Summa Summarum Education

How To Succeed At Homeschooling When You Work Full Time

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 15:35:07 GMT

When we think of homeschooling we normally visualise a traditional stay-at-home parent taking on the full responsibility of educating the children in the family. But, the regular homeschooled family hasn’t looked that way in years. In this day and age, both parents often work full time and have full schedules. Then, how do they make homeschooling work?

It sounds impossible and those making it work seem superhuman, but there are ways everyone can succeed at homeschooling. There are two types of working parents - those who work at an office away from home, and those who have home-based jobs. While home-based working parents can keep an eye on things between tasks, those away from home have a harder time homeschooling. However, this guide has helpful tips for both.

Routine, Routine, & Routine

With limited hours in the day, it’s essential to make each one of them count. When you have too much on your plate, it can look overwhelming and that’s often where the battle is lost. Take a breather, step back and parcel things out.

Fit to Size

The entire point of homeschooling is to choose an educational programme that fits the needs of your children and your family. It is unique. There is NO reason your day has to fit a cookie-cutter schedule. Plan your day according to your needs. Schedule work in the hours that you’re available. For small children who need your presence when learning, schedule fun activities earlier in the day and more hands-on learning later for when you’re with them.

On-Hand Resources

Whether you’re working from home or in your office from 9-5, you’re needed at your desk and cannot really provide the assistance stay-at-home parents can. One way of ensuring your children are productive during this time is to provide proper resources in an accessible area that your children are aware of. This ensures that your children can follow a self-schedule, and makes it much easier for you to switch from work to homeschooling.

Take it Easy

Just because you’re scheduling things doesn’t mean you have to cram everything into limited time slots. Remember, the schedule needs to work for you. Take a breather, schedule time for ease and mess-ups. It is important that the lessons are understood to the best of their ability. It's not a race, but a process.

Childcare For Successful Homeschooling

Although childcare may not be an option for everyone, it can be a great resource for homeschooling parents with full-time jobs. They can be your eyes and ears and provide that hands-on guidance that you worry will be missing from your child’s day. But what kind of childcare, and does your situation call for it?

Criteria for Childcare

Sit down and discuss with your partner what kind of childcare is required. Keep in mind criteria such as the number of children you have, their ages, the location, and the types of care required, especially if you have a special needs child.

Once you know exactly what you want, it will be much easier to narrow down options. There is also one more thing to consider - would you prefer home-based childcare or a group-based option?

Home-Based Childcare Options

This option provides your child with the home environment they are comfortable in, as well as assistance while you are unavailable. Some of the options are:

Family Members - If you are lucky enough to have grandparents or other family members living close by, you could ask them whether they would be happy to become part of your home education schedule. Elderly family members oftentimes have skills that get lost over generations, so it would offer a great opportunity to pass on family knowledge and traditions.

Local Teens - An experienced homeschool teen or tutor can be hired to provide their services for a few hours. You can share your schedule and curriculum with them for seamless learning. They also often have tips for studying and exams if they have recently sat their own GCSE and A-Levels. Do bear in mind though that teens are not yet adults, so remember to have a good emergency plan in place should an unexpected situation arise.

Stay at home mums - There are many stay-at-home mums that are more than willing to watch your children along with their own for a nominal fee, and make sure they are keeping to the outlined schedule. This is also a great option for your children to socialise with other children and to offer stay at home mothers an extra income.

Trading spaces - If your work schedule allows you to take a few work-from-home days, you can swap days with another homeschooling full time working parent who also needs help with childcare.

Security checks for older children - If your children are older and don’t require constant supervision, you can leave them at home to follow a provided schedule but install security checks like cameras (if you're into tech) in the home.

Group or Centre-Based Options

There are also away-from-home options you can explore for your child.

Daycare - Although most home education families prefer to keep their children out of institutions, there are some great daycares out there that will be more than happy to take on your outlined curriculum and incorporate it into their time at the daycare. However, it is vital to check that you approve of their learning and teaching methods especially with regards to any agendas or political movements that have recently infilitrated childcare institutions.

Workplace daycare - Many office buildings offer childcare in the form of on-site daycare centres where you can stay in touch with your child throughout the day and make sure they are given the one-on-one attention they need to meet their goals.

Homeschool co-ops - A great way to get your children to socialise, homeschool co-ops often meet at least once a week and though they might not follow your exact personalised curriculum they are a great source of guidance and to see other methods being applied.

It's Okay To Outsource

You don’t have to do everything yourself. It is okay to let people into your homeschooling bubble and take over where you need someone to pick up the slack.

There are so many resources available for you to choose from.

Online Programmes

Resources such as YouTube videos, online lesson plans, and worksheets are a great way to get your child to interact with the world wide web and not fall behind on their lessons.

Community Programmes

Community centres offer great workshops for young children. Sign them up for programs that require expertise that you might not have. It will broaden their horizons and teach them about their place in the community.

Tutors

Building off on the point of expertise, there are subjects you might struggle with while teaching, that someone with more experience could provide better insight into. Hiring a tutor can help take the pressure off and your child can benefit from having topics explained to them in a different manner.

Communication Is Key

Homeschooling and working a full-time job while incorporating childcare and/or tutors can feel like a whole lot to juggle but, it is achievable through constant communication.

Shared Calendars

A shared calendar works wonders. Install a large one in the kitchen that the family can review every morning. That visual aid really helps. For more detailed calendars there are online options where the schedule can include the online resources via links or the number of worksheets to do with the sheets already printed and available in the child’s folder. This helps everyone stay on track.

Family Meetings

Family meetings to review what's working and what's needed helps you make changes as a family. It will also instil a sense of we’re-all-in-this-together.

Constant Updates

Stay in touch through messenger or other direct messaging to communicate any changes or delays to the schedule.

Remember that you can always reach out to us if you feel overwhelmed. You can book a free 30-minute consultation here . There are lots of parents who homeschool and work and they all agree that while it's tough it's not impossible. With a little guidance, help and advice, you can achieve what you set out to do and offer your children a fulfilling and joyful home educated childhood.

How To Plan A Home Education Curriculum

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 14:55:14 GMT

Are you a complete novice to home education? Have you given it a go but still struggle with planning your curriculum? Stuck at a particularly difficult school year and don’t know where to start? Congratulations, you’ve come to the right place. The aim of this article is to help you identify the key to successful curriculum planning and how to declutter the wealth of information available online to get to the essentials.

The first thing you need to review before you start homeschooling is the government issued guidelines and requirements in whichever country you reside. Both the United Kingdom , and the United States have governing bodies that regulate and monitor homeschooling. Make sure you understand the guidelines provided before you formulate a homeschooling curriculum.

Selecting Subjects & Outlining Goals

The primary advantage about home education is that you can mould the curriculum and personalise it to appeal to your child. It may seem daunting but, take a step back from the sheer amount of lessons that need to be taught and simply select the basic subjects. Once you’ve decided on those, it will be much easier to sort out lessons in each. Also, be aware of the grade level your child is in and what, if any, requirements they need to fill.

Define Your Approach

Just because the curriculum is the same for everyone, doesn't mean your homeschooling style needs to be too. The outlined lessons can be taught with a unique approach that works best for your child.

There are three main learning styles you can try and see which one works best:

Visual - Observation and visual aids help the child understand concepts better. When they have a picture or video in their head, it’s easier for them to retain information.
Auditory - More focused on hearing and listening, this learning style provides auditory tools for information retention.
Kinesthetic - Also known as tactile learning, it involves physical play and learning through the sense of touch.

Once you know which style or combination of styles your child responds to best, you can find visual or auditory tools and resources to help with lessons. It is also possible that your child might prefer different styles for different subjects. English might require auditory learning, while science might require visual and kinesthetic. Keep these things in mind when drafting a curriculum.

You might also be interested in a particular school of thought when it comes to home education. There are plenty of resources available online and also fully drafted curriculums to choose from. Some of these styles are:

Traditional
Roadschooling
Worldschooling
Unschooling
Eclectic Homeschooling
Montessori Homeschooling
Homeschooling with Unit Studies
Charlotte Mason Homeschooling
Waldorf Homeschooling

Review Curriculum Options

This is by far the most overwhelming aspect of preparing a curriculum and is the point where most people give up. Oftentimes, a simple Google search will turn up so many options that we end up more confused than informed. Follow the guidelines mentioned on how you can make this process easier for yourself.

Take Your Time

Even though this sounds basic, it cannot be stressed enough. Setting everything up may seem like a daunting task, but it does not mean you have to rush into anything, or master the process at the get-go. First, schedule some time to get started. Next, arm yourself with a simple notebook and pen, and instead of multitasking, use that time to only brainstorm and plan. Take your time with deciding, keeping planning and implementation in mind. This will lead to less hassles, and save a lot of back and forth when you actually have to homeschool. Write it all down, so you have notes to refer to later, bookmark helpful online resources in a separate folder, and build from there.

Curriculum Criteria

Make note of what you want from the curriculum. This will help you eliminate the unnecessary subjects and lesson plans from what you need. Some of the basic criteria people use when opting for home education are:

Checking whether the lessons are faith-based (for the religiously, or not-so religiously inclined)
The amount of flexibility and/or rigidness in a daily plan
The curriculum level being advanced enough, or basic enough to suit your child
Region-specific (particularly for Canada and the USA)

Bookmark Potential Curriculum

As we mentioned before - take your time. During your research, if you come across a curriculum you like, bookmark it and move on. You can always come back and take a look at it again and see how it compares to others, and which bits you’d like to incorporate into your home education curriculum.

Check Online Reviews

Many homeschoolers have fantastic blogs online where they discuss the tips and tricks that worked best for them. They also discuss the curriculum and review it. If you oscillate between teaching methods and curriculum you can always read real reviews and experiences to help make an informed decision.

Breakdown Into Planners

Now that you’ve selected your curriculum or made a personalised hybrid that works best for your child, you need to decide how to implement it. Some homeschoolers prefer following a traditional school year with appropriate vacation days, while others prefer parcelling lessons throughout the whole year.

Then, you need to decide how long your school week will be. Perhaps you prefer a four-day school week, or you may opt for more or less working days. Certain groups prefer to have one or two days in the week where lessons are reinforced through field exploration and outings.

Once you decide on what the school year will look like, you can start spreading the work throughout this timeline. Investing in a good planner also helps. A visual planner in the kitchen can have the basic information to help you visualise your week. For a more detailed planner turn to the internet. There are many online options where you can note down lessons to be conducted, and attach links to documents and resources to be used, as well as activities that will go with the lesson.

Prep Beforehand

This step is very important, and is where you could reach the most success in homeschooling if done right. You can plan all you want to, but if you aren’t prepared for lessons beforehand, the entire plan can and will be derailed. To keep on top of things, follow these necessary tips:

Print And Prepare

All the resources, worksheets, planning details, and everything you need should be printed and sorted beforehand so you won't be empty-handed at the time of the lesson.

Always Have Supplies On Hand

Similarly, buy and store away all of your school supplies from pencils, erasers, glue, and scissors in proper places with easy access. Any experiments you’d like to conduct should also be prepared for beforehand.

Have A Proper System

All of your resources should ideally be colour coordinated and labelled, and stored in a system your children will also understand. Having said that, there is no need to spend exorbitant amounts of money on fancy supplies and trendy organisation products. Neither do you need to spend hours stressing over your set-up - a simple one where everything is assigned a home will do.

Organising your space does not need to instantly look Pinterest-perfect (no matter how wonderful and effortless those artisan Mums on there make it look.) If you would like to apply your own creativity to the process, then give it a go. But, if you are like most parents who just need to get things in order, then start small and simple, and build from there. Before you know it, your home school structure will be crisp, well-organised, and most of all, functional.

Think About Demarcating A Proper School Space

Many families prefer to have a dedicated space in which to learn, as it can help children to be in a proper mindset when they sit for lessons. It is always worthwhile trying this out to see if it works for your family.

Final Thoughts

Planning a Home Education Curriculum may seem daunting at first, but if you follow the above mentioned steps and set yourself mini targets and goals, there is absolutely no reason that you cannot plan one out. Contact us for any help you may require, and we will be delighted to assist you in any way possible.

Good luck with your homeschooling and remember to try and enjoy the process. After all, this is all about you and your family!

Teaching Reading with Phonics

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 20:23:17 GMT

Children are little balls of energy and it is our job as parents and guardians to channel that energy into productive steps towards independence. One of the tools that help children navigate the world around them is the ability to read. Even academically, the ability to read and comprehend succinctly is the foundation on which all learning is built. It is an essential skill and the sooner your child is introduced to it, the better.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t remember our lessons from primary school so, how do we help our children learn how to read?

The answer can be found in phonics. Parents and teachers all over the world use this technique to teach reading as it is the simplest, yet most effective method. The thought of teaching your child through phonics might be daunting, but over my years of experience I have picked up tips and tricks that I will share with you to make the whole process as easy as pie.

What are phonics and why is it important?

Words come in all shapes and sizes, and some can be intimidating. For a child, they are like ink-soldiers marching on the page, impossible to decipher. Phonics allows them to concentrate on the sound each letter makes instead. Breaking the word down into smaller sounds helps children tackle each sound and mold it together, rather than being intimidated by the word as a whole.

Think of teaching reading with phonics, like making your child a snack. Handing a whole apple to your child might seem simple but the chances of them finishing the whole thing are unlikely. Cutting it up into smaller pieces makes it easier for them to eat and finish the whole thing. Phonics is similar.

Phonics is important because they teach the child how to deal with more than reading. They can tackle a big problem by stripping it down to its basics and then deciphering each portion till they understand the whole and can blend them together.

How are phonics taught in school and how can you help at home?

The first step students learn is to recognize the sounds each alphabet makes. They are taught that ‘a’ makes the ‘aahh’ sounds, and that ‘m’ makes the ‘mmm’ sound. The alphabets are often written down to reinforce their sounds. After the basics are ingrained, students are taught how to blend the sounds together. Short words such as cat are broken down into ‘c-a-t.’ The first step is to sound out the individual letters, and then the phonics are blended together to sound out the word. More and more words are added to the students' vocabulary this way.

There are many ways you can support your child. By reinforcing the words that your child is currently learning, you can add to their vocabulary by helping them read more words with phonics. They don’t have to be specially curated. You can read off labels, milk cartons, and even help them decipher the spellings of pots and pans. The key is to make it as fun and engaging as possible.

Fun tips to engage your child.

The best way to reinforce phonics is to hide the activity within games. Here are some suggestions:

Use their favourite hobbies and toys

Children form intense attachments to toys, hobbies, and even tv shows. Pick up on their latest obsession and try to work phonics reading around it. If they are obsessed with a cartoon character or fairytale, try to sing along with the catchy songs and sound out the phonics to a lead character’s name, or title of a film.

Read the signs

A great road trip game is reading number plates. But what if you flipped it around and tried reading the passing sign boards and shop names with your child? They don’t have to be elaborate and it will help them recognize symbols for different kinds of shops as well.

YouTube searches

Has this ever happened to you? Your toddler will come to you and insist you search up a particular video for them to watch. Turn this into a teaching moment. Sound out the phonics for the channel name and insist they find the associating alphabet on the keyboard to type on their own.

Eye Spy

Another classic that can be a great way to teach phonics is eye spy. Instead of saying you spy something starting with ‘t,’ say you spy something starting with ‘ttt.’ It will reinforce the phonic sound and help them recognize objects around the house that start with that particular alphabet.

Sight words

Visual recognition of words is key to helping your child read faster. Try and read to your children every night. Make it a habit and start as early in their lives as possible. Help point out words from the text that they might have reviewed during their phonics learning. The more visual recognition they have of the words the easier it will be to recognize and read them quickly the next time they come across it. This transition from phonics to reading the whole word comes a little later but it is essential that it is done consciously throughout the week.

What to do if your child is still struggling to read?

While you scramble over every article and every self-help book out there, remember, every child has their own pace. Some pick things up quickly but struggle with comprehension. Some take their time learning the basics but, once they do they hit the ground running and exceed every expectation. If your child is struggling, try to recognize what in the current environment, or curriculum might not be working for them.

We hold consultations for parents who are looking for a more personalised and hands-on solution to their child’s reading problems. For more information, you can always get in touch with us for a free 30-minute consultation.

Different Home Education Styles Explained

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 18:01:38 GMT

Each homeschooler is unique and our ways of both teaching and learning are distinctive to the point of being individualised. It therefore follows that home education techniques are varied and encompass a variety of external factors from location, scheduling, content, testing, and discipline, to name a few.

Over the years, a formative pattern or rather, patterns have emerged that best facilitate homeschooling for different individuals. While some parents prefer to mimic or model their home education techniques in regular school settings, others prefer to “un-school” or go as far away from mainstream teaching as possible, with the firm belief and facts that back up their approach.

Though there exist multiple methods of homeschooling, a consensus exists on the eight more popular methods that are employed by home educators all over. It should be pointed out that there is an overlap of both methodologies and analyses employed in the various approaches.

Types of Home Education Styles

Let's go through the different styles of Home Education and consider their benefits and shortcomings. The good news is that you can borrow bits from each and inculcate them into any style that suits you. Even better, various styles can be used at different intervals and can supplement a student’s learning curve throughout their academic career as and when required.

The 8 common Home Education Styles are:

Classical
Charlotte Mason
Moore Formula
Unit Studies
Montessori
Waldorf
Relaxed
Unschooling

Each of these education styles is unique in its own way though you might find overlapping techniques in some of them. After you have gone through the different styles, pick one and adapt it to suit your needs. Below is an overview of some of them but if you need any extra help, please contact me for an in-depth discussion on which style suits your needs.

The Classical Method

Widely regarded as the most popular style, the Classical Method has been around for centuries dating back to the Ancient Roman and Greek lyceums. Generally broken down into three sections namely, Logic, Grammar, and Rhetoric. The Logic section stresses analysis, critical thinking, and dedication. Grammar is normally taught first and consists primarily of learning techniques, ranging from memorising facts to knowledge gathering. The Rhetoric Stage is for advanced students and often involves the Socratic Method involving open-ended questions, and learning through debating researched topics.

There are many other aspects that promote Classical teaching as a better option than in-school teaching, such as introduction and insight to “Great Books” and their authors. Other languages are sometimes introduced as a supporting block and emphasis is towards intelligent dialogues and exercises in abstract thinking rather than tests and quizzes.

PROS:

● Well proven to work (Time-Tested)

● Encourages reading

● Deals with real life situations

● A lot of material available due to its popularity

● Systematic and structured

CONS:

● The amount of reading required may take its toll on both students and parents.

● Students may lose interest in reading if not guided properly.

● Inflexible as compared to other homeschooling methods. (Though much more flexible than normal schooling)

Charlotte Mason Method

“Let children alone... the education of habit is successful in so far as it enables the mother to let her children alone, not teasing them with perpetual commands and directions - a running fire of Do and Don'ts” ~ Charlotte Mason

Charlotte Mason reformed education in the early twentieth century by dwelling on the child’s psyche and stimulating their natural inquiry to absorb and retain knowledge. A Homeschooler that practises the Mason style employs shorter periods of study, supplemented with external stimuli like walks, observations of natural occurrences, and methods to keep the child mentally challenged and most importantly, interested.

Combining observing, recording, processing, and implementing/planning excursions is a prime factor of the Charlotte Mason method. Studying “living” books (where the characters in the book narrate their experiences or point of view) is also a key component in the Mason style. This method works well for the Homeschooler who wants to inculcate an independent mind.

PROS:

● Student-directed methodology

● Less expensive than School-At-Home or Classical

● More structured than Unschooling or Montessori

● A popular method among Christian conservative Homeschoolers

● Nature walks encourage observation skills and critical thinking in an exploratory setting

● Time-Tested

● You don’t need a professional degree to teach the Charlotte Mason methodology

● CM works well with Unit-Study and Classical, thematically connecting subject areas

CONS:

● Though the elementary and early-middle school model offers a wealth of resources the module is often weaker as it approaches high school level

● Not appealing to non-Christian Homeschoolers

● Lack of extensive resources in advanced areas of study for Math and Science

● Old fashioned for contemporary Homeschoolers

Moore Formula

Known as the grandparents of homeschooling, Raymond and Dorothy Moore established a homeschooling program which propagated that formal schooling is better when started later rather than early. Under the Moore Formula, children have little to no formal schooling till the age of eight. This does not mean they receive no education at all. The Moore Formula emphasises building a sense of community and service in young children. It is only when they understand their place in society as a whole can they start formal education to supplement that knowledge.

Along with play, community service and house chores are emphasised in the Moore Formula. It focuses on three areas - Study, Manual Work, Home & Community Service.

Study - The Moore formula promotes self-teaching by using resources such as Math-It and Winston Grammar. The Formula believes parents are the best teachers and doesn’t rely too much on workbooks and textbooks, though it does have a few. The few minutes or hours of study in the day keep head, hand, heart, and health in mind encouraging creativity and parental guidance in teachings.

Manual Work - For character building as well as improving motor skills, constructive manual work is encouraged for a few hours a day. By allowing them to be part of the industrious tasks children build self-confidence and it has been seen to cure many behavioural problems. Start small and build the tasks around the house from preparing a small snack to tending the vegetable patch, and keeping their rooms and houses organised.

Community Service - To nurture future community leaders the Moore Formula recommends at least an hour of community service when the child is old enough. This encourages a selfless attitude amongst them from childhood, and prepares them for the future with a sense of giving back to their communities.

PROS:

● Children are not rushed into formal schooling

● They are allowed to explore their creative side and perform critical thinking exercises in real-life scenarios

● Advanced motor skills due to the manual work section of the formula

● A deeper understanding of the world around them

● Self-confidence and well-rounded personalities

● A better attitude when it comes to tackling formal education at the right age

● Because there is no strict structure in the Moore Formula you can create individual and specialised teaching according to your child’s interests

CONS:

● Compared to other children their age, your child might feel ‘left behind,’ and this could cause a lack of confidence without the right guidance

● Not enough source material

● The Formula relies heavily on parents being the sole guide

Unit Studies

Also known as thematic units or integrated studies refer to the idea of studying a subject as a whole rather than several subjects. The idea is to take something as simple as water and explore the subject from the viewpoint of science, literature, history, social significance, and art. The Unit Studies homeschooling style tends to pick a subject and live with it for a while, taking a deep dive into it till they have understood it completely as a whole.

A typical Unit Study approach to a subject would be to read books about it. For example, a unit on animals would include books like Charlotte's Web, and The Sheep-Pig for Literature; writing stories about animals for Creative Writing, Grammar, and Punctuation; the classifications of animals for Science; circling and understanding new words within the subject for Vocabulary, and finding where certain animals live in habitats on the globe for Geography.

PROS:

● Unit Studies are best suited to families that are homeschooling more than one child as each can study the same unit but at different levels of advancement

● Better information retention

● The program allows for different learning styles and abilities and can cater to individual needs well

● It is relatively inexpensive because parents get to design their unit study

CONS:

● Maths units are often taught as separate units because they aren’t as easy to incorporate into everything being studied.

● Preparing units such as worksheets and lesson plans can be time consuming and hectic, especially if there is more than one child

● It is not as tidy as workbooks and textbooks and can seem all over the place if not planned properly

Montessori Method

In the Montessori Method, the child dictates the learning. It doesn’t require a lesson plan per se but focuses on a more hands-on, activity-based structure of learning, in which the child’s interests are given centre stage, encouraging curiosity towards learning something new. A lot of time is spent outdoors on exploratory walks and allowing children to make their own observations.

The aim is to provide children with a constant learning environment rather than breaking learning into semesters with intense study and then vacation time. The Montessori Method happens all year round but delivers knowledge in small pieces throughout the day through interactive concept building. The Montessori curriculum focuses on five main areas - Practical Life Skills, Mathematics, Sensory, Language, and Culture & Science.

PROS:

● Children focus on independence

● Concepts are picked up faster because they are presented through subjects that interest the children

● The Method encourages a neat and tidy environment to learn

● The Method follows the child’s skill level rather than an age milestone and can incorporate multiple levels in the same lesson for families with multiple children

CONS:

● Involves a lot of preplanning on the parents’ part

● It is specifically designed for young children in mind and the resources will need to be sought for middle and high school.

● The approach to lessons is more intentional and can tend to lack imaginative play

● The Montessori Manipulatives (materials used to teach specific lessons) can be a little expensive

● Because there is no set curriculum it can be hard to determine which concepts should be covered by a specific age

Waldorf

The Waldorf Method was created by the Austrian Rudolf Steiner in 1919. He believed that education needed to involve the entire child, their heart, hands, and head, and focused on the arts, folklore, mythology, and the natural world.

Though based on spirituality and the awareness of the spiritual self, the Waldorf Method does not advocate any one faith. It focuses on a child’s natural wonder and integrates it into everyday learning. Reading is delayed till the 2nd grade and oral storytelling and understanding of letters and writing take precedence. Art is intertwined with all subjects to make learning more visual and beautiful.

In a classroom model, students can sometimes have the same teacher for several years to develop a level of trust and a family-like dynamic. Some unique features of the Waldorf Method include eurythmy which inculcates movement with language. This could be anything from the inclusion of handiwork such as knitting, or an early introduction to world languages.

PROS:

● The inclusion of art in lessons makes the work memorable and fun

● Develops tolerance to listen to and accept different points of view as the Method encourages looking at objects, subjects, and situations from multiple viewpoints.

● Develops a vivid imagination

● The learning approach encourages cooperation instead of competition

● All areas of learning are considered just as important as the rest

CONS:

● A lot of parents aren’t comfortable with the faith-based learning

● Delayed academics are considered concerning by some parents

● Quality material can be expensive to procure

● Every child does not have the gift or the interest in arts and so might feel isolated by the method

● Doesn’t have a lot to offer families that want to incorporate tech in their homeschooling

Relaxed

The Relaxed or Minimalist Homeschooling Method gets rid of all the extra frills on education and just focuses on the important aspects. While other methods tend to view homeschooling as an array of activities and lesson plans, Relaxed homeschooling is a cross between Unlearning and Formal learning and focuses on a few core subjects leaving a lot of free time for additional learning if the student chooses to do so.

The Relaxed method is very fluid. Families can pick and choose what they deem important and cut out the rest. Some tend to stick to maths, reading and writing and omit extracurricular especially if they see their child has no interest in it. But, others create their own curriculum based on what they consider to be essential learning tools.

PROS:

● The method can easily be personalised to fit the child rather than the other way around.

● It is a much more relaxed environment and reduces levels of stress surrounding learning

● It works well in larger families

● It allows a lot of free time for children to explore their interests and maintain a routine

CONS:

● What you deem essential can be subjective, so the children might have major gaps in understanding of subjects considered unimportant

● Settling into a routine can take time and it can be easily disrupted

● It involves a lot of group learning which doesn’t mesh with every family

Unschooling

The name Unschooling might sound like a whole lot of chaos, but it is a philosophy that embraces self-determination in learning. The onus of what to learn, how, and how much is completely on the student. It is especially worth implementing in homeschooling because it helps determine the child’s areas of interest and provides them with relevant material.

Unlearning Homeschooling encourages self-motivated learning and establishes the idea that children learn and retain more when they are self-motivated to do so, rather than the carrot and stick approach of Formal learning.

PROS:

● It encourages freedom of choice in children

● There is a synthesis of knowledge and children can learn to connect the dots between subject matters

● There is no griping about being bored because the subject is chosen by the child

● Children develop a good sense of self-worth and determination

CONS:

● There is a distinct lack of structure with Unschooling

● Because Unschooling doesn’t determine systematic learning, there can be concerns of children learning things before an understanding of the subject develops or vice-versa

● There is the danger of scattered knowledge with a lot of factual knowledge being left at the wayside

● It is easier to teach abstract concepts in Formal schooling than it is Unlearning.

Home Education is a fantastic and perfectly regulated option to choose for your children. You can select methods as is, or incorporate two to three methods to create a hybrid model that works for you. Sources are available online and we are always here to help guide you in choosing the perfect model for you.

Happy Learning!

Christmas Bookmarks

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 14:45:00 GMT

For all the wonderful books that Santa may bring, here's a handy little thing:

our Summa Summarum Christmas bookmarks ! Just print and you're ready to go!��‍��

What type of learner are you?

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 23:52:46 GMT

What type of learner are you?

VAK Learning

“VAK learning” is a model that explains how learners approach information, and how they absorb it. The VAK (Visual, Auditory, and Kinaesthetic) model divides all learners into three categories: Visual learners , Auditory learners and Kinaesthetic learners . The man behind this idea was Walter Burke Barb, and it was further developed by Neil Fleming. There are differences in how the three groups of learners deal with information, however each group shares some features with the other two.

Visual Learners

Visual learners metabolise information by seeing, through aesthetic and visual cues. They are imaginative and have no difficulty picturing complex phenomena, concepts and ideas without much aid. These people tend to take frequent notes, in detail, so that concepts are available in the simplest form to absorb visually. A visual learner would much rather sit in front of the class, as the teacher’s body language, facial expression and other non-verbal communication is pivotal in learning. Such a learner might struggle with verbal instructions, but would be totally unhesitant in following graphs, charts, diagrams and written instruction. Their key distraction is visual stimuli, such as something happening outside a window, or pop-ups on a computer screen.

Auditory Learners

Someone with an inkling for an auditory style of learning would usually be sensitive about the tone, voice and rhythm of the instructor. For them information heard is processed more easily than information viewed. Instead of taking notes, they would much rather record or tape a lecture. They would frequently ask questions, to make sure that they heard the instructions correctly. A common way for an auditory learner to understand something is to talk it through, due to which they are great at oral presentations and panel group discussions. They are easily distracted by auditory stimuli, such as distractive, unnecessary noise, and being spoken to.

Kinaesthetic Learner

The kinaesthetic learner is somebody who learns by the work of hands: by moving, touching and doing. These learners often find themselves thriving at expressive and performing arts, as well as sports. They tend to learn standing, instead of sitting and may appear rather fidgety and restless in class. A kinaesthetic learner has a higher chance of being good in practical or real-life subjects like cooking, woodwork and engineering. These individuals find themselves struggling with figurative, deep and abstract ideas, thus they tend to learn via drawing by hand or sketching and doodling. Their main distraction is the desire to be physically active and not sedentary, which explains why they tend to take a higher number of study breaks.

It is important to note that nobody solely follows either visual, auditory or kinaesthetic style. Most people will have a mixture of all three, albeit a dominant or preferred style of learning. Moreover, it’s also interesting that the “VAK” style of learning is now more commonly known as “VARK” (Visual, Auditory, Read/write and Kinaesthetic). The only addition is of the “R”, referring to the “read/write” style of learning/ group of learners. This style of learning involves focusing more on words and textual information, in lieu of pictorial, verbal or experiential.

A “read/write” learner may either learn directly through some text, or may take notes of ideas that come up in his/her mind from reading that text. A lot of them even tend to interpret textually, visual pieces of information like pictures, graphs and diagrams. So, for ease of learning they may write down the message a picture is trying to convey, or the different data sets represented by a graph, or the information encoded by a diagram. Instead of using flow charts and other diagrams, these learners would opt for a hierarchy of words (such as: lists and bullet points) to conceptualise ideas. Such learners also enjoy doing secondary research, as it involves delving into books, online articles and research papers. Since reading and writing both require prolonged attention spans, they might find most sounds to be distracting, in some cases the teacher’s voice as well.

TESTING YOUR VAK STYLE

Answer the following questions or get your child to sit with you and record the choices on a piece of paper. You need to write down “a”, “b”, or “c” for each answer.

You get a “Build It Yourself” kit. You then proceed to :

(a) read the instruction manual.

(b) watch a tutorial or take advice from someone.

(a) jump in and start building.

2. Picture yourself at a concert. Are you

(a) watching the performance and looking around.

(b) closing your eyes to absorb the music.

3. To overcome anxiety, i generally

(a) picture all the scenarios in my head

(b) talk to myself

4. My first impression when meeting someone is

(a) the clothes they wore and their looks

(b) how they sound and speak

5. I spend most of my free time

(a) binge watching shows

(b) chatting with close friends

6. I easily connect with people

(a) based on how they look

(b) who say the right things

7. When choosing a new outfit, I

(a) picture myself wearing the clothes

(b) ask my friend/family/shop staff for advice

8. Which of the following sentences do you use the most:

(a) “I see what you mean”

(b) “I hear what you’re saying”

9. I like

(a) watching movies, art exhibits, or Nat Geo

(b) listening to my favourite songs or long conversations on the phone

10. I address issues with acquaintances by

(a) writing them a note or a message

(b) calling them

11. I normally can tell if people are lying when

(a) they don’t make eye contact

(b) their voice sounds funny

12. The best way to spell a tricky word is to

(a) write it down

(b) spell it out loud

13. Someone mispronounces the word “espresso” as “expresso”. You

(a) picture a cup with the word “espresso” on it

(b) say the word “espresso” in your head

14. The best way to revise for an exam is

go through your notes

recite the key points out loud or to yourself

write down information and make revision cards

15. You're trying to study at a library. What would distract you the most?

(a) people coming in and out

(b) whispering and talking at the other table

Now count the number of a’s and the number of b’s and the number of c’s in your answers.

RESULTS

If a majority of your answers are a’s that indicates a strong Visual learning ability.

Visual learners tend to

Maximise learning from graphs, charts, diagrams etc.
Get distracted easily by any external visual stimuli
Picturize various scenarios in their minds effortlessly
Generally prefer to write down instructions and take notes for themselves
Fall into two sub groups: visual-linguistic (learn via the written word) and visual-spatial ( comprehend visual information instead of words)

If most of your answers were b’s, this suggests an intense Auditory Learning capability.

Auditory Learners generally

Prefer talking to others
Have difficulty reading and writing
Follow verbal instructions pretty well.
Love oral presentations
Get distracted easily by background noise

Likewise, if ‘c’ was the most chosen, that implies Kinaesthetic Learning is the most suited.

Kinaesthetic Learners normally

Prefer practicals such as lab work, carpentry , cooking or anything that involves movement
Are good at sports and actively participate in them
Tend to zone out during highly abstract or theoretical discussions
Doodle or draw during lectures, and might even take notes just to move their hands
Also fall into two groups: kinesthetic ( learning through motion) and tactile (learning through touch)

TEACHING BASED ON YOUR CHILD’S VAK PREFERENCE

The following guidelines should help you to pattern your child’s study time according to their identified VAK style. Please remember, the guidelines for all three styles can be mixed and matched to best suit your child’s individual needs. As a parent, you will know best which helps and which should be fine tuned.

VISUAL LEARNING

Try to incorporate presentations, handouts and graphs/charts during each lesson.
Ask your child to write out their answers and hand them in
Leave white space for them to write out notes in their handouts
During the more auditory learning parts of teaching, get your child to write out questions. Take several breaks and ask them to read the questions they have till that point.
Use keywords and images during a lesson that covers parts of the topic.

AUDITORY LEARNING

Start off each lesson with an introduction and end with a summary.
Have frequent discussions during class and allow the child to record these if they wish.
For more than one child in a class, get them to debate and discuss their points of view in a healthy manner.
Ask them questions and get them to divulge what they have understood so far. Correct any misconceptions and repeat the same question in a different context after some time has passed.
Encourage them to read handouts aloud.

KINESTHETIC LEARNING

Incorporate activities in a majority of the lessons that gets them to move
Use different colors in presentations and ask them to highlight key points in handouts.
Take breaks and let them move out of the study room for a while.
Background soft music helps. Try lo-fi music.
During long lectures provide the child with play dough or kneading balls to keep their hands busy.

Conclusion

A small reminder about learning preferences is that even though it is critical to know your learning strengths as a base for the maturation of studying patterns, you need to understand that not all college courses and instructional methods will align to your strengths. Try to adapt your learning by looking at the key points for each learning habit mentioned above.This is a great opportunity to also enhance and develop yourself to learn in different ways.Many eminent professionals attempt problem solving and decision making from various concepts.

Let us know if you need any help identifying your child’s preferred learning style and more importantly, if you require assistance in preparing lessons according to their preferred style. You can book a free consultation here . Always remember, the more we learn as teachers, the easier it gets to teach our kids.

The Comparison Trap

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 12:30:33 GMT

The Perils Of Comparisons In Homeschooling

One of the biggest obstacles in homeschooling today, is the snare that every parent finds themselves in at one time or the other: The Comparison Trap.

By definition, homeschooling consists of parents and guardians who have chosen to be more involved in their ward’s education. By choosing homeschooling as an alternative, the parent is making an active choice to better their child’s academic upbringing. With this level of dedication, it’s perfectly natural to not only want the best for our child but also desire to have all the tools and knowledge necessary for success.

What Is The Comparison Trap

No sane person chooses homeschooling for it to fail. The choice to homeschool is followed up by the desire to do our best and enhance our child’s education. Anything regarding homeschooling, whether it's a statistical report or a social media post, will get us comparing our homeschooling attributes to theirs.

Questions we often ask ourselves:

“Why are the neighbours having more fun with homeschooling activities than my kids?”
“Did Marsha’s family purchase the latest Acme Education package?”
“Why do I have the smallest homeroom in our group?”
“Are their children really that far ahead compared to mine?”

These insecurities can not only frustrate us but ultimately start hampering our homeschooling skills. There might come a point that we start turning into a liability instead of our child's greatest asset.

In the homeschooling world, playing “Keeping up with the homeschooled Jonese’s” is a categorical mistake, and can have catastrophic outcomes.

As humans, we use comparisons from the time we are barely toddlers. Most of our life decisions are directly or indirectly rooted in comparisons. Our choice of spouse, the house we live in, employment, cars, pets, vacation spots, even the movies we choose can be linked to mental comparisons that the mind computes sub consciously.

Are All Comparisons Bad?

No, not at all. Upward comparisons to a large group or data on a well researched topic may prove to be useful, if used to move ourselves in the right direction. However, this is tricky to maintain with a positive bend as comparisons can and will lead to self doubt, dissatisfaction and low self esteem.

Generally homeschooling comparison falls into two broad categories:

Self Comparison

This broadly covers judging our skills as the primary educator, as either inadequate, lacking resources, missing key points, or other factors. Self comparison generally stems from when we are presented with someone else's homeschooling methodology.

Comparison of our child/children’s competence.

When faced with another child’s progress, the feeling that our child could do better, or that our child lacks the necessary skills can transform to self-blame, surreal expectations, and result in disappointments.

Comparison as a prelude to motivate progress is not necessarily a bad thing. Self doubt can lead to better and improved versions of ourselves. It’s the journey we embark on after comparing, that often leads us astray.

Why Do Comparisons Occur?

We often forget to remind ourselves that every child is different. Learning and progressing are not simplistic checkpoints, but often arbitrary constraints. There are many reasons that we compare what we perceive to be a disparity in learning.

We all secretly want to be that parent whose child wins awards and wins first place. Realistically, we can easily accept the fact that there’s a good chance it won’t happen. However, when we find out that someone else's child is way ahead in the planned curriculum, or has completed reading a book that our child hasn’t even started, it’s irksome! Some parents feel that another child in their homeschooling group is on advanced calculus, while theirs is still struggling with basic algebra. Fear creeps in, and we start questioning ourselves. Are we doing our best? And can we do more?

Let’s stop and ask ourselves one question. Why did we decide to homeschool? Wasn’t it to solve issues like the above? If our child was going to school right now, chances are when faced with the same issues, the school won’t have the time to fix the problem. But we can!

If our child is slow at Math, we can tailor a course that suits his pace or get additional help to rectify it. If the other kid is faster at reading, good for them. Our child doesn’t need to keep up with them. That's the beauty of homeschooling . It can be done at a pace that we and more importantly our child is comfortable with.

We know that comparisons happen when we think either we or our children are far below the normal. As rational adults, we must understand that “normal” is not a fixed point to be achieved. Normal is a changing spectrum that each child defines for themselves. We need to recognize the “normal” for our child.

Am I Equipped to Homeschool My Child?

The two other external comparisons that can really infiltrate our peace of mind and make us question our ability to home educate are:

Is my house equipped for homeschooling?

On social media, we come across the perfect homeroom settings, with matching furniture and spacious dedicated areas, or at a fellow homeschooler’s house. These images can be triggering, because we want the best for our children and think that they would do so much better in a setting like the one we just saw.

Let’s instead ask ourselves, “Is our child learning?” That should be much more important than aesthetics. We can always get tips online to set up our home and maximise the space by buying or building storage objects that best fit our allocated rooms.

2. Why do other people have better resources?

With education fast becoming high tech, there are new softwares, education packs, interactive gadgets, learning tablets and so much more that helps homeschooling. We all know someone who has something new and better, and for our child’s benefit, we feel that we should get it too if it can help them succeed.

However, the more important question to ask ourselves should be “Are the tools I have, doing the job as far as my child is concerned?” If the answer is yes, then we really don’t need the upgrade. It's really that simple.

The Best Comparison Tool

The best comparison for our children would be with themselves. By gauging our child’s abilities from a few months back to now, we will see their level of progression. We can then set up more achievable goals.

It’s important to celebrate each milestone they achieve, or change the criteria or methods and start afresh if they haven't.

To help you on your journey through home education, Summa Summarum Education offers a variety of resources and aids for home educators, as well as home education consultancy . Feel free to reach out to us at any time.

Home Education Around the World

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 22:30:00 GMT

Homeschooling Around the World

With the advent of COVID and closure of schools, online education was forced to flourish, albeit with mixed results. Now, with educational institutions re-opening, many parents are contemplating whether sending their children back is such a good idea after all.

Those with a discerning view have dissected the positives in online education, and realized its shortcomings as well. Many of these parents reason that those shortcomings could be controlled or overcome if they, the parents applied themselves. By introducing a form of homeschooling that would be more beneficial and tailored for their child, they could, in effect, provide a better education than the standard education available in schools.

This newfound awareness is anything but new. Homeschoolers have been speaking about the advantages of home education for some time now. Governments around the world have been actively re-regulating laws and providing infrastructures for homeschoolers. Though the Western world has embraced homeschooling as an equal if not a better path towards academic success, many other countries around the world are quickly recognizing the necessity of establishing homeschooling as a staple form of their education process.

Covid has, in one way, made legislators more aware of the need to reform the current methods of providing education, and the shortcomings in public and private schools. Sadly, some countries have still not adopted homeschooling, and some have gone so far as having homeschooling deemed illegal.

Australia, Canada, New Zealand, The United Kingdom and The United States of America are generally regarded as being the vanguard for homeschooling. The freedom and criteria to homeschool is based on the standard of the provision of quality education set for public and private schools. European countries such as France, Ireland, Norway, Denmark etc. have essentially accepted homeschooling as an equal replacement for public or private schools.

We will take a look at the similarities and differences among these regions in a bit, but the general theme is that each country sets their own educational criteria in line with the scope, regard and ethos of the country.

Homeschooling in Europe

By and far, homeschooling in Europe is picking up. Even if you ignore the sharp incline because of Covid, European countries have begun accepting homeschooling as a viable and legal alternative to the traditional school system.

Countries like Ireland, UK, and Norway are fully on board and provide support and information for homeschoolers. Conversely, Germany, Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands do not allow homeschooling, except in extreme circumstances.

The basic argument held by these countries where homeschooling is not allowed, is that removing a child from an established and formal system is against a child’s basic right to education, and hinders their opportunity to develop to their fullest potential. They argue that the homeschool environment might not have qualified people to teach and may lack the social interactions required in a child’s educational upbringing.

The following European countries allow homeschooling:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

European countries that either prohibit or have extreme restrictions:

Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.

Homeschooling in the United States

A RealClear Opinion Research survey shows that more than 40% of parents in the US are likely to homeschool their children after the Covid lockdown eases. With each of the 50 States legalizing homeschooling in the 90’s, there has been a sharp incline in the number of students that are homeschooled. There are currently 2.5 million students in the US that are officially homeschooled with the number being expected to increase by 10% this year.

Even though all 50 states have homeschooling legalized, some states are pretty relaxed with their implementation and feedback policies. Others are extremely strict. There are new laws and regulations constantly being drafted, so what is permissible for one state might not fly for the next.

For example: North Dakota, Massachusetts, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont are quite restrictive with an emphasis on achievement, test scores, and other official evaluations. Parental teacher qualification is a requirement, with a state-approved curriculum, and home visits from state officials.

States such as Alaska, Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Utah have very few regulations, and generally just require the parents to inform the authorities that their child is being homeschooled.

The remaining fall somewhere in between. However, the brilliance of homeschooling in the US is that everything is spelled out and broken down on each state’s website, with a lot of resources and support offered officially, as well as links to non-official but qualified help for homeschooling.

Homeschooling in South America

Chile, Ecuador, and Paraguay are at the top in the list of countries in South America that have both legalized homeschooling and provide resources at government and private level. The Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica, and Uruguay have recently passed laws that completely legalize as well as recognize the authenticity and need of homeschooling.

Though information on homeschooling is extremely vague at best, there are a lot of homeschoolers in the rest of Latin America. This may stem from the fact that authorities are reluctant to actually get involved unless the health and safety of a child is at risk in extreme cases. Since most countries currently don’t have laws regarding homeschooling either way, the legality or illegality becomes a moot issue.

For example, homeschooling does not violate the Brazilian constitution and there are an estimated 8000 families involved in homeschooling there. However, neither is it actually legal to homeschool in Brazil. The status quo is somewhat balanced precariously, although there is a bill in Brazil’s Congress that could legalize homeschooling very soon.

Similarly, without clear compulsory attendance laws, homeschooling is flourishing legally in Mexico and Argentina. As a rule of thumb, Mexican and Argentinian families homeschool without significant interference from the government.

Homeschooling is not legally recognized in Colombian legislation; as such it is neither prohibited nor allowed. Basically, the education laws in Colombia do not mention homeschooling at all, although some laws do address mandatory education, including ages and grades. This leads to state officers believing education is only achieved through traditional schooling. However, the rise in homeschoolers in Colombia is so sharp that authorities believe laws will be passed soon to legalize homeschooling.

In Panama, homeschooling is not legal, but there are a number of families who are currently homeschooling as there are ways to attain a degree without attending formal schooling.

The laws in Bolivia are so complex, that cases can be made for homeschooling to be both legal and illegal, depending on what laws or articles are cited.

Though homeschooling in Peru is not expressly forbidden, their laws make it impossible to get a local degree without attending school. However, other equivalence foreign exams can be attained.

As of now, Costa Rica is the main country in South America that expressly prohibits homeschooling as a viable alternative. Nevertheless, sweeping changes are being made throughout the region with regard to education.

Homeschooling in Africa

With the exception of South Africa, there is not much information about homeschooling in Africa. The general perception by educational authorities is that home education is becoming more popular. Even though some government and school officials declare that homeschooling is unlawful, the bigger issue is that there is currently no communication between homeschoolers and the government.

Homeschooling in South Africa is clearly defined in the 1996 South African School Act according to the country's government. Since 1996, it has been entirely lawful to homeschool children, with each province having the ability to define its standards. Homeschoolers must register with provincial education authorities

Homeschooling in Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Botswana, and Namibia is on the rise quite successfully, though their restrictions differ. Each of these countries have different procedures and even though some of the legalities are still in the initial stages, it is expected that homeschooling in these countries will rise by 20%.

Homeschooling In Australia and Canada

It is completely legal to homeschool in all the states and territories of Australia and Canada. The common stipulation is that registration is required, which can be done in person, by registered mail, or online.

One does not need to be a registered teacher, just the student’s legal guardian to homeschool. With both countries being quite progressive, there are numerous groups and communities available for support and help, and various resources and locations centred towards homeschooling.

At Summa Summarum Education we have a pictorial representation of which countries are favourable for homeschooling. If you’re interested in starting to homeschool your child, have a look at our guide on how to get started, and how much you can expect your costs to be during the process.

As always, a step towards a sound home education should be well thought out, planned, and viewed positively. If you require assistance, we offer tailor-made plans to help keep you on track and ensure your child receives the best from their home education.

No matter where you’re living, and provided the country’s laws allow it, a home education is a sound choice and can be extremely rewarding for both you and your child.

Setting Up to Home Educate

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 20:23:54 GMT

Setting Up to Home Educate

You have officially made the decision to homeschool your child. Congratulations! This is an exciting new time for you and your family. The pandemic has opened the eyes of many parents to the joys and freedom of home education. So you can just begin, right? Well, not exactly. Home education is a process and will take some time and research, being that the homeschool laws and regulations are different all around the world. To find out whether homeschooling is legal in your country of residence, read this blog post .

Fortunately, the laws for home education are quite flexible for those residing in England. Let’s have a look.

If you live in England, you do not need permission from any authority to home educate your child. You are free to do this at any time. Here are some of the basic requirements:

A child must have some variation of full-time education by the age of five.

If your child is already enrolled in school education, you must notify the school that you will be homeschooling your child.

“Flexi-schooling” is also an option for parents that want their children in home education and formal schooling. This is the only time that a school can approve or deny your request. In the case of simple home education, this cannot be denied by any school or authority.

If your child has not started formal school, but they already have a spot secured in a school, you must notify the school that you would like to de-register your child from that school.

You are not technically obligated to contact any authority to begin home education, however, it is officially recommended to do so as some councils may ask you to provide a plan for educating your child. Although they may initially ask for evidence that your child is receiving a proper education, there is no obligation to provide an education that copies a traditional school education.

If your child has special needs and is currently enrolled in a special needs school, you will need permission from your local authority in order to remove them for home education.

Some rules and regulations differ slightly within each county as well, so it is best to contact your local authority or check government websites where there is more specific information for your needs.

Now that you understand the basics to get started with home education, you can now devise a plan for how you would like to prepare your home.

Some points to consider are:

1. The area that your child will learn in.

Will they have a separate room? Will it take place in your living room or their bedroom? Will they have a table for learning? Some parents choose to maintain a “school setting” for their children. For example, using a desk and a chair as well as a whiteboard. Each parent and child will have unique needs and this ultimately comes down to what works best for your child. Setting up a home education does not have to be expensive, fancy, or complicated. The setting is essential as you will want your children to be in a comfortable environment to focus and concentrate.

2. Which supplies will my child need?

Most homeschooled children will require the same basic supplies that other public school children will need. So don’t forget the pencils, papers, folders, flashcards, and notebooks. Other supplies to consider, (but aren’t exactly a necessity) are; storage bins, a table/desk, whiteboards, electronic devices for learning games and programs, shelves, colored markers, and decor. Your child’s supplies can be as basic or as extravagant as you desire, that is the beauty of home education.

3. What will my child’s curriculum and lessons look like?

There are many varied options and resources when it comes to this. You may use worksheets, whether they are homemade or created by others. Multiple resources online are available for free or for a set price. Lesson plans covering all subjects are available, both in electronic and printable form. Your child may want to work entirely online and with a tutor, or only/mostly with you as the parent/guardian.

Again, home education is all about freedom and flexibility. You don’t have to have a degree in teaching in order to be a great teacher and educator. You also do not have to cover every single subject every day. Some parents choose to alternate between subjects or teach multiple subjects together in one lesson. The only rule that exists in home education is that whatever you do, it should work well for your family and make parents and children happy.

Homeschooling curriculum can be fun and engaging, all you must do is choose what works best for you. If you have specific questions or would like to book a free 30- minute home education consultancy, please send me an email or contact me here .

The Legal Status of Home Education Around the World

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 19:30:26 GMT

The Legal Status of Homeschooling Around the World

Despite all the great benefits of homeschooling, it has yet to enjoy a legal status in every country. Before deciding to home educate your children it is therefore imperative to find out as much as possible about the legal regulations in your country of residence. To help you commence this journey, below you can find the legal status of homeschooling in every country.

Please note that these maps were created with the utmost care however the information is supplied without any liability and does not substitute legal advice.

The true cost of Homeschooling

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 18:51:22 GMT

The true cost of Homeschooling

The perceived cost of homeschooling is often a deterrent for families who are scared to take the plunge and educate their children at home. The truth is, asking families how much educating their child at home costs is somewhat like asking a family how much they spend on their weekly food shop – there are tons of factors that come into play and each figure is as individual as each family. Some homeschooling families spend as little as £100 per year whereas others spend upwards of £100,000. The total figure depends mostly on whether parents decide to teach their children themselves, enrol them in an online school or whether they decide to employ a tutor. Thus the good news is that homeschooling can cost each family as much or as little as they decide.

When considering home education, you may believe the notion that all homeschool parents are experts and professionals. This is simply not true! You do not have to obtain a teaching degree in order to be an excellent educator for your child. All it truly takes is effort, care, and resources. Thousands of resources are available at our fingertips thanks to our modern technology. This is an excellent way to begin educating yourself on what you must do to prepare for home education. There will be supplies that are needed, as well as lesson plans and curriculum. But what about the non-monetary costs of homeschooling?

Well, here is where time and effort come in.

Not surprisingly, homeschooling children will take time and effort as you are responsible for not only your child’s education, but also time management, organisation, grading work, and scheduling. It can be overwhelming to think about. Direct involvement is required each day, and that is something that you must consider carefully. Will you have adequate time in order to educate your child full-time? The reward is high, but so is the amount of effort. A hands-on homeschooling parent is going to be extremely beneficial to the child.

Are you able to set a good example for your child in an educational setting? This means knowing when to switch from the parent to the educator, which is a delicate, ongoing balance. Homeschooling parents must try to keep their children engaged and motivated by asking questions, proposing ideas, and assisting when needed. You may need to try out certain academic levels to determine where your child functions best. Their development will constantly change, as well as the levels of difficulty in their work. If you feel that you are prepared for home education and the potential demands that come with it, then homeschooling can be an extremely rewarding decision for your entire family.

Although home education can absolutely be done on a budget, there are some monetary costs to keep in mind:

Basic school supplies such as notebooks, folders, coloured pencils, calculators, binders, and index cards

More advanced school supplies such as a school desk/table, storage bins, decor, shelves, electronic devices, as well as any paid learning programs, courses, and curriculum

Possible home renovations if you are building or designing your child’s homeschool learning environment from scratch

There are costs to everything in life, whether monetary or not. However, in the case of home education, the reward is immeasurable. The freedom, family time, seeing your child evolve right in front of your eyes, and individualised education are all priceless.

The Benefits of Home Education

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 18:08:50 GMT

The Benefits of Home Education

Homeschooling has recently become an increasingly popular subject with the advent of the pandemic that we have all found ourselves facing. All the lockdowns and social distancing have turned us away from classrooms and into our living rooms. Thereby most children experienced homeschooling of some sort last year, and this has given parents a new perspective on what exactly homeschooling entails.

Home education may seem like a foreign concept to some, however, it has always been an incredible option that many parents and children of all ages have had great success with. In the past, educating your children from home was, for many years, the primary way that children were taught.

So, why might some children and parents choose the traditional home education route? And what are the benefits of choosing this? Well, let’s have a look.

1. Tailored Learning

The first benefit is actually a downside of the alternative. The public school curriculum is a “one size fits all” system, which does not benefit those that need specialized, individualised, or different academic approaches. It is unrealistic to believe that every child can thrive in an environment such as this. Many children in public school are unmotivated and may see school as a chore, or something they have to do.

Homeschooling allows for freedom of choice, whether it is a parent or private tutor that is educating the child. With many different individualised lesson plans and curriculum to choose from, there is no shortage of options for your child.

2. Morals and Values

Parents may hold certain beliefs that do not coincide with the public school system’s beliefs and teachings. Family values can be made a priority when your child is homeschooled. The average child spends 40 hours a week at public school for roughly 9 months of the year, and a child is influenced heavily in a setting where they spend this amount of time.

3. Safety

Public schools have become significantly less safe overall, whether it be due to violence, peer pressure, bullying, or a lack of security. Home education allows parents to ensure their children’s safety and well-being. Especially now with health safety.

4. Quality Family Time

Home education allows children and parents to spend more one-on-one time together, and this has a profound benefit on their relationship, as well as the family’s relationship as a whole. Research has shown that homeschooled children overall have a closer and happier relationship with their family than non-homeschooled children.

5. Soft Skills

Homeschooled children learn greater responsibilities such as time management, independent work, structuring, and accountability. This has a direct impact on their development and maturity. You get to decide which life skills they are taught, and when.

6. Flexibility and Freedom

There is flexibility and freedom in your life and your schedule. When homeschooling, you as the parent decide when your child starts school, when a break is taken, and when a lesson ends. It is inconvenient to drop important tasks in order to pick your children up from school, or worrying about missed days at school if they are sick or unable to make it. When there is freedom and flexibility, this often translates to less stress and worry within your child, and in the household overall.

7. Care and Attention

Homeschooling allows children to be directly seen, heard, and appreciated. Teachers in a school setting work very hard, and it is unrealistic that every child in a large classroom will get individual and specific attention regarding their needs. Many children have the innate desire and motivation to learn, but often find that they are simply not receiving the attention and care that they need. Home education can nurture a child’s natural abilities and talents by directly engaging with their specific and tailored needs. You also inevitably know your child much better than any teacher could, no matter how engaged and hands-on the teacher is.

There are many benefits to home education as it allows both the parent and child to thrive, learn, and become the very best versions of themselves.

If you are considering homeschooling and have any questions please do not hesitate to contacte me. The first consultation is free of charge and can be arranged via email or my contact form .

The first Summa Summarum Bookmark

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 20:04:53 GMT

The First Summa Summarum Bookmark

To quote Margaret Fuller: "Today a reader, tomorrow a leader". With that spirit in mind, I am excited to release a free printable bookmark every quarter. Download Bookmark I here .

An introduction to GCSEs & IGCSEs

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 19:46:15 GMT

The GCSE

The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is a subject-based school leaving qualification taken in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. GCSE exams are taken prior to A-Levels, usually during Year 10 and Year 11. Most students that leave school after their GCSE exams do not wish to go to university and instead begin apprenticeships.

There is no minimum age requirement to sit GCSEs and the youngest students known to achieve a grade A* and grade 9 are home-schooled siblings Thomas and Ellie Barnes who achieved the highest possible grade at age seven and nine respectively!

Subjects

The GCSE qualification is subject-based and following reforms between 2015 and 2017 the number of subjects on offer has decreased substantially as the reformed GCSEs have core requirements set by Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation).

Students usually take a minimum of 5 subjects, including English, Mathematics and Science, to satisfy the general expectations of achieving a minimum of 5 GCSEs with grades between A* and C. Since 2017, students at school have been encouraged to take a set of subjects that will lead to the English Baccalaureate (EBacc). To achieve the EBacc, students must take the following subjects:

English Language and English Literature
Mathematics
Either Combined Science or three of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science and Physics.
Either a Modern or an Ancient Foreign Language
Geography or History

Despite the recommendation to achieve the EBacc, there is no minimum or maximum number of subjects that students can take.

Structure

GCSEs are usually studied over the course of 2 years however this is not mandatory. Private candidates can sign up for GCSEs at any time, whether they have studied the subject for two months or two years. The system offers different levels of ability, as subjects can be taken either at Foundation or Higher level. There are two examination sessions per year, one in the Summer and one in the Autumn.

Examination Boards

GCSE examinations are administered through five different examination boards that each offer different subjects and curriculums:

AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance)
OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations)
Edexcel (also known as Pearson Edexcel)
WJEC (Welsh Joint Education Committee)
CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment)

When deciding on which examination boards to choose, it is important to consider the distinct specifications of each board and whether your examination centre (the school or business where you will be sitting the exam) is registered with the examination board. You can mix and match multiple examination boards as you do not need to sit all exams with one board.

Grading

From 2017 most GCSEs have introduced a new 9-point scale grading system where 9 is the highest grade, considered higher than the former A* classification. The former grade C is now the new grade 4, considered a “standard pass” with grade 5 now considered a “strong pass”.

The traditional tier system of foundation and higher are now less frequently on offer for GCSE qualifications. However, it does still exist and on the numerical grading system grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are available for foundation tiers and grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 for higher tiers. Controlled assessments and coursework tasks are not divided into tiers.

The IGCSE

The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is a subject-based school leaving qualification that is taken prior to A-Levels usually during Year 10 and Year 11. Most students that leave school after their IGCSE exams do not wish to go to university and instead begin apprenticeships.

The difference between the IGCSE and the GCSE is the “I” which stands for International. The IGCSE was developed by University of Cambridge International Examinations and is an internationally recognised qualification as examinations can be sat all over the world. It is generally considered to be more rigorous than the GCSE and has the added benefit of being assessed only through a written exam, not with the added coursework component required by many GCSE subjects.

Subjects

Contrary to school leaving qualifications in other countries, an IGCSE is subject based. This means that you are free to choose the number of subjects you would like to sit at IGCSE and each individual subject is examined separately. There are no previous learning requirements when you sit your exams and there is no minimum age requirement.

There are over 70 subjects on offer and typically students take between six and twelve subjects. The EBacc does not exist for the IGCSE however students taking exams offered by CAIE (Cambridge Assessment International Education) can be awarded an ICE (International Certificate of Education) if they achieve 7 subject passes A*- C across the following range of subject groups:

Group I: Languages
Group II: Humanities and Social Sciences
Group III: Sciences
Group IV: Mathematics
Group V: Creative and Professional

To qualify for the ICE, students must take two different languages from Group I, one subject each from Groups II, III, IV and V. The seventh subject can be taken from any of the five subject groups. There are three grades for the ICE: Distinction, Merit and Pass.

Structure

IGCSE’s are usually studied over the course of 2 years however this is not mandatory. Private candidates can sign up for IGCSE’s at any time, whether they have studied the subject for two months or two years. There are two examination sessions per year, one in the Summer and one in the Autumn/Winter.

Examination Boards

GCSE examinations are administered through four different examination boards that each offer different subjects and curriculums:

Cambridge Assessment International Education
Pearson Edexcel
OxfordAQA (Oxford International AQA Examinations)
LRN (Learning Resource Network)

Grading

The pass grades for IGCSEs are, from highest to lowest, A*, A, B, C, D and E. Despite this range, only grades of C or above are generally considered an achievement. If students do not reach the minimum standard required for a grade E, students receive the non-grade U (unclassified).

What is a Private Candidate?

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 19:46:09 GMT

What is a Private Candidate?

A Private Candidate is a student who wants to gain official qualifications such as (I)GCSE and A Levels but who is not enrolled in a school or college. This includes students who are:

Educated at home
Enrolled in a distance learning course
Autodidact learners
Privately tutored
Students who wish to re-sit exams

Private Candidates are responsible for preparing and registering themselves for formal exams. It is their responsibility to find an appropriate exam centre (oftentimes International schools or British Council offices), check the centre is registered with the desired examination board and adhere to all registration deadlines.

Private candidates are also responsible for paying all fees. Examination boards charge a fee for each exam and the centre may also charge a registration and administration fee.

Exams for Private Candidates do not differ from exams taken by students that are enrolled in a school or college. For this reason it is vital that private candidates ensure they are fully prepared to sit their desired examinations.

An Introduction to A Levels

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 02:07:10 GMT

An introduction to the traditional British qualification

The GCE Advanced Level (A-Level) is a subject-based school leaving qualification generally required for university entrance in the UK. Despite the increased popularity of the IB, A-levels remain the traditional qualifications offered by schools and colleges in England and are highly valued by employers and universities worldwide.

Subjects

Contrary to school leaving qualifications in other countries, an A-level is subject-based. This means that you are free to choose the number of subjects you would like to sit at A-level and each individual subject is examined separately. Although schools and colleges will usually require you to have a GCSE in the subject you would like to sit at A-level, there are no previous learning requirements when you sit your exams as a private candidate. You can therefore sit an A-level even if you do not have a GCSE in the subject.

Most universities expect applicants to have at least three A-levels, with certain university disciplines requiring a certain set of subjects. For example, Medicine usually requires 3 A-levels, with Biology and Chemistry as required subjects. Studying English, on the other hand, requires an A-level in English Literature with Languages and History recommended for the remaining two subjects.

There are over 100 subjects on offer, from traditional subjects such as Maths to less orthodox subjects such as Product Design. It is important to note however, that certain subjects are not as highly regarded as others. For example, A-levels in General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are usually not accepted by universities as one of your A levels.

A key benefit is the possibility of taking exams even when you have technically "finished" your school education. For example, if you decide to become a Physicist a couple of years after leaving education, you can always sit further A-level exams as a private candidate to fulfill any university requirements as there is no age or time limit for taking A-level exams.

Structure

A-Levels are usually studied over the course of 2 years however this is not mandatory. Private candidates can sign up for A-levels at any time, whether they have studied the subject for two months or two years.

Prior to the A-Level reforms in 2016 and 2018, A-levels used to be modular and split between AS levels, taken in the first year and A2 levels taken in the second year. Since the reform this has now changed, and AS Levels have been turned into a separate qualification. Although you can still take AS levels, these are subordinate to the A-Level and most universities do not consider AS levels alone to fulfill their entry requirements.

The reforms also changed the modular structure to a linear one, which means that students now take all their exams at the end of the course, when they have learnt everything about the subject.

Examination Boards

A-Level examinations are administered through five different examination boards that each offer different subjects and curriculums:

AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance)
OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations)
Edexcel (also known as Pearson Edexcel)
WJEC (Welsh Joint Education Committee)
CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment)

Grading

The pass grades for A Levels are, from highest to lowest, A*, A, B, C, D and E. Despite this range, only grades of C or above are generally considered an achievement. If students do not reach the minimum standard required for a grade E, students receive the non-grade U (unclassified).

An Overview of the English Education System

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 20:11:14 GMT

Understanding the British Education System

There aren’t many national education systems as renowned as the British. Indeed, a British education is still the bastion of the upper classes, yet it is often overlooked how accessible the system really is – and no,

it does not have to set you back £40,000 a year!

It is of note that although it is often referred to as a British education, the four constituent countries that make up the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) all have their own, albeit similar, systems in place. This post will refer to the system in England.

In England, children between the ages of five and sixteen must receive a full-time education, either at school or at home. The compulsory stages are guided by the National Curriculum, which sets out the subjects and standards that children will be assessed against. The curriculum is divided into Key Stages, with most Key Stages ending with a set of assessments to judge the development of the child.

However, it is not compulsory to follow the National Curriculum, as only state-funded maintained schools (schools that are funded and controlled by the local authority) are bound by the curriculum. Independent schools and home educated students can choose to follow the complete curriculum, parts of it, or indeed completely reject it.

Although there are many assessments throughout the key stages, none of them are compulsory for students educated outside of maintained schools.

In order to access university, the key qualifications are GCSE's & A-levels or the IB. Although the IB has gained traction in recent years, A-levels are still the most common Key Stage 5 qualification in the UK. Students usually take 10 subjects at GCSE level and 3-6 subjects at A-level (usually the subjects they would like to study at University). However, there is no limit as to how many A-levels a student can take. I believe the record is currently held by Haroon Tariq, who achieved an astounding 30 A grades!

A-levels are accepted worldwide and depending on the country you would like to study, the appropriate subjects can be chosen so that the qualification is on-par with the qualifications taken in the given country.

The distinguishing feature of the British education system however, is the degree of flexibility:

There are no pre-requisites , thus in order to sit A-level exams, it is not necessary to have GCSE's. This is particularly important for adult learners as, in essence, it is possible to "skip" GCSE's and sit A-level exams as a means to access university.
A-level exams can be sat at exam centres all over the world . Most countries either have international schools or British Council offices that offer students the possibility to sit exams on their premises.
You can study for the A-level completely independently. Subject specifications and learning materials are widely available and you do not have to sign up to a school or learning provider in order to sit the exams.
You can re-sit your A-level exams. If you are unhappy with your grade and would like to improve it, you can re-sit your exams once. However, most universities will want to know why you re-sat your exam, so it is best to make sure you sit your exam when you know you are ready to achieve your best possible result!

These features mean that regardless of age or location, anybody can achieve British qualifications!

Summa Summarum Education

How To Succeed At Homeschooling When You Work Full Time

Routine, Routine, & Routine

Fit to Size

On-Hand Resources

Take it Easy

Childcare For Successful Homeschooling

Criteria for Childcare

Home-Based Childcare Options

Group or Centre-Based Options

It's Okay To Outsource

Online Programmes

Community Programmes

Tutors

Communication Is Key

Shared Calendars

Family Meetings

Constant Updates

How To Plan A Home Education Curriculum

Selecting Subjects & Outlining Goals

Define Your Approach

Review Curriculum Options

Take Your Time

Curriculum Criteria

Bookmark Potential Curriculum

Check Online Reviews

Breakdown Into Planners

Prep Beforehand

Print And Prepare

Always Have Supplies On Hand

Have A Proper System

Think About Demarcating A Proper School Space

Final Thoughts

Teaching Reading with Phonics

What are phonics and why is it important?

How are phonics taught in school and how can you help at home?

Fun tips to engage your child.

Use their favourite hobbies and toys

Read the signs

YouTube searches

Eye Spy

Sight words

What to do if your child is still struggling to read?

Different Home Education Styles Explained

Types of Home Education Styles

The Classical Method

Charlotte Mason Method

Moore Formula

Unit Studies

Montessori Method

Waldorf

Relaxed

Unschooling

Christmas Bookmarks

What type of learner are you?

What type of learner are you?

VAK Learning

TESTING YOUR VAK STYLE

RESULTS

Visual learners tend to

Auditory Learners generally

Kinaesthetic Learners normally

TEACHING BASED ON YOUR CHILD’S VAK PREFERENCE

VISUAL LEARNING

AUDITORY LEARNING

KINESTHETIC LEARNING

Conclusion

The Comparison Trap

The Perils Of Comparisons In Homeschooling ﻿

What Is The Comparison Trap

Are All Comparisons Bad?

Why Do Comparisons Occur?

Am I Equipped to Homeschool My Child?

The Best Comparison Tool

Home Education Around the World

Homeschooling Around the World

Homeschooling in Europe

Homeschooling in the United States

Homeschooling in South America

Homeschooling in Africa

The Perils Of Comparisons In Homeschooling