Multiformity: Recent Episodes
Makeba Garraway
An interview-based podcast exploring the whats, whys and how-tos of home education in the UK, to challenge, motivate and inspire. For veterans and new home educators alike, the Multiformity podcast celebrates diversity and inclusion, and shines a spotlight on parents raising children of colour and/or children with learning differences or additional needs.
Listen in as host Makeba Garraway talks with home educator and creative Shikira Alleyne, about:
- Her journey from teacher to home educator, and the reasons behind that transition
- Helping her son rebuild his self-confidence and manage big emotions more skilfully once he was out of school
- The evolution of their home education journey moved from very structured to more child-led
- The nuts and bolts of how she transitioned from full time work to launching a business while being on maternity leave and home educating
- How she uses art and creativity as tools to promote and improve wellbeing and mental health, in herself and others.
- Embracing and learning from the messy and imperfect nature of home education to combat her perfectionist tendencies.
Sexual Health doctor and sex educator Els Draeger talks with host Makeba Garraway about talking to our children about sex and relationships in a confident and empowering way.
Host Makeba Garraway talks with her mother Kate and mother-in-law Phyllis about their educational histories, their experiences of educating their own children, and how they feel about their grandchildren being educated outside of school.
Listen in as they talk about:
The impact of the 11+ exam on their respective secondary school careers Migrating from Jamaica to England in the 1950s Supporting adopted children through the school system Their reaction to our decision to home educate, and how it has changed over time How having an autistic grandson has broadened their understanding of autism
Host Makeba Garraway talks with holistic life coach and mama Nehanda Truscott-Reid about her ongoing internal dialogue regarding home education, and doing what feels right for her family.
Sarah & Hansel talk about their experiences of being home educated in New Zealand (on a boat and on a farm respectively), and how their experiences have influenced their adult lives and careers.
Mary Pfeiffer is the founder and Managing Director of the Shooters Hill School of Arts, a non-profit company that offers Arts and Technology programmes to the community in South East London, which is well attended by home educators from across London and Kent. She home educated both of her children, the older of whom has now transitioned back into school for his secondary education.
The long summer school holidays mean different things to schoolers and home educators. In this short bonus episode host Makeba Garraway responds to feedback from @multiformityhe instagram/facebook followers on this topic.
Makeba Garraway talks to poet, journalist and curator Be Manzini, and her son - MC and poet Eklipse, who was home educated intermittently during his teenage years. Listen to Be and Eklipse talk about: - Growing up performing in the London Poetry circuit - Home education in a "pre-facebook" era - Developing a tight mother-son bond through home education - Living and studying with dyslexia and dyspraxia at home vs at school. - Developing the skills of self-motivation and independent thought while being home educated. - Home educating as a single parent
Mpho McKenzie talks about her family's journey to home education, covering topics including: - elitism, class and race as barriers to accessing alternative education - fitting home education around a creative lifestyle - deschooling - "finding teachable moments" in everyday life
Childminder and mum Sinéad Graham talks about the challenges she faced as a Year 1 teacher, which contributed to her decision to leave the profession early. Sinéad and her husband are not planning to home educate, but she has several questions about home education which you can eavesdrop during this episode! We cover topics including: finding the right time to expose your children to the harsh realities of racism, differences between the teacher vs home educator mindset, and mainstream vs special schools for children with additional needs.
Host Makeba Garraway talks to artist and mother-of-two Ayesha Weekes about her family's journey to home education, changing the direction of her career, getting to know her children better and the constant struggle against projecting our own needs onto our children. Also exploring issues around socialisation and the joys and challenges of home educating an autistic child.