Wednesday 29 October 2008

Winter brew

My winter brew arrived today - aka Pukka Revitalise Kapha Tea - a warming blend of cinnamon, ginger and cardamon. I was all prepared for the promised snow flurries with a glowing fire and mug of winter brew. As it was the sun shone all afternoon. Bright and nippy - but no snow. Ho hum!

I mentioned the other day that I had been thinking of online curriculums. I thought perhaps they may be the answer to our situation right now (child eager to do semi structured stuff with a mother who is often too stressed or tired to research and deliver the goods).

Funding is an issue. With this whole horrid insurance saga continuing I've certainly got no cash to splash. That certainly limits the options. I think the best online free stuff I came across was at Ambleside Online. Having said that I still struggle with the whole 'prepackaged' notion. I think it's what I want, I think it will be helpful, but then there are always parts that I don't really like and think could be better. I think I need to accept that we'll never be an 'education from a catalogue' or 'curriculum in a box' kind of family. I'm just too damn pernickity and contrary for that. All that said I think I will dip into the Ambleside stuff and use what I like - no need to throw away the baby with the bathwater as Nana would say.

Looking at the curriculums online has fuelled me on though. We've done quite a lot of French, work on the Celts and human skin this week in addition to our basics. There are also rumours of a household Diwali discovery culminating in a Diwali evening on Saturday night. That remains to be seen though. I think the trouble is I'm just not consistent these days. My energy is so up and down. I need a consistent flame in my belly not all this wishy washy stuff.

Anyone else doing/done anything for Diwali? Any suggestions?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

diwali - last year we bought diva lamps from sainsburys and had a take away meal!! I found activity village useful for diwali ideas.

curriculum - I'm going to blog something.

Claire said...

Diva lamps? I'm going to show my ignorance here and ask are they a particular diwali accessorie or a lamp that a typical 'diva' may own? What do they look like?

I'm hoping to do part home cooked and part takeaway. I'll do the easy stuff and buy in the more tricky/time consuming stuff.

I'll check out Activity Village. Thanks for that

I'm having trouble accessing your blog the last couple of days.

Anonymous said...

diva lamps small hold a tealight could make your own from clay and decorate with bright paint.

just changed blog to public see if you can get in now...

Anonymous said...

put blog back invited guests hoe you can still get in!

Always Learning said...

Hi Claire,

Lovely to catch up with your posts, sorry to hear about your current troubles though.

Inspite of them though, you do seem to come across quite calm (I'm sure you must be a turmoil inside though)

I'm posting though with regard to your thoughts on online curriculums, so know what you mean.....

*Having said that I still struggle with the whole 'prepackaged' notion. I think it's what I want, I think it will be helpful, but then there are always parts that I don't really like and think could be better. I think I need to accept that we'll never be an 'education from a catalogue' or 'curriculum in a box' kind of family. I'm just too damn pernickity and contrary for that. *

I've searched long and hard and bought many books, I've never subcribed to one curriculum though, main reason is cost, way to pricey.

I do like Ambelside Online, I've joined 3-4 of the yahoo groups linked with them, which help with the understanding of it.

I feel it still ties me down as a curriculum, but my favourite bits are the nature study, *living book* concept along with narration, plus looking at Artists and Composers. I have to add though, they may be my favourite parts I've never followed them truly.

I like to read up on stuff, take the best bits and then adapt it to my family. (which is on hold slightly while kids in school..bah!)

Just a thought on one of my favourite blogs, you've probably come across her as she does Sketch Tuesday, but she does alot of what we like nature, art ect.

She has different blogs, they are always worth a look to get ideas from.

warm regards

CJ x

Always Learning said...

Oops did I put the link up, I can't remember
incase I didn't here it is.

Check out her blogs

http://www.blogger.com/profile/02565810011908156870

Claire said...

Lovely to *see* you CJ. Hope you are well. I'll check out that link.