Field-trips at any age, for any subject, are an ideal way to solidify ideas, concepts and apply information in a real world context.

I recently arranged a field-trip to Blenheim Palace to see their winter ‘offering’ from an IGCSE  Travel&Tourism and IGCSE Business perspective.  It was an engaging and informative opportunity for students and would have also equally suited History, English, Design and Technology!

Great video for GCSE Statistics (and in fact many other subjects too!) … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfVaOqLUbZA

A fantastic watch for IGCSE/GCSE Business Studies … and you can order a free Marketing poster also … https://www.open.edu/openlearn/insidethesupermarket

Lots of Business Studies learnings on offer today at the Oracle in Reading! … 1) organic growth and location … Chick-Fil-A comes to Reading (let’s hope one of America’s favourite brands can survive this dismal location in the Oracle where many others have slowly died a death!) 2) Business failure and ecommerce/location … Paperchase is closing down (another high street brand suffering immensely) 3) employee motivation and customer service (our server/cashier at FiveGuys was having a fantastic time singing, dancing and laughing behind the cash register)

I love teaching IGCSE Business Studies with HomeMadeEducation, there are case studies everywhere!

Some feedback received this week: “My 15 year old daughter chose to take 8 GCSEs in 9 months and there was no way I was going to be able to keep on top of what she needed to be studying. It was so helpful to know that Business and Travel and Tourism were taken care of through Home Made Education. She got her T & T result this morning – a Grade B! And that’s in less than half the usual time taken to study. Business Studies results coming next week. I honestly can’t praise HME enough. Thank you!”    We love to help celebrate our students’ successess and it is important to remember that for some students, an A on a GCSE is a success and for others an IGCSE pass with a D is an equally laudible achievement!  We are all different and exam results don’t define who we are or what we will go on to contribute to the world.  Whatever your future holds, if you approach it with commitment, humour and compassion you are bound to do well! 🙂

The English language is fascinating and it is one of those urban myths that it is one of the hardest to learn.  So, if you have a learner in your house who is fascinated by words, here are some funny and enlightening links! …

Viking words we use everyday: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2W5jzMw4DFDCvP3jsFKcgQJ/ways-you-talk-like-a-viking-every-day

For the older learner, The History of the English Language in 10 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfKhlJIAhew

Classic ‘I Love Lucy’ episode with Ricky’s frustrations with English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZV40f0cXF4

TedEd: No such thing as correct English … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEFM905EOUk

OK, yes you may have to worry a bit about parking and about more people being at an event than, as a home educator, you are used to.  But summer festivals are a great opportunity to be out and about with kids of all ages and, quite often, provide inspiration for further projects and educational ideas to fill up other summer days.  And if you can include one as part of a summer stay-cation, even better.  Here are some top ideas from around the UK:

Curious Arts Festival, 23 – 26 August 2019, Pippingford Park, East Sussex

Edinburgh International Book Festival, 10 – 26 August, Edinburgh

Green Man Festival, 15 – 18 August, Brecon Beacons, Powys

Just So Festival, 16 – 18 August, Cheshire

The Big Feastival, 23 – 25 August, Kingham (Oxfordshire)

Outside of summertime:

Henley Literary Festival, 28th Sep – 6th Oct 2019

North Cornwall Book Festival,  10 – 13 October, St Endellion Church, Port Isaac

Bath Children’s Literature Festival, 27 September – 6 October 2019, Bath