Author: annebieleski

I am an ex primary teacher... ex because of regulations saying that you have be fully registered within 5 years of graduating and I only ever worked part-time due to art school, a science job... life. (Now temporarily not an ex teacher as I have re-done my qualifications but still haven't gone back to a classroom). I was never going to be a conventional teacher, I wanted to be like my Mum who was a most awesome teacher and had the freedom to teach how she wanted. I am intellectually interested in education. I have spent 20 something years working in early childhood... part time of course! I had nearly 6 years learning alongside Helena at Playcentre. My daughter has refused to go to school so I am fortunate enough to spend time watching her do her stuff and trying some experiments on her. I think learning is easy and happens all the time for every one which is what I want to show on this blog. And it turns out Homeschooling is just fun.

letting her read

Was I right to let Helena choose when to read? It is such an important, useful and even essential skill… I found it hard as I always wanted to read even when I was perhaps not developmentally there but Helena showed no desire -except a brief interest at 3. However despite this I felt that…

Not learning at Playcentre

The Ministry of Education worries about me going to work at Playcentre with my child who is more than 2 years older than the oldest child. The Ministry of Education requires me to teach Helena “as often as” and “as well as” what she would get at school. No where does it state that this…

Putting on a show…

“Watch my show”… I’ve taken Helena to lots of shows but they sure ain’t like hers. Mostly I think what she is saying is watch me play. That she thinks her play is worth watching, the whole “look at me” thing. This is Important Mum. The shows happen in different locations from drums on the…

‘my’ theory works

It’s not really mine, it’s as old as the hills. It’s sort of maths.. and It goes something like Input in + time to simmer in child’s head = new ideas, even output. The Montessori method has the concept of the great lessons where you have a big reverent display of a big idea like…

Not even pretending I understand…

This is a several day activity. I can’t remember why the duplo even came out, but after the rush, when she was alone and the building slowed down and became more deliberate… … Helena made sets, recently renamed as duplo sticks or wands. She was so excited to show me how they were the perfect…

Poster design

So when you have an operation you can’t eat. One time I accidentally had a nibble of cucumber and it was correctly surmised by the surgeon and anesthetist that I’d nibbled while filling my kids lunch box. This time I nearly tried one of Helena’s new rice bubbles fortunately she reminded me in time then…. There…

$2.99 beads

Children have creativity in spades. When I was pestered to purchase a tower of plastic containers with beads all I saw were a few necklaces. On the way home Helena talked about necklaces while making music with them. So far the beads have had to have buddies, are babies, have a slide, a stage and…

Providing learning experiences..

Today I excelled…. Monday we went to a talk about this couch.Made by a group of community volunteers to commemorate the reopening of the Days Bay track that was wiped out by a big slip, it even took out the phone lines while my father was on the phone. It took years and a lot…

“promoting inclusive practices to support the needs and abilities of all learners.”

As in “I will work in the best interests of learners by:” This is one of the things I have to do it’s in OUR CODE. I am refreshing my teaching qualification. It’s free because teaching is a mugs game. There are 4 values 17 Commitments And 6 Standards. And I have to assess my…