Whether it is the neighbours, your mother-in-law or the Local Authority, someone always seems to be asking home educators about their child's education. When Ram was 6 his grandmother didn't think much of home education, and I realised it was probably because she had no idea what we did. So I decided to write a 'report card' based on the little report cards we had at school back in the 1960s in Canada. It was just a line or two about each subject that was taught.
The amusing thing is the whole exercise made me realise that I was doing more with my son than I realised. Caging it in a language that was understood by LAs and mother-in-laws meant that although we didn't alter our unstructured autonomous education, it was now seen as a 'real' education.
Apparently when my M-I-L got to the bit on tessellation she said, 'I don't even know what tessellation is, and I am 84, so I guess this home education is working after all.' She never bothered us about it again!
Report card for 'Ram' October 5th, 2003 age 6 ¾.
Reading
Reading Beano and Dandy.
Reading up to two sentences from literature books but dyslexia and dyspraxic tendencies are very clear.
Using flash cards
Is able to read nonsense words of up to 3-4 letters
Can do simple anagrams
Can read Pokemon information off the internet
Confidence in reading is behind the actual ability
Goal: To improve confidence in reading ability
Literature
Reading M.E Atkinson, Malcolm Saville, Eleanor Graham, Arthur Ramsone, and other classic authors
Reading poetry and making up nonsense rhymes.
Modern Literature
Reading Caroline Lawrence- covering Roman History, Susan Gates – Schlok Horror, but has generally found that modern books are badly written and prefers older books.
Grammar
Constantly asking for exact definitions for words
Learning alphabetical order
Refer to correct grammar labels and can recognise bad grammar in modern books
Knows nouns, verbs, adverbs and additives, and is aware of other parts of speech.
Maths
Counting by 1,2,3s etc. up to 11s as a way of reinforcing multiplication tables
Adding and subtracting in games as well as on paper. Can add up in columns.
Understands the concept of probability and algebra.
Knows most 2 and 3 dimensional figures, angles and properties of tessellation and circles.
History
Mediaeval history – visited several castles and has reproduce them in the sand pit
Has read about life in the middle ages.
Has had discussions on the negative aspects of inventions which have positively changed the world
Understands the lack of water, electricity and other amenities in this village 60 years ago.
Psychology
Discussions on why people make complaints about other people.
Can identify four emotions in himself – happy, content, frustrated, and angry.
Can now recognise that other people may have a different opinion to him, which is equally valid
Politics
Understands the basics of how parliament works. Can discuss why politicians do what they do.
Listened to speeches from the Labour and Conservative Party conferences. Doesn’t like Tony Blair!
Nature
Studying pond life, birds, insects.
Keeps stick insects
Reading Enid Blyton’s Nature book twice monthly
Physics
Using science to explain magic.
Does weekly Kramph experiments.
Has been watching Science Shack and doing their experiments
Sociology
Looking at class and understanding differences
Understanding the power of advertising
Rejected Ribina stickers on the basis that they shouldn’t be used to entice children into having something that is bad for them!
P.E.
Can swim the length of the pool unaided.
Has excellent trampolining skills
Is continuing to do exercises for SID as recommended by optometrist
Is playing racket games and ball games
Is not yet ready to play team sports
R.E.
Celebrates seasonal festivals
Astronomy
Saw Mars through telescope on the night that it was closest to earth and understood that the last time this happened it was cave men looking at it!
Ancient History
Romans- watching Time Commanders and learning about Roman fighting. Also learning about people from reading Caroline Lawrence books.
Watching What The Romans Did For Us
Watching and reading about ancient Greek myths
Engineering
Building with Lego.
Building and destroying sand castles
Helped build the tree house
Built a jelly baby and spaghetti tower of over 1 m, capable of holding an egg.
Watching Seven Wonders of the Industrial World
Art
Designed and coloured in a Halloween costume
Doing large painting on lining paper
Helping with weaving and basket projects
Making seasonal decorations
Biology
Continuing to investigate how the human body works including how it regulates itself and the importance of hunger and going to the toilet.
Taking an interest in the health and wellbeing of insects and the dog.
Life Skills
Learning to cook and clean
Learned to light both an open fire and a woodburning stove
Learning about making clothes and darning socks
Learning about hygiene
Chemistry
Doing weekly Kramph experiments
Making soap
Dyeing wool with natural dyes
Geography
Reading maps in preparation for outings
Monitoring temperature and rainfall
Learning about different cloud formation
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