can You Help Someone Whose Home is Filthy? 
• Hmm this is a good reminder for all of us: Extravagance Verses Prudence  
• The REAL reason Facebook Really Wants You to Use Its New Reaction Buttons 
• Oh this is hear touching - Before losing his battle with cancer, teen invents IV pole 'lily pads' to help sick children
• It's so good to read encouraging write ups like this:  To the Strangers in Whole Foods Who Surrounded Me After News of My Father’s Suicide
• For my blogging friends here is a great write up from Google about your review posts - Best practices for bloggers reviewing free products they receive from companies   
• How to Find (or Re-find) Your Passion

 Trim Healthy Mama…

• If you are in Australia and looking for Konjac noodles check out ZERO
•  What I learned while following the Trim Healthy Mama’s Stubborn Losers Menu

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
This week Joey passed from earth to glory.  This is an amazing video of her singing a love song to her husband for the first day after she is gone and walking on streets of gold...  Be sure to have your tissues handy when watching When I'm Gone.  It was a timely reminder for me to appreciate Paul more.

Joey+Rory - "When I'm Gone" from Hickory Films on Vimeo.
Blessings
Chareen

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School Work&nbsp
Homeschool projects
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