Our Homeschool Diary : Q4 2019/2020 - Final Stretch

Can you imagine that?! We have one month(ish) left in the school year. We're now on the last quarter grind, and we're set to meet with our homeschool advisor by the end of July or around the first week of August.

After this, I will have a new gradeschooler (Little Miss will be Grade 1), and my new Kindergartener (Little Guy), while Kuya, the eldest will be sixth grade! Whew!

Both Q2 and Q3 assessments were done via Zoom, no thanks to the pandemic. Hopefully, final assessment will be face-to-face with our homeschool advisors already.

Online Homeschool Coop

_{At one of our big homeschool coop meet ups.}

Before the lockdown was implemented, we regularly met with our fellow homeschoolers where the kids can do fun activities with their fellows. We made sure we attend to most (if not all) of them, and my kids always come home delighted with all the activities.

Then the pandemic happened, and all face-to-face meetups were halted. Good thing, our homeschool provider and the very energetic learn group coordinators never run out of ideas to keep the kids engaged.

Hip-Hop Dance Workshop	Read-Aloud + Art Session	Art Connect

They had an online hip-hop dance class, presented by their fellow homeschooler who is also a professional dancer in Dubai. This was open for all ages, so both my KG and Grade 5 students were able to join. It went on for 4 weeks, 2x a week. Not bad, the kids got to learn dance and see other kids, albeit online.

Some days there are sessions that are age/grade specific, like the Read-Aloud and Art Session which was focused on KG, Grade 1 and 2. My Little Miss enjoys going "live" and seeing other kids, and doing arts with them. Kuya, my eldest, also loves the "Zoom-ustahan" (Zoom + Kumustahan (hello)) sessions with his learn group (Grades 4-6). They play "guess the picture", riddles and a lot more. For him, this is the time to bond with kids his age. Well, he's been stuck with his young siblings 24/7 for the past 4 months!

As for me, I also attend online forums for homeschooling parents. It is refreshing and interesting to listen to other homeschooling families -- how they are coping up, what they do, etc. These forums and seminars also keep me from worrying too much about our homeschool progress.

Home Experiments!

Oh, do I have to tell you about this?! Little Miss has been on an "experiments-spree" lately. Like, I am already running out of ideas. LOL. This kid makes sure to get me up on my toes and keep our arts, crafts and experiments sessions going. If you have any other ideas, I am definitely open to suggestions.

We've uploaded the recent ones on 3speak. You can click below to view them.

Busy days ahead.

There are still lots of activities, requirements and lessons to cover, so we have to focus more on our homeschooling in the coming days. After this month, whew! Vacation time!

I am grateful to be spending this much time with my kids. It's been 4 months staying with them 24/7. I'm telling my friends, I am getting used to the idea of being a full time house-mom, that I am afraid to go job-hunting because I might get hired. LOL.

I can't ask for anything more. There may be financial adjustments we have to make, but deep in my heart, this is what I have prayed for. I am praying for more wisdom, strength and patience, to be able to be a better mom to these wonderful kids.