Rockpool Homeschool: Homeschool Resort

Hubby Likes Homeschool More Than I Realised!

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:27:05 +0000

I've been really quite surprised this week with my husband's response to our youngest wanting to go 'try' high school. We finally had the chance to compare notes last night and make sure we weren't giving conflicting advice and it turns out DH's response has been stronger than mine- in favour of homeschool. He's told DS that he would be going into an environment where boys were probably at their worst in terms of attitude and behaviour, including aggression. He suggested waiting until next year (year 9) when the students had matured a little more and become more accepting. (In my recollection, this doesn't happen until year 11 or 12 even but I didn't argue the point.)

I know that for a while, especially since we went to Jenni's camp last year, DH has liked homeschool. Before that, he accepted it was good for our eldest but doubted it would suit our youngest. I didn't realise he had become such a complete convert. I thought he might even take the stance "if he wants to go back to school, let him." I must say, I'm rather chuffed.

Does This Happen To You?

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:25:37 +0000

I have 3 sisters, two of which have kids in private schools and one that doesnt have kids yet.

For some time now, I have noticed that whenever I mention anything to do with homeschool (ie what we are doing, classes, how well DS is doing in a certain subject - just general chit chat), they tend to go very quiet, or if the conversation is by email, they simply do not respond about the homeschool email but will respond to other emails?? I consider myself fairly close with my sisters but that they do this, is really disappointing to me. I have my suspicions as to why they behave like this, but was wondering if anyone else has anything similar happen with their families [that they are comfortable sharing] and if so, why you think they do it?

I just want to add.... even though they wont discuss any aspect of homeschooling with me, I still get bombared with photos of their kids getting honour certificicates, doing class plays etc at assemblies and I usually always respond with some kind of congratulations....

Part Timing

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:45:22 +0000

Ok so I sent my Kids to a local small school (60 kids) that i found last year for the last term to get a break and time to build our business, and was planning to full time homeschool them this year but Ive just had a phone call from the school and they have agreed to have my kids part time, i find this interesting as i tried every local school when i moved here and none would accept part timers, Im thinking I will give it a go as it means I also get a break to catch up on paper work (we run a busniess from home), any idea or experiences with part timing your kids ? i would really love to hear how you went as im wondering if the school will try and take over our homeschooling with home work and stuff.

Singapore Maths Primary Levels Guide

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:09:48 +0000

This is a rough guide to the primary level programmes (Grades Prep / NE / Kinder to 6) for Singapore Maths.

A quick comparison of:
Primary Mathematics 3rd Edition
Primary Mathematics US Edition
Primary Mathematics Standards edition
New Syllabus Primary Mathematics
My Pals Are Here Mathematics
Math in Focus
Discover Math
Shaping Math

Attached Files

singaporemathprimary.pdf 31.37K 93 downloads

Talking About Your Choice To Homeschool

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:19:18 +0000

Hello everyone,

I have been looking through the posts to see if there were any answers for me but I thought I'd just start a new topic.

My daughter just turned 3 and her little friends and cousins are all being booked in to go to 3 year old kinder next year. I have been having family, friends and strangers ask me if she is booked in to go next year too. I don't know whether it is because I am still not completely confident in our decision to homeschool or me wanting to fit in with what everyone else is doing but I get stuck on the answer. Most of the time I don't even say we have chosen to homeschool. I go around the answer and say that we haven't enrolled her yet, we aren't in a big rush etc etc. People just take that as me being lazy or not caring about my daughters future, when in fact I have been doing a lot of research and care very much for her growth and schooling. I don't know why I cannot just come out and say that we have decided to homeschool, well, I think some part is because then I feel I have to explain to people why we are doing it and that we aren't completely bonkers, it just isn't one concrete 'in-a-nutshell' answer though, it is a lot of reasons why we are choosing this for our children and family.

What do you say when people ask you about sending them to 3yo kinder/ kinder/ school? Are you bold and confident (unlike me) to just say that you aren't sending them? I had even a stranger telling me that it was selfish of me to not send them to school because they need to become their own person and learn without being by my side and it is me that is having trouble letting go. I mean, I didn't even tell her we were homeschooling, I just said we hadn't decided on sending her to kindy yet.

I know my family will be talking behind my back about our decision. If this happened to you, how did you cope or deal with the situaltion?

Sorry, I hope this made sense. Thanks in advance.

Grace

Fun Ways To Drill Basic Facts?

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:42:23 +0000

DD really needs to get better with addition and subtraction to 20. She is doing long addition and substraction and it's hampered by not having instant recall of the basic facts.

I don't want to add anything schooly, I'm after fun ideas.

Seven Lies About Homeschoolers (Video)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:12:02 +0000

Isn't this just so true?

Centrelink And Homeschooling Laws

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:23:53 +0000

I am having no end of trouble with Centrelink trying to get me to sign work agreements. They keep telling me I have to attend appointments every few weeks to discuss if I've looked for work and if I plan to. I keep showing them the letter I have proving I'm registered, but they keep sending me forms that I'm supposed to fill out every 2 weeks or payments will stop. They recently penalised me for not attending an interview, which under the law I'm supposed to be exempt from having to attend as a registered home educator. They took $200 from me for not attending this interview - which I was told was cancelled given that I had provided evidence of registration to home educate- they conveniently didn't remove the appointment from the system. They are still on my back, still lying and still threatening to stop payments if I don't sign job search agreements or do as I'm told. I keep telling them that it is the law and I am complying with the law but they won't listen. Can someone give me a link - preferably a government one - where it states that I'm exempt for 52 weeks of the year?

Leap Day

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:02:10 +0000

Now is an apt time to do a unit study on the reason for leap years and the adoption of the Julian and Gregorian calendars. I always thought the world moved as one but there were several groups of countries who made the 10/11 day adjustment from Julian to Gregorian on different dates of different years. There was even a Feb 30th one year somewhere in the world. It's rather crazy really and I find it fascinating so I'll be spending some time explaining leap year this month.

I also have a friend who is a leap day baby, which is kinda cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar

http://inventors.about.com/cs/inventionsalphabet/a/leap_year.htm

http://www.leapyearday.com/

http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=22255&it=1

Naplan?

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:20:20 +0000

Hey there

Does anyone know if and how homeschool kids can sit a NAPLAN test?

We're thinking of a lovely high school as one option a few years down the track, but they're out of our area and need NAPLAN results.

Look forward to your advice.

xx ky

Algebra In The Real Word Video Clips

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:51:47 +0000

http://ilearntechnology.com/?p=4509

Too Much Theory For Teens?

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:01:13 +0000

http://www.mercatornet.com/family_edge/view/10250

Quote

Psychology Professor, Alison Gopnik. Professor Gopnik traces such problems to what she sees as a lack of balance in the way we bring up kids these days and the impact it has on the development of their brains. She says we give them too much theoretical knowledge and not enough practical experience in the real world. Her solution is to introduce adolescents to the workplace much earlier in their development.

Kindy (4.5)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:38:57 +0000

What do people concentrate on mainly in the kindy year? My lil miss is 4.5 so not sure if I should be focusing on name writing, tracing, sorting etc

Mathletics Vs Mathsonline

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:22:56 +0000

I would like to use one of these for a very reluctant maths student, ds 13. He hates bookwork, so am trying to move more online for him.

For those of you who have used them, what do you like about it and what don't you like. From what I've seen, both do some teaching of the concepts and since he's becoming more resistant to help from me, something that shows how it goes would help. I prefer to try things out before I buy, but can't see where I can do that on these. So, I'm after your opinions and suggestions.

Help me decide which one to use.

We Just Homeschool Because We Like Buying Stationery Anonymous Club

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:28:37 +0000

Well ok, not quite but who doesn't love super stationery buys at this time of year? It's a dangerous time out there in the shops because we all know looking leads to... absolutely needing

I'm not sure if I should say thank you or not just yet, but Lesley pointed me in the direction of the Office Works Kids Club (yes, happy to admit I may be the last person to know about it but they don't exactly make it obvious on their website).
For kids aged 3-10 if you feel the need for some Office Works freebies,
http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail/landing/ollie_kids_club?siteAware=true

Our local Aldi this week has electric pencil sharpeners on special. I have a love that should not be for our electric pencil sharper. It isn't the Aldi brand but it saves sooooooo much time and hassle I'm considering buying all the kids an Aldi one just so I get to keep the original one to myself mwhaa haaa haaa haaa

Anyone else found any super stationery buys to share?

Grammar Recommendation

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:11:39 +0000

I have been reading and researching, looking for something else to use for grammar for DS7. Currently we are just about to move into FLL2, but I dont think we can take another year of the repetition and memorisation. I would prefer something that puts the grammar into use a little sooner.

We are also using WWE and would like to stick with this. Is there something we can use for grammar that will fit nicely with WWE? I have been looking at GWG but reviews are quite mixed, MCT looks really good and sounds like it would suit DS perfectly, however I'm a little confused about whether any of it would replace WWE? Do I need to buy all the books? What kind of order would we use the books in?

oh the choices!

Is It Bad That

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:32:02 +0000

I'm literally hanging out for school to go back. I can't wait to have some quieter times during the day and not have the neighbourhood here all day.

When ds was at school I couldn't wait for holidays to do things, now I can't wait for holidays to finish so I can do things again.

Earn My Keep Program Explained

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:33:56 +0000

The author of this program can supply the kids workbooks to me in bulk to save on postage from the States. Would anyone else be interested?

Homeschool Lunches - What Do You Do?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:35:59 +0000

Here's an article with some suggestions for lunches
http://www.hsclassroom.net/2012/01/do-it-yourself-homeschool-lunch-ideas/

which reminds me of the muffin tin meals,
http://michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com/search/label/Muffin%20Tin%20Monday

Is anyone giving their homeschooling lunches a make over this year?

Abc Article On Homeschooling: Negative

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:35:45 +0000

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-28/thousands-of-parents-illegally-home-schooling/3798008