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Originally written in September 2014 as 'Home Schooling Part 2' — updated with clarity and reflection in 2026.
We are now into week two of home schooling William, so it feels like the right time to share how things are going.
Literacy is still his strongest subject. He sounds out words confidently when reading and writing. I have split literacy into clear parts. Each week we learn ten high‑frequency words. We begin by reading them, using online resources, then choose three words a day to practise handwriting, and by the end of the week we attempt to spell them independently. It is going well, even though he still relies on phonics, which is completely normal for his age. We have adapted more to which resources are best, based on my teaching experience. We also choose a book from the Oxford Reading Tree levels, while also exploring online reading resources. William reads well, although he sometimes guesses words from the pictures. His literacy plan follows the Collins teaching framework, which gives us structure without limiting flexibility.
Religious Education is progressing nicely. He asks thoughtful questions and can recall and sequence events with confidence.
Our two‑week topic on Healthy Living started brilliantly. We exercised together and talked about why movement matters. He discussed balanced diets with his mum and explored different foods. We made a healthy sandwich at a local sandwich shop, using his picture chart and Venn diagram to choose ingredients. He loved the whole process. This week we are making a healthy smoothie as a follow‑up.
We have started History of Now and Then by comparing everyday items and how they have changed. In Geography we are exploring the local area. We walked around Rainham, took photos of different house types, and labelled them afterwards, which linked well with literacy. We also visited the shopping precinct to identify local shops and talk about community.
These subjects have been a joy to teach. Following the Year 1 curriculum gives us a clear path, although the one‑to‑one discussions and hands‑on learning make the biggest difference. In a classroom, time limits often prevent this level of exploration, so we follow a different routine. At home, William gets first‑hand experiences that deepen his understanding.
Numeracy is still our challenge. Engaging him in maths outside of games and creative activities is difficult. The benefit of home schooling is that I can adapt the plans to suit him. We are keeping written numeracy gentle and low‑pressure while building confidence through practical activities. I'll be looking to add ICT into these areas, exploring both topics through online games.
That is where we are for now. Week two has shown me that home schooling is not only about teaching William, especially since week 1. It is also about learning how to teach in a way that works for him. If you have ideas or activities that have helped your children, I would love to hear them.
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[Image 2. William is sat at a small white desk, concentrating on the work he's doing. He's wearing a red, white, yellow, and blue knitted jumper] |
2026 Reflection
This post sits at the point where home schooling stopped feeling like an experiment and started becoming a rhythm. I can see now how these early weeks shaped everything that followed. William’s learning style guided the way I taught, and eventually the way I wrote. James joined us soon after, and our lessons grew into science experiments, cooking themes, history projects, and creative adventures that became part of the blog’s identity. Reading this again, I can see how much I was still finding my feet as a single parent and teacher. If you want to see where this journey began or where it went, you can read our home schooling story here, which became the foundation for so many posts that followed.
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