Rummaging in the Undergrowth: From little acorns #2

I did consider deleting the inaugural post, made over two years ago when this blog was originally conceived; however, although the proposed remit of the blog has been amended to now encompass an area greater than the confines of our little garden, its sentiment still stands, albeit minus any gardening talk (for various reasons, purposeful gardening isn't really happening at the moment…).

So, here we are again!

Now, let me provide some context.

Many of you are no doubt aware that mainstream, conventional education isn't our cup of tea, and, as a consequence, we have chosen to pursue home education as an alternative to traditional schooling and the National Curriculum for the education of our gorgeous Small Person. Whilst this blog isn't intended to be about our philosophies, politics and adventures in home education, at this point in time, they can’t really go unmentioned. Now, without intentionally subscribing to any particular prescribed approach to education, as a family, we tend to sit pretty much in the ‘autonomous learning’ camp. Very loosely, this means that we generally go with the flow, guided by a combination of the Small Person’s interests and the odd nudge or two from us parents.

In theory, this is great, and on the whole, it works. But - and do feel free to call us anal, we won’t mind - making lists, planning and organising is what my Lovely Other Half and I do (quite frankly, I’m not entirely sure how either of us functioned before spreadsheets…). The compulsion to create some form of system had become too overwhelming to ignore, and last week, the time had come to instigate at least a modicum of order to our somewhat haphazard lives! So, armed with notepads and especially-chosen pens, we took ourselves off to somewhere nice, and set about sowing seeds (and probably also a load of other clichés…).

To cut short a long (and potentially rather dull) story, today was the first day of our new ‘modular’ home education regime. One of our chosen modules – and quite possibly, my favourite of our modules - is entitled ‘The Natural History of Cornwall’. And that’s what this blog concerns – specifically, our own little bit of Cornwall, the bit that we find when we step outside our front door (and if we had one, our back door also), or take a peek at the bathroom ceiling, or peer into a kitchen cupboard…

My intention is that it won’t be myself that does all the wittering here, and that every now and again, the Small Person will put in an appearance. I’d like to think that we’ll post something on a weekly basis but I also wouldn't like to make promises that can’t be kept; however, you never know!

This week’s ‘proper’ post is on its way – give us a day or two though, as we have a busy day tomorrow.

In the meantime, here are some pics to whet your appetite…