tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66338859965647802112024-03-13T21:42:27.758-07:00Dreaming Spires Home LearningDreaming Spires Home LearningCM Live Onlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13674677235998922421noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-84249374747549667482019-08-19T15:11:00.000-07:002019-08-19T15:11:39.141-07:00What's a Transcript? Help for Exam Alternatives!There's a growing movement amongst home educators of ditching the UK exam system and using the American one for university entry instead.<br />
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Instead of GCSEs and A-levels, families are following a broader approach to studies in years 10-13 while preparing for the US national exams known as SATs.<br />
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That's not "sats" to rhyme with "mats" as you may have heard about, those national exams for younger UK schooled children, vilified by state schools and rejected by independents as long ago as the 90s.<br />
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Instead, you say "S-A-T" and it stands for Scholastic Aptitude Test, administered at College Board test centres throughout the US and even the UK. The general exam lasts about 3 hours and is comprised of maths, reading, and writing multiple choice questions. Subject exams are usually sat in the afternoon of the same day, lasting about an hour per subject. Again, they're multiple choice and can be taken in maths, biology, history, English, and many foreign languages.<br />
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UK students can submit the general test plus three SAT exam grades to UK universities instead of doing A-levels, saving a lot of time, money, and stress.<br />
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Alongside the grades, students may be asked to provide the university with a transcript of study that shows completion of school-level education, and the video below explains more about this document called a transcript.<br />
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For more about taking the US SAT route to UK university, come join the Facebook group called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEsuccesswithoutUKexams/" target="_blank">HE Success without UK exams</a>. Many families are members who share how they have done it already, and are helping the rest through the process should they choose.<br />
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<br />dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-25950610343489903592019-05-16T10:13:00.000-07:002019-05-16T10:13:05.026-07:00An Extended Student's View<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As is our tradition at Dreaming Spires Home Learning, when one our students finishes studying with us for four or more years, we leave time on the last day for them to say a few words about their experience.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>We make a fuss over our graduates.</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The following is a speech given today that captures so much of the interaction, connection, motivation, and maturation that we see in our students.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"<span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);">When my Mum signed me up for RenLit, my first Dreaming Spires course, 4 years ago, I was not impressed. I thought the workload would be far too heavy and complex for a mere 14-year-old like me. I also thought that doing an online class would be too structured and ‘school-like’ to be compatible with my beloved home-schooling life. Well… 4 years, 12 presentations, 40 books, 172 narrations and a large handful of sonnets, short stories and poems later – I have officially changed my mind. In fact, the Dreaming Spires English courses have been one of the best things that has ever happened to me in my 13 years of education.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i><span class="s1">"It’s weird though… Going into my first Dreaming Spires class one September evening, I never would’ve dreamed that I would be here, graduating 4 years later! I was sceptical and a little bit scared. But as the year unfolded, I was happily surprised. Instead of being confronted by complex, boring, stiff education, I was thrown into a whole new world of fascinating 16</span><span class="s2"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="s1"> century books, conversing with classmates, and even a little bit of friendly competition. Anyways, RenLit was a huge success, and it was followed by AmLit, then MAL, then Brit Nov – pretty much the most random order you can think of. Because when have I ever been known to do things the simple way? But I was in it for the long haul… Something about Dreaming Spires just made me want more. I loved it all – the classes, the books, the people, even the homework!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i>"Now, I’m a social person by nature… So, I was quite delighted by the discovery of the All Users forum. Imagine, I could actually interact with people of my own species (aka home schoolers) from all over the world. It was grand fun. I was there the year that we nearly broke the All User forum because we posted over 24,000 posts. I was there the years that major religious discussions broke out all over the forums. I watched entire governments rise and fall in the micronations forum. I have discovered old friends from the past on these forums and forged new friendships with people all over the world, as well as with some people a little closer to home. And that’s just in the All User forum! Every year I have joined a new group of people with each class I’ve done. I’ve loved being a part of each diverse group, forming friendships and working together to help each other understand issues discussed in class, arguing over controversial characters, and ultimately helping each other form relationships with the books we’ve read. Shout out to Bethany, Nadia, Anne, Ruqs, Charli, and Marielle as some of the amazing people I’ve had the joy of hanging out within various settings in and out of class, as a result of Dreaming Spires!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i>"I’ve had many favourite memories come from being part of various classes… Like the time Dr P majorly creeped out the entire class by sitting and watching us silently for 15 minutes at the beginning of class. Or the time I managed to put a bunch of Hamilton references into a presentation on the York Mystery Plays and then nearly died trying to present it while watching the Hamilton fans freak out in the comments.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or just recently when a couple of us got together and had a hilarious time reading the first act of The Importance of Being Earnest all together (the recording is available if you care to see it *ahem*). Having fun while learning is one reason why I love Dreaming Spires so much. Somehow, things just stick better in your brain when you’re enjoying yourself.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i>"It’s not all been sunshine and roses though… I have been pushed and challenged in every single one of these English courses. I’ve spent literal days agonizing over my bibliography for a certain research paper (cough cough AmLit). I’ve spent many a late evening writing and rewriting essays because somehow you just have to fit both HOW-Hand and PEER into every paragraph. And I have spent hours slogging through books with complicated language (Looking at you Faerie Queene), boring politics (Gulliver’s Travels), and rather disgusting romps (ahem Canterbury Tales). I’ve even thrown a book or two clear across the room (Uncle Tom’s Cabin – I’m sorry. I still love you.)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But you know what – it’s all been totally worth it. I’ve learnt so much and have grown to appreciate even the most challenging books we read. (mostly… I’m still having reconciliation talks with Utopia.) I’m really grateful that I have been pushed by Dr P in each class I’ve taken. If you’re willing to put the effort in, you will reap the benefits!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I now know how to write a tolerably good literary a analysis essay, how to format a bibliography, and how to interact with challenging, complex and just plain not-very-fun books, thanks to Dr P.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i><span class="s1">"No kidding though, I have learned an awful lot. Each English course is so widely spread that by doing all of them you really do get a very wide grasp on literature throughout the ages. I’ve learned literary terms I never knew existed and are now forever burned into my brain. Juxtaposition and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales for instance… And of course, the infamous sublime of Wuthering Heights. I’ve also learned tons about the history surrounding the literature we’ve read… McCarthyism is now forever entwined with Fahrenheit 451 for me, as is Dr P’s widespread education in 17</span><span class="s2"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="s1"> century prisons and The Pilgrim’s Progress. I’ve also wrestled with lots of different important issues through these courses… What makes a human a human? – Frankenstein. The dangers of communistic ideas as promoted in Utopia. The importance of books in society and history – Fahrenheit 451. The place of ancient literature in a modern society – Beowulf. I’ve been forced to think, to dig deep into major issues, and solidify my personal beliefs. And all this before I turned 18…<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i>"However, as I sat down to look back at these past 4 years and to try and come up with a suitable graduation speech, one thing kept coming back to mind – one thing that is probably the most important of all. Yes, the fun, the memories, the learning, the growth – it all has been absolutely wonderful. But what really has been highlighted for me is the passion that these 4 years of Dreaming Spires has ignited in me – a passion for English, for writing, and for stories. Now, I’ve always been a reader, a devourer of books. But Dreaming Spires has given me a direction for that literary hunger. Each course that I have taken has further opened my eyes to the sheer breadth and beauty that can be found in literature. I have been taught how to personally interact with books of all different genres, eras and styles. I have been shown the power that literature can have on the world. This growing passion for literature has blossomed over the years and is now bearing fruit in that I am planning to go study English at uni this Autumn. (wow that was quite the tree imagery I just came out with. Anyone want to do a HOW-Hand on that?) Dreaming Spires has had a direct influence on this decision, by constantly feeding my passion for literature and pushing me towards bigger and better things.</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i>"So, to conclude this speech, I just want to say thank you. Thank you to Dreaming Spires for 4 years of wonderful memories and friends, new and old. Thank you to you guys – this past year has been a blast doing Brit Nov with you all! And most of all, thank you Dr P. Thank you for personally investing into my education through teaching classes, marking homework, and answering innumerable emails with questions. Thank you for introducing me to some of my now-favourite books. Thank you for pushing me hard and always expecting my best. Thank you for opening the world of literature to me in a way I never knew was possible. And most of all, thank you for being one of the people that has sparked my own passion for English. Dreaming Spires has been an invaluable tool throughout my high school education and I’m sure I will continue to reap the benefits for years to come.</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i>"I’ll finish by saying what Dr P says every year at the end of the last class just before she signs off. Thank you, and may God bless you all."</i></span></span></div>
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dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-13581829000971741382019-03-19T13:57:00.000-07:002019-03-19T13:57:03.494-07:00What's a Dreaming Spires Course Like?We've been running these courses so long, we sometimes forget to explain the basics. We think everyone knows that our courses always start the second week of September and finish the second full week of May, and last 30 weeks long.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNhlB0jk0SUikMMbzFsjhMR-VJai9VacxS9P8Md5jVe0pKja9uwk4UQZDzVWlooQaeInuvOwt7yjB2y6wJQjhhPMt5jY0r8rT83XqOxl6nieuKSl5nmPVvsS8ZwGMDC9nw_-4fxJDExsC/s1600/Me+sitting+in+bluebonnets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1168" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNhlB0jk0SUikMMbzFsjhMR-VJai9VacxS9P8Md5jVe0pKja9uwk4UQZDzVWlooQaeInuvOwt7yjB2y6wJQjhhPMt5jY0r8rT83XqOxl6nieuKSl5nmPVvsS8ZwGMDC9nw_-4fxJDExsC/s320/Me+sitting+in+bluebonnets.jpg" width="233" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We finish in mid-May because I like my summers!</i></td></tr>
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We also think everyone knows that our courses are one hour of live instruction online each week: an extra half-hour on top of that if the course has an add-on extension.<br />
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Except for foreign language courses, the homework is usually four hours to be spread out over the whole week, and most of it is reading, the books for which are generally engaging living books: no textbooks here! The written part is fairly low key and graded on whether it's done or not - should the quality be less than amazing, we work with individual students to improve, but it doesn't affect their grade.<br />
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For foreign language, there's more conversation and practice partnerships than there is reading.<br />
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In every course, we bring our expertise and enthusiasm for a subject, and if students are struggling with a concept or are interested in exploring down a rabbit trail, we can slow down and address these desires. The syllabus has been created by ourselves so there's no hard-and-fast rule about what has to be covered on it, other than wanting to do justice to the subject by covering what should be covered for students to understand it best.<br />
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There is, however, no one right way to achieve it, but our tutors have a whole chest of tools to use along the way, and teaching students how to use them, too, is our ultimate objective.<br />
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<br />dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-79534550879181614092019-03-14T22:07:00.000-07:002019-03-14T22:07:10.670-07:00Early Bird Has Started: Ends 30th AprilIt's that time again - time to grab one of the limited spots on our live, online courses for homeschooling teens worldwide.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06zESEFYhbCO_5fRot31xK4uSkwsI2Al6n3c_Exu9l7agFua4YKfnliEPW2ynqQut9azOUjNRBMRQOx-C66xyFOqQ2DAVKs0cOYYexdw6Qx5VqdP578_Tahyt5EAl3OYSQoWobH-US4pL/s1600/Jumping+Boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06zESEFYhbCO_5fRot31xK4uSkwsI2Al6n3c_Exu9l7agFua4YKfnliEPW2ynqQut9azOUjNRBMRQOx-C66xyFOqQ2DAVKs0cOYYexdw6Qx5VqdP578_Tahyt5EAl3OYSQoWobH-US4pL/s320/Jumping+Boys.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The excitement is catching for students and parents! </i></td></tr>
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Early Bird is a great time to register because you can save a spot for just the reservation fee of $40, and pay in installments for the remainder until 1st September 2019.<br />
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What's more, the price you're quoted is LAST year's price.<br />
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I've already mentioned how this is our biggest selection of subjects and courses yet, with new addition this year of geography, math, and art history, plus new courses from most of our instructors.
In fact, I think I'm the only tutor who isn't adding a course this year!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAv09w9xj9l_Ut-lm7W7hI7tUmHbJdqJ2-qDJvXzusZWgTO_pHraKCRY5hnLOSwoL3eOpFT-qrBxFf5oxXdHvGfPP9gwVpAXynI77XXP9yzs9Qa6uhTEyh7G7Hsq2lekmuk3ngeLULXVV/s1600/Claire+at+Eclipse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAv09w9xj9l_Ut-lm7W7hI7tUmHbJdqJ2-qDJvXzusZWgTO_pHraKCRY5hnLOSwoL3eOpFT-qrBxFf5oxXdHvGfPP9gwVpAXynI77XXP9yzs9Qa6uhTEyh7G7Hsq2lekmuk3ngeLULXVV/s320/Claire+at+Eclipse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This is how I feel about that! </i></span></span></td></tr>
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Remember that we're happy to discuss anything about our courses that you're unsure of! Sign up today so you don't miss the chance for your teen to learn in a way that's unlike almost anything else out there!<br />
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<br />dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-3007365417348540262019-03-11T21:07:00.000-07:002019-03-11T21:08:11.813-07:00New Video Series on Youtube to Introduce 2019-2020 course line-up!Starting March the 12th, a Youtube series gets underway to give you a brief description of each of the courses we'll be running for next year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DVOmmQm2uTdJYHEL6yNIgUZt76wgJ0ET5o9Y2kCH25qRAeAZK2XZPcDwBib3BmoeTkRO3kp_toTWMCvZnzwGHp8SiWKkB99HVsYiVxNxIn7z-ueYxX5hCHXWviIHkl00q8t6ya9b-P9Y/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-11+at+23_Fotor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="350" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DVOmmQm2uTdJYHEL6yNIgUZt76wgJ0ET5o9Y2kCH25qRAeAZK2XZPcDwBib3BmoeTkRO3kp_toTWMCvZnzwGHp8SiWKkB99HVsYiVxNxIn7z-ueYxX5hCHXWviIHkl00q8t6ya9b-P9Y/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-11+at+23_Fotor.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Talking it all through with you </i></td></tr>
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The first session is just about the common attributes of all the courses, whether science, foreign language, history, etc. Following that, I'll look at each of the courses in turn.<br />
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Why not subscribe so you get the link sent straight to your inbox?<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1030400776"><br /></a>
Sessions One: The Intro - <a href="https://youtu.be/xKfGtuD-wHE">https://youtu.be/xKfGtuD-wHE</a><br />
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<br />dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-7047711546135577302019-03-01T13:15:00.000-08:002019-03-01T13:15:47.983-08:00New Timetable, New Tutors, New Tabs - All NEW!Today, we have revealed our timetable for 2019-2020, our new roster of tutors, and our FIVE new courses including three new subjects.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltHzvZaq2URBXVzPv4WUsJoZ_eE7KVfVPmBo1u-iicDu7tUiKda62gq1c69IFhE8JZtfdVTzrHIyKtSGIa63yxcidMFpmMslFsf7b5bQRFchqMQNbmGN7pOcOxTdbEexlwDQXn0bq2Sw/s1600/New+timetable+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1440" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltHzvZaq2URBXVzPv4WUsJoZ_eE7KVfVPmBo1u-iicDu7tUiKda62gq1c69IFhE8JZtfdVTzrHIyKtSGIa63yxcidMFpmMslFsf7b5bQRFchqMQNbmGN7pOcOxTdbEexlwDQXn0bq2Sw/s320/New+timetable+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>My surprise is revealed!</i></td></tr>
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Have a browse around the new website and click all the buttons, and mark your calendar for the 15th of March when we start our Early Bird registration period.<br />
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Any questions, don't hesitate to contact us - there's a contact form in the sidebar (maybe more viewable on a computer than a phone), or pop over to the Dreaming Spires Home Learning Facebook page and message us.<br />
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dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-33627791452829517172019-01-03T13:42:00.000-08:002019-01-03T13:42:53.271-08:00Jump on a Course in JanuaryAt Dreaming Spires, we always take on a few new students after the Christmas holidays, slotting them cosily into our sociable and friendly courses when maybe their previous studies had become dry or boring, unmotivating, or perhaps not rigorous enough.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRGxv-oyUGqwERGKm0cFHRnmXjCsX9g9Dai0n1FGRNNcWWLjXXglL-kiL1RGm_yRfrAaReXItWgnGq6_OBwMyr1Z25ZsUOj-pEc5hqKohP5k-pfQzHtMXEpsUSOA_Ma8Udlqn-5FPi3GI/s1600/Gaia+at+airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1118" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRGxv-oyUGqwERGKm0cFHRnmXjCsX9g9Dai0n1FGRNNcWWLjXXglL-kiL1RGm_yRfrAaReXItWgnGq6_OBwMyr1Z25ZsUOj-pEc5hqKohP5k-pfQzHtMXEpsUSOA_Ma8Udlqn-5FPi3GI/s320/Gaia+at+airport.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A student attends class in the airport!</i></td></tr>
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We can do this because we run all our subjects on a modular or unit-based system. Sure, there will be a few things they missed from Autumn term, but all previous webinars and recordings are available should they feel the need to fill in the blanks.<br />
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So whether you want to add something like Spanish or French, delve deeply into the history of Ancient Rome or the complicated causes of World War 2, debate medical ethics in biology or the other sciences, write a stunning screenplay, or lay down foundations for great exam results by learning to read harder books and write solid essays, there's something for everyone at Dreaming Spires.<br />
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Course fees are reduced pro-rata, and jumping on now means a family can take advantage of the special pricing of our pre-registration period in April, when our current students can reserve places on courses that otherwise fill up fast.<br />
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Pop on over to our registration page to sign up today, or use the contact form to ask for further details.<br />
<br />dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-85715236638708612972018-11-02T13:06:00.000-07:002018-11-02T13:06:36.922-07:00OUT NOW!!! Shakespeare Copywork book.I've been working on a copywork of Shakespeare plays and have now released the first volume with more planned in the future.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZQ6Ur398f4gwBUt86YzwL46E_3n4Vqj8KtluFc-DRZ06xZWJgbomdDnwVAfvjr7-rzavGC8qETBzc7el-iYfV3TFYcHP1K2w3gQszdQff82SJBxaoyQPsp27lk71fMbPzbGNjBJnljg5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-11-02+at+15.02.59.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZQ6Ur398f4gwBUt86YzwL46E_3n4Vqj8KtluFc-DRZ06xZWJgbomdDnwVAfvjr7-rzavGC8qETBzc7el-iYfV3TFYcHP1K2w3gQszdQff82SJBxaoyQPsp27lk71fMbPzbGNjBJnljg5/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-11-02+at+15.02.59.png" width="214" /></a></div>
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This one features Comedy of Errors and Richard III, two of my favourite plays. Not only do I select lines for copying, I also explain what they mean and how they're important to the play, then go on to talk about productions and films I've seen and what was memorable about them.<br />
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I have started using copywork in my local co-op for my teen group, and have found that they are able to understand the language so much better when giving it such careful, regular attention.<br />
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Here's the link to Amazon for getting your own copy today:<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1012638092"><br /></a>
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/ycplnvxb">https://tinyurl.com/ycplnvxb</a></b><br />
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<br />dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-37251104670914924622018-10-31T08:23:00.002-07:002018-10-31T08:24:02.841-07:00Let's Talk Shakespeare - Thinking about which ones are appropriate for which ageI did a live video on Facebook about Shakespeare's plays, thinking about which are appropriate for younger ages and which might be best to save till later or read only in story form.<br />
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Come over to https://www.facebook.com/dreamingspireshomelearning/ to join the conversation.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="476" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdreamingspireshomelearning%2Fvideos%2F308413416417451%2F&show_text=0&width=267" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="267"></iframe>
dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-37618936337078148882018-05-14T08:56:00.000-07:002018-05-14T08:56:00.680-07:00Graduation Day 2018Yes, at Dreaming Spires, we have a graduation day ... that's because we get students who study with us for four or more years, and this year was no exception: we said good-bye to six students who are finishing their journey with us, and we held an online ceremony for them.<br />
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They took the opportunity to talk about their journey, what they learned, and what they'll take away from it. I loved hearing their "little pieces of advice" to the next general - I say "little" because they were actually HUGE!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUMVDPQXRde0MEZzPXKWyTRV2P3HU96VjlbF_GE3ePMAimoEGG0s2NhtOVVclTR4UHnIvCk8bog9nLsQpj4cub5dLI_EWSMKztvWvwL2KCr1_-gkKe3LUCgjCA35yU06k66E2486HVIE/s1600/Graduation+Day+2018-2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUMVDPQXRde0MEZzPXKWyTRV2P3HU96VjlbF_GE3ePMAimoEGG0s2NhtOVVclTR4UHnIvCk8bog9nLsQpj4cub5dLI_EWSMKztvWvwL2KCr1_-gkKe3LUCgjCA35yU06k66E2486HVIE/s320/Graduation+Day+2018-2019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The video of the ceremony will be coming soon, and I'll embed it here (we just need to cut out some photos for privacy reasons).<br />
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In the meantime, you might enjoy reading the speech from our student whose family currently lives in Africa as missionaries.<br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Hello? Can you hear me? Dr. Patrick here."</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Those were the first words I ever heard as I began my Dreaming Spires journey. That’s when it was still called Cm Live. And what a journey it’s been! I could tell you so much about these years, what a model student I’ve been NOT but I’ve decided more talk about the learning journey.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about finishing Dreaming Spires. In the last few days and months, and it is sad to think I won’t see many of you whom I have known for 3 and a half years, but I also feel a sense of purpose and achievement. I feel satisfaction that I have completed something so worthwhile. So let me explain.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was writing my Walden DQ – it’s one of the books you read in AmericanLit. Henry David Thoreau was a, well I guess you would call him, a philosopher who went and lived next to Walden Pond for two years, and I was touched by these two quotations from his conclusion that we read this week</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"I learned this, at least by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of hisdreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected incommon hours."</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me the truth. I sat at a table where were rich food andwine in abundance, and obsequious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not, and I went away hungry from the inhospitable board."</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And that’s what I want to encourage you to do, you who are still on this learning journey with Dreaming Spires, to pursue your goals and seek the truth, whether you learn about the author Sir Walter Scott and his characters like Ivanhoe, or how steamboats work and relate to Huckleberry Finn. I want to encourage you to read these books as living books, make friends with them, make connections, laugh with them, shout at them, throw them against the wall ( I know people who have done this, myself included).</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You see, the real goal of Dreaming Spires isn’t just to make you learn how to read properly, though that may be part of it, but it’s to show you new things, it’s to deepen your understanding and give you a springboard into further education. Dreaming Spires' goal ultimately is not to ensure good grades (though that helps), but to help you come to know more truth about this beautiful world, and the amazing books in it. And the best part of it, these books aren’t just part of the here and now, but of the future as well. Generations before us and later after us, people will read the same books as you. Imagine! You and I may read the same book which Thucydides wrote about the Peloponnesian war.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Books are even part of the future you, and me. All you have to do is let them become that. So I encourage all of you to finish well, and well doesn’t mean grades, but a new whole library of truth inside you to be deepened and expanded over the years pass. Never stop seeking the truth and seek your dreams confidently – they may yet happen!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I would also like to say a very special thank you to these very special people who started me on this journey of seeking the truth. Dr. P who started me on this journey as a small 11-year-old. Mrs. Alison Samuels, who teaches history, may Athens live on! Mrs. Kim, who teaches Biology and Senor B for teaching Spanish. These people are the ones who helped me on the way. Now it's up to you and me to do what you do with your newly acquired truth.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I'm excited to see how their teaching and effort will be put to good use in years to come, in all of us.</span></span></div>
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dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-80590929039626036672018-05-09T07:41:00.001-07:002018-05-09T07:41:49.199-07:00Early Bird Sees Courses Filling FastWe've just had our first course reach maximum numbers and close to further registrations, our ever-popular Middle Ages Literature course on a Monday.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gClMeb1zBu1XDPNGhsQ3_4ipkMo6AxEukwlHpAZGEaKpjePQGXCNtxZfw9y7zlnKDmsupAawIjZGJVzWCEvoIdhWGsEXyNDySrgy34UcAwyDc2UhGF5JgRcfMrt7g6ywQny-6pKmjroA/s1600/IMG_4976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gClMeb1zBu1XDPNGhsQ3_4ipkMo6AxEukwlHpAZGEaKpjePQGXCNtxZfw9y7zlnKDmsupAawIjZGJVzWCEvoIdhWGsEXyNDySrgy34UcAwyDc2UhGF5JgRcfMrt7g6ywQny-6pKmjroA/s320/IMG_4976.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It's all a bit crowded in here!</i></td></tr>
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But never mind: we have a second section available on Tuesdays.<br />
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This brings up a good point, however: Early Bird registration sees an influx of families who want to reserve their spot for next year at the best level of discount, so there are two reasons why taking advantage of this is in everyone's interest.<br />
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The first is, classes do fill up, and only a very few of them have more than one section on offer. If you want to grab a spot on our live, online courses with subject experts who teach via living books, then do it now.<br />
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I'm not saying this because it's sales talk - I'm saying it because Middle Ages Lit on Mondays is only the first course that's full. There are four others that are near this level, and once they're closed, they will be closed for the full academic year.<br />
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The second is, there are only two weeks left of the Early Bird specials, of which there are three main perks: one is to lock in your place on any course for just the registration fee, and following on from that, the chance to pay the rest of your balance in installments*. The third is that you will be assessed at last year's rates for the course fees.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_t9OI60eCv_Klz1U6pr_egFCAeN_fo6DF5wFAkt9XGp_6rhTxcFcPOigRxtbXMyypmf7XHAPQDFVm0hyYE_kF4HYqN7VQ68M_ku5xFO8cUbHpm0_FYsJBfGCRRNrrKW0R-zYK_Vd97OU/s1600/dont_miss_out1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="1600" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_t9OI60eCv_Klz1U6pr_egFCAeN_fo6DF5wFAkt9XGp_6rhTxcFcPOigRxtbXMyypmf7XHAPQDFVm0hyYE_kF4HYqN7VQ68M_ku5xFO8cUbHpm0_FYsJBfGCRRNrrKW0R-zYK_Vd97OU/s320/dont_miss_out1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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As a very practical person myself, and a homeschooler to boot, I hope you'll also see the logic in grabbing a good deal while it's available. There's only so much of me and my colleagues to go around.<br />
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So honestly - register today or your teen may be bummed they missed the chance to join such motivating and stimulating opportunities for learning!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmf4xbKxaWTgz1titDRldbuvfJjjB7HEzC5Rz1GYUBE0EaFP8hRrYeqwCMyEYzK2D-lUbtL9NY16wybL4cuWSybmPM5sw93QVKwXKurrZA2r-bv4ha-CqUMKKhM8o-_OWbJRyFjHmGJ_m/s1600/teenage+grumpy+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmf4xbKxaWTgz1titDRldbuvfJjjB7HEzC5Rz1GYUBE0EaFP8hRrYeqwCMyEYzK2D-lUbtL9NY16wybL4cuWSybmPM5sw93QVKwXKurrZA2r-bv4ha-CqUMKKhM8o-_OWbJRyFjHmGJ_m/s1600/teenage+grumpy+girl.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*With installments, you're welcome to pay a little bit as a time, as long as the full balance is paid by 1st September, 2018. No student with a remaining balance will be admitted into the live classroom.</span></i></div>
dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-6326586785136617312018-04-18T08:16:00.003-07:002018-04-18T08:16:46.533-07:00A Video in Praise of Organic LearningAt Dreaming Spires Home Learning, we use this term "organic learning" a lot when describing our style of teaching.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-xdvsgJPx9GETCKIGT_XioSrI-0EbUFifqZqtPoFPS6jV0tv23urQwTxpa4CnnzzM-tA6Zhof2P6RmQOCh0Ibge1NLLH7L7ds6yMjukUXS0BaEsM1yHyk4OulHIJlXMlHNVfoflNfh4/s1600/Praise+of+Organic+thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-xdvsgJPx9GETCKIGT_XioSrI-0EbUFifqZqtPoFPS6jV0tv23urQwTxpa4CnnzzM-tA6Zhof2P6RmQOCh0Ibge1NLLH7L7ds6yMjukUXS0BaEsM1yHyk4OulHIJlXMlHNVfoflNfh4/s320/Praise+of+Organic+thumbnail.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We're talking "organic" here!</td></tr>
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What exactly does that look like? Here's a video with some thoughts, but also, and invitation to share your ideas, too. After all, we're all home-educating parents, and learning from each other is key to our own family's growth.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="476" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdreamingspireshomelearning%2Fvideos%2F1680537858688441%2F&show_text=0&width=267" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; overflow: hidden;" width="267"></iframe></div>
dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-66890735216960976392018-03-31T22:23:00.000-07:002018-03-31T22:39:59.365-07:00Early Bird Registration is NOW OPEN for 2018-2019The REGISTRATION FORM for the academic year 2018-2019 is now live for the Early Bird registration period for our unique, online courses taught live for homeschooled teens worldwide.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ17tnzqrsfeR0pnIjQt5540_D9ulIu18iNcBrUNw1t578cF3HWnJGf_YJiBix2qfGAiHHaZWoaLPNT81CpyweXqWdpY7SpX2JE_qJZhR-UViJzN4CLJS8edZXhG9TbJKYeKeWJSH1Qt_/s1600/Antonia+Jump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="640" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ17tnzqrsfeR0pnIjQt5540_D9ulIu18iNcBrUNw1t578cF3HWnJGf_YJiBix2qfGAiHHaZWoaLPNT81CpyweXqWdpY7SpX2JE_qJZhR-UViJzN4CLJS8edZXhG9TbJKYeKeWJSH1Qt_/s320/Antonia+Jump.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Oh, the excitement!!</i></td></tr>
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The EARLY BIRD PERIOD runs 1st April to 31st May, 2018.<br />
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Paying the registration fee for your chosen courses during the Early Bird Period will secure your place and entitle you to course fees at last year's rates, to be paid by 1st of September, 2018.<br />
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For full information, please refer to the <a href="http://www.dreamingspireshomelearning.co.uk/p/costs-of-courses.html" target="_blank">Fees page</a> of the website. This especially applies if you have used Early Bird registration in the past since the fee structure changed last year.<br />
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<br />dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-18169807520108178622018-03-20T07:42:00.000-07:002018-03-20T07:42:14.549-07:00Video about Registration Dates and More about Dreaming Spires
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdreamingspireshomelearning%2Fvideos%2F1650544135021147%2F&show_text=1&width=560" width="560" height="407" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>
dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-45111064719452372772018-03-15T12:43:00.000-07:002018-03-15T12:43:22.224-07:00Proposed Timetable of DatesI've been looking ahead to plot the next academic year and thought I'd share how we get 30 weeks into our year while enjoying generous blocks of holiday!<br />
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<tr><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 12px; padding: 4px; width: 112px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Date</b></span></td><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 12px; padding: 4px; width: 318px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Event</b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: #ebf3ea; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 112px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Sept 10th 2018</b></span></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 318px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">First week of Term</span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 112px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>October 22nd 2018</b></span></td><td style="background-color: #f5dfa1; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 318px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">This week is a holiday for Autumn Break</span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: #ebf3ea; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 12px; padding: 4px; width: 112px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>October 29th 2018</b></span></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 12px; padding: 4px; width: 318px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">Classes resume this week</span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 112px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>December 10th 2018</b></span></td><td style="background-color: #f5dfa1; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 318px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">This is the last week of class before Christmas Break</span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: #ebf3ea; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 12px; padding: 4px; width: 112px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Dec 17th - Jan 6th</b></span></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 12px; padding: 4px; width: 318px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">Christmas Break</span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 112px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>January 7th 2019</b></span></td><td style="background-color: #f5dfa1; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 318px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">Classes resume this week</span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: #ebf3ea; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 112px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>April 15th 2019</b></span></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 318px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">Start of Easter break for 2 weeks</span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 12px; padding: 4px; width: 112px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>April 29th 2019</b></span></td><td style="background-color: #f5dfa1; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 12px; padding: 4px; width: 318px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">Classes resume this week</span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: #ebf3ea; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 112px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>May 13th 2019</b></span></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 11px; padding: 4px; width: 318px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">Last week of classes before the end of the academic year</span></td></tr>
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<br />dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-17348822653176728642018-02-18T17:16:00.000-08:002018-02-18T17:16:08.515-08:00Meet our Newest Tutor and History TeacherWelcome to our newest tutor at Dreaming Spires Home Learning: a specialist in modern history, Yvonne Mason is a well-known online tutor amongst home-educated high schoolers in the UK, and we are so pleased that she is able to join us next year for a fascinating course about World War 1 and World War 2.<br /><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yvonne will teach Modern History</span></td></tr>
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<br />She took her undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature, then an MA in history from Royal Holloway in London while working as a costumed historical interpreter at the Tower of London. She has been working as an online tutor since 2001 in both English and history, home educates her own daughter, and in her spare time, is an avid embroiderer. She has plans to study for a PhD in Medieval Studies very soon.<br />
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dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-71211617764922092972018-02-08T16:14:00.000-08:002018-02-12T05:22:27.819-08:00STOP PRESS! Timetable out now for 2018-2019 classesThe title says it all ... we are publishing our tentative timetable for the next academic year, unveiling our newest course offerings like chemistry, French, modern history, and creative writing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>The year that packs a punch!</i></td></tr>
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Registrations will open for our Early Bird period over Easter weekend, when registration fees will hold your place for the course of your choice. Last year, most of our courses filled up by the middle of May, so put a reminder on your calendar so you don't miss out!<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Wednesday</b></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 12.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 127.0px;" valign="top"><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Thursday</b></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: #e0e5ff; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 33.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 113.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">English Renaissance: KP<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>8 am<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>CST / 2 pm UK<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></td>
<td style="background-color: #96e9ff; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 33.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 131.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">English Middle Ages : JP<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>8 am<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>CST / 2 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>UK<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></td>
<td style="background-color: #ffa8b2; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 33.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 126.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Ancient History Rome:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>AS 8 am<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>CST / 2 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>UK<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></td>
<td style="background-color: #e0e5ff; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 33.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 127.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">English British Novel: KP<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>8 am<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>CST / 2 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>UK<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></td>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 113.0px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
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<td style="background-color: #bdfcb6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 131.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Spanish 1 : JB will meet at <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>9 am<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>CST /3 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>UK <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></td>
<td style="background-color: #bdfcb6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 126.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Spanish 2:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>JB will meet at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>9 am<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>CST / 3 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>UK <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 127.0px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
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<td style="background-color: #f1f378; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 39.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 113.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">History: 1914-1945: The Road to War: YM <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>10 am CST/4 pm UK<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></td>
<td style="background-color: #bdfcb6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 39.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 131.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">French 1: JB will meet at 10:30 am<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>CST / 4:30 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>UK <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></td>
<td style="background-color: #bdfcb6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 39.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 126.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">French 2: JB will meet at 10:30 am CST / 4:30 pm UK <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></td>
<td style="background-color: #f7d79e; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 39.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 127.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Biology<i> </i>KJ at 10 am CST/ 4 pm UK</span></td>
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<td style="background-color: #f7d79e; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 113.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">General Science<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i> </i>KJ at 11 am CST/ 5 pm UK</span></td>
<td style="background-color: #96e9ff; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 131.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Creative Writing:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>JP noon CST/6 pm UK</span></td>
<td style="background-color: #96e9ff; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 126.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">English British Novel:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>JP noon CST/6 pm UK</span></td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 127.0px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
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<td style="background-color: #e0e5ff; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 3.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 112.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">English Middle Ages KP<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>1 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>CST / 7 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>UK<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></td>
<td style="background-color: #ffa8b2; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 3.0px 1.0px 3.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 129.0px;" valign="top"><div style="background-color: #ffa5b4;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Ancient History Greek:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>AS<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>1 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>CST / 7 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>UK<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 3.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 125.0px;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Two courses, same time</span></div>
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<td style="background-color: #f7d79e; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 127.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Chemistry<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>KJ at 1 pm CST/<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>7 pm UK</span></td>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 3.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 33.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 112.0px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #e0e5ff; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 3.0px 3.0px 3.0px; height: 32.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 129.0px;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">English American Lit: KP<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>1 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>CST / 7 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>UK<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 3.0px; height: 33.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 125.0px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 33.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 127.0px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 13.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 113.0px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
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</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 3.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 12.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 131.0px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 13.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 126.0px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
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</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 13.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 127.0px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
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</td>
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</tbody>
</table>
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dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-62570872896633584362017-12-20T15:37:00.000-08:002017-12-20T15:37:02.281-08:00Now Accepting Mid-Term Entries for January 2018If you've got tired of your curriculum already, if you're new to home education and looking for something to inspire you, or you just think it's time your teen buckled down and started working harder, then Dreaming Spires Home Learning may be your answer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1CRIS6Emtuj_fBxsDSs3JIxxcuSYqpPWfaAhp6Oz2rm17V7KvhLYkTA_9Nl2__VgMIILMdPu5LNi6HyQ_T0De0O3B6tj1h2hcZwBZLu1UIm0jKYK965w0d1uAynOJhBwZRLHt2KX5zM/s1600/024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1CRIS6Emtuj_fBxsDSs3JIxxcuSYqpPWfaAhp6Oz2rm17V7KvhLYkTA_9Nl2__VgMIILMdPu5LNi6HyQ_T0De0O3B6tj1h2hcZwBZLu1UIm0jKYK965w0d1uAynOJhBwZRLHt2KX5zM/s320/024.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Are your current studies leaving you cold???<br />Let Dreaming Spires warm you up!</i></td></tr>
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We offer live and online courses and accept mid-term entries for January, so your child can jump into our New Year units with any of our subjects, whether Spanish or Biology, Ancient History or English Literature and Composition.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Jump into our courses at mid-term!<br /></i></td></tr>
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We've been allowing people to join us mid-year since we first began, and nearly 100% stay with our programme for two-, three-, or four-plus years, so we know it ends up being more of a long-term love affair with our approach to studying, than a short-term quick-fix.<br />
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Get in touch today about registering for courses - we'll kick off the new year during the week of 8th of January, 2018. All classes will take a couple of students so the timetable is completely open.<br />
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dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-45321544386365488842017-08-26T13:26:00.001-07:002017-08-26T13:47:25.092-07:00To Coach to the Exam or not (hint: NOT!)<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In the UK, students have just been receiving their GCSE grades over the past week or so. Judging from the comments on Facebook, the results have been mixed. Some really high highs, and some reporting ... bravely reporting, imo -- those that are not so great.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxB5rH4Srd_5FyEAdWDEnrihoEtzmC1hENIA3zc9N5-5Cvhb4BmJtD9IozF931fh3vBwCo9ulodK8NXbSlu3bfQpRH05ygnkRIa94bLHhh9Rbo-98NMwyxLd4B_1NLQraY9IFw_iBAas-/s1600/IMG_8108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxB5rH4Srd_5FyEAdWDEnrihoEtzmC1hENIA3zc9N5-5Cvhb4BmJtD9IozF931fh3vBwCo9ulodK8NXbSlu3bfQpRH05ygnkRIa94bLHhh9Rbo-98NMwyxLd4B_1NLQraY9IFw_iBAas-/s200/IMG_8108.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">In England, taking GCSEs is a secondary-school milestone</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I think we home-educators have advantages on the one hand when it comes to exams, and disadvantages on the other. On the one hand, we can choose only the ones we want to do, and we can take some a year or two early so to spread the load. On the other hand, we have to pay for them separately, find a centre that will take us as private candidates, and of course, there's a lot of re-inventing of the wheel whereas school teachers will generally have more experience in preparing students for the exams.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">It may or may not mean home-educated students get better or worse exams than their schooled counterparts - many articles and postings online will trumpet success or broadcast poorer results for everyone who took the latest round of GCSE or IGCSEs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">So for those who are preparing for next year and perhaps worried about these results, I just want to say that I think there is only one way you can really screw this up, and that's by ...</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">COACHING ONLY TO THE TEST.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I'm not saying you shouldn’t coach your child to take the exam, but I’m really unsupportive of teaching ONLY to the test. That is, for a year or two years, to drill and drill.</span></span><br />
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What am I basing this opinion on? I suppose it's related to the three hats I wear: that as a former teacher who taught up to A-level and even US university; as a home-educator of four children; and as a current examiner for CIE/OCR.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems to me there are three reasons that keeping those exams under the microscope is less than ideal.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The obvious reason is that, once the test is over, what have you got to show for it except that your child jumped through some hoops that are now irrelevant? Where do you go from there?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The other reason is that the hoops you jump may or may not be a real-work experience and translatable beyond that narrow exercise.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Another really important reason is that you run the risk of killing your child’s love for the subject, for exploration, and maybe even for learning anything at all.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Did you ever have a teacher say to you something like, “I know this is what we taught you about, say, Physics last year, but I want you to forget all that because that wasn’t really true - it was just a simplified version to make it easier to understand, but now we’re going to do the REAL stuff.”</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>You what???!!!!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Man, I hated that! You might has well have said, “Everything you’ve done up till now is a waste of time.”</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This is why I make my own children, and all my online students, learn the REAL thing from the beginning. This is particularly true in English, my subject, but equally true in other subjects when it comes to exploring the subject and not drilling to the exam paper.</span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We don’t read abridged books. We don’t use Cliffs Notes or other summaries. We don't drown under twenty-five past papers and just work and re-work them for a year or two. If it’s writing, we learn the real-world skill of revising essays. We learn how newspapers differ from speeches. We learn how to explain ourselves and our thoughts so that the books come alive and <i>we remember them.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Reading the real thing helps it all sink in.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Sometimes, the topic or approach is over their heads, but sometimes, it’s exactly that stretching approach that brings them to a higher level - a level they would not have reached if we didn’t try in the first place.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Am I saying you should never do a past paper or coach to an exam? Of course not. The exam that I mark is, in my opinion, notoriously counter-intuitive, so you do need to go over some past papers and learn its idiosyncracies, but to do ONLY that for a year or more, I don't think a student will be best served by not gaining any higher literacy skills during that time.</span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">So if you have a big exam coming up in the future, I urge you to study subjects in a solid and true way as the majority of your learning. You can then practice the hoops either little and often (key word: “little”), or in a more focused, short-term way such as in the month before the exam.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This way, you don’t lose sight of the reason you’re probably educating your children at home in the first place: to create life-long learners who can think outside the box.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Loving to read hard books is rarely normal!</span></i></td></tr>
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dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-73447324486269755182017-07-26T11:44:00.000-07:002017-08-12T21:38:59.020-07:00The Reviews are Coming In!<span style="font-family: inherit;">I just received a student's review about the Ancient History course she took with Mrs Samuels at Dreaming Spires Home Learning last year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You'll probably not be surprised to learn she was the first one on the list to sign up for the follow-up course about Greek that's starting in September!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>It's a unique course because it made me obsessed with Rome afterwards. I got a good understanding of society, the class system, the family, and the military, plus a lot of the Roman literature. I took the extension to learn how to write essays about ancient objects, and that was useful because it helped me understanding how archaeologists date objects, and what they say about the culture they come from. Mrs Samuels has a quirky teaching style that adds interest to the subject - she'll frame a subject like Octavian's exile in such a way to make it seem humorous/ridiculous, and that helps you remember it really well.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />If your teen wants a detailed look into all-things-ancient-history, then join us on Tuesdays or Wednesdays this next year: "carpe diem" and sign up now!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The "naughty" Greek bowl at the Ashmolean, Oxford.</td></tr>
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dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-75439566301449282912017-07-25T22:50:00.000-07:002017-08-06T17:18:17.607-07:00Calendar of Dates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is an updated calendar of dates after we decided to break earlier for Christmas and return earlier in January. The changes are highlighted in blue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9fZKJARTMc2zUb6vESVdYD10XNc7mxyCiaeDzBNZwDpkA7ByLqhegWd_mfV-oEjoLrzJyFp8504O0MpsgR4XhvIttKyDBxeSqYI0r-eXDtG5ufnu-vnLm3nc2LOY3qlwQ8R-MpwkurLb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-08-06+at+19.17.10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="856" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9fZKJARTMc2zUb6vESVdYD10XNc7mxyCiaeDzBNZwDpkA7ByLqhegWd_mfV-oEjoLrzJyFp8504O0MpsgR4XhvIttKyDBxeSqYI0r-eXDtG5ufnu-vnLm3nc2LOY3qlwQ8R-MpwkurLb/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-08-06+at+19.17.10.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-50754953798419075392017-07-04T10:45:00.001-07:002017-07-04T10:46:48.008-07:00The Summer 2017 Mountain Series Episode 2: Take Time to Acclimatise<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">This summer series about homeschooling was inspired by my recent family trip to the mountains, and will be added to weekly. Be sure to subscribe by leaving your email in the right-hand menu bar, or “like” our Facebook page to get updates posted directly to your timeline.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whether you're brand new to educating your children at home, or finding yourself at a transition phase such as secondary school, there is a period where you'll be tempted to rush when actually you need to take it slowly and ease into it</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think this period is like our mountain trip when we arrived at our condo and found that it was over 10,000 feet.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">High Condo - Waiting for Adventure</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For native Texans who live at at 496 feet above sea level, this was a real challenge to our systems. We felt like all the descriptions of acclimatising for Everest - sinuses dry out, tummies get rumbly, headaches abound, breathless, listless.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">These are warning signs that we were now in a place that are bodies were struggling to maintain normal function.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After a terrible night's sleep (another effect of altitude), we decided to see how far we could climb up the mountain in view of our balcony - Kuchina Peak.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Long story short, we ran into two problems: first was our unfamiliarity with the terrain (this will be the subject of the next blog post!), and the other was, no matter how fit and experienced we were with hill-climbing at sea level, we just weren't ready to tackle the exertion at 12,000 feet higher.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some of us had headaches, malaise, nausea: all symptoms of altitude sickness! They told us that we needed to get back down a little lower and wait till our bodies were more accustomed to the thinner air.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo3vemq965Z2jXq7AnxJmNpj3SEtu8ZlScPY130s7J95thqu_DGql6KyaQaAweyO_GxuKL7VxP83KA2WR1EgdLX334uGBX8obf25ffM1loqG3p3gt87mj6EXJH58W_R5A6uBcdAuRQY8/s1600/tired+snow+angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1600" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo3vemq965Z2jXq7AnxJmNpj3SEtu8ZlScPY130s7J95thqu_DGql6KyaQaAweyO_GxuKL7VxP83KA2WR1EgdLX334uGBX8obf25ffM1loqG3p3gt87mj6EXJH58W_R5A6uBcdAuRQY8/s320/tired+snow+angel.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not ready for prime-time mountain climbing!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">However, by the end of the week, we were able to climb not only it but its higher valley-mate, Wheeler Peak: New Mexico's highest mountain at over 13,000 feet. That was because we waited to get used to the elevation, and meanwhile, made sure we prepared a little at a time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So as you're hitting transition periods in your home-educating journey, just keep in mind that rushing it is probably a poor idea. You'll find yourself ill-prepared and perhaps even in danger - if not in terms of your health, then probably in terms of your purse!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What am I suggesting instead? Take your time. Research. Read through Rainbow Resources detailed catalogue with lots of reviews by homeschoolers for any curriculum you're thinking of buying. Have a look at last year's <a href="http://www.dreamingspireshomelearning.co.uk/search/label/series%201">Series 1 </a> about starting out home-ed where I encourage you to take a look at your values and your aims, and above all remember this: if you are starting home-ed from scratch and have removed a child from school, you both need to deschool first.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The reason you deschool is this: going to school is putting yourself under an institution and there are rules and requirements and expectations that have become second-nature to you, most of which have nothing to do with one's real desire and aptitude for learning. Motivation often needs rediscovering; self-directed exploration of interests has almost certainly been dampened down; realising that one can find curiosity and something intriguing to delve into further 24/7, 365, and yet, it rarely requires 6 hours a day of sitting at a desk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is a big world out there, but if you're transitioning, then I would suggest putting your feet up and getting used to the new, rarefied air.</span></div>
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dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-55714913279192457382017-06-26T16:30:00.005-07:002017-06-26T16:33:43.860-07:00The Summer 2017 Mountain Series Episode 1: Finding Yourself in the Heat<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This summer series about homeschooling was inspired by my recent family trip to the mountains, and will be added to weekly. Be sure to subscribe by leaving your email in the right-hand menu bar, or “like” our Facebook page to get updates posted directly to your timeline.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In this first episode, I want to share about how homeschooling teens can feel like the hottest journey you’ve ever undertaken.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A blog post about a hot road trip ...</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">No matter where you live now, you have probably taken a trip somewhere that taught you all about assumptions. In my case, I thought I knew all about packing for a self-catering trip to the mountains, having done so almost twice a year in England for the past five years.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So my brothers and I loaded up our three cars and caravanned west to New Mexico. Once we got west of Post, Texas, the temperatures soared over 111º F (44º C). </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It ultimately reached 113!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We stopped for gas, drinks, etc, and my brother who was driving the pick-up truck announced that all the food that had been stashed in the back of his truck had melted. We threw out butter, yoghurt, milk, cheese, and all the chocolate, and though the boys liked to blame me for it, I did point out that they were the ones that loaded it back there in the first place!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Anyway, in hindsight I should have realized that perishables in a pick-up bed in Texas in June weren’t going to survive a 15-hour road trip anyway, but having only experience of Lake District trips in April and September, I recognize the biases I brought to the planning stage. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So here’s where I think our journey in homeschooling teens is like this trip into the unknown. We know what it has been like to teach our children when the stakes are low - whether we follow set curriculum, something more flexible like the Charlotte Mason method, or even unschool, we haven’t had the pressures to prepare for national exams, worry about credits and transcripts, or hone down to our child’s interests and vocational pathways.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The stakes - like the temperatures in West Texas - suddenly become higher when our kids hit those teen years. Here are a few suggestions for navigating our way through an environment out of our comfort zone.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Navigating the path ahead ...</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">First, give yourself some grace if you make some mistakes. Yes, we’re in charge of the planning and the execution, but if we get some of it a bit wrong, then it’s not the end of the world. Our children’s education should, hopefully, be a life-long experience, and not something that finishes at 18 or 22, so there’s wiggle room even in these crucial years of high school.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Second, don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone who has been there before. If, for example, someone else is planning a road trip to New Mexico in the summer, I can now warn them about looking after the food on the journey. I can also tell them that there are plenty of big supermarkets in Taos so packing all those perishables was unnecessary in the first place. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In homeschooling, there are now so many great forums and FB groups with people who’ve been there and done that, you really need only to ask.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Getting directions can be a good thing!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That being said, my third point is this: don’t just take someone’s word for it, but confirm what people say online by doing your own research, too. In the case of my road trip, I was only tagging along on my brother’s trip at the last minute, and I didn’t check out the shopping facilities in Taos for myself. As my brother is a bit more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants kind of person, there ended up being a lot of gaps in his knowledge where I’d have been more inclined to fill them in (this theme will come up again and again in this series - believe me!).</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In the case of homeschooling, I have already seen people’s advice running counter to someone else’s state or country regulations. In the UK, there are HUGE changes afoot in the national exam system as it switches from the A-E grade system to a 9-1 system, plus many of its public exams are ditching the controlled assessment for exam only, a change that favours homeschoolers - except for one important fact! These new exams don’t start being offered till 2019! So for many of you who are now entering the phase of UK exams for your teens, few people will have the experience of the new system to guide you more than saying what they did in the old system.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You have been warned!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In the US, there are still people who talk about the old SAT system rather than the new one, about dual-enrollment arrangements that are often dependent on the processes at the local college, about CLEP or AP or other advanced options that vary from university to university as to their acceptance.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It can still be a minefield for you, even with helpful guidance from those who’ve done it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our road trip through the West Texas oven was on Saturday. On Tuesday, I picked an apple out of the fridge for our hike up Kuchina Peak. It was covered in some strange kind of wax. I started washing it and the wax wouldn’t budge. Then I realised it was butter - the butter that had melted into the box in the back of the pick-up truck. Clearly, this apple had been in that same box, and though it had survived the heat, it still had some residue of the debacle on its skin.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sometimes in homeschooling, there may be long-lasting effects from our past mistakes, and they can arise at the strangest times, even years later. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It may be hot, but the sun WILL go down!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just do what I did when I cleaned off the apple: I turned up the heat of the water to melt off the butter. You, too, can just “turn up the heat” - ie, put in extra effort, focus intently, make phone calls or write letters: in short, do what you have to do to rescue the situation.</span></span></div>
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</style>dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-54906798527104809002017-06-02T11:05:00.002-07:002017-06-02T11:05:55.074-07:00STOP PRESS! New Sections of Middle Ages and BritNov on Offer!<span style="font-family: inherit;">We're so blessed and humbled at Dreaming Spires that so many people are entrusting us with the education of their teens, and our popularity meant that two of our English courses became oversubscribed before the end of May!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Problem:</u> how to make sure more students can take advantage of our motivating and empowering style of live, online courses?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Solution:</u> Recruit one of my oldest and dearest and cleverest friends to come on board as a second English tutor!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Introducing Jackie Pavlenko!</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jackie's bio can be found on the <a href="http://www.dreamingspireshomelearning.com/p/who-we-are.html">"About Us"</a> tab, but the long-and-short of it is that she's an Oxford grad who went into the screenwriting business. She's too humble to tell you about the awards won by the film she wrote, El Greco, including BEST FILM at the Thessaloniki Film Festival in 2007.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jackie and I have been co-home-educators in the trenches off and on for the past twelve years, and I'm so thrilled that I managed to eventually pin her down to join the Dreaming Spires team. She has so much insight and depth of thought to add to our courses' explorations, and being a "worldschooler" at this stage in life, she'll be one of those value-added tutors with oodles of culture to exchange!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Mrs Pavlenko will teach a section each of Middle Ages and British Novel: refer to the<u> <a href="http://www.dreamingspireshomelearning.com/p/looking-to-sep-2017.html">timetable</a></u> for the new opportunities to study with us.</i></span></div>
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dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633885996564780211.post-85366535371972726312017-05-18T12:20:00.000-07:002017-05-19T22:38:12.602-07:00Unexpected Gifts -- Courses Almost Full AlreadyI know sometimes people will claim their courses are filling up to just get people to sign up earlier, but in this case, I'm telling the plain truth.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28YlZ6YJsvJ5lmhyphenhyphenIecPREzfo4Qk0eBzn3DkQMY7_Cj_DiORQFr56EANtYOlzelpbiXrUxQXctAzKOTCFIz_24jvpplj3YiJ9KGbcMWN5s_kt46FMJZBri3XgUE6pqTihcchepHqUB-4/s1600/Me+sitting+in+bluebonnets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28YlZ6YJsvJ5lmhyphenhyphenIecPREzfo4Qk0eBzn3DkQMY7_Cj_DiORQFr56EANtYOlzelpbiXrUxQXctAzKOTCFIz_24jvpplj3YiJ9KGbcMWN5s_kt46FMJZBri3XgUE6pqTihcchepHqUB-4/s200/Me+sitting+in+bluebonnets.jpg" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>This is my "being honest" face</i></td></tr>
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Dreaming Spires has added new subjects this year, and all of them are filling up in May when they're not due to start till the second week of September.<br />
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I can't believe it! Incredibly humbled and very excited, but also, stunned.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>This is my "I'm stunned" face</i></td></tr>
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So let me just make one plea: if you're considering joining us for any of our courses -- the four options for English and composition, Ancient Rome or Ancient Greece, Spanish and Advanced Spanish, or our new living books Biology course -- then please register today!<br />
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The only commitment is a £20 registration fee.<br />
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If you're still on the fence, let me just say three things: </div>
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<li>first, we're the only Charlotte-Mason-style, living-books curriculum delivered live and online by home-educating parents who are subject specialists (that's a mouthful: we really are a unique tutorial staff here at Dreaming Spires!);</li>
<li>second, we retain 80% of our families year-on-year, and for the first time in this registration period, we've had more than one family RETURN to us after trying a year of something else;</li>
<li>third, our "graduates" are contacting me to say that not only have we prepared them for their further academic studies, but that they MISS the way that we taught our subjects in such a living and memorable way.</li>
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So, with my most sincere face ...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4_emehBnFdvEm2MaLTSPtZu87JuBlJ6lH-ZMHh39AP8m7PhkRYum5fOIrNvNkx8VMiZsduAaNu_i4O09uz_1m_i-SxMDjoHS1tgPEqY0mJtV8wjvkGcHg9_vEcJwKzSYsvC2ycbSv_w/s1600/IMG_3386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4_emehBnFdvEm2MaLTSPtZu87JuBlJ6lH-ZMHh39AP8m7PhkRYum5fOIrNvNkx8VMiZsduAaNu_i4O09uz_1m_i-SxMDjoHS1tgPEqY0mJtV8wjvkGcHg9_vEcJwKzSYsvC2ycbSv_w/s200/IMG_3386.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Ummm ... no ... that's not the one ...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Okay, we'll go with this one</i></td></tr>
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I sincerely encourage you to sign up today using the Blogger contact form on the right-hand sidebar, or drop me a line at<br />
https://www.facebook.com/dreamingspireshomelearning/.<br />
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I'm very approachable, and I and my hand-picked subject tutors are committed to providing courses for your teens as though they were our own children.<br />
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dreaming spireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09447334943386188201noreply@blogger.com0