Brewing Something More Organised

My homeschooling blog is really a big mess!

I’m in the midst of re-constructing another homeschool site to ’straighten this out’, and will be back to write more soon when I am more organised.

I be back – hopefully soon

Motivate Your Children to Learn

I have been having problem motivating my children to learn, and this article is so timely!

Motivate Your Children to Learn

I love what I’m reading

I have been reading the Charlotte Mason’s series in modern English, and I really love what I have learnt so far.  I love her method of teaching, and I do believe that it will work.

I will not attempt summarising what I read so far, since I really don’t want to do any injustice to her teaching.  So what is it that I like?

saw examples of living books that other CM homeschoolers are using, and the books are really so so so good.  I am not a reader by nature, so even I am drawn to the books after reading a chapter or two.  The language used is nothing like what we read, the language is a work of art.  Something that I’m sure we as parents, will want our children to learn.

The learning of the English language, from spelling, to grammar, to writing composition, is a natural evolution through her method and philosophy.

The teaching of other subjects like history, science, geography also evolve naturally.

She advocate using manipulatives for Math, and I totally agree.

Her philosophy doesn’t just looking into education, she touches on educating the heart and moral value of the child as well.

Last 2 days, I tried the CM style with Mr E, using one of the FIAR book.  Both of us really enjoyed the lesson.  The book we read was “The Little Red Lighthouse and The Great Gray Bridge”.

The love for knowing more about New York evolved after reading.  He wanted to know where is the bridge and light house on the map of New York, we started exploring who is George Washington, from this, we talked about Singapore’s first president, and who is the face on our Singapore dollar bill. We also read stories about George Washington, and saw the actual picture of the red light house verses the great gray bridge.  And oh ya, we talked about Benjamin Sheares’ Bridge too.  From learning about America to Singapore seamlessly evolved.  Mr E also did some copywork, and he wrote SO DILEGENTLY, and SO NICELY.

I know what I just dropped down is so random and unorganised, but I’m really excited, excited that both Mr E and I are enjoying what we learnt.

Honestly, before reading CM, I am really not sure about homeschooling Primary level, but now, with CM, it has given me a very good direction.

Am I decided about what his Primary education? Actually still not yet Waiting for my hubby’s nod

Good that I have used up all the lesson plans that I did.  I will start doing lesson plan for next term, and I’m certainly looking forward to more interesting journey ahead.

Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?

Or rather, do school AND I kills creativity?  this clip takes a while to buffer, so be patient.  BUT, the message is really worth watching, and listening.

 http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66

A very big reminder for me to see beyond the children.

What I’m really impressed about is the sharing about Gillian Lynne.  My Ms Z is really something like the girl.  And the video has certainly helps me see Ms Z in a different light.

Charlotte Mason

I’m currently reading Charlotte Mason’s philosophy translated into modern english via this website:

http://amblesideonline.org/CM/ModernEnglish.html

I’m only at Volume 1, Chapter 2, and I have already learnt so so so much from her. 

Her writings are really not just for homeschoolers, but for every single parent who wants to enjoy their children and want to know better ways to nurturing them.

The translation to modern English has certainly make reading easier.

Highly recommended!

Lapbooks

Been hearing about Lapbooks among homeschoolers and wondered what it was.  Went to the homeschool fair recently and finally got to see it.  

Love the idea since I have been thinking how can I help my children ‘revise’ what they have learnt in an interesting way.

Here goes… Very simple and basic, but a good start for us:::

Awaken by a dream

As I type this, its 2:20am over at this part of the earth.  Fell asleep while getting kiddos to bed.  Thought I should blog down this dream that woke me up.

Its not a nightmare, but I actually dreamt that I was on a train looking for a school.  Alighted at a station where I have never been before.  I asked people where is that place, and I hear the passerby said “Tampines”, and he directed me to a school.  Remember very clearly that the school’s uniform is grey.

In the dream, I was telling God, “But this school is beyond 2km from my home, and it is so far.”

The next thing, Zoe’s cough woke me up.

What to make out from the dream??? Sigh… I really don’ t know.  The only school that comes to my mind and is around Tampines is “Chang Kat”.  Is this a direction and answer? Again, I don’t know.

To homeschool primary or not?

Question: What have been in my heart and mind and prayer list?

Answer: Should I continue to homeschool my children for Primary (& Secondary) level?

Great Chinese Bookshop for the Little Ones

I’m so happy! I finally found a bookshop that sells great Chinese books.

I have been searching for great Chinese Story books for a long time. What do I mean by great Chinese books? I love the books used in Five In a Row and Before Five in a Row. Those books are really nice. Stories that are nicely written with great pictures. (See my Homeschool Blog under the FIAR categories for examples of such books.)

Books from Popular are simply not up to the standard.

This bookshop has a booth during the annual Homeschool Fair, where I bought a few Chinese story books. Read to my son last night, and HE LOVES IT!!!!

So where is this shop?

Maha Yu Yi Pte Ltd

#03-11 (Chinese Children’s Book Corner) #03-07 (China Classic Books)

Blk 231 Bain Street Bras Basah Complex

Singapore 180231

2008 Singapore Homeschooling Fair

AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON BEHALF OF SINGAPORE HOMESCHOOLING GROUP

 If you want to know what Homeschooling is or if you wish to improve the way you teach your child or your typical homeschool day, come and join the “Singapore Homeschooling Fair 2008″

Date :17th Feb 2008 (Sunday AFTER Chinese New Year weekend)
Time: 2-6pm
Venue: Young Musicians’ Society Auditorium (YMS Auditorium) at 54 Waterloo Street
Admission Fee: $15/adult (free admission for children)

There are 7 different talks for you to attend:

1. Talk 1-THe Family that Stays Together Stays Together by Mr. Steve Demme, founder of Math-U-See
2. Talk 2-Being a Disciple & Training Disciples in the Home by  Mr. Steve Demme, founder of Math-U-See
3. Talk 3-How to Homeschool in Singapore? By Ms Angie Maniam, Singapore Homeschool Pioneer & Founder of Home Library Online Bookshop (www.thehomelibraryonline.com)
4. Talk 4-Charlotte Mason Method for Homeschooling, By Ms Angie Maniam, Singapore Homeschool Pioneer & Founder of Home Library Online Bookshop (www.thehomelibraryonline.com)
5. Talk A-Introduction to Music Therapy by Ms. Daphne Chua, Music Therapist
6. Talk B-Lapbook & Digital Scrapbooking by Mrs Eileen Nathan digital scarpbooking & lapbooking extraordinaire
7. Talk C-Am I Doing Enough with my Preschooler? by
   

Register early & you will get a goodie bag sponsored by Zuellig pharma (http://www.zuelligpharma.com)!

For more details, please go to http://jennywongtan .backpackit. com/pub/1365527 …

For more information, email me at jenny70@singnet. com.sg or sms to
9008-1202.