{"id":4854,"date":"2022-09-27T16:12:39","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T23:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/?p=4854"},"modified":"2022-09-27T16:54:49","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T23:54:49","slug":"what-our-homeschool-day-looks-like-how-we-keep-going-and-how-you-can-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/2022\/09\/27\/what-our-homeschool-day-looks-like-how-we-keep-going-and-how-you-can-too\/","title":{"rendered":"What Our Homeschool Day Looks Like & How We Keep Going (and How You Can Too)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\ud83d\ude01Guest Post by Joanna Bischoff <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Homeschooling from a Mom of 3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How It All Began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I look up from my desk. Three little heads, of varying heights and sizes, are intently bent over their desks, each at a (hopefully) brain-building school activity. In front of me is the homeschool area that I saw on Pinterest and adapted to fit our own space. I love it. I love the quiet pace, the ability to teach, and the learning and growing that\u2019s happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early on, my husband and I had discussed homeschooling, and so it was a fairly easy thing to step into. My son and I would plop ourselves down at the dining table, spread out our books and assignments, and, side-by-side, work through them together. I was learning how to teach and how my son was wired, as much as getting ABCs and 123s recorded in his mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve now been at it for six years and added two more kids during that time. I know it\u2019s an over-used saying, but time really does fly by!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Does Our Day Go?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our Typical School Day Routine:<\/strong><\/p>

Normally, we get ourselves ready for the day and I call the kids to the couch for Bible and prayer. <\/p>

Then we go over to our desks, and the kids start phonics and reading and memorizing poems, memory verses, and spelling words. <\/p>

We tackle math next, hopefully before lunch<\/p>

then have a lunch break and \u201crecess\u201d (\u201ceveryone go play outside\u201d!). <\/p>

Language (they\u2019re in classical school, so Spanish for kindergarten and first; Latin for upper grades) is in the afternoon, along with handwriting practice, silent reading to themselves, and practice for math facts and maybe a fun educational video. <\/p>

After that, we wrap up the day, moving on to chores and a relaxing time or errands. <\/p>

Everything else-all the history, science, art, P.E., grammar, and music classes-happens at the classical school itself on their in-person days.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I bounce around all day between kids so that each gets the one-on-one help that they need. Nowadays, my oldest reads his assignments, does the work fairly independently, and, unless he needs my help or it\u2019s a subject I teach, can really sail through his day on his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I teach his little brother the same as I did him, except that they now have their own homeschool desks and my oldest is capable of and willing to jump in and assist his little brother, especially if I\u2019m busy with our youngest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My youngest child is saturated in a homeschooling environment, so it just follows that she learned numbers and letters early. She, too, benefits from her big brothers\u2019 teaching abilities, and they look after her needs, as well, especially if I\u2019m working one-on-one with the third sibling. They\u2019ll set up her activities or toys, help her find stickers, or whatever is needed. She has the same little homeschooling workbook that they both had (Alpha Omega Horizons for 3s and the one for 4s, I love it and recommend it), practices her letters, numbers, and such with that curriculum, and does things like playdough and tile shapes. At three, she did more playdough, but now at 4, she\u2019s getting a longer lesson from me and learning more about using scissors and glue properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although I have tried to take small \u201crecess\u201d breaks before, honestly, we are kind of a \u201cblock\u201d family; we like to take our time in the morning and then just sprint through the schoolwork and then work on the next \u201cblock\u201d of tasks. Maybe I\u2019ll work on taking more little breaks this year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, that\u2019s a typical day for us! I know lots of other families do other types of homeschool days. It\u2019s a lot, but it gets a lot done. I\u2019m always so impressed with how much they are capable of! It\u2019s so neat to be able to see their abilities just skyrocket, right under your nose, day after day!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by Lucas Alexander<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Real Talk, Homeschool Style<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like many others, our days have a rhythm of peace and noise, of lagging reluctantly and working eagerly. I have found that certain times of the year are slower and less motivated than others; I have found that I, personally, need a clean (picked up, at least!) home Monday morning if I\u2019m to concentrate on the schoolwork that week. I also love to know that lunch is going to be ready and quick to prepare!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy as a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom to feel invisible to the world. I live in a culture that really values daycares, public schools, and full-time employees. However, I don\u2019t feel pulled or called to it in this season, and I\u2019m okay with being \u201cinvisible\u201d.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a woman who believes in God, I know that He sees my every mundane move and that my time investing in the children He gave me will have an impact in eternity, unseen here in this life perhaps, to a large extent (some we will see- especially when they are adults!), but incredibly important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My thought on this is: do whatever you are called to do. If it\u2019s full-time work, then work as unto the Lord<\/strong>. If it\u2019s teaching, teach your kids as unto the Lord. You know? I will take my own path not by my own choice, necessarily, but I do choose to be led of the Lord in the way I will go. I want to be of service to whomever I am working with, at whatever stage or season I\u2019m in.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes I feel the pressure\u2014to get done \u201con time\u201d, to be like what \u201call the other homeschool moms\u201d are doing. (you know-perfect!). Sometimes I\u2019m impatient and just want to get it over with; and wonder if it\u2019s all really worth it, anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by Markus Spiske<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Don’t Forget Your “Why”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not always pining for something I\u2019m not living, though. Often I remind myself in those moments of how much is working well and that we all have room for improvement, and that\u2019s a good thing. A part of the journey. And I never forget my \u201cwhy\u201d. I think everyone has to have a \u201cwhy\u201d for what they do. Why do you go to work? Why do you spend your free time the way you do? Why do you eat right? And for some of us-why do you homeschool?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing my \u201cwhy\u201d helps me in those moments when I lose sight of it, because all I can see is the pile of unchecked homework or undone tasks or the million other challenges we face when we take on this job. (it is a real job, certainly!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of my whys are:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n