Education

Education is a hugely broad term for one of the main things we do with and for our children - whether at school, home or both. Here are some thoughts and tips on engaging with this aspect of our children's lives.

SHOULD I HOME EDUCATE? 4: THE RELUCTANT HOME EDUCATOR

March 20, 2019 2 Comments

Half-way through this series, and we've heard three very different stories of arriving at home education - Lizzie, who wanted to be able to try out different ideas for learning and play; Jenny, who didn't want to miss out on time with her children; and Louisa, who knew her son needed her undivided … [Read more...] about SHOULD I HOME EDUCATE? 4: THE RELUCTANT HOME EDUCATOR

SHOULD I HOME EDUCATE? 3: THE HOPEFUL HOME EDUCATOR

March 19, 2019 4 Comments

We've heard the story of Lizzie, who chose home education despite having worked in schools, and yesterday we heard Jenny's story of being converted to home education, having had her older four kids educated privately. But the question of 'Should I home educate?' takes on a new meaning when your … [Read more...] about SHOULD I HOME EDUCATE? 3: THE HOPEFUL HOME EDUCATOR

SHOULD I HOME EDUCATE? 2: THE CONVERTED HOME EDUCATOR

March 18, 2019 4 Comments

Yesterday Lizzie shared her story of starting out with home education. Today we hear from Jenny, who arrived at Home Ed later in her parenting journey. Alan and I have been married nearly 30 years and have six children. Our oldest four went to independent school from 3-18. They enjoyed the … [Read more...] about SHOULD I HOME EDUCATE? 2: THE CONVERTED HOME EDUCATOR

SHOULD I HOME EDUCATE? 1: THE OPEN-MINDED HOME EDUCATOR

March 17, 2019 7 Comments

Home education often gets a bad press in the media, so when THFF reader Emma suggested a blog on the subject, I jumped at the chance to put forward its advantages - as well as to be realistic about the challenges. Not being a home educator myself, I've enlisted the help of five wonderful women … [Read more...] about SHOULD I HOME EDUCATE? 1: THE OPEN-MINDED HOME EDUCATOR

EYE CAN WRITE – REVIEW

January 11, 2019 17 Comments

You know my absolute favourite type of books? Those which are short and pack a punch. Short because...well, clearly, this exhausted mama doesn't have a lot of time to read, and who wants to be slogging on with the same book for months and months? War and Peace ain't gonna get finished in the next … [Read more...] about EYE CAN WRITE – REVIEW

ONLY 1 IN 4 GIRLS CALL THEMSELVES ‘HAPPY’ – SO WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG?

September 26, 2018 6 Comments

I don't take a paper. I mean, I barely have time to read my own name on an envelope, so working through all the many articles contained in a broadsheet is a luxury belonging - for the moment, at least - to another existence, one where I'm not permanently covered in PVA glue. (Also - the Internet. … [Read more...] about ONLY 1 IN 4 GIRLS CALL THEMSELVES ‘HAPPY’ – SO WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG?

CHOOSING A SCHOOL FOR AN ADOPTED CHILD (5 QUESTIONS TO ASK)

September 18, 2018 10 Comments

Blink, and three years will pass in an instant. I mean, while you know and I know that it's only actually been three minutes since our gorgeous 14-month-old boys moved into our family, the calendar (damn that thing - is it even a trustworthy article?) suggests it's actually been nearly three … [Read more...] about CHOOSING A SCHOOL FOR AN ADOPTED CHILD (5 QUESTIONS TO ASK)

END-OF-TERM TEACHER GIFTS: ARE THEY COMPULSORY?

July 14, 2018 5 Comments

It's that point of the year when we're all (figuratively, if not literally) crawling our kids to school, fingernails scraping the parched grass as we pant towards the finish line of next Friday. Of course, we're aware of just how much our children's teachers have done for them this last year, and we … [Read more...] about END-OF-TERM TEACHER GIFTS: ARE THEY COMPULSORY?