Although both John and I believe that homeschooling is a natural extension of parenting, for the sake of others I’ll try and briefly chronicle our ‘official’ homeschooling timeline.
1997
We knew we wanted to homeschool in mid 1997. My mother passed away in December of 1997 and we went to her hometown to have the funeral. Two weeks later it was Christmas. I started ‘Miss A’ on some diagnostic tests to see what grade of books she should start on in January.
1998
We came home and I promptly started school-at-home in January, 1998. It was all very exciting. Both ‘Miss A’ and ‘Miss R’ were doing lessons. John was only 3years old while ‘Master C’ was a baby so he spent most of the time sleeping or eating.
Toward the end of the year (about term 3) I started looking around to learn other ways and things to teach. Using a phonic approach, ‘Miss R’ had learned to read so I was itching to do other things. I was also getting bored of workbooks and honestly was dreading doing the same old workbooks with the boys. I thought there had to be more to it than that. So I investigated the wide, wonderful world of homeschool methods and philosophies. I looked into just about all of them. I think they all have some merit and some fine points but I did gravitate toward Charlotte Mason’s methods.
Also during this year I smashed my ankle playing softball and my dad came to live with us for awhile…to help me. John was away during all this.
1999
We started trying to use CM’s methods exclusively. We were having a great time. During this year we have a minor family crisis.
2000
Major operation which takes about 3 months to recover. Schooling continues. Lots of play outside for the growing boys. Quite rigorous with girls. I’m still learning about other approaches: Natural Learning, Ruth Beechick’s methods, Unschooling, etc.
2001
Life is great living in Strath. Girls go to St. John’s Ambulance and Girl Guides. Involved in softball. Coordinate a homeschool group. May brought the move from Strathalbyn to ACT. Major lifestyle change. Next six months spent adjusting to new place. ‘Master C’ broke his arm while jumping from the couch. During this year I sense myself becoming emotionally absent from the children.
2002
Softball again! I sustained a knee injury and subsequent knee reconstruction. Life is getting tricky as John is away a fair bit and I try to cope with life’s demands with a leg in plaster and living in a two storey home. I’m still feeling a need to have a lot of ‘time to myself’ and becoming more emotionally absent from the family.
2003
Living in ACT but moved house again. Heavily involved in softball as coach, player, scorer. Great group of homeschoolers. The children have regular access to the pool, which gives me a few hours each week for some down time. I am starting to investigate other approaches as I’m tired. I’ve noticed certain rhythms or patterns to our years and am starting to see that learning does indeed happen all the time! I start learning more about a Heart of Wisdom approach, but it scares me a little.
2004
Living in ACT and loving it! Involved in a great group of homeschoolers. Sept/Oct brings and unexpected move to Albury/Wodonga, VIC. I am not happy! I’m looking more and more into Natural Learning and I’m learning how to create learning opportunities out of every day life. I’m trying more and more ideas from Heart of Wisdom.
2005
- also see archives
Living in Albury/Wodonga. During this year, we have another family member with a minor crisis that brings a bit of stress to the whole family. We start pursuing Bible study regularly with the basic subjects covered and Natural Learning for everything else.
‘Miss R’ informs us that she’d like to go to school. I am devastated. We talk to her a lot but say no. We ask her to seriously think about the consequences for herself and the whole family. I have been working on our relationship for ages now…not sure if it is working. About November, she approaches us again and asks to go to school. I am devastated again but John wants her enrolled in the small ACE school. I start feeling depressed.
2006
- also see archives
Living in Albury/Wodonga. ‘Miss R’ starts school at the small, private Christian school using ACE. This starts off being our Sabbatical Year, but I wasn’t sure for how long it would continue. We moved interstate to QLD in May. ‘Miss A’ started part time work at a patisserie. ‘Miss R’ took a few weeks off and then started at a local public (state) school in Year 8. Just after moving John incurs a shoulder injury and has subsequent shoulder reconstruction. Girls get involved with Youth Group for the first time. This year saw us take a full year of homeschool Sabbatical. This year, as far as homeschooling goes, has been one of our best ever. I was not weary or tired from lessons yet the children were all still learning heaps. We were doing lots of Bible study.
2007
- also see archives
Still in QLD. John goes back to work too early and does back injury. With ‘Miss A’ working part time, and largely self directed and independent in her Yr 11 studies and with ‘Miss R’ (Yr 9) at school I am teaching the boys. It is a learning curve for me as they learn very differently to the girls and their interests are very different. We moved house again! but only 20 kms down the road. ‘Miss R’ is liking the new school as she gets to do Dance and Music. The boys are doing Maths independently, reading a wide variety of literature, reading for Science, history and geography. Together we do: Bible reading, Herein is Love, Genesis, Catechism, Bible study, Boyhood and Beyond, reading aloud and recitation while the boys do English, Maths and Science independently.
2008
- also see archives
Wow, what year. I hardly know where to start. Miss A is continuing her studies for Yr 12. Miss R is supposed to be attending Yr 10 at a local high school. The boys and I are pottering along but I sensed they needed more structure- a working format that did NOT rely upon me. So I bit the bullet, tested them and started them on ACE PACES. Yes, how does a natural-learning CM unschooler go using ACE? Very loosely but it suits our needs at this time! We moved interstate yet again - 7 house moves in 7 years is very tiring! Miss A finished all her studies that I had set for her in yr 12 so once we moved back to Adelaide she started working as a barista. She continued to study on her own, learning as much as she could about coffee. She entered and placed in the SA Barista Championship! She also continues to do well at softball. Miss R eventually settled into the local high school and we were thankful for that. The boys continued to plod slowly but steadily through their paces and reading lists.
2009
Meandering through marriage, motherhood and mess as a child of God. Married to Beloved for over 20 years. Five children later and I”m still having a ball!
My greatest passion and desire in life is to share the love and grace of God. I enjoy blogging, web design with wordpress, social media, technology, chocolate, coffee, good movies and being with family and friends.
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