Our Revised Schedule & Other Things

I have added a box on the side with a link to download a PDF of our schedule, for those who are interested. As it is likely to change (again and a again and again! lol!), I thought it would be easier to have the link, that way whenever it is updated, I'm not posting the whole thing all over again! ;)

I also haven't heard any news from the Board of Studies in relation to the applications, but it has only been a couple of days! ;) I am planning on contacting a couple of the homeschool groups in my area within the next week or so, just to get a feel for them, find out how many children are involved in these groups and their ages .... things like that. I believe that socialisation is important for children, but I am not entirely convinced that mass institutionalisation benefits them.

As a primary school teacher-in-training, I was made aware of the signs to look out for in children at the extreme ends of the learning scale, and it surprises me that, just because my son:

• is a boy
  
• is easily distracted by others
• appears to show little interest in his work, but manages to adequately complete it
• finds alot of subjects "boring", yet is at the top of the highest subject groups in his class
  

that he has been labelled a "trouble maker", and the teacher shows no indication (despite my concerns and requests) of assessing him under the gifted and talented guidelines. My daughter's teacher, however, has made us aware of her rapid progress in class, but i don't think she realises how advanced this little girl has become!

To be honest, I don't think the school has the capabilities or the resources to cope with G&T children, as I have been made aware of a number of students being removed from the school to be homeschooled .... it appears that our local HS community may be larger than I initially thought!

This year, Zak competed in the UNSW International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (and as it turns out, was the ONLY one in his class to do so!) in the areas of Science, Writing, English and Maths. Although his score in Writing was, shall we say, less than desirable, based on the scoring criterion, I believe it reflects more upon the school than upon him. His weakest point was genre (which ironically, I have factored hugely into next years curriculum, despite not being aware of this at the time!) but grammar, punctuation and spelling were highly above average scores.

His love of Science really shone through in the Science scores - he scored close to the average of year 4 students throughout the state (even though he is only in year3!) He received a similar result for the English competition, gaining a Credit, and also a Credit in Maths, with a score higher than the year 4 average!

I am really looking forward to next year, and both of my kids are really excited about being able to learn at an accelerated pace without being held back.

Structure vs Free Learning

The more I try to work out the best course of action for my kids, and me, and the way (and what) they will learn, the more our schedule becomes such a rigid structure, even though I would prefer that they lead me in the directions that they want to learn. I have sat and talked with them both about what they would like to learn next year, and they are pretty similar ... they both love reading; in fact my almost 6 year old daughter has read my son's home readers which he has brought from school - and he is in year 3!! Similarly, he loves to read from my extensive library of books, including texts from my English Literature and Education degree, which are an assortment of teen texts through to psychology and education texts!

We have found a couple of series of books which interest him, and also span across most of the Key Learning Areas, and he has aspirations of completing all of the topics next year! I have decided to include some teacher reference books that relate to the texts they want to study, in our initial purchase, as they contain assessments for the kids to complete, and this should satisfy the Board of Studies requirements. Funnily enough, I am not anxious about the application / interview process for Home Education ... I feel very prepared and really feel that I am doing the best thing I can for my kids.

All that remains is to fax the applications through. Might do that now!

Our Schedule (thus far!)

I have been working on a schedule, and this is what I have come up with so far .... I know there are a few blanks, but I also know there are a couple of groups I'd love to be meeting with, and it's just a matter of finding out what days they meet. I would also love to get the kids involved in dance and music classes again, as they have been missing out since we moved at the beginning of the year.

I also need to work around my hubby, as he works nights, and I would prefer to be out of the house, with the kids, during the day while he is sleeping.

Frustrations

During my research on how to devise the best possible curriculum for my children, I was told about the NSW Association for Gifted and Talented Children Inc, as many of the traits they are expressing are common in G&T children. Whilst on this site, I read an interesting article on Emotion, Behaviour and Personality Development in the Gifted, which also led me to an article on Emotional Overexcitability, a characteristic which ALL of my children seem to display!

This afternoon, I asked my almost 9 year old son to play a little IQ Test game, and after 5 minutes of countless restarts, he ran from the computer, crying, and threw himself on the lounge. I was distraught that he couldn't complete it and couldn't understand why he kept making the same mistakes. At the same time, he resented any little prods of assistance and encouragement .... he definitely likes to work things out for himself!!

On any one day, I will usually have three out of my four kids cry for no reason, or for tiny little (what may seem to others as insignificant) things ... I think I may sit and create an emotional response scale with them each individually, in the hopes that it helps curb their tantrums!! LOL!

My eldest can also come across as a perfectionist, and I found this article a very interesting read too! And a few more articles:
Characteristics of Gifted Children
Characteristics of Young Gifted Children (I do have 2 little ones who display alot of these)

I know that all of my kids are frustrated easily, especially if things aren't going their way, or they can't get something right on the first attempt. Yes, this can also be seen as regular behaviour for children in their respective age groups, but when you start doing the research, and you've known that there's something different about your kids for a long time, it all starts to add up.

I have started talking to them when they are upset and/or crying, in order to find out what has triggered that particular response, and funnily enough, it keeps me calm too!! I need them to know that I care and that I'm here for them no matter what, and that's why I feel that I really am doing the best thing for them by homeschooling. But justification is not necessary.

The Adventure Begins!

I have decided to homeschool my children. My eldest has been in three different schools already and is about to finish year 3. He is quite bright, and although his teachers have said he "slacks off" at school and is easily distracted and a disruption to the class, he finds school boring and wants more challenging tasks to be set.

Of course, my daughter, who will finish her first year of school very soon, wants to be homeschooled as well. I don't mind in the slightest .... having them both will mean more scope for group activities.

With two more little ones at home, perhaps my third child might decide to "start school" early!! LOL! I guess eventually, I will be homeschooling all four of them (and any others that decide to come along!)

I have been pleasantly surprised at the number of support groups I have found during my research - locally, statewide and nationally! One of the greatest resources I have found is the Home Education Association Inc. (Australia). I'm sure this site is going to become an invaluable resource!!

One concern that I have had in making the decision to homeschool is the impact it could have on my home-based business! However, as my children have started showing an interest in what I do, their assistance would not only be greatly appreciated, but could also be incorporated into their curriculum. From what I can see so far, scheduling is definitely going to be the key!!

Although we are not commencing until 2010, I have already started scheduling things such as swimming lessons, athletics, and even housework! I figure, if I can stick to a schedule now, it will become easier to do when it is imperative that it be done! LOL!

I have drawn up an anticipated schedule for my kids 2010 curriculum, and we have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of homeshooling. Obviously socialisation is important, and that's where the numerous support groups in my local area will come in handy. Not having to fight for after school times for extra curricular activities such as swimming and music lessons is a great advantage!

I look forward to sharing our journey here, for as long as that may be!