Living in the North and Home education
I have started this blog partly to journal our life with the kids, so that if anyone were to ever ask me to show we've been educating the kids, I'll be able to look back and find out! It has been overtaken by recipes the last couple of weeks, but this post is an attempt to balance the recipes with the two biggest time-consumers in my life. The biggest thing is the Lord Jesus, but the time-consumers flow from my (our!) relationship with him.
First comes church. More specifically, church in the North-east in a new-town which replaced about 15 pit-village collieries.
We received excellent training, the best possible, at Oak Hill College. It couldn't have been better. But what we have learned since moving here, even more so that Middlesbrough, was that there are parts of England which are so different that ministry has to be different.
I'll admit to feeling clueless and ambivalent about the mining industry for most of my life. In fact, I would say I was unsympathetic. Two recent experiences changed that. The first was a visit to the Woodhorn museum in Northumberland, and the second was a trip down a drift mine at Beamish museum in Durham. Both those trips changed how I saw the people among who I live. For two hundred years our nation became advanced and wealthy off the backs of men, children and ponies who worked in unimaginable conditions to provide coal. Conditions were shocking, pay was meager... but the country ran on coal. Move forward to the middle of the 20th Century, the decreased need for coal and the cost of extraction mean the mines start to close. Two hundred years of hereditary jobs and identity is removed in one fell swoop. No wonder born-and bred locals can resent change. No wonder we're a Labour safe seat. No wonder it is hard for new people to fit in. One granny I spoke with said she felt like an outsider in our part of town after 20 years. She originated 1 mile away, in another part of town. But it was a different pit village 50 years ago, and many still see the distinction.
This means Nick and I know that vicars here cannot just come and go. They need to come and stay. There are very few evangelical churches here, far fewer than any place I have lived, and the job requires phenomenal time, relationships and commitment. God might move us from here one day, but for the moment, we've chucked our lot in with our town and that takes time.
Secondly, educating the kids.
Home education can be divisive. My aim is not to divide, but to try to describe the life we live and why do it.
We decided long ago, before having children that we would educate them at home. Nick and I are naturally non-conformers. My dad said we were only doing it to be different, and i think he is only 90% wrong! We knew a few adults who had been home-educated and it appealed to us in itself. Then, when our gifts of children came along, and we loved them, our natural inclination seemed to be with them all the time. I never felt like leaving them in a creche on Sunday, for example. I wasn't working out of the home, our parents lived miles away, and we were used to them being wherever we were, and we enjoyed that. Not sending them to nursery or school wasn't, therefore, a decision. It just wasn't ever really a consideration, except in those times when I panicked about ruining their education. It has nothing to do with local schools.
I am often told by people that they couldn't home educate. I have no opinion on whether that is true or not, but I would say a few things. I am not patient, I am often unkind, I am not a genius and I struggle to impart mathematical concepts to my children despite having maths A level. I am disorganised by nature, and I am not a completer-finisher. I am weak, I am sinful. However, I know that the Lord is with us in our journey with the kids. In a way, educating at home is just a different way of discipling the children in their walk with the Lord ( With maths thrown in). We read the wonderful word of God together like any family, we sin against them and repent, we are sinned against and forgive. And we do addition equations. The point it, as the Lord is with families in their struggle against the fallen nature of everything, so he is with us. My fallen mind struggles with maths but he provides help. My fallen heart struggles to be patient with a new reader, but He provides strength. We just choose to do it 24/7. Not because we are better Christians, but because He is in it with us, every minute. And it is a great privilege. Germans, Dutch, some Scandinavians, they are not allowed to home-educate, so we give thanks that we have the freedom to choose.
The other help is social media, and the other is the PLETHORA of curriucula to choose from. More of which, another time!
Showing posts with label Home education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home education. Show all posts
Sunday, 20 September 2015
Tuesday, 8 September 2015
Social media (and bolognese)
The Net at its Best
At a recent family wedding I had a lovely conversation with the girlfriend of my cousins' cousin. I always worry at weddings about ending up sitting near people to who I have nothing to say, but this one worked well. My dear beloved big brother, Daniel, was on my left, and since he is the member of my immediate family I see least of, I was exceptionally grateful for this. On my right was the cousin family of my cousin. My brother and I were overheard by the lady (whose name has left me) who was working on a TV programme about social media. Daniel and I were discussing the way Facebook has enabled very isolated farmers to finally network and be encouraged by shared experiences and support. Our chat also included the amazing benefits to our home education journey because using Facebook I can find out about curricula which I never could have known about, and I have found a whole network of local home educators for the children and I to hang out with and mutually encourage.
Overhearing this conversation, our fellow guest joined us because in her research for the telly, she has only found negative stories. Infidelity and Divorce caused (in part) by Facebook. And worse.
I added in the fact that Nick and I met on the internet (although in the days before social media!), to say that social media is brilliant.
*
During the last few months, our maths home education has been dominated by my lack of ability to explain a concept which I felt eldest could probably grasp. We tried and tried and tried, and then gave up and turned to Khan Academy to fill the gap.
Returning in September began miserably. Exactly the same problem, but it was very clear to me that the issue was mine. I didn't know how to explain this concept in a way which worked with her brain. And it was frustrating. The happy ending to the story comes from the very large, american Facebook group I am a member of which follows a particular guide to home education. I stated my question. I had 20 answers within a couple of hours. I checked them all, looked at the different ways of explaining the concept in one evening, spent a few minutes digging through my craft pile in the loft the next day, half an hour colouring balls and cutting up egg boxes. 2 maths lessons later and BOOM. Cracked it.
And without Facebook, I would still be sitting here sobbing, my relationship with eldest strained by my inability. Social media has transformed our world, and I imagine it has transformed mums' abilities to educate their kids at home. For which I am grateful.
*
Bolognese sauce
Some recipes develop over years and this is one of them. It has evolved from the one my mum frequently cooked for us as children, and is one I make frequently. It is much complemented when I feed it to others, especially when it ends up in a (very cheesy) lasagne.
Ingredients
Oil
1 onion, chopped
Optional extra veg: mushrooms, sliced; courgettes, peppers, in 1cm cubes ish!
500g beef mince (full-fat!)
Optional extra meat: chopped pancetta or bacon; chopped chorizo
2 tins chopped tomatoes
1/2 the tomato tin filled with water
2 Tbs tomato puree
2 Tbs sun-dried Tomato puree
1 tsp herbes de provence
Heat your oil in a large saucepan, then add the onions. Very gently fry for 10 mins or so, with the lid on, stirring from time to time. Add in any other veg. This makes the sauce go much further. Fry til everything is soft. I keep the lid on.
Add all the meat and stir obsessively to break up the mince into tiny pieces. I cant bear lumps of mince!
once it is all broken and no longer looks raw, chuck in the rest of the ingredients, stir and leave on a very low heat to gently bubble for 30mins-1 hour. It does get better with a good bubble.
Serve on pasta, with lots of cheese, or make lasagne (particularly yummy with chorizo). Buen apetito. Or something!
At a recent family wedding I had a lovely conversation with the girlfriend of my cousins' cousin. I always worry at weddings about ending up sitting near people to who I have nothing to say, but this one worked well. My dear beloved big brother, Daniel, was on my left, and since he is the member of my immediate family I see least of, I was exceptionally grateful for this. On my right was the cousin family of my cousin. My brother and I were overheard by the lady (whose name has left me) who was working on a TV programme about social media. Daniel and I were discussing the way Facebook has enabled very isolated farmers to finally network and be encouraged by shared experiences and support. Our chat also included the amazing benefits to our home education journey because using Facebook I can find out about curricula which I never could have known about, and I have found a whole network of local home educators for the children and I to hang out with and mutually encourage.
Overhearing this conversation, our fellow guest joined us because in her research for the telly, she has only found negative stories. Infidelity and Divorce caused (in part) by Facebook. And worse.
I added in the fact that Nick and I met on the internet (although in the days before social media!), to say that social media is brilliant.
*
During the last few months, our maths home education has been dominated by my lack of ability to explain a concept which I felt eldest could probably grasp. We tried and tried and tried, and then gave up and turned to Khan Academy to fill the gap.
Returning in September began miserably. Exactly the same problem, but it was very clear to me that the issue was mine. I didn't know how to explain this concept in a way which worked with her brain. And it was frustrating. The happy ending to the story comes from the very large, american Facebook group I am a member of which follows a particular guide to home education. I stated my question. I had 20 answers within a couple of hours. I checked them all, looked at the different ways of explaining the concept in one evening, spent a few minutes digging through my craft pile in the loft the next day, half an hour colouring balls and cutting up egg boxes. 2 maths lessons later and BOOM. Cracked it.
And without Facebook, I would still be sitting here sobbing, my relationship with eldest strained by my inability. Social media has transformed our world, and I imagine it has transformed mums' abilities to educate their kids at home. For which I am grateful.
*
Bolognese sauce
Some recipes develop over years and this is one of them. It has evolved from the one my mum frequently cooked for us as children, and is one I make frequently. It is much complemented when I feed it to others, especially when it ends up in a (very cheesy) lasagne.
Ingredients
Oil
1 onion, chopped
Optional extra veg: mushrooms, sliced; courgettes, peppers, in 1cm cubes ish!
500g beef mince (full-fat!)
Optional extra meat: chopped pancetta or bacon; chopped chorizo
2 tins chopped tomatoes
1/2 the tomato tin filled with water
2 Tbs tomato puree
2 Tbs sun-dried Tomato puree
1 tsp herbes de provence
Heat your oil in a large saucepan, then add the onions. Very gently fry for 10 mins or so, with the lid on, stirring from time to time. Add in any other veg. This makes the sauce go much further. Fry til everything is soft. I keep the lid on.
Add all the meat and stir obsessively to break up the mince into tiny pieces. I cant bear lumps of mince!
once it is all broken and no longer looks raw, chuck in the rest of the ingredients, stir and leave on a very low heat to gently bubble for 30mins-1 hour. It does get better with a good bubble.
Serve on pasta, with lots of cheese, or make lasagne (particularly yummy with chorizo). Buen apetito. Or something!
Thursday, 3 September 2015
The Elevator Family
I have been encouraging eldest to read to me this year* (we're 3 days in!) because I realised that since she has been able to read I haven't really felt it necessary (even though the books say otherwise). However Nick and I have realised that she has words in her head which are mispronounced because she hasn't heard us saying them (although how we've failed to have dungeons in daily chat, I'm not sure). Plus we've had sneaking suspicions that her "reading" of a book doesn't actually enter her head. I read Middlemarch at secondary school, and by the time I reached the end I couldn't tell you what had happened or the names of any of the characters.
I'm not kidding.
So I know that lack of retention could be an issue.
So, using the Sonlight and Veritas catalogues and some other online helps, I have chosen some highly recommended, short chaptered books for her to read with me. Given a choice between The Elevator Family and Dolphin Adventure, she chose the former. Hilariously, it's because Dolphin has pictures, she prefers books with pictures, and she wanted to get Elevator over with!
Like-mother, like-daughter (I eat the veg first on that basis).
Happily, she loves the Elevator Family, the story of a family who mistake a large, plush lift for a hotel room. My eldest is now desperate to read it each day.
Note: Obviously, it's an American book, since we don't use elevators in this country. I have pondered whether American books are a good idea or not. Someone at church also asked me a question about American spellings, and what we'd be teaching. So here's an attempt to outline my thoughts on using A LOT of American books.
Pros:
1. America has produced some seriously good children's literature.
Madeleine L'Engle & Elizabeth George Spear are 2 authors i have been enjoying getting to know this year.
2. The US have valued children's literature highly for years. See the Caldecott and Newbury prizes.
3. They have a lot more depth that most of the (recent) British stuff I have looked at.
4. It gives us an opportunity to talk about differences in cultures.
5. This should be #1, but I only just thought of it, that American books (from the past) have a lot more truth in them. That is, biblical truth. Say what you like about the often bizarre (to a Brit) behaviour of American Christianity, at least Jesus has made it into their literature.
Cons
1. They use different words
2 They spell differently. Traveling, for example. Odd, isn't it! Marvelous... Savior. And all that!
I think that the Pros outweigh the cons, no?
* it is also an easy thing to do. Home educating, alongside the responsibilities I have elsewhere is REALLY HARD. I am not superwoman, and me reading to children, and them reading to me is not hard on me. And beneficial. See Charlotte Mason...
I'm not kidding.
So I know that lack of retention could be an issue.
So, using the Sonlight and Veritas catalogues and some other online helps, I have chosen some highly recommended, short chaptered books for her to read with me. Given a choice between The Elevator Family and Dolphin Adventure, she chose the former. Hilariously, it's because Dolphin has pictures, she prefers books with pictures, and she wanted to get Elevator over with!
Like-mother, like-daughter (I eat the veg first on that basis).
Happily, she loves the Elevator Family, the story of a family who mistake a large, plush lift for a hotel room. My eldest is now desperate to read it each day.
Note: Obviously, it's an American book, since we don't use elevators in this country. I have pondered whether American books are a good idea or not. Someone at church also asked me a question about American spellings, and what we'd be teaching. So here's an attempt to outline my thoughts on using A LOT of American books.
Pros:
1. America has produced some seriously good children's literature.
Madeleine L'Engle & Elizabeth George Spear are 2 authors i have been enjoying getting to know this year.
2. The US have valued children's literature highly for years. See the Caldecott and Newbury prizes.
3. They have a lot more depth that most of the (recent) British stuff I have looked at.
4. It gives us an opportunity to talk about differences in cultures.
5. This should be #1, but I only just thought of it, that American books (from the past) have a lot more truth in them. That is, biblical truth. Say what you like about the often bizarre (to a Brit) behaviour of American Christianity, at least Jesus has made it into their literature.
Cons
1. They use different words
2 They spell differently. Traveling, for example. Odd, isn't it! Marvelous... Savior. And all that!
I think that the Pros outweigh the cons, no?
* it is also an easy thing to do. Home educating, alongside the responsibilities I have elsewhere is REALLY HARD. I am not superwoman, and me reading to children, and them reading to me is not hard on me. And beneficial. See Charlotte Mason...
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
Ethelred the Unready
Am I allowed to post twice on my first day?
My eldest and I are reading through a book called "Our Island Story". It is an OLD narrative history book for children. My copy has Queen Victoria on the throne and ends with the Boer War, eldest's copy has George VI reigning and ends after the Great War. The author, HE Marshall, frequently references Jesus and asks what greater thing the Romans did than bring news of him to Britain. I love this book! I'm SURE there is bias in the history, but it's a great story, and each chapter is the right sort of length for eldest's concentration span.
So, to Ethelred the Unready. It is fair to say that I found history very dull at school (perhaps it was, or perhaps nobody ever told me why it was so fascinating, and I was quite a blinkered teenager). However, I now discover that history was anything but boring. For example, today we were reading about Ethelred's foolishness at repeatedly paying the Vikings to leave England. After a time they would come back and demand more money to leave again. The bloody end to Ethelred's unreadiness came when he set a date on which the Anglo-saxons should turn on their (settled) Danish neighbours and kill them all. November 13th. And they did.
I have various home ed plans, and one of them is to practice narration. We read something, and the children narrate back to me what they have heard, in their own words, to help them to log it in their minds. At the moment eldest is 5 and I ask her to tell me one thing she wants to say. Her response today was
The discussion over dinner is that humanity hasn't changed. It was as terrible 1000 years ago as it is now. Not everybody is as bad as Ethelred all at once, but genocide has always been present.
At the time of Ethelred there were people in Britain who knew they needed a Saviour. The Romans brought that wonderful news with them 1700 years ago. And the same gospel remains, that humanity is in need of something more than civilisation: we need a Saviour and a new heart. And the Lord God has given us that.
My eldest and I are reading through a book called "Our Island Story". It is an OLD narrative history book for children. My copy has Queen Victoria on the throne and ends with the Boer War, eldest's copy has George VI reigning and ends after the Great War. The author, HE Marshall, frequently references Jesus and asks what greater thing the Romans did than bring news of him to Britain. I love this book! I'm SURE there is bias in the history, but it's a great story, and each chapter is the right sort of length for eldest's concentration span.
So, to Ethelred the Unready. It is fair to say that I found history very dull at school (perhaps it was, or perhaps nobody ever told me why it was so fascinating, and I was quite a blinkered teenager). However, I now discover that history was anything but boring. For example, today we were reading about Ethelred's foolishness at repeatedly paying the Vikings to leave England. After a time they would come back and demand more money to leave again. The bloody end to Ethelred's unreadiness came when he set a date on which the Anglo-saxons should turn on their (settled) Danish neighbours and kill them all. November 13th. And they did.
I have various home ed plans, and one of them is to practice narration. We read something, and the children narrate back to me what they have heard, in their own words, to help them to log it in their minds. At the moment eldest is 5 and I ask her to tell me one thing she wants to say. Her response today was
I can't say anything. It is too horrible.No doubt Ethelred did a despicable thing. As far as I understand it the settled Danes were living quite peaceably alongside their anglosaxon neighbours, and weren't equivalent to the seafaring VIkings.
The discussion over dinner is that humanity hasn't changed. It was as terrible 1000 years ago as it is now. Not everybody is as bad as Ethelred all at once, but genocide has always been present.
At the time of Ethelred there were people in Britain who knew they needed a Saviour. The Romans brought that wonderful news with them 1700 years ago. And the same gospel remains, that humanity is in need of something more than civilisation: we need a Saviour and a new heart. And the Lord God has given us that.
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