This week has not been one of our academic successes. We often get weeks when one or other of us have absolutely no desire to work. This is normal and with the help of the others, the lethargic one is buoyed into action and the week remains fairly productive even for the reluctant child/adult. Very occasionally, we have weeks when not one of us wants to do anything pertaining to study. This was one of those weeks. We did bits, but to be honest it was a little pitiful. That said, much learning occurred without any intention at all. I’m learning to relax into this home school lark, knowing that the peaks and troughs of life can almost seem magnified in our home school. And even in a learning trough, the hours of the day still tick by, being occupied in a variety of ways.
I always say, if in doubt, blame it on the weather. I’m British. The weather traditionally has a great deal to answer for over here. It has been really quite lovely weather which, after the intense wet of the last six months, is a welcome reprieve. This type of weather isn’t conducive to being cooped up inside studying, especially if being cooped up has become the norm of late. So the children rebelled this week and spent most of it outside. And this is why absolutely nothing academic was accomplished this week. Y’see? The weather.
- T12 has become consumed by a new passion – building his own go-cart. I hadn’t really taken any of his ramblings about pressure and velocity equations terribly seriously until, a couple of nights ago, I went outside to move the rubbish bin and there was his go-cart. I was so impressed. Here he is standing next to it atop a couple of logs to enable him to work off the floor.
- A5 was so enamoured by her brothers attempts she too began to build her own go cart. Here, she is sitting on it.
- Couldn’t resist. My gorgeous three year old!
- Sisters having fun on our hammock. They use it as a swing rather than a sleeping base. They’ve rigged another rope hanging from the plum tree, which they pull to get them started.
- We are still plugging away at our school room. Here Father and son are working together to hang one of our old pine doors (obtained from freecycle) on the home school cupboard door way.
- Oscar, our golden lab
- George and Lucy keeping warm, snuggled up together
- B3 on her way up to her favourite place in the world – bed.
- L11 has been in the kitchen again, attempting to recreate some medieval magic for her presentation. This time she was making meringues in the shape of swans. These will be white (obviously) representing the white rose and they will swim in a red raspberry coulis to represent the red rose of the war of the roses. You can see the whipped egg whites on her nose, smeared there by her very mature mother.
- Once all the swans had been piped onto baking sheets, she called her siblings to scrape out the bowl. Never have I seen two children move so swiftly.
- Mr Bump, I mean, B3!
- A5 doing some Mr Men school.
- I have plans to create a writing nook in our new home school room and had been looking out for an old type writer to go in it. I didn’t want to spend too much on it though and any I looked at were quite expensive. We wandered into the charity shop on Saturday, where for every bag of stuff you take in you get £2 to spend in the shop. We had accumulated £42 worth of vouchers over the past six months or so, which meant when we saw this type write for £14.50 we were able to buy it with our vouchers.
- The children have played on the typewriter for hours upon hours this week, setting up travel agencies, banks, writing newspapers and thank you letters. It has been a really good purchase and I am very excited about putting it in my writing nook, when (or in deed if) we finish our school room.
- ‘Mummy, look at me! Photograph me please!’ B3 had just done her hair all by herself and obviously wanted me to capture the momentous occasion on camera!
- I’m hoping to post about our science nook next week. It has been up and running for a few days and A5 can’t keep her hands off the microscope and has spent hours this week looking at various slides under it.
There you have it. Our week in collage. I hope everyone has a blessed week-end with friends, family and lots and lots of fun!
I know what you mean about peaks and troughs. We’ve been in a trough, and this week was suddenly back to almost full speed again after almost a month that felt like we were treading through water!…I love the go-cart too! What a fun passion!
I particularly liked the way he approached it – scientifically. Everything he’s learnt has been put to good use in this process!
What a brilliant go gart!
Isn’t it just?
Seeing your beautiful family always makes me happy. I know what you mean about the spring weather making school more difficult to accomplish. We had one of those weeks as well. I just can’t bring myself to make them do table work when their eyes sparkle in the sunlight.
‘eyes sparkle in the sunlight’ – what a lovely poetic way to put it!
It was definitely hard to get them to do anything last week!
I would say much was accomplished in your home school this week. I see learning all around the place. Great for T on the go-cart. And A – HA. That is too cute. In fact, all your pictures are just wonderful. Glad to see Oscar, George, and Lucy. Someone is missing from all these shots. Hmm. I’ll give you credit — you got in on the egg whites.
Hope your weekend is as much fun as your week seems to have been.
Blessings to you, Claire.
P.S. Enjoy the sunshine:)
Yes, I wasn’t feeling very photographicable (spell check does not like that word – I think I may have just made it up!)
Another lovely week at the Scalliwags household 🙂 Your writing, the photos, and the kids antics all make me smile throughout – have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you Marie, that’s very lovely of you!
Wait – you have a child who LIKES going to bed? I’m really jealous!
Some weeks the official “school” work not getting done leads to such wonderful learning; I love that you’ve recognized and captured it in photographs.
Would you like to lay bets on whether your school room gets finished before our basement? 🙂 I’ll vote for your room!
It’s funny, she woke frequently when she was a baby, but she’s three now and still naps for at least two hours and sleeps for 13-14 hours overnight. She asks to go to bed every day. That’s just not normal!
That’s a pretty awesome science nook with that microscope
Thanks Ticia.
Looks like a lot of learning going on to me based on the pictures! 8) We have many of those weeks. This one was one for us also 8( I love the picture of your 3 yr old 8) Enjoy the weekend and HUZZAH to another start on Monday! 8)
Thanks Melissa. Let’s hope we manage to achieve a bit more this week!
Those weeks of respite are important. Learning is always happening.
Blessings, Dawn
Thanks Dawn. You’re right of course.
Makes me feel better knowing both you and Phyllis had a lighter week too, making the most of the weather. LOVE the typewriter, and the idea for the science and writing nooks. (Can you hear my inner 3 year old? “I wanna come school with you!”)
Your inner three year old is always welcome!
The weather does make it a challenge some weeks. I chuckled at your weather comment as a British friend was teaching me how to talk about the weather. She had recommended a book, Watching the English. I love the typewriter. You will have to show us all the various educational nooks that you create.
The British and the weather go together like salt and pepper!
Yes, sometimes you just have to break up the routine! Here in the States it’s called “Spring Break”! As a long-time homeschooling mom, taking a break anytime of the year does wonders for everyone’s attitude…..including mine! Looks like your family is having fun – and that’s really the goal of good schooling, isn’t it! 🙂
We seem to be back to normal this week, and it feels really good. Spring break…..I shall have to remember that for next time! Do you have such a thing as an autumn break?
We have days/weeks/months like this too. Sometimes it’s the weather, sometimes it’s burnout, sometimes we just need a break from our classical bent HS. I love the freedom to just take a day or two to run with the wind and soak up the sun.
Your son’s go cart is amazing!! I am very impressed! I bet you can’t wait to have that school room finished 🙂 All in good time, eh??
It is very slow going now, especially with Gary back at work and me schooling the children again.
As you say, everything in good time!
You all may not have felt like doing school, but you certainly did have a very productive week regardless! I’d be outside too, if it would only get warm and sunny here!
It is lovely to have warmer weather. I don’t like it when winter goes on too long! I hope you get some sunshine soon.
We have a hard time wanting to do school during those first few beautiful days of the season, too.
You’ve probably told me before, but I’d forgotten – your Lucy looks very much like my Luna.
You have such a beautiful family. Love the self-styled hair do, the go-cart, and the typewriter. What fun! I remember my cousin and I building a go-cart when we were about 6 or 7. We got the dads involved. It never was the motorized version that we envisioned, but we had fun pulling each other about.
Ah, my poor little Lucy. She’s almost 15 and everything is sore for her. George is her twin, same age, yet is as sprightly as a kitten. I wonder if it is a girl cat thing?