4 tips on how to survive your first week of homeschooling, especially for the first time homeschoolers. Life with ZG l Homeschooling PH

Last time I shared how our first week of homeschooling went by. And I got a lot of messages asking me how to survive homeschooling, especially to all new homeschooling families.

But wait, if you're new here and wondering. We're Eclectic Homeschoolers. I mix and match varieties of homeschooling resources that work for Zoe. That's why it's important to know what type of learner is your child. It's also our 2nd year of having a homeschooling provider. Since Zoe is in Grade 1 already, she now has eight subjects because we're following the MELC by DepEd. And I also included some extra subjects for her this year based on her interests.

I still don't know if our homeschooling journey will be as smooth as last year. But I am excited to see what's in store for us. So today let me share four tips on how to survive your first week of homeschooling. Oh, and if you still need more tips I have few more tips on how to survive a year of homeschooling that works for us.

4 Tips on how to survive your first week of homeschooling.

1. Have a routine.

Well, a structured schedule isn't for us. So we have a routine instead. I build Zoe's routine from day one until now. And having a routine is a lifesaver, especially for a Solo Mom like me. Oh, if you're a fellow solo mom, here are tips on how to survive homeschooling when you're a solo parent.

Here's a snippet of Zoe's routine for this school year.

How about you guys? Do you have a schedule or routine? Oh, screen time for Zoe is a reward and only for 30 minutes to an hour depending on how many tasks she ticked off from her chart daily.

2. Make your lessons short.

Don't bring the school to your home. Especially if you have younger kids, it's very important to make your lessons short since they only have a short attention span. And make it play-based as much as possible. It's also important to know your child's learning style so you'll know what teaching approach should you use.

For Zoe this year, we will work on 2 subjects per day from Monday to Thursday. So that will be 2 hours in the morning and 30 minutes to 1 hour in the afternoon for the additional subject. Then Fridays for us is quiz day and if we missed some topics we can discuss them during Fridays as well.

This is how we do it, Zoe loves everything customized. So on weekends, I make lesson presentations or notes that we will use for the week. Usually, it only takes us 15-30 minutes per lesson then she will work on the worksheets that I prepared for her. When she's done we proceed to the next subject of the day. You can also follow me on the gram as I post our activities on my stories from time to time as well.

3. Run at your own pace.

I always tell my fellow moms this,

"Childhood is not a race, each child is unique and, your child will never be behind to anyone. So run at your own pace."

In this digital age where people almost post everything on social media, I know how hard it is not to compare when we see someone's accomplishments. Comparing will not do any good to you and your child. So stop comparing your child or your homeschooling journey to anyone. Don't stress out yourself. Just keep going, focus on your goals, nourish your child's strength, and remember to enjoy the ups and downs of your homeschooling journey.

4. Time Management.

To be honest, I'm also having a hard time managing my time wisely. Because as a Solo Mom who has too much on the plate, 24 hours a day is not enough. But as a homeschooler, time management is a critical skill that we should acquire.

Set your priorities and set aside chores, to-do lists, and work that can wait can wait. We can only do so much a day, take it one day at a time. It's efficient and effective rather than doing a bit of everything.

Lastly, is to get your child involved. Let's train them to be independent. I'm so happy that I am raising an independent child. Zoe started helping me with house chores at the age of two and it made my life easier and to survive homeschooling while juggling everything on my own.

And that's my 4 tips on how to survive your first week of homeschooling based on our homeschooling experience. I hope you guys find it helpful. On your first week of homeschooling, take your time, take it one day at a time. Especially if you're new to homeschooling because everyone needs to adjust and get the hang of homeschooling.

Remember, we need to be creative and flexible to be able to juggle work, housework, and homeschooling.

If you find this article helpful, don't forget to share it with your family and friends. I also pray that this article will bring encouragement and inspiration to you and your family as you start your homeschooling journey,

I hope to see you again on my next homeschooling post. If you also have a question regarding homeschooling, please slide a message into my inbox. I'd be happy to help. Stay healthy!

Cheering you,

Mommy Gen