Home Education Lately – June 2021

The fact that I have taken so long to write this June round-up is probably a good indication of where we are at with Home Ed right now.

It’s been a lax few weeks in all honesty – we have been enjoying the better weather and the ability to meet with friends. The month has included H’s birthday and some lovely trips out and about. But I must admit to being a bit tired. Tired of Home Ed and the relentlessness of the last few months. The co-operative approach we have so enjoyed pre covid is very much missed and my energy has dipped.

But I have been doing this long enough to know that that is how it goes. We are still doing things and I know that allowing this period of dropped energy will mean we are able to really go into some good projects in the autumn.

Core Subjects

As ever e have continued with Maths and English as we always do. H is making fine progress with reading and maths and has finished some workbooks. D and E are also doing well. There’s been a lot of interest in creative writing from the older two which is good and I am going to really work on this in the autumn term with D in particular, who often seeks to take the quickest routes through his work. He needs a bit of challenge in some areas so that is something I need to look at.

Project Work

We had our Speaking & Listening group this month with a theme of animals. Em did the wolves of Yellowstone, D did rainforest animals and H did about moles (and this fascination with moles has continued).

Our biggest project this month was our Viking project. We have finished this now and will take a little break from history before we start our next topic (Egyptians).  The children enjoyed this work – History is always a hit here.

We also finished up some science work on plants and also completed the unit on the human body. When I work through the science course we use it always surprises me how little actually is covered by the national curriculum. I add to it but it never fails to surprise me how little *needs* to be covered.

Our Artist themed studies continued this month with Alma Thomas and Matisse and we now have a break until the autumn when I will pick this up again. We have all enjoyed these studies and we have all learned a lot from it.

Regular Groups

Beavers and Cubs for the older two have continued and both are working hard on their badges and skills. Em has had some that have been face-to-face meetings which has been great to see.

Spanish classes continued and the children are ever more proficient with their Spanish and enjoying this class.

Days Out

We have had some lovely trips to some RSPB sites during June. Twice we met friends and had a lovely day there and another was one we went to alone. Em continues to be really interested in birds and has even started her own blog which she dips in and out of. We have some things planned in for July and August and I hope we can really make the most of the better weather in the coming weeks.

Other Bits and Pieces

June has been quiet in all truth; we have enjoyed just ‘being’ as well as having some down time to mark H’s birthday. We have been enjoying the Euro 2020 tournament, which has meant some late nights all around!