Home education never ceases to amaze me. My eldest lad got stuck into his mock exams for the last four modules for his Further Mathematics A-level. After working quite successfully through the OCR textbooks this year having not a lot of trouble with the exam questions he suddenly seemed to have a lot of trouble with the mock exams. We devised a strategy whereby he did each exam with no time limit and a peek at the book if he got stuck. The first week this started there was still a bit of groaning but now he has got into his stride working around four to five mock exams per module he is getting all questions done within the time limit and more or less clearing the 80% bar. It is interesting that with no actual knowledge of what he is doing I haven't got a clue about the actual mathematics although I could with a bit of time work it out we have consulted together and arrived at a strategy that works. This has happened several times before ever since he got stuck into the A-level work when he was 12. I wonder sometimes that the education system would do well to have teachers as facilitators rather than programmed hand holders who tell the children what to do all the time. I know there is a world of difference between personal tutored home education and mass education but I know for a stone cold fact that there are many children who would work better with less interference from teachers rather than more. Go Miles, hard work and a parental compass does pay off!

Oh well, I have completely gone over to voice recognition as the main way of inputting into the computer. I will carry on with the mathematics but I will have to clarify with Sunderland University whether I can actually do the course or not with regard to using the computers. The other route is to continue on with my Open University mathematics degree and get work as an unqualified teacher. A while back I contacted a supply agency who said there would be no problem whatsoever with working in schools in the North East as a mathematics teacher with unqualified teacher status. The reason for this, they said, was the massive shortage of mathematics teachers.

On an intellectual note it will do me no harm whatsoever to go for the A Level this year because it ensures that all of the basics are completely learnt and if I have to carry on with my Open University degree it will be more fun to do it in that way. Why do I always feel that I am walking uphill with this. Well, at least I am walking!