Homeschooling thoughts

Several of Sara's peers are soon heading off to Kindy, and so I'm thinking I should delve deeper into what exactly it is that we are going to do now that we have made the decision to home school for the first few years.

Do I buy a curriculum, write my own or a do a bit of both. Do I buy one curriculum or a bit from a few vendors? How do I choose which one to go with? Where do I even start this research? How do I want to structure school time? How do I actively incorporate learning into homelife too?


Jenny kindly re-lent me the book I didn't read the first time - so I guess getting stuck into that will give me some direction to some of these questions... Would probably also help if I ever get along to a home school park gathering...

I want to focus more on the love of learning and understanding instead of marks and results as such. I think this will give the girls a great foundation to achieve whatever in the future, because they LOVE it rather than because they have to. Although I will have to try to follow the government guidelines more closely year by year, as we plan to send Sara to school at grade 3, but if I were planning to go the whole way we could take a more relaxed pace. (letting them go a ahead in some areas and take their time in others)

So far my key areas would be Maths, Phonics, Writing and Bible study. (I'm pretty sure science and art/ craft will happen pretty naturally too - science more than art)

Hmm... have much to think about! Not to mention I have still to sell home school to Sara (who really has no idea what school is but thinks it would be fun to have me walk her there)

Home Birth Dreams probably won't become a realilty

If you have no idea about whats happening in Australia with new legislation affecting mid-wifes and their practices read here.

Basically what I understand is that as of next year, home births will be illegal because mid-wifes won't be allowed and doctors won't do them. The only way is to go it alone with no professional support, which I know Dave won't be comfortable with.

I think that it's terrible, no matter your opinions on it, everyone should have the choice to birth where they feel most comfortable, esp as the research shows that homebirth is safe! (Some statistics here). Also here is a cool article to read if you are interested in a doctors perspective.

So realistically, given the speed of my labours, next time I may be forced to be one of those demeaning car park birth stories - I can't think of anything worse...

Just doing my bit here to raise awareness of what is going on.