The Uncomfortable Place!

http://images.clipartpanda.com/stop-sign-clipart-z7TaM5XiA.png

Today I decided and acted on this one word.

STOP!

The truth is that although I had these amazing ideas to un school or to de school and in reality we have to a certain extent, the teacher in me.... the fearful one in me... the voice that worried about the " what if " won and so we have been soldiering on with Maths and some English .

Last night, after a darling friend dropped off some maths to peruse , I decided to STOP. And so today we did out last maths for the year.

I can spot the gaps and I can see the cracks as he works but hey, next year is another year to begin a fresh and get going.

STOP!

The firmest and friendliest word I have said!

So we blew up balloons and made  a tactile balloon ball with cornstarch  that did not work as well as the bloke on Youtube made it work.

We made those beaded iron shaped goodies and we bought some dough to make "Suzzelle" bread tomorrow.

While I explore Project Based learning , lets get some projects going.

As Jets fellow grade 4 kids write exams and have Christmas assembly  and all that jazz, I have to say that strangely, none of that feels at all as though we are missing out.

I think it is because of this one all pervasive truth.... Jet is still singing, loving art and drama, joining in and did I say singing.

A friend popped by that has known Jet since birth. She spent some time with Tom and Jet as I was teaching art and then she came through. Her eyes all shining and happy as she shared with me how totally happy Jet is. How engaged and chatty. My eyes brimmed with tears. 

He may very well NOT be getting the absolute best of education but can we put a price on this boys  deep happiness?

Oh Happy Days

So here we are. Two weeks in...

My emotions have zig zagged from excitement through to thinking. " what have we done".

This is definitely the settling in phase or the de schooling phase.. We are ALL adjusting. In so many ways, small and big, this decision has effected us as individuals and as a family.

We are adjusting.

The biggest and most beautiful change is in our son Jethro. He is happy beyond happy. Jumps and sings about and keeps saying. " this is fun hey mom.". These are the words that make me glad. Learning is fun and if we can bring THAT to him and alive in him then this is well worth it.

These are photos from our week thus far. Clay café which brought some good discussion time and a happy place for us both. 

The others are of Jet doing x table game outside. He loved this." Take a photo for dad" is all he kept saying.

This is good.!