WELCOME TO MY NOTEBOOK - it’s nice that you came!
The notes in it are mostly about being a parent, home education, children’s learning in general, best of all family. And for light relief it’s seasoned with the odd whiff of the outdoors!
Please do flick through the pages listed to the left and hopefully you’ll come across something to interest or inspire.
Here’s what you’ll find:
JOURNAL – this is my BLOG; current notes of my life’s doings and thinkings, updated regularly. Read it for laughs, lifts, rants and rambles away from it all.
LEARNING WITHOUT SCHOOL - this page gives details of my book; a guide and support for parents wanting to home educate and a good deal about education for everyone involved with children’s learning.
WHO AM I? - a little bit about me.
ABOUT HOME EDUCATION - information about home education.
A LETTER TO PARENTS - here I have posted a letter to parents everywhere.
CUTTINGS - on this page you’ll find links to some of my writing in other places and coverage in newspapers etc.
DIARY OF A HOME EDUCATING NOBODY - A selection of articles about Home Education first written for Education Otherwise and a link to more.
THE MOST VALUABLE THING YOU WILL EVER DO – read it and see what it is!
LINKS - some other websites that might inspire you.
Enjoy, and please – if you find something you like, let me know. I love to hear.
Thanks for coming!
Joy Spicer said,
March 4, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Hi Ross
Can’t believe its taken me this long to realise that you have a blog! I’ve been an avid follower of your ‘Diary of a Home Educating Nobody’ in EO magazine ever since we started our home-ed adventure almost 6 years ago. Our boys (now 14 & 12) did start in the school system but when we withdrew them, family thought we were ‘mad’ & were convinced we’d ruined their lives. I can honestly say your Diary was the one thing that consistently helped me whenever I had doubts or low moments.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Joy x
rossmountney said,
March 5, 2010 at 8:53 am
such an encouraging comment – thank you so much Joy. x
Michelle Barber said,
August 4, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Hi Ross, I’m so pleased to read your regular blog about home education. It is now our sixth year of home education and I can never forget that it was through reading your “diary of a home educating nobody” which gave me the courage to home educate. As if that is not enough, you then published ‘Learning Without School”, which is respected by anyone who is interested in education. Keep inspiring us please.
rossmountney said,
August 5, 2011 at 8:49 am
Thanks so much, Michelle, for taking the time to comment. It’s so nice to know that people get something from my writing. That’s what inspires me in return! Thank you!
Sarah Anderson said,
August 23, 2011 at 9:33 am
I am so glad I have found your blog. I live in Scotland and just sent my oldest daughter off to her second year at school and my middle child off to her last year at nursery before she goes to school next August. I have just had 8 weeks of having them in the house, we continued to do the odd bit of school work during this time. I spent the last few days in tears knowing they were going back to school where someone else gets that time with them. To a school that isnot pushing my oldest enough and not giving the learning support my middle daughter needs. I myself want to be a teacher (this is my long term plan) and spent some time volunteering in a school. it was heartbreaking seeing some of the teaching methods used. My husband will not even discuss the idea of home educating and told me to “get a grip”. It has been great to read through your blogs (I will work my way through them all) and no that my view on parenting and education is shared by others. Right now i feel very alone as I know without the support of my husband this will never happen.
I am hoping just reading through your blogs gives me strenght. Many thanks, Sarah.
rossmountney said,
August 23, 2011 at 6:53 pm
HI Sarah, Thanks so much for the compliments! And I wanted to tell you that I too felt like it was only me having these radical views about what goes on in school until I found the home educating community and there were all these others who thought the same. Actually, many parents with kids in school feel the same too, it’s often that they’re just too scared to challenge such a big institutional machine or consider another approach. Many, many children are not having their needs met by schools which is why home schooling is growing daily. Far from needing to ‘get a grip’ you are absolutely right to stick up for your daughter’s unmet needs. She deserves it! Very best of luck. And if you do get to the point where home schooling is a real option you may find my book helpful – but actually, people tell me that it’s also helpful even if you have kids in school! But they might just be trying to be nice! Thanks for posting.
Sadie said,
December 6, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Just clicked on this by chance. I too remember the Diary of a Home Educating Nobody and enjoyed reading it very much.
rossmountney said,
December 6, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Thanks so much Sadie, it’s nice to hear from you! x
Mark Boyle said,
January 2, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Hi Ross
Thanks for such a great website. I’ve a proposal for you – is there an email I can get you on? My email is mark@justfortheloveofit.org
I’d love to hear from you.
Mark
Elle said,
January 27, 2012 at 8:10 am
I dont know if you heard on the radio this morning but, on twitter, they’re requesting questions to ask Mr. Gove. The closing time is 11am and the hashtag is #askgove Just thought it might have been of interest!
rossmountney said,
January 27, 2012 at 8:53 am
Thanks so much for that Elle. Best wishes. x
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