Term 3 So Far

I'm not sure where the last few weeks have gone. It has been a bit of a blur. We have definitely moved from a relaxed home-schooling approach to unschooling/natural learning approach. Anything formal results in strong PDA and set backs. This has been a complete leap of faith for me, but I can see the results and Bee's confidence grow.

I had started the term with some prepared materials, having purchased a molecules model set. It was met with mild interest. Later that same week we were in the kitchen preparing breakfast, and in the process of making an iced chocolate drink the glass exploded. This totally captured Bee's interest and we discussed how the hot air and water trapped by the ice-cream caused pressure on the glass due to the uneven temperature distribution. Bee posited some theories about which forces were at play and we debated as to whether it was an implosion or explosion. After some research we found that it was an explosion rather than an implosion. These moments are far more invigorating for Bee than anything I can plan.

There have been some breaks recently in the dreary winter weather, allowing us to get out in nature more. We have enjoyed some family walks in the forest and visited the waterfalls to see the effects of all the rain we have had. 

The most recent podcast we have listened to was about bonobos with anthropologist Natalia Reagan. Natalia mentioned that bonobos, chimpanzees and humans have a common ancestor which lead to some robust discussion about evolution and DNA.

Bee has been assisting me with shopping and experiencing first hand that maths is indeed a part of everyday life. Working out prices based on cost per kilo, percentages and fractions have been highlighted through his experiences. Bee has been playing Geometry Dash again, building his own levels. He relishes making impossible levels.

Week Eight

 

This week we managed to get some work done on Bee's terms. I'm trying to keep demand low and bribes minimal. 

Monday - Bee asked to do some punctuation revision. He said he wasn't very confident with comma's and apostrophes. He wrote some sentences and used his comma's appropriately. When working on apostrophe's he wasn't very keen to use some of my/text examples and spends quite a bit of time thinking of his own. 

Tuesday  - Maths: Fractions, decimals and percentages revision. I think Bee surprised himself with how much he really did remember on this topic. 

After our work was done we went for a drive and listened to some podcasts, one on the Human Heart (only got half way through and Bee was overwhelmed thinking about it due to his recent testing) and the American Revolution.

Wednesday - Sleep issues have raised their ugly heads again (I don't think it truly goes away but rather gets to a point where Bee is unable to cope). We went for a scenic drive and finished our podcast on the American Revolution.

Thursday - Physiotherapy day. 

Week Seven

 

Now the weather is starting to cool Bee has been wanting to go for more walks and move his body about. He is still incredibly work resistant. The other day I gave him a choice between a maths worksheet and an English worksheet - he chose the math worksheet.

We had planned a trip to Augusta with some friends who also home-school, with primary focus to visit the Historical Museum. On the day our friends were unable to join us and when we arrived in Augusta the museum was closed (website said they would be open). We will try again next term. 

Week Six

 

I've been sitting here reflecting on this week; it felt like a particularly difficult week. There were two BIG emotional days, a lot of resistance. Looking at my diary though there were some educational positives.

Bee wrote (!) down some the things that are bothering him at the moment. He made a pros/cons list for our upcoming trip as he is anxious about some aspects of it. 

Podcasts we listened to this week were about Constellations, Elephants and one about the attempt to begin a New Australia in South America. 

Bee confessed he felt unsure about punctuation, so we did some revision focusing on full stops, comma's and apostrophes. 

Bee wrote his own math equation which led to us discussing different strategies, why certain strategies are important and provide the basis for further learning. I asked if he remembered BIMDAS - he said he had heard of but doesn't recall it.

We ended the week with a podcast on genetics - a topic that is close to home at the moment.

Week Three

 

A much better start to the week.

We got comfy on the floor and had a conversation about nouns. Bee could not recall learning about nouns previously, but picked up the concept very quickly. Before I could ask him to write in his notebook he had gotten the whiteboard down and started writing down some of the key points (e.g. proper nouns, common nouns). By the time I got to abstract nouns he had had enough and had started drawing. I gave him time to reset before moving onto some maths. Later in the afternoon we listened to a podcast about the Amazon Rainforest.

Gently, gently

 

Bee is still in a heightened state. At his psych appointment he agreed to beginning some more structured  "school work" at the end of the week. His PDA is aggravated by the high cortisol levels from stress and anxiety. 

Upon reflection I should not have started with Maths. I had some worksheets ready, they were to assess his number and place value knowledge as this was an area I identified last year that might need to be revised. As Bee encountered concepts he was not confident and/or familiar with he began to shut down. Then spiralled into a meltdown.