In this post, I am sharing how I homeschool without a curriculum, a picture-perfect classroom, or a strict schedule. Take a look inside my simple, flexible yet engaging setup.
So one thing about me, I like my life (and the things in my life) to be as straight forward and simple as possible. That is no different when it comes to homeschooling. I need to be able to manage my own systems.
Thus, I do not follow a curriculum.
That's not to say I will never get a curriculum though. As they say, never say never…because you just might.
However, it is to say that based on my current lifestyle (and my daughter's current age), I keep a very relaxed system. No schedule and no criteria. Just curiosity and a love for learning.
Since I am relaxed in my approach…
Our Space is Relaxed too.
I keep all of our learning resources in bags. Those bags are at a level where my daughter can reach the material herself. ( This because I want her to access these things on her own, even without my guidance.)
The fact that everything is in a bag makes it portable. Anytime we want to get some “work” done we either sit at the kitchen table, sit on the floor or even take our learning sessions to go…..to the yard, a library, or on the road.
What's in the Bag?
I get my learning resources from everywhere. Sometimes I even create my own.
(Like the time I created a camping setup with magnetic fishes so she could count the number of fishes she “caught”. I was stoked and she loved it.)
Currently the bags include lots of writing materials, some reading and educational books my mother found at the thrift store. Along with…
How do the resources get used?
In my bullet journal, I have a weekly homeschool focus. This is just a simple list of two to three things I want to work on that week.
Based on that list (or even based on my daughter's interest that day), I grab one or two resources I want to use. I do not pull out everything.
Why?
Well for one, I do not have the space to have everything out.
Two, again everything must be simple. So I only focus on the things I need to have to complete a specific task.
“The schedule”
My “schedule” never follows a specific order. Although, I do have a flow that just naturally happens:
Morning: independent practice or play, I usually do some personal task during this time while she is working on something she can do independently.
Midday: outside time, ninja play, family gathering, lunch/breakfast, games, I may introduce something new in a fun way here.
Evening: Wind down, flash card review, free play, Dinner, and story time.
But that's literally it. That's our “flow”. It's not a schedule but it's flexible enough to be changed at a moments notice. Also what I like is that it follows our natural energy levels:
We're usually alert and focused when we wake up in the morning.
By midday, she wants to play with family and do a fun activity.
In the evening, she usually has that “fighting sleep” energy. So we'll do something relaxing but engaging during this time.
My Advice When Starting to Homeschool…
Get in where you fit in.
When starting out, don't feel the need to follow any strict rules, schedules, curriculums etc.
There are days that we don't do anything that focuses on homeschool. Sometimes I forgot, or one of us is just not feeling the lesson. Even on those days my daughter will sometimes take the liberty to grab some of her own homeschool material and work on an activity or two.
These are my favorite moments.
It shows that learners don't need a physical teacher in front of them all the time. Since she's been exposed to the different learning material, she will sometimes take it upon herself to review the old or learn something new.
Just find your child's natural rhythm.
We are like sponges (yes, I said we. Parents included). We will absorb all that we need to learn and naturally be drawn to what we are ready to learn.
If you want to teach them something specific….
(like for example in my case reading.)
…..find some fun ways to introduce it but don't force the learning process.
Just go with the flow and above all make every learning opportunity fun and engaging for both you and your child.
Homeschooling is all about relationships. You get to decide what works for you and your family.
So, how do you want to setup your learning environment?
Do you want to include more opportunities for games and fun?
Do you prefer more field trips?
What makes learning fun and engaging for your family?
