Special Guest Edition: How We Homeschooled Today by Victoria

Victoria is home educating her 6 year-old daughter in the UK and she kindly shared this glimpse into their days together. I hope you enjoy reading it, and if you’d like to share what homeschooling looks like for your family, please get in touch!

---

Our daughter woke up naturally around 7.30 and came straight to our bed. Her dad was already awake, watching news downstairs with a cup of coffee. He likes to be on top of what is happening around the world. Scratching our little one’s back I asked her if she slept well and whether or not she remembered any of her dreams. Each morning I can’t help but feel an immense sense of gratitude that we don’t have to rush to get out the door to make it to school on time. Especially on a cold, rainy day which we have plenty of in the UK. Today was no exception.

I went downstairs, welcomed my husband, warmed up a glass of milk for our girl and made a coffee for myself. We stayed in bed for a bit longer, enjoyed our warm drinks, stroked the cat and I read aloud a couple of chapters of Gangsta Granny. It is a bit advanced for her, but she requested the book as her friends enjoy it, so we decided to give it a go. 

After egg and toast for breakfast, dad went off to his computer (he works from home) and we ‘did school’ (still in our PJs). It took us approximately 1 hour. We covered maths: today’s focus was using a protractor, measuring the interior angles of triangles, noting them down and then adding them together on a calculator to discover that no matter what triangle we look at, the sum of its interior angles is 180 degrees. I like to ensure that she knows how to use instruments (in the past we practised drawing circles using a compass and we continue using rulers to draw shapes, lines of symmetry etc.) For maths, we use the CGP books as a springboard and we’re also enjoying Usborne Lift-the-Flap Fractions and Decimals and the Activity Book on the same topic.

Next, we moved to a quick spelling practice: we use a whiteboard and erasable markers—it is somehow easier to wipe something out to correct it rather than cross things out in the book. We tend to do 10 words as it is a nice round number but not too many. Then we looked at a little grammar: using commas when we list things. For English, we use Haydn Richards Junior English—there are four books in all and we’re currently working through the first one.

After that, we spent a few minutes recognising notes in the treble and bass clef as my daughter is learning the piano. I like Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Prep Course. I have taught children piano in the past and found this by far the best approach of the many different ones I have tried.

And that was the end of our morning learning session. Yes, it is very ‘schooly’ and done at the kitchen table, but it works for us. My daughter usually munches on some fruit as we ‘do school’. I have a second cup of coffee. To make the workload easier on my daughter, I often scribe for her. 

10:00 am: Mummy time. I did my work out. Nothing crazy—30 minutes, a few weights and a video to follow. Whilst I was busy sweating, my daughter did some drawing. She is into Pokemon these days so likes to copy various Pokemon from her book. She was also expected to get herself dressed and brush her teeth. 

I jumped in the shower, quick post-workout snack, 5 minute make up and at 11am we left to go to a horse-riding lesson. As it is a 45 min drive from home, we took the tablet. My daughter did one Spanish lesson on Duolingo and then played a far-from-educational Pokemon game, but she loves it… so I let her have it. Riding is something she finds joy in. She has a big smile whilst trotting and I enjoy watching her in that happy state. After the lesson, we went to a weekly meet up with other home ed children and (usually) mums. It’s outdoors, kids run around and play, mums chat and dish out packed lunches as and when kids run up to them hungry.

There are a surprising number of places where children can ride in or near London. This photo comes from Stag Lodge Stables, which teaches riding in Richmond Park.

Back at home. It’s after 3pm. More drawing for my daughter and I make some dinner preparations. I check with my husband if he would like a late lunch. My daughter and I talk. She tells me all about her Pokemon game. I try to engage but can’t help switching off. This Pokemon world is not my thing. I know we should get into what our kids are into for their sake, but I have other things on my mind (what needs to go on a shopping list and other general home admin stuff).

My daughter has tea with honey and I have my third coffee of the day. She wants to play checkers, so I tell her to bring the board. We play. I win. She loses. Hard lesson. There are almost tears in her eyes. Like every child, she likes to win. But I know my daughter. She is resilient. She wants a rematch. This time I let her win, but I don’t make it too easy. We end on a high note.

I suggest we practise the piano and she contentedly agrees. We practise Christmas songs. These piano sessions are daily (even on the weekends), but they are short and sweet. I find that regular short practice yields best results. The more competent she is at playing, the more she enjoys playing. This competence comes only with consistent practice though. 

I ask her to read aloud for me. She picks what she would like to read and we spend some time on the couch under a blanket looking at a book or a magazine together. Today we looked at a science joke book which I ordered for her from the Whizz, Pop, Bang collection. “What do scientists use to freshen up their breath? Experimints!”

The three of us eat dinner together and then my husband gives our daughter a shower whilst I clear up after dinner. The cat wants to be let in. I notice blood prints on the kitchen floor. Sadly, he has hurt his paw. The three of us inspect the wound. It is nothing too serious, but still… poor kitty. My daughter strokes him gently. These life events are great lessons, especially in empathy. 

It’s the evening now. Time for some well-deserved downtime. My daughter watches a show on her tablet in her bedroom, but I insist it is in my mother tongue, rather than in English. My husband and I watch a documentary downstairs. At 9.30 it’s time for brushing teeth and a prayer for my daughter. It’s her daddy who prays with her. 

Tomorrow a new day awaits. 

---

Thanks for reading. If you’re new to How We Homeschool, you might like to take a look at previous Special Guest Editions:

Oliver Cresswell, regulating emotions and enjoying a new puppy in Nova Scotia.

Will Orr-Ewing on flexischooling alongside Charlotte Mason.

Dixie Dillon-Lane on homeschooling through sickness.

Eloise Rickman, on putting children’s rights at the heart of home education.

Ruth Gaskovski on building community.

Katherine Seat getting out of the house on a noisy day in Cambodia.

Renee’s account of a homeschool day with her son, who has autism.

Mary-Ann Horley’s account of home education at home and on holiday.

Allyse Hopkins’ very relatable day with her family of four in New Zealand.

Susie Wales’ life with her three boys in Florida.

Rachael Ringenberg’s thoughtful glimpse into her life with four girls in Vermont.

Joel Bowman’s ‘away schooling’, travelling around the classical world with an eight year old.

If you’d like to be next, get in touch! Everyone is welcome, whatever your homeschool looks like.

---

Thanks for reading. If you’re not subscribed, sign up for free and never miss a post. Expect book recommendations, the daily-ish How We Homeschooled Today, and of course, special guest editions from home educating families all over the world.