I’m very new to homeschooling.
Prior to this year, we’ve never done formal homeschooling. But now that he’s 4, we decided to formalise it (on a certain level) by following a regular homeschool routine and teaching specific subjects and lessons. (Note: We’re homeschooling independently.)
And even though we are so new to this, I’ve already gotten several questions asking me how we do it. First of all, I try not to pressure myself and Yuri. If I’m feeling tired from work or household chores, I call it a day and we just play instead. If I sense that Yuri’s not in the mood for pencil work, I let him paint or draw or whatever he likes.
I don’t shy away from technology either. We use 2, no 3 free websites to supplement our lessons (I’ll write about them too for everyone who’s interested).
Now, here’s our specific routine from sun up to sun down:
Morning
1. I wake up at 5 am and do devotional and work out (naks). I think this is necessary to include because praying and exercising prepares me for the ahead spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally!
2. Since I work for an Australian company (their time is 2 hours ahead of us), my work day often begins in between 5:30 to 6 am.
3. Yuri wakes up at around 7:30 am. We have breakfast at 8.
4. I go back to work at 8:30. Now, here’s a common question I’ve been asked. What does Yuri do the entire time that I’m working? Here are some pictures showing his daytime activities.
And full out mummy confession: I also let him watch TV or YouTube videos too. Sue me. 😛
(Mad props to mums who don’t let their kids watch TV or use gadgets but I just can’t do it! My job entails using technology all the time so I have no choice – my son is exposed to it whether I like it or not.)
(But on Tuesday mornings…)
- Our routine remains the same from Mondays to Saturdays except Tuesdays. On Tuesdays, Yuri goes to Eye Level to take English classes. We’re out of the house by 9:30 am and are back by lunchtime.
Is it just me or do all of the little “members” of the Tuesday morning crew look alike?
Afternoon
5. I work until around 3 or 3:30 pm, depending on how early I started or how long my lunch break was lol.
6. When I’m done with work, I take a 30 minute break to rest and prepare our homeschool area. (Which is basically just our home office still, but I put away my laptop and take out his books or whatever it is that we need to use.)
7. We begin our homeschool session at around 4 pm. Most of our sessions last for an hour, sometimes more.
8. Then we prepare for dinner.
Bedtime
9. Our “Christian Living” subject is taught at bedtime in our bedroom. We either read Yuri’s Bible Stories or this book, First Virtues for Toddlers. This is Yuri’s current favourite book. He just loves the cute animal characters!
10. Then we sleep! Actually, Yuri sleeps while I do my skin care ka-echosan, update my planner, and catch up on the latest episode of Doctors or W. Who else watches K-dramas here? Haha!
This wasn’t staged! He really fell asleep hugging his beloved Thermos Funtainer hahaha
And that is how we homeschool preschool. What is your routine?
21 Comments
Congrats on your homeschooling journey! I don’t have that much patience for homeschooling so we enrolled my daughter in school. Thumbs up! 🙂
When my son was still in preschool, I printed worksheets so we can do something at home. More on play kasi sila sa school and every Friday lang homework. But it is really nice to have a routine. 🙂
Haha! Sue me too! I don’t have a helper too so there are really times I rely on the TV to keep my toddler entertained. How anyone get anything done without it’s help is beyond me! : ) Congrats on the schedule! Having a routine is always good! : )
I do most of the things you’ve listed to my 2 yr. old who still doesn’t go to school. I also let him watch selected videos from Youtube. Educational ones. As much as possible, I filter what they watch. Moms are smarter/wiser than their kids to be controlled by them. Anyway, I think it’s okay to let kids watch as long as they’re educational and still controlled. If I tell my kid it’s time’s up, he closes the laptop.
Your kiddo is so well-behaved! It’s not easy finding ways to keep the little ones occupied while we work, ha. Kudos to you!
Good job for having and sticking to a schedule. Your time management skills are great, unlike mine hahaha. I watch those Kdramas too! 🙂
Oh, I wish I can have a routine like yours! Because I work at night, di jud nako sya mabasahan ug books magabii. Ka cute pud ni Yuri matulog! haha.
I’ve always wondered how homeschooling works, now I have an idea 🙂 I like how you have a routine, I tried making a schedule during the summer vacation and it was a bust haha.
My mornings are usually for chores and work too. During that time, I also just let Ziggy either play, draw or watch YouTube videos. 🙂 Our more formal homeschool session normally lasts for an hour too, usually at 2 – 3 pm. I try to maintain that schedule even though Ziggy is now taking enrichment classes twice a week at the Learning Library.
I’m a homeschooling mom, too! 🙂 Your post reminds me of this kind of post that I have yet to write on my blog. I hope to remember to link back here once I have done my own version. 😉 Most of the structured activities I do with my 4-year-old son is also in the morning. With my eldest, sometimes, we continue what we have not finished in the morning after lunch.
Before, I really dont have any idea how homeschooling works, but thanks to all the homeschooling mommies in the blogger world, I know now a thing or two! 🙂
Hi Maan,
Great post! Btw I’m in this other group and they’re looking for school routines, and would you mind if I shared this post of yours? 🙂
My pleasure, Jackie!
I’ll be doing independent homeschooling for my son too! 🙂 I love those wooden shapes. I’m planning to start once he shows interest in learning already. Our plan is to do pre-school independently and then get a provider from 1st to 3rd grade. Then we’ll decide from there if I’ll continue with the classes. And we’ll enroll him for an extra class (sports, activity or a subject he needs to focus on) for socialization na rin.
That’s our plan too! However, it remains to be flexible. If he wants to “try” regular school, then maybe we’ll decide! But so far he’s looking forward to our homeschool session *whew*
The win is your schedule! I do not have a homeschooling routine, my youngest daughter is already 7 years old and in Grade 2, and when homeschooling become popular I was sleeping and doesn’t have the chance to join the bandwagon but would have love to tried it before though.
Looks like you’re off to a good start. I thought you ditched the homeschooling idea already when you signed Yuri up for preschool. 🙂 Glad to know you’re on it and you’re doing a great job.
Ang sipag ng baby mo ha. That’s a good sign that he’ll be thriving in school, homeschool or big school 🙂
Thank you!!!
Wow… your day is packed! Happy to know that there are stay at home wives and moms like me who find ways to earn extra income. Good job, mommy! 🙂
Wow, you’re such a busy mom. I love that you can juggle both homeschooling and working at home. Are you working full or part time? I’m curious. You make domesticity look so easy and charming. 🙂 Thanks for inspiring!