<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[OrchardTraining.org]]></title><description><![CDATA[Learning Through Work and Caring]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:24:48 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.orchardtraining.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[How Much Teaching Do Parents Really Have to Do?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Two of the questions parents ask me most often when they are thinking about homeschooling is: “But how am I going to teach them everything?” and How much teaching do we parents really have to do? The answer is — you probably aren’t. Homeschooling does not mean recreating a classroom at the kitchen table, with a parent standing at the front explaining every lesson. Nor does it mean handing a child a pile of worksheets on Monday morning and hoping for the best. There is a much more comfortable...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/how-much-teaching-do-parents-really-have-to-do</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a856e5a79ed801404970157</guid><category><![CDATA[Health Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Homeschooling Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Homeschooling Adventures]]></category><category><![CDATA[Homeschooling Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alternative Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Personalized Learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alternative Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting & Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Educational Reform]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parents' Page]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:00:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_755a7fc595644ac48b4cdbd201cfabc7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Healthy August]]></title><description><![CDATA[Summer Fun with Games! This is the fourth week of our healthy August games, and that means long days full of sunshine and play! Over the...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/healthy-august-7</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68cab085b71c8fd10d8f2c48</guid><category><![CDATA[Health Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Healthy August]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 06:17:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_091e2b0777a74cd19286e8376c0056c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[We Are Getting Ready for September!]]></title><description><![CDATA[September is suddenly not very far away, and things are getting busy behind the scenes at Orchard Homeschooling. How are we getting ready for September? We are welcoming new families, getting our existing families ready for the new year and putting together the first weekly learning packs ready for Week 1 on 1 September. There has also been a lot of work going on with the curriculum over the summer. We have been looking carefully at what our children will be learning this year — but also at...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/we-are-getting-ready-for-september</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a7ab7ebbb2b410376bb3d3b</guid><category><![CDATA[Homeschooling Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Homeschooling Adventures]]></category><category><![CDATA[Homeschooling Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alternative Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Personalized Learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alternative Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting & Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parents' Page]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rethinking Home Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rethinking School]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:57:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0c18e850e6e449c5a81de48680742097.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Healthy August]]></title><description><![CDATA[Summer Fun with Games! It is the third week of the summer, and we have already learnt two games; Fruit Salad and Duck, Duck, Goose.  Over...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/healthy-august-6</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68caaea06f747d1d02a60781</guid><category><![CDATA[Healthy August]]></category><category><![CDATA[Health Education]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 06:56:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_091e2b0777a74cd19286e8376c0056c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can I Homeschool My Child Even If I'm Not a Teacher?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is probably the question I am asked more than any other. "I'm not a teacher. Can I really homeschool my child?" My answer is always the same. Yes! In fact, most of the parents at Orchard are not teachers. You don't need to know everything.  You don't need to stand at the front of a classroom. You don't need to recreate school at home. What you do need is a willingness to learn alongside your child. You already have the most important qualification to homeschool your child  Nobody knows...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/can-i-homeschool-my-child-even-if-i-m-not-a-teacher</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a74a87c2dc76a37da3b0afe</guid><category><![CDATA[Homeschooling Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Homeschooling Adventures]]></category><category><![CDATA[Homeschooling Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alternative Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Personalized Learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alternative Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting & Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Educational Reform]]></category><category><![CDATA[Learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rethinking Home Education]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:46:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_71acc5e1ee62470a9df0f5c8eef8850d~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Healthy August]]></title><description><![CDATA[Summer Fun with Games! It is our second week of Healthy August, over the holidays, we’ve got five exciting games to share that will get...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/healthy-august-5</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68caac6f5eaf42e09b5dd3af</guid><category><![CDATA[Health Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Healthy August]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:02:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_091e2b0777a74cd19286e8376c0056c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Healthy August]]></title><description><![CDATA[Summer Fun with Games! Summer is here again, and that means long days full of sunshine and play! Over the holidays, we’ve got five...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/healthy-august-4</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68caab105eaf42e09b5dcfcb</guid><category><![CDATA[Health Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Healthy August]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 06:09:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_091e2b0777a74cd19286e8376c0056c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Weekly Maths Problem]]></title><description><![CDATA[Don’t forget to write out the Weekly Maths Problem at the top of your page, date the work and show all your workings out (even the wrong...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/weekly-maths-problem-261</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b438e2dd92d259f1d29cb5</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 06:29:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/349757f6ec5e450f88f625641e5055b1.jpg/v1/fit/w_500,h_333,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Word of the Week]]></title><description><![CDATA[Official Meaning – relating to an authority or public body and its duties. Example of using it in a sentence: “The official report will...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/word-of-the-week-2159</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b42858dd92d259f1d27537</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 06:18:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69a3b50b52364760a3f976de92a803d1.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mischievous Moral Mayhem]]></title><description><![CDATA[This week's Mischievous Moral Mayhem is:  You are on a video call with friends, and one starts saying mean things about someone else who...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/mischievous-moral-mayhem-291</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b3f815dd92d259f1d20066</guid><pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 06:22:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18262bedf095e0350f4029d1d1053a72.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Weekly Maths Problem]]></title><description><![CDATA[Don’t forget to write out the Weekly Maths Problem at the top of your page, date the work and show all your workings out (even the wrong...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/weekly-maths-problem-260</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b4388afc7bbf1758969c2a</guid><pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 06:27:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/349757f6ec5e450f88f625641e5055b1.jpg/v1/fit/w_500,h_333,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Word of the Week]]></title><description><![CDATA[Occurrence Meaning – an incident or event. Example of using it in a sentence: “Snow in April is a rare occurrence.” Spelling Tips: occur...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/word-of-the-week-2158</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b4280bfc7bbf1758967455</guid><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:32:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69a3b50b52364760a3f976de92a803d1.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mischievous Moral Mayhem]]></title><description><![CDATA[This week's Mischievous Moral Mayhem is:  You are at a family gathering and an adult keeps asking you awkward personal questions. How do...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/mischievous-moral-mayhem-290</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b3f7cdfc7bbf175895ffe9</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:21:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18262bedf095e0350f4029d1d1053a72.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Weekly Maths Problem]]></title><description><![CDATA[Don’t forget to write out the Weekly Maths Problem at the top of your page, date the work and show all your workings out (even the wrong...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/weekly-maths-problem-259</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b43840fc7bbf1758969b58</guid><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 06:41:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/349757f6ec5e450f88f625641e5055b1.jpg/v1/fit/w_500,h_333,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Word of the Week]]></title><description><![CDATA[Occur / Occurred Meaning – to happen or take place. Example of using it in a sentence: “An idea suddenly occurred to her.” Spelling Tips:...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/word-of-the-week-2157</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b427c2bedb61f15987cfc8</guid><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:31:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69a3b50b52364760a3f976de92a803d1.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mischievous Moral Mayhem]]></title><description><![CDATA[This week's Mischievous Moral Mayhem is:  Your homeschool teacher mistakenly blames you for something another Study Buddy did. Do you...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/mischievous-moral-mayhem-289</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b3f772fc7bbf175895ff30</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 06:20:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18262bedf095e0350f4029d1d1053a72.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Weekly Maths Problem]]></title><description><![CDATA[Don’t forget to write out the Weekly Maths Problem at the top of your page, date the work and show all your workings out (even the wrong...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/weekly-maths-problem-258</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b437fcfc7bbf1758969aa9</guid><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 06:25:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/349757f6ec5e450f88f625641e5055b1.jpg/v1/fit/w_500,h_333,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Word of the Week]]></title><description><![CDATA[Occupy Meaning – to fill or take up space or time. Example of using it in a sentence: “The children occupy the living room every...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/word-of-the-week-2156</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b42775bedb61f15987cf1a</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 06:29:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69a3b50b52364760a3f976de92a803d1.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[End of Term Plan – The Final Three Weeks]]></title><description><![CDATA[Well done, everyone, for looking after yourselves last week! We had the perfect storm of very high temperatures, high humidity and exceptionally high pollen counts. For many families, this meant poor sleep, reduced concentration and increased frustration, making learning much more difficult than usual. Now that the worst of last week's disruption has settled down, we have the final three weeks left until the end of term. During this time, we need to: Finish any work that was missed last week....]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/end-of-term-plan-the-final-three-weeks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4217903c06bdad54259d62</guid><category><![CDATA[Homeschooling Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Homeschooling Adventures]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alternative Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Personalized Learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alternative Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rethinking Home Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting & Education]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:10:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_3653aca691154d2b818d016405233fe0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mischievous Moral Mayhem]]></title><description><![CDATA[This week's Mischievous Moral Mayhem is:  Someone in your class always beats you in sports or games, and it frustrates you. Do you...]]></description><link>https://www.orchardtraining.org/single-post/mischievous-moral-mayhem-288</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b3f730dd92d259f1d1fe87</guid><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 06:33:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18262bedf095e0350f4029d1d1053a72.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Nicola Walsh</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>