Homeschooling Journey

Eversince we had our first born, I always dreamed of putting my kids to homeschool. But my husband and I do not share the same vision on this because he believes conventional school is still best for kids to associate the things they learned, well I thought then, my kid is still young to go to school, so I still have a long time to let my husband see that our daughter can learn academics at home while waiting for her right age to be sent on a conventional one. As I waited for years, despite our daughter's fast learning progress, I have not convinced my husband the idea of homeschooling. We sent her to a conventional school for her Pre Elementary. In my mind, this is just a preparatory for her formal schooling, and so I still have one year battle in prayer. But I tell you, Submission and Respect to your husbands decision will have the Lord answer your long time prayer 😊 After Shen graduated for a year in conventional schooling, my husband finally agreed on trying formal Homeschooling. Stoked as I was, we can finally push through the inquiries of several homeschooling curriculum that are legally accepted in our country. Finally the Lord led us to ACE Curriculum, now called School of Tomorrow. It is a US based homeschool curriculum but with an additional requirement to meet the Philippine standard of Education.

(Click link to know more about School of Tomorrow Philippines -http://www.sotphil.net )

Why HOMESCHOOL

There is nothing wrong with sending your kids into conventional school, my husband and I grew up on that, but as a fulltime mother, I firmly believe that character education is highly acquired to where your child mostly spent their hours.I firmly believe that character education is over and above important than that of the academics, thus it is best learned at home. It may be a great challenged to us parents, particularly us Moms, but I strongly believe that homeschooling is also a tool on enhancing husband-wife relationship as well as parent-kid's relationship as it is done as a family teamwork.

There are questions like " what will be your kid's social community if you are keeping her at home, would'nt she have hard time communicating with other people? she won't have confidence perhaps her self esteem will be affected. "

CONFIDENCE is developed first inside your home, where LOVE is felt by your kids, giving them the assurance and security that whenever they are outside your home, their first teachers are there to cuddle them with proper correction just how the confidence we have with God. Mostly (maybe not all) homeschool kids communicates well publicly as they are used to talking to different levels of people.Their skills are well developed too since the focus on homeschooling is to first learn practically the Activities for Daily Living, you also have the option to enrol your kids to special classes like music, martial arts and sports where talents are developed and enhanced . So CONFIDENCE is not an issue for me at all. SELF ESTEEM likewise is a reflection on how you handle your kids, therefore parenting with TLC (tender loving care) is very vital in dealing your children's needs. The best part of homeschooling is you get to travel with the whole family and immerse your kids to places where they only not read it from books but they will understand deeply what you have taught them.

How does Home Schooling works?

Homeschooling is the most flexible and diverse educational option available today. The variety of homeschooling styles reflects the diversity of the people who choose this method. Some families organize their homeschool the same as a traditional school with the children studying the same subjects the same way as public school students. Some families use the opposite approach and “unschool” their children – a far less structured approach where the children’s schedule is determined by their interests and readiness.

Most homeschoolers, however, use an eclectic approach that is partly structured and partly interest-based. This method allows parents to pick and choose the classes and materials that meet their children’s needs. These may be college or co-op classes, pool teaching, charter schools, independent study programs, apprenticeships, volunteering, and a host of options. Homeschooling is as unique as you are. ( Source: www.homeschool.com)

In my case since we are in the Philippines, I chose a curriculum that meets the standard of Philippines Education and is accredited by Department of Education. I use a curriculum that uses PACE WORK.

How does PACE works : (www.aceministries.com)

Each PACE contains several Checkups, which are quizzes covering a section of the PACE. If mastery in an area is not achieved, the Checkup will reveal that weak area. Students can then take the time necessary to review and learn those concepts before proceeding to the next section.Upon completion of the activities and Checkups, students prepare to take the Self Test. Here students evaluate themselves, and a supervisor/tutor determines readiness for the final PACE Test. When the Self Test is successfully completed, the student turns in the PACE and takes the PACE Test the next school morning.The PACE Test objectively measures student mastery of the material. Students begin their PACE work by noting their goals, the concepts they will learn, a Bible verse, and a corresponding character trait. From the beginning of each PACE, they know what is expected and assume the responsibility for their own learning! Throughout the curriculum, the introduction of new vocabulary words is computer controlled so that no new vocabulary word is used without the student first learning its meaning and pronunciation. Also, these words are repeated to ensure mastery.Explanations and illustrations add excitement to each lesson, and innovative learning activities reinforce the text material.

Below are our Paces and additional work books as required by Philippine Department of Education.

This School year is exciting. We decided to make one room a homeschool room where my kid will do her pace work on a conjucive learning environment at the same time an environment where my 1 year old kid can learn photo associations thru Wall Decals. The Tiny room has a small tiny alley where one can squat and play without disturbing the other while on pace work.

Every year as August is approaching, I know all homeschool moms are excited to do changes in their rooms, so here is a photo tour in our tiny little classroom 😊

(A new chapter of Mom's Life's Journey will start at this very door)

Inside the room we made sure Philippine flag is raised so as the Christian flag, teaching the kids the value of Patriotism and raising Christianity at home, believing that there is only one way to heaven and that is thru Jesus Christ ALONE.

The real Homeschooling journey starts and going through this school year is all under God's grace.Teaching a 6 year old and 1 year old kid is not an easy task when you are an academic teacher in one room and a mother outside the classroom.

I encourage you to keep visiting my post on Homeschooling as we share to you our journey at NHSA ( Nahnah's Homeschooling Academy).

I wish to see community of Steemian Homeschool Moms here as much as I want to learn more and exchange thoughts on how they do their journey on this as well.

God Bless this Journey and God Bless to all those who takes this journey-the Homeschool Parents.