Let's learn , Mama!

“If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children when these are overdone,we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play ” Charlotte Mason 

Today’s homeschool Chat brings you American homeschool mama of two  Leslie Monroe. Leslie is a mommy engineer, an avid reader and a list maker. She designs journals for her family and friends. She spends her days with her family on their Ozark homestead, where they have endless projects for pastures, gardens, animals, and farmhouse fixer upper plans!  She is a keto fueled homebody, who loves the Fall.  Friends are always welcome to stop by and enjoy a glass of her homemade kombucha in the garden!

1.Tell us about your family and your child/children.

My husband and I met at a Missouri college and fell in love while taking Calc 2 (yes I’m not kidding).  We got married right out of college, took jobs with a major automotive company.  Several of the engineers were homeschooling their kids and that got me thinking. We moved back to Missouri to change our lifestyle and to focus on our family.  We took jobs with a small government contractor (they made water pumps for our military).  Hubby was plant manager and I was the Quality manager.  We pleasantly surprised everyone at the company that we could work so well together; we really do make a great team.

Our Daughter arrived a year after we moved back.  I thought I would go back to work, but once I held her I knew she was mine. I was meant to be with her, guide her and keep her safe.  So we decided I would stay home with her.  We didn’t set out to homeschool.  But as we built our family and worked to together- that became our family mission- to live and work together.

Now we are in the Missouri Ozarks.  We are a 4 family as my son says.  Hubby works and plays hard.  He is an outdoorsman and is so good about sharing his love of nature and hunting with his kids. I’m an avid reader, creator and designer.  I make homeschooling journals and love spending time with my family. My daughter is 9 and a lover of animals and is a super creator.  Her imagination is off the charts.  She is always dreaming up something to cook, something to draw, a story to write or movie to make! My son is 6 and lives for anything Lego or dinosaur.  He thinks he can do anything his sister can, and spends most of his days trying to keep up with her limitless energy!

2. What was your main reason for choosing to home educate your children ?

My sister in law was homeschooling her oldest son and I started reading about it.  After becoming a mother,  my mindset changed.  I was first and foremost her protector.  I want to be the primary influence in my kids’ lives.  My mommy gut tells me that they aren’t ready to be turned over to someone I don’t know, in a room full of kids I don’t know 5 days a week.  It’s my job to keep them safe, physically and emotionally.  We socialize plenty, but I am careful about our interactions.

But this journey has been so natural.   I love my kids. I want to be there for all their big moments.   We are always learning and our school isn’t defined by a location!  It’s been such a blessing to be able to live life alongside them.

3.What does a “typical”  home school day look like for your family ?

We sleep in until 8.  Mornings you can usually find us around the kitchen table. I write in a journal and the kids will often join me.  They draw, color or read. Sometimes they are playing games on their tablets. Breakfast is late, around 10 or 11.  We do our chores by then (dishes, feed the animals, laundry and tidying).  About noon we are ready to head outside.  Mondays we ride horses.  Tuesday a learning coop at the library. Wednesday-Saturday we are around our home, doing gardening, planting identification, nature studies, field trips, play dates, and other activities. Sundays we go to church.

Most days the workbooks or reading aloud happen in the late afternoon.  That seems to be the best time for us.

Then dinner by 5, or 6.  Evenings find us busy.  With a life group from church and never ending farm and home projects! (Currently building a greenhouse from old windows, over the winter we will be renovating the master bath.  It is great to be able to include our kids in the projects and pass on our love of work.)

4.What type of a home educator are you ( structured , semi structured , unschooling , classical , Charlotte Mason , Steiner , Montessori etc ) ?

Officially we are Relaxed schoolers.  Some might call it unschooling, but I do have a curriculum we work from for some subjects.  But mostly I pay attention to my kids interests and we drive as deep and as long as they want into that subject.

I call it blitz learning.  Math facts won’t stick if your brain needs to know about the animals on the African plains, or why the buffalo were almost extinct.  What I’ve found is they will come back around to all the school subjects.  My daughter will spend a whole week (or month) on mostly 1 subject.  Last month it was math, the month before was ancient history in the fertile crescent, this month it has been animal conservation, who knows what it will be next month!

Here are my hashtags for most of the homeschool posts on Instagram @besimplybetter to give you an idea of my education style!

#peacefulhomeschool #happyhomeschool #relaxedhomeschool #monroeacademy365 #leadbyexample #childledlearning

I have read so much that I do pull in ideas from all over.  Charlotte Mason has inspired me to dive deeper and set goals for my kids.  I have large bench marks that we work towards every year.

5.What do you love the most about home schooling ?

Freedom.  That one word, means so much.  We have the freedom to adjust, relax, shift focus if we need to.  When husband takes a week off we don’t have to check with anyone’s schedule.  (We often take a vacation the week after Labor day….and we always have the place to ourselves.)  If we get sick we can rest, recharge and recover.  We get to choose the format and subjects that we like!

Time.  We enjoy the luxury of being responsible for how we spend our days.  We teach to mastery NOT to a clock.  If it takes longer to master a skill that’s fine.  (We have 18 years to get our kids college ready….to pass a college entry test they need to know how to write and essay and do some algebra…that’s it.)

6. What is your favourite subject to teach and what is your  least one ?

Favorite: Anything they are interested in.

Least favorite: Anything they are not interested in.

When they are excited and engaged it is pure JOY to be with them, learning alongside them.  If I try to force a subject on them that they are not ready for….it is pure frustration, defiance, grumbling, and painful.  It’s not worth it.  Plus if they aren’t interested, they aren’t learning!  They won’t retain any of it! So really I’m wasting my time and theirs on a fruitless, frustrating day.

7.What do you find challenging when it comes to home schooling your children ?

The balance of home life.  The house is always lived in, so it’s always a mess.  We love books, art projects, puzzles and Lego.  Things that take up every available horizontal surface in our home.  I struggle daily to clear the tables and desks so more creative learning can happen.

8 How do you deal with unsupportive family , relatives and friends ?

Honestly, I have slowly brought my family and friends along with me.  I share books and articles I’m reading and the insights I’ve gained from them.  My reasonings for education at home are sound and just.  This is working for my family and our opinion is the only one that matters.

9 Where do you see your home schooling journey in 5 years time ?

I will have a teenager and a pre-teen.  I see us pursuing their passions and dreams.  Starting business ventures, traveling further, expanding the farm, and doing all of what we are already doing but with the kids taking on more responsibility.

Homeschool is just living life.  We learn everyday. We deepen our understanding and knowledge everyday.  So I just see more of that in 5 years.

10 What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start home educating their children ?

Read.  Write.  Model the behavior that you want for your kids. Learn alongside them. Grow together.

I never ask my kids to do something I wouldn’t want to do.  So anything we do, even math worksheets- I’m right there doing it with them.

I have a little journal book called “The ABC of Homeschool” ( https://amzn.to/2lmrWmu )and it will help you to work through your family’s unique gifts and goals for homeschooling.  It will help you find the joy in home education and solidify your why.

Authors to read:

Cathy Duffy- to get a feel for your teaching style

Sarah Janice Brown- How to Homeschool- to learn about your kids (and your unique learning styles)

John Holt- Learning All the Time.

Julie Bogart- The Brave Learner

Charlotte Mason

Durenda Wilson-The Unhurried Homeschooler

Leslie Monroe

bit.ly/LeslieMonroe (my books on Amazon)

www.besimplybetter.com

www.instagram.com/monroehomestead (for our farm updates)

www.instagram.com/besimplybetter (what we are doing and planners, journals and drawings)

www.facebook.com/besimplybetter

www.twitter.com/besimplybetter

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEtk4DVwTlR3-UePoRZHjmQ

“Don’t take it to heart when your children are bored or tell you they hate homeschooling. It’s a felling, in the moment, shared with you because you are the safe place and the one in charge. Hold space for the feeling. But also hold space for homeschool. Sometimes the expression of frustration will subside,as they feel heard and supported.  Don’t make big changed after single outbursts. Stick with your plan, but offer compassion, support and breaks.” Julie Bogart

Today’s home school chat brings you Hina Malik, who is a homeschooling mama of 4 from the UK.  She can be found on Instagram (rainbows_of_learning), where she shares snippets of their homeschool journey.

1.Tell us a bit about your family and your child/children.

I am mother of four beautiful children-Alayna (8yrs), Aaminah (6yrs), Adam (5yrs) and Ayman (14months). We moved out of the city and now reside in the countryside to give our children the opportunity to have access to beautiful outdoor natural space.

2.What was your main reason for choosing to home educate your children?

My eldest daughter tried school for a little while and as a family we quickly came to the realisation that is wasn’t for us and home-schooling was the way to go. My children have not been to school. The main reason for deciding to home-school was the constant restrictions to learning due to the national curriculum. These are the topics covered in the year and there’s no space or time for any in depth learning or to pursue any real passions. Just suffocating restrictions. This was not the correct environment to establish the love for learning. The luxury of time to pursue something that’s triggered an interest is non-existent. There is only so much time and effort school are prepared to invest in your child, leaving constant feeling of frustration. The system does not have the right to tell a child how much to learn. There are many other reasons for us moving away from the schooling system in general but this is one of the main reason.

I am a qualified secondary school science teacher, who was completely engrossed in teaching for many years before I had my children and absolutely loved it! However, once I had my first child, I left the teaching profession and spent precious time with my daughter. Blending my background of teaching with the love for my child. Perfect combination! Now I have 4 children and the thought of going back to work doesn’t cross my mind alhamdullilah. All my time is spent nurturing and assisting in their development. The best job in the world! I love watching my children learn with joy and excitement. I love the time we have for conversations. I love the fact the children have time to establish sibling bonds and so much more. We love spending time together in an environment that brings us all joy and contentment.

3.What does a “typical” home school day look like for your family?

Our school day is semi-structured. We do have set activities and specific subject content we want to cover within the day. So, English, maths and science we cover regularly and then we will work on projects or experiments of interest in between.

4. What type of a home educator are you (structured, semi-strcutured,unschooling, classical, Charlotte Mason, Steiner , Montessori etc ) ?

I have researched and read a lot of different educational theories and I suppose I don’t have one specific theory that I follow or base our learning activities on. I like to extract knowledge, theories and ideas from lots of different sources and incorporate it into our learning journey and environment. I like to be flexible and open to what’s out there.

5) What do you love the most about homeschooling ?
I enjoy teaching varied subjects and I do like the challenge of creating activities for subjects that are also new to me. Some topics I haven’t covered since I was in school so its lovely to share fascinating information with my children through the activities I set up.

6) What is your favourite subject to teach and what is your least one ?

My favourite subject to teach is science. I do not really have a least favourite subject at the moment.

7) What do you find challenging when it comes to homeschooling your children ?

Trying to organise and plan so many ideas and sometimes not having enough time to create them. Also, having the time to fulfil all the other mom roles that we have to do (cooking, cleaning, shopping etc ). So, for me, time management is an area always changing and improving.

8) How do you deal with unsupportive family, relatives and friends ?

I am very lucky to have a very supportive family. They are all fully supportive of our decision to home school our children. In fact, they all encouraged the idea. We generally do not get disturbed during the weekdays by family members or friends as they are aware of our learning days. I think it can take a little while for people to understand exactly what’s involved in home-schooling. It’s not just the children learning and completing activities in the day. What we do behind the scenes is the key element of home-schooling. There is a lot of organisation and time which goes into preparing and planning the activities, which is also part of home-schooling. I feel sometimes this area of home educating is not fully appreciated. The time we need to plan and prepare.

9) Where do you see your home schooling journey in 5 years’ time ?

In 5 years, I hope to have more passion and love for what we are doing as a family. To carry as we are but for it to be deeper, more in-depth and meaningful.

10) What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start home educating their children?

My advice for someone wanting to home educate is to just go for it! If it is something you are wanting to do then DO NOT hesitate. Take baby steps, learn and grow with your children. Its about creating a safe, happy, accessible learning environment for your children. Its never going to be the finished product. Home educating is always evolving, growing and improving as time goes on. As long as you are nourishing it with all the good stuff, your children, family and home will excel.

” What  will matter most to you in the end is the feeling that the people you love consider home and education to be pleasant, peaceful and life-giving. No family or home feels like that all the time in any philosophy. Many philosophies help you get there. Most often, the philosophy is only as good as the emotional health of the parents anyway “. Julie Bogart

Today’s Homeschool Chat brings you Brooke Benoit who thoroughly loves unschooling her seven children. She also runs Amsmoon, a third space, near her home where she helps other young people explore their interests and new things. She’s written a book “How to Survive Homeschooling – A Self-Care Guide for Moms Who Lovingly Do Way Too Much” to help ease other moms’ stresses about homeschooling.  The book can be bought from Amazon – https://amzn.to/2OrLUZa  ( affiliated link ).Brooke is also the editor of “Fitra Journal” – four collections of wisdom from Muslim homeschoolers around the world.  I cannot recommend this enough- they are so insightful and full of wisdom and advice. Once or twice a year Brooke very happily runs retreats for Muslim women in Morocco and London. Here are the details, if you would like to attend them.
http://amsmoon.com/
Amsmoon – Collective Makers
Aourir is a working-class, fishermen’s community just outside the economically strong and tourist-friendly city of Agadir. The majority of residents live below the poverty line, so how are they supposed to access the kinds of services proven to boost lives?
amsmoon.com

http://thebigreconnectsleepover.com/
Brooke Benoit
◍ Makers Collective, Morocco Amsmoon
◍ Women’s Retreats TBRS
◍ Home Education My Book

1 )Tell us a bit about your family and your child/ children

I’m a single mom to seven children, living on the coast in southern Morocco, which is topography-wise very similar to where I grew up in California.

2) What was your main reason for choosing to home educate your children ?

I was very disappointed in my schooling and chose an unschooling route when I was in my first year of high school. When I had my children, it just made sense to me that I would choose similarly for them. I want to give them a better education with more freedom than what a school could provide.

3) What does a “typical” home school day look like for your family ?

With so many ages and stages it’s hard to describe it all. My older kids are following their own education paths, with my eldest being in his second semester of university. My younger kids have a lot of freedom to explore their interests. I work from home and also run a local community center which my children are involved in daily.

4) What type of a home educator are you ( structured , semi structured , unschooling , classical , Charlotte Mason , Steiner , Montessori etc )

Very unschooling.

5) What do you love the most about home schooling ?

Mmmaybe having a very family-focused lifestyle. I don’t know how that would have been different if my children were in school, but I definitely love having access to each other all day even though sometimes that can be overwhelming.

6) What is your favourite subject to teach and what is your least one ?

I don’t really teach my kids, I more so facilitate their interests. I think one of my favorite subversive teaching tactics is strewing things that eventually get picked up.”Strewing” is a practice of providing your family with enriching, interesting materials by simply strewing it about, such as books, art supplies, various kits and tools. Some materials can sit around for a year or two before anyone takes notice of them, so when they do it is very satisfying to know you struck a chord.

7) What do you find challenging when it comes to home schooling your children ?

There will never be enough time to do everything I would like to do with them. Still I find it very challenging to organize time for each of them. You would think that with seven I could just do an hour a day with one everyday, but that just hasn’t worked out yet.

8) How do you deal with unsupportive family, relatives and friends ?

I don’t. I suffered some for some years, then I learned to use some canned responses to disengage from people. Now I can say, “Look, I wrote a book on homeschooling. We can talk after you read it.” That works really well.

9) Where do you see your home schooling journey in 5 years time ?

Insha Allah I will have seven big kids who can independently do most things for themselves. That will be really exciting to see what things they choose to do and how I fit into their pictures!

10) What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start home educating their children ?

Do not take it so seriously. OMG homeschooling mamas stress too hard about how good of a job they are doing. Statistics prove that you can very easily do a much better job than a school, so remember to enjoy this precious time with your child.

In an age of throwaway plastic toys, @silkroadkeepsakes aims to bring back the joys of minimalism in our children’s play. Each wooden doll is hand painted and is made to be

cherished for years to come; a keepsake in the truest sense.

1 )Tell us a bit about your family and your children

I have four children. My eldest daughter is in college studying accounting and I home educate my other three children, aged 13, 5 and 4.

2)What was your main reason for choosing to home educate your children?

The main reason for home educating was that I wanted to have control over what my children were learning rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum. I also wanted to provide a more holistic learning experience and a cross-curricular approach, with a more fluid connection between subject areas. I also wanted my children to have more free time each day to pursue their personal interests or to just play! I also like to delay formal academics until their seventh year and this would not be possible if they attended mainstream school.

3)What does a “typical” home school day look like for your family?
We have a general rhythm in our home, rather than a fixed timetable. After breakfast and chores, I do morning basket with the younger two, which includes Quran memorisation and then read aloud time. They then have free play for the rest of the morning whilst I facilitate lessons for my 13 year old. We like to have the bulk of our work completed by lunchtime. Afternoons are reserved for creative activities (arts and crafts), nature walks, sports clubs and extra curricular classes.

4)What type of a home educator are you? (structured, semi structured, unschooling, classical, Charlotte Mason, Steiner, Montessori etc.)
I have tried a variety of educational philosophies over the years and I am in a position now where I now implement the parts of all these methods that suit our family dynamics. In our early days of homeschooling I liked the sound of a classical method but when implementing it, I found it to be quite intense so didn’t really pursue it I like a Montessori approach for the early years with the bulk of the day dedicated to child-led learning and free play. I love the idea of Charlotte Mason’s living books to teach a subject, and I try to incorporate such books into our learning wherever possible. I like the Steiner/Waldorf approach of a main lesson where a topic is studied in depth for a period of a few weeks. I think this really helps the children to absorb a single subject/theme much more deeply because they are concentrating on it everyday, without superficially jumping from one subject to another.

5)What do you love the most about home schooling?

I love that I get to spend so much time with my children in their formative years. Home educating enables me to embed a love of learning into my children, without the added pressure of tests and homework.

6)What is your favourite subject to teach and what is your least one?
Naturally, the subjects I like teaching are the ones that spark joy in me. I love teaching literature, art and social subjects (humanities). Mathematics and physics… not so much.

7) What do you find challenging when it comes to home schooling your children?
Because I’m a pretty laid back parent/teacher, there isn’t much that I find challenging with the younger children as far as schooling is concerned. I don’t set myself or the children arbitrary targets or tests, and we learn for the love of learning. The only challenges I have come across so far is trying the navigate the world of being a homeschooling mother to teenagers. It is an age where children resist instruction and like to test boundaries. It’s all a learning curve though and I am grateful for the opportunity to keep myself in check and to learn how to deal with the different ages and stages appropriately.

8)How do you deal with unsupportive family, relatives and friends?
My friends have been very supportive of our home education journey so I am very blessed in this way. Initially our families didn’t really understand the concept of not sending a child to school, but I think that was more due to a lack of awareness around home education. Having said that , they have happily accepted the situation and don’t cause any obstruction. They don’t judge and let us get on with parenting our children.

9)Where do you see your home schooling journey in 5 years’ time?
I would hope my now thirteen year old will be well on her way in her educational journey, perhaps attending university. And I hope I will still be home educating my younger two insha Allah.

10)What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start home educating their children?
I can be daunting at first, but if you want to try then just jump in. If it really isn’t what you thought it would be, then traditional school will still be there to return to.
Also, there are no right or wrong ways to homeschool, there’s just what works for your family. And you can’t know what works for your family until you try different methods. Every homeschool family goes through a period of trial and error, so don’t get disheartened in the early days. You will settle into a routine that works for you.
Talking of routines, timetables (with fixed timings) rarely work in the home settings because life is happening alongside of homeschooling. Often you are juggling different age ranges and other responsibilities at the same time, so a daily routine and a list of tasks is probably a more realistic method when starting out.

” The Development of a child’s body, mind and spirit best happens in a secure , loving enivoronment. When their foundational development is properly in place, their education occurs much more readily. They cannot be rushed or hurried, or we shortchange the process.” Durenda Wilson

Today’s Homeschool Chat brings you  Reja from @razandrej , who together with her husband created their Instagram account, to share parenting and homeschooling insights from the perspective of a Muslim mother and father. They have also recently launched their razandrej podcast, where they hope to share and discuss different issues related to parenting from the point of view of a Muslim couple. They aim to tackle some of the struggles parents face today and share their experiences.

1) Tell us a bit about your family and your child/ children

Assalamu Alaikum and Hello ! This is Reja, homeschooling mum of three children aged 7, 5 and 1. We live in a small town near Cardiff, Wales. I’m originally from Pakistan, but I grew up in Saudi Arabia. I’ve always homeschooled my kids, although before having children , this was a totally foreign idea to me! Alongside homeschooling , I’m currently pursuing my passion of studying Islam; I recently completed my degree in Islamic Studies and I’m about to start another diploma in Arabic language inshallah. My husband is a doctor and also currently completing his pHD, so we are both very busy pursuing our individual studies in addition to raising our children!

2)What was your main reason for choosing to home educate your children ?

When my eldest son was a toddler, my husband suggested the idea of homeschooling. I was initially aghast as I had never heard of this concept! I started researching and I spent countless hours reading about different education systems, the history of schooling and about how children’s brains learn best. I was surprised to learn that schools were not necessarily the most effective way for children to learn! I spoke to many school teachers here in Wales , who admitted that schools these days do not always focus on nurturing pupils because they simply don’t have enough resources.

At the same time, the idea of sending a young child away from me for so many hours didn’t settle right. I felt I would be able to fulfil my Islamic duty of tarbiya  ( upbringing) of my children much better if at a young age they were physically present with me most of the day. As time went on I realised that homeschooling gave me the flexibility to allow children to learn at their own pace, rather than conforming to a rigid school curriculum. I could focus on fostering their creativity and passion for learning, and give them individual attention to help them thrive.

3) What does a “typical”home school day look like for your family ?

I used to try and have all the kids awake, fed and ready for work by 9 am, emulating a school day. This never seemed to actually happen and I would feel like a bit like a failure. Over the years, however,  I’ve learnt that one of the biggest blessings of homeschooling is being able to adjust our routine to suit our family’s needs- and in the mornings we all like our own space! The kids play with their Lego or some other independent play, keeping the toddler busy while I have an uninterrupted half hour with my coffee and a book to ease into my day. This is a really essential part of my homeschooling routine and often I find if I haven’t had this time to myself in the morning the whole day starts on a sour note! Once I’m ready I give the kids breakfast; we used to have a huge morning basket of books to read at this time, but lately the toddler is too disruptive and so we have to limit it to one book I read them while they eat.

We usually sit down between 10 and 11 am to do our work. The children review whatever Surah they are currently memorising, and work on new ayahs. Normally one child is playing with the toddler while the other does Quran, and vice versa. We try and have maths and spelling done before 12:30 , because that’s when the toddler sleeps and so we can really delve into our homeschool projects and hands on activities. The baby currently has a 2.5 hour nap (I pray this continues!!) and so once he’s asleep we do different subject related crafts, for example making skeleton models of our hand for science, or baking different recipes from around the world as part of a geography lesson. Lunch time is always baby-free and so this is when I whip out our morning basket and read leisurely to the older kids. I try and schedule meet ups with friends or library trips in the late afternoon once the baby is awake- this works in the summer because the days are so long, but not sure how it will pan out in winter when it will be almost dark by the time he wakes up. Once my husband comes home from work he takes over the kids and I go and sort out house chores, food, laundry etc- I literally do not have an ounce of time in the day to do these things because of the toddler. My husband also puts the toddler to bed, while I spend about 45 minutes reading aloud to the older two before they sleep. Lights out around 9-9:30; then its finally my time to sit down and start my own studies!

4)What type of a home educator are you ( structured , semi structured , unschooling , classical , Charlotte Mason , Steiner , Montessori etc )

My homeschooling style has evolved over time; when the kids were toddlers I was heavily inspired by Montessori. I , then,  discovered Charlotte Mason and found it was such an amazingly simple yet incredible philosophy. Nature study, art, narrations, lots of living books- this was an education style totally foreign to me and the more I read it the more I loved it. Complimenting Charlotte Mason, I would say I am also influenced by Classical education; I like the systematic approach it has to subjects like History.

5) What do you love the most about home schooling ?

There’s so much I love about it! It really is a pleasure (most days!) and a privilege to be able to spend so much time with my children. I love being around them to nurture them at a tender age and give them a solid Islamic foundation. We can integrate Islam into everything we do alhamdulillah; for example while studying the fall of Rome in History, we discussed what made some Roman leaders fail, and how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him ) was the best example of great leadership. If reading a novel which mentions orphans, we can discuss the Islamic approach to orphans and the reward for looking after them. Quranic ayahs and hadith can be intertwined into every aspect of our day, without Islam being imposed on the kids; this way it’s something natural for them, simply the way they live their life. The children are also memorising Quran alhamdulillah and so I love that homeschooling allows us to incorporate this into our daily routine.

I also love the fact that they can develop at their own pace without having to conform to any arbitrary school rules or standards. We don’t need to be seated at a desk with a pencil and paper to learn; instead we can explore topics like Vikings by having a Viking feast where we eat foods typical in that era, whilst reading Viking mythology and literature. Reading aloud to my children and bonding over books is probably one of the most enjoyable aspects of homeschooling for me.

Finally, I really love that I’m able to learn alongside my kids. I grew up in Saudi Arabia where we didn’t really have much exposure to nature or art, so now doing things like nature study with my children is a totally new experience for me and I love it as much as they do!

6) What is your favourite subject to teach and what is your least one ?

I really enjoy teaching history and science, because of all the hands on projects that we do as part of those subjects. I also enjoy teaching maths because it’s so satisfying seeing the kids learn and understand concepts and then seeing quantifiable results when they get a maths problem right. I really dislike teaching spelling; I find it incredibly dull and often have to force myself to pull out the spelling books!

7) What do you find challenging when it comes to home schooling your children ?

Homeschooling definitely has its challenges! For me,  I think one of the biggest challenges is that I take on a lot of pressure personally. So if one of the kids is consistently getting a maths question wrong, I feel like there’s something I’ve done incorrectly and take it as a personal failure. There is also the mom guilt, especially because I have an 18 month old toddler who is so disruptive. The voice in my head is often telling me I haven’t done enough; we haven’t done enough hands on crafts, I haven’t read aloud for long enough today, I haven’t taken the children on many outings this week etc. The voice is never ending! I really have had to work on re-framing my thoughts and drowning out this negative self pressure.

8) How do you deal with unsupportive family , relatives and friends ?

Alhamdulillah I am blessed to have a supportive family who see the benefit in my decision to home educate . However, I visit my parents who live In Pakistan every year, and over there homeschooling is an unknown concept, so I do get the occasional shocked comment. I think the key is to try and block out negative comments and remember that people are scared of the unfamiliar. So if someone is criticizing your decision to homeschool, usually it’s nothing personal; its only because it’s something unfamiliar to them and so is making them uncomfortable.

9) Where do you see your home schooling journey in 5 years time ?

Inshallah my eldest will be 12 years old by then, so just starting out high school! I am open to the idea of him attending a good high school, but then again I’ve heard amazing success stories from people who have homeschooled their children all the way through GCSEs, and the children have really flourished mashallah. So we will have to see how we feel at the time!

10) What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start home educating their children ?

The main concern I’ve heard mothers voice is that they think they aren’t good enough to homeschool. So the primary thing I would say is you ARE good enough to do it. Arm yourself with research; look into different learning styles and different approaches to homeschooling. Speak to people who homeschool and ask as many questions as you want; every homeschooler I know is more than willing to answer questions and help out! Once you’ve made the decision to home educate, focus more on connection with children and less on results and grades. Spend as much time as you can reading aloud to your kids, no matter what their age is. Homeschooling isn’t something which finishes after a certain time each day; it’s a lifestyle choice and not always easy, but it’s so rewarding alhamdulillah. So if you really want to home educate, have confidence in your ability as a mother and inshallah your kids will thrive.

“As Parents, we need to keep the big picture in mind because when everything is said and done, what matters is that we raise people ,who are givers, and not takers. We want them to find their passions and fulfill the purposes for which they were made ” Durenda Wilson ( The Unhurried Homeschooler )

Today’s Homeschool Chat brings you Hamida-Zee Um Aasiyah,  a Muslim mum of four and a wife. Hamida is a qualified child carer and her connection with childcare career began over 8 years ago. Since then her experience in her career has been complimented by her children!

She runs EeZee Homeschool website (https://eezeehomeschool.wixsite.com/eezeehomeschooling)

to support and inspire families who are considering homeschooling, who are already homeschooling and those parents who just want to be more involved with their child’s education. Through heartfelt advice, inspirational activities, useful parenting tips, educational services and more.

” Motherhood can be the most beautiful exciting thing; but as beautiful as motherhood can be, add homeschooling on top, it can be exhausting and challenging. Through my website, I hope to ease this challenge just a ‘little’, and I hope to inspire you to be the best parent and teacher you can be. ”

She also  loves sharing materials that she makes for her own children in their homeschool and they can all be found on her website.

1.Tell us a bit about your family and your child/children 

Bismillah. Assalamu alaikum! I’m delighted to take part in this Homeschool chat series. I’m Um Aasiyah from Eezee Homeschool, we are from the UK, however moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia about four years ago.  I have 3 wonderful girls (ages 7y, 6, and 4) and 1 cute cheeky 1 year old baby boy! 

2. What was your main reason for choosing to home educate your children

I remember being pregnant with my second daughter and working at a preschool looking at the children and thinking to myself -there’s NO CONNECTION between these adults and children; I don’t want this for my children. I was already adamant that the public education system wasn’t going to meet the needs of my children. Also, for me school was synonymous with suffering. It was sit down, shut up, pay attention, take notes, do assignments, regurgitate, get report cards – an endless cycle of compulsion, forced learning. You had to learn until it hurt. In time, kids learn to hate learning. They cry over homework, they wait to the last minute and then cram for tests, or they cheat. 

I didn’t want the same for my children, I wanted to give them much healthier environment!

3) What does a “typical” homeschool day look like for your family?

Our homeschool starts around 8.30am. Before that I make sure I prepare meals and whatever I need to for the day and have some time for myself too. We follow a rhythm rather than a schedule. So it helps to divide the day into ‘routines’. My girls will start with their morning routine which consist of morning adhkaar, brushing their teeth, tidying up their room and breakfast. We then start with Quran; I listen to them one by one, and whoever finishes watches their baby brother. After Qur’an recitation, we try to reflect on the ayahs they’ve recited and memorised. We then take a little break and then start our formal work for the day.  This includes Arabic, Math, Brave Writer and copy work. On most days, the majority, if not all, of formal work is completed by lunchtime! This frees the afternoon for a lot of free play, read-aloud, narration, art and craft, field trips, chores, clubs and classes. 

4) What type of a home educator are you ( structured, semi-structured, unschooling,classical, Charlotte Mason, Steiner, Montessori etc) ?

 Bit of everything! Nevertheless, I would consider myself Montessorian and eclectic. 

5) What do you love the most about home education ?

• Learning together and being together!

• Instilling in my children a love of learning. 

• Freedom to customize education and give them a quality education. 

• Making memories. 

• Being able to provide healthy atmosphere. 

•  Preserving and nurturing their innate innocence and curiosity.   

6) What is your favourite subject to teach and what is your least one ?

 I don’t think I teach my children rather I facilitate . . . and it is still primary years so I actually enjoy all the subjects . . . for now anyway. Haha!

7) What do you find challenging when it comes to homeschooling your children ?

I think for me it would be meeting the needs of multiple kids, however once we get into the rhythm of our routine it gets easier! 

 8) How do you deal with unsupportive family, relatives and friends ?

I acknowledge that they have good intention, then I deal with them with calmness without expecting them to accept it. Nevertheless, I don’t focus on that because people will always judge everything you do anyway. Instead, I focus on my own work, with time when they see that the children are thriving and are happy the same people will become your biggest supporters. Believe in yourself and have the confidence in your decision because you know what’s best for your family.

 9) Where do you see your homeschooling journey in 5 years’ time?

I see my homeschooling journey growing! In shaa Allah (God Willing).

10) What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start home educating their children ?

• Know your reasons for homeschooling.
• Educate yourself on gentle parenting techniques, child psychology and Home Education philosophies by reading good books and listening to podcasts.  
• Pray! Seek Allah’s guidance (Istikhara).
• Start by enjoying being with your children then introduce one thing at a time.
• Work on your own struggles.

• BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! And go for it. 

” The beauty of home education is that it gives a family more time together–time to solidify relationships, to communicate values, and to focus on each child’s individual needs in a consistent and unhurried atmosphere. ~ Kimberly Hahn & Mary Hasson

The First Part of the Homeschool Chat series is over . It has been an absolute honour and pleasure to read the interviews of all the 16  inspirational home educators, who took the time and effort to be part of these series. The interviews have been an incredible eye- opener for me and needless to say beneficial in every single way .  For those that do not home educate,  I hope these series were able to give you a little  glimpse into this magnificent home education world and what it  looks like and how diverse  and unique it is for each family.  And for anyone who home educates, I pray you found them beneficial too and that they have given you a bit of hope and determination , because you simply know that you are not ALONE and not the ODD one out. Or perhaps , you feel relieved knowing that there is someone out there too who may be facing similar challenges like  yourself , but despite that they still find joy in choosing this path, the one which goes against what society views as normal.

I have decided to do a little compilation of all the 16 answers from these lovely  home school parents to the question : ” What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start home educating their child/children?” And if you know anyone , who is about to embark on their first year of home schooling and can do with a bit of re assurance and support , why not forward the link to them. I am sure they will be grateful to you !

Shazia Hussein (  mum of three, residing in the UK) – “I would say just pluck up the courage and do it. Don’t let negativity from family and friends override your feelings. You know your children best and you are the only one who will ever want them to succeed in deen and duniya more than any other teacher. The primary years are the time children are moulded and build the greatest bonds so make that sacrifice (and normally it is financial but no price can be put on this journey together) and give them your time. You really will make some of the most amazing memories together in this time. ”

Hafa Kilincci (mommy to five children,  originally from Bosnia)- “You can do it. Do not be scared. You are giving your kids a brighter future and teaching them what schools can never do. Take one day at the time and don’t get frustrated. And on days when you feel you failed them, trust me, you’re doing a fabulous job.”

Sarah Javed ( an author and homeschooling mother of three children, residing in the UK)-  ” I think, it is important to appreciate that home education isn’t for everyone. It is downright time consuming, difficult, demanding, unglamorous and expensive! Unfortunately, many families also don’t have a choice because both parents have to work full time. Parenthood is tough and whatever your path is, ultimately we are all just doing the best we can at any given time.

Endless learning @endelsslearning  ( a homeschooling mama of one –https://endlesslearning.home.blog/)

” Find out what type of learner your child is, this always makes things easier when you start your home schooling journey with them. Take it easy; don’t rush into it straight away especially if you have removed your child from the school system. Allow it to become a natural part of your life and remember home school is not school at home it’s far from it. And do what works for YOU, what works for one family may not always work for YOU and that’s okay. Every family has different needs and you do what fulfils the needs of your family. Don’t be afraid to ask for help too! And remember there is endless learning done anywhere and everywhere, enjoy it! “

Hena Butt @ourhomeschoolheaven  ( UK homeschooling mama of three girls )

” These early years go by in the blink of an eye – take the plunge and soak up these wonderful years with your children. Don’t overthink it to start with- you just need a few resources and the world at your feet- explore, live each day with your kids because living is learning. Lastly, it can be hard and it is a commitment, but as a parent don’t underestimate yourself – if you think you can’t do it- you definitely can! ”

Sushmita Chatterjee – @widberriesandfables  is an expat mother, raising multicultural children by the seaside  – “Just do it and read to them. Read to them a LOT. You do not have to know everything. You can learn together. Most of all, you get to be together, nurture your relationship and see it grow. You will never look back and think that the time you had together was not worth it. It is so worth it!! “

Shoohada Khanom @shoohadakhanom , a UK homeschool mama of 6, writer and children’s author – “Take your time and do your research. It’s not something that should be rushed and done on impulse. Weigh out your pros and cons, see how it all looks like. If you’re in the UK, phone your council and have a chat with you home Education officer. See if there’s an expectation on you. Add that on top of what you want to teach and see how that looks.I knew I wanted to cover the national curriculum, so I opted for online learning until I found a comprehensive curriculum we could use. Shortly after we started using Galore Park textbooks and have been using them since. We use a couple of online programs, reading eggs and Matheletics to help us along. We read LOADS, lots of books. Our home library is forever growing. We also use Studio Arabia for Qur’an and Safar Academy books for Islamic studies. That’s pretty much us! “

Kafayat  Animasha , @natural_muslim_mummy, a homeschooling mama of three  – “For those who are choosing to home educate their children from the start, just spend quality time with your children, let them play,  follow their interests, spend lots of time outdoors and create memories. Give yourself grace  and make  time for yourself even if its  going to a cafe, getting a pedicure,  going  to a sisters night out, exercising, book clubbing, anything. Invest in yourself so you can give to your children. “

Sophie Aguirre, @ourjourneyathome , a homeschool mama of three, residing in the UK – ” Block out the noise! Don’t listen or watch what everyone else is doing but just follow your own instinct. Do what is best for your family and children. No one knows your family as you do so be confident about your decisions. Feel empowered by the thought that you have such a big influence on your families life and learning journey. A happy and inspired mum will influence her home to be happy and inspired.  “

Sumera Luckman,@unschooling.3cubs,  an unschooling mama of 3 – “DO IT! DO IT! Nothing is easy to begin with especially when it seems out of the norm to want to spend time with and teach your own child but it is the best thing you can do, for both yourself and them. I find so much more freedom and pleasure living the way we choose to. ”

Adele Jarrett-Kerr , @adelejk – a homeschooling mama of three,  a blogger , writer and breastfeeding counsellor who grew up in Trinidad and Tobago and now lives in beautiful Cornwall :

Katy from @rhythmsandrivers, an American homeschooling mama of two boys :

Mariya Khan, @ifallahwillspicturebook , a homeschooling mama of 4 , residing in the U.K. Mariya , illustrator of the popular Islamic picture book, ‘If Allah Wills’ :

” Give yourself 2 years to decide whether its right for you or not. When you start, whether you’ve deregistered a school-going child or are continuing on from toddlerhood, do not rush into over-scheduled, workbook-filled days. Focus on building your connection and bonds with each other. Follow your child’s lead in what topics they like, sit together, read and talk. Get out and about in nature and in the world, and slowly and naturally learn. Don’t set yourself any academic expectations or targets, start by enjoying being with your child. Educate yourself on gentle parenting techniques and simple child psychology. 

 Always keep it relaxed and fun. Then start to understand how a child learns and identify the skills and knowledge you would like them to acquire. Keep it simple and know that there is no right or wrong way. Know that when you choose to home-educate your child, you’re signing up to educate and develop yourself too – work on your own struggles whether they’re academic or mental, allow yourself to grow and bloom alongside your child.And lastly, believe in yourself – you got this mama ! “

Happy Muslim Homeschool,  @happymuslimhomeschool , a Muslim homeschooling mama :

 ” I would say pray istikhara and go for it.  Don’t wait for the perfect space or routine, it will come with time.  Start slow and steady with a couple of subjects, and then build upon them once you’ve found your feet a little.  

Home educating is a blessing from Allah and one to be cherished; it’s truly a beautiful journey where the whole family thrive, so enjoy it while it lasts.”