February wrap up

This last month we hit the ground running with the girls beginning.

• Ballet lessons,
• Ongoing Swimming Club
• & Miss 9’s Guitar lessons

It’s the most we’ve ever done at once to be honest. But it’s starting to feel like a flow between our ongoing commitment to balance and breath between the Yang aspects of life.

Prefer to listen instead? Here’s this months Wrap up over on the Podcast!

Fulfilling Family Values

The value we place on the slow life and minimalism has truly helped us adjust to these changes by not burning out. But I see now how easy that can happen!

It just so happened that the weekly community house Painting session was fully booked the day we thought we’d first try it out… so we took it as a sign we should do our own thing at home.

We certainly weren’t bothered by it, as we were happy to do our own Journal Watercolour piece of Thistle, which was a beautiful time spend workshopping together!

Scrapbook Journal Art

History ~ A Natural Interest

Aside from an opportunistic visit to a regional historical society museum and impromptu Historically educational (Ned Kelly informational tour) Maze visit, most of our weeks have been spent in play, study (including reading) and family time.

Scienceworks

While in the city on business, we were able to head to Scienceworks for a visit which was a lot of fun (and learning) for us all. While there, we bought a couple of great Usbourne books we were keen to read.

On our way home and on our walk the next day we listened to a couple of Natural Science podcasts as well.

The following week we attended our first fortnightly STEM Science Club at our local library, where the girls dipped their toes into the world of Coding for the first time.

In a couple of mornings, we finished reading The History of Science, which was a fascinating blend of the 2 key learning areas, weaving areas of interest together.

Modelling & Exemplification

With the awareness that we learn best by example, that we teach most through Exemplification… I thought I’d share what I myself have been up to.

I’m currently undertaking Advanced Yoga Teacher Training after recently completing further a Yoga Certification in Yin Yoga.

I also have a few books on the go, that the children see I’m reading with great interest, mostly on Human Behaviour & Spirituality / Self Development.

I can see the influence this energy has, where the children are frequently keen to work on new projects themselves, writing new stories, plays, making puzzles and games or self teaching the keyboard or with eager (Classical & Blues) guitar practice.

This months reading resources:

• This month, Miss 9 completed an 8 chapter book series (Fancy Nancy). This was over a duration of time between many other reads, since we first sourced them a couple of years ago.
• She finished reading the first in The Enid Blyton Adventure series and is now up to Number 5 of The Famous Five set.
• Miss 9 Read The Cabbage Patch Fib (Paul Jennings)
• We also finished reading Beyond The Heather Hills of our 23 Little House series period book collection!
• Miss 5 moved on from the Ladybird Level 3 of the Key Words with Peter and Jane set.
• Several Usbourne Phonics readers: shared reading among the girls (Miss 9 helping Miss 5)
• I read aloud the 2nd book (about the medicinal properties of Violet) of the ~ Herb Fairies ~ set (for the second time) to both the girls. They clearly enjoy these a great deal, weaving elements of the stories into their play afterwards.
• Read aloud – My Nut I Think, Enid Blyton (multiple times)
• Library book: A House in the Woods, Meet Nellie Melba & Exploring the World of Computers – Hardware

Currently the children are reading:

• Level 4 of the Ladybird Readers set (Miss 5).
• The Secret Garden (together with 2 copies, with Miss 9), while Miss 5 listens in.
• We’ve also jointly been reading the Life of Fred Math story books with both the girls, getting through a couple of chapters each. I love these & they get a good laugh from us all!
• History Curriculum ~ We are now at the Indigenous Australian Chapter 11 of the Story of the World Series. We’ve been learning a lot! And loving it!
• Library books.

Bedtime Reading:

Our February bedtime books with Miss 5 have included:

• Little Bear and Friends – First Readers (shared reading)
• Meet Ella – New Teacher title (shared reading)
• Miss 9 usually reads a Famous Five or another Enid Blyton at bedtime between the Little House collection.

Games we’ve been playing this month:

• Chess with Dad
• Checkers with Poppy
• Wildcraft with Mama
• Twister at a friends
• Who is it?
• Monkey Bingo

My own reading:

Formation of Character by Charlotte Mason

&

The Four Agreements Audiobook (YouTube Free)

(When? Bath or Walking time)

Curriculum Incorporated

We are continuing to use The Good and The Beautiful Math, Language Arts and Science, as both children enjoy and gain value from these. We also use Lisa Mills Online Course for our Auslan (L.O.T.E) lessons – though the girls have only sat through 1 this month, reinforced by practice with me.

As you can see, Curriculum is simply woven into everything else we do and have always done. It is certainly not something we depend on for our overall education.

With Auslan, much of our learning comes from the other resources we use, including the Dictionary, YouTube and App.

Documentaries & Movies watched

• The Famous Five
• The True Story of Ned Kelly
• Shirley Temple

PE / Fitness / Health

Below is a few ways we’ve incorporated Health & Fitness into our life.

• Skipping
• Tennis
• Scooter
• Cycling
• Park play
• Tree climbing
• Bush walking