Looking back on ten years plus of home education as Halloween approaches I realise that pumpkins are probably one of the best reflections and explanations of what we've been up to!
Initially it was TD's drill that created Moshi Monsters, camper vans, Minions, Hypixel logos, Minecraft themes, Pokemon, Mario characters, a Star Wars Death Star, Studio Ghibli connections and Tim Burton characters mostly out of the vegetables grown at our allotment.
The allotment has been in our family 13 years and looking back on our pumpkins they are a great guide to the passions, projects and interests that have been the driving force of our home education. They are a great reflection of the books we've read, games we've played, movies we've watched and places we've visited in pursuit of more knowledge and deeper learning about our chosen themes.
More recent years it has been the trio helping out and getting involved. Gradually and with love.
And, as already one has announced they don't want to trick or treat this year, a reminder that nothing stays the same forever.
2017 - There were enough small pumpkins from the allotment to carve # HAPPYHALLOWEEN
2016 Hypixel and Pokemon including Pikachu and Haunter
2015 - Emojis plus 2015 Boba Fett and Master Chief and I had a Studio Ghibli
2014 Clones and Minecraft
2013 - Death Stars, VW campers and minions
2012 Moshi Monsters shortly after I wrote this lovely post
2016 Hypixel and Pokemon including Pikachu and Haunter
2015 - Emojis plus 2015 Boba Fett and Master Chief and I had a Studio Ghibli
2014 Clones and Minecraft
2013 - Death Stars, VW campers and minions
2012 Moshi Monsters shortly after I wrote this lovely post
2016 was a haunter from Pokemon Go and Et's Hypixel logo
A pokeball!
Star Wars and Minecraft above with My Neighbour Totoro below
21 comments:
Thanks Taryn - I have just checked your website and I think that ties in with the "I know there is a South African one" tweet I received! http://tarynhayes.com/
Also from Elizabeth Foss on Twitter The Precious One http://www.amazon.co.uk/Precious-One-Marisa-los-Santos/dp/0061670898/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439394626&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=The+Precious+One+by+marisadlsantos
The list behind the password stretches the not going to school point rather, it includes things like Harry Potter. I think the point made in the original article and one that I would agree with, is that home education is either a plot point or a passing fad, it's rarely presented just as a normal thing, and that is what we are missing.
Saff has said many times that she will never go to school but if a Hogwarts letter was to turn up she would consider it (she is 11 in November)
One has had lots of positive reviews already Keris - I hope this post has boosted it's preorders I know we have!
The volume of books purchased by home educators often comes up on #homeedhour as a topic and I would imagine it larger than the numbers of home educated children might suggest!
I have 2 book fans and one who is much keener on movies which is why I included the movie list too.
It might also be handy to split into secular and religious
Thank-You so much to everyone who has taken the time to comment and share
Another add this time an audio book aimed at younger children
The Railway Children (E Nesbit) and Little Women have both been mentioned a few times - they are also in the Books Without School link that you need a password to read
Its very in tune with home-ed, or indeed just the natural way that we have raised our children for 1000s of years!
She also has 50 pages left of One which arrived (and was released) yesterday I'll link to her review and Jax's when I update this post.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/books/dp/1408863111/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442071156&sr=1-1&keywords=one+sarah+crossan
She has also read more Emily the Strange books and discovered that Emily is now Home Schooled and has lots of other angles http://emilystrange.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Nellie-Flight-Stephenie-Wilson-Peterson/dp/0692617701/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452834604&sr=8-1&keywords=nellie+nova
Thanks again for the mention and happy reading! :)
Stargirl - although she gives school a try in the book