Home Schooling, like Parenting, offers a range of styles to approach how you do it; depending on what you prefer and what your child responds to is the most important thing.
(I will be covering the different styles and approaches in
another post soon)
In theory, with all going to plan, our Home School day looks
like this:
We use this time to read schooled level books; I personally
enjoyed as a teacher the Chip, Kipper and Floppy books within the Oxford
reading School scheme as they offer guided words as well as age appropriate
levels.
Using my previous knowledge of curriculum resources as a
teacher we use the Collins Literacy Scheme; this provides a breakdown of lesson
plans, important learning objectives as well as writing resources. As the photo shows we have also produced a word wall as well as a handwriting display.
Again, as with Literacy, my previous teaching knowledge
became useful; we follow the Abacus Numeracy scheme. The scheme follows topics
that progress through terms and through ability and are often full with
colourful, easy to follow activities. We've also produced a multiplication table on the wall as well as number charts and progress sheets.
10:30 – 11:00 Break and Snack
I know that we have only been going for an hour here but I think
a break is completely necessary. When I worked in classes you usually did an
introduction to the topic/lesson and from that present the activity and work
your way around the class. On a one to one level you need less time to do this
but something that I realised early on was how intense one to one activities
were.
11:00 – 11:30 Music
On a Monday we spend realistically 20 minutes learning the
recorder. It is a fairly basic instrument but at the same time allows easy
access to learning how to read music. On a Tuesday we spend time learning the
Piano. As a piano teacher this is far the easiest subject for me to teach but
there are also some great sites that provide free resources.
By this point we usually go pick James up from Nursery
although we only have a couple of months left there until he joins us in our
home school day.
12:30 – 13:00 Lunch
If you have followed some of my previous Home School post
you will remember there being a post about planning and organising topics. (If
not please click here*) We usually spend at least one of our afternoons
following the topic; the topics vary from animals, castles, recycling and eating healthy,as well as
We usually spend a little while to print photos off, stick
them into books and write captions etc in the late afternoon.
We also find free reading before bed is a way to engage in reading something that isn't a schooled book.
I hope this has shed some light for some of you on what our
average day Home Schooling is like.
I know that this shows very little time for social
interaction which I know is something a lot of people have worries or questions
over. As mentioned above I have a post coming out about the different styles of
Home Schooling, I will also post soon about social interaction so pop back
soon.
12 comments:
I found this really interesting. People talk about their home schooling but never share how they do it, and it's always fascinated me.
Ooh this looks like a very good school :). Very interesting to see, thank you!
That was so interesting to read....It must help greatly that you were a teacher :)
Thanks. I know, the problem us it's a bit like Parenting that there are different styles to it. I've got a few posts coming out this next week about it. One particular about the different styles that are chosen.
Thanks for commenting. It's great and we do have fun. It's not always as straight forward as this but on the whole that is how or works.
Thanks Kim. Strangely it helps knowing resources and sources from and how to tackle things in some ways but in others it's terrible that I'm a teacher with it. Teaching was quite restrictive and from that home school can be slightly 'loose' in comparison which is very strange structure wise. That being said William is doing brilliantly in it so it's working on the whole.
This is really interesting. I'm unsure as to whether home schooling would be right for us but it is certainly something we may consider so it's always useful to learn more about it. I will be looking out with interest for the social interaction post too, that's what my hubby worries about.
Thanks Natalie. The social one is scheduled for the 14th so will let you know when it's out. It really is a personal choice and what would suit the family as a whole. It wasn't something I was initially comfortable with although I knew it was best for William yet living it has been fantastic. That being said I know families by this point who have returned their little ones back to school. It's such a personal choice. I'd hope at least to present it in a good yet honest way with the highs and lows as there are many. If you ever have any questions just ask....am looking to build my posts up regarding viewers questions.
i’m not sure I could home-school due to work commitments but I do so love reading about your journey. Goodness only knows having the kids around all the time is hard work and so choosing to home school (even though I know you’re a teacher) shows just how dedicated a father you are. Does that make sense?! :-)
Thank you Amy. Home school is such a personal choice and many can't do it for work commitments. In some ways we are very lucky that both the boys mum and I both work part time and are stay at home parents. The balance works well. Having them home all day is tough! Not going to lie. The fact it's so intense makes some days really tough. Being a teacher just meant I knew where to look for tips and resources.
And yes that makes perfect sense. :)
I just hope these types of posts allow others to clearly see what home school is like. As for some it's a strange little world. So it make me happy that you're at least enjoying our journey.
there's as many ways to home school as there are families doing it - I always love to see what other families are up to, thanks for sharing :)
Thanks for commenting Marianne. I completely agree there are so many different ways. I'm going to post soon about the different styles that are common but ultimately home school is very much like Parenting. No real right or wrong as everyone is different. But it's definitely a little in site in to our routine :)
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