Homeschooling Update

Someone asked me the other day how we were getting on homeschooling since the baby arrived, so I thought I’d post a little update here too.

homeschooling

Obviously having a baby throws all your well ordered routines right out of the window, they take up a lot of your time and leave you exhausted. With three other kiddos there isn’t really any other option than to just get on with it. The joy of homeschooling is that there is no set right way to do it. We don’t do ‘school at home’ nor are we entirely unschooling. Our eldest daughter benefits from having a little more structure, whereas the middle one can easily be left to ‘get on with it’ and will come up with all sorts of projects. But that is what is so great, that you can really tailor what you do to each child.

We did have a couple of less productive months when he was first born. There may have been a few more TV hours than I would have liked, but we had a baby and it was cold and wet, so hey! THe past couple of months we’ve found our way again, gotten back into some kind of ‘routine’ once more.

Usually, mornings are ‘work time’. Lola follows an online programme for Maths, English, History and Science. It gives her the structure she needs in a morning without me needing to sit with her. Kiki also uses the same site for some reading, language arts and maths games. While it’s a Christian curriculum, and we are not religious, we just skip the religious side. The girls have used it on and off for a few years and it works pretty well for us. It gives us a good basis to build from.

Baya has been working through Reading Eggs and Mathseeds for the past year or so and really enjoys it, it’s a great programme for little ones learning to read and building their maths skills. While I’m always nearby, she can pretty much get on with it herself.

Kiki and Baya also do some extra Maths in these workbooks. They don’t do it everyday, but they’re a great {free} rescource, and while they do lots online, I like them to practice some written maths too.

We’re working on a round the world project together, looking at different countries, their history, religions, geography, food, etc of each one. It’s a great way of encompassing lots of different subjects in one project.

Lola usually spends her afternoons working on projects. She’s currently working through a course on FutureLearn, as well as starting a computer programming course on the khan academy.

We try and fit in at least one art session each week. WHile the girls do lots of arts and crafts, I try and ahve us all sit down for one specific project together. We’re working our way through these art books, they’re full of really great projects that work for all ages. Often, I’ll send the girls off to research the artists before we start, see what they can find out about them and look at other examples of their work online

Obviously, we learn a lot informally. There are always projects on the go, experiments and creations being made and so much learnt through our daily life. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask away!

7 Comments

  1. Slummy single mummy

    June 1, 2015 at 15:40

    I love the idea with home schooling that you can do a project that includes everything – maths, writing, science, geography – school, especially at secondary level, feels like everything is put in boxes.

  2. Molly

    June 1, 2015 at 19:10

    I have so much admiration for you doing this with a baby as well – and working too! I count a day productive if I’ve managed to get a load of laundry done, let alone home educate three kids and look after a baby! x

  3. Lori

    June 1, 2015 at 22:44

    I think you’re doing a fab job especially as little vega has arrived. I always find it really interesting seeing how home-schooling works for families. x

  4. Adele @ Circus Queen

    June 1, 2015 at 23:59

    This is so inspiring to me as someone embarking on this journey! I’m in awe of how it’s all going with four but it looks like you’re very sensibly going with the flow as and when you need to. Wonderful that each child gets what they need. Thanks for sharing.

  5. Kathryn

    June 2, 2015 at 13:55

    Sounds like you’re all doing great with the home-schooling thing and reading posts like this give me the confidence that if I ever needed/wanted to do the same with my kids, I’d be able to do it I think xx

  6. Natalie @ Little Jam Pot Life Blog

    June 2, 2015 at 13:56

    I loved reading this. You give me hope that its realistic. I’m not around ay home schooling people so they all think its a bit alien. I love reading things like this where someone else has the same hopes. I think we will give the flexi-schooling a try as YM does still love part time play at preschool. xx

  7. Lottie :: Oyster & Pearl

    June 9, 2015 at 23:40

    My two are obsessed with Reading Eggs. It’s so great isn’t it?

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