A few articles for Home Ed friends

These articles are for those who either currently home school, are considering home schooling, are curious about the WA curriculum or who have teens they’re not sure how best to see through the upper school years. They are not intended to convince anyone of my own preferences – just to share information. We’ve had 4 kids complete Year 12 in school, 1 who left at the end of Year 10 to do an apprenticeship, and 2 who began home schooling in Years 10 and 2.

1.  W.A. – some year 11/12 Home Ed options.
I spent a good deal of time in our first year of home schooling (2015) researching ideas to round out our year 10 daughters education/experience/resume and plan for her upper school years.
Here is some of what I found….

2 W.A. – Curriculum mind map outline F-10 in ONE page
I don’t actually hate the curriculum and am more schoolish in my thinking possibly than many of you (again due to having had kids in school for 22 years) so this post is for those of you who do use it, or at least would like to have an overview of it… This screenshot is of a mind-map I made in my first year of Home Ed as I wanted to see if it all actually made sense… did the learning areas have a flow?… Did they build?… Was it random? Turns out it does flow, does build and isn’t random….
Follow here to read more and download the map.

3Regarding Moderator Meetings
Home-educating friends – I know I come across a bit militant on this topic from time to time but having come out of 20 years schooling into the freedom of homeschooling – it really bothers me when, in particular new home-school parents feel as though they don’t have the freedoms that they actually do… In my own quest for clarity, I put together a document that distils the requirements of the School Education Act (law) and the Home Education Policy (which should not exceed the law).
Continue reading here.

4. Alternative Education for Years 11-12
If you have kids soon to be in the years 11-12 age bracket – the Department of Training and Workforce Development provide a host of very viable and affordable options to staying in school. Kids can leave school at the end of year 10, while still in the compulsory school-age bracket, as long as they’re in a situation that is of equal or more benefit to being in school – work or training can both qualify – there just needs to be an arrangement in place with an employer/trainer and the Education Department. Keep reading and find relevant links here.

Why this blog?

Every January of recent years has seen me having a mini-meltdown – one that most will not see – but under the surface it lurks, popping up for an annual airing.  The thing about these recurrences is that I’ve learned to recognise and anticipate them, see them clearer, make better decisions and ride them out with more understanding.

It goes something like this:

Continue reading “Why this blog?”

The Long Sulk

Have you ever tried to bring a toddler out of a tantrum or heavy duty sulk? A tantrum is usually pretty noisy and the sulk follows on – but some personalities head straight for the sulk. The further ‘in’ they are, the more futile an exercise it is to talk them out. They’re too invested and the coaxing ends pretty badly. Either in a frustrated parent or a win for the sulk – both of which can compound over time if it’s a pattern.

Continue reading “The Long Sulk”

Spiritual Confetti

Hopping into Rod’s lovely new V6 Commodore after the 42 degree day of our wedding in 1986 – pre air-conditioning being the usual thing – meant we were seriously happy in the expectation of the marvel of instant cool air about to greet us. All the photos show shiny faces, slicks down the centre backs of all the guys suit coats and a heightened glow that had more to do with the temperature than anything else.

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“Don’t you have a TV?”

We all have stock-standard jokes. Lines. Go-to stories. Our family has sat around the dinner table many a night as our kids have grown up and worked in various service areas – shops and cafes – and customers have a surprisingly short list of comments – of which I sadly am one. So when we think we’re being funny and amusing to the waitress, or the young man at Bunnings – unless it’s their first day on the job, your remark is unlikely to be their first hearing. (“No price tag? Oh it must be free then”.  Go on – admit it.  You know you’ve said it).

Continue reading ““Don’t you have a TV?””

About VSP’s

The posts marked “VSP” are Very Short Posts. 🙂
They are intended to be a bite sized meaty chunk of thought fodder intended for much chewing – and for impact. They are marked as such to let readers know the post is complete as is. I hope they bless you.


(This has been a VSP 🙂 )