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We’re now entering our sixth week of home schooling, and although things are still going well, change has begun to creep in.
It’s difficult to decide whether that change is good or bad, but what I do know is that it’s still change.
Lesson progression remains steady. Each sub‑topic in literacy has engaged William, and he’s showing an ability to retain and build on what he’s learning, even if not always consistently. He’s clearly engaged in our discussions and ideas, showing that he understands the topic. When it comes to written work, he’ll demonstrate that understanding once or twice before announcing that he’s “tired.”
A few things have become clear:
1. I’m used to hearing “I’m tired” from classroom teaching. It usually means the child feels they’ve proved their point and are now bored.
2. The beauty of home schooling is that we can adapt the work to make it more engaging.
3. I keep reminding myself that if William shows understanding — mentally and in writing — that’s what matters most, not the quantity of work.
Numeracy has followed a similar pattern, but I’ve managed to keep him interested by weaving ICT into both subjects to re‑engage his focus.
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| [Image 2. William, wearing a blue hoody, is sat at a table and using a laptop to play some math games] |
His topic work has progressed rapidly. Interestingly, he’s producing a far higher level of quality and quantity than I expected.
As some of you know from earlier posts, I’ve found it difficult to socialise and connect with other home‑educating families. Eventually, I decided to stop chasing integration and simply focus on what we could do ourselves — and that decision has worked well.
Last week, William attended a Sit and Read session at our local library, followed by a Lego club also run by the library. I found this ideal. The library managed to engage children through reading and then draw them in with a friendly, creative activity.
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| [Image 3. William wearing a blue and white patterned jumper, looks through a yellow train box inside a the librar. He is searching for a book to choose] |
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| [Image 4. William is sat on a yellow and red chair in the library reading a book] |
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| [Image 5. William is sat with other children his age. Lego is across the table as they all build creations from their imagination] |
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| [Image 6. William is sat on a blue chair, wearing a blue and white knitted jumper. He is sat next to a boy in a red jumper. Lego is spread across the table as they both build something creative] |
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| [Image 7. William, in a blue and white knitted jumper. He is standing next to a table. On the table is his three Lego models. All flying type vehicles] |
He loved it. He socialised with other children his age — and, for once, with a few boys too. He enjoyed it so much that we’re going back this week.
I’ve also organised a trip. It isn’t linked to a specific topic, but I still see it as an educational opportunity. We’ve been invited to visit the PDSA to explore and understand what they do, and that’s booked for the 21st of this month.
The change I mentioned above has happened naturally, shaped by William’s wish for more engaging lessons. It’s also come from me learning to stop being so single‑minded about how things should be done. That shift has had a positive impact on our schooling plans. Whether it continues to work — only time will tell.
2026 Reflection
This post captures a quiet turning point — the moment when home schooling stopped being an experiment and started becoming a rhythm. I can see now how those small changes were actually signs of growth. William was learning to take ownership of his education, and I was learning to trust that process.
The library sessions and Lego club were more than just activities; they were the beginnings of community locally, giving me more confidence in the blogging community later. They showed me that learning doesn’t have to happen in isolation, even when the wider home‑ed world felt closed off. Those afternoons built confidence — his and mine — and reminded me that connection often starts in the simplest places.
The PDSA trip stands out now as a symbol of curiosity. It wasn’t planned to fit a topic, but it fit us. It taught me that education isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s about following interest and letting discovery lead the way.
Looking back, this week was where I stopped trying to prove that home schooling could work and started realising that it already was.
Or, you can check out our future home education story here.
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