Well, I wasn’t sure if I was going to post a round-up of the things we have been doing, but I do quite enjoy the reflecting on how quiet or busy a month has been, and I’ve finally found time, halfway through October, to reflect on the previous month. A combination of having been awake since 5am and the children all staying out elsewhere means I have a spare hour on wet, autumnal October morning.
September, of course, sees the start of a new school year and with it new plans and ideas. Thoughts and wishes and as ever those moments of self-doubt as to whether this path we are on is the right one. I remain sure that it is, but like any big decision in life, especially those which deviate from ‘the norm’, it can lead to episodes of self-doubt.
This (academic) year I have made some conscious changes to our approach. D is now year 5, and with it comes the need to focus on things in a different way, and to provide more challenge and stretch to him. Em is year 4, and is more than capable of working at the same level as D. H is now year 2 and, whilst he is a young year 2 (summer birthday) this is the year I want him to ‘catch up’ to where his schooled peers would be. I use the term ‘catch up’ loosely as I don’t believe he is behind, more there are some gaps because we spent his reception year dealing with speech issues (in lockdown) and we have now got his reading sorted which is a game changer.
So, what was September like for us? At the time of writing D is 9, E, 8, and H 6, so Year 5, Year 4, and Year 2 respectively.
Core Subjects
As ever we continue with the Maths no Problem books. I really should write an update on this at some stage as it’s one of the things I get most asked about. D was almost at the end of his workbook in September and has since finished it and is working through the next one at pace. H is still rattling through MNP and his mathematical abilities never fail to astound me; it really is the subject he excels at currently. Em is also doing well and whilst she doesn’t share the same interest in maths as H does, she is more than competent and is managing it well.
English is one of those subjects that I’m changing my approach on, less so for H as he is still consolidating his reading but for the other two, and again I will write more about that when we are further into that process. Em loves to write and has a number of story-starter books in her room that she works on as and when she feels like it. I don’t really review these other than to sneak the occasional look if one is open at her desk. She just loves to read and write and will spend her mornings snuggled under blankets reading. We visit the library most weeks and she leaves with armfuls of books.
H has cracked his reading and is currently working through the Football Heroes books. It brings me such joy to see all three children become consistent accomplished readers and is, probably, the greatest achievement I have made.
The final core subject of Science is one that feels a little neglected over the years if I am truthful but I have made a conscious effort to include more science-based projects and have included much more science in my plan for this autumn term.
Projects
When I was glancing back through my diary I was surprised at just how many projects we have squeezed in during September. We started the month by finishing up the flight project we started. We used the Post from the Past letters from Amelia Earhart and The Wright Brothers for this as well as a curriculum style guide from Wild Feather Education. There is more in this post here. We really enjoyed this project and the older two also did the Twinkl CSI Amelia Earhart task. They enjoyed doing this and it was a good opportunity to get them working on their extended writing.
Sticking with Post from the Past we also looked at John Muir who was the focus of the September letter. This one tied in well to a project D was doing independently on the USA as he then went on to research a couple of National Parks.
One of the changes I have made this year is to give the older two a monthly set of tasks. These are a mix of things we will do together and things I want them to work on independently. One of the independent tasks is to undertake a country study each. I have given them some templates and guides from Teaching Packs and it’s up to them to choose the country. D chose USA and Em initially chose Iran… I was a little concerned about what she might throw up with a Google search on Iran so with some gentle persuasion she changed to Turkmenistan (which proved to be really interesting). Both of them made an excellent first attempt at a country study and it’s provided a useful focus for them to work on when we are in between tasks during the day or if I’m working 1-1 with someone.
The biggest project during September was on Judaism and for this we used the Oak Academy unit. I have mixed views on Oak, but this unit really worked for us and by the end of it, all three had written an essay about Judaism. I plan to look at some more of the religion units with them as I was impressed with the breadth and depth of this unit and it worked well for us.
Finally, we started a Space project in September. Again we are using Oak, although I have to say we are less impressed with this unit, but it’s serving a purpose and the children are learning from it. I am using this alongside the CGP year 5 Space book for all three children. H works through this with me and the older two on their own, and they have been looking at the extension tasks too. We have only just started this project but will probably complete in early November. It will also tie into Beaver and cubs badges for the children too which they’re happy about.
Regular Groups
All the regular groups restarted in September so we are back to athletics, Spanish, music, and swimming as well as Beavers and Cubs. There are so many different groups we could go to, and finding the balance can be tricky but this feels like a good balance for us right now.
H is really enjoying Beavers and he’s doubly excited to have one of his friends there with him which is lovely to see. He also earnt swimmer of the week at swimming this month. I’m not too sure how swimmer of the week is determined as it seems very ad hoc and certainly not given each week but he was happy and it gave him a boost in confidence.
Other Bits & Pieces
There have been quite a few other things going on in September too that don’t really fit neatly under the other headings! We did a very short Da Vinci study in September and learned a lot about the Mona Lisa (and its theft many years ago). There has been plenty of baking and meeting up with friends at the park/National Trust venues.
There have been parties to attend and we even got along to an outdoor theatre production which saw Damian taking a starring role as the Landlord, much to the children’s delight. We had a family trip to Catalyst in Widnes which they really enjoyed and is one we will head back to again. H went along to Old Trafford with Damian, much to his delight and we had a ‘school trip’ to Quarry Bank Mill. That one was a little underwhelming if I am honest. It had been sold as an immersive day to understand life at the Victorian Mill with staff greeting us in character etc. It wasn’t that at all and it was basically the standard tour that you would usually get, and that we have been on many times, at Quarry Bank Mill. So whilst the children enjoyed it, I’m not sure I felt it was quite worth the £10.50 fee per child… but you live and learn I suppose.
We also popped into Stockport and attended a Heritage Day open day at a local museum and had a stroll around the Old Town; it’s lovely to see how thriving this area is at the moment and the community that is building up around it.
We ended the month with a Pawprint Badge Day I ran for the astronaut badge. This was a lot of work but I know my three really enjoyed it and they learned a lot too so it was worth the effort.
September always feels like a productive month, and this September is no exception. October looks set to be just as busy, although we will have a short break to coincide with D’s birthday and Damian’s annual leave.
How has your September been?
Sounds pretty busy to me