Saturday, 21 April 2012
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Homeschool Camp- March 2012
Our First Catholic homeschool camp, done and dusted. Yeah!! A great success.
t was a magnificent week: A very Blessed and peaceful Camp.  |
| The lake where we canoed |
It was a small camp, but exactly what God had planned. There was no mistake who He chose for the camp.
We had 5 families, a young Marian Priest, from the Marian Valley and a Seminarian from Lismore dioceses.
 |
| The rooms with the parents hub directly ahead |
Every day we had a different activity for the children to do, ranging from canoing, bushwalking, cricket, but the most successful one was the Grand Piano that the children got to use every day. They played danced and encouraged each other. We even had one of our Mums play for us for hours. Very Blessed.
Our focus for the week was the Stations of the Cross as we knew we were heading into Holy Week the following week. The aim was to reinforce the Stations in order to the children and for each child to make his/her own kit. We started with painting a box in Lenten colour, discussing the Passion of Our Lord, Colouring in each Station and acquiring a symbol to go with each Station.
To complete this we asked the children to find sticks and we made Crosses to place around the area, so we could say the way of the Cross for children, with Fr. It seemed to work.
We asked Fr to speak on Confession and the Passion of our Lord at Catechism each afternoon. He also chose to speak on a few wonderful Saints including St Maria Gorretti, St Gemma Golgali, and several others. He had the children captivated.
We celebrated Mass daily, Divine Office throughout the day and the Rosary before Dinner. As we were a small group and the kitchen was close by the chapel area, we said the Divine Office several times a day with Fr. Some of the children joined in as well. This was a very special time for us all. Each psalm seemed to resonate in our hearts.
As our age range was under 10, we tailored our day and evening activities accordingly.
Games and campfires, a performance and presentation night were highlights of the evening activities.
We announced on the Tuesday that we would be having a campfire that evening, so in between activities the children very quickly rounded up the kindling and logs we would need to keep the fire going for a couple of hours. Marshmallows were a great hit. The children went off to bed quite content.
One evening, Fr P and I tested the children’s knowledge of the Catechism through a fun game highlighting areas of the Catechism. The parents had a game afterwards.
The other children expanded their knowledge on general trivia.
 |
| a close up of the rooms |
We had a mums morning and a dads afternoon encouragement session. We had no real agenda, but asked the Holy spirit to be with us and guide us. The men were Blessed to hear Fr Ps’ witness talk. Very inspiring for them.
Its been a huge build up to a fantastically Blessed Homeschool camp.
Did I say that the food multiplied on the way there. We catered ourselves and we are certain the food multiplied in transition from our home to the camp.
We ate very well and every person joined in to either help prepare, cook, serve or clean afterwards.
Will we do it again next year? Looks like we will. Will you come and join us.
Photos to follow later in the week.
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
the rhythm of life...
What our weeks like at the moment-
Ballet-
It has been a big change here this last term, particularly with Brid beginning at a new Ballet School. She has extra classes, so we fit our school around them. That has been quite exciting for us all, especially as these teachers have just come off the Stage in 2010.
Camp-
We are busy organising our first Catholic homeschool camp. It is a little stressful but it will be worth it. We have nearly given up a couple of times, but our fellow organisers have been my strength when the chips are down.
Maths-
We have changed Maths programs from Maths Online to Teaching Textbooks. It is a rather good fit, as Brid likes to learn visually. Even when we read together, she likes to see what is being read.
IEW-
We are using Fix it Grammar at the moment. It really only takes about 20mins a day, and reinforces the grammar emphasisd in the IEW intensives.
Reading-
We continue to read Sense & Sensibility. Its created quite a lot of conversation. Brid has picked up so much information along the way about this era, that she is teaching me.
Science-
Well this is an area I have been agonising over for months, or dare I say years. I loved Jeannie Fulbrights Young Explorers Series, but just didn't like the slant General Science took, and after hunting, searching, buying products I that were not a good fit, we have bit the bullet and borrowed Apologia Physical Science. Watch this space. ...................
Latin-
It has been fun start to the year. We sit together and enjoy Cambridge Latin.
Youth-
And then there is Youth Group and Girl Guides. Brid has been attending Girl Guides since 2008, but Youth group has just been this year. She loves it and the team have certainly seen Brid's natural leadership qualities and have begun harnessing them. She read last week at Mass. She read and projected her voice very well. Its lovely to see that others see these qualities in her.
Diet
We are still on our health kick and with the kilos that are slowly coming off, it gives us encouragement to keep at it.
So its been quite an interesting time for us all. A time of adjustment as well.
Ballet-
It has been a big change here this last term, particularly with Brid beginning at a new Ballet School. She has extra classes, so we fit our school around them. That has been quite exciting for us all, especially as these teachers have just come off the Stage in 2010.
Camp-
We are busy organising our first Catholic homeschool camp. It is a little stressful but it will be worth it. We have nearly given up a couple of times, but our fellow organisers have been my strength when the chips are down.
Maths-
We have changed Maths programs from Maths Online to Teaching Textbooks. It is a rather good fit, as Brid likes to learn visually. Even when we read together, she likes to see what is being read.
IEW-
We are using Fix it Grammar at the moment. It really only takes about 20mins a day, and reinforces the grammar emphasisd in the IEW intensives.
Reading-
We continue to read Sense & Sensibility. Its created quite a lot of conversation. Brid has picked up so much information along the way about this era, that she is teaching me.
Science-
Well this is an area I have been agonising over for months, or dare I say years. I loved Jeannie Fulbrights Young Explorers Series, but just didn't like the slant General Science took, and after hunting, searching, buying products I that were not a good fit, we have bit the bullet and borrowed Apologia Physical Science. Watch this space. ...................
Latin-
It has been fun start to the year. We sit together and enjoy Cambridge Latin.
Youth-
And then there is Youth Group and Girl Guides. Brid has been attending Girl Guides since 2008, but Youth group has just been this year. She loves it and the team have certainly seen Brid's natural leadership qualities and have begun harnessing them. She read last week at Mass. She read and projected her voice very well. Its lovely to see that others see these qualities in her.
Diet
We are still on our health kick and with the kilos that are slowly coming off, it gives us encouragement to keep at it.
So its been quite an interesting time for us all. A time of adjustment as well.
Friday, 24 February 2012
How life changes....
Its the end of week 4 in the school term in NSW, Australia. Its been a rather busy start to the year.
Firstly, we changed Maths Programs to Teaching Textbooks, added a Grammar Program through IEW, and started Cambridge Latin.
Of course, You have it all in sorted how the year will flow... Well God must laugh at me, He is really in control. We have tweaked our day, our week as we have added various extras.
I have always been one to be quite strict on morning routine. I feel routine is important to learn for tertiary study and employment in the future. This routine has worked until this year.
Our after school activities list has grown and gotten later in the evening as Brid has gotten older.
Youth group has a 9pm finish with a 30 minute drive home, so we have scheduled in a small sleep in to accomodate for tiredness and the need for teens to sleep more.
Brid has 2 disciplines of dance 2 nights a week, so we have Fridays as a rest day. Our catch up day and a generally slow start to the day. We meet up with friends and chill out.
It has been quite an easy transition and what I have noticed is the level of cooperation that has really been reached. The jobs that once were so important to set for Brid have been blurred. We all do them. Brid still takes the responsibilty and this has created a harmony. Much to my surprise.
So this term is still quite new, but with so many changes that it feels new.
What changes are happening in your homeschool?
Firstly, we changed Maths Programs to Teaching Textbooks, added a Grammar Program through IEW, and started Cambridge Latin.
Of course, You have it all in sorted how the year will flow... Well God must laugh at me, He is really in control. We have tweaked our day, our week as we have added various extras.
I have always been one to be quite strict on morning routine. I feel routine is important to learn for tertiary study and employment in the future. This routine has worked until this year.
Our after school activities list has grown and gotten later in the evening as Brid has gotten older.
Youth group has a 9pm finish with a 30 minute drive home, so we have scheduled in a small sleep in to accomodate for tiredness and the need for teens to sleep more.
Brid has 2 disciplines of dance 2 nights a week, so we have Fridays as a rest day. Our catch up day and a generally slow start to the day. We meet up with friends and chill out.
It has been quite an easy transition and what I have noticed is the level of cooperation that has really been reached. The jobs that once were so important to set for Brid have been blurred. We all do them. Brid still takes the responsibilty and this has created a harmony. Much to my surprise.
So this term is still quite new, but with so many changes that it feels new.
What changes are happening in your homeschool?
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Latin comes to life....
For years now we have used Latina Christiana and Prima Latin. Great Programs, but we were tired of them.
We asked around. What were we to use instead.
Cambridge Latin we were told by 3 different families. Oh Ok, I can look into that.
So of I went finding further reviews and checking up forums. Finding out the price of the Books..and hang on, there is an online section. Lets look...
So I began clicking away. I was hooked, how much fun.
I was keen to show Brid Dermot anyone who happened to be around. I even showed a friend who was having coffee with me, while the girls chatted in another room.
Ok, we begin our official school year here in Australia and it came time to start Latin..
We both dashed to the computer...By the way, who is being educated here, Brid or Me???
We read the material and translated the Latin quite quickly. Thank you Latina Christiana, you have given us a great grounding in Latin.
We were laughing and enjoying the awkwardness of the language and how it translates.
We declined 1st, 2nd, 3rd, we found nominative singulars and plurals, and lots more. It was loads of fun. Brid certainly is very content but without a grounding in it, we probably would be a little lost.
Amongst all the learning and reinforcement of the language, there is also fun online activities. There are links to show you about the different areas of cities they are discussing. Its well worth the look to gel History and Latin together.
We are off to a good start with Latin. Thank you to my dear friends who have shared the love of Cambridge Latin with me and my family.
We asked around. What were we to use instead.
Cambridge Latin we were told by 3 different families. Oh Ok, I can look into that.
So of I went finding further reviews and checking up forums. Finding out the price of the Books..and hang on, there is an online section. Lets look...
So I began clicking away. I was hooked, how much fun.
I was keen to show Brid Dermot anyone who happened to be around. I even showed a friend who was having coffee with me, while the girls chatted in another room.
Ok, we begin our official school year here in Australia and it came time to start Latin..
We both dashed to the computer...By the way, who is being educated here, Brid or Me???
We read the material and translated the Latin quite quickly. Thank you Latina Christiana, you have given us a great grounding in Latin.
We were laughing and enjoying the awkwardness of the language and how it translates.
We declined 1st, 2nd, 3rd, we found nominative singulars and plurals, and lots more. It was loads of fun. Brid certainly is very content but without a grounding in it, we probably would be a little lost.
Amongst all the learning and reinforcement of the language, there is also fun online activities. There are links to show you about the different areas of cities they are discussing. Its well worth the look to gel History and Latin together.
We are off to a good start with Latin. Thank you to my dear friends who have shared the love of Cambridge Latin with me and my family.
The learning game.....
As we begin the new year, I put my ideas in a notebook and write a proposed study plan for Brid.
She looks over it and most of the time she agrees with what I have put together.
Often I put things together after we have talked extensively about a desire for her to learn this or that.
We came across our first compromise this week. Yes already.
Brid was working on her Science today and she didn't appear to be very enthusiastic, I suggested, why not after she completed the work allocated, research and write up a report on her list of Animals she wanted to study? Maybe we will make it into a book.
So one happy young lady sped through her work and began her project.
Where to begin? How to set it out?
The scope was endless. I could see that look on her face.
Eventually a couple of hours later a finished product was shown to me.
A report on an animal I had neer heard of that lived in North Africa and was a mammal.
It was kinda cute looking.
Next we have discovered late last year that Maths Online was not going to be funded by a big organisation any longer, so we, the consumer were to pay for the product.
This lead me to really looking at the program. Was it worth the money.
As we began this year, I realised it was mastery in approach. Thats well and good, but how do you keep polisheded in these areas learnt a while ago?
I decided we would be purchasing a product that we could have here and use without needing online resources.
So we are down to 2 programs and I am off checking tham out. Problem being she is somewhere in the middle of Pre algebra, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2.
Decisions. What will I do.
I rang a good friend to lay my dilemma before her. She was busy- Oh I will ring later.
But in the mean time, I saw Brid concentrating really hard on some algebra questions from the 7/8 level.
She was rather slow, and by her body language, I could tell it was overwhelming her.
Ok Leanne step in.. I actually love Algebra, so I was happy to sit and help.
So we started, Lets write the question out, what is it asking, 3(2x-y)- 4(3x+2)+24. I asked her to break down each part of the question. She isn't one for telling you what she is doing along the way, but I stressed it was important. 10 questions later of ones similar and often harder, she really understood the concept.
I loved being there at the moment and working alongside Brid.
The confidence she gained was so rewarding.
So what program have we decided on...its on my sidebar....under book list for 2012 . Oh..I have just realised that was on my other Blog.. So we ordered our new Maths from here.
Today really was a lot of fun.
I start every year with these grand plans and natural learning creeps in... and eventually takes over. Gotta love it..
She looks over it and most of the time she agrees with what I have put together.
Often I put things together after we have talked extensively about a desire for her to learn this or that.
We came across our first compromise this week. Yes already.
Brid was working on her Science today and she didn't appear to be very enthusiastic, I suggested, why not after she completed the work allocated, research and write up a report on her list of Animals she wanted to study? Maybe we will make it into a book.
So one happy young lady sped through her work and began her project.
Where to begin? How to set it out?
The scope was endless. I could see that look on her face.
Eventually a couple of hours later a finished product was shown to me.
A report on an animal I had neer heard of that lived in North Africa and was a mammal.
It was kinda cute looking.
Next we have discovered late last year that Maths Online was not going to be funded by a big organisation any longer, so we, the consumer were to pay for the product.
This lead me to really looking at the program. Was it worth the money.
As we began this year, I realised it was mastery in approach. Thats well and good, but how do you keep polisheded in these areas learnt a while ago?
I decided we would be purchasing a product that we could have here and use without needing online resources.
So we are down to 2 programs and I am off checking tham out. Problem being she is somewhere in the middle of Pre algebra, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2.
Decisions. What will I do.
I rang a good friend to lay my dilemma before her. She was busy- Oh I will ring later.
But in the mean time, I saw Brid concentrating really hard on some algebra questions from the 7/8 level.
She was rather slow, and by her body language, I could tell it was overwhelming her.
Ok Leanne step in.. I actually love Algebra, so I was happy to sit and help.
So we started, Lets write the question out, what is it asking, 3(2x-y)- 4(3x+2)+24. I asked her to break down each part of the question. She isn't one for telling you what she is doing along the way, but I stressed it was important. 10 questions later of ones similar and often harder, she really understood the concept.
I loved being there at the moment and working alongside Brid.
The confidence she gained was so rewarding.
So what program have we decided on...its on my sidebar....under book list for 2012 . Oh..I have just realised that was on my other Blog.. So we ordered our new Maths from here.
Today really was a lot of fun.
I start every year with these grand plans and natural learning creeps in... and eventually takes over. Gotta love it..
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Its been a really big few weeks in this household.
We began our year parishless. Yes thats right parishless. We have beem travelling around various Parishes in our area attending Mass for a few months now. We ventured back to our old Parish- that was just like sitting in a comfortable lounge chair, but we knew we needed to find one closer.
We went to our 7 day Summer School retreat with Discilpes of Jesus community with one prayer. Please Lord, guide us to our new parish.
We have been in out area for near 2 and half years, but all the time, I was not very connected with the community. I felt like I was in the desert. It just didn't seem to be were God wanted us. So where did he want us.?
We tried to be part of the community, but we weren't gelling. This was not for a lack of trying.
So we needed the stability of a community, but were.
I shared this with my share group at summer school.
We took it to prayer and Daily Mass.
During the summer school week we got talking to a Youth leader, who happened to works at a church close by. She started sharing all about the ideas they had, the different age groups that are available and it began to sit well with us. Could this be it..
We were so excited God was beginning to answer our prayers.
We couldn't wait to tell Brid, but Dermot wanted to wait, but I couldn't. I had to share my excitement.
So one afternoon at summer school, We talked to her- she could tell I was excited about something anyway.
Her response was a reserved one, but I knew once she got involved she would be fine.
So we have been to our new church a few times now. A vibrant youth Mass and culture prevailed. We have a new Parsh Priest as our Bishop has shuffled a few Priests around.
So with Youth Groups, week day evening Masses, a ready made live-in Youth Team, we are ready to commit to a new parish and have a great feeling about it.
Today while I was praying I looked up and smiled. Above the Tabernacle was St Joseph.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus one side, Our Lady on the other.
St Joseph has come up trumps again.
He happens to be everywhere we need to be. He helped find our home and now our Church.
So Brid was very involved with the Mass and the littlies today. She was immediately welcomed and hugged by a few girls she had met at Summer School. They asked her to help and it was exactly what she needed. A community with people her age and ours.
A true Blessing.
We began our year parishless. Yes thats right parishless. We have beem travelling around various Parishes in our area attending Mass for a few months now. We ventured back to our old Parish- that was just like sitting in a comfortable lounge chair, but we knew we needed to find one closer.
We went to our 7 day Summer School retreat with Discilpes of Jesus community with one prayer. Please Lord, guide us to our new parish.
We have been in out area for near 2 and half years, but all the time, I was not very connected with the community. I felt like I was in the desert. It just didn't seem to be were God wanted us. So where did he want us.?
We tried to be part of the community, but we weren't gelling. This was not for a lack of trying.
So we needed the stability of a community, but were.
I shared this with my share group at summer school.
We took it to prayer and Daily Mass.
During the summer school week we got talking to a Youth leader, who happened to works at a church close by. She started sharing all about the ideas they had, the different age groups that are available and it began to sit well with us. Could this be it..
We were so excited God was beginning to answer our prayers.
We couldn't wait to tell Brid, but Dermot wanted to wait, but I couldn't. I had to share my excitement.
So one afternoon at summer school, We talked to her- she could tell I was excited about something anyway.
Her response was a reserved one, but I knew once she got involved she would be fine.
So we have been to our new church a few times now. A vibrant youth Mass and culture prevailed. We have a new Parsh Priest as our Bishop has shuffled a few Priests around.
So with Youth Groups, week day evening Masses, a ready made live-in Youth Team, we are ready to commit to a new parish and have a great feeling about it.
Today while I was praying I looked up and smiled. Above the Tabernacle was St Joseph.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus one side, Our Lady on the other.
St Joseph has come up trumps again.
He happens to be everywhere we need to be. He helped find our home and now our Church.
So Brid was very involved with the Mass and the littlies today. She was immediately welcomed and hugged by a few girls she had met at Summer School. They asked her to help and it was exactly what she needed. A community with people her age and ours.
A true Blessing.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)