Katie Finlayson
@learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social
Home educator, data nerd, home ed exams specialist, Chair of Governors and one time computer programmer. Expect eclectic thoughts.
And this is why it matters.
November 11, 2025 at 9:05 AM
And this is why it matters.
@teachertapp.bsky.social have the answer…
November 5, 2025 at 10:04 AM
@teachertapp.bsky.social have the answer…
I am determined that this little patch of woods will one day be full of bluebells. Turns out this is quite a long term plan. But I have just planted out some more to help it on its way.
October 28, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I am determined that this little patch of woods will one day be full of bluebells. Turns out this is quite a long term plan. But I have just planted out some more to help it on its way.
As compromises go, having this out of your bedroom window still leaves me firmly in the ‘life is good’ category.
October 28, 2025 at 9:18 AM
As compromises go, having this out of your bedroom window still leaves me firmly in the ‘life is good’ category.
After three years of being tied to a college schedule it was great to get back to the old Days of Adventure - with a little trip to the National Museum of Computing, a wander round Cambridge, and then the RAF museum in Cosford.
October 18, 2025 at 2:49 PM
After three years of being tied to a college schedule it was great to get back to the old Days of Adventure - with a little trip to the National Museum of Computing, a wander round Cambridge, and then the RAF museum in Cosford.
At the National Museum of Computing where they have a (temporary) telecoms display. This takes me back to 37weeks pregnant and crawling around the machine room at work trying to figure out why my test system wasn’t working…
October 16, 2025 at 12:30 PM
At the National Museum of Computing where they have a (temporary) telecoms display. This takes me back to 37weeks pregnant and crawling around the machine room at work trying to figure out why my test system wasn’t working…
I mean it comes up quite a lot in GCSE Biology (and precursors) too… (just a couple of examples, it’s kind of embedded throughout).
October 13, 2025 at 8:42 AM
I mean it comes up quite a lot in GCSE Biology (and precursors) too… (just a couple of examples, it’s kind of embedded throughout).
Still enjoying my take-aways from the fabulous spread the Hospitality and Food students put on for us at the Everybody Thriving gathering yesterday :) Plenty of food for thought to match the impressive spread of actual food. Standouts were the contributions from the pupils from the school we met at.
October 12, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Still enjoying my take-aways from the fabulous spread the Hospitality and Food students put on for us at the Everybody Thriving gathering yesterday :) Plenty of food for thought to match the impressive spread of actual food. Standouts were the contributions from the pupils from the school we met at.
Another outing for the birthday ring… marking a combined 65 children’s birthdays - does this mean I get to retire now?
October 5, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Another outing for the birthday ring… marking a combined 65 children’s birthdays - does this mean I get to retire now?
First meet back after the summer for our home ed group today - and our ten year anniversary in the current location.
There is always a bit of a rejig when the autumn term starts - some will have moved on, maybe to college or school or just to a new schedule that no longer quite works; ...
There is always a bit of a rejig when the autumn term starts - some will have moved on, maybe to college or school or just to a new schedule that no longer quite works; ...
September 24, 2025 at 6:16 PM
First meet back after the summer for our home ed group today - and our ten year anniversary in the current location.
There is always a bit of a rejig when the autumn term starts - some will have moved on, maybe to college or school or just to a new schedule that no longer quite works; ...
There is always a bit of a rejig when the autumn term starts - some will have moved on, maybe to college or school or just to a new schedule that no longer quite works; ...
Last home ed group before summer someone mentioned they were thinking about leaning Latin. This is a dangerous thing to say to me - I’ve dug out a selection of textbooks for them to have a look at… (we use de Romanis. But do have more…)
September 24, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Last home ed group before summer someone mentioned they were thinking about leaning Latin. This is a dangerous thing to say to me - I’ve dug out a selection of textbooks for them to have a look at… (we use de Romanis. But do have more…)
It’s the rosy-fingered dawn time of year.
September 23, 2025 at 7:59 AM
It’s the rosy-fingered dawn time of year.
Reality setting in that R is leaving for uni this week. Last Saturday night tea - she has cooked this for us since she was 9. How are we going to eat now??
September 21, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reality setting in that R is leaving for uni this week. Last Saturday night tea - she has cooked this for us since she was 9. How are we going to eat now??
It’s over £30bn in exports total. Much of that in higher ed, which the ‘name recognition’ of IGCSEs and A levels plays into (they did IGCSEs - then IB - in my sister’s international school in Tanzania in the ‘90s)
September 20, 2025 at 6:25 AM
It’s over £30bn in exports total. Much of that in higher ed, which the ‘name recognition’ of IGCSEs and A levels plays into (they did IGCSEs - then IB - in my sister’s international school in Tanzania in the ‘90s)
Creating opportunities for independence was tricky over the Covid lockdowns. And it’s _different_ anyway in the country - you can’t just send them to the shop. So at 8 and 11 (some time ago) we sent the boys off camping at the top of the hill behind the house for the weekend.
September 13, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Creating opportunities for independence was tricky over the Covid lockdowns. And it’s _different_ anyway in the country - you can’t just send them to the shop. So at 8 and 11 (some time ago) we sent the boys off camping at the top of the hill behind the house for the weekend.
M back to uni for year 2.
From this perspective it all goes so fast. From the perspective of corralling four under seven, it’s been about a million years.
From this perspective it all goes so fast. From the perspective of corralling four under seven, it’s been about a million years.
September 12, 2025 at 7:21 PM
M back to uni for year 2.
From this perspective it all goes so fast. From the perspective of corralling four under seven, it’s been about a million years.
From this perspective it all goes so fast. From the perspective of corralling four under seven, it’s been about a million years.
And cross-stitch. What next?
September 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM
And cross-stitch. What next?
Joining the other blankets…
September 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Joining the other blankets…
18 months for the last blanket and it’s done - every child now has a blanket and a cross-stitch piece to remember me by when I’m dead 😁
September 10, 2025 at 7:24 PM
18 months for the last blanket and it’s done - every child now has a blanket and a cross-stitch piece to remember me by when I’m dead 😁
It's def more of a 'thing' in UK, Canada, NZ, Australia and US than other countries with well-developed education systems (though still exists in most others, with varying degrees of regulation). And those have also seen a covid rise, then a levelling off. Eg: cche.ca/wp-content/u...
September 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM
It's def more of a 'thing' in UK, Canada, NZ, Australia and US than other countries with well-developed education systems (though still exists in most others, with varying degrees of regulation). And those have also seen a covid rise, then a levelling off. Eg: cche.ca/wp-content/u...
And this is New Zealand including the last two years - so yeah, definitely not just England!
September 8, 2025 at 4:24 PM
And this is New Zealand including the last two years - so yeah, definitely not just England!
… but the knowledge that you can actually try something different may be.
Also interesting to note that this rise is happening globally - it’s not specifically England. I need to update with the later stats but eg here is New Zealand.
Also interesting to note that this rise is happening globally - it’s not specifically England. I need to update with the later stats but eg here is New Zealand.
September 8, 2025 at 4:11 PM
… but the knowledge that you can actually try something different may be.
Also interesting to note that this rise is happening globally - it’s not specifically England. I need to update with the later stats but eg here is New Zealand.
Also interesting to note that this rise is happening globally - it’s not specifically England. I need to update with the later stats but eg here is New Zealand.
More #ResearchEd - session 5: @profbeckyallen.bsky.social reporting on an investigation into whether LLMs can provide accurate and useful formative feedback without an underlying cognitive model to predict misconceptions.
September 7, 2025 at 8:33 AM
More #ResearchEd - session 5: @profbeckyallen.bsky.social reporting on an investigation into whether LLMs can provide accurate and useful formative feedback without an underlying cognitive model to predict misconceptions.
Session 3: @paulclinepsy.bsky.social and @mikehobbiss.bsky.social on developing independent learners (hint - independence starts with scaffolding). Lots of actionable strategies for helping students actually *do* the things they kinda know will be helpful.
September 6, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Session 3: @paulclinepsy.bsky.social and @mikehobbiss.bsky.social on developing independent learners (hint - independence starts with scaffolding). Lots of actionable strategies for helping students actually *do* the things they kinda know will be helpful.
Session 2: @phoenixedsarah.bsky.social in the perfect double bill, talking about how schools can work on attendance. Key takeaways: punitive measures aren’t helpful. Challenges are often multifaceted, but by listening and building relationships with families, you may find ways to help.
September 6, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Session 2: @phoenixedsarah.bsky.social in the perfect double bill, talking about how schools can work on attendance. Key takeaways: punitive measures aren’t helpful. Challenges are often multifaceted, but by listening and building relationships with families, you may find ways to help.