Open Day at Taylor's College 28thJune2011

Taylor's College has opened their door to homeschoolers. Acceptance into their preU programmes is on a case by case basis. SATs or O-Levels are the usual prerequisites. O-levels need not be taken in one seating, there was a case where the student took O-levels in 2 separate seatings - 5 subjects each. If Malay is not one of the subjects taken, the student has to take 40hours of Malay.

I didn't get to hear much of what the people at Taylor's had to say as I had to entertain Ean in the Staff Lounge. Well, they did have a nice place for the staff to relax and unwind.

One parent came out from the Lecture Theater asking me what the conclusion of the talk was...ummmm.....
From what I heard, the lecturers were impressed with one homeschooler that took charge of his own learning, hounded his lecturers before lessons to grill them about the lessons held the previous day and became valedictorian for his year.

The kids had the opportunity to conduct a science experiment in the Chemistry Lab

The lecturer giving instructions.

The kids were excited to wear lab goggles and couldn't wait to get started.

JY did an experiment on calculating specific heat capacity. She was disappointed when she realised that there was little to do besides boiling water and taking the temperature.

The lab set up. Test tube holders, funnel and beakers under the bench.

The younger kids conducted an experiment that didn't require close proximity with a naked flame and bubbling steaming hot water.

Some gizmos - light bulb and meter

The younger kids measured the conductivity of sugar and baking soda

Using the thermometer and watching water boil. Safety goggles were ignored and left on the bench.

Burettes left to dry upside down.

It was a wonderful opportunity for the kids to see the insides of a science lab and experience a lab session for themselves.

Birthday @ Ulu Langat 27thMarch2011

Blow till your balloon bursts! How terrifying.

HC's birthday was held in a campsite in Ulu Langat. Once again competitive games were organised, Fai and Han backed out after trying out the first game.

While the other kids filled up plastic bottles with water using sponges, my boys looked on with disinterest.

Dear Hubby brought up the socialization issue and I guess he was wondering if homeschooling had made the boys shy away from such games and mixing with other kids.

Hmmmm....

I gave this some thought. I think the boys just didn't find the games worth participating in.

It is not that they had issues mixing with the other kids, it is just that blowing huge balloons and having it burst in your face and running up and down squeezing water into bottles with a group of kids they have just met, besides HC, at the behest of an adult with a loud hailer must have seemed mindless and pointless to them.

The boys headed for the stream.

As we waded in the cool water, enjoyed the feel of the smooth rocks under our feet, the familiar tune of 'Chicken Dance' invaded our tranquil sanctum.

JY baked and decorated the 'Polar Express' birthday cake.

One boy appreciated her cake so much he wolfed down 3 of her fondant train carriages.

The log bridge was a favourite with the kids. Some butt-scooted across. Others balanced their way over, tightwalk style. The stream could be dammed up till the water was chest-high. I can imagine the young and the young-at-heart doing a backflip into the water from the log.

The campsite was a perfect place for a gathering.

A few parents who had placed their kids into an international schools were lamenting about the dismal state the school was in.

One of the parents thought that service learning in schools such as building toilets in Third World countries was what he had envisioned his child would be doing in his school and another was disappointed that her child was starting to rudely answer back.

It has been some time since I have heard complains about the school system and the problems of socializing with the wrong crowd.

I was pulled into the discussion by HC's dad and JY was interrogated by the parents.

It is easy to complain about the school system but not many are willing get out of the system and take the challenge of teaching their own.

Through homeschooling, your child could be collaborating with other homeschoolers from around the region or the world using the internet to discuss and build toilets or libraries, if he chooses to do so.

The book "Dumbing Us Down" was mentioned. A good book that deals about the issues that schools, teachers and schoolkids face and how it is detrimental to the development of our kids.

The kids in their own world. Creating their own games with just their imagination and Mother Nature. And socializing certainly wasn't an issue, Fai and Han quickly cliqued with the rest of the kids. Happily joining in with whatever that was cooked up.

Ean sploshing paint. It was very thoughtful of HC's mom to set up a painting table, vegetarian food, an array of dishes that could feed an army, waterguns, bubbles, sugar-free drinks...this woman had immaculate planning. The face says it all. We had fun.