With first semester under our belts and a transition to homeschooling both of our boys (1st and 2nd grade), I thought I’d drop a quick midyear update right here for you. It’s also perfect timing for me to reflect upon our schooling rhythms as we prepare to welcome baby number four. Below I share some shifts we’ve made that may be useful for any families that are homeschooling or wanting to supplement school at home.
I quite enjoy regular pauses to feel out what’s working well and what isn’t–it’s really a daily practice that we encourage the keiki to participate in as well. We feel that it gives them ownership of the journey, whether we’re talking about breakfast prep or writer’s workshop. All it takes is a simple prompt such as “tell me one thing that you like about X and one thing you would change about it.”
Daily Rhythm
We still stick to a Monday-Thursday schedule–Fridays are reserved for adventures, play dates, and such. This works out nicely since soccer, hula, and break dancing are spread across all afternoons except for Fridays. Same as before, schooling takes about 2-3 hours and we try to have them all wrapped up by lunch. They ask for breaks and fix their own snacks as needed (within reason of course). Play with schedules until you find one that works for your family.
Over the last couple months we’ve learned that the beauty of homeschool lies in the freedom it provides and it’s important to note that some mornings we opt for the beach instead of our regular flow. On these days the boys may do math at breakfast, bring a book to read in the car, then do some writing upon their return. Other days, we may not do any school at all and I’ve realized that’s okay too. I know that they’re learning and growing no matter where they are or what they’re doing! Remain flexible, even teachers need breaks.
Since Melibea attends preschool part time now and she was most into calendar time, we’ve dropped the morning circle and the boys begin their schooling when they’re ready to (so long as they start by 8am). To integrate calendar skills we do have calendars posted throughout our home that we all refer to throughout the day. I see them check the calendars often to note the date as well as any current or upcoming activities. They also take the liberty of adding on their own important events e.g. birthdays, play dates, etc.). Post a calendar on the wall and invite everyone to use it.
It took a couple weeks of transition when Kahlo joined us for homeschool and the main adjustment was the freedom to organize his own morning activities. This means that the boys know what subjects must be covered each day and they decide when they’d like to tackle each subject. At first, time management was difficult for Kahlo who was used to following a set school schedule. Two months in, he’s able to plan out his entire morning. Facilitate choices whenever possible.
Curriculum
We are still using Blossom & Root for language arts and science. The boys love the different stories we read through this non-secular curriculum. Kahlo enjoys the tall tales and tracking such travels on a US map, while Tamayo is having fun reading folk tales and learning about cultures from around the world. The science curriculum is easy to follow and full of hands-on ideas for all types of learners.
Since both boys are fluent readers and writers we kicked off second semester by integrating Lucy Calkin’s Writer’s Workshop. I felt like they need more explicit instruction and ample practice beyond daily free writing. I like the Writer’s Workshop structure because it provides a multi-layered approach to a variety of writing genres. It also walks keiki through the writer’s process in a manageable way from drafting to publishing.
While we still use Montessori materials to supplement math work, second semester called for Dimensions Math (by Singapore Math). I know that the boys will eventually reintegrate back into the school system here and I wanted them to have some exposure to common core objectives. This curriculum is nicely organized and available by semester–we have a teacher’s guide, textbook, and workbook for each keiki. I will say that I love the emphasis on mental math–I’m learning a lot alongside them too!
Adventureschool
Outdoor time is definitely part of our homeschool rhythm–bike rides, skateboarding, hiking, boogie boarding–we do it all. Inevitably, all of these activities offers a chance to count (and perform other math operations), read, play I-spy, sing, retell stories and more. Their questions never stop and so long as you’re asking (and answering) alongside them their drive to learn from their surroundings will only grow.
We also believe that every time we leave the home the opportunity to learn something new begins with the preparation process. We include the keiki in the process of asking themselves “what do I need for today’s adventure?” To answer this they’ll need to consider the activity, the weather, the time of day, etc. Then they’ll go on to help pack for the adventure (similarly, they’ll help unload at the end of the day). These in-between moments are powerful teachable moments.
Want to learn more about how to get started exploring outdoors with kids? Click here for some simple tips you can take this week!
