Anna Dusseau | 7th October 2020 A government inquiry has been launched into home education in the UK, seeking to: “understand the extent to which current arrangements provide sufficient support for home educated children to access efficient, full-time and suitable education, and establish what further measures may be necessary in order to facilitate this. ItContinue reading “Here’s My Evidence for the Select Committee. What’s Yours?”
Category Archives: home education
Whoops! How What We Say Shapes Our World…
Anna Dusseau | 30th September 2020 The socially distanced doorstep chat has to be one of the most depressing outcomes of the pandemic so far. Where once, you might have invited the nosy neighbour in for a cuppa, or actually helped the delivery person with a heavy crate and a warm “thank you”, those daysContinue reading “Whoops! How What We Say Shapes Our World…”
Nobody’s Friend: How School Deprofessionalises Teachers and Damages Childhood
Anna Dusseau | 22nd September 2020 Here we go again. One minute it’s “back to the office”, the next it’s another 6 months of working from home. Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s…wait, what? The pandemic, quite clearly, is a game changer, but this is the first time I’ve had to double-check the headlines each morning to actuallyContinue reading “Nobody’s Friend: How School Deprofessionalises Teachers and Damages Childhood”
‘Driven’ is the Word: On School Despotism and Intrinsic Motivation
Anna Dusseau | 16th September 2020 I want you to consider the possibility that school is damaging your child. I want you to consider, too, the possibility that you have been damaged by your own schooling, and that you carry this with you when you talk about education. We all know that schools shape livesContinue reading “‘Driven’ is the Word: On School Despotism and Intrinsic Motivation”
Picasso, Percentages, and the False Security of Schoolwork
Anna Dusseau | 9th September 2020 It’s a Saturday morning which, technically, means I shouldn’t be stuck in the office printing resources. Still, we are embracing autonomous learning and, if my middle son wants a blank treasure map, then a blank treasure map he shall have. “What’s it for?” I ask him, absentmindedly. “Treasure,” heContinue reading “Picasso, Percentages, and the False Security of Schoolwork”
Ten Letters
Anna Dusseau | 2nd September 2020 Every evening during his presidency, Barack Obama would sit down with ten letters from the public, and he would read them. “What this form of story sharing and empathy and listening does,” he later acknowledged, “is it creates the conditions around which we can then have a meaningful conversationContinue reading “Ten Letters”
“Miss, What’s the Point?”
Anna Dusseau | 8th July 2020 “You might say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” John Lennon, Imagine It is autumn. The late afternoon light lies low across the room, where windows are jacked open and the blinds do nothing to cut the glare. I’m not convinced Year Ten can even seeContinue reading ““Miss, What’s the Point?””
On Autonomy and Being an Asshole
Anna Dusseau | 24th June 2020 It’s 7pm and my daughter is still swooping round the house on her classic roller skates. We live in a bungalow, so you can imagine the speed. Oh, and she’s got a copy of Zoey and Sassafras held about an inch from her face, eyes darting across the pageContinue reading “On Autonomy and Being an Asshole”
Do Homeschool Children Have a Social Life?
Anna Dusseau | 8th June 2020 This is the bugbear of all homeschooling parents; the question we get asked all the them. The answer is a resounding ‘YES!’ but let me clarify what I mean here. Our understanding of what friendship is and the nature of human connections have changed immeasurably within the past twentyContinue reading “Do Homeschool Children Have a Social Life?”
Why Finnish Schools Are Better (Sort Of..)
Anna Dusseau | 25th May 2020 “One of the luckiest things to happen to you in life is, I think, to have a happy childhood.” Agatha Christie Not all school systems are the same. In Finland, there are no Ofsted-style inspections, no streaming by ability, no fee-paying private schools, no school uniforms and no schoolContinue reading “Why Finnish Schools Are Better (Sort Of..)”
Top 10 Song Lyrics My Kids Are Straight Up Wrong About
Anna Dusseau | 1st May 2020 Do you guys follow Andi and his kids at Diary of a Gay Dad? If not, get on it because these guys are hilarious. Earlier this week, Andi wrote a post about giving away his age by listening to a bit of 80s Ska revival and this got meContinue reading “Top 10 Song Lyrics My Kids Are Straight Up Wrong About”
Oh, Shit!
Anna Dusseau | 27th April 2020 Even before I hit the button on the Nespresso machine this morning, darling daughter wandered into the living room and announced that today she would like to dig a hole in the garden and poo in it. I thought you might like to know it’s not all sunbeams andContinue reading “Oh, Shit!”
Travel From Home? Yes, You Can!
Anna Dusseau | 23rd April 2020 This. Is. Fun. Do I even need to add a 90s inflected ‘not‘ at this point? Because really, if you are beginning to feel like a hostage on Big Brother series that you definitely don’t recall signing up for, then join the fricking club. Selfish though it sounds, IContinue reading “Travel From Home? Yes, You Can!”
Can You Make My Child a Reader? Yes.
Anna Dusseau | 22nd April 2020 Thank you to Aliyah for letting me share our email exchange earlier this week. I hope it’s of use to some of you, especially if you are deep-end homeschooling right now. Hi Anna, I am new to homeschooling with my kids. I’ve got a 6 year old daughter andContinue reading “Can You Make My Child a Reader? Yes.”
Music is the Remedy: Show Me What You’ve Got
Anna Dusseau | 10th April 2020 We are a musical family. I dance in the kitchen for the vast majority of the time (it really pisses the kids off) and teenwolf is only very reluctantly doing a ‘real’ job having failed to make it as the next David Guetta during his 20s (I mean thisContinue reading “Music is the Remedy: Show Me What You’ve Got”
Why Baking is an Essential Part of Homeschooling
Anna Dusseau | 8th April 2020 “Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.” -Ernestine Ulmer Like my favourite kind of pastry, I’m going to keep this short and sweet because – well – sometimes things are just better that way. From creamy lasagne to dairy-free banana cupcakes, cooking and baking is surely a fundamental aspect ofContinue reading “Why Baking is an Essential Part of Homeschooling”
The No-Brainer Guide to an Insta-Perfect Homeschool Monday
Anna Dusseau | 6th April 2020 “Here is the ultimate funky Monday to enjoy with your family and please share widely as I can see many people are seeking a proper hand-hold like this at present.” – Homeschool Guru Okay, okay! I’ll do it, but only because I like you. And hey, consider yourself extraContinue reading “The No-Brainer Guide to an Insta-Perfect Homeschool Monday”
Homeschool Rules #5: Creative Play
Anna Dusseau | 3rd April 2020 Teenwolf and I have this game we like to play. Wow wow WOW sweet child of mine! Wash your mouth out with soap and water, for goodness’ sake; this is a family blog. Okay, so this PG-rated game is called ‘where will we be this time next year?’ andContinue reading “Homeschool Rules #5: Creative Play”
Homeschool Rules #4: 50 Genius Ways to Avoid Losing your Shiz with the Kidz
Anna Dusseau | 2nd April 2020 Omfg, these little people! We love them but they can grind your gears, right? I sometimes feel like they were sent to test me. Like, do you remember way back in your first pregnancy when you felt a bit panicky because you couldn’t find those vegan multivitamins with theContinue reading “Homeschool Rules #4: 50 Genius Ways to Avoid Losing your Shiz with the Kidz”
Homeschool Rules #3: The Global Classroom
Anna Dusseau | 1st April 2020 Whatever your experience prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, times have changed and we are now all part of a global think tank. I realised this the other day. In a single morning, we video called our old friends in Capetown, a worldschooling family in Barcelona who we are collaboratingContinue reading “Homeschool Rules #3: The Global Classroom”
Homeschool Rules #2: Fix Up, Look Sharp
Anna Dusseau | 31st March 2020 “This is Homeschool HQ to Gavin’s mum. Put the pjs down and step away from the biscuit tin! I repeat: PUT. THE. PJS. DOWN. This is not a drill!” Hello. Are you Gavin’s mum, by any chance? Or Gavin’s dad, come to think of it? Because we are nowContinue reading “Homeschool Rules #2: Fix Up, Look Sharp”
Homeschool Rules #1: 101 Ideas for Homeschooling this Week
Anna Dusseau | 30th March 2020 1.Play pirates! Turn the sofa or duvet into a pirate ship, dress up, pack for your voyage, use the globe to locate where you’re going in the world and finish with a treasure map or the secret diary of a stowaway! 2. Cloud spotting. Lie on your backs inContinue reading “Homeschool Rules #1: 101 Ideas for Homeschooling this Week”
He Said, She Said: Resolving Sibling Disputes
Anna Dusseau | 25th March 2020 Kids kicking off? Hungry for a fresh order of parenting wisdom? Look no further than the Homeschool Guru’s sizzling takeaway menu (the restaurant is closed) where fury tastes better with a side order of sarcasm. Oi! (The Classic) Always a winner, this is the number one reprimand of choice.Continue reading “He Said, She Said: Resolving Sibling Disputes”
Fake It To Make It (Or Why Radio 4 Women’s Hour Missed the Point)
Anna Dusseau | 24th March 2020 Oh, what? Did I forget to mention that I was recently interviewed on BBC Radio 4 Women’s Hour? Apologies. I’ve been so busy going round telling anyone who’ll listen (my mum, the kids, the bathroom mirror, and teenwolf) that it must have slipped my mind to mention it inContinue reading “Fake It To Make It (Or Why Radio 4 Women’s Hour Missed the Point)”
Gettin’ Jiggy with It: Fresh Air and Exercise Homeschool Style
Anna Dusseau | 23rd March 2020 Happy Monday, guys! How’s everyone doing? Today marks the start of the official UK school closure and I hope you’re all coping okay. Believe me, even experienced homeschool families are struggling here, with cabin fever causing parents and children alike to resort to foot-stamping temper tantrums, like Big BrotherContinue reading “Gettin’ Jiggy with It: Fresh Air and Exercise Homeschool Style”
The Soundtrack to Sanity
Anna Dusseau | 20th March 2020 The best advice anyone gave me regarding parenting was to have the radio on in the background. That’s it! You’re welcome. But seriously, this passing comment has absolutely shaped my homeschool style and serves as a basis for keeping me calm and engaged throughout the day. Of course, theContinue reading “The Soundtrack to Sanity”
Waste Not, Want Not: Crafty Leftovers and Cooking From Scratch
Anna Dusseau | 19th March 2020 First, let me make one thing clear; I can do a fancy lunch. Which is another way of saying: ‘I’ve located the whereabouts of my nearest M&S Foodhall and I’m not afraid to use it’. So, just before we dive in and you emerge thinking that I’m 110% anContinue reading “Waste Not, Want Not: Crafty Leftovers and Cooking From Scratch”
Heigh-Ho It’s Home From Work We Go: Rules for Remote Working with Happy and Grumpy
Anna Dusseau | 17th March 2020 I still get the words wrong to this. It just seems like the lyrics should be ‘it’s off to work we go’, am I right? I mean okay, 1930s Disney-lovers, I get that it doesn’t work so well with the story line, but in terms of the iambic rhythm,Continue reading “Heigh-Ho It’s Home From Work We Go: Rules for Remote Working with Happy and Grumpy”
The Reading Nest: A Study in Multisensory Learning
Anna Dusseau | 16th March 2020 My kids have this annoying habit of dismantling the furniture. How it came to be that these pint-sized people have the strength and determination before breakfast to transform our old leather sofa into a fortress, I don’t honestly know, but this is how I often find the kitchen arrangedContinue reading “The Reading Nest: A Study in Multisensory Learning”
Top Pick of Board Games for Family Downtime
Anna Dusseau | 12th March 2020 It’s a rainy Thursday afternoon and there’s nothing much to do. The morning was a caffeine-fulled adventure into papier mache death masks and rescuing a family of toads from the end of the garden where they seemed intent on seeking the afterlife themselves upon the grave driveway beyond. AndContinue reading “Top Pick of Board Games for Family Downtime”
The Definitive Reading List if You’re Just Starting Out
Anna Dusseau | 10th March 2020 First off, I want to say that this is not actually a list. Apologies for the title. My blogging guru Elna Cain told me readers love lists, so I thought this would make a catchy title; however, like everything in homeschooling, I found myself writing this post a bit..differently?Continue reading “The Definitive Reading List if You’re Just Starting Out”
Another Manic Monday? Take Control Now!
Anna Dusseau | 9th March 2020 Happy Monday, homeschoolers! It’s the start of a new week; celebrities in surgical masks are already being snapped on their way to the gym and the PM is looking bleary-eyed after another night of emergency meetings and, one can only suppose, locating bottles of Gaviscon for his fiery-haired babyContinue reading “Another Manic Monday? Take Control Now!”
15 Awkward Questions You’ll Get Asked About Homeschooling (and How to Answer Them)
Anna Dusseau | 4th March 2020 Let me guess. You’re loving homeschooling, right? I mean, I know we all have our ups and downs, but if you can recall, that was what the school routine was like, too. In fact, if I’m really honest with myself, almost every single day when my daughter was inContinue reading “15 Awkward Questions You’ll Get Asked About Homeschooling (and How to Answer Them)”
Top 10 Podcasts for Switched On Kids
Anna Dusseau | 3rd March 2020 We hear it all the time. Kids have too much screen time and are too dependent on Google and YouTube videos for their sources of information. It’s so true and such an easy pattern to fall into, especially when homeschooling, as curious kids naturally want to explore their interestsContinue reading “Top 10 Podcasts for Switched On Kids”
How Homeschooling Happens
Anna Dusseau | 2nd March 2020 This was definitely not the plan. Homeschooling happened to us, the same way it happened to most of the families I have met since, by surprise. And I mean birthday party surprise. Not the sarcastic surprise of a flat tyre, but the kind that lights up your whole face.Continue reading “How Homeschooling Happens”