Swimming Lessons

One of the few stipulations that The Papa had about homeschooling that the girls be taught to swim well. He himself is not a strong swimmer and it is something he feels strongly about because we have a bach (holiday house) down at a seaside village.

I was finally able to organise swimming lessons for homeschoolers in the area, this year at a nearby swim centre. I have been trying to talk the centre into it for years but was finally able to negotiate some good rates this year. We meet once a week and have 30 minute lessons. As there are only two teachers available (it's a rural swim centre so can be a bit quiet) we have lessons there for about 1 1/2 hours (there have been five or six groups each term) but all end up there longer whilst the kids have a play before, between, and after their lessons. There are about 24 kids having lessons so it's kind of cool to see so many homeschool kids mucking about in the water together.

The Fashionista, who is in her final level for lessons passed her speed trial this week (she swims faster than me now!), which I think means she graduates from the lessons. She had to swim four laps of the "big" pool (there are three there) under 2 mins 30 secs. She'll continue to come next term as Agent Smelly still has 3 more levels to finish, but will simply do laps with a couple of the other kids who have completed their levels. I am very happy as it means saving some money next term on lessons ... hehehe

What I like about swimming lessons is that not only do they learn to swim but their teacher really puts them through their paces and has them working hard so it really gives them a work out.
 

P is for "Physical Education"

Whilst at Guides recently my girls made a comment about doing something in the morning for PE. A nearby leader and (former teacher) overheard had a chuckle and said she had never imagined homeschoolers doing PE classes. If I am honest in the early days I didn't include PE as an actual subject but for the last couple of years I have made it a must. Sure the kids did sports at various clubs on days they were scheduled to attend but we didn't do anything at home except for some family games like badminton, volleyball and such.

I soon realised that teaching them about PE not only ensures they are fit but also helps with their co-ordination and fine motor skills. Regular activity is also strongly associated with higher concentration levels as well as more directed, composed behaviour. For those of you who are starting to homeschool their early learners, PE is as important to your schedule as teaching your child the ABC and 1,2,3.

I now ensure that the children do PE every day, even if it is just for 20 minutes and simply a jog down the paddocks and back. On the days that they play squash or have swimming lessons (The Fashionista tells me that swimming 26 laps of the pool is more than enough for one day, such a wuss!) I don't bother but I do make sure that every day we do some something active and make sure to incorporate lessons where a new skill or movement can be taught.

Recently I taught the children down ball (or four square) which the girls absolutely loved. Now the four of us get out and have competitions. The Papa and The Fashionista are highly competitive so Agent Smelly and I laugh while watching the determined pair trying to beat each other.

Agent Smelly who complains that she is not that good at sport took up squash this term and is doing SO well. Even a couple of other parents have commented to me on how well she has picked up the game. I am just so happy for her. She is also the youngest in the group and is hitting better than some of the older kids so she is thrilled with their comments and her progress. It has taken us a while but she has finally found something that she realises that she is better at than her sister, apparently an important thing when you are the baby sister! We have advised her time and time again that she cannot compare herself to someone older (or should compare herself to anyone for that matter) but I guess it's just a natural thing for the human race to always compare ourselves to someone else. A very, very unhealthy and bad habit.

New Riding Lessons

The girls have started having lessons at a new equestrian centre. I was a little hesitant as this place is more than we have ever paid anywhere else but I thought I would give it a go and see how they went. I'd at least get an assessment from the instructor, so didn't think I had a lot to lose.

I was really impressed with the instructor and decided to let them have a couple more lessons with her. Even though it costs more than previous places, she had the girls doing more in one lesson than they have done in a whole term elsewhere but then that is her job as she is employed as a full-time professional riding instructor. In her opinion both girls are very strong and confident, which is a good thing on a horse apparently, but do have a couple of bad habits which she said she'd iron out within a couple of weeks as they both listen to instruction well. Really? Wonder what her trick is?

As it turned out in The Fashionista's second lesson she had her cantering around their new stadium and then much to both our surprise, taking jumps. Gotta say the smile on The Fashionista's face after completing her first jump, that was on the second rung, was priceless! She is just loving it and she's just been added to a group of girls around the same level so that is really good fun for her.

 

There she is on the appaloosa, (they are her favourite breed it just so happens, so she was stoked when she saw the horse they had put her name down for!). I couldn't take many pics as I hadn't realised the flash on her camera doesn't turn off and I didn't want to spook any of the horse. Last week both girls rode the painted horse, Ace, that is also in this picture. Ace is SOOOOO wide that they looked very funny with their little legs so splayed across his broad back.

Unfortunately there isn't another group around Agent Smelly's age / level around the same time so she is having private lessons still until she can be brought up to speed to join the group. She had the pro last week but this week she had a different lady who seemed quite good with her. Here she is on Gem. She is now cantering which I thought would never happen so we are even seeing progress with the little madam. Agent Smelly is not really into lessons, she would just love to jump onto any horse and hold on for dear life whilst racing across a paddock. She is an impatient little madam at times so this discipline is very good for her.


Both girls have commented on how they are doing so much more on the horses than they have ever done before so even they are seeing improvement in themselves which is always good for a persons confidence and enthusiasm.

Anyone for Elastics

At Guides they have one of those Chinese Skipping Ropes or as I grew up calling them, Elastics. My girls just so fell in love with them so I popped one into each of their Santa sacks this year. Don't you just love those gifts you pick up for $2 that they get so much enjoyment from.

 
 
Anyway I knew it wasn't going to be easy to get back into full days of schoolwork this week so today I pulled out the elastics and each time both girls completed five equations I taught them a new ... game, I suppose you'd call them. Thank goodness for the Internet as it has loads of elastics songs and actions on there. Seriously, you don't think I remember any from my childhood days do you ... I can hardly remember where I put my keys half the time!


Well they absolutely loved them! I didn't rush them as I think there is something vaguely mathematical about jumping in a sequence. I also purposely didn't start the morning with any PE as I knew they'd be doing enough with the elastics. Once they mastered the routine, they sat back down at the table to do a few more equations, with more enthusiasm and smiley faces and although maths took longer than normal, it was without any moaning or dawdling.

They can't wait to go to Guides and show their friends some of the new routines.

 

A Pool to ourselves ... such bliss!

One of our neighbours was going away for a few days so we offered to feed their chickens for them. When I say neighbours, we are rural, so it's a jump in the car and a drive down the road ...

They have the most beautiful pool and said that we were most welcome to use it in their absence. So today whilst I fed the chickens, after much nagging and whining, I let the girls have a dip with their new flippers, goggles and snorkel set that they had received from Aunty H for Christmas.

Not a bad view from the pool is it?

After I had fed the chickens, I sat on the deck for a half an hour to so whilst they swam about. It was 6pm at night and so humid that I even took a quick dip.

Sadly there is rain forecast for the next couple of days so I am not sure we'll be able to use it again.

Homeschool Swimming

This term we have been heading off to have swimming lessons with some fellow homeschoolers once a week at the Fulton Swim School. This centre was awarded Swim School of the Year in 2012, so we are in good hands.

 

 

  

 

Both girls are in the same class but are not at the same level. Unfortunately we don't quite have enough students for 3 classes so they have simply divided the kids by ages; i.e. a 5-7 group and 8 and up. The Fashionista (in aqua togs) was a little bored at the first couple of lessons but since then the teacher has sort of split them up a bit and is challenging her and two of her group too some harder sessions. Agent Smelly (black togs) is probably right in the middle of her class, and considering, her another lad are the youngest by a coupe of years, I think she is doing pretty well.

The swim school is situated in a primary school and they have some of kind of arrangement with the school and provide them with lessons, so a couple of lanes are taken up by them whilst we are there.

It is quite amusing to my girls to be mixing with school children in the change rooms, etc. although they do prefer to wait until the girls all leave before going in to change. Apparently it is a bit of a mad house in there. Last week they were all in a panic because one girl had lost her knickers and school skirt. The Fashionista kindly pointed them out where they had been left in the change rooms. Then they are hurried along by their teacher and you see them leaving with their wet hair dripping down their backs, and leaving various articles of clothing behind.

Another little school girl went up and told The Fashionista that she liked her top. She was a bit chuffed with the compliment. Agent Smelly is her typical quiet self amongst strangers but I have been teaching her to smile at new children even if she isn't yet brave enough to speak up, which she is at least doing now. She is quite pleased when someone smiles back.

If they are able to split up the classes a bit more based on their level then we'll be back, but if not, then we may have to look elsewhere.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AT HOME

Physical Education can sometimes get overlooked in a homeschooling environment so this year I have been looking at introducing a "formal PE curriculum" into our days. In the past we have been using fitness DVD's, horse riding, swimming and ballet to complete our fitness routine but this is generally done in the afternoons. Also the children then become proficient in one area but may be lacking in another, such as ball skills, or balance, etc. A good program should cover all aspects of physical activity.

I really like the idea of doing something first thing in the morning, so for the past week we have been using a free trial from Family Time Fitness which is a purpose made course for homeschoolers. This program was put together by Dr. Peter Minke, a Health & Wellness Expert, Mike Hanik, Professor of Kinesiology at Texas A&M and Youth Fitness Specialist and Jeremiah Knopp a Certified Fitness Trainer & Nutritionist.

Here they are doing some of the routine from one of the days.

You get an email once a month with all the exercises to do on that specific day, i.e. day1, day 2 and so on. They supply a program for five days a week but you can just pick and choose how many days you use it. The program differs each day of the year, so there is a balance of activities. They can be performed in the house and also outside on nice days.  They include a warm up and warm down which is great for children to learn as too often they just go into something without doing either.

The ropes got further and further apart and they tried to see how far they could jump.

Links are supplied to U-Tube showing how to perform some of  the exercises, which is fabulous as sometimes written instructions can be hard to work out. I like that they also give you a sheet to assess your child's fitness, stretching and jumping capabilities, etc. Then you can re-assess them them every 6-8 weeks to see how they have improved.

If you are in OZ or NZ you should be aware that measurements are all imperial (jump 6 inches, run 1/4 mile, etc) but hopefully they will look at introducing a metric system in the near future.

I don't think we will purchase it this year as it is very costly, US 99 even though they did kindly offer a US 20 voucher to be used on the program.

This year I will simply put together a program myself which will incorporate many different morning exercise and activities (trampoline, cycling, walking, DVD's) til such a time that we can afford this.

Family Fitness Time also sell some Discovering Physical Education work books which look great. "Examples of Activities can include: Alphabet Soup, Crossword, Decoding, Hidden Letters, Magic Square, Matching, Missing Letters, Spelling Challenge, Secret Trails, Spiral, Study Sheets, Coloring, Word Jumbles, Word Links, Word Search, Word Shapes, Framework, Alphabetical Order, Spelling Quest, and many more. These workbooks help with understanding not only the proper meaning of Physical Education, Nutrition, Anatomy and General Fitness but will also help with reading, spelling and Kinesiology." (taken from their website). The work books are based on age levels, K-1st, 2nd-3rd and 4th-5th and there are some samples on their web site also. These are quite affordable, especially if you purchase the four different books for the year level. We will definitely be investing in these.

If you are interested in either the work books or fitness program, you can find further details on their site http://www.familytimefitness.com/

Ponies, a little girls passion

Both my girls have been riding horses since they were small. They absolutely adore horses and yes, we have agreed to get them a pony each once we have stables, a horse trailer, etc. We aren't leading them up the garden path, these are things we do intend to get one day. Animals are a beautiful thing to have in your life and both girls have been obsessed with ponies since The Fashionista was around four years old.  They usually have a lesson one afternoon every fortnight, it is sort one of their homeschooling sports if you like.


For the past couple of years our girls have been attending lessons with Meret. Meret is a grandmother originally from Switzerland who runs her own farm and has been around horses forever. She is a slight, small woman who has so much energy and drive that she makes me feel very lazy in comparison. Meret has a number of ponies so the girls do get to ride different mounts every so often.

Well today for the first time the girls met her at the Tuakau Pony Club, instead of the farm, for their lesson as she was going on a trail ride afterwards with the group and her grandchildren. Both my girls were "uber" excited at being at the Pony Club and had a really enjoyable lesson.

The Fashionista on "Allada", a flea-bitten grey

Agent Smelly on "Spirit" ; she is such a cute little pony