Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
what we learn that has nothing to do with 'school'
I know and almost everyone knows that we 'do school' through Distance ED School and I really use that term loosely but I tell you people, LIFE is education!!!!!
Yesterday (because I was in a state with our nearly week away looming, DH op to stress over, the boys cousins sleeping over and a tremendous sweet 16th birthday cake happening in stages to be ready by tonight and playgroup having finished and convinced Kanga he really needs a nap) I turned the TV on for Kookaburra and bless ABC, Kookaburra's show 'Naked Science' was on - BUT before changing to that channel the elections were on, with numerous crowds celebrating, crying, and going mental - duly so being that Obama had just won the American Presidency. Now politics aside, my curious little fella wanted to know what all the fuss was about. Well... I say, taking a big breath and in the ten minutes or so that followed we talked and discussed (in no particular order)
* the difference between a president and our prime minister
* who our prime minister is and who the last bloke was
* we then talked about the Labour and Liberal parties and very generally what it means to belong to a 'party', no cake and streamers Kookaburra : (
* the queen and the commonwealth, where the Lady lives
* history in the terms of American black slavery and civil rights, African Americans and women's right to vote
*what it means to vote
and therefore all of the above equalling why the American election is historically significant
and I know there was more but my crap memory and remembering verbatim doesn't work for me and Kanga has woken and needs me BUT my friends as you can see - we don't need school to learn what life is really about because we can live life instead and be the smarter for it.
What children need whether they are part of the system or not is an inquiring mind, encouragement to be curious and to not have to WAIT the proper time to be TAUGHT things. They need family, friends and mentors who are willing to give enough of themselves to impart knowledge in the 'lighting of a fire' kind of way, not the 'filling of an empty bucket' method. Children (and adults) need active and honest, open discussions about things when they are ready whether it be later or earlier than the standards set by the powers that be. And I am PROUD to add that Kookaburra discussed these things with me, he was interested in what is happening and horrified that slavery had occurred - that is in his heart now, would it have been if it came from a dry text and a worn out, harangued school teacher?
ahhh... gotta go! Thanks to my DH from our boys and I. Homeschooling is an incredible gift and we thank you so much for it.
PS Kanga has been learning too!!! Kookaburra has been telling him about our flags, Aboriginal, Australian and the parts of. Thanks to Kookaburra, Kanga recognizes the Union Jack and the Southern Cross. Tell me which Childcare prep program would teach my littlest son that because he asked!!!! Kookaburra is a blessing : ) (I'm sure I'll be whinging and worrying again soon enough : )
Peace
If my thoughts in this ramble aren't cohesive, I'm sure if you read it a few times you'll get the drift, he he!!!
oh, and after all that Liam watched his 'cool' science show
: )
Yesterday (because I was in a state with our nearly week away looming, DH op to stress over, the boys cousins sleeping over and a tremendous sweet 16th birthday cake happening in stages to be ready by tonight and playgroup having finished and convinced Kanga he really needs a nap) I turned the TV on for Kookaburra and bless ABC, Kookaburra's show 'Naked Science' was on - BUT before changing to that channel the elections were on, with numerous crowds celebrating, crying, and going mental - duly so being that Obama had just won the American Presidency. Now politics aside, my curious little fella wanted to know what all the fuss was about. Well... I say, taking a big breath and in the ten minutes or so that followed we talked and discussed (in no particular order)
* the difference between a president and our prime minister
* who our prime minister is and who the last bloke was
* we then talked about the Labour and Liberal parties and very generally what it means to belong to a 'party', no cake and streamers Kookaburra : (
* the queen and the commonwealth, where the Lady lives
* history in the terms of American black slavery and civil rights, African Americans and women's right to vote
*what it means to vote
and therefore all of the above equalling why the American election is historically significant
and I know there was more but my crap memory and remembering verbatim doesn't work for me and Kanga has woken and needs me BUT my friends as you can see - we don't need school to learn what life is really about because we can live life instead and be the smarter for it.
What children need whether they are part of the system or not is an inquiring mind, encouragement to be curious and to not have to WAIT the proper time to be TAUGHT things. They need family, friends and mentors who are willing to give enough of themselves to impart knowledge in the 'lighting of a fire' kind of way, not the 'filling of an empty bucket' method. Children (and adults) need active and honest, open discussions about things when they are ready whether it be later or earlier than the standards set by the powers that be. And I am PROUD to add that Kookaburra discussed these things with me, he was interested in what is happening and horrified that slavery had occurred - that is in his heart now, would it have been if it came from a dry text and a worn out, harangued school teacher?
ahhh... gotta go! Thanks to my DH from our boys and I. Homeschooling is an incredible gift and we thank you so much for it.
PS Kanga has been learning too!!! Kookaburra has been telling him about our flags, Aboriginal, Australian and the parts of. Thanks to Kookaburra, Kanga recognizes the Union Jack and the Southern Cross. Tell me which Childcare prep program would teach my littlest son that because he asked!!!! Kookaburra is a blessing : ) (I'm sure I'll be whinging and worrying again soon enough : )
Peace
If my thoughts in this ramble aren't cohesive, I'm sure if you read it a few times you'll get the drift, he he!!!
oh, and after all that Liam watched his 'cool' science show
: )
Friday, October 17, 2008
Things we do to our kiddos
Kanga was delightful as our little forest fairy
Hey, so I'm feeling nostalgic tonight and thought I'd share some pics from '06 when I dressed ours boys and myself up for the Mary Poppins parade. Just a bit biased but we think our little treasures are so precious... They were 5 and 1 at the time and reflecting on it now they were sooo patient : ) The little costumes they are wearing were actually recycled pillow cases... some scissors, glue (i looove glue!), sparkly thread and glitter spray later and a visit to the discount jewelery at Dimmeys and we have two little story book characters, a small bit of tangible fantasy in our home
BTW we did win a prize, yay! for us : )
Friday, October 10, 2008
Our little Aussie Bogans
Bogan Koala cooking
I have been lazy and have had the boys hair cut by the barber for months now but we decided the terrible do's had to end and visited my favourite hair salon where RJ charmed all the girls. Here we have our little Aussie Bogan with side burns and dodgy duck tail (Liam has been in bed ALL day and was not well enough for this expedition).....
Post Bogan!!!
*Sob* I have found my little sweetheart, my baby boy again... yay!
By the way RJ is NOT shy! The hairdresser was having a conversation with our little charmer when she asked him if he enjoyed looking at the books (the ones the hairdressers have out for you to peruse new styles whilst you wait). Well RJ had been looking at the fashionista runway hairstyles where the hair is BIG and CRAZY looking, so with this in mind Ronan said he enjoyed looking at the "Hair Monsters" a lot!!!!!
By the way RJ is NOT shy! The hairdresser was having a conversation with our little charmer when she asked him if he enjoyed looking at the books (the ones the hairdressers have out for you to peruse new styles whilst you wait). Well RJ had been looking at the fashionista runway hairstyles where the hair is BIG and CRAZY looking, so with this in mind Ronan said he enjoyed looking at the "Hair Monsters" a lot!!!!!
Our week in pictures, enjoy : )
RJ loves the little Polliwog and yes friends they really are tadpoles and NOT toads... *sigh*
Our big baby sleeping off his illness and has spent most of today asleep. Please pray for his good health, we really miss it!
Ronan is meticulously bathing their very muddy *figs* - that's what they've been calling their cars and I am clueless as to the why
Liam preparing paper daisies he has grown to be dried and turned into bookmarks and cards
Our clever and strong little boy rode his bike all the way around Ululah!!! Watch the video below. He ended up going so fast I was jogging beside him just in case but there was only once where he came close to falling. We are so proud and just a little bit excited about Ronan growing so independent.
Our boys and I love the horses that live at the end of the road here and the horses loooove the carrots the boys bring.
Look Mummy!!!! Strawberries!!! Ronan is unbelievably good at sharing these tasty treats and loves them as much as the occasional mulberry he gets from our minuscule mulberry tree. Can hardly wait for them to turn black and has been known to eat them green! yuk!
A bit of art and craft for RJ. He turned this little box into a car, complete with wheels and lights in the correct colours.
Go Baby, Go!
I'm sick of being sick : (
Well, I'm a terrible blogger. Every time I start something happens lots of little "emergencies" or I just run out of time!
Our bigger, small one has been so sick this week with a middle ear infection, such a common childhood illness yet we've never experienced this. Its awful to have a child crying 'OWwww!' and feeling so frustrated because not much is helping to sooth him. But he went to the Doc's yesterday and he is, I'm glad to say, well on the mend : )
I feel like I've forgotten how it is for us all to be 100% well and every year, friends and I all seem to be bemoaning how the illnesses are worse than the year before. Does anyone else experience this or is it just those of us with munchkins?
Well, I hope everyone is well and if not... mend soon
Peace and love
JM
Our bigger, small one has been so sick this week with a middle ear infection, such a common childhood illness yet we've never experienced this. Its awful to have a child crying 'OWwww!' and feeling so frustrated because not much is helping to sooth him. But he went to the Doc's yesterday and he is, I'm glad to say, well on the mend : )
I feel like I've forgotten how it is for us all to be 100% well and every year, friends and I all seem to be bemoaning how the illnesses are worse than the year before. Does anyone else experience this or is it just those of us with munchkins?
Well, I hope everyone is well and if not... mend soon
Peace and love
JM
Sunday, September 28, 2008
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