Let’s Talk Homeschooling

Hi everyone, as a homeschooling mum I often get asked the same questions, so I just thought I’d share some answers with you today in case you are interested!

I started homeschooling my younger two children at the beginning of 2022. I never imagined I would enjoying doing such a thing! The thought never crossed my mind until it did. Once that happened it wouldn’t go away. It kept rolling around in my head until I finally made a decision to find out more about it. At that stage I still believed that it was for all the ‘weird’ people. The ‘different’ ones who dressed a certain way and ate certain foods. So my preconceived ideas kept me ignorant as to what homeschool was really all about until I chatted to someone I knew who had been on that journey for years.

After our meeting I remember walking through my front door and feeling a blanket of peace come over me. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that homeschooling was the path I was to follow. I knew that it was for my family. I presented the idea to my three children. My eldest decided to stay in high school to complete year eleven, and my younger two jumped on board straight away.

Has it been easy? The simple answer is no, but is anything worthwhile ever easy? There are always challenges along the way with everything in life, including publishing a book would you believe, however when you work through challenges you come out stronger and the rewards are amazing. We have the odd off moments and days just like those in school do, but we also experience a tremendous amount of satisfaction in what we learn and produce.

What does our typical homeschool day look like? My girls usually like to go for a walk or ride their bikes with the dogs after breakfast before starting learning at 8:30. We have a devotion then move onto english. Then I spend one on one time with my youngest child working our way through her online maths program at the same time her older sister completes science independently. After a relaxed morning tea my youngest works independently on science, geography or art while I assist my oldest with her maths for the day. When I say independently I am still fully available to give assistance when needed. We also fit in typing and creative writing on different days. We are usually finished by 12:30-1pm. After lunch the girls spend time on their interests (painting, cooking, hot gluing projects, making movies, writing letters, reading). That is a typical day, but we have lots of other really fun days where we are out and about visiting museums or attending local activities.

What about socialisation? This has to be the biggest ‘concern’ of everyone who freaks out when you say you are going to homeschool! It’s ok, we don’t live under a rock and never leave the house! My girls have their interests (netball, horse-riding lessons, the local music and arts club) which enables them to mix with others. They also go to a weekly youth group and church as well as catching up with good friends who live down the road. We attend a local homeschool group and regularly visit friends. So my children are not missing out. They do miss out on the peer pressure to conform to this crazy culture we live in, but that is a benefit as they get to live their lives as happy children, growing up in their own time and being concerned with what children should be concerned about.

What about tests? Well tests aren’t the be all and end all. If the curriculum we use requires tests, we do them. If not, there are other ways to assess what has been learnt. I recently read a post from someone who’s child took their last test at the end of primary school, was homeschooled and didn’t do any tests, then started a university degree. You can achieve your goals without tests!

Do you have to hand your work in to someone? Once a year my homeschool supervisor reviews our work and let’s us know if we are on the right track. I have a private Instagram page where I post pictures and videos of everything we do. Our maths is graded online, and all of our other curriculum comes with answers so I can correct what needs correcting straight away (which helps cement concepts my girls are trying to learn). So while I don’t submit work, I am accountable and so far my girls are exceeding expectations and are further along in studies than they would be attending school.

I am happy to answer any questions you may have about homeschooling, just send me an email.

Have a great day!