Anna Dusseau | 12th August 2020 It’s been a long 6 months. Like you, we have spent this strange summer cautiously meeting with other families in open spaces, and visiting attractions where social distancing is in operation. We all wear masks, of course, crossing the road for groceries like Neverland bandits, the littlest fiercely brandishingContinue reading “Ready, Steady…Oh! Reflections on the Big Back to School Race.”
Category Archives: education
School But Not As You Know It: The Sudbury Model
Anna Dusseau | 10th June 2020 I first read about the Sudbury School model in Peter Gray’s Free to Learn, which devotes an entire chapter to ‘lessons to be learned’ from this quite radical vision of education. Gray sent his own son to the Sudbury Valley School for the latter part of his education havingContinue reading “School But Not As You Know It: The Sudbury Model”
The Powerful Philosophy of Unschooling
Anna Dusseau | 3rd May 2020 We are not unschoolers, but we are rapidly moving in that direction. In fact it seems like, the stronger you feel about homeschooling, the more an unschooling approach makes sense and rings true. The very notion that adults always ‘know best’ and that children can’t learn independently runs contraryContinue reading “The Powerful Philosophy of Unschooling”
Every Penny Counts: How to Budget Like a Boss
Anna Dusseau | 27th May 2020 “Look after the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.” Some Old Lady Oh, mama! There’s a reason homeschool is classified as private education in the UK, right? This shit is expensive! Like, Eton expensive, when you really think about it. Not only are you likely sacrificingContinue reading “Every Penny Counts: How to Budget Like a Boss”
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..)”
What Do You Know About Education?
Anna Dusseau | 22nd May 2020 I am guessing that, most likely, you went to school yourself and have memories from this time. You might also follow news articles related to education and have an opinion on the schooling that your child has received so far. When considering homeschooling, however, it helps to know yourContinue reading “What Do You Know About Education?”
Rethinking Learning: Why You Haven’t Achieved Nothing Today
Anna Dusseau | 20th May 2020 If I had a pound for every time a parent contacts me in despair, telling me that their son or daughter has ‘achieved nothing’ today, I would be rich. It is such a common sentiment. Nothing? I ask, wondering, picturing the entire family flat on their backs contemplating theContinue reading “Rethinking Learning: Why You Haven’t Achieved Nothing Today”
Reflections of a Reluctant Teacher: My Education Journey
Anna Dusseau | 14th April 2020 Becoming a homeschooling family has been a cathartic process for me, as I realise now that I come from a long line of homeschoolers. We just didn’t know it back then. Both sides of my family are packed with incredibly bright, bookish people who simmer in that slightly hyper-intelligentContinue reading “Reflections of a Reluctant Teacher: My Education Journey”
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”
Our Homeschool Timetable: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Anna Dusseau | 26th March 2020 Boy, this week has been tough! I wish I could say otherwise. In spite of the glorious sunshine, I would describe yesterday in particular as one gigantic clusterfuck with tiny moments of magic along the way. A metaphor for life, you say? Oh, come on now; surely you’re notContinue reading “Our Homeschool Timetable: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly”
Going Nowhere: Why a Global Mindset is More Important Than Ever Right Now
Anna Dusseau | 25th March 2020 I am, like you, stuck at home. We are doing our best to keep spirits up and minds focused, but it’s not easy. Not when you allow yourself a glimpse of what’s going on across the world. I absolutely understand the struggle for parents to homeschool their children rightContinue reading “Going Nowhere: Why a Global Mindset is More Important Than Ever Right Now”
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)”
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”
Strange Times: Skyping to Make Sense of the World
Anna Dusseau | 18th March 2020 Yesterday felt weird. After the giddy realisation of the PM’s speech on Monday – significantly ramping up the COVID-19 containment effort and advising the UK to avoid all unnecessary travel and contact – things felt quite different, all of a sudden. A few schools with dwindling numbers are stillContinue reading “Strange Times: Skyping to Make Sense of the World”
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”
No School? No Problem! The Calm Mama’s Guide to Surviving the COVID-19 Quarantine
Anna Dusseau | 13th March 2020 Parents, brace yourselves. Because it’s looking increasingly likely that UK schools will soon be following Europe by closing their doors in an international effort to contain – or at least delay – the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Perhaps as you are reading this, you have just received theContinue reading “No School? No Problem! The Calm Mama’s Guide to Surviving the COVID-19 Quarantine”
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”
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”