Greg and April attended a lecture by a professor in brain-based education, Peter Rossouw, called "Rewiring the Brain."
Among other things, Prof. Rossouw described the importance of sleep in preserving memory, enhancing learning and general mental health.
Sleep, of course, is not simply unconsciousness. Getting 4 hours of sleep is not simply half as beneficial as getting 8 hours. There is a cycle of sleep that includes deep sleep and "REM" sleep (Rapid Eye Movement). REM sleep is at the end of each cycle, and there are ideally four cycles in each night's sleep of 8 hours. The REM phase is the part where the brain basically files away the day's memories and sorts out learning. Lack of REM sleep causes learning to be inhibited, and results in a degree of confusion, anxiety, grumpiness and other symptoms associated with "poor sleep". Sufficient REM sleep is essential for maintaining memory.
Throughout the four sleep cycles, the REM phase takes longer and longer, from about 5 minutes in the first cycle to 30-60 minutes in the last cycle. In other words, for really healthy sleep you need to get to the fourth cycle, the last two hours of the eight.
Less than 8 hours of sleep (for adults, more for children) means that the job of the brain in filing the day's learning is, at best, only half done!
To promote effective cycles of sleep that will enhance learning and mental health it is good to practise the following:
No screen time, including phones and TV, for at least half an hour before bed;
Maintaining the same bed time each night;
Only reading of relaxing material before sleep - not studying, no stimulating music, not planning the next day;
Prayer and meditation, apart from any other benefits, are relaxing for the brain.
For adults in particular: Chemical sleep inducers (such as alcohol and pills - even herbal) work against normal sleep cycles, and tend to reduce REM time, even if there is a lot of unconscious time.
Psalm 139, verse 14 says: I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well.
The brain is a beautiful, complex creation, designed intricately beyond human ability to truly understand it. Care and maintenance of it is relatively simple, but so often disregarded.
Maybe there are some habits that need to change here? Is it worth the fight? Maybe you should sleep on it?
Programming and Registration
including Qld Ten Month Reporting
Enrolling in SouthEast Home Education is not the same as registering with your state government. The responsibility to register is yours, although we can help you with the process.
In the Member Area, log in and click Programming and Registration.
Click on your Australian State or Territory for information about registration information.
For Queensland, the Home Education Unit requires a "Ten Month Report." We will have given you instructions on how to prepare this beforehand.
Please study our new graphic detailing the process of registration and reporting in Queensland.
If you would like help or feedback with the report, you can fill in and send a form to us with your ideas. We will help you as much as we can, but please first read the documentation we send you and check out the HEU links first.
Contact us if you need assistance.
A.C.E. and University?
"Can my child go to university with an A.C.E Certificate?"
Many homeschooled students go to Australian universities without receiving a state-issued Year 12 certificate: A.C.E. graduates are among them in their hundreds. A.C.E. students thrive in tertiary education: They have learned to work independently, can set their own goals, have mastered the English language, and are not satisfied with mediocre results.
Our Frequently Asked Questions page on our website presents examples of graduates of SEHE who have continued to university. This is not a complete list.
If you are aware of others, please let us know and we will include them also (only first name and surname initial will be given). For the moment, we are including only SEHE graduates, but will possibly expand this list to other A.C.E. graduates also. We apologise if we have neglected to include any of your own children.
Congratulations Erin
Erin, one of our Brisbane year 12 graduates from 2016, starts her new journey at the Australian Dance Performance Institute. Erin is enrolled into the Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) course. This can lead to teaching Dance and Erin eventually plans to continue on to teach Dance / Physical Education.
Where are they now?
We would love to hear about the students who have finished their homeschool studies and have moved on to their next adventure.
Please share your children's career paths by email. It is always encouraging to other families.
Sending PACE Tests
PACE tests only need to be sent for Year 11 and 12 subjects.
When you package the tests, PLEASE make sure they are in order within each subject:
e.g. Put all Algebra I tests in order, from smallest to highest PACE number, then English tests, from smallest to highest, etc.
This will save us considerable time.
Year 12 tests will be moderated by spot-checking and re-scoring.
Year 12 tests must be sent to us (SouthEast Home Education) at the address on our website, at least once per term, for moderation.
See below for due dates.
Use the PACE Test Cover Form when you send Year 12 tests. This form is available now for downloading under the Members menu on our website.We suggest you save the form and print it as you need it.
Year 12 PACE tests must be received by SCEE (address to SouthEast Home Education at the address on our website) by the following dates. Tests received after these dates will be moderated at the next date. Term 1: Monday, 27th March Term 2: Monday, 3rd July Term 3: Friday, 15th September Term 4: Friday, 1st December
Note that processing of graduation certificates may be delayed if tests are not received by the due dates.
Science Projects
Each 8 page booklet covers:
Project material for one stage (2 grades);
Either Australian Curriculum Content Descriptions or NSW Board of Studies Outcomes and goals for the relevant year level or stage;
Notes to parent supervisors on how to set and assess the projects;
A mini lesson that covers the key areas, such as the Hypothesis, dependent and independent variables, and the method;
Ideas on presenting a report;
Three or four project ideas for each year level based on the scope and sequence of the Science PACEs;
An assessment rubric to make scoring simple.
This resource is exclusive to SouthEast Home Education families and is free of charge. It not only broadens the student's learning but is a valuable addition for registration progamming. If you don't have one, ask us!
If you do have one, use it!
Marking Essays
Are you using the SEHE essay marking rubric? This resource helps to make you, the parent, confident with marking essays.
Based on and modified from a professionally developed marking rubric, this tool helps you evaluate five aspects of a written work and produce a percentage score.
Log in to the website, go to the A.C.E. Resources (English), and scroll down to the Essay Marking link.
Don't leave your child's education to guesswork!
Congratulations Travis!
Travis attended the 2016 South Pacific Student Convention at Phillip Island (Victoria).
He entered a variety of art works, and his results were impressive, as were the works themselves (see below):
Sail Boat (Acrylic painting) 1st place
Fence Post (Oil painting) 2nd place
Night Sky Petunia (Watercolor painting) 2nd place
Peace Rose (Colored Pencil) 2nd place
Special effects photo - 1st place
Learning a foreign Language (LOTE)
The learning of Foreign Languages features in the Australian curriculum. Whether this is mandatory in your state is another matter.
SCEE and A.C.E. recognise Rosetta Stone as a quality course, and certificate credits are awarded for completion of every level. Rosetta Stone licenses are available from SCEE for a discount price.
Another good online language course that we have come across is Duolingo (www.duolingo.com). This is a free web based course that covers a large number of languages, and gives opportunities for students to safely interact with other students studying that language. Its teaching method is very like Rosetta Stone, and includes translating and listening exercises, and has grammar notes that are quite helpful.
We recommend Duolingo for non-certificate studies. It cannot be used for credit because (a) it lacks some of the skills that Rosetta Stone features, such as pronunciation exercises, and (b) it does not have a suitable assessment process. Nevertheless, it is good resource.
Don't forget, when teaching a foreign language, it is a good idea to learn about the country's culture, people, and history as well. This can easily be incorporated into Social Studies, the Arts (painting, music, dance), and even Physical Education (if there are culture-specific activities and sports).
